Cracking Copy

Welcome to our podcast! This episode is for you if you want to know how to go about finding the best words for your social media post captions AND how to get the best engagement and traction with the dreaded algorithms.

Today is Part 1 in a 2-part mini-series on social media writing.

This episode looks at writing captions for Instagram and Facebook, specifically organic posts not paid for advertising (that’s for another podcast, another day!)

How are they similar and how do they differ?

As we move into 2023, the trend is moving towards the need to produce quality content rather than quantity. Gone are the days when you can bung up multiple random pictures with rushed words and hope for the best. Careful thought needs to go into your social media marketing execution. And that includes the words!

We’re talking about 3 things today:

Tune in and let us know your thoughts - our contact details are below…

Resources

Manage your social media, workflow or task tracking with:

Trello 

Notion

Contact us!

Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @minnie__writes

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

Buy me a coffee 

Are you often overwhelmed by the need to come up with constant ideas for your online content from social media to blogs, product or service launches and articles etc?

 Is advance planning something that you never quite have time for?

If you could benefit from some guidance on planning your content, ditching the overwhelm and actually start enjoying the process then today’s episode of Cracking Copy is for you.

In this episode, Minnie talks to Sarah Richards, Content Coach and Instagram expert about how to effectively create and plan your content. Learn how to cultivate a content mindset. get the results you want and never run out of ideas!

This could be one of the best spent 20 minutes of your life, listening to Sarah’s top tips for defining your content pillars, effective content planning and productivity hacks. Before you even start thinking about when and how to craft your messages to engage with your ideal customer, you need a plan.

Sarah also runs an online course, The Content Reboot, a three-week course which starts again in January 2023. Its aim is to build joy in your content and establish a strategic process that works for you. The course covers content foundations, creation of content systems, gathering inspiration and auditing your content so you are calm, organised and set up for success. Click here for more details.

Resources

 Manage your project, workflow or task tracking with:

Trello 

Notion 

Contact us!

Contact Sarah Richards:

Website and Content Reboot info: sarahrichardssocial.co.uk

Instagram: @sarahrichardssocial

Contact the Cracking Copy team:

 Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy 

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @minnie__writes

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

Buy me a coffee

Grow & sell through Summits

This episode is for you if you want to speak in Summits and sell more of your services online.

Ella Hoyos speaks with sales coach and business champion, Kathy Walterhouse, founder of the Professional Rule Breaker and the Entrepreneurs Success Summit.

Kathy has a great outlook and she loves to help entrepreneurs break the rules, find their authentic voice and jumpstart sales.

We discuss how you can supercharge your sales process. Listen to how Kathy made the switch from ‘scared selling’ to ‘noble selling’, why it works and what that looks like in practice.

She shares her wisdom on providing value, building relationships and the emotional triggers that motivate people to take action and buy.

You’ll hear all about the benefits of speaking and attending summits and conferences. Find out what makes them such a powerful way to help copywriters and business owners to get promoted, reach new audiences, and build authority in a way that will help you to grow and scale your business. Ella recounts her own experience when the tech falters and Kathy talks about how to handle mishaps in live situations.

Kathy talks about how you can create ‘omnipresence’ with your content on social media without feeling burned out. She shares a great tip, “the rule of one” to streamline your marketing efforts and help achieve more success in your business.

You’ll also discover what Kathy looks for when selecting guests and speakers for her Summits.

FAST ACTION BONUS! Access the Entrepreneurs Success Summit absolutely FREE before 18 November 2022. Sign up now at https://www.theprofessionalrulebreaker.com/ESS-2

About Kathy Walterhouse

Kathy Walterhouse has been named Top 20 Business Coach to look out for in Disrupter

Magazine. She is an ex- corporate sales expert having sold close to a billion dollars. After being

asked numerous times how she did it Kathy realized there was a real need to help entrepreneurs find success in their marketing and sales. She has her own methodology of success. One of her pillars of success is being authentic and having the philosophy of drawing outside the lines, not following what is expected .....in essence being a rule breaker.

Kathy has become a success leading small businesses to crush their sales numbers using her S-A-L-E-S Method.

In a short time, she reached clients on an international level. In an effort to scale and help

more entrepreneurs she has developed a mastermind group training to increase access to

her knowledge and accelerate success of her clients. Kathy's goal is to have her customers

stand out of the crowded marketplace. She has always had the motto of “Be authentic. Be a rule

breaker. Be the solution to your customer and don't stop until you make a difference. Success

will follow.

