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It’s nearly Christmas and that statement either makes you CHEER or BOO.
Christmas is a time when our clients usually shut up shop. We can start getting anxious as we don’t have work lined up… We can enjoy some much needed time off ourselves… Or we can use the time to work on our business.
In this special Christmas episode of the Hot Copy, we’re digging into how we survive Christmas AND answering some questions from you.
Tune in to learn:
- What Kate and Belinda are doing for Christmas
- How to beat the client famine of Christmas time
- Some super tips to jump-start your January!
- How to handle requests for social media copy
- Why social posts and email campaigns need the same level of skill
- Should you be creating social graphics for clients?
- How to make social posting a profitable service
- The secret to writing copy that sounds like a client
- How to work with a client who won’t give you a good brief
- Exactly how many revisions you should work through before sacking a client
- The delicate balance between offering value-adds like keyword research and creating a profitable business
- How to spot needy clients.
Question for you
What are you up to this Christmas? Work, rest or play?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks! Thanks to Claire Gamble | Unhooked Comms from UK for a fantastic review of the show.
Did you know that our brain responds differently to different messages? If you don’t want to write copy that puts readers on high alert, conversational copywriting is for you.
In this episode, Belinda talks to Nick Usborne (copywriter with 40 years experience) about the shifts in copywriting and why conversational copywriting is actually right for everyone.
Tune in to learn:
- What conversational copywriting is
- The super easy way to know if you've written it or missed the mark
- How our brain responds to different sales messages
- Uncovering the language of our readers
- How to persuade clients that it's the right tone for their brand
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Oh and big hugs to Greg from Portland for a 5-star review.
About Nick
Who is Nick Usborne?
Nick Usborne is an expert in copywriting and web writing. He has written copy for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Citibank, Apple, Chrysler, MSN.com, New York Times, WebEx, the U.S. Navy, and others. He attributes his success to “conversational copywriting,”.
Seth Godin says, “In a world of instant pundits and stuffed shirts, Nick Usborne stands out as an astute, insightful and original mind. He’s able to find substance when others see just fluff, and can cut right to the core of the issue.”
Connect with Nick
Useful Links:
In our last episode, we talked about your copywriting business being a sock in a box. If you missed it, we talked about the risk of charging a premium level price tag without delivering a premium level service.
We shared some helpful tips but we’re going in deeper today. Namely, how do you offer a service that you can confidently charge more for?
Why are some copywriters so expensive and how can you be one?
Tune in to learn:
- The five attributes of a high- value copywriter
- Our five top tips for delivering on a premium price
Question for you:
How confident are you to charge more? Can you add more value?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Angela Rogers for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful Links:
We’ve all been there. We were taken in by the schmick advertising, the snazzy designer, the bells and whistles.
We buy the thing.
Then it’s delivery and we unwrap the layers of shiny wrapping, dig through a giant box of those puffy polystyrene doo dars and what do we find?
A sock in a box?
All that puff and prettiness for something so absolutely ordinary. And this happens with copywriting too. Too often we focus on the exterior, the marketing, the pizazz - forgetting what really matters.
In this episode, Belinda and Kate dig deep into the idea that your copywriting business could just be a sock in a box. Press your ears a little closer to the speaker, this one is going to be a doozy.
Tune in to learn:
- What is a sock in a box?
- How Kate’s copywriting brand evolved
- How Belinda’s copywriting brand evolved
- Do pretty proposals help land high paying clients?
- Good proposal software
- A cautionary tale
- The dangers of having a brand that’s too schmicky
- How to make sure clients are having a high-end experience
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Debz407 from New Zealand for a five-star review of the show. We appreciate it!
Do you want a shoutout? Leave us a review!
Email is dead! No it isn’t! Email is the most powerful marketing tool on the planet!
Which is it and how can copywriters use email marketing to boost their business?
In this episode, Belinda chats to email marketing strategist Sarah Anderson. Sarah generously shares her tips on email marketing techniques (to write welcome, nurturing and conversion sequences) and tips we can use to land clients who want great email copy written for them.
