November 24, 2014
Alyssa Martin, Alyssa Martin Copywriting
At a Glance
Bio The path that led her to this point
I’m Alyssa Martin, a persuasive copywriter for women entrepreneurs who want web copy that sounds like their real, offline self and attracts their dream clients.
I had always dedicated my career to making a difference.
I worked with NGOs, industry bodies and the Australian Government so that I could give back to the community. But the corporate nature of it was slowly crushing my soul.
I was too far removed from the people I was meant to be helping and couldn't see if my work was actually having an impact.
I studied English and Business at university and always loved using words to communicate and persuade.
I fell into strategic communication roles because I could always see ways our work could be more persuasive and impactful.
I loved making the client feel valued and heard, while also getting the results we needed.
When I was about 25, I worked with a young gun guy who was outrageously average at this job, but was the king of self-promotion.
He was constantly out there telling others how clever he was and he was getting noticed for it, even though is work was mediocre.
It really irked me that he was getting attention and praise over the smart, high achieving women on our team.
Then, it hit me: women really need help promoting ourselves in a non-icky way, so that we can make our mark on the world.
I truly believe that women are the game changers of our generation, but no one will notice us if we only whisper.
That’s how I found my Big Why.
But it took me a while to gather the courage to take on the challenge of helping women confidently articulate and share their message.
Who am I to lead women this way?
It breaks my heart to see women undersell themselves and that includes myself.
Not taking action on my Big Why and holding myself back from sharing my skills was making me ill.
My body was literally sending me physical distress signals.
So, I launched before I was ready and hung up my digital shingle as part of a New Year’s Resolution to follow my heart and make a difference.
I now help women entrepreneurs to find their voice and promote themselves with persuasive, ick-free strategies that reflect who they are and who they want to work with.
It’s a wild ride for everyone involved.
Q&A Insider advice & tips
What's been your greatest achievement to date?
Learning to take care of my clients and myself with equal enthusiasm.
For me, that means managing my time and energy so that I’m not overloaded.
I calculated how many clients I could fit into my schedule, so I knew my availability. It saved me from over-committing myself and delivering sub-par work because I recognised when I was booked out.
What's been your biggest challenge so far?
Overcoming my fear of visibility. In the 9-5 world, I was able to hide behind my employer and keep my anonymity.
It was very confronting to become the face of my business and put myself out there like that. It took me 6 months to even put my picture on my website.
Best lesson you've learned along the way?
Start before you’re ready. If you wait for all your ducks to be perfectly in a row, it’ll never happen.
Timing will never be perfect. You've just got to back yourself and know that you’ll figure it out as you go along. Perfection is not the goal, it's the problem.
A website, book or resource that has helped you in your business or inspired you and why?
I love the Lucky Bitch Money Bootcamp.
I’m a person who works hard to make a difference and I’ve come from a non-profit environment. Asking for money in exchange for my skills was quite a challenge for me. The Bootcamp taught me that I serve, so I deserve. You can make a lot of money and be a good person.
Which person or brand do you most admire and why?
Denise Duffield-Thomas is my go-to inspirational woman.
She gives a realistic look into what it takes to be successful and that you can be exactly who you are now, but with more clients and more money.
She is down to earth and approachable and doesn't create a façade of perfect success. Denise inspires me to do business my own way.
What advice would you give someone starting an independent business in your industry?
Don’t underestimate your ability and overestimate your imperfections.
Your business needs to be open to make a difference. Know your why and start working towards fulfilling that. It’s ok to evolve as you go.
Finish this sentence
Everything changed for me when…
I uncovered my Big Why and weaved it into my marketing.
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