Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim Henderson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Yes, we create high quality content for websites and niche book editing services.

Marketing firms generally do not have the best writers for longer form content. Or the writers they have lack the in-depth knowledge that only comes from years of experience. They simply cannot write with authority on something they’ve researched for several hours. Companies end up getting half-baked, anemic blogs that provide more “key words” for search engine results than actual information that will have value for the reader. Even using AI, content creators have to really know the subject they are writing about .

That’s where my company’s services come in. We create content for our specific areas of expertise: natural health, wellness, mental health, and sustainable living. My background is in publishing, serving as a magazine editor of two national publications, and editing numerous books on these topics. Additionally, I’m a writer. I wrote the award winning book 50 Simple Steps to Save the World’s Rainforests, as well as hundreds of researched articles.

As the company’s driving force, I’m able to ensure that every piece of content we deliver is thoroughly researched, informative, engaging, and effective. When editing books, we are thorough and meticulous, always going the extra mile for our clients.

Our clients respond to our quality work. Their metrics show that the content performs well. We’ve found that you can give more than a sound bite if the information is good and well presented. People will read a full 1,000-word blog when the topic is compelling.

Kim, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m going to go back a ways, so bear with me. If there are any hesitant writers out there thinking of a career in writing, this is for you!

I was a lazy student in college, and, honestly, a little intimidated. I applied and got into UCLA as an English major, mostly because I thought I had the best chances of getting accepted that way. Once I was in, I got worried. I remember feeling as if there was no way I could keep up with all the reading and writing. So I tried a couple sociology courses looking for an easier way. That was a disaster. I dropped one and nearly failed the other!

I had no other choice but to take the English classes that were required. Fortunately, my first course was American Literature, and we studied the Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau. At a time of self-discovery, I got hooked in a big way. Something in me shifted, and I got interested and even excited about what I was learning. I became a really good student, and I discovered I actually could write decently. What a surprise! But I still had nearly debilitating anxiety before every paper. It was awful, but I did it anyway.

Looking back now, it seems that after graduation, I spent nearly a decade avoiding being a writer or an editor. I hid in administrative jobs, always in stimulating environments and surrounded by smart people, but hiding from my calling. I was afraid.

Then I was notified I would be laid off from a job six months in advance, so I had time to think about my next move. I wrote to a very small publisher and asked for a job. I got it. And that is when my real career began. Not long after starting, I wrote a piece for their magazine and got my first byline.

I had so much anxiety about writing for years, but the more I did it, the more confident I became. If you had told me I would write a book all those years ago, I would have laughed in your face. But indeed, I did. So I am most proud of the fact that I became a writer, and a good one, as well as an excellent researcher. I learned to edit on the job.

Today, I really appreciate having a company that creates content that people read and learn from. We do a lot of in-depth pieces for some high-profile mental health experts who have thousands of readers. It’s really gratifying to read comments from people who have been helped by them. The companies we provide content for usually have digital editors who give us key words, etc. Our job is simply to deliver high quality, thoroughly researched, compelling material. So that’s what we do.

Any advice for managing a team?

Communicate, pay attention, and trust your gut. Give praise when it is deserved, and constructive when giving corrective feedback. Have fun with your team as well. We used to have afternoon dance parties where we’d blow of steam for 15 minutes dancing to music. We’d have a different person pick the song each week. Sometimes we’d all go out for a walk to clear our minds — or sometimes to problem solve. Right now, I work mostly with freelancers so there’s not as much interaction .I pay them quickly!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes! I always to try to serve a higher purpose — with my muffins, it was to delight and provide enjoyment for customers. With writing, it is to deliver information that will enhance people’s lives. It seems to work. Our company keeps getting more work!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://kim-henderson.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/50SimpleStepsToSaveTheWorldsRainforests/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-henderson-88937111/

Image Credits
For the two muffin images: Kelly Radinsky