Little Red's Writing
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Best sites for the well being of women in Small Business « Mum Pages - Business Directory Mum Pages – Business Directory
So excited that my post made it onto Mum Pages, check out the link!
Saturday, August 3, 2013
So I'm New To Blogger- Come Say Hi!
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Little Red's Guest Book- Interview with Tracy Speight (Warratahstree/ Social Artworking)
Tracy combining work and play at Burwood Neighbourhood House
(Image courtesy of Tracy Speight at Warratahstree)
Related articles
- Little Red's Guest Book- Interview with Jenifar Hathaway (Director of JLH Bookkeeping) (lrwsolutions.wordpress.com)
- Guys' Guide To: New Social Media Platforms (jacamoblog.co.uk)
Self- Interview: Little Red Interviews Lauren Jeffery
I'm 31 years old and still feel about 18. It's wonderful! And no, I'm not in denial about getting older.
What was my childhood dream?
I had a few dreams. Firstly, to become a nurse (tick!), then two have two children (tick!), but wanted two boys. Got one of each and couldn't be happier. Next was to travel overseas- haven't don enough of that yet.
How often do I laugh?
Usually every ten minutes. To be specific! Can't get through an hour of my day without laughing. And that good old belly laughing with lots of happy tears.
What makes me smile?
My children, my husband, my four fur babies, remembering my childhood, kind words from friends and family, completing my endless to-do lists, the feeling I get when I drink a nice hot tea, a sleep in past 7am and listening to music at ridiculously loud volumes
Who is your most dangerous enemy?
Myself.
Do you think you are strong?
Physically? Yes. Emotionally? Not really. I can be, but mostly, I'm just a bit too sensitive. I'd be the guy on the footy field that you'd call "soft"
Most important thing you've done so far?
In life? Give birth to my two children. In business? Just try.
What do you fear the most?
My childhood fear has come true (twice) so now I fear nothing. I have nothing to lose and everything to lose at the same time, so just getting through each day happily for the moment.
What is my favourite word?
Collectively? "I love you". Individually? "Mum".
What words do you use the most?
In a sentence? "You know what I mean?" (courtesy of my husband). Individually? Shoosh, please, sorry, thanks, and Jeepers!
When was the last time you cried and why?
Yesterday, because I sat eating lunch where I last had lunch with my mum before she passed away.
What's the best thing that could happen to you right now?
I could be given this amazing opportunity that I've gone after.
What's the worst thing that could happen to you right now?
I could get sick. Being a sick mum is pretty rough.
In 5 years from now....
I want to be working from home, I want to be working as a Midwife casually, I want my kids to be settled in school and I want our house to be finished!
Do you regret anything?
No. Every choice I have made has got me to where I am right now. If I have any doubt over any decision I've made in the past, I will become miserable and I can't have that.
What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Cuddle my kids in bed
One thing you'd like to change in your life right now?
Time- I'd like more of it.
What am I proud of?
Starting my own business. My parents. My children. My husband. My new frame of mind.
Sum up your life in one sentence.
Full of love, laughs, drama, highs, lows, in betweens, friends, family, interesting and full of challenges.
What annoys me the most?
People who can't see the world through someone else's eyes.
What makes me laugh?
Silly jokes, my children, my husband, ridiculously lame things mostly. My own laugh makes me laugh.
Am I happy?
If happiness was measured by percentage, I'd sit at approximately 80%- I still have a lot to achieve and pursue that will make me 110% happy. So I guess I'd say I'm very content.
What is your greatest strength?
I keep trying.
What is my greatest weakness?
I don't switch off and overthink.
How would you describe yourself?
Silly, caring, thoughtful, old-fashioned, friendly, helpful, daggy, warm, sensitive, soft, cautious, creative, keen to learn, has a good memory.
How do you handle stress and pressure?
It depends who is putting it on me! Usually I'm fine at the time and need to wind down later on.
How do I evaluate success?
Am I happy? Is the other party happy? Can I sleep well at night? Have I achieved my goals or am I on my way to achieving them? If I can say yes to any of these, I'm doing well.
Why did you start your small business?
I've been on maternity leave and have enjoyed nothing more in life than being at home for my children. I've always been a keen writer and never imagined making a career out of writing until last year. I want to eventually work from home, because home is my favourite place. I want to have the feeling of accomplishment in knowing I've started something from the ground up that gives me those buttterflies in my stomach and goosebumps and helps others.
How did you come up with your business name?
I was firing names at my husband and Little Red Writing Solutions was the last name I came up with. It was random and I love it! I've been told it's cute and memorable- I'm happy with the memorable part.
What and or who inspires me?
What- my past, research, the power of learning
Who- my family, my friends, my teachers, my colleagues
What are you passionate about?
Writing, making a happy and healthy life for myself and my family, women's health, justice issues, reading, learning new skills, science, small business, helping others, medicine.
What are you most grateful for?
