Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Bobby Shriver, Owner of Adventurous Words, located in Nashville, TN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a freelance marketing content writer and copywriter. I help organizations tell their story and drive their customers to action through the words I write. I serve small businesses, nonprofits, marketing agencies, web developers, tourism departments, and more. To succeed, every company needs quality marketing content. If they don't, they're missing out on more customers and more growth.
Tell us about yourself
I've been writing stories since I was a kid. After getting a marketing degree, I eventually worked in the nonprofit world and wore many hats, including writing marketing content. Through the encouragement of my community, I decided to pursue writing full-time with my own freelance copywriting business and haven't looked back. It's been a journey of growing my business, meeting tons of great people, and helping clients across a variety of industries.
I'm motivated by the honor I have to share the stories of my clients and how they can help their customers. If written in a compelling way, my clients and the customer both benefit. That's a significant responsibility! As a learner, it's also fascinating to write for different industries, from healthcare and construction to abstract art and city tourism. There's always something new I'm discovering. It's an adventure.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I recently wrote the website content for a health clinic that came through a client referral. This was a brand new clinic whose owners had little experience with creating a website. I was able to walk with them in understanding their goals and vital points of communication, write all of their content in a simpler way that connected with their customers, educate them on what a good website looks like, and even write the clinic's mission statement and values. It was fulfilling to help make their vision a reality, and they were very happy as a result.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
It's really all up to you. There's no one telling you what to do, and there's no manual to follow. You have to be okay with a bit of uncertainty for this reason. While the independence is great, it requires self-discipline, accountability, and motivation to succeed. Plus, there's a required balance of helping my clients and working on the growth of my business at the same time. You want to do the work entrusted to you well today while thinking about getting new work in the future. It never stops.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get a professional website. No matter if you're still new to your business, having an appealing digital storefront will give you instant credibility to potential clients. It's also an excellent marketing tool for showing off your work!
- Find people who can walk with you through your business journey. Owning a business can be lonely, but you can't do it alone. Get a mentor, meet with other business owners for accountability and advice, and stay connected.
- Keep putting yourself out there, whether it's attending a networking event or keeping some business cards in your wallet at all times in case you meet a potential client at a party. It can be awkward at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets. You never know who you'll meet. A coffee with someone could lead to your biggest client. Also, be willing to help others in the process. Pay it forward.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.adventurouswords.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyshriver/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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