We've said it once and we'll say it a million more times: giving and receiving feedback is a skill. And, it's a skill not enough professionals, copywriters or otherwise, workout enough. So, while it can sometimes be hard to receive feedback on our copywriting, we can take what we learn from how we receive feedback and incorporate it into how we give copywriting feedback. If … [Read more...]
What Makes a Good Call to Action (CTA)?
As a copywriter, the pieces you write will almost always include a call to action, or CTA. A CTA is the action you want a user to take. So, if you’re writing an email and the goal is to get them to buy a certain product, it may mean linking the text “shop now,” or even working with the designer to put copy on a button or include small arrows/carrots (>>) next to the … [Read more...]
Why You Should Connect With Past Copywriting Clients
As a freelance copywriter, you should always be reevaluating your business, adjusting your career plans, and setting new goals. Part of running a successful freelance business is establishing a client base. That includes not only new prospects but previous clients. Reconnecting with clients who have previously hired you shows how much you value working with them and keeps … [Read more...]
How to Manage That First Copywriting Client Panic
When you’re learning copywriting, building your experience, and starting to look for clients, it can feel like everything is going to be smooth sailing once you first start landing clients. But I want to prepare you for something (and then help you get through it). When you start getting work, your first reaction will be elation. And then, likely about three seconds … [Read more...]
Land Copywriting Clients With These 35 Tips
Looking for copywriting clients is a big part of your job. (At least initially; eventually referrals will make everything much easier.) Many new copywriters can fall into a little bit of a client-search trap, though: They pick one method of searching and stick with it. If that method works consistently for you, then great. But it’s much more likely that that method will be … [Read more...]
Episode 207: Calling Yourself a “Freelance Copywriter”: Good or Bad?
"Stop calling yourself a freelancer!" In typical Internet fashion, there's plenty of bad information and scare-tactic hooks. That "stop calling yourself a freelancer" is just one of the examples Kate recently saw when she was on LinkedIn. In a video posted on the site, a marketing "expert" calls on freelance writers to stop calling themselves "freelance writers." Huh? On … [Read more...]
Episode 206: From Monk to Teacher to Copywriter – John’s Story
Ever struggled with finding your "thing" in life? (But really...who hasn't?! I know I have several times!)That's the place John was in before he discovered copywriting.For years, John was a monk in Japan before returning to the US and becoming a middle school teacher. But after seven years, as many teachers can relate to, he was incredibly stressed.The "ah-ha" moment came when … [Read more...]
Episode 205 – Copywriter Holiday Survival: How to Answer Questions About Your Job
Raise your hand if you've ever told someone you're a "copywriter" and 5 minutes later you realize they think you're a copyrighter. 🙋🙋♂️🙋♀️ We want to help you avoid that situation and ALL the others like it. That's why Kate and I had the brilliant-beyond-brilliant idea to put together not one podcast episode this week but five super-short episodes that answer … [Read more...]
Episode 204: Dangerous copywriting strategy alert: you can’t rely on SEO for landing clients
The title of this podcast episode might sound dramatic, but it's 100% true.There are copywriting experts touting this strategy. It's so incredibly risky and, well, Nicki and Kate don't want this strategy to put your copywriting success at risk.Because this strategy sounds good.The idea is that, if you can get your copywriting portfolio to show up in search results when people … [Read more...]
Episode 203: Secrets to Smooth Copywriting Client Relations
We've talked a lot about boundaries. You know they're important ...... but how are you with enforcing your boundaries?It's all too easy to let those boundaries slide. And the message your sending when you set a boundary, but don't enforce it, is that none of your boundaries mean anything.Brutal, but true. On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting … [Read more...]
Episode 202: Self-Management Strategies for Getting Stuff Done – Crystal’s Story
Ever set your mind to make a change (like, oh, say buying a course?), ready to dig in and go full steam ahead and then ...... find life getting in the way?That was the start of Crystal's journey.But, she kept seeing fellow Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students posting wins in the student-only Facebook group. She knew life was always going to get in the way—and change was … [Read more...]
Episode 201: Top Copywriting Myths, Busted – Part II
Last week, Kate and I busted through some of the most common copywriting myths (if you missed it, you can catch that episode here!) This week? You guessed it: the last of some of the most prevalent (and, yup, still dangerous) copywriting myths.This is the information we wish we had when we were starting out. It's all too easy to dwell on the negatives and the "what ifs."If we … [Read more...]
Episode 200: Top Copywriting Myths, Busted – Part I
Turns out, just because it's on the Internet doesn't mean it's true. ;)Now, many of us know this, but it can be easy to believe things we read or see—even on an unconscious level ...... And some of those things may be getting in the way of you achieving your full copywriting success—or even preventing you from getting into copywriting in the first place! Raise … [Read more...]
Episode 199: #1 Thing Getting in Your Way of Copywriting (and Other!) Success
"Pitching is hard." "I am scared to meet with clients." "I can't become a copywriter." Do any of these sound familiar? The patterns we create by feeding our brain certain narratives is the ultimate roadblock to our success. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. What we tell ourselves has a huge impact on what we believe—whether we notice these narratives or not. On this … [Read more...]
Episode 198: Finding Copywriting Success Through Curiosity – Jared’s Story
Does the word "sales" give you the heebie jeebies? It did for Jared, too. Jared was working in tech when he started a blog about customer success, software as a service, and other tech topics. But ... he was in technology. He wasn't a writer, right? And he certainly didn't want to sell his services. Ick. Spoiler: he's now partnered with the largest … [Read more...]