Okay, the bad news is that your mind doesn’t want you to be happy. (There's good news coming too, but bear with me for a moment.) Truly: The oldest part of your brain, the lizard brain, doesn’t care if you’re happy as long as you’re safe. And that means it’s going to use aaaaaall kinds of sneaky tactics to keep you in your comfort zone—even if the rest of you wants out of … [Read more...]
10 Resources to Keep You Resourceful
Okay, look, I promise that I'm not going to be the 10,000th person today to tell you that we’re living through “challenging times.” But I will, gently, remind you that while some worrying is natural…it’s not going to help anything. (And, as copywriters, we’re very fortunate that there’s a bit less to worry about for us than for lots of other people.) So, in the spirit of … [Read more...]
Your Copywriting Clients NEED Your Guidance
As our students can attest, when you land your first few clients you feel elation followed very quickly by panic. (Which, by the way, does subside and occurs much less often as you land more and more clients.) The reason for this panic is that it’s now time to walk the walk as well as you talk the talk—to actually do the work you’ve been practicing and preparing for. And … [Read more...]
Will the Market Be Flooded with Copywriters?
A few nights ago, someone left a comment on one of our Facebook ads essentially saying, “Your training is all well and good, but when the market is flooded with copywriters no one will be able to find work and everyone will have to work for peanuts.” Well, that’s a pretty dire prediction. But as you’ve likely heard me say before: The people who know the least about a topic are … [Read more...]
Recessions Are Huge Opportunities for Copywriters. Here’s Why:
The first time I made six figures as a copywriter was in 2008...right in the middle of the Great Recession...right after I left my full-time job to go freelance. Why then? Especially knowing that period was when, sadly, companies were laying off staff left and right. But here’s the key: **Companies still needed copy because copy drives business.** Remember, copywriting … [Read more...]
If I Make So Much Money Writing Copy, Why Am I Teaching Copywriting?
Usually, I get this question via a Facebook comment on an ad. And, I’d venture to say that it’s not asked in the most, oh, constructive manner. (Which tends to be the way with most Facebook ad comments that come through in the middle of the night…) But it’s come up often enough—and maybe you’ve even wondered it yourself— that I want to be sure to address it now. The question … [Read more...]
8 Must-Listen Podcasts to Amp Up Your Digital Marketing Knowledge
If you want to stay on top of your game, you can never stop learning. And thank goodness, right? How boring would life (and our careers) be if we never had to learn anything new? Well, good news: as copywriters, we’re in the world of digital marketing and that world is always changing and developing. With new sites, programs, and even means of communication (hello, … [Read more...]
Why You Should Consider Ultra-Scheduling for Productivity
It’s 9:05 on Thursday morning, which means I’m 5 minutes into my “write FRW post” one-hour block on my schedule. And this is exactly where I’ll be every Thursday at 9:05, barring emergencies or vacations. I know: For a lot of people who are interested in becoming freelancers, a big part of the appeal is the “free” part. No schedule, work from anywhere, manage your own … [Read more...]
How to Plan for a Successful New Year
Congratulations! You’re this close to making it through another year and starting a whole new one. Yippee! And, if you ask me, part of what makes this time of year so exciting is the potential for positive transformation in the new year. But guess what? True transformations don’t happen by accident. If you want an amazing 2020, you have to PLAN for an amazing 2020. … [Read more...]
3 Books to Help Get You Focused (Even in the Midst of Chaos)
I used to think that bouncing around from project to project (or activity) every few minutes was the key to my productivity. “I need variety!” I thought. Wrong! What I was actually doing was burning up attention and willpower each and every time I switched tasks. I wondered why I was so exhausted only halfway through the day and why I’d gotten so little done at the end of … [Read more...]
