We were lucky to catch up with Katie Boyce recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

First, and most importantly: every single person needs to get clear on what “success” looks like to them. Because that word carries a lot of weight and can mean a thousand different things. Is success a certain salary or title? Does it mean closing your laptop at 4pm when your kids come home from school, without exception? Is it creating a career that allows ample time and flexibility for travel, remote work, or time off?

Chasing “success” when we don’t actually have a clear definition for it is a losing game, so taking the time to clearly define the end goal is energy well spent.

Then, once you know what it is you truly want, make a clear plan. Find people who are already doing it, or people who are a step or two ahead of you on a similar path, and ask questions: what do they recommend for your next steps? What mistakes did they make and what lessons did they learn from them? What habits or skills have they developed that serve them well?

I’ve found that the vast majority of people are willing to share their experience and expertise, and they’re happy to cheer you on. Don’t be afraid to reach out and learn from the people around you who share your goals and values. This, in my experience, is the fastest – and most rewarding – way to grow and reach those next levels.

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

As a copywriter, I help interior designers and creative business owners hone their website words and marketing language so they can show up more confidently online.

If you would’ve told me this a decade ago, though, I wouldn’t have believed you; marketing was never on my radar. But, one day I replied to a social media post looking for writers for lifestyle blog, and that’s how I stumbled into the world of copywriting. Turns out, it’s my perfect balance of left-brained strategy and right-brained creativity. I was hooked.

For years, I wrote for Dotdash Meredith’s family of digital publications, including Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Food and Wine, & People, creating native ad content for brands like IKEA, Similac, Hulu, Barclays, & Facebook. I learned so much about digital marketing and partnered with some really great editors who helped me hone my writing skills.

My favorite part? The challenge of adopting each publication’s unique voice and speaking the language of their target reader.

At some point, it dawned on me: This skill wasn’t only useful for big name brands. I could help small businesses and creative entrepreneurs, too.

As I was building my own copywriting business, specializing in the interior design niche was a no brainer. Not only do I have a fine arts degree, but I spent a year in grad school for interior design, so I know how to speak this wonderfully quirky language. All that experience and education gave me insight into the work and life of creative entrepreneurs that most people don’t understand.

Since launching my business in 2019, I’ve partnered with dozens of interior designers and lifestyle brands, writing website words, blog posts, brochures and product descriptions, and social media content that’s tailored to their unique audience.

Then, in 2022 I started focusing on brand messaging with a more holistic approach. I wanted to empower business owners with a tailored, comprehensive set of marketing words they could have on hand to plug-and-play as needed. Not just for their website or social media, but for in-house documents, client onboarding, publication pitches, and more. So no matter what they need to market their business, they never have to start from scratch.

So I created a signature service with a VIP week format – it’s both incredibly thorough and super efficient. And at the end of the week, my clients walk away with their very own Brand Messaging Manual – dozens of pages of custom language to use however they need. And, to ensure they leverage each word and phrase fully, this manual includes a lot of copywriter intel and marketing tips, too.

Clients love it because not only is it clarifying and empowering, but this Messaging Manual has such broad utility. I hear from clients over a year later that they’re still accessing those words on a weekly basis. There’s truly nothing better than having that kind of impact. Clients tell me they’re finally landing projects they’d been dreaming about. Or that they were able to simply copy and paste the perfect bio for a feature article, and they didn’t even have to think twice about it.

For me, this work goes way beyond just marketing and sales. It’s about helping brilliant creatives feel more confident expressing the value of their work – so they can attract the right people and get the exposure they deserve. The world needs passionate, creative humans, and when they succeed, we all succeed. If I can help them on their journey? There’s truly no greater honor.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think some big name publications on my client list and my specialized education in my niche helped get the ball rolling in those early days for sure. Both build a lot of trust and confidence, which is hard to come by when you’re starting out in business.

As I’ve grown though, I’ve also benefitted from a strong referral roster. Clients are generous in passing my name along, and they trust that I’ll provide the same level of service to their colleagues. I think the key is building great relationships with clients and other service providers. Setting up a smooth process, overdelivering on the work, and truly being invested in their success. This isn’t merely transactional for me – I care very deeply about my clients and their businesses, and I think it shows.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As creatives, we’re kind of inherently used to going against the grain a bit. Eschewing expectations or subverting norms is pretty par for the course. Which, as a business owner, makes it pretty fun. We don’t have to try and fit inside someone else’s definition of success (or spend our energy struggling against it).

Instead, we get to approach our work with the freedom to adapt as we please. For me, this flexibility means tailoring offers and office hours to suit my life and family, not the other way around.

In terms of deliverables and quality of service, my standards are high. I always want to dazzle clients and I’m determined to overdeliver, both in the experience and the end products. But that doesn’t mean the work has to conform to a traditional 9-5 schedule. In fact, the output is usually better if it doesn’t. I love the flexibility and freedom of that, and I think modeling that for my children, too, is a really beautiful thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.katieboyce.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieboycewrites/
• Other: Curious how we tailor your brand’s message to the right people? Snag your free guide – https://view.flodesk.com/pages/645aec618e09e376feb04144

Image Credits
Krista Reynolds Photography