Rashida Tayabali Copywriter

Name: Rashida Tayabali
Position: Word Boss
Website: www.rashidatayabali.com.au
Location:  Sydney, NSW, Australia

I write content for female entrepreneurs who are changing the world with their awesome business or idea. I specialise in helping women entrepreneurs say what they do, how they do it and why they do it best using the right words. So if you have a powerful story you want to share or are making a real difference in the world with your product or service, let me help you tell it in words that work.

Think of me as your CopyBFF that understands your business, provides the right support and gives you content that shows off your business in the best light.

What products/services do you offer?

I offer website copywriting, blogs, SEO copywriting, feature articles, advertorials, editorials, press releases and social media posts.

Why did you start your business and how long have you been running it?

I started my business when my first born was 4 months old. My business is 8 years old!

What struggles do you think most businesses face in your industry and what would you say they need to do to overcome them?

I think pricing writing services or determining your hourly rate is the thing that most freelance writers who start off struggle with. There’s also a sense of isolation when you’re trying to find and work with clients. To overcome these two challenges; know your worth and how much expertise and skills you bring to the clients, put a value on that skill, then double it!

What has been your greatest accomplishment?

My greatest accomplishment would be building a base of repeat clients while looking after my family. And realising that I am a good copywriter!

What has been your biggest ‘fail’ so far?

Not realising that I was running a business to begin with, I treated it like a hobby for the longest time and that affected how much income I was able to earn.

What do you love most about your business?

Writing has always been a passion of mine, the fact that I can get paid for it and work from home around my family always gives me a thrill. Plus clients loving the words I create for them!

What do you find most challenging?

Wanting to do all the things that I would like to do in my business while looking after two kids. Just last year I realised I can’t do them all, for example, attend networking events at night and now prioritise those that must be done over things that would be nice to do.

How do you promote your business (please include as many details as you can)?

I actively use LinkedIn to post tips, share articles, and helpful information that my audience would like and connect with people who might be looking for freelancers. I’ve also signed up to numerous directories and paid memberships for freelancers and also use SEO to drive traffic to my website.

What business skills do you have (eg. graphic design, customer service)?

research, copywriting, editing and proofreading.

What software did you/your designer use to create your website (eg. WordPress, Wix)?

WordPress. I’ve used many different softwares for creating websites but WordPress wins hands down!

What are some of your favourite business tools and apps?

I can’t live without Gmail, Google Docs for collaborative and remote working and Google Drive to store documents. I like Calendly for booking in calls and Google Calendar for appointments and meetings. And Zoom for video calls with clients.

What do you like about your website and what’s not working for you?

I love that my website is fast yet looks good with its branding. That’s the impression I want to give a visitor – that their copy will be written by a professional. Everything is working as it should right now.

What lessons have you learnt during your time as an entrepreneur?

Lesson no.1 is that it’s so easy to get distracted if you haven’t written down what your business is and what it does. Lesson no.2 It’s also easy to spend money to get all the ‘shiny stuff’ when one should focus on getting clients who will pay you and appreciate your skills. Lesson no.3 It’s hard to run a business when you’re also looking after a family.

What key tips for success in business would you like to share with others?

Be eager to learn as much as you can about what you’re doing. That’s how you’ll get the confidence to charge what you’re worth. And don’t get stuck doing all the courses – get out there and put it into practice. Be confident when telling others what you do for a living. Writing is a business, so own the label!

What is the one thing that you want everyone to take away from this post?

That it takes a lot of hard work and long nights to run a copywriting business that actually makes you money.