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SEO is a topic we've often see discussed in copywriting Facebook groups and across the web.
And most copywriters either seem scared of it, confused by it or just overwhelmed by how to package it and sell it to clients.
The question most often asked? What does an SEO copywriter actually do?
And can you even call yourself an online writer if you don’t have mad SEO skills?
In today’s episode, we walk you through what we think SEO copywriting really means, how to do it, and how it can become a valuable arrow in your copywriting quiver.
Tune in to learn:
- What is SEO copywriting
- What SEO copywriting involves
- Can you really be an SEO copywriter if you don’t understand the big picture?
- Essential SEO know-how for copywriters
- How to package your SEO copywriting service
- The trick to making sure keyword research doesn’t steal all your time
- Kate’s keyword research strategy
- How to set client expectations of your SEO service
- Some rough guidelines on times for SEO packages
Question for you!
Do you think SEO copywriting is an essential skill? Do you feel confident about offering it?
Share your thoughts 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 GinaGodeen from USA for a fantastic review of the show.
Useful links
To swear (in copy) or not to swear (in copy) that is the question.
As copywriters, we’re always having to change the way we write to adapt to the times. And these days everyone seems to love to eff and blind like a mofo, right? What once packed a punch, is now old school. And some things that seem edgy are not as great as they’re cracked up to be - or make you sound like a try-hard teen.
Today, we look at the pros and cons of writing sweary copy. Is it a good tactic to add to your belt or is it putting readers off? We’ve even got some fancy psychology and stats around copy with swear words.
Is writing sweary copy something to try or try-hard? Let’s dig in and find out.
Tune in to learn:
- Different types of swearing
- Belinda and Kate's tolerance levels for swearing (one is a sailor, one is not)
- What happened when Kate swore, once
- The vocabulary payoff for swear-bears
- How to respond to a client who asks for swearing
- Different ways you can add swearing to your copy, without swearing in your copy
What do you think?
What do you think when you see swearing in copywriting? Do you love it or hate? Have you written sweary copy before? Let us know on our Facebook page or on Twitter.
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 Mandy Yoxall from Australia for her lovely testimonial.
Useful links:
- Kate’s infamous Instagram post
- Tone of Voice Template (Clever Copywriting School)
- Science Says That People Who Curse a Lot Have Better Vocabularies Than Those Who Don't
- BA_Dissertation_What_the_F*ck
- 5 brands using profanity-based wordplay to stir up attention
- 5 F*cking Awesome Examples of Brands Swearing in their Marketing
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!
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
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:
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:
Today we are taking the lead from our faithful listeners and will be answering the top 11 copywriter questions. Yes, all of those background conundrums that have been niggling at you for some time will finally be resolved.
If you are on a mission to boost your copywriting business and fine tune your writing skills then this podcast is for you.
Tune in to learn:
- The best way to win new clients
- How long it takes to make a living as a freelancer and how to go about it
- How to manage your time and projects
- Mentoring options for copywriters
- The best way to write client case studies
- How to expand your presence in your niche
- How to deal with "non-compete" requests
- Do you need a website opt-in?
- Working with designers and developers
- Balancing time to service current clients and get new clients
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!
Question for the listeners
What is something fun you did this week? We’d love to hear all about it. You can let us know on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Useful links:
The humble call to action is a critical part of effective copywriting and that’s what we’re talking about today. Because a great call to action is so much more than a verb directing action.
A great call to action taps into audience needs so effectively, they cannot help but take the next step.
We’re sharing the tips we’ve relied on to write calls to action over years of copywriting.
Tune in to learn:
- The animals Belinda and Kate wish the could have as pets
- 4 important considerations when you write a call to action
- The difference between writing in-copy and button CTAs
- 5 tragic CTA fails that some copywriters still make
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 Allison Jane Smith for an extremely well suited review of the show.
Question for the listeners
We’d love to know what animal you wish you had as a pet. You can let us know on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!
Useful links:
- 17 Tips & Best Practices for Writing Catchy Email Subject Lines (Hubspot)
- 15 Email Statistics That Are Shaping The Future (Convince and Convert)
- 23 Sales Email Subject Lines That Get Prospects to Open, Read, and Respond (Hubspot)
- The BEST email subject lines: 62 formulas to get your emails read (SumoMe)
- How to build the perfect email: Copy (Kate Toon)
- Email marketing: This copywriter’s playbook on getting emails noticed, read and actioned (Copywrite Matters)
- The Ultimate List of Email SPAM Trigger Words (Hubspot)
- ESTHER the wonder pig
Today we’re talking about Freelancer job sites, which are good, which are bad and which are down right terrible.
If you’re working as a freelancer copywriter, it’s pretty likely you’ve considered exploring the likes of Upwork and Fiverr. They offer the promise of steady work, easy pitching and regular income. But what is the reality?
