Sophie Livingston - Website Copywriter

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This Freelance Insights interview features Sophie Livingston, a website copywriter who helps other freelancers attract clients who value what they do.

Sophie was the inspiration for this series, as she posted on Instagram about other freelancers throughout December using the hashtag #freelanceadvent! I’d been thinking for a while that I wanted to do something to promote community over competition, so Sophie’s recent posts were just the push I needed.

Sophie sends out a monthly newsletter that totally feels like you’re getting a letter from an old friend (couldn’t we all do with a bit of that, given the loneliness that can come with freelancing?). On top of that, she provides real value on topics like copywriting, branding, content marketing, etc. Click the button further down this page if you’re interested in signing up - you won’t regret it.

How do you describe what you do for work?

I'm a website copywriter and I work one on one with other freelancers. Lots of freelancers struggle to explain what they do. I work with them to figure out who they are in their business, who they're serving, and what the benefits and selling points of their services are. I turn all of that into website copy that helps them win work they'll love doing for clients who'll pay what it's worth.

What's your favourite thing about working freelance?

The freedom and flexibility make it so much easier for me to live my life the way I want to. I also love the independence. It's up to me what my days look like and where I take my business. That can be scary, at times, but I wouldn't give it up for anything. I've grown so much since I started my business over 3 years ago.

Where do you usually work from?

I work from home 99% of the time. I love being at home. I'm a true introvert - I love the solitude and the quiet. We moved house recently and my office sits at one end of our new living room. It's warm and bright and there's plenty of space. It's a great spot to spend my days in.

What does a normal working day look like for you?

I get up around 7.30 or 8 and take it slow for an hour or so. I'll have breakfast, a shower, tidy up a bit. I head out for a walk with my dog Lincoln at around 9, and then get back to start work at 10. Every day is different, but I'll usually get straight into some creative work until lunch, when I try to step away from my desk for half an hour. I save admin and emails for the afternoon (unless there's anything urgent) and I finish at 4pm most days.

What one tip would you give other freelancers about running a freelance business?

There is no one thing you have to do to put yourself out there. People will try to tell you you've got to do live video, attend networking events or build a profile on LinkedIn, for example. I don't do any of those things and it's going fine for me. Figure out what works for you and get really good at that. You don't have to be everywhere and you don't have to do everything.