Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Kidd.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I’ve loved reading and writing from a young age. I grew up with a mom who was a retired English teacher and an older sister who was a voracious reader. My older sister was specifically dedicated to making sure that I started reading at a young age actively and above my grade level. After I finished the hobbit and a few of the Harry Potter’s in elementary school, we’d created such a formative habit of reading at a young age that I would never turn back. As I got into undergrad, I slowly realized that I liked my Communication major but loved my minors in English and Philosophy. The choice of pursuing a graduate degree in English literature is an easy one to make. What could be better than two years devoted to reading and writing about books? I was sold. What I should have anticipated was how quickly I would tire. Graduate school is not for the faint of heart, and after two years of 13 + hour days, I was exhausted. After I finished my master’s, I started freelancing writing, taking any jobs that piqued my interest. My first two were with a wine magazine and a travel blog. I loved writing about these topics as it was a fun break from academia. As time continued, my academic skill set began to take on a new shape- one that was strong in any form of copy or content writing. Slowly, I started taking on more entrepreneurs as clients and writing for their small businesses, and eventually decided to turn this transitional life phase activity into a career. I’ve been an LLC for two years now.
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I tell people that entrepreneurship is simultaneously the most exciting and terrifying thing I’ve ever experienced. Imagine riding a rollercoaster and all the giddy anticipation as you climb to the top. That’s what it feels like when you land a new client, deliver an incredible service, receive an encouraging testimonial, or increase your prices and keep your customers. But you know the big drop at the top of the rollercoaster is quickly approaching, and that fear in your stomach still exists. And so do moments of panic followed by thoughts like “Can I pull this off?” “am I qualified for this?” or “Maybe I should apply for an office job.” When you’re striking out on your own and building something new, there are always struggles; sometimes, they come right on the heels of an exciting victory. But suppose I’ve learned anything as an entrepreneur. In that case, as the road winds and you walk the path, you become less surprised by the giddy highs and the terrifying lows, and you discern within those moments whether to keep doing what you’ve planned or potentially pivot some of your offerings.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a copywriter and content writer for visual creatives specifically. I love partnering with photographers, videographers, brand designers, and the like to help them construct their website copywriting, develop a content strategy and craft strong branding language for them. Plenty of copywriters specialize in website copy, but I’m great at taking my clients through a discovery process and unearthing answers to questions that will be pivotal in constructing a trustworthy and convincing brand voice. I love being a business that is specifically value driven. Hopefully, customers can see that about me from our first interaction to the questions I ask, the specific way I communicate, and the writing I produce for them. I’ve also had the opportunity to do some travel writing abroad. Last summer, I went to Ethiopia to interview business owners that ran businesses based on social entrepreneurship and how they could connect with their city and strengthen the local economy while fighting injustice and poverty. It was a rare and once and lifetime opportunity, and writing about their businesses has been a thrill.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk is inherent in starting a business, but I like to take risks. I take a risk in my business every day. It’s a risk anytime you put yourself or something you’ve created into the world. You risk rejection, failure, criticism, and even embarrassment if things don’t go as planned. But we’re all a little too afraid of rejection, failure, and the negative emotions accompanying it. Of course, those things aren’t fun, but after you take a few risks and they flop, you learn to be more calculated in how you go about it. A well-calculated risk in business can be a great thing. And if things don’t go well, at minimum, you’re failing forward, learning while you work, and strengthening your resilience. With risk, resilience is easier to cultivate. And most of the people that risk something will fail. But it’s within those risks and failures that you discover the substance of your character and the depth of your grit. Those who view it as a learning experience will eventually bounce back and strengthen from what they endured.
Pricing:
- Inquire for pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: kccreativeatx.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kccreative.atx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kccreativeatx
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-kidd-5674b393/
Image Credits
Photos by Mackenzie Smith Photo
