Part 1 : On being together, far apart...

Jill, you're near Boston, and Heather, you're in Bellingham, so there's quite a distance between you. How did you begin working together, and does distance matter?
Jill: Heather and I were subscribed to the same email discussion list (WTB). We had emailed back and forth a few times regarding various posts either of us had made. When I had the need for a new writer for my search engine optimization business, naturally Heather came to mind.

Because I work with so many different types of clients, my writing needs vary from job to job. What appealed to me about Heather's work was that she obviously knew how to project whatever tone and feel was necessary for each individual client. She was just as adept at writing copy for a home based woman-owned business as she was for a Fortune 500 company. We also hit it off right away on a personal level which is another reason why I decided to use Heather exclusively for my online writing needs.

Because all of our work together is Internet related, the distance has not been a problem. All of our clients are scattered across the nation and even the world. Although Heather and I would love to finally meet in person some day (as I'm sure we will), our 3 - 10 emails per day to each other, along with the occasional phone call or conference call with a client, seems to work fine for us.

We're hoping to eventually do some speaking engagements together, and it would certainly be easier if we were at least on the same coast, but we'll manage one way or another!

Interestingly enough, it actually feels like we've met in "real life" already because we have become so much a part of each others lives. Our relationship progressed far beyond a simple working relationship, and we consider each other close friends. I think that's one reason why we work so well together. Even though some of our skills overlap, we seem to complement each other with our different working styles and personalities. Heather is much more organized than I am, and that has been a tremendous help in keeping our work running smoothly and on schedule. She's also inspired me to be more organized!

Heather: Like Jill mentioned, we met on an email discussion list. One day, Jill contacted me and said she needed a copywriter for a site that had a more "corporate" feel - and the rest is history! We've been working almost exclusively together for about a year now, communicating solely via email or phone.

The distance has never been an issue. It would be wonderful to finally meet Jill in real life - and I'm sure that will happen someday. But, until that happens, the occasional call and lots of emails work perfectly. Our communication is fantastic for being on two separate coasts and in different time zones. If I need to talk to Jill, I know I can email her and she'll get back to me right away. I've never felt like I couldn't reach Jill or that's she's unavailable. She's wonderful like that. We both have a strong sense of responsibility to each other, and we don't leave the other person hanging.

The great thing is, like any other partnership, we've gotten to the point when our work is more than work - it's a fun lifestyle we've both created. Although we're both VERY focused, we still have time to joke in our emails and talk about our lives. It's like we ARE sharing the same office - the distance is moot.

Continued...