Hot Copy

Tactics to deal with newbie fears and oldbie exhaustion In this solo interview, Kate talks to Robert Gerrish, a well-known name in the Australian solopreneuer world. Robert, a friend and mentor to Kate for many years, was one of the guest speakers at her recent CopyCon18 event in Sydney. He was a huge hit, even […]

Getting through revisions as quickly and painlessly as possible. Our last episode focused on beating the blank page and getting your first draft ready. You’ve hit send… but now what? How do you manage the revisions process (especially when it seems to derail everything) and get the client through to approval? If you weren’t nervous enough […]

Our last episode focused on beating the blank page and getting your first draft ready.

You’ve hit send… but now what?

How do you manage the revisions process (especially when it seems to derail everything) and get the client through to approval?

If you weren’t nervous enough staring at a blank page, this stage of a copywriting project can have you questioning your career choices.

But we’re here to help. So stay tuned for some serious process bombs.

Tune in to learn:

• How to reduce the number of revisions you get
• How we handle vague revisions (extracting meaningful feedback from clients)
• How we handle late revisions (keeping clients on time so you can move on)
• What to do when the client HATES your copy
• How to write copy for strong personalities
• Time-saving tips to get official approval

Question for the listeners:

Have you had to manage difficult revisions? How did it change your process?

Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Thanks to Di @ Whistle Communications for a fantastic review of the show. We appreciate it!

Useful Links:

• How to know if your copy is client ready
• How to get powerful testimonials

Does the blank page ever mock you? That blinking cursor, flashing at your lack of ability to start this copywriting project… to write a killer headline or craft a first sentence that wows each and every reader…?

You’re not alone.

Once you land a job, starting the actual writing can feel like the biggest hurdle you’ll face but we’ve got your back. We’re starting a series about our complete writing process, from a blank page to the final draft.

This episode is all about getting to the first draft.

Tune in to learn:

• How Belinda and Kate start every single project
• The easiest way to beat the blank page
• How to make sure you have the right tone of voice
• Where brainstorming and research fit in
• Whether you can edit as you write

 

Question for the listeners:

How do YOU start each copywriting project? Do you have a system or do you just let it flow?

Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Thanks to Lucy - Baby Berry Collective for a fantastic review of the show.

Useful Links:

• How to know if your copy is client ready
• Copy Deck Template and Course
• The smart copywriter’s guide to copy decks: presenting your copywriting (so your client loves you before they read it)
• E11 Copywriting features, benefits and… Disadvantages?
• Hot Copy E20: Why your sign off process is SO important
• Hot Copy E31: Why copy formatting is SO important
• Hot Copy E64: Copywriting formulas: Smart copywriting? Or cheating?

A step by step process to get that first draft done. Does the blank page ever mock you? That blinking cursor, flashing at your lack of ability to start this copywriting project… to write a killer headline or craft a first sentence that wows each and every reader…? You’re not alone. Once you land a […]

As copywriters with our very own podcast, we’re often asked questions. 

Questions about copywriting. Questions about being a copywriter. Questions about managing our businesses and our family life. Questions about our dogs.

So, every now and then we like to pull some out and answer them. 

That’s what today is all about. We’re answering YOUR questions in a special Hot Copy Q&A.

Thanks to Sheree Chambers, Maurizio F. Corte, Angela Rodgers, Di Clements, Lyndall Talbot, Liz Green.

Tune in to learn:

• The questions web developers need to ask on behalf of copywriters on the same project
• Whether bad writing is essential for good SEO
• How much of our writing is a process (as opposed to instinct)
• Getting over the fear of asking for money
• A super quick rundown of our pre-writing process of research / info gathering
• How to showcase your work when you’ve worked as a subcontractor
• Our challenges and lessons!

Question for the listeners:

Did you have any AHA moments from this pod? Let us know! We do love a good AHA.

Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!

 

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Thanks to Emma Rose Bell for a fantastic review of the show.

