Whenever we embark on something new, it can be tempting to go out and buy allll the new accessories to help you get started. “But a shiny, new desk will make me *feel* professional…and THEN I can do the work, right?!” Well, we hate to break it to you but…a new desk is *not* going to magically boost your productivity. 

In fact, the “urge to splurge” is often just resistance showing up and trying to distract us from doing the work we need to do. So in this episode, Nicki and Kate remind us of the absolute essentials to kickstart your copywriting career, as well as the “nice-to-haves” that might come further down the line (when you have regular income coming in!).

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Mentioned on this Episode

• Best Free Software for Copywriters
• DubSado (for client tracking and invoicing)
• Asana (for project management).

Related Links

• What Software Do You Need to Run Your Copywriting Business?
• Home Office Essentials for a Copywriter
• What Does a Typical Copywriter Day Look Like?

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

You *know* LinkedIn is important for landing work but when it comes to building or updating your profile…well, taking a nap always seems like a better option. But LinkedIn can strongly impact your career and by taking the right steps to optimize your page, you could be attracting job leads and recruiter connections while you sleep!

In this episode, Nicki and Kate are running through some of the most important changes that will zhuzh up your copywriter LinkedIn profile and make yourself irresistible to hiring managers, potential clients, and recruiters!

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Mentioned on this Episode

• What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview 

Related Links

• How to Optimize Your Copywriting LinkedIn Page
• Your Ideal Clients Want You to Pitch Them
• Business Builder or Time Waster?

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

Have you ever scrolled past copywriting roles at big-name companies, feeling like they’re out of your league? “There’s no WAY they’d consider hiring someone like me!” Many of us have doubted whether those big, corporate giants would ever give us a shot. But today, we’re about to share a story that proves those internal doubts wrong…

When Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student Shelby landed an interview at a big corporation, she certainly thought it was one of those “’too good to be true” scenarios. Little did she know, her unique approach would be key to standing out from the crowd and securing the position! Tune in to discover the two key ingredients that helped Shelby land the job of her dreams.

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Mentioned on this Episode

• View Shelby’s portfolio site

Related Links

• Can Copywriting Be a Side Hustle?
• 1 Year to a Senior Copywriter Promotion – Kelsey’s Story
• Why Freelance Copywriters Should Still Apply to Full-Time Jobs
• How To Prepare for a Copywriting Interview
• Ace These Copywriting Interview Questions to Land the Job

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

“Wait, my copy is going to be put to the test?! What?!” Anything that mentions the word “test” always sounds scary but don’t panic! When a client starts to talk to you about potentially running tests on your copy, this is something that you should not only embrace, but even be excited about.

Testing your copy is a chance for you to better serve your client, allowing you to learn a lot about what resonates with a particular audience. In this episode, Nicki and Kate discuss how testing works, as well as different opportunities for testing copy that could help you deliver more value and drive better results.

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Mentioned on this Episode

• What is a Copywriting Test and Should You Do One?

Related Links

• Know Your Copywriting Numbers
• Copywriting Metrics: What You Need to Know

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

We know by now that pitching clients is hands down the best way to control your workload and your income. But if you’re spending all your time pitching new clients, you could be missing a trick…

Sometimes we forget that the easiest clients to pitch are the ones who already know you and love the work you’re doing. So today, Nicki and Kate are diving into the strategies for upselling past and current clients so that you can deliver more value, increase your income, and grow your business!

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Related Links

• Should You Package Your Copywriting Services?
• Too Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting Pitches

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

OK, it’s time to ‘fess up. Is some laziness starting to creep into your copywriting? If you find yourself hitting “send” without a second look, resorting to tired seasonal puns (PLEASE no more “fall for falling prices”), or skipping the strategy stage…it might be time for a wake-up call.

Our clients rely on us for the highest quality work and, as tempting as it can be to cut corners sometimes, it’s a sure fire way to start producing mediocre work. Listen in to discover the lazy behaviors you want to steer clear of to achieve copywriting success. Plus, Nicki and Kate reveal the lazy habits they’ve been guilty of too—no one’s perfect after all 😉

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Mentioned on this Episode

• Wendy’s Ranch Tooth commercial
• Are You Skipping This Essential Copywriting Task?

Related Links

• Keep Your Copywriting Creative Review from Going off the Rails
• The Creative Project Process
• Self-Edit Your Copywriting: Why It’s a Must & How To Do It

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

Despite being born with a passion for writing, Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student just couldn’t seem to find a way to make it her full-time gig. But spending 20 years working in the bar and restaurant industry, living paycheck to paycheck, had started to take its toll physically and emotionally.

Within a matter of months of starting the CCA course, Kelsey’s portfolio site was up and running and she landed the job of her dreams. Not only has she already bagged herself a promotion to senior copywriter (in under a year!), she also gets to work on some pretty exciting (ahem, KIM K!!) brand collaborations. Listen in to Kelsey’s story, which is a great testament to taking action, even when you have doubts.

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Mentioned on this Episode

• Kelsey’s portfolio

Related Links

• Building a Copywriting Side Hustle With a Full-Time Job – Claire’s Story
• Build a Copywriting Business While Working 9 to 5
• Journalist Turned Copywriter – Dori’s Story

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Get Free Copywriting Training here

When you’re starting a new career in copywriting, you might run into some…less than helpful comments, shall we say. “Copywriting–is that actually a real career?” and “Is that even something you can make money from?” are some of the classics.

But as Taylor Swift so wisely said: “The haters gonna hate (hate hate hate hate)” and you can’t live your life letting other people’s opinions hold you back from your goals. Whether they’re people from your inner circle or strangers online, listen in as Nicki and Kate dig into the best ways to handle anyone getting in the way of your copywriting success.

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Mentioned on this Episode

• Changing Careers to Become a Copywriter – Adele’s Story
• Why Some Copywriters Fail

Related Links

• The Worst Advice for New Freelancers (And What to Do Instead)
• Why People Tell You “Copywriting Is Hard to Get Into”
• Which Work From Home Writing Jobs Are Real?

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

While it’s not necessary to build a successful copywriting career, adding complementary skills to your toolbox can be advantageous. And–despite its name–content strategy can actually make a great pairing with copywriting.

Experienced content strategist Amanda Hand joins Nicki and Kate in this week’s episode to dig into this role further and what it takes to create high-performing content that drives business growth. For anyone interested in the dynamic field of content strategy and SEO, Amanda is a must-listen voice!

(Content writing…content marketing…content strategy…we know how confusing all the content buzzwords can be. But don’t panic–all will be explained in the episode!)

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Mentioned on this Episode

• What’s the Difference Between Copy and Content?
• #1 Secret for Copywriting Success
• LinkedIn SEO Keyword strategy course – a basic introduction to SEO keywords
• Here’s a basic course Amanda asks writers to take on her team. It’s less than 2 hours and it helps them think about keywords and how to use them to help understand the user when writing.
• Find out more about Amanda’s SEO agency 

Related Links

• What is Content Strategy? And How Is It Different from Copywriting?
• What You Need to Know About Being an “SEO Copywriter”

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Get Free Copywriting Training here 

We love recording the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast ... but sometimes we mess up. A lot.

Luckily, we have the very best podcast editor, Julie, who makes us sound extra coherent. To celebrate her 3-year anniversary with the Nicki K Media team, we enlisted her husband Jay's help to put together this tribute to all the times we're caught saying "Sorry Julie" while recording. A project that started as a joke became a very serious reality.

Enjoy this earworm of a song and show your appreciation for Julie's editing genius by leaving her a note in your review!