Let’s start out today with a reminder: Just because someone is loud, doesn’t mean they’re right. Also, just because something is prevalent, doesn’t mean it’s correct. We can agree on those, right? Okay, good. Because today we’re going to bust some very prevalent myths and debunk some very popular pieces of advice. Why? Because not only are they wrong, but they’re actually … [Read more...]
4 More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
I’m a big believer in continual learning; if you ever think you know everything about something, you’re in BIG trouble. And, lucky for us, there are more ways than ever to consume new content and ideas: Podcasts, videos, courses, blog posts—the list goes on and on. But as writers, many of us still have a certain fondness for the written word in classic book form (ebook … [Read more...]
Oops! How Clients Can Tell You’re a Brand-New Copywriter
There's nothing wrong with being new. Even the most seasoned, successful copywriters were once new to copywriting. So if you’re starting out right there at square one, guess what? You’re in exactly the right place. That said, though, no one wants to hire a brand-new copywriter. It’s nothing personal: YOU are a fabulous human being. But hiring anyone to do anything is a risk, … [Read more...]
Your Goal Should Be to Love Your Career. Period.
How many people do you know who really don’t like what they do for a living? Anywhere from “eh, it pays the bills” to “I fricking HATE it”? And are you one of those people? I was recently reminded of just how many people don’t like their jobs when I had a conversation with a friend of mine. She described all of the things she hated about her job and then, when I asked her … [Read more...]
The Most Important Investments You’ll Ever Make
A few months ago, my phone stopped accepting Wifi—it just basically refused to accept that Wifi existed. And, while I have a data plan, I burned through that pretty quickly. I really didn’t love shelling out $800 for a new iPhone (spread out over several monthly payments, thank you) but I had to. I mean, how could I exist without a cell phone? It’s practically an … [Read more...]
How to Know if You’ve Got the Natural Aptitude to Write Copy
Likely, you've listed this site because you like writing—you’re a good writer and you’ve been thinking that maybe you’d like to make a living with it. I want to address something really quickly that may be coming up for you: But, as one writer to another, I know that knowing you’re good at something and having confidence that you can DO something are two different … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Getting Down to Your Copywriting Work
I have bad news and good news. The bad news is that once you start taking copywriting clients, it’s not going to somehow get magically easier for you to focus and work. Sure, sometimes you’ll get right in the flow and feel like you’re plugged into a divine download. And, it’s true that you don’t have to deal with a blank page, and that makes everything easier. But…the urge … [Read more...]
The Real Secret to Business — and Life — Success
As long as I’ve been in this business, and especially in the eight years that I’ve been teaching copywriting to would-be copywriting pros, I’ve gotten this question a lot: “What’s the real secret to being successful?” Well, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that there absolutely is a secret. Well, wait—let me put quotes around that. There is a … [Read more...]
12 Business Books and Podcasts for the New Year
Everyone's back to work this week, so we're going to keep things quick and simple! Here are six podcasts and six books you should consider checking out this year: Each one has been chosen to inspire you and/or educate you as a professional and as a business owner. Enjoy! Podcasts Worth Checking Out: Mind Your Business Podcast with James Wedmore Breakthrough … [Read more...]
You’re Most Secure When You Take Control
A few years ago, I was talking with a friend who’d lost her job. It wasn’t her fault at all; they were restructuring the company and downsized her role. She kept saying, “I was so loyal to that company! I can’t believe they did this to me.” Here’s the thing: The most important thing for a business is the survival of the business. And that’s not just because they’re … [Read more...]