Useful Links:

• Terms and conditions: 13 scenarios you might not have considered
• Terms and conditions template
• Subcontracting template
• Copywriting email templates
• Referral template
• Retainer template
• Copywriting proposal template
• Insider tricks: How to write copywriting proposals that explode your client list!

Your questions. Our answers. As copywriters with our very own podcast, we’re often asked questions.  Questions about copywriting. Questions about being a copywriter. Questions about managing our businesses and our family life. Questions about our dogs. So, every now and then we like to pull some out and answer them.  That’s what today is all about. We’re […]

All the chat, zero cheese. These days we’re all aiming to make a deeper, more real connection with our customers, and we know the way to do this is through conversational copy. Instead of stuffy, overly formal content we want to create warm, engaging, friendly wordage. Copy that makes it feel like we’re chatting with […]

These days we’re all aiming to make a deeper, more real connection with our customers, and we know the way to do this is through conversational copy.

Instead of stuffy, overly formal content we want to create warm, engaging, friendly wordage. Copy that makes it feel like we’re chatting with an authoritative, but affable buddy.

But how do we write great conversational copy? Today we’re talking with Vicki Ross, and we’re going to share our top tips for chatty, non-cheesy copy.

Tune in to learn:

• The definition of conversational copy
• How to use storytelling in conversational copy
• The different conversational tones
• Whether a conversational tone work better in some medias more than others
• How to persuade your client to let you use a conversational tone
• How to be conversational without being cheesy
• Whether a conversational tone works for non-English readers.

About Vikki:

Vikki has been writing copy for 22 years.

Her clients include huge UK entertainment brands like Sky, NOW TV and ITV, and she regularly works with creative agencies like Sapient, WCRS, and Portas.

She specialises in Branding and Tone of Voice, and runs workshops around the world for D&AD and Creative Equals, as well as teaching copywriting at London's School of Communication Arts.

She’s a regular judge on international creative awards panels like D&AD, D&AD New Blood, DMA, Creative Circle, and AD STARS Korea, and last year was named one of Campaign magazine’s top 30 female creative leaders.

On Twitter, she created the #copywritersunite hashtag to connect copywriters online every day, and in person at quarterly #copywritersunite meet-ups across the UK. She also created #thingsyouhearinagencies, which you can find at @AgencyQuotes.

Two years ago, Vikki and fellow British copywriter Andy Maslen created Copy Cabana - an annual seaside event to celebrate copywriting. It’s all change this year so keep an eye out for an exciting announcement very soon.

Useful Links:

vikkirosswrites.com

Find Vikki:

@VikkiRossWrites

@Copy_Cabana

@AgencyQuotes

So, you’ve finally finished writing your client’s copy.

The homepage is ‘Wow,’ the content pages are engaging and you’ve done just the right amount of SEO to keep those pesky Google hummingbirds singing.

But you’ve forgotten something.

That’s right — your microcopy.

We know, we know. Microcopy isn’t sexy. And it’s certainly not the kind of copy people rave about. In fact, if microcopy were at a party it would be lurking by the door, pointing out where the toilets are, while sales copy was busy showing off to the crowd.

But these teeny tiny snippets of text can have a huge impact on the success of your site. So in this week’s podcast, we’re going to tell you how to write awesome microcopy.

Tune in to learn:

• What microcopy is
• Why it’s important on your website
• Great examples of microcopy
• How microcopy can help persuade and reassure customers
• Kate and Belinda’s top micro copywriting tips

 

Question for the listeners:

Have you had much experience writing microcopy? 

Share your story on Twitter (@hotcopypodcast) or our Facebook page!

Share the pod love!

If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks!

Thanks to Katie Matthews from the UK for a fantastic review of the show.

Useful Links:

• Microcopy pool
• How microcopy can make or break your website
• Speedy website review template
• Is your error 404 page failing your visitors and your business?