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Freelance Writing Cafe - Community & Resources for High Income Remote Writing Success 4

Freelance Writing Cafe

Launch & grow your freelance writing career... even if you don't have experience!

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Drinking Coffee With Writers: Kaitlyn Parker, Creative Brand Copywriter

September 30, 2020 · In: Drinking Coffee With Writers

Kaitlyn Parker, founder of Copy Uncorked, didn’t know she was going to become a copywriter—she almost fell into it, which should be a major relief to those who think it’s impossible to claw your way into a copywriting career… *ahem* Believe in yourself, dang it! *ahem*

Anyway! Once she found her footing, she learned how to turn a new passion into a thriving copywriting business. When it comes to freelance writing, multi-passionate writers who have a penchant for over-working can bring a whole new set of challenges. In this week’s installment of Drinking Coffee With Writers, Kaitlyn is dishing out some major wisdom on how she handles it all.

Freelance Writing Cafe: What was the #1 reason you decided to start freelancing?

Kaitlyn Parker: I’ve always loved writing and have had a personal blog since before college (kaitlynhparker.com – it’s evolved a lot over the years!) and knew I wanted to find a way to get paid to write and make a living from it. After getting a Masters in Strategic Communications and exploring online business I sort of fell into copywriting and have loved it since the beginning!

It encompasses so many of my passions and career interests (words, branding, marketing, business, psychology, and culture) without ever letting me get bored. Each client is different and I’m always researching and learning something new.

Kaitlyn Parker - Copy Uncorked - Drinking Coffee With Writers - Freelance Writing Cafe (3)

How did your freelance journey begin?

During grad school, I found myself wanting to start a business and create an LLC. I had no idea where that would take me and I remember being so nervous. A lawyer from my church helped me set it up and I turned my personal blog into more of a business website with various service offerings. They were all across the board, including a bit of design and social media strategy.

A friend from college referred me to one of her friends who just started an awesome swimwear line. I wrote some of her website copy—not really having any idea what I was doing—and it went pretty well! Turns out, I loved it.

I joined a few Facebook groups and started commenting on project requests from various members. I eventually got my first long-standing content writing client from there and my business has really just continued to evolve and grow from there. Most of my clients now come from referrals/word of mouth, but I have certainly invested in building my brand over the years.

Kaitlyn Parker - Copy Uncorked - Drinking Coffee With Writers - Freelance Writing Cafe (4)

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned so far?

Build relationships. I’m a homebody, an introvert, a DIY’er, a type 3 on the Enneagram, and independent. But the few in-person events I’ve gone to and designers I’ve built relationships with have allowed me to connect with peers who just GET IT. They’ve become my cheerleaders on the daily and I’m so grateful for that. That and CREATE SYSTEMS. From day one. Treat your business like a business.

What is something you still struggle with as a freelance writer?

It’s a “good struggle” in a sense, but I often overbook myself or struggle to leave enough margin. I’m in the process of building out a team and have my VA take on more and more of a role within my company, which I’m excited about. But I struggle with overworking because there’s almost always something that needs to be done!

Kaitlyn Parker - Copy Uncorked - Drinking Coffee With Writers - Freelance Writing Cafe (11)

What advice would you give to freelancers who are just starting out?

Build relationships with other online business owners and build a brand for yourself. That creates so much credibility in and of itself. Decide what you want to write and who you want to write for and gear all your content creation/marketing efforts towards that. Use any downtime you don’t have clients to learn about branding and marketing yourself online. That will pay dividends in the long run!

What is your favorite thing about freelancing?

Being my own boss—choosing the type of work I do and the clients I work with. Basically just having complete ownership, freedom, and autonomy.

Kaitlyn Parker - Copy Uncorked - Drinking Coffee With Writers - Freelance Writing Cafe (6)

What is your favorite app, tool, or tip for productivity?

