Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Bratton.
Hi Anna, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I loved writing and have for my entire life. I spent my childhood creating books that I would proudly read aloud to my family. I was too afraid of “not making it” in journalism. Instead, I decided to go to college for education, eventually making my way to becoming a departmentalized ELA teacher.
After almost 10 years of teaching, having my son, and navigating mental health issues, I decided it was time to leave teaching and pursue a career in writing. One thing I know to be true is you can only outrun your dreams for so long before they find you.
The problem was, I had no idea where to begin!
Naturally, I decided to search Google for all types of writing careers when I was shown a (very) targeted ad for a copywriting course that another teacher had completed, doubling her income. While making massive amounts of money wasn’t my reason for leaving, I was intrigued that I could make money while also being creative, helping others, writing, and being my own boss.
So, I invested in the course. I worked through it each night after work and putting the baby to bed. I took it at my own pace and gave myself plenty of time to learn the material.
What did I learn?
I loved the creativity! For the first time in a few years, I was tapping into something that forced me to get creative, but I struggled with the idea of writing copy and content for product-based businesses as a minimalist myself. The idea of pursuing a role in marketing was an internal battle for me that didn’t quite feel authentic. Not that I don’t believe in buying, but I didn’t want to engage in the psychology of making people think they need more “stuff.”
I planned to stay in teaching for one more year, so I figured I had plenty of time to decide how to combine my values and my skills.
So I thought.
When July approached and the beginnings of school anxiety returned, I literally could not fathom going through mental health issues again. All at once, multiple things aligned, including my first paying clients, to help me decide to take Anna Bratton Copy as my full-time business. I will never stop thanking the universe because I haven’t looked back.
I love owning my business.
I decided to work with clients who create spaces for community and community building. Their passion for their communities is infectious, and getting to be the person who helps tell their story in a way that scales their businesses brings me so much life and energy!
I celebrated my one-year business anniversary in July 2022 with a rebrand and a new client niche. Now, I am continuing to build on everything I have learned as I navigate growing my business in year two.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I am so happy when people share on this topic because I think that most of the time the life of an entrepreneur is romanticized. We don’t talk enough about what it is really like to build a business, especially during the first year.
There have been multiple challenges and obstacles throughout my first year. Most of them were simply because you don’t know what you don’t know. Before Anna Bratton Copy, I had never run my own business, and I didn’t know many entrepreneurs. I had no time to waste when left teaching, meaning I learned a lot on the fly–read as I’ve made many mistakes I had to go back and fix after the fact.
My number one obstacle as a solopreneur service provider in the first year was finding clients– literally the bread and butter of my business. There are so many resources on how to find clients. I read articles from people who have built successful Done-For-You service provider businesses. With an array of different perspectives and opinions. It often felt even more confusing.
So what do I do?
Trial and error.
I looked to the people who built similar businesses successfully, found great business mentors, and pulled from multiple perspectives to create a strategy that works for my business. It didn’t happen quickly or smoothly. I have had to try, evaluate, and recreate multiple times.
Truthfully, sometimes it felt exhausting.
And when the clients weren’t just pouring in, I ended my work days worried and anxious, wondering if I would make it. When the big picture of our efforts becomes clouded, it feels as if no one is there to notice our work. It becomes easy to want to give up.
This is when true growth happens.
Every time there’s a slow period where I have to re-evaluate and adapt leads to a time of growth for my business and me. I just keep taking the next best step. Just like I had faith the day I resigned from teaching, I have faith that focusing on the next step will build sustainable growth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I recently niched down to copywriting for food and hospitality brands. I work with boutique restaurants, cafes, vineyards, and even catering companies to create authentic brand messaging that connects with their audiences. I offer a variety of copy, but I am most known for websites, email marketing, and blogs.
These are my favorite types of copy because they are incredible places to tell your story, connect with your community, and build this amazing space for others. All of my clients want their businesses to be places where people join in the community. Because people buy from people, websites, emails, and blogs are beautiful places for people to connect with a business and build a loyal relationship with them.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Oh my gosh! So many! I am a consumer of all things books and podcasts, but I will try to narrow it down– no matter how hard that is for me!
Some of these recommendations are for any professional, and some focus on marketing specifically.
Books:
* Professional Troublemaker by Luvvie Ajayi Jones
* Building a Storybrand by Donald Miller
* Everybody Writers by Ann Handley
Podcasts:
* Marketing School with Eric Siu and Neil Patel
* The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
* Ctrl Alt Delete with Emma Gannon
Contact Info:
- Website: www.annabrattoncopywriter.com
- Instagram: @annawritescopy
