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Katy Willis is a writer, master herbalist, master gardener, and certified canine nutritionist. She’s also a digital pubisher. Katy has been writing since 2002, and she founded her first website, RealSelfSufficiency.com, in 2015. She then founded her publishing company, Content By Design, Ltd, in 2019, and now has a portoflio of websites under the Content By Design umbrella. All the websites in Katy’s portfolio focus on one of Katy’s areas of expertise, all within the green living, self-sufficiency, and holistic lifestyle niches.
Master Herbalist: Certified from the Centre of Excellence with accreditation by the Complementary Medical Association, Katy has 20 years of experience in creating herbal remedies from homegrown and foraged medicinal plants.
Master Gardener: With 30 years of experience in organic food growing, Katy excels in companion planting, permaculture techniques, and enhancing soil health and crop yields naturally.
Canine Nutritionist: Holding a diploma from the Centre of Excellence, Katy has over a decade of experience in feeding dogs a species-appropriate raw diet, making her own dog treats, and advocating for a wholefoods approach for pets and humans.
Self-Sufficiency Expert: Katy promotes self-reliance in food preservation, foraging, green energy, and living within means. Her approach focuses on minimal reliance on external resources.
Modern Homesteader: Raised on a rural homestead, Katy continues this lifestyle, blending traditional practices with modern conveniences. She focuses on green living, sustainability, crafting, and natural living.
Livestock Rearing: Katy raises various animals like chickens, ducks, quail, bees, and goats, emphasizing natural and holistic care. She continually expands her knowledge through additional classes and seminars.
Crafts Enthusiast: A versatile crafter, Katy specializes in yarn and fiber crafts (crochet, spinning, weaving, macrame), and also creates cosplay and reenactment items, chainmail jewelry, and beadwork.
Yes, green living, sustainability, and self-sufficiency are Katy’s primary passions, but she’s a modern-day renaissance woman! Katy is a geek, too. Some might say she’s a techno-hippie. She loves Doctor Who, dragons, zombies, really good horror, dystopian futurism and medieval fantasy.
Katy Willis is a science fiction aficionado, game geek techno-hippie who loves scientific innovation, learning about technological advancement, and passionately debating who is the best Doctor Who companion ever with fellow Whovians (obviously, it’s Donna – you’ll never change my mind!).
She’s logged hundreds of hours playing sandbox survival and dystopian horror games, knows everything there is to know about Doctor Who, LotR, TWD, and GoT, is endlessly fascinated by dragons, magic, and fantasy, and thinks alternative reality, zombies, and cyberpunk culture are the epitome of cool.
An overview of the seven companies that own the top 40 VPNs
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/companies-secretly-own-dozens-vpns/
An overview of the latest independent Cure53 ExpressVPN audit.
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/can-expressvpn-be-trusted-and-is-it-legal/
A roundup of the best tested password managers.
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/10-best-secure-password-managers/
A deep dive into speed testing for ExpressVPN.
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/expressvpn-speed-test/
A how-to guide for installing a VPN on an Android device.
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/connect-vpn-android-protect-privacy/
Advice on whether you should keep your VPN on all the time.
https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/should-keep-vpn-on-at-all-times/
An amusing look at the truth behind the myths surrounding playing video games.
A humorous but truthful look at what it's really like to work from home. This was written pre-pandemic but is still super-relevant today.
https://katywillis83.medium.com/the-inside-scoop-what-its-really-like-to-work-remotely-9baff3fad198
This is a deep research piece on the legality of euthanasia across the world in 2021 and the statistics around the incidences of euthanasia.
https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/complete-guide-euthanasia-where-how-when-legal/
A review of the top DNA tests that can help inform a reader's weight loss program.
https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/best-dna-kits-for-weight-loss/
A popular handicraft roundup that also includes a nicely detailed how-to guide.
https://realselfsufficiency.com/best-free-melt-pour-soap-recipes/
A review of the best rapid at-home STD tests available. Sensitively handling a tough topic and helping to reduce stigma and taboo and normalize regular sexual health screening.
