Do you ever suffer from “shiny object syndrome”? The feeling of learning something new can bring a lot of excitement but it could also be a sign that resistance is creeping in…
When you first start digging into copywriting, you’re exposed to a whole new world of possibilities, from SEO, to graphic design and web development. We know how tempting it is to want to learn alllll of the skills but in reality, it could be slowing down your success. Listen in as Nicki and Kate reveal the one thing that’s really needed to make sure you achieve your goals.
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A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[1:50] When you’re starting out as a copywriter, it can be tempting to learn all of the skills related to copywriting, like SEO, graphic design, and website development. But if your goal is to establish yourself as a copywriter, then copywriting should be your main focus.
[4:39] Working on more than one project at the same time slows down progress on all of them. It can also lead to overwhelm and ultimately discourage you from working toward your main goal.
[8:15] People often think by offering more services they will be able to charge their clients more. But clients are usually happy to hire a number of experts because each one will know the ins and outs of their craft. Whatever your income goal is, you can create that by being a copywriter.
[9:34] When you get to the point of wondering what the next stage is for your copywriting career, take a step back to figure out what your actual goal is. You don’t have to do things like start an agency just because you see someone else doing it.
[11:40] While it’s perfectly fine to dig into something like design more, Nicki warns that it can often end up becoming a distraction and a form of resistance which stops you from stepping out of your comfort zone.
[15:00] When you’re scheduling tasks in your calendar, make sure you question whether they are actually moving you a step closer to your goal. Break down scarier tasks into smaller chunks and lower the pressure to make them more enjoyable.
[17:16] Sometimes we try to pursue other things to bring back that feeling of newness and excitement by learning something new. Try to focus on what you know is going to work to land clients (pitching!) and then do the rest in your free time.
[21:15] You can still pursue things that interest you but your copywriting business needs to be seeing consistent success before you start adding anything else. Take time to get clear on your goal and make sure that the majority of your time and effort is focused on where you want to go.
[26:40] Nicki shares a story about how both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs thought the number one key to success was focus.
Must-Hear Takeaways
As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:
“What is your goal? Is it to earn more income? Is it to have more time? Is it to maintain that same level of income but be able to take 10 weeks of vacation? What is your actual desire and what are the possible ways to get there because I think we stop thinking about what we actually want and the different ways to get there and there isn’t necessarily one way to do it.” – Kate
“You need to keep a very careful eye on your time, your energy and your attention to make sure this ‘oh pursuing something new’ is not actually just resistance coming up and going ah look at this shiny object that’s going to distract you and keep you from getting out of your comfort zone and actually making progress on your copywriting career.” – Nicki
“You cannot give 100% of yourself to everything, so decide what goal is going to get what goal is going to get 95% of your professional self and then figure out what additional interest or whatever is going to get that 5%.” – Nicki
“Clients are totally fine hiring an expert in copywriting, an expert in design, and an expert in development. Often clients who are savvy know that it’s almost impossible to find someone who fits all of these roles and does them equally well.” – Kate
Mentioned on this Episode
Related Links
- What Does a Copywriter NOT Do?
- Should I Combine Copywriting and Graphic Design Services?
- What Do Copywriters Actually Do?
- Fake Job Alert: What You Need to Know About Being an “SEO Copywriter”
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
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Last Updated on June 11, 2024
