Michelle Lloyd
MomsCharlotte.com
Since her first novel in the 7th grade, Tiffany Harrison, 32, of North Charlotte has always loved writing. It took an illness – and a growing family – for her to realize that pen to paper is what makes her heart happy. She began blah3 , , a copywriting business, in January 2012. Since then, Tiffany has received positive response for her writing and hopes to ultimately help other entrepreneurs spread the word about their passion.
Q. How did blah3 begin?
A. I have always been a writer. I wrote my first novel in the 7th grade and have written copy for organizations as part of various nine-to-five jobs but have always wanted to own a business. After having my first child, I went to grad school for my MBA, had another child in between, and decided I would start a business. I tried my hand at a couple creative ventures including cake decorating and refurbishing furniture, and while I was very good at it, I didn’t enjoy it. I got very sick in November 2011 and was in bed for weeks. It was lying there that I realized writing is truly what makes my whole heart happy, and blah3 was born.
Q. How did you come up with the name?
A. A lot of people view copy on business websites like a bunch of “blah blah blah” with all of its corporate jargon, and going on and on without really saying anything. Blah3 is a play on that, to show people that your business copy should be anything but.
Q. What services do you offer?
A. I offer copywriting services to creative women entrepreneurs to help them sound even more awesome (and make more money). I write the web copy for businesses including the Home, About, Sales, and other landing pages. Services also include writing blog posts and articles and editing. Really, anything you need written for your business - web based or otherwise -I can help!
Q. What are the price options business you offer?
A. I offer a comprehensive package with up to four pages of web copy for $1,297. I also have a la carte services such as the About or Sales pages that start at $557. You can check out all of the details on my “work with me‟ page.
Q. What service do most new companies need?
A. The About page is one of the most popular pages on a site and one of the hardest to write so most people choose that option.
Q. How can a good “About” page help a business grow?
Writing About pages is one of my favorite pages to write. It’s really helped me learn how to get into my clients’ heads and pull out the experience they want people to have on the site. I’ve been told I take the words they couldn’t quite say out of their heads. Writing about pages has helped me understand and communicate a clear message which is at the core of good copy.
Q. Who are some of your past/present clients?
A. I’ve worked with Etsy sellers to bakers to non-profits. I just recently finished writing copy for Carolina Breast Friends, a non-profit that provides support, resources, and fun for breast cancer survivors. That project was especially rewarding.
Q. How are you able to manage family life with writing?
A. Life is busy! Having a great support system is what keeps me sane. Our nearest family members live six hours away so I depend on my husband (who is extremely supportive of the entrepreneur life) a lot. He works full time and when he comes home he keeps kids entertained and gets them ready for bed so I can work. He’s also game for housework so that definitely helps. I have a lot of late nights but I tend to get a second wind around 9 p.m. It seems 9 p.m. till midnight, and weekends are peak working hours for me.
Q. Have you ever written a novel? Anything in the works?
A. I completed a novel (contemporary women’s fiction) that I’m currently editing. I haven’t decided if I should look for an agent or self-publish, but either way, it will be published. I was an English/creative writing major in undergrad. My professor singled me out in class and said “You will publish a book one day.” Writing fiction is where my heart is and having a book published has always been a dream of mine.
Q. Where do you see yourself and blah3 in the next five years?
A. In five years I’d like to be a boutique communications firm for entrepreneurs and small businesses, complete with a graphic/web design and branding component. The reason I started my business is because I never wanted to give up on doing work that gets me excited. Life circumstances like working a nine-to-five job or becoming a wife and mother, might deter your dreams for a little while, but shouldn’t stop them altogether. I want to continue to help entrepreneurs realize that dream by using their creative talents to design a life and business they adore.
Q. On your website you say that writing is your passion, how so?
A. I never tire of writing. Words excite me. I underline sentences in novels because I enjoy the composition of the words together, or because the meaning is beautifully conveyed. I use these sentences as a point of inspiration, or simply because they make me happy.
Q. What is your favorite book? Favorite thing to write? A. My favorite book is “After You’d Gone” by Maggie O’Farrel. It’s rather dark, but so moving I couldn’t put it down the first time I read it. I’ve read it four more times since. I enjoy writing books like these as well, women’s fiction that simply tells a story. You don’t always need elaborate plot twists. Well developed and interesting characters move a story along, they make the reader fall in love—this is the fiction I write.
You can find out more online at http://blahcubed.org or email tiffany@blahcubed.org.
