From stress to success: copywriter Sophie Livingston on hiring a virtual assistant
Meet Sophie Livingston, a down-to-earth Yorkshire lass, kick-ass copywriter, and founder of Kickstart Content based in Hull. Sophie specialises in helping freelancers create impactful websites and intentional content that’s fully aligned with their business goals.
"Emma is brilliant at what she does. She's reliable, supportive, and smart. We've worked together for over a year now and I trust her completely. I'm a copywriter, and Emma helps me with proofreading, formatting, and planning. It's reassuring to know I've got someone in my corner who's committed to helping me produce my best work. I'm lucky to have found her. She's a star!"
~Sophie Livingston
I first met Sophie in the fabulous Freelance Heroes Facebook Group (if you're not a member, do go and join, it's such a supportive freelance community to belong to). When I was looking for a copywriter to help refresh my website content, she was the obvious choice, as I knew she got me and understood my target audience. (See the benefit of taking time to network and build relationships with people online? Just sayin').
I was then delighted when Sophie later reached out and hired me as her proofreader, as having worked with her on my website, I already knew that she was my kind of person and that we would work really well together.
I hope you enjoy reading Sophie's interview...
Hi Sophie, please introduce yourself
Hey Em, thanks so much for having me. I work with freelancers like you to create websites and marketing content. I'm all about helping people find clarity around their brand. Because when you've got a good grasp on what you're offering and who it's for, it gets easier to find clients who are the right for you.
What challenges were you experiencing before working with me?
I spend a lot of time writing, and when I'm working on a website especially, I lose track of the number of times I re-read and revise the copy. After so long, you kind of just stop seeing it. I was worried about sending work to my clients that might have errors in.
My clients are very busy, and they have a lot going on at once. I don't want to add to their stress levels by giving them something else to worry about. I want them to have 100% confidence in me and my work, so accuracy is essential.
Did you try to resolve those challenges yourself? If so, what happened?
I've tried different ways of proofreading. Reading aloud works well, and I sometimes ask Microsoft Word to read my work back to me, which helps.
I can do an okay job of spotting errors using those methods, but it's nothing compared to having a second pair of human eyes look over your work. You spot things I'd never have noticed.
What made you decide to work with a VA rather than employ someone?
Hiring an employee isn't an option for me, nor is it a responsibility I'd ever want to take on. I only need a little bit of support, and I need it on a flexible basis. A VA is the perfect solution.
What was the most important consideration when choosing the right VA to work with?
I'd already built up a relationship with you having worked on your website copy. I know you're reliable, friendly, supportive, and have a great eye for detail. Choosing you was a no-brainer.
How is my help making a difference to your business?
It takes a big weight off my mind when I'm nearing the end of what has usually been a long project.
It's not really about saving time, but about feeling confident in my work. It also helps me to relieve some stress and clear my head before sending the work over to the client. I now move into the next phase of each project feeling more ready than I used to.
What three words describe your experience of working with me?
Trustworthy
Encouraging
Understanding
What would you say to someone thinking about working with me?
You won't find a VA who's more supportive than Emma. She offers such a flexible service, too. Give it a try - I promise you'll feel better after you've done it.
If you’d like to learn more about Sophie's copywriting services, you can visit her website here.
If you’re thinking of outsourcing to a VA, get in touch and tell me what you need. I’d love to help!
