Dan Downs

Marketing and advertising copywriter, creative thinker, and passionate sustainability advocate

United States

Who I am:
Hi there 👋 I'm Dan, a senior copywriter at Bozell, avid reader (see you on Goodreads 👀), amateur pumpkin farmer, and lover of new tech. 

What I do:
I create accurate, effective copy that fits my clients' brands like a glove, and inspires their audiences to take action. Across the web, social media, emails hot and cold, print and digital media, billboards/OOH, video, radio, and more, I've created content for nearly every industry.

Why I do it:
Over the last ten years, I've honed my copywriting and marketing skills in both in-house and agency roles. But no matter where I'm working, I love the act of creating and collaborating with other creatives to bring my clients unique, eye-catching, impactful marketing campaigns.

Get to know me:
- I love keeping up with industry trends and picking up new skills by taking webinars and marketing courses.
- I'm passionate about sustainability and would love to talk to you about what you can do to reduce your impact.
- On weekends, you can find me spending time with my wife and two sons. We love a good park outing or a hike!

What to do next:
Let's chat! View my portfolio, then click the link below to reach out on LinkedIn.

Portfolio

Healthcare

Voyage Healthcare
03/01/2022
Brand Refresh

This is a brand guide created for Voyage Healthcare, a travel nurse staffing company, which asked us to completely redesign and rewrite their website. As the copywriter on the account, I created a new tagline, positioning statement, elevator statements, and rewrote all existing website copy for SEO optimization. I also wrote some of the copy in the Brand Guide itself. To see the full website, please visit voyagesolutions.com.

Methodist Jennie Edmundson
10/19/2020
"First Step" Print Ad

This is an example of a print ad I created for Methodist Jennie Edmundson.

Methodist Health Systems
05/03/2021
"With You" Campaign

A series of billboards for Methodist Health Systems, which I helped concept and write.

Methodist Health Systems
03/24/2020
"All Together" Campaign

An example of print advertising copy I wrote for Methodist's Cardiology department as part of the "All Together" campaign.

Energy & Utilities

Efficiency Works
03/01/2025
Brand Refresh

For the Efficiency Works website refresh (launching March 2025), I completed a content overhaul, restructuring and SEO-optimizing the site to improve clarity, engagement, and search visibility. I defined a new brand voice and tone, aligning messaging with Efficiency Works’ mission of energy conservation, cost savings, and a noncarbon future. Additionally, I contributed to new brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all communications. The refreshed site has been approved by Platte River...

Omaha Public Power District
07/19/2023
Brighter Outcomes Awareness Campaign

I contributed to the naming and concept development of Omaha Public Power District’s “Brighter Outcomes” campaign, which was designed to raise awareness of the utility provider's financial assistance programs. Deliverables included a landing page, bus wrap, digital ads, social media ads, search ads, bill inserts, and a direct mailer. The campaign achieved over one million impressions in the Omaha metro area and garnered more than 8,000 clicks on the OPPD landing page.

Platte River Power Authority
10/26/2023
Giving You The Power Campaign

I helped develop Platte River Power Authority’s 50th-anniversary “Giving You The Power” campaign, which delivered a full suite of materials including a dedicated landing page, digital ads, search ads, social media ads, radio ads, a PR and content strategy, and branded merchandise.

Omaha Public Power District
03/17/2023
Greener Together Program Rebrand

I assisted with rebranding Omaha Public Power District’s “Greener Together” program, which included a program landing page, search ads, postcards, a tri-fold brochure, emails, paid and organic social media ads, bill inserts, pull-up banners, and branded merchandise such as shirts, bags, and reusable water bottles. The campaign achieved over half a million impressions on search and social platforms, doubling the previous year’s engagement, and successfully raised more than $136,000 in its...

Omaha Public Power District
08/23/2023
Trade Ally Program Rebrand

I created content for the rebrand of Omaha Public Power District’s Trade Ally Program, which helped maintain a network of vetted businesses knowledgeable about OPPD rebates and committed to providing high-quality service to customers in OPPD's service territory. The campaign included the creation of multiple landing pages to inform both OPPD customers and potential business partners about the program. To promote the inaugural summit in 2022, we designed and distributed postcards and emails to...

