I Started My Own Business!
First blog of 2024, and I am about a month late, haha. But I have a good excuse!
These last few months have been so busy with my new business.
Last summer, my contract from my previous job ended. I’ve been thinking about starting copywriting on and off for about half a year, so I took it as a sign to do it.
I’ve been writing blogs on my website, plus I love storytelling and content creation, so that idea made sense!
Copywriting is writing in the form of marketing to generate results, like leads, sales, and conversions. Copywriting also includes content writing, which is writing to tell stories and build brand awareness, such as articles and blogs.
For example, seeing the words on your printed or online ads and marketing is considered “copy.” The purpose of the copy is to convince prospects or customers to take action, such as clicking on the link on your website or pressing the “Add to Cart” button on a product.
Since last fall, learning about copywriting and establishing my business has been a steep learning curve. My background is in supply chain and accounting, so the transition into marketing has been interesting and fulfilling. I used to think I would stay on the supply chain career path for the long term. But as I’ve gotten older and realized what I like and don’t like, I yearned to pursue a more creative field (because I’m already creative). Marketing is a huge field, and I’ve been exposed to the data and analytics side of marketing, which doesn’t excite me. So, I want copywriting as my main job because I can use creativity to write for others!
However, I want to do copywriting as a freelancer. Freelance allows me to set my hours, which is necessary for my endeavors.
Many of my actor and singer friends would agree with me, but sometimes, we get auditions and gigs on short notice. With a 9-5 job, asking for time off on short notice is hard. Since COVID, remote working and self-taped auditions have been so much easier. But what happens when I get a role for a big project that requires me to take weeks off? It would definitely affect my job if I were to work for a company.
And so, I’ve been determined to make my freelance business a reality.
I filed and registered my business (D.B.A.) as The Smile Type. 😃 (...Get it?) I registered my domain, created an email address, and designed and printed my business cards!
I have attended many networking events over the last couple of months, and I’ve been better at making connections with others, which is a huge professional development for me.
I signed up for copywriting courses and used free online resources to improve my writing. I read marketing and business books and learned how to help others with strategies. I also created a portfolio with projects I’ve done (and created) to share with potential clients!
However, I’ve been struggling a bit. The downside is that it’s been hard getting clients…and I’m also broke. I also used sites like Upwork and Flexjobs to find gigs, but they’re competitive! Sometimes, I feel like an imposter, too. How do I convince people that I am an expert?
Many other business owners have told me that starting a business is always hard, so I’ve been trying to stay positive. (Hang in there!)
But I’m not going to lie - it feels great to be a WOMAN 👏 ENTREPRENEUR 👏.
Literally, my dream is to have a flexible job that pays the bills. And to travel and sip my cocktails at the beach.
Shameless, but not-so-shameless, plug:
If you know someone whose business needs copywriting and marketing strategies, I offer the following services:
Email Copy and Marketing
Website and Landing Page Copy
Blog and Newsletter Content
Video Content Scripts
And more!
My business email address is amy@thesmiletype.com. 😁
Check out my portfolio below:
You can connect with me on LinkedIn if you haven’t already!
(I have a new goal in trying to reach 500+ connections!)
I’m manifesting for 2024 to be my year for SUCCESS. Thank you for reading this blog post and supporting my endless ideas and goals. 💗
Until then, thanks for reading!