Tune in to learn:
- Why Sarah stopped dyeing yarn to write copy
- If email marketing really is as effective as everyone says
- What copywriters need to understand before writing emails
- Must know tips for writing a welcome email
- Must know tips for writing a nurturing sequence
- Must know tips for writing a conversion sequence
- How to work out the timing of a good email sequence
- How to package email writing as a profitable service
Question for the listeners:
Do you offer email writing as a service? What the BEST thing about writing emails for others?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Kerrib100 from Australia for a fantastic review of the show.
About Sarah
Sarah Anderson is a copywriter and email marketing strategist. She believes that building a relationship with your list is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your marketing. That's why Sarah works with business owners who want emails that nurture subscribers, give tons of value, and convert into sales.
Useful Links:
Language localisation can be a bit of a minefield. Between the US, the UK and good old Aussie-land we all technically speak the same language, right? So how hard could it be?
Quite hard actually. Today, we’re covering the differences you need to know to take your copywriting global. Well, at least between Australia, the United Kingdom and the good old US of A.
Tune in to learn:
- Some common terminology differences
- How much marketing each audience needs
- How differently we respond to success
- How quickly different audiences buy
- Which vegetables Kate and Belinda can’t seem to buy
Question for the listeners:
We’d love to know if you agree with our perspectives on the differences in regional copywriting.
And please share your favourite ads with us!
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Over The Hill Chris from UK for a five star review of the show. We appreciate it!
Useful Links:
If you’re a copywriter, you’ve probably heard of the term Copy deck before, but you might not be 100% sure what it is.
In this episode, we answer ALL your copy deck questions and explain how this one document could transform your copywriting business.
Tune in to learn:
- What is a copy deck
- Why you should use a copy deck
- What Kate and Belinda include in their copy decks
- How should you create your copy deck
- Should you include layout and design ideas
- How to take the client through your copy deck
- How many versions you should expect to write
- When does the copy deck officially belong to the client?
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Oh and big hugs to Sarah Content for the lovely testimonial.
Useful links:
- What is a copy deck?
- How to write a copy deck?
- The Smart Writers guide to copy decks
- Copy deck template and course
- Copy deck template
Now we’re all copywriters here, right?
So we should be able to write, right?
But the truth is, even after years of slaving at the typewriter, we all could still learn a thing or two.
If you’re feeling lost with your writing...
Or your ransom notes are going unanswered...
Or people are ignoring your emails...
In this episode, you’re going to get some tips on how to write better. How to write real words for real people.
Let’s get stuck in.
Tune in to learn:
- How to get to know your audience
- Understand the purpose of what you’re writing
- Stop using big words to try and look smart
- How to stop hating on jargon
- Why should you stop hesitating
- How to think about where your words are read
- Why you shouldn’t overthink punctuation
- How to manage your time so editing and proofing are part of your process
- Why it’s important to be part of the world
- Why you should just write some crap
Question for you:
What’s your number one write better tip?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to middleagedmamainoz from Australia for a fantastic review of the show.
About Amanda
Amanda Van Elderen is a copywriter and author of Write Better: How To Cut The Crap And Say What You Mean. She bellyflopped into freelancing in 2016 when she chucked in a cushy job and founded WorkWords. She now writes for some of Australia’s biggest brands (and loads of the smallest). She’s on a mission to help everyday people write better, and to help big brands cut the crap and say what they mean.
Find Amanda
It’s been a long time coming but we’re finally tackling the topic of proofreading. This is right up the alley of many copywriters and editors, who offer proofreading as a value-adding service to their clients.
Neither of us does this ... in fact, we don’t even do our own proofreading. Are you shocked? You needn’t be.
Proofreading is a specific skill and part of running a business is knowing what you can do and what you should outsource.
Today, we’re going to sharing the BEST proofreading tips crowdsourced from the proofreaders and editors who listen to the pod.
Welcome to perfect proofreading for error-free copy.
