Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chris Thompson, owner of english-to-English, located in Alberta, VA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is english-to-English. We check, correct, and optimize English for intermediate and non-native speakers. Our primary clients are academics and professionals, the latter of which include bloggers and other entrepreneurs.
Tell us about yourself
I'm an academic myself with an internationally recognized and award-winning publication history of my own. While I was developing my research in graduate school, it became clear that some of my colleagues needed help with their English if they were going to compete at the top levels of their fields. The short story is that I began working with other Ph.D. students who spoke English as a second language to help them prepare their presentations and publications, and I found that the process and results were much more rewarding than I had anticipated.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
So far, my biggest accomplishment is my most treasured one: having made a good foundation by selecting the right colleagues and clients. I place the highest value on the relationships that I have started building with talented and reliable editors and graphic artists, as well as with the clients who inspire us to achieve our best each day. Of course, we're still growing, but we are off to a good start!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It can be a challenge to find top-level editors in a digital world where anyone who speaks average English can present themselves as an expert and qualified teacher of the language. Vetting is critically important it takes a great deal of time and effort to do it well.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- First, know your short- and long-term goals, and build ways to support these into your website from the start. You do not want to have to give your website a massive makeover anytime soon.
- Secondly, make sure that you anticipate and address as many of your clients’ unspoken concerns as you can. Your best clients will know that you’ve done this and may become your most loyal clients as a result.
- Finally, try to remember the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. It's easy to work 12 hours a day, seven days a week. It's (usually) much better for all concerned if that doesn't happen!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.english-to-english.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/englishtoEnglishonFB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/english-to-english/
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.