Sunny Zhang
Q What do you do?
“I do a lot. But in a nutshell, I help business owners communicate their ideas clearly. And with a bit of oomph.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I'd say they're less like steps. More like giant leaps of faith. A few years ago knew that that I desperately wanted out of corporate. I'd always wanted more creative and locational freedom. I started off freelancing in design, which was what I had a background in. Pretty quickly I had my hands on all parts of the projects, including the copy and messaging. I realized that too many small businesses were giving far too little attention to the stuff that actually sells and converts (hint: it's the words). There was a huge gap between where people wanted to be and where they were that could only be filled with intentional copy and messaging. I pivoted hard, took some courses, practiced daily, and dove head-first into the world of copy and marketing. The psychology and nuances of language were just so interesting and I've never looked back.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I stand out in my background and processes. Having a UX and visual design background gives me an in-depth understanding of putting the customer first in all realms of the experience. Readability, accessibility, plus looking good. UX taught me to ask the right questions and to read between the lines. Being well-versed in visual design helps me have an intuitive understanding of how information flows. These skills paired with my ongoing learning of copywriting frameworks and knowledge of the marketing ecosystem allow me to consider the entire picture when it comes to brand and web projects.
Q What are you working on right now?
I'm working on a messaging and web copy project for a cottage rental/creative outdoor space in Muskoka Ontario. The owners have a lofty vision to go beyond their current platform, Airbnb, where they're limited to what the property can be. With more than 80 acres of forested land, they want to eventually create a gathering space for creative projects - such as mini music festivals, wellness retreats, and more. I love projects where I have to find that perfect balance of poetic expression and clarity in the language.
Q What’s your style?
My style is represented pretty well by my website - but I can definitely pivot and transform it to fit client needs. I love a project that's very brand-focused - where we're more focused on capturing an identity vs strictly informative. That said, I also love taking technical/confusing information, distilling it down to the basics, and figuring out how to present it in the most interesting way. I'd love to work with more travel/hospitality/experience-centric brands.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I freakin love writing web copy. It's my bread and butter. Being a big explorer I'd love to write more for travel and hospitality brands, but I love DTC too.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Mmm, maybe my email marketing. Believe it or not, writing for yourself is hard af even for a writer. It's a universal struggle.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I think I need a manager. Ha. Being your own boss is sweet but I wouldn't mind some supervision from time to time. Ideally, this person also doubles as a personal trainer. A girl can dream...
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I'm honestly very happy with how things have played out. I think my experiences - mishaps and all, made me who I am today. Maybe I would have told myself back in high school to not stress so much about what I ended up doing in university. Or to take some time off without guilt to just figure things out at my own pace. But hey - stress is a great motivator too.(I'd know)
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
Cheesy but - obviously Ogilvy. Every copywriter's celeb crush. I also love Christ West. He taught me all the basics of brand and how messaging shapes a company. A dinner with the two of them would be amazing, but also super intimidating. I'd pick their brains I think less so on the actual work, but more so on their processes. I've become a big believer in process and doing as much work as possible before putting anything on the page.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I'm looking for brand messaging and web design projects for D2C brands or service providers that are launching or rebranding. OR collaborations with designers and agencies who are working on web design projects for clients.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is a D2C brand or service provider who is past their first year, bringing in 80K + revenue and/or is looking to hire, expand, or double down on their digital strategy. I also love a good agency collab. Watching copy and design come together is just *chefs kiss*.
Q What is your rate?
I've tried to create offers for most price points. You're looking at $1400 - 2.5k for smaller projects and ~4k for more comprehensive projects and larger websites. I have offers on both ends - for people wanting a more affordable, condensed project. Or for those wanting an in-depth, comprehensive project. All the info is available on my website!
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
I always speak to my clients on a call before taking on a project! It's the best way to get to know their needs and figure out if I can meet them.
My call link is: calendly.com
The appropriate questions are in the link! Please be sure to check out my website first - lots of details on there.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
Love these designers - their work or their content has really helped me on my journey.
studioeclectics.com
ellendawn.design
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I keep my eyes open in the real world!
This member profile was originally published in December 2023, Updated February 2024