Tune in to learn:
- How to physically proofread read
- What to check when you’re proofreading
- Which tools will help you hand over error-free copy
Thanks to Rachy Zanini, Shannon Morrison, Emma McMillan, Kate Merryweather, Virginia Muzik, Sarah Mitchell , Ashley Turner, Gary Cooper, Emma McMillan, Tom Scanlan, Bill Harper, John Espirian, Kate Merryweather, Alan Taylor, Camilla Ruth, Tan Allaway, Rachel Kurzyp, Jody Carey, Dominic McInerney, Simone Beeve, Leslie Nienaber, Zoe Heard, Sarah Noel Block, MS, Laura Riley, Justine McClymont, Liz Green, Di Challenor, Hannah McCreery, Maple Marketing Ltd, Bec Christensen, Leeyong Soo, Philip Smith, Kristy De Camps, Ashley Turner, Louise Banbury, Kathie Kinde Clark for sharing their tips!
HOT COPY SPONSOR
Scribendi was founded in 1997 by Chandra Clarke and Terry Johnson to connect ideas and people worldwide through professional language services. In 2017, the transition to a new leadership team, Patricia Riopel and Enrico Magnani, marked an important milestone in the company's history. Our name is drawn from cacoethes scribendi, which means "the insatiable urge to write." We support our clients by helping them craft this urge into writing that is both clear and professional. Over the last two decades, Scribendi has become a world leader in the online editing and proofreading industry. We have edited more than 1.3 billion words and processed more than 400,000 orders.
SPECIAL OFFER: Use the code HOTCOPYEDIT at checkout to get 5% discount until December 31, 2018.
Book your next proofreading job at Scribendi
Question for the listeners:
Do you proofread your own copy? How do you deal with errors picked up by clients?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
HOT COPY SPONSOR
The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP) is a professional organisation based in the UK for editors and proofreaders – the people who strive to make text accurate and readable. It provides training and support to its members, and its directory is a valuable resource for those looking for a professional editor or proofreader.
SPECIAL OFFER: Waive the £35 joining fee by using the code: HCP2018 at checkout. Valid until the end of September 30, 2018.
Become a member at SFEP
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Rashida Tayabali for a five star review of the show. We appreciate it!
Useful links:
- To proof or not to proof
- Why use a proofreader or an editor?
- A 4-stage proofreading strategy to error-proof your copywriting
- How to catch those typos: The how and why of perfect proofreading
- Pointing out typos: Your duty? Or not your job?
- Top 10 proofreading tips
- Scribendi
- The Society for Editors and Proofreaders
We all know as working copywriters that while we put our love, our heart, our soul, our everything into our clients' marketing, we sometimes neglect our own.
So today we’re focusing in on exactly what you need to do as a copywriter to build your business. To boost it, to make people more aware of who you are, to build your authority, to build trust.
Tune in to learn:
- How to better understand your customer
- Why you should find services for your clients rather than clients for your services
- How to differentiate
- The importance of marketing goals
- Why you need a vision
- How to retain existing clients
- Why your marketing should be integrated
- How to use proof
Question for the listeners:
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
About Sarah:
Sara Berry started her business Marketing Sense in 2012 with the sole purpose of helping small businesses to grow, by developing their marketing capability. Sara started her career in marketing in 1992, and since that time has worked with close to a hundred businesses to help them achieve their goals.
Sara’s links:
With D.P. Knudten
Today Kate talks to D.P. Knudten, a copywriter from Wisconsin, about social media and how it can be a powerful booster for copywriters.
Tune in to learn:
- What is ROTOMA (Return on Top of Mind Awareness), and why should copywriters care?
- What is Shoemaker's Children Syndrome?
- In our increasingly visual world, how can copywriters compete?
- Why social media can be an effective force multiplier for copywriters
- Should we focus on one particular social media platform
- Which is D.P.’s favourite social media platform
- What kinds of content performs best?
- Why D.P. thinks copywriters hate SEO
- Should you bid projects by the hour or value?
