Get Pro Copy is perhaps unusual in that it combines four elements in its digital services:
- WordPress Web Design
- Copywriting
- Marketing
- SEO
Copy
When I founded this business on 1st November 2015, almost 8 years ago, it was a freelance copywriting business – no more, no less.
It’s what I, Stuart Walton, do well and have done since the age of four years old when I became a daily writer in notebooks. There’s nothing for me that comes close, in terms of satisfaction, as writing and with the onset of ChatGPT and AI, I have no concerns about writing becoming the digital equivalent of a department store. In fact, in the past year, demand for writing, content marketing, copywriting has increased.
Web Design
I tilted the business into web design, when I was given access in early days by clients to add copy to replace the Lorem Ipsum there. Because I was time-rich, and freed from the yoke of teaching, I looked closely at how the website was designed and began to learn how to do it myself from domain purchase to launch. I’ve since refined this as Gareth Simpson from High Peak Web Design is part of the company and the website and hosting guru. He hosts this website and every single one I create for clients.
When the two – web design and copywriting – merged as one business proposition, the business grew wings and soared. Got to love a metaphor. Clients, who often stall projects by not being able to write even a list, could now hand me 12 bullet points, a short bio, their social media links and let me loose on creating a nice 5 page brochure website.
Marketing
I manage about 10 to 15 social media accounts at one time for clients. Sometimes it dips, other times it swells. Customers can and do pay for one off or one month retainers or keep me on board for 7 years, as one company does. My charges are reasonable, I’m creative with posting, avoid sales and canned sales pitches and charge between £100 and £1000 per month – with no tie in. This works well for both parties – who wants to be held hostage to a 12 month contract? Likewise, if I find a non-payer, a micro-manager, a clown, I can grit my teeth and do 4 weeks work and no more.
SEO
Search Engine Optimisation is seen as a bit of a dark art. It’s an area, like web design, where Joe Public can be truly exploited. Basically, SEO is sending enough signals to Google, answering enough questions from Google searches well and providing content that informs, entertains and appeals that you rise. Google gives you a high five for your website speed, alt-tagged images, content, social media updates that you outshine rivals and start the long climb to Google page one (that’s disappearing soon to, replaced by non-numbered page scrolls).
Now, in November 2015, I could have said, I’m a writer and focused on that, and that alone. But I didn’t. I wanted a higher income stream and to offer something genuinely different – a copywriter who could design websites, or a web designer who could write. A copywriting web designer who can offer social media marketing. A social media marketing, copywriting, web designer who understands SEO.
Jack of all trades, master of none?
Jack of four trades, yes and master of all I hope.
I don’t intend standing still either – you may, if connected with me on LinkedIn, have spotted my philosophical newsletters, about stoicism, Chinese philosophy and reinventing myself.
I only work now, despite 4 strings to my bow, from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm, with only occasional weekend stints thrown in. I do though plan to do something new in the future – a fifth string to my bow. An old string, that I thought was broken.
I’ve been approached and agreed to “teach” at local FE colleges, giving talks and answering questions on my business – web design, copywriting, social media marketing, SEO.
“Of Mice and Men” a staple of my teaching career from 1987 to 2015, won’t be in sight. What will be present though is me dusting off my 27 year teaching career that ended quite a while ago and returning to digital chalk and talk in the near future.
How does teaching make me feel this time around?
Genuinely excited. It’s on my terms, it’s ad hoc, it’s another skill that I have that is being re-awakened, like a kraken.