https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/7-best-at-home-rapid-std-test-kits/
An epic guide covering all the basics of organic gardening. This is a huge piece of valuable content, heavily interlinked to allow readers to dive deeper into the subtopics they're most interested in.
https://realselfsufficiency.com/category/in-the-garden/
A recipe and lots of useful background information around making bone broth for dogs and cats, promoting healthful, natural pet nutrition.
https://realselfsufficiency.com/how-to-make-bone-broth-for-dogs-and-why-youd-want-to/
Comparing the best online marketing services side by side. Read in-depth reviews and learn how the best online marketing companies stack up.
https://www.business.com/categories/internet-marketing-services/
Comprehensive buying guide for two-way radios, explaining features, what to look for, and top picks.
https://www.digitalnerds.com/the-ultimate-two-way-radio-buying-guide/
A feature on electromagnetic hypersensitivity, with interviews from real sufferers, and a look at the science behind it.
https://www.theplaidzebra.com/laptop-killing-electromagnetic-poisoning-digital-age/
A general maintenance tips and guidance article giving readers real, practical, actionable advice.
https://www.angi.com/articles/12-air-conditioning-tips-summer.htm
An overview of repair coss for swimming pools, complete with cost breakdowns.
https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-repair-swimming-pool.htm
Here's what you should look for in a modern, technologically advanced point-of-sale system for your business.
https://www.business.com/articles/retail-pos-buying-guide/
I write and edit for Angi and its sister site, HomeAdvisor, specializing in cost guides and decision guides, helping consumers make informed contractor and purchase decisions related to home renovation.
Company: Angi and HomeAdvisor
I worked there from 2/2019 until now
Content By Design is my freelance content services business. I founded it in 2002 and have since helped countless businesses, from bloggers to some of the world's biggest brands, to reach their audience and deliver stellar content. Through my company, I offer freelance writing, editing, and content management services. Clients I've helped include: Business.com | Gardens Alive | Paysa | Tom's Guide | Garden Guides | Surthrival | Reviews.com
Company: Content By Design, Ltd
I worked there from 4/2002 until now
Founded in 2015, realselfsufficiency.com is a website dedicated to organic homesteading, green living, and DIY. I'm the writer, editor, and content manager, and this site is my digital baby.
Company: Real Self-Sufficiency
I worked there from 10/2015 until now
I ran content operations for three of this company's largest sites - vpnMentor.com, SafetyDetectives.com, and DNAweekly.com. Under my content leadership, vpnMentor's revenue grew by 91% in one year. After troubleshooting and turning around this site, putting in proper content practices, documentation, workflow and so on, I was sent to do the same on another of their sites - SafetyDetectives. And eventually, we replicated these successes on DNAWeekly, too.
Company: Webselenese
I worked there from 8/2019 until 5/2021
In my role at this content agency, I ran content operations for clients such as Amazon, Staples, JimmyJazz, Purch, Berlin Packaging, GNC, NewEgg, Slice, Jockey, American Eagle, Sears, and Quill, among others. I was responsible for the entire content process, from brief creation and goal-setting to running the teams, editing, auditing, and delivering.
Company: eZdia
I worked there from 1/2014 until 8/2019
My role as managing editor began when the company was in its earliest startup phase in 2014. The role was multi-faceted and involved communication at all levels, from liaising with freelance writers to negotiating with and pitching to industry-leading websites and publications, as well as extensive content creation, content strategy, and planning. The role also encompassed a significant amount of digital marketing.
Company: Dingit
I worked there from 9/2014 until 10/2016
I worked as a freelance writer, editor, quality auditor, and project manager for eBay, across the US, UK, and AU teams. My role involved creating a variety of content, from in-depth buying guides to product descriptions. Additionally, I was charged with creating knowledgeable how-to's and advice guides, specifically for home repair, product choices, DIY, renovation, and upcycling.
Company: eBay
I worked there from 3/2011 until 10/2016
I created multiple regular weekly features for this unconventional lifestyle magazine, ranging from alternative and green living to cutting-edge technology and innovative business pieces.
Company: Plaid Zebra
I worked there from 8/2014 until 3/2016