Interview with Freelance Magazine and Marketing Writer Jessica Sillers

We recently had the pleasure of sitting down and interviewing freelance magazine and marketing writer Jessica Sillers. We learned about what she does as a writer and she shared her experiences as a small business owner. At a young age, she's certainly impressive!

Small Business View: Can you tell us about yourself and what you do?

Jessica Sillers: I'm a freelance magazine and marketing writer. I've written for local and national magazines on topics like travel and volunteering. For businesses, I'm available to work on various types of B2C and B2B marketing writing. I can write a website, contribute articles for a magazine or newsletter, generate product descriptions for a catalog or website, write Facebook ad copy...I think you get the picture! My job is to present each business in a way that's professional, inviting, and faithful to the brand.

SBV: How did you get started doing this?

JS: I've always been interested both in writing and in how people react to the written word. I double-majored in college, in English with a writing concentration and in a self-designed major that blended psychology, sociology, and marketing to help me understand how people's decisions are shaped by media input. While I pursued my Masters, I worked in publishing and took on occasional freelance assignments. Freelancing struck me as more interesting than my day job: I enjoyed the variety of projects and the chance to learn about new companies. In 2014, I made the switch to write freelance full-time.

SBV: What are some of your goals?

JS: I'm fascinated by authority, as a goal. Building a reputation as a leading voice in a particular niche is such a powerful tool, for businesses and individuals. I'd be thrilled to start a long-term relationship with a company where I produce an online newsletter, for instance, that brings real value to the customer/readers and makes them eager for the next installment. I hope to spend 2015 writing more content that promotes trust and loyalty and makes readers savvier.

SBV: What do you find to be the most rewarding about what you do?

JS: I enjoy writing, and I know it's a source of stress for many people. By making writing my career, I get to do something I enjoy while simultaneously lightening my clients' load. It's a win-win.

SBV: What is the most challenging?

JS: One of the biggest challenges is already behind me, fortunately. Launching a freelance career is by necessity something of a leap of faith, especially at first. Even though I was excited to get started, actually doing so is scary for anyone, I would think. Once I started taking on assignments, that initial worry faded.

SBV: What advice do you have for anyone just starting out? 

JS: A lot of aspiring writers hope to make their living writing bestselling novels and have this odd fear about business writing not being creative. My experience is that every business has a story, a dynamic mission, and cherished values. It's absolutely a creative endeavor to help business owners express that passion and expertise. I'd encourage new writers to learn as much as they can about how copywriting works and learn for themselves what an exciting, engaging process it can be.