Currently, Trello! Pretty much my entire business is contained within it. I have also heard great things about ClickUp but haven’t quite made the switch yet. I also use Dubsado for my client project management which has been invaluable. I share all the tools I use in my business at copyuncorked.com/resources.

Do you have a go-to mantra or quote that keeps you inspired?

“Never stop creating or exploring”

“What distracts us will begin to define us. You don’t have to swing at every pitch. – Bob Goff”

“Create more than you consume.”

…there are a lot. I’m working on a brand manifesto currently.

What’s your favorite hot beverage to sip while working?

Coffee with almond milk creamer—or wine when working in the evenings! 😉

Kaitlyn Parker - Copy Uncorked - Drinking Coffee With Writers - Freelance Writing Cafe (2)

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Be sure to follow Kaitlyn on Instagram and check out her website: copyuncorked.com

Want more inspiration? Read more from our Drinking Coffee With Writers series.

 

☕️ Drinking Coffee With Writers is here to give you a dose of inspiration and actionable tips for the week ahead. We’re showcasing freelance writers who are designing their careers and living life on their own terms.  Want to be our next featured writer? Drop us a line at info@freelancewritingcafe.com

 

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By: Michelle Christina · In: Drinking Coffee With Writers · Tagged: drinking coffee with writers, freelance writer behind the scenes, freelance writer interview, freelance writing cafe, freelance writing career tips, Kaitlyn Parker Creative Brand Copywriter

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Welcome!

Get tips for launching and growing a high-income freelance writing career (sans-stress). Plus, interviews with freelance writers like you.

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HOW CAN WE HELP?

Feeling social? Us too!

Need something specific?

Follow for a dose of daily inspiration…

@freelancewritingcafe

Why become a freelance writer in 2022? 🤔 ☀️ Why become a freelance writer in 2022? 🤔
☀️ YOU DECIDE THE SCHEDULE. Rather avoid the "Sunday scaries" by taking Mondays off? No prob! Wanna schedule client calls on Wednesdays only? Do it. Prefer to get your work done before 11am? Why not? Craving midday naps? Go for it! 

☀️ YOU DECIDE WHO YOUR CLIENTS ARE. Learning who you work well with is a process—and it usually comes with a few blips along the way—but it's one of the most liberating aspects of freelancing. You have the power to turn down anyone who doesn't fit your ideal (or close to ideal) client avatar.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR RATES. How much are your services worth? You make that decision based on your niche, value, and income goals. That means you decide how much money you're making this week/month/year. That also means you get to tweak your rates until they're working for you.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR RULES. Your policies will shape the way you work. You get to create/change them as your career evolves. Examples? Don't text with clients or accept unplanned calls. Don't do endless revisions. Don't do rush jobs without a rush fee... etc. Your choice.

☀️ YOU DECIDE YOUR LOCATION. I decided to freelance because being in an office was killing my creativity, productivity and nervous system. The freedom to work from a home office or anywhere in the world means I can deliver work I'm proud of and build a career that works FOR my life, not against it.

Can you think of any other reasons being a freelance writer is awesome? Let's hear them! 👇👇

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
What keeps you going when freelancing gets tough? What keeps you going when freelancing gets tough? 🪫

So many of us are struggling right now because of the economy's steep fluctuation and clients cutting back on budgets (on top of summer being a dry season for many). 

But we both know you're NOT just going to throw in the towel when faced with a challenge, right? 🤔 You're a problem solver, after all. That's one of the reasons you're such an awesome freelancer. ✌️

The truth is, in any economic situation, regardless of the season or circumstances, there are ALWAYS ways to thrive. 

There are clients who need writers. There are opportunities to uncover. The sheer number of businesses and organizations who need recurring marketing copy and content on a weekly basis is wild (with new ones popping up all the time). Just one example. There's 💵 to be made! 

So while you seek those opportunities out, grow your network, and polish your optimism, here's one more thing you can do to battle the "woe is me" energy that's bringing down your vibe:

✨✨ Remember WHY you started freelancing in the first place!

