Delaney Rietveld

Dark Roast Copywriting

We got the chance to speak with Delaney Rietveld of Dark Roast Copy about what it's like to be a female founder, what she's learned, her struggles along the way and what she wants to share with others.

Website

We'd love to learn about your business and what you do. Can you share more?

I am a copywriter who helps ambitious entrepreneurs and personal brands sell with empathy. Basically, I help business owners leverage two things in their copy: 1) the authentic voice of their brand so they stand out in their industry and 2) what their ideal clients NEED to hear in order to feel confident booking them.

I'm a big believer in authenticity. These days, especially with how noisy it is online, people are really craving something real. I tend to attract clients who want to show up as their real selves- whether that's showcasing their killer sense of humor, a tough-love tone of voice, or empathizing with their client's struggles.

And if you happen to love puns or the occasional Taylor Swift reference? We’ll definitely get along.

Achieving a balance between personal life and business demands is a hot topic. What strategies have you found effective for maintaining harmony in your life?

DO NOT take someone else's tips for work-life balance as gospel. What's a huge workload for someone could be someone else's vacation.

Especially with how deeply conditioned we all are to the 9-5 workday, you really need to be intentional about breaking those expectations for yourself (unless that's what works for you!)

For me, this means if I get a sudden burst of energy to get stuff done at 7pm, it's totally fine to do that! If I get something done in 1hr when I planned to get it done in 3hrs, it doesn't mean I'm lazy or bad at my job.

Admittedly, I'm a high-achiever. (Classic Enneagram 3/Capricorn over here!) Achieving balance is something I'm still learning, but I think breaking up with the expectations you have for yourself and how you think "should" be spending your time is the first step.

How do you leverage community and collaboration in your business strategy? We're keen to explore how female entrepreneurs are strengthening ties and creating synergies with other businesses and community members.

I think it's important to have a mindset around creating "fans" or "co-conspirators" for your business, rather than just trying to get clients.

Even if someone is never going to hire me to write copy for them, I want to be the first person they think of when their friend/boss/grandmother says they need a copywriter.

On the complete flip side of that point, I think it's important to ask for what you want! People are busy, they're probably not ready to project-manage another item on their to-do list. Being intentional with relationships can be a great way to benefit both you and other businesses serving similar clients.

Failure is often seen as a taboo subject, but it can be a powerful teacher. Could you share an experience where you faced failure and how you turned it into a learning opportunity?

Most of my failures could have been avoided if I'd set the right boundaries and expectations with people. (Which is SUCH a valuable lesson to learn!)

Sometimes a quick email or line in a proposal can mean the difference between a streamlined project or a stressful client situation.

Every entrepreneur faces hurdles along the way. Can you talk about a significant obstacle you've overcome and what you learned from it?

I know it sounds predictable to talk about my website, but getting my site up and running and EXACTLY what I wanted it to be was a big deal.

People say you need to just "create a website" for your business, but there's a huge difference between making a site on Squarespace one afternoon and actually curating something that sells your services FOR you.

For both myself and my clients, the goal is this: get excited when you hand over your business card or tell people what your URL is. Having a killer website can absolutely transform how you show up as a business owner.