About me
I market outdoor brands because I actually go outside.
I'm August Vanderford — a digital marketer who grew up on trails, crags, and rivers, and spent the last several years turning that obsession into a career helping outdoor brands connect with people who feel the same way.
My background
From the edit bay to the inbox.
My career started behind a camera and a timeline. I spent my early years as a video editor, learning how to tell stories visually — how to pace a narrative, what makes someone keep watching, and why the details matter. That foundation never left me.
My first step into marketing came as a coordinator at a tourism board in Lander, WY. There I learned the fundamentals: email marketing, print and digital media production, and how to build campaigns that actually moved people to visit a place. Lander is surrounded by some of the best climbing and hiking in the country, so the work felt personal.
From there I moved into the nonprofit world, supporting organizations with social media strategy and content — learning how to build community and communicate mission with limited resources.
Today I run email marketing campaigns for a small, community-focused brewery. I manage the full program — strategy, copywriting, segmentation, and analytics — and I've seen firsthand how the right message at the right time can turn casual customers into regulars. That's the kind of marketing I want to bring to the outdoor industry.
Outside the office
What I'm doing when I'm not at a desk.
Alpine climbing
I've been climbing for eight years. Mostly trad and alpine routes in Colorado and the Cascades.
Long-distance hiking
I've thru-hiked the Colorado Trail and sections of the PCT. Planning the Wind Rivers next.
Bikepacking
Gravel and dirt roads, loaded panniers, no itinerary. It's the best way I know to slow down.
Outdoor writing
I write about gear, places, and the culture of the outdoors. Occasionally published, mostly just for myself.
What I bring
Skills I've built over years of doing the work.
Email Marketing
Klaviyo, Mailchimp, Drip — flows, campaigns, segmentation, A/B testing, deliverability.
Website Strategy
UX audits, conversion optimization, landing pages, CRO testing, Google Analytics.
Copywriting
Brand voice, product descriptions, email sequences, campaign messaging.
Campaign Analytics
Attribution modeling, cohort analysis, revenue reporting, performance dashboards.
Content Planning
Editorial calendars, customer journey mapping, content-to-conversion strategy.
Video Editing & Production
Storytelling through video — where my career started and a skill that still shapes how I approach every piece of content.
Want to work together?
I'm open to full-time roles and freelance projects with outdoor brands. If you're building something worth getting outside for, let's talk.