Erin Upton Early-stage startup consultant and brand builder

I'll use nuanced strategies and my master’s degree in creative writing to grow your followers, engage and retain them, and convert them into leads, customers, and active promoters of your brand. I have 7 years of experience creating social media strategies and ghostwriting posts for startups, luxury hotels, U.S. Government contractors, nonprofits, and one of the nation's largest insurance providers.

To build a unique and innovative brand, you have to respond to your audience’s hidden needs/wants. I’ll quickly help you identify those needs before we discuss a concrete plan for how your brand will respond. Call me, and let's get straight to the point so you can start raising awareness of your product immediately.

You have a unique story. I’ll help you put that story into words that both resonate with your most profitable audience and compel them to take action. If you have existing content, I'll review it and suggest concrete ways to make it more attractive to your target audience. About me: I like writing so much I put a master’s degree on it (Fiction Writing, Johns Hopkins University) and I’ve been getting paid to help people find the right words for more than a decade. Call me, and let's get straight to the point.

You've probably wondered what it'd be like to work in your PJs instead of real pants, follow your body clock instead of the 9-5 grind, and take vacations when you want instead of when your boss approves them. A transition to the freelance lifestyle is not one I'd recommend to everyone--and it has to be done the right way--but for some, this change can mean the difference between constant boredom vs. waking up excited to tackle the unique opportunities and challenges of going it alone. Call me, and let's get straight to the heart of your questions, such as: --Is the freelance lifestyle a good fit for my personality? --Would my skills translate well? --How can I make it work financially and weather the dry spells? --How can I convince my boss to become my first client? --How should I market myself on LinkedIn to get more clients? --Are sites like Fivver, Elance, Odesk, and Freelancer worth my time? --What skills do I need to acquire before I make the jump? About me: 4 years ago I quit my 9-5 job, and now I make double my old salary as a freelance social media strategist/writer/editor.

Problems arise at every stage of the entrepreneurial quest--in forming collaborations, in setting goals, in raising money, and so on. Give me a call, and let's find concrete solutions to the challenges your startup faces today. Why choose me? I have a unique background that's bolstered my ability to solve problems: 1) As a self-taught programmer I've trained myself in computer logic, which involves taking big, nebulous problems and breaking them down into tiny, discrete issues to be resolved one-by-one; 2) I spent the first half of my career executing U.S. Government contracts abroad in hostile/oppressive locations like Venezuela and Equatorial Guinea, where implementing programs requires creativity and flexibility; and 3) I'm generally a creative person (see: my master's degree in creative writing).