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Are you struggling to run your copywriting business around your family?
Do you worry about too much screen time… or (gasp) future therapy bills because you’re meeting deadlines rather than taking your kids to the park?
It’s easy to trowel guilt on ourselves when we see copywriters running 6 or 7 figure businesses. Or landing 5 figure projects.
What are we doing with our lives? Are we ruining our children trying to grow our copywriting businesses? Are we just THE WORST?
We’re going to stop you right there.
We are copywriters. We are parents. We are business owners.
This episode shares our thoughts on making it all work.
Stay tuned to feel a lot more awesome about your life as a copywriter.
Shout out to Alicia Littel for inspiring this episode!
Tune in to learn:
● How we lived and worked before children
● A rundown of our work days
● Where we beat ourselves up when it comes to parenting and business-ing
● Belinda’s experience with 5am starts
● Kate’s super tip on how you view the time you have with your kids
● Belinda’s controversial take on having it all
● Our tips on kicking guilt to the curb
Share the pod love
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, support the show by leaving us a rating and review on iTunes or Stitcher. We’ll read your name and review out on the show and send you lots of virtual love.
Huge props to Andrew Bracey for listening and leaving a super review.
Question for you
What’s your big AHA moment from this pod? Do you feel the feels we talked about?
Let us know on our Facebook page or on Twitter.
Useful links
● Hot Copy: Time-saving tips with Kate Christie
● The third space theory
● Hot Copy: Subcontracting guide
● Seth Godin: Business/busyness
We went to a copywriting conference in New York City in March 2019. It was Brooklyn but let’s not facts spoil the glamour.
It was TCC IRL (The Copywriter Club In Real Life) and while we had a BLAST hanging out together – you would be surprised how many years it’s been since we hung out in real life – we also took the chance to pick the brains of the speakers.
We asked as many speakers as we could grab in the breaks, “What is ONE THING you wish you’d know when you started your copywriting career.”
We didn’t tell anyone what the other tips were and every single person delivered something unique. And they are some stellar tips too.
This is your chance to grab a shortcut to the mindset and process tips these copywriters have gleaned over years and years of working the job.
Cool, huh?
Tune in to hear from:
- Kevin James (Copy Chief)
- Kira Hug (The Copywriter Club)
- Joanna Weibe (Copy Hackers)
- Justin Blackman (Pretty Fly Copy)
- Michal Eisikowitz (Michal Eisikowitz Copywriting)
- Bond Halbert (Bond Halbert Publishing)
- Chantelle Zak (Chanti Zak)
- Liana Patch (Punchline Conversion Copywriting)
- Parris Lampropoulos
- Prerna Malik (Content Bistro)
- Abbey Woodcock (On Life and Writing)
- Tarzan Kay Kalryzian (Tarzan Kay)
Thank you to all our guests for coming up with BRILLIANT answers on the spot.
Question for you
What is your favourite tip from this episode?
Let us know on our Facebook page or on Twitter.
Share the pod love
If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, support the show by leaving us a rating and review on iTunes or Stitcher. We’ll read your name and review out on the show and send you lots of virtual love.
Huge props to Pixelhappystudio for her super review.
Find out more about each speaker
- Kevin James: Copy Chief
- Kira Hug: The Copywriter Club
- Joanna Weibe: Copy Hackers
- Justin Blackman: Pretty Fly Copy
- Michal Eisikowitz: Michal Eisikowitz Copywriting
- Bond Halbert: Bond Halbert Publishing
- Chantelle Zak: Chanti Zak
- Liana Patch: Punchline Conversion Copywriting
- Prerna Malik: Content Bistro
- Abbey Woodcock: On Life and Writing
- Tarzan Kay Kalryzian: Tarzan Kay
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
Rob Marsh has been a little name and then a big name.
He mastered the copywriting world, working with some of the biggest names and wearing many hats, founding communities, conferences, courses and more. He co hosts the second best copywriting podcast too!
The golden question is of course “How did he do it? And how does he fit it all in?”
Today, we’ll delve into the Whens, Whats, Whys and Hows.
Rob will give us a sneak peek into how his career unfolded and how you can leverage his experience to boost your own.
Tune in to learn:
- How Rob’s copywriting journey began and why he expanded into other marketing areas
- Which of Rob’s kids he loves most
- The 3 biggests challenges Rob faced in his copywriting career
- How Rob increased his brand and mastered copywriting
- Different approaches to international copywriting
- If Americans or Australians are more open to the hard sell and why
- The challenges Rob faced when launching his podcast, course and community
- The biggest shortfall Rob sees in copywriters today and how to avoid it
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 Draisydre from USA for his lovely testimonial.
About Rob
Rob is an expert marketer, writer and entrepreneur. He has worked as a Copywriter, Producer and Creative Director at various companies including FranklinCovey, Publicis, and Hewlett Packard. So he has “big company” and “agency” experience.
In 2004, he joined a startup that revolutionized the online production of design (the predecessor to companies like UpWork and 99Designs). In 2012, he started his own SaaS business. So he understands small biz too.
Today he is part of the copywriting duo (with Kira Hug) that hosts The Copywriter Club Podcast and community for copywriters of all talent levels. He also consults with a variety of technology and wellness companies, to create effective landing pages, conversion funnels, and marketing campaigns at Brandstory Copy and Content. He is the author of the book, Telling Your Brand Story (available at Amazon, hint, hint). He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife, four kids, and westie.
Connect with Rob
Are you ready for a journey into the past?
