Jessica Pereira is a freelance writer for B2B SaaS and Digital marketing brands. After getting frustrated with finding a job, she decided to build her own career at home, doing what she loves… writing! Over the past year, she has successfully built her services to work as a full-time writer.
How was your university time?
I went to Sonoma State University in California for my bachelors degree in Communication Studies and Spanish. At the time, I was focused on Public Relations, so I got an internship at a healthcare PR agency for 6 months.
While public relations is interesting, it didn’t feel right to me. So I went back to the drawing board and started gaining more interest in digital marketing. At this point, I had just graduated with my degree, so I began taking free courses on HubSpot to learn more digital marketing strategies.
During this team, I packed up my bags and moved to Thailand for 6 months to teach English. I still wasn’t sure what career path was right for me, so I thought being out of my comfort zone would get me inspired.
And it did! During my time in Thailand, I found myself thinking more about digital marketing and writing. So I decided to combine both of them together into digital marketing writing, and I found B2B SaaS along the way.
Why did you choose a career in this field?
Here’s the thing about finding a job—it’s never on your own terms. I was constantly writing resumes and cover letters that embodied what my employer wanted, but it was never about what I wanted in a career.
I got tired of this, so I went ahead and created something for myself. Sure, it was stressful and took a lot of work, but I wouldn’t change my path for the world! Now I have the power to do everything in my way—my schedule, clients, and workload are just a few things I get to choose.
Not to mention, it feels very rewarding to build your own business from the ground up. You get to look back and say, “Yeah, I did that!”
What was your first job or nuggets from jobs you had that helped you to get to where you are today?
My public relations internship set the bar for me, writing-wise. I also gained a ton of connections and exposure to the professional world.
As for freelance writing, landing a few gigs on credible sites is how I got where I am today. Big-name clients find me from those articles all the time, which is great!
How did you start freelance writing?
I started my journey with a freelance writing course by Elna Cain. She helped me get all of the logistics down—my website, writing samples, and budgeting tools. From there, I began cold pitching clients everyday, sometimes 5 times a day! This was my least favorite part about the process, but over time I landed a few clients who helped me land the clients I have now.
Oh, and I put myself out there and made connections with writers, digital marketers, B2B SaaS owners, etc. This is probably the most important strategy to implement as a freelance writer. You never know when one of those connections will reach out to you.
Books or podcasts that helped you?
Some of my favorite books about business/freelance writing include:
Content Inc. by Joe Pulizzi – This book goes over everything you need to start a content marketing strategy. I found it super helpful to implement in my writing and my own business.
The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert W. Bly – If you want tips on writing for the web, look no further! This book lays out everything you need to write engaging content.
Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port – My favorite part about this book is how he focuses on finding your ideal client, which is very important for any freelancer.
I also listen to a lot of podcasts about building a business mindset, here’s what I recommend:
Mind Your Business by James Wedmore – This is one of the best “business mindset” podcasts I’ve ever listened to. He teaches you how to expand your mind, tap into your intuition and grow your business to places you wouldn’t believe.
Manifestation Babe by Kathrin Zenkina – Similar to the podcast above, Kathrin Zenkina teaches you to open your consciousness to build the business of your dreams. She might be a bit “woo woo” for some people, but my mindset has changed so much from her thoughts. She also talks about personal development, which always ties into your business.
Freelance to Founder by Clay and Preston – I love listening to this podcast for stories of how other freelancers built their own business. If you want inspiration, go here!
Hot Copy by Belinda Weaver and Kate Toon – Go to this podcast for writing tips and tricks, and a little humor!
Things are changing very fast in the industry; how do you keep yourself updated. Please list techniques or newsletter, podcasts, events etc.
Along with listening to the podcasts above, I also keep up with the industry through email newsletters, like:
The Hustle – They send the most recent tech news every morning, which keeps me up to date with my B2B SaaS niche and digital marketing.
Ann Hadley – Ann Hadley is a content marketing expert, so I love to read her weekly emails for insight on writing, mindset, and marketing.
eBiz Facts by Niall Doherty – If you’re going to sign up for any newsletter, choose this one! Every week, Niall sends a huge list of remote jobs, how other business owners make money, and insightful articles. I’ve found so many helpful resources from him.
I’m also part of many freelance writing Facebook groups, where we all ask questions, share our work, and build more connections.
Advice for someone looking to freelance write?
My best advice is to get your mindset in order. What you put in is what you’ll get out of freelancing, so mindset is HUGE! I’ve improved my business mindset by working during my most optimal hours, writing about what I actually like to write about, and getting to know other freelance writers.
Oh, and I learned to drop any negative beliefs I have about success and money. You’re just as capable as anyone else to build a thriving business. So focus on your wins, reflect on your losses, and believe that you’ll be successful.
I also suggest reading as much as you can about your writing niche online. Find out what makes articles popular and what you can do to make them even better. Then, join a Facebook freelance writing group and ask for feedback.
And one more thing–write every single day! It’s amazing how much you can improve in a month, let alone a year. So whether it’s client work, your journal, or your own blog, write at least 2-3 pages daily.
also read: What is Freelance work?
