Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Freeman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up in a small town in Kansas, and always dreamed of moving to a larger city where I could use my skills to make an impact. Jess Creatives started as a part-time business venture, back in 2011, that I tackled on top of my normal day job. By late fall 2014, I had grown the Jess Creatives client base large enough to allow me to transition Jess Creatives to a full-time business. Over the last few years, I’ve worked with more than 250 businesses and entrepreneurs.
I’ve seen many entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits that don’t have websites and marketing materials that represent them well. I know that with low budgets, owners are often forced to create their own design, without any strategy, the necessary skills, and proper tools. I wanted to fill the need for affordable but valuable graphics and web design.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My largest challenge was dealing with enormous personal tragedies during my first year as a full-time entrepreneur. Just a few weeks after I transitioned to working full-time, my mother-in-law was in a serious car accident that left her in a wheelchair for several months.
In early December 2014, my mother was killed in a car accident, on her way to work. So, during my first year of working in an office by myself, I had to work through grief, shock, and depression. While anyone in the world would struggle with these problems alone, and still work a full-time job, it’s a completely different ballgame to be in charge of your own business, and your own clients.
Another struggle I’ve had is trying to handle the large influx of clients and tasks as a one-woman shop. Through fostering relationships and working hard, my business has doubled, yet there is still only one of me! I’ve been working with some part-time contract employees, but it’s been a struggle to find the right people that can do the job, and that I can still afford to pay appropriately.
Trying to get involved in the local community, along with being self-employed, is not an easy task either, but one that I have been improving on, in an effort to build more relationships.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Jess Creatives – what should we know?
I’m a graphic and web designer, as well as a video strategist, that primarily works with online entrepreneurs to build their online platform. My days are mostly spent designing Squarespace and WordPress websites, as well as other design projects like logos, books, and social media graphics.
After a business owner gets their new website and brand up and running, they often need to take it to the next level – which is where video content and a YouTube channel comes in.
I was honored to be named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year by Gwinnett Chamber in 2015. I’m also very proud of how many people I’ve been able to help and reach my business. Besides working with my clients, I also provide a lot of free content and tutorials – over 200 videos and 300 blog posts – teaching other entrepreneurs about how to improve their brand, websites, and businesses as a whole.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
For me, I think it has been my perseverance. I’ve had failed launches, I’ve created things that no one watched or read – but I kept going, and kept trying. When you’ve been talking about something online for months and months, and then it’s a flop, it’s easy to want to try and hide in the corner.
(And, I’m not saying I didn’t sulk for a few days!) But, to keep growing, we have to keep trying. An author by the name of Bob Goff once said, “Fail trying, don’t fail watching.”
Pricing:
- Full website design: $2,400
- Website audits: $200
- YouTube strategy: $250
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jesscreatives.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jesscreatives
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesscreativesdesign
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/jesscreatives
- Other: www.jesscreatives.video (YouTube)
Image Credit:
Virginia Ashley Photography
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