My children (noticing a theme here?), my childhood, the time I had with my parents, the friends who've helped me through the recent loss of my mum, the way I can laugh through almost any tough situation, good books and funny movies
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start a small business?
Research, ask questions, have a go, don't give up
Are you living my dreams?
Not yet- there's so much more I need to add to my life
What would you do today if there was no tomorrow?
Watch my children play, hug and kiss them as much as I do, smile and enjoy the last 24 hours, breathe easy and feel every moment.
The greatest things you learnt in life?
Speak up. It's normal to be flawed. Accept what you cannot change. Never go a day without telling your loved ones how much you love them and appreciate them. Some say words lose their meaning the more you repeat them- "I love you" never goes out of fashion. Just be yourself- it doesn't matter if people don't always "get you". Being weird is the best way to be, because you are the only you.
Describe your business in three words.
Fresh, resourceful, focused
The song title that describes your work ethic?
"Tunnel Vision" - Justin Timberlake (Once I start, I can't focus on anything else!)
What opportunities are you looking for?
I am looking for partnerships, not jobs. I want to find small business owners and Mums in Business and help ease their workload. I love small projects, as much as ongoing ones. I take any opportunities that come my way, I also do a lot of networking which has led to some great business-minded people and amazing small businesses.
How can you create these opportunities?
Just work at it. Pretty simple. Put myself out there and see what happens.
Your biggest goals and dreams?
To live a healthy, happy, fulfilling life. To eventually work from home- part-time only, so I can be the full-time Mum I'd love to be. To travel to my favourite parts of Australia again, to show my kids what I got to see as a child. To be a successful small business owner.
What is your inner dialogue like?
It depends on the time of day, but usually it's very helpful! I have learnt in the past 9 or so months to wind down and relax. I still have a lot to learn but my inner voice is a great help. By around 10am, I'm focused and onto my to-do lists. I don't like sitting doing nothing, so I keep busy until I can't keep my eyes open anymore. Then try to keep going for at least another hour!
How are you making your life more meaningful?
I'm able to spend more time with my little children, so that's a big part of finding peace in my life. I am focusing on what I want to do professionally and focusing on what I love, which I didn't allow myself to do before. I am set on creating beautiful memories for my children, that's my biggest job. I just keep thinking- we are here for a good time, not a long time.
Why did you choose copy writing as a career path?
I have a lot of inspirational people in my life who thought I should re-focus on what I love doing, and that's writing. I have met some amazingly insightful business women who have encouraged and supported me into the position I am in now. I want to be helpful to others in any profession I am working in. My small business focuses on helping others by relieving pressure and adding time and money to their business. My business is a creative outlet, I've never had that in a position I've held before- very hard to feel this way about nursing!
Do you enjoy working for yourself?
So far, yes. I don't need to run my ideas past anyone. I can work on what I want to the beat of my own drum. I make my own deadlines and run off my own to-do lists, rather than someone else's. It's the greatest personal challenge I've taken on but I'm determined to make the most of it.
What are your Top 3 songs right now?
Acapella- Karmin
Royals- Lorde
Wake Me Up- Avicii
What are your three pet peeves?
Drivers who don't indicate
My son eating a meal, then saying "I'm starving" two minutes later!
People who don't consider the feelings of others before they talk or act- I am a sensitive soul
What do you want to learn in the next 12 months?
Anything and everything possible about growing my copy writing, I want to continue my Buddhism studies and I want to learn how to fix more around the house!
Related articles
- 5 Facts You Need To Know About Lauren @ Little Red Writing Solutions (lrwsolutions.wordpress.com)
- 10 Great Ideas for Moms Who Want to Work at Home (babyzone.com)
- The rise and rise of mumpreneurs (dynamicbusiness.com.au)
- Small Business Interview: T*Racy Design (staples.com)
- Eight Days of Laughter (docsology.wordpress.com)
- Supermom? The "Art" of Balancing Life as a Work at Home Mom (nancypennick.wordpress.com)
Little Red's Business Review- Me & Em Graphic Design with Emily Foote
Add classically elegant personalised art to affordable pricing in a digital age, and you won't need to look any further than Emily Foote’s alluring digital creations. Through her Small Business, Me & Em Graphic Design, Emily has turned her passion for design into a creative outlet and career, all the while being a focused and innovative business owner and mother.
Operating for the last two and a half years out of one of the most creative and artistically inspiring towns of Victoria's North East Region – Wangaratta - Emily has vision. She is driven to create beautiful pieces of art for your home and as finishing touches for your special life events.
Custom Wedding Bunting, image courtesy of Me & Em Graphic Design
Emily has forged a strong online and community following as a freelance Graphic Designer, while also working for her local newspaper and printing shop. Emily produces a gorgeous range of products which encompass anything from speciality papers and fabrics (perfect for all you crafters out there), to her vintage floral designs, birth and alphabet prints, downloadable prints, custom wedding and party buntings and my personal favourite - her personalised name prints.
