i made the wrong hiring choice 🫣


Edition #134

Tuesday, August 5th, 2025

2025: my outsourcing year

After being in business for nearly 4 years now (holy SMOKES, how has the time flown by??) and being ✨full-time✨ for over 3 of them, I finally committed to myself.

If something needed to get done, I was going to outsource it.

Because at the end of the day, time > money.

Like most founders, I can DIY almost anything. But that doesn’t mean I should.

It got to a point where 10-hour days were my norm. I was living my dream life near the ocean… and couldn’t even catch a weekday sunset.

I was running myself into the ground. So I started investing in experts to help, so I could step back into the CEO seat and grow the business.

And for the most part, it was going well. Except for one role, I completely fumbled.

I hired someone to do a task I’d already DIY-ed before and didn’t love.

They were offering a special discount, which made it finally fit into my budget, and I was SO excited to work with them.

But once we got started… the red flags were hard to ignore.

I paid a couple months in advance, spent 2 hours filling out a brand questionnaire, handed over my “Never” Word Bank, and linked nearly every copy doc of mine I could think of.

And still, the copy I got back was clearly AI-generated. 😭

They ignored my brand notes, disregarded everything I’d shared, and worst of all, I never received MULTIPLE deliverables I paid for.

Oh, and the cherry on top: they completely ghosted me without an explanation of why I wouldn't be receiving the missing deliverables. In fact, I never heard from them again after the first draft copy was delivered.

I was confused, frustrated, and honestly a little betrayed. Because now I have to save up again and start all over.

The only bright side is that the mess-up changed how I approach hiring.

Now I don’t just ask, "Can they do the job?" I ask, "Do they get me, my voice, my values, and truly CARE about their clients?

Or are they just a yes-man who delivers half-assed work that I can just do myself?

It also made me realize: that’s probably the same question a lot of founders ask when they’re thinking about hiring for email.

So, I wanted to talk about that this week :)

🌊 What to Look for When Hiring an Email Marketer 🌊

A good email marketer doesn’t just “send emails" (that's what a VA could do!). Instead, they help you build a relationship with your audience and get consistent revenue from it.

So if you’re thinking about outsourcing, here’s what matters (and what doesn’t):

Do they take time to understand your brand voice?
And I'm not just talking about the tone here. I'm talking about how your values, personality, and customer experience show up in the inbox.

Do they ask smart, strategic questions?
A good hire isn’t afraid to dive deeper. They should care about your customer journey + retention, not just what discount you’re offering this week.

Do they offer feedback, ideas, or clarity (not just execution)?
You don’t need a yes-man. You need someone who can spot gaps, write with intention, and think like a strategist.

Do they care about long-term results, not just fast clicks?
If their focus is just “what subject line gets the most opens,” they’re missing the bigger picture, and you deserve better.

🚩 What doesn’t matter as much?

  • How many followers they have (pls don't roast me for my lack of social presence lmao)
  • Whether they’ve worked with a celebrity brand (which, hey 👋 I do, but that's beside the point 😉)
  • If they have a fancy degree (mine's in Business Admin, concentrating in Entrepreneurship but again, beside the point 😜)
  • Whether or not you like them as a person (speaking from experience, good vibes ≠ good work 😔)

None of that matters if they can’t translate your vision into emails that convert and connect.

🛠️ Your 5-Minute Challenge 🛠️

If outsourcing email marketing is something you’re considering in the next 6–12 months, jot down a short wishlist:

  • What values are important to you in a contractor or creative partner?
  • What email tasks would you want to hand off (and what would you want to stay involved in)?
  • What skills or support do you not want to settle on again?

Even if you’re not hiring right now, getting clear on these now makes the process easier when the time comes.

And hey, if you're interested in working with meeeee (omg, what an honor!) you can always book a consult call by filling out this contact form. :)

Even if you’re not ready to hand things off right this second, chatting now helps you understand what to expect when you are.

I actually had a consult last week with someone who’s not outsourcing for another 6 months; she just wanted to get clarity on the process and pricing ahead of time so she could prep accordingly! (pure genius imo)

This one was a little more BTS than usual, but I hope it gave you something to think about, especially if hiring’s been sitting on your to-do list for a while.

If nothing else, maybe it’s your reminder to ask better questions, trust your gut, and protect your peace (or just to give you validation if you've been in a similar situation!).

And while I’ve got you…

I’m working on a free resource vault that’s basically the inbox version of a cool older sister who’s already been through it all and is here to spill the tea, save you time, and help you skip the mistakes.

So if there’s something you’ve been stuck on, confused about, or wishing someone would just explain clearly (without the jargon or fluff), hit reply and lmk. I’m building this with YOU in mind.

Pinky promise to make it worth your while. 💙

Always here for ya,

💌

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Learn what steps you can take to improve your current email marketing results

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Starting at $3,499

After an audit, we'll clean things up and build whatever we determine you need after

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Never worry about another email again. We'll take it completely off your plate :)

While I'm based in the NC (ET), ConvertKit is kind enough to allow users to use their addy instead to avoid giving away private details.


113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205

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Psychology-infused, community-focused email marketing for visionary founders that want to build buzz, loyalty and steady revenue.

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