Well, well, well…2019 has crept up on us all a bit, hasn’t it?! It seems like only…well, not as long as 12 months ago…that I sat down at my desk, pen in hand (yes, I still always write my to-do lists with pen and paper) on January 1 2018 to map out the year ahead.
I didn’t know it then, but 2018 would turn out to be my busiest year as a self-employed copywriter. I also didn’t evisage it being such a lovely, long, hot and sunny summer and that there would be so many slices of delicious cake to scoff. Okay, I did predict the last one.
I’ve decided to start my year off right by looking back on some of the inspiring projects I’ve been working on over 2018, with some absolutely top notch clients and friends. So without further ado, let’s dig in!
Relaunches and Rebrands
I was chuffed to be selected to work with London-based digital marketing agency Voodoo Park on the total refresh and relaunch of the C2C Trains website. I’m proud of how this project worked out, and I’m thrilled that my copywriting and web content skills were able to bring Voodoo Park - and its client’s - vision to life.
I was also happy to be the copywriter of choice for Leeds-based recruiter, Thorn Baker, as part of its new rebrand. It was a joy to work for a fellow Yorkshire-based company, using copywriting to help their website work exactly the way manager director, Paul, wanted it to.
As well as working with a number of acclaimed marketing and digital agencies in 2018, I also officially launched The Occasional Reporter, with its all-singing, all-dancing website. Shortly after its full launch, I took multiple orders for a fellow marketer for his clients for Christmas/corporate presents.
Excitingly enough, I’m also now in talks with a Premier League football club (I’ll be able to reveal who later this year) about stocking some of my The Occasional Reporter bespoke front pages in their club shop!
Hiring Some Help
I’ve been so busy over the past few months with copywriting, The Occasional Reporter (and scoffing cake!), that I’ve enlisted the professional support of two new freelancers.
Award Wins
In 2018, I was chuffed to win not one but two awards for my work as The Occasional Reporter. The first was a Jacqueline Gold #WOW award, run by entrepreneurial legend Jacqueline Gold, CBE, Chief Executive of Ann Summers’ and Knickerbox.
The second gong I was presented with was a highly sought-after Shooting Stars award. This award is given by Huddersfield Town Football Club Foundation to leading local businesses in the area, and mine was handed over by Sean Jarvis - the Commercial Director of Huddersfield Town.
You can read a bit more about my awards in this blog post, which I posted on The Occasional Reporter’s blog last year.
Getting Technical
Over the past year I very much enjoyed getting my teeth into some technically-focused articles for an engineering client on behalf of H20 Creative.
Engineering is a topic I don’t often get to write about and I relished the challenge of getting each and every detail exactly right. Thankfully, the client was chuffed to bits with the work I provided for them (full testimonial coming soon)
I Enjoyed 5 Minutes of Fame. Well, Kind Of.
The Yorkshire Post is close to my heart, and I was glad that in 2018 I was able to write a piece for my favourite local newspaper (except the Examiner, of course!) about how my Dad’s love for music inspired my own passion for music and writing.
Brand New Clients
It wouldn’t be right of me to write a blog post about my past year without taking a moment to speak about some of the fantastic clients who’ve hired my services along the way. After all, what would a copywriter be without businesses to write about?
Thank you to Helen Taylor Aesthetics, the Breton Shirt Company, Agile Acoustics, Dental SEM, Ibiza Angels, MA Living and The Stoneacre Group for their support. I look forward to working together again in 2019!
Here’s to the New Year
And, as they say, that’s not all. As 2019 begins with earnest, I’m enthusiastically sending emails and signing off invoices with a flourish. No rest for the wicked! It’s time to knuckle down and get to work for an even better year ahead. I hope you’ll join me?
If you’re looking for a dedicated copywriter with experience in a whole host of industries from recruitment and entertainment to engineering and manufacturing, get in touch. I’d love to speak to you about how we can work together this year.
Until next time…