We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Stéphanie McGuirt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Stéphanie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I learned copywriting when I worked at a bookkeeping firm. My role there shifted from handling the day-to-day bookkeeping to marketing and writing all of the messaging. Since I was always creative, it was a better fit for me to change roles. The firm gave me a playground to experiment with what type of messaging worked and what didn’t, and I was able to take courses on copywriting from great instructors.

Looking back, I could’ve sped up the learning process by taking more risks, trying new things, and not following what other people were doing just because it worked for them. I would’ve done more of my own thing in the beginning – because that helps you to find your voice and style.

The most essential skills in copywriting are empathy, awareness, and patience. You have to empathize with the story and the audience, you have to be aware of what’s going on in the world and how your copy can reflect that in a positive way, and you must have patience with yourself… the first draft never looks like the final version.

The obstacle I had to go around was working at the bookkeeping firm and not having enough time to focus on my craft. I had to decide to leave because I knew what I wanted to focus on full-time.

Stéphanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into copywriting when I had to do it for a bookkeeping firm I worked for before. I’ve always had a creative spirit and fell into bookkeeping because I needed to work and that was available to me. However, a few years in, I really started to feel the pains of not doing enough creative work. So, I shifted my role from day-to-day bookkeeping to marketing and messaging. Eventually, I got enough work to transition out of bookkeeping and write full-time.

The clients I work with are so passionate about what they do and how they can be of service to the world through sharing their gifts. My favorite thing is to listen to their stories and help them find the words that attract the right people, so they can shine in their industry.

I’m most proud of the fact that I can take all the pieces of a client’s story… who they are, what they do, why they do it, and the impact that all has on their customers. I can take all of that and distill it into one sentence, one message, one journey. It’s incredibly fun and rewarding to help people bring their vision to life through words.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

I started out using Upwork, so I could start connecting with people and building my portfolio. Eventually, I got enough work and gained the confidence to branch out and get clients off of Upwork. It’s all been through word of mouth. I don’t use social media or do a lot of marketing. I think the best marketing is doing good work and letting people know that you’re available if they need you or know anyone.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I’m not working, I homeschool my two kids, ages 9 and 3. Finding a work/life harmony that works for you can be a challenge. It’s taken years, but I’m at a place where I don’t let a single area of my life take over my day. I think that’s the key… setting a focus and an intention, and not getting too caught up in the little things.

Contact Info:

• Website: stephaniemcguirt.com