- How can introverts get more out of conferences?
Question for the listeners:
What's your big AHA moment from this episode? Share it with us on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
About D.P.:
D.P. Knudten is the Chief Collaborator at his business, COLLABORATOR creative, in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
A 25-year veteran adman, D.P. has worked on some of the biggest brands in the business including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Motorola at agencies including DDB Needham/Chicago and McCann Erickson/Atlanta. A writer by trade, he enjoys playing in the intersection between the visual and the verbal, using his NonFiction Branding™ approach to move people – and product.
He is also the co-author (with Spencer X. Smith) of the ‘ROTOMA’ –The ROI of social media, 'Top of Mind’ and is the host of the popular ‘The ROTOMA Podcast’. He also speaks about branding, social media, creativity and culture to groups throughout the United States.
D.P.’s links:
We’ve talked a little about finding your niche as a copywriter. Medical, government, health, finance.
Finding the right niche for your skills can help you earn more moolah as you become a go-to writer who gets the ins and outs of a particular industry.
Today, we’re digging into writing for SaaS - software as a service - and eCommerce companies. Our fellow copywriter, sharing her specialist knowledge on this, is Kaleigh Moore.
Tune in to learn:
- How SaaS and eCommerce copywriting is different to other types of copywriting
- The types of challenges SaaS companies need solving in their copy
- How to get the crunchy details you need to write exceptional SaaS copy
- How to get your head around the technical details of software products and services
- How to persuade jargon-lovers to leave it out
- The secret to making abstract benefits sound compelling
- Tips on pitching for SaaS copywriting work
Question for the listeners:
Have you considered writing for SaaS businesses? Would you now?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to AwesomeGames for a fantastic review of the show.
About Kaleigh:
Kaleigh Moore is a copywriter whose speciality is writing value-packed blog content for SaaS and eCommerce companies. She lives in the Midwest and started freelance writing under her own name back in 2013.
Kaleigh has worked with growing start-ups and top-ten companies on the Fortune 500 as well as well as growing SaaS companies, including AT&T, Campaign Monitor, and GetFeedback. She writes a regular column for Inc. Magazine and has been featured in Entrepreneur, Copy Hackers, KissMetrics and Conversion XL.
Useful Links:
Find Kaleigh:
Tactics to deal with newbie fears and oldbie exhaustion
In this solo interview, Kate talks to Robert Gerrish, a well-known name in the Australian solopreneuer world.
Robert, a friend and mentor to Kate for many years, was one of the guest speakers at her recent CopyCon18 event in Sydney.
He was a huge hit, even more so because he left the audience with an offer: he was happy to chat with anyone who wanted to, to offer his advice and coaching – at no charge.
After talking to nearly 20 copywriters at length, he’s on the Hot Copy Podcast to share the common themes of those chats: the worries and fears of both newbie and oldie copywriters.
Robert and Kate talk through how to deal with all these issues, offering advice and insight from their own experiences.
A slightly different episode to the usual copy pod, but a mellow and heartwarming one!
Tune in to learn:
- How to deal with newbie copywriter fears
- Handing comparisonitus and imposter syndrome
- Why getting started is more important than having a perfect plan
- The importance of niching and owning what you do
- How to deal with peaks and troughs
- How to give your business a refresh and find new mojo
- Why you’re probably doing better than you think you are
- Why it’s so important to be the bouncer for your business
- And the big questions, such as: if you’re up on stage and everyone is applauding, what are they applauding you for?
Question for the listeners:
What keeps you awake at night?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
About Robert:
Following a career in the marketing and design industry in London and Sydney, Robert made the leap to his own business in the mid-1990s.
Seeing a niche in the area of support and resources aimed at the ‘one-person business’, Robert launched the Flying Solo community in 2005.
With a small team, he grew the business to a member base of over 100,000 Australian freelancers and entrepreneurs, before selling to Pinstripe Media at the end of last year.
