Q&A with Creative Little Soul’s Senior Copy and Content Writer
Creative Little Soul (CLS) is an award-winning digital and creative marketing agency. We provide business support and creative services such as content creation, digital marketing strategies and design for our clients in the hospitality industry.
From humble beginnings, Chrissy Symeonakis established Creative Little Soul in 2013. Seven years on and we are now a team of ten creatives who each bring a wealth of talent to CLS.
Due to our expansion, we feel it’s about time we introduced the CLS team to you. You have become acquainted with Tori Clarke and Clare Szepski. Now we welcome Creative Little Soul’s Thomas Quinn to the stage, and one of the few boys in our team to chat more with you about his days and life at CLS.
Hi Tom.
Hello
Can you tell us about your role with Creative Little Soul and when you started at CLS?
Sure. I’ve been a part of CLS for a little while now. I think it’s around the 2 year mark. I first started with CLS in 2017 I think. Started out doing admin roles and worked my way up from there. In the back half 2018 there was a period where I went to work elsewhere, then returned in the front half of 2019.
My role these days is a bit of a mixed bag, which is just how I like it! I do a bit of everything if it’s related to copy and content. From press releases, social media posts, creating email campaigns, assisting in the creation of promotional materials, business strategies, etc. I also manage a number of our accounts. Cheerleader, confidant, “one of the girls”… you name it haha
What does your average CLS working day look like?
Coffee in the morning. Normally a morning brief just to be clear on what’s on the agenda. Then from there it’s a lot of text editors. Word, Google Doc, MyGuestlist online editor, Notepad, 2 web browsers usually open with a semi-permanent tab open to ‘Emoji-pedia’.
Normally my day revolves around making sure all our email marketing is done. Done for us is about 1-2 months in front. Last year we had Christmas stuff largely sorted out in October/November. There’s always something to be doing. If it’s not emails then it could be any number of things that require my attention. If our clients need copy for a new website for example, or they’re holding a big event and want to advertise that.
As one of the copy and content creators at CLS, what would you say makes great content?
Great content in my opinion has personality. It’s more than just words on a page that contains information. You want people to hear the tone of the words, make an identity in their heads as they read it and then entice them to engage.
Consistency is also absolutely crucial. The number one thing I love is consistent content. This should go without saying, but great content is also relevant.
Always there, recognisable, relevant and engaging content is great content.
Account managers tend to juggle many responsibilities. Any tips or tricks for managing multiple tasks?
Lists man. Task lists are a lifesaver. I write everything down that I need to get done, and then I categorise them in order of most to least important.
Having an awesome team that facilitates incredibly open and clear communication is also absolutely vital. I couldn’t perform my job half as well if the team here at CLS wasn’t as awesome as they are.
What is your preferred social media platform and why?
Instagram. I like the aesthetic and the more focused user experience. I find that the platform is just a lot cleaner and nicer to use.
You’re about to move to Japan. Can tell us a little about that?
Yes! I’m super excited!! Going to be there for 3 months living that digital nomad life. I’ll still be working with CLS. So nothing will change there. I can’t wait to go, it’s been a life goal of mine for a loooong time.
What do you love to do when you’re not working?
Aw geez. A lot. I try to cram as much as I can into my free time. Gaming, jamming out on my guitar, writing, painting, crafting, working out. The past few months I’ve been learning Japanese too!
What are you reading right now?
Right now I’m between books. My latest read was ‘Scrublands’ by Chris Hammer. I love anything, but I’m partial to fantasy, golden age sci-fi, crime fic., gothic lit., and the classics.
Any advice you might give to others who might be considering a career in content and/or account management?
Talk to people and learn to build relationships. The better you are at communicating with people the better you are at understanding how to write things to engage them.
Also take time to communicate with yourself and learn your own processes so you can better work to your strengths and cover your weaknesses.
Reading also helps. Read a lot. Read as much as you can and expand that vocab.
Practice writing. It doesn’t matter what, any writing is good writing.
Also fail. Fail faster and iterate quicker. Nothing ever comes out the first time and very few things if ever, will. The only way to get better is to fail and look at it, learn why it failed, and then do it again.