Tech journalist and SaaS and fintech copywriter Aimee Pearcy recently joined nDash, and she was kind enough to be interviewed for a feature on our blog! Aimee has had bylines at OneZero, Elemental, Byline Times, Atlassian, The Big Issue, and she is a former editor of Pando Daily.
Introducing: Aimee Pearcy
Before diving into our interview, let’s check out a little bit more about Aimee’s background. While you can see some of her background on her nDash freelance writing profile, connecting with her on LinkedIn gives you more information.
From Aimee’s professional LinkedIn profile:
Experienced Copywriter with a demonstrated history of working in the marketing and advertising industry. Skilled in Journalism, Editing, Software Development, Content Management, and Publishing. Strong media and communication professional with a Computer Science BEng focused in Computer Science from University of York.
nDash: What excites you about freelancing?
Aimee: I love the variety of clients and assignments that freelancing provides. I have a great balance of clients – some who I’ve worked with for a few weeks on short-term projects and some who I’ve been working with for years. I’ve learned a lot, and it’s allowed me to meet some wonderful people and build some great relationships. It’s great.
nDash: What subject areas are you passionate about?
Aimee: Technology is at the top of my list. I have a degree in computer science, which helps a lot. Right now, I’m particularly passionate about how tech is changing the way we live and work. I also enjoy breaking down complex topics and making them more accessible, and I’ve done a lot of work with finance and fintech companies to help them to do that.
nDash: What’s your best piece of advice for new freelancers?
Aimee: If you’re just starting out, try writing across a few different industries to find out what you enjoy, then choose a niche and stick to it. Know your worth, and don’t undersell yourself. It can be hard at the beginning when your portfolio is limited, but if you’re struggling to find clients who are willing to pay your rate, don’t agree to work for peanuts just to get experience.
Instead, you should write for yourself. Create a Medium account and start posting there, or start your own Substack newsletter and post consistently about something you’re interested in. Use Twitter and LinkedIn to network with people who are doing what you want to do, learn from them, and then add your own unique twist.
nDash: What sets you apart from other writers?
Aimee: My degree in computer science has provided me with a deep baseline level of technical knowledge that many other tech writers don’t have. I have also spent time working as a journalist, which means have built up a lot of contacts in the industry to interview. It’s also given me experience in working to very tight deadlines.
nDash: What’s your favorite weekend activity in your area?
Aimee: Recently, I’ve really been enjoying being more active. I’ve been swing dancing for a couple of years now, but I’ve recently taken up bouldering and paddle-boarding too. Before the pandemic, I wasn’t very active at all. I’ve had to learn to be patient, but feeling myself slowly progress and get stronger has felt immensely rewarding.
nDash: Where do you go to read up on the latest freelancing/writing trends?
Aimee: Twitter gets a bad rap, but it has been an absolute lifesaver for me. There’s an endless amount of advice from extremely knowledgeable people, and it’s all free! Just remember to use the ‘mute’ button frivolously and ignore the angry anonymous keyboard warriors.
nDash: What makes a great client?
Aimee: Just three things: a clear brief (this is definitely the main one), a clear deadline, and timely feedback.
Ready to Work With Aimee Pearcy?
Thank you for participating in this interview with us, Aimee! You’ve given our readers some important insights into why you’d be a great candidate for this next freelance writing project!
Interested in hiring Aimee for your tech or business publication? Head to her profile on nDash!