When I started out I had very few female role models in my particular fields, copywriting and SEO. I often found myself in communities where I was the only female, which was, well, interesting!

I started as a new mum with no real idea of how to run a business, freelancing to support my family. It’s taken me a fair few years to build my success, creating online courses, communities, templates, resources, training, conferences, podcasts, publishing books and speaking at events around the world.

And part of that success has involved helping other women who are also often starting from scratch or trying to build a better business on their own terms.

These days my business supports thousands of other businesses in Australia and around the world, and the majority of my members, clients and customers are women.

I genuinely want to empower other women, and although at times it feels awkward, I want to be a role model for those women who don’t see themselves as the stereotypical entrepreneur. I’m all about being true to yourself and embracing your quirks, rather than projecting some ideal of glossy hair, perfect teeth and an Instagram-ready lifestyle.

Working for yourself is a great option for women (and parents in general) who want to create a business that works on their terms, but it can also be a lonely pursuit. I’ve worked hard to create online communities which support women and which provide the equivalent of the office water cooler, a place where they can hang out with supportive colleagues - women and men – share advice, ask questions, celebrate wins, get reassurances about losses and tell stories.

There’s room for all of us in this space.

When I first started, SEO was a male-dominated industry, full of willy-wavers and snake-oil salesmen.

I’m proud that my courses and coaching have helped other women to succeed in the world of SEO (and copywriting), and it’s exciting being part of an industry that is constantly evolving.

As online platforms develop, they’re giving women more opportunities to be heard. It’s one of the reasons why I’m loving Clubhouse, the world’s fastest-growing social media platform. It’s a place where you can connect, share knowledge and learn in a supportive environment, and so many women are already using it to amplify their message. It’s a great leveller, where everyone has a voice, not just the loud shouty people!

Kate Toon is the founder of the Stay Tooned group, featuring The Recipe for SEO Success, The Clever Copywriting School and Digital Masterchefs.

iTWire conducted a video interview with Kate in late February 2020 which you can read about and watch here.

Kate is also the My Business Awards “Businesswoman of the Year 2020”. 

Links to all of iTWire's other International Women's Day 2021 content is here.