The Freelancer Life: Meet Melissa Reynolds-Lawrence
Meet Melissa, a woman who has a way with words and homeware…Melissa runs two businesses, Honey Bee Copywriting where, yep you guessed it, she copywrites and Honey Bee Home, where she sells homeware and gifting.
We talk to Melissa about leaving the old agency model behind and how going freelance helped boost her confidence and follow her passions. She shares her top five tips for anyone thinking of going freelance, the importance of collaboration as no matter how capable you are, you can’t do everything, balancing the main hustle with the side-hustle, and learning to slow down and take on extra support to avoid burnout and take care of yourself.
“Going freelance taught me so much about myself and what I’m passionate about. My confidence grew. I’d love to be a creative director one day, so I’m currently strategising how to get the right experience to progress into that.”
Tell us a little bit about yourself, what you do and how long you have been doing it for.
My name is Melissa Reynolds-Lawrence and I split my time across my two businesses: Honey Bee Copywriting, where I am a freelance copywriter and Honey Bee Home, my homeware and gift brand.
Why did you first become a freelancer?
I decided to go freelance for a couple of reasons. The agency I worked in at the time had an awful environment and didn't want to offer social media services. There was no opportunity to progress there and I was itching to work on different types of projects. That was 2014. Since then, I've done some in-house work and still love the agency model - just on different terms now. Going freelance taught me so much about myself and what I'm passionate about. My confidence grew. I'd love to be a creative director one day, so I'm currently strategising how to get the right experience to progress into that.
Where’s your favourite place to work from aside from your home?
My studio in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham. It’s where I run Honey Bee Home from and it’s nice and cosy, perfect to hide away for a few hours, to get work done. I have the comfiest armchair, great natural light and a coffee machine.
Share your struggles - what do you find hardest about working for yourself?
The invoice-chasing! I think it’s a big problem for a lot of freelancers but money causes a lot of us stress, even when things are going well. You shouldn’t have to beg for what’s rightfully and contractually yours. Aside from that, it’s the hustle. Getting new clients can be difficult, especially when you’re just starting out.
Share your perks - what do you enjoy most about working for yourself?
Getting to know people! There’s also the huge sense of accomplishment that you feel when you win a new client or complete a project. You have to celebrate those moments. Oh and daytime naps are always a win.
What are your top tips for anyone thinking about working for themselves?
Fill your pipeline - get talking to people and try to make sure your next project is in the works before your current one is wrapped up.
Build good relationships. Freelancing will see a lot of people cross your path. Seek to make and keep good connections.
Get used to talking about what you do. Work will not fall into your lap. Introduce yourself to people.
Collaboration over competition.
Try to save a buffer.
What are your top 3 recommendations - podcasts, books, people to follow, sources of inspiration?
You Are A Badass - Jen Sincero (book/audiobook) - if you ever need a reminder that anything is possible and all you need is to get out of your own way.
How I Built This podcast - hear from some of the names behind the biggest brands and how they started. You wouldn’t believe where some businesses started out.
Goal Digger podcast by Jenna Kutcher - practical steps to build your business.
“It doesn’t matter how talented or capable you are, you can’t do everything. Collaboration is great because it exposes people to different audiences and fills skills gaps. Be open-minded and cast your net wide”
What role does collaboration play for you?
A big one! It doesn’t matter how talented or capable you are, you can’t do everything. Collaboration is great because it exposes people to different audiences and fills skills gaps. Be open-minded and cast your net wide.
What is the best project you’ve worked on since going freelance?
I completed a project for a large brewery this year. It’s the most I’ve invoiced for a project and they approached me because of work that I’d done for them in 2018.
What were you doing this time last year? What have you learnt or how have you changed since then?
This time last year, I was freelance and I’d just completed a great run of in-house work, across two companies. I was also completely burnt out. This year, I took on a great copywriting role for a large company. I worked on the problems that I was having with anxiety. I’ve learnt that you need to take care of yourself. I’ve been balancing the main hustle and side hustle this year. I even had an intern in the studio over summer, which was amazing!
Looking for a copywriter? Take a look at Melissa’s website honeybeecopywriting.co.uk and follow her on Instragram @melreylaw. Looking for homeware? Check out honeybeehome.co.uk and on Instagram @honeybeehomeuk