Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Hartmann Tisa.
Hi Courtney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I first moved to San Diego, after a few false starts with jobs, I applied for a marketing position that, in retrospect, I was severely unqualified for, but luckily, the company needed a freelance copywriter. I started there, learning the ropes of SEO and marketing, before eventually moving into a full-time role.
Since then, I’ve worked at a few different marketing agencies, in various roles, climbing my way to the top, and always freelancing on the side before taking that on full-time in 2019.
I think things have changed a bit now, but at the time, I was usually 1 of 1 or 2 people creating copy while also taking on other roles to keep the team lean as the scope of marketing evolved. So, project management, video editing, social media… I’ve done it all.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Freelancing isn’t for everyone. You have to find a steady stream of work, wait on unpaid invoices, learn hard lessons of who you work well with (and what personalities won’t be a fit), master time management, overcome imposter syndrome, and on and on and on.
The first time I went freelance full-time, I ended up pivoting into an agency role again to bring in a steady income, because there would be months where I just wouldn’t get paid, and I definitely didn’t know how to balance projects, set client boundaries, or price my services.
Now, I am fortunate to be in a place where all the pieces just click. Freelancing used to be all about “the grind,” like it was almost a badge of honor, but I think it’s more about being able to adapt, trust yourself, and how locked in to what YOU want to get from it, without focusing on what everyone else is doing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a writer, plain and simple. Whether it’s writing copy for marketing campaigns or short stories and poems with the hopes of being published, I love playing with words. I love stories.
It may sound trite, but I deeply value the relationships I’ve built and maintained over the years. The people I’ve met throughout my marketing career are the same people who have fueled my ability to work for myself full-time. Making genuine connections and staying curious has helped me both professionally and with my creative writing.
I also think there’s a misconception about creatives that we aren’t good with discipline, which isn’t true. I like that the people I work with can depend on me to deliver on time and feel like I’ve captured the message they want to share.
At this point in my life, though, I’m most proud of the structure I’ve created for myself where work doesn’t dictate my life. That’s what’s driving the whole thing — that’s what keeps me focused and full of gratitude.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
AI has taken over the industry in much of the same way SEO did back in the day, but at a much faster pace. I’m not against AI conceptually, but as a writer, it doesn’t make sense to or for me.
I was at a marketing conference a few weeks ago, and someone demonstrated how their company uses four different tools to write one piece of content. I couldn’t understand the allure since you can hire one person (like me!) who can do it for you. People are also generating multi-paragraph prompts just to write one email. It doesn’t seem to be the most efficient or cost-effective way to do things, but I get that not everyone is a writer, and what works for one person may not work for the other.
Maybe it’s the idealist in me, but we will always need human writers. There’s no way around it. We can’t overlook the need for nuance, context, person-to-person exchanges, and actual feelings and experiences that drive content and stories. And don’t get me started on critical thinking. I think we are fortunate to have access to so much technology, but let’s not skip the part where we check in once in a while and consider what it’s all for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thecbagenda.substack.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mscourtneybeth/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyhartmann/
