My Work Story Freelancing Digital Marketing and WordPress Website Design Services as KMurrayCreative
I started providing digital marketing and WordPress website design services full-time as KMurrayCreative in 2011, transitioning from a full-time role at Reflex Media Solutions to a part-time/freelance arrangement. Operating under my middle name “Kay,” I built a personal brand that resonated with my target audience.
During this time, I also engaged in general photography and sold vintage clothing. I assisted colleagues in developing their vintage and antique seller brands, offering a range of small business and start-up services. These services included creating and setting up newsletter content, social media content, and blog articles.
I quickly learned the importance of organization, efficiency, and strategizing content production to align with business goals. Many start-ups and solopreneurs faced challenges with limited resources, and I took pleasure in helping them create efficient workflows and prioritize projects that delivered the most value.
Between 2011 and 2013 I volunteered for the Carondelet Historical Society, taking photos of their historical clothing and scanning interesting old documents, such as a 1943 Municipal Opera program. Through blogging about vintage fashions and ephemera, I honed my SEO writing skills and never lacked topics to write about or post.
When Reflex Media Solutions went out of business in 2015, I faced the challenge of constantly promoting myself to replace that income, which eventually led to burnout. I decided to return to the “W2 world” but gained invaluable insights from my five years of freelancing, which could fill a book with lessons learned.
In early 2021, I restarted my VintageReveries project in my spare time to sell my old vintage inventory and keep my e-commerce skills up to date (portfolio coming soon).
Accomplishments as Website Design and Consulting at KMurrayCreative (Self-Employed)
- Website Design Project Management: Successfully managed all phases of website design projects from discovery to launch, ensuring timely delivery and client satisfaction.
- Cost-Efficient Workflow Development: Developed a cost-efficient project management and workflow process that provided flexibility to accommodate various clients and website projects.
- SEO Strategy Implementation: Increased leads and qualified visitors through a comprehensive SEO strategy, enhancing website visibility and search engine rankings.
- Analytics and Metrics Utilization: Used Google Analytics and site metrics to define and monitor the success of SEO and marketing campaigns, making data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
- Social Media Strategy Execution: Implemented and oversaw a social media strategy, managing all social media channels to promote the brand and increase conversions of visitors to leads.
- Comprehensive Content Strategies: Developed and implemented comprehensive content strategies involving social media posting, guest writers, newsletters, and blog posts, driving engagement and audience growth.
- Product Photography and Description Development: Created a system for product photography, description writing, and pricing strategy to enhance product listings and attract potential buyers.
- Newsletter Management: Developed and managed newsletters, coordinating with multiple points of contact, creating content, selecting imagery, scheduling, and optimizing distribution. Utilized metrics to refine and improve future newsletters.
- E-Commerce Store Development: Developed e-commerce stores using the WooCommerce plugin for WordPress, handling all aspects of online selling, including sourcing and buying products, product photography, inventory management, pricing, product research, description writing, shipping, and customer service.
- Cross-Platform Inventory Management: Organized and cross-posted inventory to eBay, Etsy, and other online marketplaces, maximizing exposure and sales opportunities.
Below is some of my best work from between 2011-2016. This is by no means complete.
Of all the website designs, only StarCrossedStitches, which I built in 2014 is still online (as of February 2022) as I built it.