Back working solo, today Robert pops up regularly at conferences and events, supports individuals in the development of their ventures and hosts a series of podcasts including: “The Business of Bookkeeping” (for First Class Accounts), “The Flying Solo Podcast” and his own “Mellow Brick Road” a new show aimed at the older entrepreneur.
His first book, “Flying Solo: How to go it alone in business” was a business bestseller and his latest, “The 1-Minute Commute“ will be published by Pan Macmillan at the end of July.
Useful question from Robert:
Here are examples of the coaching questions Robert used in his session. These are some of the things we can ask ourselves - ideally working with a buddy or a coach - that can open up new thinking and opportunities:
- What is the biggest challenge I have now?
- What steps am I taking regularly in response to that challenge?
- What am I wasting my time on?
- What is holding me back the most?
- Where am I out-of-balance?
- Where am I stuck?
- Where am I sabotaging myself?
- What one change in my life would make the biggest positive difference?
- If I knew I would not fail, and time and money were not issues, what three things would I most like to have, accomplish, or work toward?
Useful Links:
Our last episode focused on beating the blank page and getting your first draft ready.
You’ve hit send… but now what?
How do you manage the revisions process (especially when it seems to derail everything) and get the client through to approval?
If you weren’t nervous enough staring at a blank page, this stage of a copywriting project can have you questioning your career choices.
But we’re here to help. So stay tuned for some serious process bombs.
Tune in to learn:
- How to reduce the number of revisions you get
- How we handle vague revisions (extracting meaningful feedback from clients)
- How we handle late revisions (keeping clients on time so you can move on)
- What to do when the client HATES your copy
- How to write copy for strong personalities
- Time-saving tips to get official approval
Question for the listeners:
Have you had to manage difficult revisions? How did it change your process?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Di @ Whistle Communications for a fantastic review of the show. We appreciate it!
Useful Links:
Does the blank page ever mock you? That blinking cursor, flashing at your lack of ability to start this copywriting project… to write a killer headline or craft a first sentence that wows each and every reader…?
You’re not alone.
Once you land a job, starting the actual writing can feel like the biggest hurdle you’ll face but we’ve got your back. We’re starting a series about our complete writing process, from a blank page to the final draft.
This episode is all about getting to the first draft.
Tune in to learn:
- How Belinda and Kate start every single project
- The easiest way to beat the blank page
- How to make sure you have the right tone of voice
- Where brainstorming and research fit in
- Whether you can edit as you write
Question for the listeners:
How do YOU start each copywriting project? Do you have a system or do you just let it flow?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Lucy - Baby Berry Collective for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful Links:
- How to know if your copy is client ready
- Copy Deck Template and Course
- The smart copywriter’s guide to copy decks: presenting your copywriting (so your client loves you before they read it)
- E11 Copywriting features, benefits and… Disadvantages?
- Hot Copy E20: Why your sign off process is SO important
- Hot Copy E31: Why copy formatting is SO important
- Hot Copy E64: Copywriting formulas: Smart copywriting? Or cheating?
As copywriters with our very own podcast, we’re often asked questions.
Questions about copywriting. Questions about being a copywriter. Questions about managing our businesses and our family life. Questions about our dogs.
So, every now and then we like to pull some out and answer them.
That’s what today is all about. We’re answering YOUR questions in a special Hot Copy Q&A.
Thanks to Sheree Chambers, Maurizio F. Corte, Angela Rodgers, Di Clements, Lyndall Talbot, Liz Green.
Tune in to learn:
- The questions web developers need to ask on behalf of copywriters on the same project
- Whether bad writing is essential for good SEO
- How much of our writing is a process (as opposed to instinct)
- Getting over the fear of asking for money
- A super quick rundown of our pre-writing process of research / info gathering
- How to showcase your work when you’ve worked as a subcontractor
- Our challenges and lessons!
Question for the listeners:
Did you have any AHA moments from this pod? Let us know! We do love a good AHA.
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Emma Rose Bell for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful Links:
These days we’re all aiming to make a deeper, more real connection with our customers, and we know the way to do this is through conversational copy.