Manufacturing & Industrial

Klute Steel
05/01/2024
Recruitment Campaign and Brand Refresh

I helped with the development of Klute Steel’s recruitment campaign and brand refresh, delivering updated branding elements, which included a new logo, email signatures, website design and copy, and print collateral such as brochures, pull-up banners, business cards, and trade show booth materials. The multi-channel recruitment campaign included paid social media ads, Google Search ads, 30-second radio spots and billboards.

Better Roads Nebraska
01/12/2023
Ongoing Social Media

An example of an organic social post I created for Better Roads Nebraska's Facebook page. The goal of their page is to educate and inform Nebraska voters about the value of the gas tax.

Sirius & Nutanix Database Services
09/07/2022
Product Promotion Sales Sheet

This is a digital sell sheet which I wrote for Sirius Computer Services, to help educate their customers about their new Database Management service. Sirius provided the theme - Jimmy Fallon's Thank-You notes segment - and asked us to create a sell sheet that incorporated the theme and expanded on the benefits of the service. I also wrote the small thank-you notes on the side of the sheet. This was a very fun project!

Road Rebellion
12/10/2022
Ongoing Social Media

An example of an organic social post I created for Road Rebellion's Facebook page. The goal of the page is to raise awareness of the variety of careers in construction by targeting parents of young adults and teens.

Farmers Cooperative of Dorchester
04/14/2022
Product Promotion Print Ad

This is a print ad I concepted and wrote for Farmers Cooperative, to help educate customers on the variety of feed products it carries.

Food & Ingredients

Corbion
11/20/2020
Email Marketing/Newsletter

This is part of a monthly email newsletter published from Corbion, called The Baker's Take. I wrote all the copy for the newsletter.

Hormel Ingredient Solutions
06/19/2020
Digital Product Ingredient Catalog

This is a web-based product catalog I helped create for Hormel Ingredient Solutions. I produced all copy within the piece.

Corbion
01/31/2019
Print Media Article

An article I wrote on behalf of Corbion Foods, regarding sustainability trends in the baked goods industry.

Government & Infrastructure

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
12/16/2022
"Catch Good Health" Campaign Video Commercial

This is a television commercial for NDHHS's "Catch Good Health" campaign, designed to promote general wellness amongst Nebraskans. For this piece, I helped create the concept, wrote the script, and assisted with talent selection and video production.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
08/25/2022
Foster Care Campaign Digital Ads

These are a series of 3 digital ads which I concepted and wrote for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of the campaign was to encourage people to adopt foster children, by showing them the many valuable roles they can play for a child.

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
12/05/2022
"Catch Good Health" Campaign Digital Ad

This is a digital ad I helped create as part of a Pokemon-inspired wellness campaign for NDDHS called, "Catch Good Health."

Nonprofits & Social Impact

Gross Catholic High School
10/24/2022
Recruitment Campaign Direct Mailer

As part of their ongoing recruitment efforts at Gross Catholic High School in Bellevue, Nebraska, I wrote all the content for their direct mail piece, designed to encourage parents and students to attend the school.

Nebraska Family Helpline
12/12/2022
"Change the Story" Campaign Video Commercial

Designed to mimic the social-media style videos we see on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, I helped create the concept for the "Change the Story" campaign for Nebraska Family Helpline, a 24/7 hotline that provides free help for parents. I wrote three scripts, each of which depicted a scenario that parents often contact the Helpline about regarding their teen or preteen: Substance Abuse/Addiction, Bullying, and Mental Health/Depression. This is the bullying commercial.

Lutheran Family Services
03/08/2022
Print Media Poster

This is a printed poster I wrote for Lutheran Family Services to help communicate the benefits of their KinCare program in Douglas County. The poster was placed in various governmental offices around Omaha to educate audiences about the KinCare program.

Nebraska Family Helpline
06/14/2022
Facebook - Social Post

This is a Facebook post I wrote for Nebraska Family Helpline, a 24/7 hotline that provides free advice to parents.

