Meet Ilene Adams | Web Designer and Graphic Designer & CEO

Can you giv

Hi Ilene, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking What a great question! Looking back on my career, I can certainly see that I have been a risk-taker, but I think it is just part of my makeup and not a conscious decision. I started my own business when I was 27. I had been director of marketing for a small chain of clothing stores, and frankly, I didn’t particularly appreciate having to report to a boss and attend so many meetings. So I decided to go out on my own and start an ad agency. I have just continued to leap into the next step trusting blind faith that I would succeed throughout my career. I have continued to grow my business over the past 30 years or so, and whether you call it drive or instinct, I guess you could consider it being a risk-taker.

Can you give e our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others? It has not always been a smooth road. The economy and industry changes have sometimes made it difficult, but the main thing I learned was to be adaptable and flexible and to continue to learn and keep up with trends and technology. The Marketing Works of Palm Beach creates branding and marketing to improve my clients’ visibility. What sets me apart is that I have a background in graphic design, art, and marketing to offer an aesthetic approach and a business approach. I can look at the whole picture and not just make an attractive logo or website, but also a marketing strategy behind it. I still like to think of my company as a boutique, where I offer personalized service to my customers, whether they be holistic practitioners or real estate agents. Having studied yoga since high school, I am part of the holistic community, and much of my business focuses on alternative medicine and holistic lifestyle. However, I belong to many networking groups, so my clients also range from IT companies to pre-schools to cosmetics. No two of my sites are the same, each one with their own personality.

I offer full-service marketing and design, whether the client needs a logo, package design, a social media strategy, or the main service I offer, web design. I can help them with a comprehensive marketing package. I love working with start-ups in helping get off on the right foot. I like to start with the logo design as it sets the tone and branding for the business. Once that is created, the rest can fall in place for future marketing and design. It is essential for branding to be consistent across all platforms, whether social media, website, or printed materials.

The primary platform I use for web design is Wix, and I have been using it for over ten years. I am a Wix Legend (a designation, but I love saying that as it sounds so funny!) and Agency Partner; I work with many product managers offering feedback about various new products, what clients are looking for, and my input on workability. As a Wix Partner, I can create websites worldwide and have clients from as far as Israel, Africa, Argentina, and locally. I am most proud of the integrity of my work. I am honest and blunt. If a client requests something that I don’t think is professional or makes sense with their marketing goals, I let them know, always trying to do what is best for their business rather than just doing what they think they need. I love the Wix Community and the support it provides, and how we are such a family. I have created over 100 sites for all types of services, products, and businesses.

Additionally, I am an artist creating in photography, mixed media, and installations (www.ileneadams.com) and am the co-director of Art Synergy, an art non-profit (www.artsynergy.org) supporting artists in South Florida. I live in Jupiter with my husband, two rescue dogs and a rescue cat. I have two daughters, one grandson, and another grandchild on the way

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I have been fortunate to have a lot of supportive people in my life. My husband of almost 33 years has always supported me both personally and professionally, no matter how crazy my ideas may have seemed. When we moved to Florida 17 years ago, I found the arts community here, and so many people in the community supported me and helped my business and art career thrive. I became very involved in the community and have been able to return the support to many artists through mentoring and advice. I also belong to several networking groups, and I have found that whether you are new to a community or a long time-member, these associations are very beneficial.