Freelance copywriters share stories of poor pay, ridiculous client expectations and the impossibility of competing with copywriters in countries where the cost of living is way lower.
So we’re going to share our thoughts and experiences with these platforms.
Tune in to learn:
- What Kate and Belinda hate about copywriting
- The pros and cons of job bid sites
- Positive experiences using freelancer sites
- The pros and cons of job board sites
- The pros and cons of copywriting membership sites
Tell us what you think
Leave your thoughts and ideas on the Hot Copy website. And from you we’d love to know, what is your super power? Tell us on Twitter or our Facebook page.
And subscribe on: iTunes | Android | RSS
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 Read Write Learn Well for her review on iTunes.
Don’t forget to tell us what YOUR super power is! Tell us on Twitter or our Facebook page.
Useful links:
How to format your copy for maximum impact
Today we’re talking about formatting. Some listeners may wonder about this. Talking about formatting. Not even writing. Just formatting.
But how you present your copy to clients will have a huge influence on how well they receive it. And clever formatting can make your copywriting a lot more readable to the end audience as well.
In this episode, Kate and Belinda share their thoughts and some pro-formatting tips for more readable copywriting.
Tune to learn:
- Why formatting is so damned important
- Fonts, sizes and spacing: our recommendations
- Clever formatting tricks to give your words more impact
- Good and bad list writing
- The biggest formatting mistakes new copywriting make
Tell us what you think
Leave your thoughts and ideas on the Hot Copy website.
And subscribe on: iTunes | Android | RSS
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!
And thanks to Christina Tolstrup for your review of the show. We appreciate it!
Links mentioned in this article:
Even the most experienced copywriters can suffer from confidence wobbles. Those moments you begin to question your writing abilities or your business skills... or both! In this podcast, we chat through some confidence blurts copywriters have kindly shared with us and add our own experiences and tips on overcoming them!
Tune to hear us chat about confidence blurts like:
- Comparing yourself (and your writing) to others
- Answering the phone
- Communicating off the page (verbally)
- Meeting clients to discuss projects
- Preparing quotes and getting clients through the sales process
- Getting negative feedback
- Questioning your writing skills
- Keeping the pipeline consistently full
- Waiting for clients to get back to you
- Lack of 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 Jenny De Lacy, Lisa Cropman, Jodi Gibson, Rashida Tayabali, Anne Maybus, Nicole Leedham, Matt Fenwick, Katherine Elizabeth, Rose Spagnolo for sharing their wobbles in Kate’s Clever Copywriting School.
Useful links
In the last Hot Copy podcast we shared some copywriting techniques to help your clients build trust and credibility with their audience. One of those techniques is getting testimonials and it’s so important for your own business that it deserves a pod of its own. This week we get stuck into getting and using testimonials to power up your marketing.
Tune in to learn:
- Why testimonials are such a powerful tool
- Different types of testimonials and how to get them
- Best questions for awesome testimonials
- Where to use testimonials for maximum impact
- Cheats you can use to power up your testimonials
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!
Useful links
- The Brain Audit by Sean D'Souza
- How to get powerful (and believable) testimonials
- Client testimonials your questions answered
- Hot Copy podcast Testimonial page
- Copywrite Matters Testimonial page
- Kate Toon Copywriter Testimonial page
- Recipe for SEO Success Testimonial video
When it comes to deciding on whether to do business with someone, trust is key. So if you can help your copywriting clients build trust and credibility with their audience you’re doing a great job.
We’ve put together some top tips to help you write trustworthy copy, inspire confidence and convert readers into customers.
Tune in to learn:
- How to use specifics, stats and facts to earn trust
- The importance of clarity and error free content
- How to use guarantees
- Using testimonials, clients lists and samples
- Why fake scarcity and offers don't work
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!
Useful links
We both LOVE Christmas but it can be a tricky time of year, juggling copywriting deadlines and family plans. Often we’re burned out and ready for some time off to recharge!
We hosted a special Hot Copy Christmas party on Blab and asked other successful copywriters what they do to make sure they – and their copywriting businesses - survive the Christmas period.
Tune in to learn:
- Who is having holidays and who is working through
- How to respond to client who need rush work over Christmas
- How to wrap up straggling projects so you can take a break
- Crucial tips on getting essential down time away from your computer
- How to prepare for the busy new year
- Who sends gifts to their copywriting clients and what they buy
And a very Merry Christmas to all our listeners!
Brainstorming benefits from features is an essential copywriting technique. One you really have to master if you want to write compelling copy. But many copywriters fall short of nailing the real benefit on the table. Do you?
In this episode we get technical, talking about features and benefits with some surprising differences and techniques to help your brainstorming.
Want to know more?
Tune in to learn:
- Belinda and Kate’s technique for going from features to advantages and finally, to the benefits that matter to customers
- Examples of that technique in action
- When to use features rather than benefits
- The surprising reason why including disadvantages actually boost your copywriting