Instead of stuffy, overly formal content we want to create warm, engaging, friendly wordage. Copy that makes it feel like we’re chatting with an authoritative, but affable buddy.
But how do we write great conversational copy? Today we’re talking with Vicki Ross, and we’re going to share our top tips for chatty, non-cheesy copy.
Tune in to learn:
- The definition of conversational copy
- How to use storytelling in conversational copy
- The different conversational tones
- Whether a conversational tone work better in some medias more than others
- How to persuade your client to let you use a conversational tone
- How to be conversational without being cheesy
- Whether a conversational tone works for non-English readers.
About Vikki:
Vikki has been writing copy for 22 years.
Her clients include huge UK entertainment brands like Sky, NOW TV and ITV, and she regularly works with creative agencies like Sapient, WCRS, and Portas.
She specialises in Branding and Tone of Voice, and runs workshops around the world for D&AD and Creative Equals, as well as teaching copywriting at London's School of Communication Arts.
She’s a regular judge on international creative awards panels like D&AD, D&AD New Blood, DMA, Creative Circle, and AD STARS Korea, and last year was named one of Campaign magazine’s top 30 female creative leaders.
On Twitter, she created the #copywritersunite hashtag to connect copywriters online every day, and in person at quarterly #copywritersunite meet-ups across the UK. She also created #thingsyouhearinagencies, which you can find at @AgencyQuotes.
Two years ago, Vikki and fellow British copywriter Andy Maslen created Copy Cabana - an annual seaside event to celebrate copywriting. It’s all change this year so keep an eye out for an exciting announcement very soon.
Useful Links:
Find Vikki:
So, you’ve finally finished writing your client’s copy.
The homepage is ‘Wow,’ the content pages are engaging and you’ve done just the right amount of SEO to keep those pesky Google hummingbirds singing.
But you’ve forgotten something.
That’s right — your microcopy.
We know, we know. Microcopy isn’t sexy. And it’s certainly not the kind of copy people rave about. In fact, if microcopy were at a party it would be lurking by the door, pointing out where the toilets are, while sales copy was busy showing off to the crowd.
But these teeny tiny snippets of text can have a huge impact on the success of your site. So in this week’s podcast, we’re going to tell you how to write awesome microcopy.
Tune in to learn:
- What microcopy is
- Why it’s important on your website
- Great examples of microcopy
- How microcopy can help persuade and reassure customers
- Kate and Belinda’s top micro copywriting tips
Question for the listeners:
Have you had much experience writing microcopy?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Katie Matthews from the UK for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful Links:
Many of us are familiar with Google AdWords as part of our knowledge of SEO. But can Google AdWords shortcut your SEO efforts and get to page 1?
And are writing Google AdWords a profitable part of a copywriter’s portfolio of projects?
Today we’re talking to Google AdWords expert, Melinda Samson. She’s going to give us the lowdown on Google AdWords: the good, the bad and how to write them.
Tune in to learn:
- The structure of the AdWords ad
- What kind of content these ads should link to
- Essential character limits you need to know
- How testing ads can change everything
- Surprising micro edits that can boost ad performance
- Advice for copywriters looking to offer this as a service
Question for the listeners!
Have you written Google AdWords for yourself or others?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Who is Melinda Samson?
Melinda, co-owner of Click-Winning Content, is a Premier Google Partner and Google AdWords & Analytics Consultant, Speaker and Trainer. She works with businesses to increase their leads and sales. Mel is committed to never using an acronym without explaining it first and also likes grand slam tennis, greyhounds and Melbourne sunsets.
Basically what she does is help businesses get maximum value from their AdWords campaigns. I live, love and breathe AdWords!
Connect with Mel
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Frelsun for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful links
Deciding to change jobs is a big decision. Deciding to actually ditch your job (and the loveliness of a regular salary) to become a freelancer can seem like an enormous risk.
So, how can you prepare for and transition into life as a freelance copywriter?
