Hi friends! Maybe you’re here because you want to know how to go freelance, but I’m going to say it right off the bat: I don’t know! There’s no one right way. On today’s episode of the Monthly Memo I’m talking about how and why I started freelancing. I haven’t done a Monthly Memo since April because… to be honest, there’s not a lot going on in lockdown! And my only updates sucked. They were like “I’m missing my wedding today” and “I miss my dog a lot” – not exactly fun, blog worthy material. On the other hand, since April I’ve been working away at becoming a freelancer. And here we are.
Why I went freelance
I always dreamed of the days I could make my own hours and work in cafes. Doing branding and marketing for fantastic small businesses, shooting content, editing photos, growing an online reputation… But it sounds like just a dream! A job like that doesn’t just happen overnight, and I never had the drive (or connections, or experience) to do it.
In January I was starting to realise I couldn’t stay at my workplace for much longer. So, when I handed in my notice I planned to go back to tour guiding or do some temp work to support my income while I set up as a freelancer. Enter: coronavirus. There I was April 12th, no job, no income, and literally nothing stopping me from freelancing.
How I went freelance
Really, all I did was make a site (built off a brand I invented and a lot of research). ArcticSabrina is on WordPress, so I set up my new ‘Waterlilies Digital Marketing‘ site with Wix. Now I know both platforms and… Dare I say it? I prefer Wix. The struggle of customising your theme is virtually non-existent on Wix, it’s incredible. Anyways, I digress.
Going freelance meant doing competitor research, deciding what services I would offer and writing up a lot of lists. Lists of what keywords and keyword phrases I’d use for SEO, lists of potential clients, lists of things that needed to get double and triple checked. A lot of time was spent on Canva, creating different branding and seeing what I liked. Eventually, brand guidelines were finalised, the website was heavily edited by more than a few eyes and the Instagram @ was secured. Voila, I am now a freelancer.
But am I *really* a freelancer?
No. I have no clients. I have some promising leads, but no clients. Still no income. But, I’m working every day, nine to five, on the business. I’m making content plans, writing blog posts, pitching to potential clients and so on. Even if I get zero clients between here and my next job, at least I’m keeping my skills up to scratch!
Why ‘Waterlilies’?
I spent a whole month thinking of a name for my digital marketing business and this was the best I could do, okay? It started with ‘lotus’ because the lotus flower is a symbol of rebirth, regeneration and growing something beautiful out of darkness! (So I learned when my friend got a tattoo of one). After a search I found that there was already a marketing agency called lotus. Whatever. I didn’t like the name anyways. And… what’s this Google tells me? The lotus flower and the water lily are the same thing. Two birds, one stone. It’s inspired by all the aforementioned symbolism, but also Monet’s waterlilies. What’s more recognisable than the waterlilies?!
And for my fellow bloggers and Instagrammers…
Waterlilies is for small businesses. You’re a small business! If you want advice on SEO, keyword searching, content planning, any of it: you can contact me. I offer digital strategy consultancy, and for those in Edinburgh… I have very competitive influencer photography rates. š
Do you know someone looking for digital marketing support? Please, send them my way!
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