This months interview is with the amazing Kelly from Making You Content, We have to say Content writing has to be one of the hardest things to do, therefore we think Kelly and her team are inspiring.
1. How did you get into the content marketing / copywriting / content writing business?
I’ve always loved writing, but I never knew about copywriting as a career until I started looking for ways to earn money at university. Back then I had two waitressing jobs and was on every student job website going. My friends used to always ask me for help with their essays, so when I saw a few freelance writing gigs I thought: how hard can it be?
It turned out I had a lot to learn, but I put the commitment in and gradually taught myself the principles of copywriting and marketing. As I improved, my client base grew. And the rest is history!
2. In your opinion, what are the main benefits of hiring a content writing company for small/start up businesses?
There’s two main benefits really: time and expertise. Most business owners don’t have the time to write an email, let alone a fortnightly blog or fifteen pages of web content! And everyone can write, but it’s easy to tell when someone hasn’t used a copywriter…
We help our clients develop a consistent tone of voice for their brand, develop the key messages that will resonate with their audience, and create content that delivers on its purpose – whether that’s converting web traffic or changing brand perceptions.
3. What is the most niche/obscure subject you’ve had to research for a job?
I once had to write bios for an escort company! This was back in my student days, but I’ll never forget having to hide my laptop screen every time someone walked past my booth in the library!
4. Why should a company have a tone of voice?
It’s all about creating the right impression. Just as the design of a brand influences people’s perceptions, tone of voice can be the difference between sounding incredible or – at best – incredibly ordinary. A distinct tone of voice supports your brand strategy to help you stand out from the pack and build rapport with your audience.
5. What advice would you give to somebody who’s writing the copy for their brand new product?
Before you put virtual pen to paper, take the time to think about your message. What unique selling points set you apart from competitors? What motivates your audience, and what pain points can you solve along the way? Do you have a vision that inspires your work? If your brand was a person, how would they speak?
Get the answers to these questions right and you’ll have clear guidelines to follow when creating content for your brand.
6. What is your favourite topic to write about?
I don’t tend to write a lot nowadays, but I do love getting my teeth stuck into thought leadership content. The brilliant privilege of our job is that we get to speak to experts in their subject area every single day. When we spend time teasing these insights out, we learn some amazing things!
7. How would you describe the culture of your company?
The MYC team are like family to me, and I think this is reflected in the culture. We have a very flat structure within our agency – everyone is involved in decisions, everyone takes responsibility. Although we work extremely hard, we make sure we set aside the time to celebrate achievements and let our hair down. There’s never a dull day!
