Dereka M. Smith

Sales & Marketing Specialist Turned Copywriter

With a background in sales and B2B growth, I now help tech startups craft copy and content that don’t just sound smart—they perform. I’ve helped teams generate over $1M in new business through strategic storytelling.

Before the copy, there was the hustle

I got my start in sales—pitching data scientists and developers, chasing leads, and figuring out what made people say yes. Turns out, it was the words. Now I use those same instincts to craft copy and content that moves people—whether they’re prospects, partners, or press.

From inbox strategy to long-form storytelling

I've helped fast-growing startups write their way to better conversions, stronger brand voice, and lasting impact. My background spans B2B SaaS to martech, where I’ve written everything from outbound sequences to investor-ready content strategies.

Here’s my career condensed to a few bullet points.

Playbook Media

Marketing Content Specialist - SDR

October 2024 - Present

  • Created persuasive cold email sequences that generated $132K in net new revenue by effectively communicating value propositions to mid-market and enterprise clients

  • Developed and executed targeted email campaigns that increased webinar attendance by over 100% and drove a 10% uptick in new business through compelling copy and strategic messaging

  • Wrote blog posts that increased website traffic from an average of 200+ visits per month to 1K+ visits per month through SEO-optimized content and strategic topic selection

  • Produced multi-channel content including blog posts, weekly newsletters, social media copy, and podcast scripts, boosting brand visibility by 40%

OpsLevel

SDR

March 2024 - June 2024

  • Crafted compelling outreach copy that generated a new business opportunity valued at $110k

  • Developed training content and sales enablement materials that increased team activity by 35%

  • Created email templates and call scripts for lead generation campaigns

  • Conducted market research to inform content strategy and identify messaging opportunities

cQuant.io

Founding SDR

January 2023 - March 2024

  • Drove over $800K in net new business through strategic content creation and data-driven copywriting, including $512K in projected Annual Recurring Revenue

  • Developed Top of Funnel content strategy that increased lead conversion rates by 400% through strategic messaging and persuasive copy

  • Created foundational sales content including comprehensive sales playbooks, onboarding materials, and lead qualification frameworks

Mode Analytics

BDR

March 2022 - November 2023

  • Generated over $350K in pipeline opportunities through compelling email and LinkedIn outreach, ranking as Top 3 performer on the sales team

  • Developed nurture email sequences that converted an inbound prospect into a 3-year deal on the first proposal—the company's longest deal to date

  • Created high-converting copy for cold email campaigns, LinkedIn outreach, and other lead-generation activities, achieving a 78% increase in lead conversion

Curious what all this looks like in action?