As the year draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the many lessons I’ve learned running my medical writing business in 2024.
When I set my goals at the start of the year, I was focused on four core areas: boundaries, confidence, freedom, and health. My aim was to grow my business in a way that felt aligned with my values, balanced with my personal life, and positioned for long-term success.
Looking back, this year has been one of growth, both personally and professionally. I came back to work in March after 6 months’ maternity leave, a big transition for me and my family. Since then I have expanded my client base, launched new revenue streams, and hit financial milestones, including an estimated revenue of £75,000+ (~$94,000) for 2024.
The lessons I learned along the way have been invaluable, and I’m excited to share them with you in the hope they might inspire or guide your own journey.
1. Diversified Marketing Is a Game-Changer
At the beginning of 2024, one of my goals was to revamp my marketing approach to better connect with potential clients and showcase my expertise, as well as to build a community with other medical and health writers. This led to a two-platform strategy:
- LinkedIn: On LinkedIn, my focus was client acquisition, and it paid off, bringing in at least three new clients over the year. I honed my messaging to highlight my expertise and focused on sharing considered thought leadership. In the process of doing so, I’ve also started to build a community of engaged fellow medical writers.
- Instagram: I used Instagram to engage with my community, share insights into my work, and promote my mentoring services. It became a space to connect with fellow medical writers and freelancers while also raising awareness of the writing services I offer.
Additionally, I spent time on content marketing and SEO. My website and blog have started generating organic enquiries, while my newsletter (launched last month) is becoming a key engagement tool. Seeing new subscribers join every day, with impressive open rates to match, and receiving positive feedback has been a highlight of my year.
Key Achievements:
- Successfully implemented a two-platform social media strategy and have surpassed 2000 followers across channels.
- Increased organic traffic to my website through SEO-focused blogs.
- Launched a newsletter with strong engagement rates and daily new subscribers.
Takeaway: Diversifying your marketing efforts isn’t just about being visible; it’s about being strategic. By tailoring my approach to different audiences, I was able to achieve growth in both client enquiries and community engagement.
2. There Is Power In Relationships
One of my most important realisations this year was the value of building and nurturing relationships. Out of the 14 writing clients I worked with in 2024, half were returning and half were new, showing the importance of maintaining long-term partnerships while also looking for fresh opportunities.
One standout moment was taking a new client from zero to £50,000 in contract value. This wasn’t just about hitting a financial milestone – it was a reminder of how impactful consistent value delivery and communication can be. I also saw the benefits of diversified client acquisition strategies. Clients came to me through LinkedIn, my website, referrals, and even from a training course I attended.
Beyond client relationships, I’ve also started to develop connections with other medical writers. As freelancers, these people are so important – these are our ‘colleagues’, the people with learn from, chat to over ‘coffee’, and DM when something goes awry.
Key Achievements:
- Worked with 14 clients (7 new, 7 returning).
- Secured several new retainer contracts.
- Completed 40+ separate projects, including SEO health blogs, patient education materials, grant proposals and needs assessments, meeting reports, content strategies, social listening, LinkedIn posts, and more.
Takeaway: Relationships are the foundation of a successful business. Whether it’s fostering existing connections or building new ones, the effort you invest will pay dividends. These connections might be with your clients, but they may also be with other members of your ‘colleague’ community, subscribers to your newsletter, or your followers on social media.
3. Outsourcing Frees You to Focus on Growth
If there’s one thing I wish I’d embraced sooner, it’s outsourcing. Let’s just say, I did my own book-keeping for far too long.
This year, I delegated several things I’d been holding onto (like bookkeeping and parts of my marketing), which freed up my time to focus on growth, mentoring, and delivering quality work for clients.
For the first time, I also collaborated with other writers and subcontractors. These partnerships not only helped me meet deadlines but also expanded the scope and quality of what I could deliver.
Key Achievements:
- Outsourced bookkeeping and marketing support, saving significant time.
- Collaborated with subcontractors on specific projects.
Takeaway: Delegating isn’t about giving up control; it’s about creating space to grow your business. By focusing on what you do best and letting others handle the rest, you can achieve more without burning out. I know this costs money, but if it’s a possibility, I highly recommend it!
4. Flexibility Is Key in an Ever-Changing Industry
The medical writing industry continues to evolve apace, and this year was no exception. Trends like AI-driven content creation, personalised healthcare communication, and a growing emphasis on health literacy and diversity are reshaping the landscape.
Rather than feeling intimidated by these changes, I leaned into them. For example, I began exploring how AI tools could support efficiency without compromising the human element in my work. This adaptability has been crucial to staying relevant and delivering value to clients. I’ve also spent time and money on training and skills development this year.
Key Achievements:
- Started using digital tools to enhance efficiency – including ChatGPT and referencing tools like Scite.ai
- Took several courses to stay up-to-date, including an SEO blog writing course, which helped me to secure a contract writing blogs for a leading wellness retailer.
Takeaway: Flexibility and a willingness to learn are essential in any industry, especially one as dynamic as medical writing. Staying informed and adaptable keeps your skills sharp and your services in demand.
5. Setting Boundaries Is a Constant Work in Progress
At the start of the year, I committed to setting better boundaries, including taking a weekly day off. While I didn’t fully achieve this goal, the journey taught me valuable lessons about ring-fencing time, prioritising the right opportunities and protecting my time and energy.
Starting to say no to projects that don’t align with my values and energy is a significant step forward for me – although this is something I’m still working on (and probably always will be).
I’ve also started using a functional weekly calendar, with time in the week assigned to different aspects of running my business, including admin, training, marketing and client delivery.
Key Achievements:
- Took off all of July and August to spend more time with my kids.
- Introduced more ‘me’ hours into my weekly calendar, including Monday morning yoga, Tuesday PT and run club. On a personal level, I managed to complete Coach to 5K earlier in the year!
- Started taking Monday mornings to clear my inbox and do any outstanding admin tasks.
Takeaway: Setting boundaries isn’t always easy, but it’s essential for sustaining both your business and your well-being. Learning to say no is just as important as knowing when to say yes.
A Year of Growth and Success
2024 has been a milestone year for my business. Since coming back to my business from maternity leave in March, I’ve refined my strategies, taken on new clients and contracts, built stronger relationships, and surpassed my revenue goals.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.
Looking ahead to 2025, my focus will be on deepening client relationships, optimising efficiency and profitability, and expanding my offerings to support fellow medical writers.
If you’re running your own business, I’d love to hear about your experiences. What lessons have you learned this year? Let’s continue to inspire and support one another as we grow.
Here’s to a successful 2025!
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