CEDARS Home For Children
02/14/2022
Foster Care Commercials - Television Scriptwriting

This video contains a compilation of four television commercials I wrote for CEDARS Home for Children, a foster care organization in Lincoln, Nebraska. I received two Prism Awards from AMA Lincoln at the 2022 Prism Awards for my work on these videos, in both the traditional and short-form video categories. I also received a Paper Anvil Award in the video category at the 2022 PRSA Nebraska Paper Anvil Awards.

Nebraska Family Helpline
12/12/2022
"Change the Story" Campaign, Addiction - Scriptwriting

Designed to mimic the social-media style videos we see on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, I helped create the concept for the "Change the Story" campaign for Nebraska Family Helpline, a 24/7 hotline that provides free help for parents. I wrote three scripts, each of which depicted a scenario that parents often contact the Helpline about regarding their teen or preteen: Substance Abuse/Addiction, Bullying, and Mental Health/Depression.

Nebraska Family Helpline
12/12/2022
"Change the Story" Campaign, Depression - Scriptwriting

Designed to mimic the social-media style videos we see on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, I helped create the concept for the "Change the Story" campaign for Nebraska Family Helpline, a 24/7 hotline that provides free help for parents. I wrote three scripts, each of which depicted a scenario that parents often contact the Helpline about regarding their teen or preteen: Substance Abuse/Addiction, Bullying, and Mental Health/Depression.

Finance & Banking

INTRUST Bank
08/26/2024
Business Banking Customers Spotlights

An example of some of the content I helped create for the Business Customer Spotlight campaign for INTRUST Bank, during which we created nine interview style, long-form video stories that highlighted the trusted, long-term relationships between the bank and its business customers. Each story had an accompanying landing page, print ad, sales sheets, paid Meta and LinkedIn ads, YouTube ads, organic social posts, digital display ads and more.

NebraskaLand Bank
05/30/2024
"NEXT" 25th Anniversary Awareness Campaign

I created a wide variety of content for NebraskaLand Bank’s “Next” campaign, which aimed to celebrate the bank’s 25th anniversary by highlighting its commitment to personalized service and a future-focused approach. The campaign included display ads with custom animations, local newspaper ads, radio and TV spots, and search ads targeting specific products like consumer and business checking accounts. The measurable results achieved were impressive: over 2 million impressions in North Platte...

INTRUST Bank
10/16/2024
Certificate of Deposit (CD) Product Campaign

I helped with the creation of INTRUST Bank’s Certificate of Deposit (CD) campaign, delivering print ads in Wichita-area publications, outdoor signage, in-branch flyers, digital billboards, programmatic display ads, and paid social media ads on Facebook and Instagram. The campaign achieved over 840,000 impressions across digital platforms, a digital display click-through rate of 0.15% (nearly double the industry benchmark), a 1.2% CTR on Facebook ads, and secured more than triple the return on...

Bank Leumi USA
07/29/2022
Technology One-Pager

A technology one-pager that I wrote to educate Bank Leumi's B2B customers about the company's available benefits and technology.

INTRUST Bank
06/01/2023
"Today" Brand Awareness Campaign

I developed six consumer and three business video commercials for INTRUST Bank’s “Today” brand awareness campaign, that highlighted customers in authentic, everyday situations. The content was repurposed into paid social media ads, billboards, digital display ads, radio ads, landing pages and more. The campaign generated over 31 million total impressions year-to-date (YTD) and amassed 40,877 clicks. With over five million views, the content resonated with the target audience and captured...

INTRUST Bank
02/05/2024
Ad Templates for Trade Publications - Print

A series of ad templates I wrote for INTRUST Bank. They use these templates (with minor updates to content at the time of printing) in various local newspapers and trade publications to advertise their services.

Agency Branding & Marketing

AMA Omaha
05/04/2022
2022 Pinnacle Awards Show - Call-for-Entries Direct Mailer

A direct mailer I helped co-concept for AMA Omaha's annual Pinnacle Awards show, an advertising awards celebration recognizing excellent marketing efforts in the Omaha area. In addition to concepting, I wrote all copy for the mailer.

Retail & Consumer Products