Remember why it's so important to you. Remember why you're made for this. Remember previous challenges you've overcome because you weren't about to give up on your ultimate goal. 

✈️ For some that's location freedom. 
📋 For some it's schedule freedom. 
💰 For some it's uncapped income. 
💓 For some it's "I'm the boss" energy.

Maybe all of these! Whatever it is for you, call it forth. When you're clear on your goal, your creative problem solving and resourceful nature will shine as a natural result.

And, as always, we are here to help! 🤓 What's one challenge you're facing in your freelance career right now? Any tips for fellow freelancers? 👇👇

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
STOP! These outreach mistakes are costing you clie STOP! These outreach mistakes are costing you clients...
🚫 STOP talking about yourself in the first sentence: You'll lose their attention instantly with cliche lines about how experienced you are. Instead, open with something about THEM. Their company, their project, their goals. That's how you keep them reading instead of deleting your email.

🚫 STOP stuffing your first message with too much information: The goal is to start the conversation and take that first step toward building a relationship. If your first email is a full-on pitch, your outreach becomes transactional. Your potential client has no reason to care yet, so why are you talking numbers?

🚫 STOP offering them everything under the sun: Too many offerings will prove that you don't actually know what they want or need. What is your client looking for right now and how can you address that need with a specific service or package? Make it easy to say yes instead of overwhelming them.

🚫 STOP sending a link to your website: From a client's POV, a generic website link is one of the most annoying things to receive. Who has time to sort through pages and find relevant samples? While you're proud of your website, just link them to one specific page that contains the samples they need to see.

What's your experience? What other tips would you give your fellow freelancers?

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
#MondayMotivation ☕️ Feeling resistant to your #MondayMotivation ☕️ Feeling resistant to your writing tasks this week? We can ALL relate. But if you can understand why you're self-sabotaging, you'll have a better chance of avoiding productivity-zapping patterns.⠀
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Resistance is a message telling us we need to check in with something we're experiencing, whether it's a need to rest, some unresolved limiting beliefs about our abilities, a fear of success or change, etc.⠀
⠀
Meditate or journal on your procrastination and resistance today and see if you can unearth any helpful insights. What is it shielding you from? How is it benefiting you? The more we know ourselves, the more efficiently we can design our workdays.⠀
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Remember: The work needs to get done, obviously! But freelancing allows us to decide when and how. Don't force yourself to work in ways that don't work for you.⠀
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☀️ Feeling a little "blah" on Monday mornings? Check-in with FWC! We're dropping tips for getting invigorated and reinspired to start each week strong. Help the community by dropping your own tips below!

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice
#MondayMotivation ☕️ It's a new week... and it #MondayMotivation ☕️ It's a new week... and it's the perfect time to re-write your goals! What are your freelance goals for this week, month or year? If you haven't set any, spend some time thinking about them today.⠀
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Getting in touch with your short and long-term goals can help you shake off distractions and refocus your attention. That pesky project you don't feel like doing? It's actually a stepping stone to the life you want! Success happens day by day, drip by drip, deadline by deadline.⠀
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(Write that down somewhere. 😉)⠀
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Let's make it a great week, freelance writing fam!⠀
⠀
☀️ Feeling a little "blah" on Monday mornings? Check-in with FWC! We're dropping tips for getting invigorated and reinspired to start each week strong. Help the community by dropping your own tips below!

#freelancewritingcafe #freelancewriter #freelancewriting #freelancewriters #freelanceinspiration #freelancewritertips #freelancewritingtips #freelancewritingsuccess #freelancewritingbusiness #freelancingfemales #womenwhowrite #writersofinstagram #freelancesuccesstips #freelancesuccess #upworkfreelancer #freelancelifestyle #freelancelife #writerslife #remoteworker #remotefreelancer #remotewriter #workfromanywhere #workhardanywhere #mobileoffice

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