We can’t wait to learn all about Melissa Esmeralda from Phoenix, Arizona. She is the founder of MEO Marketing Group where she is a copywriter and marketing strategist specializing in website copy, emails, and sales copy.
Melissa, what does your dream life look like? Are you currently living in it?
Financial freedom and working on writing my fiction novels. I’m not there yet, but I will be!
Financial freedom sounds great. Tell us more about what you do and who you help.
I’m a copywriter and marketing strategist specializing in website copy, emails, and sales copy. I help coaches, course creators, and service-based businesses grow their sales and nurture their audiences.
What inspired you to start this business?
Haha, a quarter-life crisis. I was eight years deep into my paralegal career and hated it and was capped. I’ve loved writing my whole life and wanted to make a living out of it.
You’ve been in business for over a year now. What’s a challenge you’ve faced so far?
There’s so many. One of the big ones was when I quit my job to pursue my business full-time because I had enough work to replace my income from my retainer client, but then the company sold and I had nothing.
That was stressful because I had to scramble for more work elsewhere.
Wow, that’s definitely a tough situation. What methods do you use to attract new clients?
I’ve gotten all my business from networking, but I do pitch via email sometimes.
Is attending networking events a part of your marketing strategy?
It is depending on the event and where I am with client work for the month.
How has being an introvert affected your business? And how do you use it to your advantage?
I think it’s made me more prepared because I anticipate a lot of the questions I get or situations that come up.
My personality has been misinterpreted a lot because I’m so introverted but I’m not shy, just quiet.
But because of that I’m a deep thinker and tend to ask thoughtful questions that my clients haven’t considered yet in their businesses.
How do you define success for yourself and/or your business?
Success for me is when all my bills are paid and I still have time to do other things I love that aren’t work-related (because I love business development too).
I saw on your website that you play rugby. How has rugby impacted how you approach business?
Rugby is a tough sport and I’ve always been a small player. I’m 5’3″, 115lbs. I’ve always loved that the game is a great metaphor for life: you get hit hard, you’re on the ground vulnerable, but your support system (teammates at the ruck, your family, etc) is there for you so you can get back up and do it again.
The philosophy of having to quickly adapt has transferred over into my business.
I tend to not see things as “I can’t do that” or “I’m not good enough to do that,” instead I see it as “I don’t have the resources to do that yet.” This has helped with my mindset a lot because entrepreneurship is so hectic.
What advice would you give to other introverted women who are just starting their own businesses?
You grow when you’re uncomfortable. Do it anyways.
It feels weird and awkward but it only gets easier the more you do it. Otherwise how else do you expect to grow?
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Where can our readers find more information about you?
My website www.MEOMarketingGroup.com or on Instagram, instagram.com/MEOMarketingGroup
