Meet Dana Thao from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is an Email Strategist and Conversion Copywriter and has been in business for 1 year.
What does your dream life look like? Are you currently living your dream or still working on it?
I’m currently working on my dream life. My dream is to spend more time with my husband and family doing what we enjoy. I’m working with clients I enjoy helping, and people are coming to me as the go-to email copywriter.
Tell us more about what you do and who you help.
I’m an Email Strategist and Copywriter for direct-to-consumer (DTC) eCommerce and B2B SaaS brands. I help them stand out in a crowded inbox and be the light source their customers can’t live without by using data-driven and strategic emails.
Why did you start this business?
My love for writing inspired me to start this business.
I wanted to use my writing and storytelling skills to help businesses grow and let their ideal customers know who they are. There are so many great businesses out there, but I feel they are often left unseen because it’s hard for them to connect with their customers in a way that will resonate.
What is one mistake you’ve found business owners make regarding email marketing?
One mistake I’ve found that most business owners make is sending emails for the sake of sending them. There is a norm in the marketing world where they say you need to email your subscribers every day so that they remember you. This is true, but you have to do it very strategically.
Emailing your subscribers every day doesn’t always mean blasting your whole list. It often means sending emails that are relevant to your subscribers using segmentation. This is, so they get emails that are personalized to them.
If you want to know what to send your subscribers, all you have to do to ask them. Email is a communication tool, not a marketing tool.
You’ve been in business for over a year now. What’s a challenge you’ve faced along your entrepreneurial journey?
I’m still working on this, but one of the challenges I’ve faced in my entrepreneur journey is the imposter complex. Sometimes, I find myself wondering if I can do something.
I try not to let the negative self-talk get to me by reminding myself of what I can do and what others have said about me. But it’s helpful to know that I’m not the only one who goes through this.
I feel better when I share my doubts and thoughts with my friends who are also in the same industry. It’s a learning process, and what truly matters is that I keep going no matter what.
Has being an introvert affected your business?
Being an introvert has made it hard for me to put myself out there on social media. The one advantage I feel I have as an introvert is being curious about people and what they do. I enjoy chatting with people one-on-one on Zoom and building that connection.
What methods do you use to bring in new clients?
I build relationships with people through networking and connecting with them.
Recently, I’ve started to post more on LinkedIn so that more people will see who I am and what I do.
Is attending networking events a part of your marketing strategy?
Yes, it is. I would love to attend in-person networking events, but I try to join virtual events when I can’t.
How do you define success for yourself and your business?
I would say success for me is when I can create a business that I love without letting go of my values or myself.
What advice would you give to other introverted women who are just starting their own businesses?
Start small and start where you feel the most comfortable. If you go big, you can tire yourself out very easily. So, start where you feel the most comfortable. If that’s meeting people one-on-one or talking with people you know, start there.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Where can our readers find more information about you?
My website: www.danathao.com
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copywriterdana/
Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/copywriterdana/