That’s what we’re talking about today! We share our tips and experience on making it a smooth transition. We cover preparing for the change, when to make the leap, getting your name out there and making sure your bills are being paid.
Kate and Belinda have had significantly different experiences in this area so you’ll be able to hear two approaches.
Tune in to learn:
- How and why Kate left her last full-time job
- The story of Belinda leaving her last full-time job
- When you know it's time to go
- What kind of preparation you can do
- Belinda's handy trick that turned her boss into her first retainer client
Question for the listeners:
How did you transition to life as a full-time copywriter?
Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Louise Brogan @SocialBeeNI from the UK for a fantastic review of the show.
As copywriters, we know that one thing we have far too little of is time. But is it actually possible to delegate some of your work to others?
We’re not talking about sub-contracting copywriting work to more junior writers. We’re talking about handing off the day-to-day admin to another human. Sounds good right?
In today’s episode, we’re talking about working with Virtual Assistants or VAs.
Is this a good way to grow your copywriting business? We’re sharing our experiences and advice on making the most of your VA relationship and the common pitfalls to avoid.
So, if you’ve ever wondered if a VA could be the solution to your admin nightmares, this is the episode for you.
Tune in to learn:
- What kinds of work a VA can help with
- How to find a great VA
- The pros and cons of overseas VAs
- How to train a VA
- How to get the most out of your VA
Question for the listeners!:
Do you use a VA, how has it changed your business?
You can let us know on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to Readwritelearnwell from the US for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful links:
Could your business survive a cold? Probably. But what about an unexpected illness that takes you out of action for weeks?
Whether it’s a cold, a hangover or something more long-term, when we work for ourselves the ramifications to our business can be serious. Especially if we’re talking about extended periods of illness.
How do you avoid your business going offline when you do?
Tune in to learn:
- Kate and Belinda’s experience with planned and unplanned business outages
- Our top 3 tips for helping your business survive unexpected illness
- How you can prepare yourself and your business
- Our sage advice to prevent major kerfuffles taking your business offline
Question for the listeners!:
We’d love to know if your business could survive an unexpected illness. What’s your big action from this pod?
You can let us know on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Thanks to dlcm70 from the US for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful links:
Darren Rowse is a globally renowned blogger and speaker. Just as many people know him as the founder of Problogger as for his other business, Digital Photography School. He inspires bloggers every year at the Problogger training event and we grabbed him to pick his brain about writing, routines and being a totes famous introvert.
Tune in to learn:
- How Darren finds the time and inclination to write in his ultra-busy schedule
- Where he gets his inspiration
- How he turns negative comments into conversation
- How an introvert keeps his energy levels topped up after big events
- How Darren gets through his (enormous) to do list
- The ONE question you should ask yourself before you start writing.
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
About Darren
Darren Rowse is a blogger, speaker, consultant and founder of several blogs and blog networks, including b5media, ProBlogger.net and digital-photography-school.com. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.
Connect with Darren:
We know that many copywriters love the idea of writing copy for charities and Not For Profits, it’s a way of using our copywriting superpowers for good.
But what are the challenges of working with charities?
Should you charge less?
What are the differences between writing copy for charities and regular clients?
To find out, we’ve got experienced copywriter Andrea Rowe on the show!
Tune in to learn:
- The types of clients Belinda, Kate and Andrea have worked with
- The differences between writing for charities and regular commercial copywriting
- Should you charge a different rate?
- Why charities love direct mail
- Scriptwriting tips for charity videos
- How to tug the heartstrings without being melodramatic
- How to identify the value proposition
- Tips for newbie charity copywriters
- Resources to help you get started
Share the pod love!
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!
Oh and big hugs to ‘Jody Carey’ for their lovely testimonial.
About Andrea
Andrea Rowe is a copywriter and campaign strategist helping not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises increase awareness, attract supporters and retain donors. She also helps coastal and government organisations create engaging words and identify tactical approaches for PR and fundraising campaigns, digital and website content and community report and grant writing.