Custom Wedding Bunting, image courtesy of Me & Em Graphic Design
In a reflective interview earlier in the year, Emily stated that she felt drawn to use her creativity as the basis for a career. Members of her community were so impressed by decorating efforts in her own child's bedroom, that she was enlisted to create artwork for other parents, and to custom design items for the memorable occasions in their lives.
In a digital age, where almost everything can be personalized, Emily takes her customer service one step further in truly connecting with her clients, understanding their design brief and creating the perfect high quality piece.
Numbers Print from the Nursery Range, image courtesy of Me & Em Graphic Design
Alphabet Print from the Me & Em Nursery Range, image courtesy of Me & Em Graphic Design
Numbers Print from the Me & Em Nursery Range, image courtesy of Me & Em Graphic Design
With her elegant designs featuring in local boutique markets, such as the Little Me Market Day at the Cube in Wodonga, and available for purchase through her easily accessible Etsy Store, you will be stirred to share in some of her work and make her pieces a feature in your home or at your next function.
You can contact Emily to discuss her designs via
Phone: 0438 021 098
Etsy Shop: Me & Em Graphic Design
Facebook: Me & Em Graphic Design
Email: info@meandem.com.au
Join Emily on Pinterest & Instagram to share in a visual feast!
@meandemandyou
Monday, July 29, 2013
Why Your Small Business Needs a Copy Writer
(Image courtesy of roi.com.au)
Do you know what copy writing is at this point in the development of your small business? You may not have ever heard of the copy writing industry, or ever thought you needed to hire a copy writer. You might not be at a point where you can afford one. But if I can give you one piece of advice before I tell you why your business could use a resource like my business, it would be this: you need to understand the value the addition of a good copy writer to your team can add to your business overall.
Now to the real reason why I jumped on my blog at midnight- to remind you why you should contact me to make over your business writing.
You don't have time to write. Or should I say, your consumers are keeping you so busy, you haven't made your business writing as much as a priority as it should be. It's often hard to commit to something like this as often as it should happen when you need to be responding to your consumers, researching your next business development or just spending that extra hour with the kids before they go to bed. Or just plain working.
Why is getting text right so imperative? Because your website and Facebook pages look amazing and a spelling or grammar mistake will turn prospective clients away in an instant. It's fair to say anyone can write. Copy writers, however, communicate. They turn your business messages and business goals into words that make consumers want to act and to respond to your business. For small business owners who are aware of SEO (search engine optimisation), copy writers use SEO techniques without being obvious. It all adds to more traffic to your business, which can mean more profit for you.
I am continually researching. Trading my old skills for new ones, always looking for new ways to make your business flourish. I want to make people notice your hard work and I have no qualms in telling you how amazing your business is. Why? If you were walking around telling yourself how amazing your business was, you'd feel like you were blowing your own trumpet and you'd water your messages down because you feel awkward about self-promotion. You don't need to do that when you use a copy writer.
(Image courtesy of masstransmit.com)
My fresh eyes haven't spent day after day reading your business slogans, brochures and website text. I can assist in increasing your business productivity so you don't need to ask other employees to stop what they are doing to write a mail out or stay at the office late into the night to finish writing the technical manual for use with new starters. Use me so you can concentrate on what you do best. This is especially important for small business owners who operate their business single-handedly.
The value of outsourcing in this instance cannot be underestimated. With experience from a collection of industries, I'm an offsite resource who can play a role in the marketing and advertising of your product or service. And an inexpensive resource at that, in comparison to the value added to your business once our partnership is underway. And once the job is done to your satisfaction, you don't need to keep me "occupied" with tasks, it's a worry free relationship!
(Image courtesy of timemanagementninja.com)
My passion remains with words and sentences and from this, I am dedicated to finding the perfect words that represent your business. I want your messages to be clear and I want your business front to prospective consumers appear professional and solid. Using a professional tone, I like to reiterate your business messages in all forms of social and print media. I work with you in creating ideas, then I make them magnetic.
Do you have concerns with consumer engagement? All your business content and promotional material may be there in print and online, but you need a resource who can write to persuade, entice, inform and convert feelings and ideas into action. It's in this way that a service like Little Red is value for money and you'll know the price of my services in advance.
(Image courtesy of russellherder.com)
My service is honest and my goal is to understand your business goals and messages quickly so I can save you time and money. I offer obligation free quotes and am flexible- you can use my service as a one-off or year round. Our relationship is totally up to you.
Can you see how we can work together? More to the point, can you see any reason why we can't work together? I'm the sole operator of Little Red, there are resources I will be searching for too. It could be a match made in heaven.
Head to Facebook to check out my page, or contact me via email littleredwriting@outlook.com. You can also follow me on Twitter
Make sure you stay tuned to Little Red & Her Writing- tomorrow you should team a hot cuppa with an interesting read as I post my interview with Tracy Speight from Warratahstree