Step aside, Kris Jenner, there’s a new momager in town.

When I was in high school I played soccer (I was pretty fair) and basketball (I was really bad). No matter how we were doing, I could always hear one voice (and a pair of hands, clapping furiously) above all others: my mom’s.

I’m a few years (OK, decades) out of high school and we live 1,500 miles apart. Yet she’s still my biggest cheerleader. When I decided to launch Jen Mertz Creative she encouraged me with phone calls, texts, cards and gifts.

One recent text included a link to a Harvard Business Review article, Thriving in the Gig Economy.

“Although [freelancers] worried about unpredictable schedules and finances, they also felt they had mustered more courage and were leading richer lives than their corporate counterparts.”

The authors identify the four things freelancers need to thrive:

1. Place

It’s important to create a time and place to do what it is that you do. For me, that tends to be in a coffee shop in the afternoon and at my kitchen table in the evening.

2. Routines

Routines can increase focus and cut down on distractions … in other words, they’re life savers. One of mine includes listening to a study playlist on Apple Music while actively writing.

3. Purpose

Do you know what you’re meant to do? I went out on my own so that I could share with the world my passion for messaging while allowing me more time to serve others through volunteer efforts.

4. People

As independent workers it’s imperative that we continue to connect with other human beings, whether that be peers, advisers, family members and/or friends. If I am to succeed I need creative collaborators, inspiring mentors and a momager who cheers the loudest.

Check back for highlights on other articles, tips and advice from my business manager AKA mom.

#jenmertzcreative #HBR #messaging #freelance #freelancer #gigeconomy #thatswhatshesaidblog

Time, faith, guts ... and a little bit of creativity.

Ain't she pretty?

I finally did it! I named a company after myself. Announcing my solo venture —

Jen Mertz Creative.

While I offer creative direction and communications strategy, the need seems to be around messaging. (Which works out well, because I love messaging.)

I write effective copy for email, websites, brochures, direct mail. Video scripts and radio spots. Corporate communications and client presentations. If you have something to say, I can help you say it in a way that gets people to take notice—and take action.

I’m so confident that you’ll like working with me, the first three hours are free. (How’s that for creative?)

Reach out with questions or to set up a meeting. I’d love to chat.

A few words on words.

I remember standing in front of my high school English class senior year, unsuccessfully reciting a poem I’d written as part of an assignment. To my horror, I cried like a baby a few words in — it was a dramatic love letter to my BFF as we were about to head off to different colleges. I BLUBBERED. Cried inconsolably. The sounds that came out of my mouth were not normal. Even the teacher wanted me to sit down and shut up.

The point of this story? I wish I’d known then what I know now. (Well, in a lot of areas of my life but let’s focus on writing for now.)

Be Brief. Less is more. If you write it in 10 words, try it again with five. Brevity is key because no one has time.

Be Current. Stay ahead of trends. I spend a lot of time reading blogs and newsletters and sites to keep up to date on what’s happening in copywriting: best practices, proven approaches, etc. It really inspires me and pushes me and makes me a better writer.

Be Relevant. Know your audience(s). When I text my mom I don’t use profanity. When I text the BFF mentioned above? Well, let’s just say we love four-letter words. I might deliver the same message to both: I love and miss you. But I say it in a way that’s most appropriate and relevant to each. (For mom, think 😘🙏🏼💖✈️. For BFF, think %$#!*%.)

Be Purposeful. Does it have a job on the page? Similar to brevity, but different in that I’m referring to overall content. Does having call-out quotes add to your story? What about historical sound bytes? Definitions? Sometimes yes, but sometimes no. Be aware and proceed accordingly.

Be Actionable. What do you want people to do? Whether it’s asking your audience to visit your website, call/tweet/snap you, or never contact you again, be clear and direct in the action you want people to take.

These are the main principles I stick to when creating effective copy. To other writers out there — what are yours?

Jen squared circa 1990. I &%#*!ing love and miss you, Jenni.