Clever Copy Chats

We recently ran a poll in the Clever Copywriting Community to see how long people could write for each day.The average?

Four hours.Not due to lack of time, but due to running out of creative energy.

So imagine if after you've burned the copy candle to a stump, you had a second candle to light.Imagine if you had a hybrid business that was part copywriting and part something else.Our guest today has successfully married her yin and yang, combining a purrfect copywriting business with an equally fluffy WordPress business.She explains the pros (and relatively few cons) of this approach and how it enables her to squeeze more out of her day and give clients a more seamless stress-free experience.

Tune in to learn:

• What Rachel did before she settled on copywriting
• How Rachel thought to combine her web developing and copywriting skills together
• The benefits of utilising different skills
• Rachel's biggest freelancer fail
• Rachel's biggest win so far
• Rachel's top five tools
• Her top tips for anyone wanting to do more than just copywriting

Useful resources:

• Dubsado CRM
• To the Web Google Title & Meta description pixel length
• Hemingway App
• SEMrush
• Berrycast
• WordPress SEO course

Head to episode notes

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter
• Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

In these short snappy episodes, I want to give you smart little Toon tips on how to hone your copywriting skills. Improve your copywriting business with straightforward doable advice that you can implement today.

Today's tip is all about proposals.

A member of the Clever Copywriting community recently asked:

"How do I actually get a proposal over the line?

I've had some great leads and enquiries over the past months; some have ghosted me before the proposal stage and the rest haven't jumped at the signing of my proposals I have sent.

I had a good lead contact me yesterday asking for work, we had a chat on the phone, and I said I'd send my packages/proposal."

I'll go through step by step how to set up a stellar proposal every time.

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter

• Free rates guide

Useful links:

• Recommended Rates Guide
• Rate Card Template
• WIP Tracker
• Copywriting Proposal Template
• Copywriter Email Templates Pack
• Copy Shop

Membership: Join waitlist now

Have you always dreamt of seeing your name in print?Of picking up the Sunday papers and reading your own article as you drink your morning coffee?Well our guest today, Rashida Tayabali, has done just that. She's a successful copywriter, author and has been featured in more magazines than you could shake a stick at.

She talks with us today about why she chose not to niche down, how she balances life and writing, and gives us a detailed explanation of how to pitch and price your feature articles.Toon in today to learn how having a great idea is one thing, but sticking with it until the end is the real challenge.

Tune in to learn:

• Rashida's journey to being a copywriter
• Why Rashida doesn't niche
• Does feature writing pay more than copywriting
• How to come up with feature article ideas
• How to pitch your idea to the editor
• How to find the right person to pitch to
• Why you shouldn't pitch your idea to multiple editors
• How to price your article
• How feature articles differ from blogs
• Rashida's book and why she wrote it
• How Rashida manages the balance
• Her number one tip for copywriters

Useful resources:

• Google docs

Head to episode notes

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter
• Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

I know that for many copywriters taking and making calls to prospective clients gives them the absolute heebeejeebees.

But it's really a trial we have to get over.

Something that we have to build our confidence doing, and I promise you, it gets much easier. So here are my top tips on how to wow clients on the first call.

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter

• Free rates guide

Useful links:

• Recommended Rates Guide
• Rate Card Template
• WIP Tracker
• Copy Shop

Membership: Join now

If you've just started out as a copywriter, it can be intimidating.Dang, even after a few years you're still looking around thinking 'why is this working for everyone else but not me?'.You need to polish your processes and pricing, raise your profile and work out how to really put yourself out there.

But good things take time. Like a lump of coal turning into a sparkly diamond, sometimes they also take a little pressure.Today, specialist tender writer Estelle Fallon talks about her journey towards finding her true copywriting self, building her confidence and giving herself time to embrace her skill set.

Tune in to learn:

• How Estelle got started in copywriting
• What tender writing is
• Why managing people is so important
• How Estelle prices her tenders
• How Estelle deals with the pressure
• How she's managed to be patient with her business
• Estelle's number one tip for copywriters
• Why Estelle believes it takes time to form a great copywriter

Useful resources:

• Capability Statement Copywriting Template

Head to episode notes

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter
• Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

In this episode, I want to help you learn how to write more credible copy.

We all know how important, knowing, liking and trusting a brand or individual is when it comes to selling.

But how do we build the trust factor in our copy?

Freebies

1. Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter

2. Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

Some of us feel like freshly minted copywriters.Just plopped out into the world and finding our copywriting feet like doddery gazelle babies.

Others are wise old sages, with years of like experience.

Today I'm talking to one of those - Clever Copywriting School Ambassador, Copy Cop and Copy Gandalf Gary Cooper.

After working in every career under the sun, he fell into copywriting as many do, and was able to use his previous experience to help him spot red flags, not sweat the small stuff, and work on projects that fit his lifestyle.

Today he's going to share how he's made a killing on Upwork, found a tool that helps him write well despite being dyslexic, and find a career that fits in around his busy life renovating a house in France.

Still curious, still willing to learn, Gary is an amazing member of my community and I think you can probably tell, I kinda want to be Gary when I grow up.

Tune in to learn:

• How Gary got started in copywriting
• How Gary has used Upwork to build an amazing client list
• His favourite client and why
• His worst failure and what he learned
• Gary's life-changing copywriting tool
• Gary's number one tip for winning new clients (it's a doozy)
• Gary's advice on how to keep pushing through
• And a wrap up of some of Gary and Kate's favourite copy tips.

Useful resources:

• Dragon Naturally Speaking

Head to episode notes

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter
• Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

Today I want to talk to you about how to find copywriting jobs without traditional marketing.

1. Post on FB that you're now a copywriter
2. Update your LinkedIn profile
3. Email old colleagues and clients
4. Get business cards printed
5. Join a community with a job board
6. Join freelancer websites
7. Subcontract for more experienced copywriters
8. Contact agencies
9. Fluff brands you love

Freebies

1. Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter

2. Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

Niching, it's a word that sends shivers down the spines of many a copywriter.

Won't I get bored writing about the same thing all the time?How will I handle client conflicts?Will I have to turn down clients who aren't in my niche?Today's guest Nerissa Bentley has built a hugely successful business by narrowing her focus to health. She's taken on big brands and bigger budgets, honed her marketing, and polished her processes so now the majority of her work is either retainer, repeat or referral (the dream).But as well as that she's worked hard on her own physical and mental health to find balance and get to the deep-rooted issues that were holding her back.

Tune in today to find out how becoming a specialist has helped Nerissa build a business she loves on her own terms.

Tune in to learn:

• What was Nerissa's journey to being a copywriter
• Why did Nerissa decide to niche
• The positives of niching
• Dealing with getting bored
• Dealing with client conflicts
• The financial benefits of being a niched copywriter
• Nerissa's two biggest copywriting wins
• The importance of getting to the source of your business challenge
• Nerissa's favourite copywriting tool
• Which book would Nerissa take to a deserted island (clue: It's not the ARPHA guidelines)

Useful Resources:

• Hemingway App

Head to episode notes

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter
• Free rates guide

Membership: Join now

I want to talk about why a lot of the copywriting I see coming from copywriters really suck. I'm sorry! Why concepts matter, and big ideas matter!

Freebies

• Free webinar: Your first month as a copywriter
• Free rates guide

Membership: Join now