We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ann Schreiber. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ann below.

Alright, Ann thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

My first paid project came through Upwork. I knew I needed to start with a small project that would allow me to get client feedback and a rating. That first project was to come up with crossword puzzle clues and answers. It was funny that I actually landed the project, as I am not a crossword puzzle person by any stretch of the imagination.

But it was a lot of fun. The client was so happy that he hired me for a second, similar project. Those two projects with top ratings helped to grow my profile and gave me some credibility when I started seeking larger projects that were more in line with my talents.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the owner and sole writer for Copywriting For You Corporation. When people ask what I do, I tell them I am a freelance blogger and copywriter. Every day, I write content for clients that helps them grow awareness for their brand. My sweet spot is blog writing, so I write blogs that can be anywhere from 450 to 3000 words, based on the client’s goals.

I’m proud of my reputation as a writer. I’ve worked hard to build my skills so that I can create content that clients love and are excited to share on their websites. My work rests on the following principles: honesty and integrity, transparency, quality, commitment, and responsiveness.

While I can write across a wide variety of industries, my favorites are:
– Financial services (credit scores, saving money, sticking to a budget, etc.)
– Lifestyle (home care, housekeeping, general construction, etc.)
– Health and wellness (medical, dental, and fitness)
– Home improvement
– Parenting and childcare (including step-parenting)
– Dating, romance, and weddings
– Mental health
– Business and marketing

Have you ever had to pivot?

While the vast majority of my career has been spent in marketing and marketing sales, I have always done that work for large organizations. I’m pretty proud of the employer roster I’ve had the privilege of working for—FICO, Experian, and Best Buy, to name a few.

But even during my years selling marketing services or serving as a head of marketing, I always had a passion for content. I naturally gravitated to it when opportunities arose. If I could write something, I was in my happy place.

During the middle of 2019, I went through two significant life changes. The first was a layoff from a digital marketing company I had been working for, based out of California. The next was the separation from my husband of almost 23 years, which led to divorce by the end of the year. Those two events were turning points for me, and I realized I needed to make changes.

In May 2019, within days of that layoff, I started freelancing through Upwork. Small projects led to bigger ones, and I still have some of those big relationships today. And for many years, my freelancing served as a profitable side hustle. But more than just the money, it was an escape at the end of a busy day in corporate America. Yet, until just one year ago, it was never more than a side hustle. When I went through another layoff in January 2023 (although a welcome one), I felt the timing was finally right for me to turn that side hustle into a full-time gig. And I did.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

As a writer, my reputation is first and foremost based on providing great work. I leverage Upwork for over 60% of my work. It’s an excellent platform that helps me get in front of great clients who need the services I provide. But better than that, Upwork provides a great mechanism for clients to communicate with me and provide feedback for a job well done at the end of the project.

Word-of-mouth advertising can do wonders for a small business owner, especially one who works from home and often never even meets or talks to their clients. Prospective clients see the great feedback left for me on my Upwork profile from past clients. Those positive reviews speak volumes and work as “references.”

I have over 500 completed jobs logged in Upwork and over 1,700 total hours. This has earned me some exclusive ratings with the platform, which helps me reach more great clients.

But aside from all of this, in addition to providing great content, as a small business owner, freelance blogger, and copywriter, clients cherish a great work ethic, responsiveness, honesty, and transparency. And I wouldn’t offer anything less.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://copywritingforyou.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annmb26/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copywritingforyoucorp
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annschreiber/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnMSchreiber
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@CopywritingForYou
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/copywriting-for-you-corporation-woodbury

Image Credits
TreeTop Media, http://treetopmedia.net/