We're going back in time for a special flashback. In this episode, we're sharing 16 types of copywriting clients almost every copywriter will get to work with. Some are awesome and some… are not. Plus our tips on spotting them and how to work with them (so your copywriting project is smooth sailing).
Tune to learn:
- Our favourites types of clients
- How to deal with scope creep and requests for free work
- How to guide clients who can’t tell you what to change
- The best way to organise disorganised clients
- When (and how) to tell a client to step back
- And more. So much more!
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!
We read out a review at the end of each show and today, we’re giving a shout out to Jan for her FAB review. Thanks Jan!
Links mentioned in this article:
Cold calls. Telemarketing. Infomercials. These words send a chilling shiver down my spine. In a world where folk are over the abundance of “buy my thing” being shouted at them, how do you avoid being lumped in with the salesy slime? How can we tailor our copy to make our users feel comfortable?
Today, Cath Fowler joins me to uncover how you can use psychology based copy to persuade and sell. We’ll delve into using clever copywriting to break down trust barriers and create a message your clients will remember.
Tune in to learn:
- Why you should consider psychology when writing copy
- Using active voice and repetition to make your message memorable
- Why metaphors and similes work so well
- Using concrete claims to build trust
- The best way to convey percentages and time
- Getting bullet points right
- How to overcome objections
- The power of because
- How to create curiosity
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 smilinsamiam from Australia for the lovely testimonial.
About Cath
Cath Fowler is an SEO consultant and copywriter who helps businesses get found and look good online.
Using SEO smarts and compelling copy she will establish your brand as the leader in your local area or industry. She loves working with financial services clients and regional businesses of all kinds - to help the little guys compete on the big stage.
Don't make her pick which type of client she prefers out of those two. That would be like make her pick between her two cheeky daughters and she just won't do it.
Connect with Cath
We’ve all read those long-form Facebook ads and wondered if they really work.
Would you be surprised to learn that some of the highest converting Facebook ads are the length of some long-form landing pages? Upwards of two thousand words!
And they work. Why do they work and how can you write them is the topic of today’s episode. Justin Blackman shares his experience on writing high-converting Facebook ads in hundreds of different tones of voice.
It’s a bonanza of an episode that delivers much more than Facebook ads.
If you want to learn how to write long-form FB ads and bundle your services and write in different tones of voice… this episode is for YOU!
Tune in to learn:
- All about “Pedestal Post” formatting (one sentence at a time that people hate UNLESS it’s for them)
- The secret sauce to lowering bounce rates
- A simple way to a/b test (changing only the preview copy)
- The surprising detail of effective Facebook ad images
- Justin’s “Daniel Day-Lewis/method acting” approach to finding the customers voice
- Best formulas for long-form Facebook ads
- Formal vs. informal language – is jargon always bad?
- How to use your current Facebook ads to reverse engineer high converting ads
- Headlines are even important in FB ads
- How Justin stumbled into the 6-figure gig without ever pitching it
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 lawyer09 from USA for a great review.
About Justin
Justin spent 2 decades marketing big name brands, like Red Bull, Puma & 5-hour Energy where he learned the power of good voice.
And it made him hate boring, drab, self-centred emails & websites. So he analyzed the good ones, studied quick-hit storytelling techniques from comedians, and cannon-balled into copywriting. Now he helps B2C businesses craft messages that sound like people.
Connect with Justin
Useful Links:
Time. It’s the most elusive asset you have and yet few copywriters seem to be able to control it.
What do you do when you’ve run out of time? You can’t buy more, I’ve tried and now I think I’ve scared the assistant at the grocery store.
How do we choose what’s worthy of investing our time in and what’s not? How do we avoid the time traps that are laid all around us?
In this episode, Kate Toon chats to the renown time master, Kate Christie about the biggest time pitfalls and how you can end the time race once and for all.
Tune in to learn:
- The difference between Time Investment and Time Management
- What the 4 cost lenses are
- What the SMART Time Investment framework is
- What is Parkinson’s law
- Is the framework a once off piece of work?
- The 3 biggest time challenges Kate Christie sees
- Top 3 tips for getting time back immediately.
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 Catherine Sempill for a stellar review.
About Kate
Kate Christie, Founder & CEO of Time Stylers is a Time Investment Expert; International Speaker; and best selling Author. Kate consults to big and small business, government departments and C suite executives on maximising individual time spend and managing organisational drag through smart time investment strategies. She has appeared on television, radio and in print as a leading commentator on time management and maximising work/ life integration to ensure your success across work, family, community, and life.
With a reputation for helping her clients find 30 hours of lost time a month, Kate’s focus is to ensure you are left educated, entertained and with a lasting impact on the way you choose to live, work and play.
Connect with Kate
Useful Links:
Imagine peeking into the office of other copywriters… copywriters doing their thing day in, day out. And making a success of it.
Comparisonitis can be our undoing but it can incredibly useful to hear how and why other copywriters make the choices they do. That’s when comparisonitis turns into inspiration.
Today I’m talking to Chris Cooper. Copywriter and content strategist in Denver.
Tune in to learn:
- How Chris made the leap from teaching to writing
- The mindset time Chris uses to set the tone of his day
- How Chris has attracted his dream clients
- Why Chris doesn’t call himself a freelancer
- How ditching his niche boosted his work satisfaction
- The hardest part of being a copywriter
- Why you shouldn’t believe everything you read online
Question for you
Do you have any mindset tips you can share? How do you get your head straight each day?
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 Heather Woods from New Zealand for a fantastic review of the show.
About Chris
Chris Cooper owns Real Good Writing in Denver, CO where he helps SaaS and B2B tech companies improve conversion rates.
Connect with Chris
Useful Links:
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.