Female Founder Feature: Marisa Twentyman

Female Founder Name: Marisa Twentyman

Business Name: Dirty Copy

Website: https://dirtycopy.co/

Tell us about your business. What products or services do you offer?: Dirty Copy is for brands that don't do boring - bringing personality, nuance and the human touch to words you're generating with AI. I offer copywriting consults for AI words, AI copywriting education...and website copywriting (my OG love!)

What inspired you to start your business?: Can I say money?!!!
Money and KIDS. I wanted the flexibility to be home with my kids to work unconventional hours, and the potential for an uncapped income.

How long have you been running your business?: 3 years!!

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a woman in business, and how did you overcome it?: Juggling the balance between motherhood and my incessant need to achieve new goals! It's always a trade off, something always has to give, so I'm constantly reevaluating what's the priority for the week. Who or WHAT is sacrificing? Sometimes it's the business, sometimes it's me, sometimes it's my husband....and we always try to minimise the kids sacrificing time spent with us.

What has been your proudest moment as a business owner?: Debuting my podcast Dirty Chats at #1 and top 10 in multiple countries (including #3 in Australia!). Starting a podcast was THE hardest thing I've ever done. It was also scary because I was doing something DIFFERENT - a hybrid celebrity gossip and business podcast. I had no idea how hard it would be, whether that niche would even work....but now it's my favourite part of my business! (Can I be a famous podcaster please?)

What strategies have helped you grow your business?: Doing something DIFFERENT. So many other accounts/businesses copy others in their industries. I make a point of doing things differently so I'll stand out. It feels more vulnerable, but in an attention economy if you're rinsing and repeating what everyone else is doing...you're getting lost.

What tools or resources have been game-changers for your business?: Email marketing! The relationship I've developed with my email subscribers is SO special. I love them, truly. And the investment I've put into my list has paid off....I'm finally in the spot where I can shoot out an email and make money, and that's an empowering feeling.

Can you share one key lesson you’ve learned about managing finances as a business owner?: The one key lesson is that if you don't stay on top of it () it nags away at you, eating up mental energy. And Taylor said it best: our energy is a luxury item, so we need to protect it!

How do you balance the demands of your business with your personal life?: I don't! Ha! It's a constant rotating carousel of 'what's more important right now?" The kids, the husband, the housework, or the business? It's always shifting and we're always re-evaluating.

What leadership qualities do you believe are essential for running a successful business?: Personal conviction. If YOU don't see the vision, if YOU don't believe in it wholeheartedly, you won't claw and hustle and pitch and do all the things that are needed to put yourself out there.

How do you motivate and manage your team?: Team of one here! (insert The Office joke about Kelly being very hard to manage).

What role does mentorship or networking play in your business journey?: Massive role. I've just joined a mentorship mastermind, and being exposed to other big thinkers and incredible business women has been a game changer in terms of expanding my mindset.

What trends do you think will shape your industry in the coming years?: AI. I think the future belongs to copywriters who learn to work WITH AI.

How do you stay ahead of the competition in your industry?: Always trying and executing new things. I don't copy others, and I back myself 100%.

Who or what inspires you in your business journey?: Lori Harder. I'm part of her mastermind. She's incredibly successful, but the more I hear about her story, the more I've realised that it's the INNER work, not the achievements that are truly exemplary. The way she's constantly evolving, growing and pushing herself to become better. It's the personal development that MEANS we can have successful, thriving businesses.

What books, podcasts, or resources have had the biggest impact on your professional growth?: Earn Your Happy - Lori Harder. Unstoppable Success, the Podcast - Jess Williamson.

What’s a fun fact about you that most people wouldn’t know?: I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters...with 5 of us growing up together, life was like the Hunger Games. Incredibly savage haha.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about your business?: That unlocking basic copywriting and psychology fundamentals is the key to SALES. Figure out how and what and WHY you're communicating...and sales become a lot easier.

Reflecting on your time in business, what is one piece of advice you would give to another woman to help her on her business journey?: My favourite Seth Godin quote - find out what makes you YOU, and double down.

The more I've been myself, the more others have resonated - EVEN if that means others unfollowing.

How can people connect with you or learn more about your business? (e.g., website, social media, etc.):

WEBSITE: https://dirtycopy.co/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/dirty.copy/
PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-threads-almost-canceled-me-the-full-story/id1826883045?i=1000717431972