The Freelancer Life: Meet Hayley Gilbert
Meet Hayley, a freelance interiors journalist and CEDIA Award’s winner who describes her superpower as being able to write in an engaging, chatty way that doesn't sound patronising or self-important.
Hayley fell in love with interiors when she worked on KBB magazine and she's been writing about them ever since. We talk to Hayley about the struggles and perks of working for herself and learn her top tips and sources of inspiration.
“I love the freedom being freelance gives me. I enjoy working for a variety of people and the fact that no two days are the same.”
Hello, welcome!
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do and how long you have been doing it for?
So after doing a Media & Cultural Studies degree way back in the early 90s, I decided that I wanted to be a writer. Jobs followed on local newspapers and a national music magazine but it was when I started work on KBB magazine 22 years ago that I fell in love with interiors - and I've been writing about them ever since. I tend to specialise in kitchens and bathrooms but write about anything and everything really. Buyer's guides, product features, trends pieces, interviews, case studies, shopping pages... whatever comes up. I now contribute to lots of leading home interest titles as well as providing online content and blogs, copywriting, press releases, brochures - so long as it involves writing I'm happy.
Why did you first become a freelancer?
After working on KBB magazine then Perfect Home, I went freelance when I had my son Luis, who is now 18 (gasp).
Where’s your favourite place to work from aside from your home and why?
I've spent far too long stuck at my desk and during lockdown, I realised that I really do need to get out more. So now it's a case of taking the laptop to the local lake up the road when I get itchy feet and buying myself a coffee as I settle down next to the ducks and swans to do some work.
Share your struggles - what do you find hardest about working for yourself and why? How have you found ways to combat these parts of working for yourself?
For me, it's the ongoing uncertainty of being self-employed, especially as I've been single for nine years with a mortgage and hungry teenager to feed. I've got used to not having a regular salary to rely on and I don't really dwell on it but I guess right now it's an uncertain time for so many of us as no one knows what's going to happen with publishing in the next few months or years.
Share your perks - what do you enjoy most about working for yourself and why?
I love the freedom being freelance gives me. I enjoy working for a variety of people and the fact that no two days are the same. It's also given me the chance to meet so many amazingly talented PRs, writers, designers, photographers, architects and other creatives as well as building great friendships with many of them.
What are your top tips for anyone thinking about working for themselves?
Get organised. Make a list and do all the boring stuff first such as registering as self-employed with HMRC. Give yourself a pleasant space to work in - ideally a spare room but otherwise carve a corner out of the bedroom or living area and choose a nice desk and a chair with good back support. Invest in a decent laptop and make sure your broadband is up to speed - literally.
What are your top 3 recommendations - podcasts, books, people to follow, sources of inspiration etc. and why?
On Instagram I love seeing what @georgialindsaygardendesign has been up to; she has such a natural gift for designing the most incredible outdoor spaces. And for someone who writes about interiors, it's nice to 'step outside' so to speak and breath in the beauty of nature.
I always read Caitlin Moran's column in The Times as she's always spot on in her analysis of current situations and says what we're all really thinking.
Having a bit of a thing for tiles at the moment so finding plenty of inspiration from Ca' Pietra on Twitter and Instagram.
What role does collaboration play for you?
For me it's a really flexible concept - I'm not an influencer but a passionate journalist who will always give 100% to any client, big or small.
What do you love to do? What makes you tick and what do you simply love doing?
I love getting down to the nitty-gritty of a new kitchen appliance! There are always new technologies and innovations coming out so I really enjoy doing proper research into how they work, what features and functions they offer and how they benefit the consumer.
I also get excited when I hear about a new designer emerging and it's great to follow their journey as they gain more coverage and get the success they deserve.
Outside of work, I became a bit of a Ceroc addict over the last few years. It's a modern jive dance that you do with a partner but the great thing about it is that you don't need your own partner, as you dance with everyone and it's all very chilled and so much fun. Great for fitness too.
I also love my pilates class, which is the one hour of the week where I get to be very mindful and concentrate on nothing but my wobbly core!
What are you really good at? What’s your marketing superpower?
This question is horrible to answer! I am the last person to blow my own trumpet, but others tell me I am a very good writer. I did win a CEDIA Award for Best Technology Feature in 2015 and 2019 so I guess I should shout about that. I do pride myself on being able to tailor content to suit the client and write in an engaging, chatty way that doesn't sound patronising or self-important.
“I like being in control and having that continuous voice throughout copy that you get from using one writer.”
What is the best project you’ve worked on since going freelance?
Goodness, there have been so many! I have really enjoyed it when I have researched and written whole kitchen or bathroom supplements for magazines. I like being in control and having that continuous voice throughout copy that you get from using one writer.
What were you doing this time last year? What have you learnt or how have you changed since then?
Much the same as I am doing now but getting ready for Christmas in July, which I guess won't be happening now. The last few months have taught me to start thinking differently in terms of how I can offer content to clients as there are so many different ways now of communicating with readers, both in print and online.
Want to learn more about Hayley? Take a look at her website www.hayleygilbert.co.uk and give her a follow on Twitter @HaylGilbert and Instagram @haylsgilbert.
