MY 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
What I learned, loathed and loved about being a freelance copywriter in 2019
As the end of 2019 approaches at lightning speed, I can’t help but take a minute to reflect on what I’ve accomplished this year.
When my youngest started primary school in 2017, I took 18 months off work. I’m so grateful that I had the flexibility to be a stay-at-home-mum for a while, but by the end of that year-and-a-half I was itching to get back behind the keyboard and see if I could still string a sentence together.
Turns out I could.
In February this year I relaunched my freelance copywriting business with one client.
Just one.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. Chelsea is the type of client every copywriter dreams of. She absolutely, hands down gets it. She understands the value of copywriting when many small business owners don’t realise what it can do for their business. She pays fast, respects my opinion, is a truly good human being and runs a successful business based on ethics, heart, quality and hard work.
The problem was, there’s only one of her and without personal access to human cloning, I was going to have to rustle up some more business, stat.
So that’s what I did.
And I have to say, after a quiet first few months spent rebuilding, rebranding and getting my groove back, I’m pretty chuffed with how 2019 unfolded.
Here’s a look at my 2019 year in review:
115 Social media posts written (not including hundreds of my own!)
Public Relations pitching to 45 media outlets
42 Marketing emails
35 (happy!) clients
33 blog articles written
25 resumes + cover letters prepared
18 real estate property descriptions
10 websites
6 case studies
4 social media strategy sessions
2 SEO courses completed
2 magazine articles
Oodles of marketing material from media releases to copy for flyers
And a partridge in a pear tree
What I learned
Even though I love working solo, it’s hard to run a business alone.
It’s also not as much fun.
The second-best thing I did for my business this year was joining an amazing community of copywriters. As much as I love being a freelancer, sometimes it’s a lonely gig. Having a group of likeminded wordnerds to chat with, vent to and share freelance ups and downs with has been pretty freaking wonderful. Massive shout out to Kate Toon for creating the brilliant place online that is The Clever Copywriting School community.
They’re top shelf peeps.
And yes, I said joining TCCS was the second best thing I did this year.
So, what was the best you ask?
It was completing the hairy, challenging beast that is The Recipe for SEO Success course. The skills I gained and enormous extra value I can provide my clients to help them be found in Google search has been a game changer. Five stars. Highly recommend.
What I loathed
I’m calling it right now, work-life balance is bullshit. I don’t know anyone who has their work life and home life in perfect harmony. It’s a myth that keeps women awake at night and it needs busting now more than ever.
I loathed the guilt I felt as a working mum. Needing to work sometimes when the kids were home. Not always being fully present. Knowing some days I didn’t get it right and could have done better.
Guilt around this is such a waste of energy.
We’re all doing our best to provide for our families, make sure our kids have the things they need and, for me, work is also about how I feel about myself. I absolutely love what I do and I get enormous satisfaction and self-confidence from it. Using my writing skills and marketing knowledge to help businesses grow, attract new clients and thrive – I get such a kick out of that.
My kids see me happy, working and building something. There’s a valuable lesson in that.
So, this has been a year of figuring out the juggle and realising balance is BS.
I recently heard the term ‘work-life blend’ and that seems to fit. Some days I win at mumming, some days I win at being a boss in my business. Very seldom do I win at both on the same day.
However, this year I do feel as though I’m managing the working mum juggle a little better than I have in the past. I proudly work part-time hours and I cram as much into the hours between 9am and 3pm as I can.
I’ve worked hard on getting my processes right, improving efficiency and productivity and automating as much as possible. Thanks to my 12 years as a journalist on country newspapers I work fast, which helps me get quality copy out the door so I can move onto the next project and spend more time with my family.
That’s my ‘blend’ and it’s working so far.
What I loved
Where do I start? There’s been a lot to love about 2019.
I loved the satisfaction of building my business from having a single client on Day 1 to working for 35 people over the course of the year.
I loved making new friends through my business, via the Clever Copywriting Community as well as other new networks.
I loved seeing my work pop up online, in print and being shared by some fantastic brands (what a thrill!)
I loved seeing amazing women gain confidence in their small businesses because after working with me their websites and social media presence were more professional, playful and powerful
I loved the flexibility to work from my home office, often without a bra, because why not?!
I loved that I can write about not wearing a bra to work, because I’m the CEO and no one can stop me.
What’s in store for 2020?
Big things, you guys! I can’t even tell you how excited I am for next year.
I’ve locked in a 6-month commitment with a business coach to help me kick some limiting beliefs to the curb and work on a 3-5 year plan for my business.
I’m also going to outsource some tasks to free up more writing time. That’s really exciting.
I have a wonderful VA I’ll be working with who actually started as a client of mine. I think the universe has brought us together to help each other kick goals in our respective businesses, so I’ll be picking her brain over the coming months to see what she can do for me and start letting go of some tasks that will allow me to give even more time to my clients.
I’m definitely chalking 2019 up as a winner professionally and can’t wait to get started in 2020.
But first, there’s ham to eat and champers to drink and I think I can hear sleigh bells in the distance … or maybe that’s the kids making a mess in the kitchen ….
Time for this freelancing mum to shut down, switch off and chill out for 2019.
I hope you can do the same.
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays.
Talk soon,
Dayarne x
Dayarne Smith is a freelance copywriter who creates professional, powerful, playful copy for women who are ready to stop playing small and take their business to the next level. Dayarne knows boring copy doesn’t sell, so she crafts quality content with a fun, creative edge.
Do you need a wordsmith to make your business brand shine?
Chat to Dayarne about your project.