Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Scott Dylan Westerlund, a content writer based in Nevada City, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm a content writer with clients ranging from law firms and real estate companies to digital marking agencies.

Tell us about yourself

I graduated college in 2010, so right in the middle of the Great Recession. I couldn't find a job that I could tolerate, and I was living on savings left over from working in construction. I had a lot of experience writing, however, and just by chance, I got to write a couple of articles for a local Berkeley magazine. The pay wasn't great, but I loved making money by writing. Then a friend of mine told me about eLance (now UpWork), and I started applying for writing jobs. That was 7 years ago. Since then, I've been all over Latin America, learned Spanish, met my wife, and all while making a living as a content writer and broker.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Learning how to spot bad clients from the get-go. When I was starting out, I would take anything just because I needed the money. Now I'm much more selective and can spot red flags more easily. Clients don't interview me; I interview them.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Managing the expectations of clients and the abilities of contractors.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

If you're just starting, then pick something you like doing because you will be doing a lot of it. If you already have a business up and running and want to expand, my advice is to raise your rates. Cheap clients are very expensive. You can avoid many problems by charging more and only attracting clients who value your services. It's the 80/20 rule: your highest-paying clients will be responsible for the majority of your income. Also, if you haven't gotten any pushback on your rates lately, it's time to raise them. You should be charging enough that clients will want to ask for less but also enough that you can give them a discount and still be making good money. If you're pretty stable and have systems in place, I advise hiring a virtual assistant. Focus on the aspects of the business you really like and get good at them--outsource everything else.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.scottdylanw.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-dylan-westerlund-a72032a7/

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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