Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in content writing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Emma Loker, Founder of Emma Loker Writing Services, located in Ely, UK.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own a professional writing business, mainly specialising in psychology, gardening, interior design, and real estate content. However, I am always interested in expanding my knowledge and branching out into other topics - I have completed writing projects on electronics, dentistry, book reviews, and all sorts. My clients tend to be people with exceptional ideas for online content who either don't have the writing expertise or time to execute their vision to the standard they want. Many of my clients, especially those specialising in psychology and mental health, genuinely want to help others - this makes it a pleasure to work alongside them.
Tell us about yourself
To be entirely transparent, I stumbled upon my writing career by chance. My sister mentioned a platform where you could find paid writing work, and I thought I'd give it a shot. I had always loved writing and been good at it, but I never anticipated it would be a successful professional pursuit.
I started with small writing projects, charging next to nothing (around $0.01 per word), just trying to make extra money on the side of my job as a Form Tutor in an autism-specialist school while studying Child and Adolescent Psychotherapeutic Counselling at the University of Cambridge.
However, within a year, I was making more money than I could have imagined, and the clients were flooding in. So, I decided to quit my job and become a self-employed writer. My real passion is psychology writing - it gets me up and out of bed each day. Knowing I'm helping people understand their mental health difficulties is a big motivator for me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is helping people with their mental health. I do a lot of ghostwriting for social media accounts focusing on well-being and write authored psychology articles and blogs for various websites. The highlight of this kind of work is seeing people comment things like, "I needed this today" and "This really helped me." Helping people is very important to me.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest parts of being a business owner is keeping firm boundaries and valuing my leisure time. There's a real pull to say "yes" to every opportunity as a business owner, as there are times when the work dries up, so you try to do as much work as possible when you get the chance.
But there comes a time when you have to learn to say "enough is enough" and value your free time as well as your business. Learning to keep firm boundaries and saying "no" to opportunities that I would love to be involved in but would cut into my leisure time is one of the hardest parts of being a business owner.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Protect your free time.
When you're growing a business, it can quickly and easily take up all your time and energy. I want to say this is just while you're getting your business off the ground, but the very for your resources never ends. Your free time is the only pocket of time you get where you can switch off and enjoy being with your family - it's crucial to keep space for leisure time, even when it feels like your business leaves you "no time," as time spent with those you love is incredibly restorative. It'll make you better at your job. - Know your worth.
Knowing your worth was something I struggled with right from the get-go. When you're growing a business, it's a dog-eat-dog world, and people will try to pay you as little as possible. You're the only one who can negotiate your pay, so don't undersell yourself and ensure you value your worth. Ask for the compensation you deserve for the hard work you're putting in. This will allow you to complete less work but to a higher standard, rather than overstretching yourself and overpromising and underdelivering. - Remember to celebrate the small wins.
New clients and projects may trickle in or come in thick and fast
this can depend on so many things. However, remember to celebrate the small wins regardless of how much or how little work you have.
Print that first 5* review off and stick it on your wall. Share your success on social media. Whatever your style is, celebrate. Celebrating the small wins will help motivate you when your goals feel far away.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.emmaloker.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-loker-986119160/
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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