Kathy’s contact details

Website: www.theprofessionalrulebreaker.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprofessionalrulebreaker/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/theprofessionalrulebreaker

Contact us!

Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @sosocial_minnie

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

Buy me a coffee 

Writing for the digital age - what has changed?

Today’s episode is for you if you are bamboozled by the tens of thousands of messages presented to you on a daily basis. Are you at a loss for how you can cut through the noise to get your products and business to stand out?

Today we look at how the way we write and communicate has changed in the last 30-40+ years to ensure that we can get our own vital messages across.

We look at some of the copywriting greats from the last 60 years. Why were they successful? We look at what we have learnt from these people and discuss how differently we create and construct our copy to communicate effectively in the 2020s.

We also have a host of tips for you to take on board right now to hone your digital writing skills. Tune in and find out…

Resources

David Ogilvy’s famous 1960s Rolls Royce Ad

Martin Conroy’s famous Wall Street Journal direct-sales letter 1975-2003 - the ‘most successful sales letter ever written’

Gary Halbert - The Boron Letters

 Contact us!

 Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy 

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

 Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @sosocial_minnie

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

 If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

 Buy me a coffee 

Humans crave stories. As writers we know the power of a good story to draw our readers in. In this episode of Cracking Copy, Ella Hoyos talks to copywriter Charlotte Davies about a story born from her own life experience and what motivated her to tell it.

This episode is for you if you really want to know what it’s like to share your story on stage at TEDx.

Charlotte never imagined herself at TEDx, but when a friend suggested the idea and she met the conference organiser a short time later, it stirred an idea that compelled her to act.

Charlotte shares her insights on public speaking, performance, and copywriting. She talks about her journey with cancer and what it taught her about resilience when life gets tough.

She discusses the importance of only sharing what you're comfortable with, and of rehearsal and planning when delivering a talk or presentation. Charlotte also talks about the feedback she's received since her TEDx talk, and how doing the talk has helped her as a copywriter. Finally, she offers advice to others who might be thinking about doing a TEDx talk or other public speaking engagement.In her TEDx talk, Charlotte discusses her journey and what it taught her about resilience. She says that during the difficult times, it's important to think about what you can do differently the next time. She also says that sharing your story can be cathartic and help you close a chapter of your life that has been quite traumatic.About Charlotte

Charlotte Davies is a copywriter, messaging strategist and TEDx speaker.

She spent 8 years working in PR, across industries including music and food. 

In 2014 she took time out for treatment when she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  The treatment was successful and she has been in remission since August 2014.When she was ready to return to work, she got qualified to teach English and has worked in Italy, Spain and through the pandemic taught English online to children and teenagers.

Charlotte also worked as the Events and Development Manager at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, where she was responsible for fundraising and promoting the theatre to a corporate audience. 

Charlotte started her copywriting business in May 2021.  Since then she has been working with SMEs to create compelling copy that attracts their ideal clients and helping business owners and fellow copywriters to develop their authority and lead generation skills. 

Charlotte’s contact details

Website: www.charlottethecopywriter.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlottethecopywriter  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlottethecopywriter/Contact us!

Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @sosocial_minnie

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

Buy me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crackingcopy  

Today’s episode is for you if you either find grammar a complete nightmare or love it and want to be inspired to break the rules for maximum effect.

We discuss a few grammar rules that we think are important. We only really scratch the surface of this massive (and often contentious) topic. And you may absolutely disagree with some of our thoughts. In which case please do let us know by contacting us and joining in the conversation.

We also think that there are grammar rules that can be broken. We look at some of these and explain why breaking rules can be a powerful tool to use to get your brand to stand out.

Are you a stickler for correct grammar or are you more relaxed about its usage? Tune in and find out if you agree with us…

Resources

Up your grammar game with these books:

The Elements of Style - Strunk and White

Eats Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss

Write Right - Jan Venolia

Practical English Usage - Michael Swan

English Grammar: 100 Tragically Common Mistakes (and how to correct them) - Sean Williams

English Grammar for Dummies - Lesley Ward/Geraldine Woods

Best free grammar app (mobile and desktop) Grammarly

Contact us!

Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @sosocial_minnie

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

Buy me a coffee 

Are you an aspiring copywriter? Are you looking to find your authentic brand voice? (The personality packed one that makes people smile 😄). A great place to start is by cultivating your sense of comedic timing. We joke not! In this episode, Sami Miles shares her wisdom on how to inject more humour into your copywriting.

This show is for you if you want to write laugh-out-loud words that light up your readers and bring joy to their day.

Copywriting can be a serious business and it can be tough to strike a balance with humour and messaging. But our guest Sami Miles has done just that. She's a former stand up comedian who has turned copywriter. Sami used the skills she learned on the comedy circuit to write high impact, humour-filled email newsletters that crack up her subscribers. Now, she's here to share her wisdom and to teach us how we can inject a little bit more humour into what we write. Listen in as Ella and Sami explore the parallels between humour and copywriting. This 20 minute show will help you to find the sweet spot between getting your message across and making it memorable with a touch of wit.

Sami Miles

Former stand-up comic and conversion copywriter Samantha Miles brings out the funniest and most commanding version of biz owners to play, connect, and get results with their audience.

She believes that humor is a powerful way to process and heal from the harsh reality of human suffering. Sami recently lived a double-life, working a corporate job in a highly-regulated industry by day and doing comedy shows in Hollywood by night, alongside big names like Jimmy Carr, Margaret Cho & Kirk Fox. Since quitting her 6-figure corporate career while pregnant with her second daughter, she’s helped dozens of business owners convert leads into raving fans that continue to buy from them.

You can find Sami with a baby strapped to her chest, watching her toddler chase a chicken on the trampoline at the family compound she shares with her parents.Connect with Sami

Website: https://catchiestcopy.com  

Instagram: http://instagram.com/catchiestcopy

Contact us!

Please drop us a voice note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know what you think or what topics you would like us to cover.

Twitter @cracking_copy

Facebook @crackingcopy

➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful

You can also find us at:

Instagram:

Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketing

Minnie McBride - @sosocial_minnie

LinkedIn:

Ella Hoyos - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyos

Minnie McBride - https://www.linkedin.com/in/minniemcbride

Ella Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.

Support this podcast!

If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :)

Buy me a coffee 

We're talking about confusing words and how to avoid stupid mistakes. With Sarah Townsend, author of bestselling book, The Little Book of Confusables.This episode is for you if you question yourself when you write certain words. Are you occasionally guilty of making the odd silly mistake with vocabulary and idioms and want to know how to avoid them?In this episode, Minnie talks to Sarah Townsend, author of two bestselling books about her latest book, The Little Book of Confusables, which helps smart people boost their vocabulary and avoid embarrassing mistakes.We discuss the most common mistakes people make and give tips on remembering the correct spelling to stop you from tripping up and looking daft!Sarah TownsendAs a freelance copywriter for 20+ years, Sarah Townsend helps businesses get results from their marketing using powerful, persuasive, clear and concise copy.She is the author of two bestselling books:The Little Book of Confusables and Survival Skills for Freelancers, her first book, which has helped thousands of freelancers grow in confidence and develop the mindset for success.Since 2020, Sarah has delivered talks and events for everyone from the CIPR and ITI to Enterprise Nation and the Content Marketing Association.Sarah’s contact detailsWebsite: sarahtownsendeditorial.co.ukLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com /in/sarahtownsendeditorial/Twitter: www.twitter.com/stecopywriting Instagram: http://instagram.com/the copywritersdayContact us!Please drop us a voic e note at memo.fm/crackingcopy and let us know wha t you think or what topics you would like us to cover.Twitter @cracking_copyFacebook @crackingcopy ➡️ Share this podcast with someone who’ll find it useful You can also find us at:Instagram:Ella Hoyos - @flurrymarketingMinnie McBride - @sosocial_minnieLinkedIn:Ella Hoyos - www.linkedin.com/in/ellahoyosMinnie McBride - www.linkedin.com/i n/minniemcbrideElla Hoyos and Minnie McBride are co-hosts of this new podcast. We are professional copywriters and marketers. We deep dive into a different aspect of copywriting in each ‘snack-sized’ episode so that we can help you become better writers for your business.Support this podcast!If you found this episode helpful you can show your appreciation by making a donation! This helps offset the costs of producing the show and we’ll love you for it :) Buy me a coffee