Ray Edwards Show

Are you getting the results you want from your sales and marketing efforts? Maybe you've heard you should use stories to sell, perhaps you've even tried it, but how do you consistently make it work?

Successfully telling stories is the key to selling your products and services like crazy…and having your customers thank you for it.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

Regardless of where you are on your faith journey, one thing we can all agree on is that the teachings of Jesus have permeated the world's population over the ages. How did He do that? Check this out…

"Jesus used stories when he spoke to the people. In fact, he did not tell them anything without using stories." Matthew 13:34 (CEV)

So it seems to me that storytelling might be a good way to spread your message.

Tip Of The Week

A couple of weeks ago we had a company meeting about the importance of securing our information. It may seem more labor intensive, but I feel strongly that you should consider activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) in your life and business.

If you use:

• iCloud
• iTunes
• Dropbox
• Gmail
• Google Drive

All these services and many others offer the option of Two-Factor Authentication. It may be a bit of a hassle, but it helps keep the bad guys at bay. Isn't your security worth a little extra effort?

Feature Segment: "How Do I Sell Using Stories?"

You can sell using stories in the following 7 ways:

1. To develop the KLT (Know, Like, Trust) Factor.
2. To establish the "dopamine flow."
3. To instill values and beliefs in your customers.
4. To train your customers in proper behavior.
5. To provide examples of how your product changes people and organizations.
6. To prove that your premise or your promise is true and reliable.
7. To condition for the listen.

And…as always…some snippets from our conversation:

• There's no money in the middle (12:05)
• Embrace the chocolatey goodness (12:50)
• The Edwards Apple Nerd-Fest (13:44)
• The Stephen King Surge (14:53)
• Call forth your audience! (15:08)
• Don't act like that (15:52)
• The Story of Jack (17:03)
• Spandau Ballet had it right (19:04)
• From story to six-figures (19:53)

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and "Save As" to Get the PDF Transcript.

Are you getting the results you want from your sales and marketing efforts? Maybe you’ve heard you should use stories to sell, perhaps you’ve even tried it, but how do you consistently make it work? Successfully telling stories is the key to selling your products and services like crazy…and having your customers thank you for […]

You have a message, a product, or a service and you want to spread the message far and wide. But despite your best efforts, you don't seem to be getting any traction.

In this episode we'll show you how to be like your heroes and make money while making an impact.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

I believe there are principles behind scripture that can apply to more than one situation.

Now before the scripture police get all up in arms over that statement, I recommend you listen to this section of the show for greater clarity.

In Galatians Chapter 6 verse nine, the Apostle Paul teaches us to "not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

In the context of this episode, I believe the lesson here is that if you're worried about building a bigger audience and too feel like its too difficult, be encouraged to not grow weary. You're doing good and in due season you will reap if you don't lose heart.

Selah.

Tip Of The Week

Michael Hyatt introduced me to this week's tip, and I immediately knew that I needed one. What is it you ask?

It's the Spine Book Tower.

It allows me to house about 70 books in a lot less space than a traditional book shelf, and its an almost magical way to display your written works of art.

Feature Segment: "How Do I Get A Bigger Audience?"

You can grow your audience simply by writing according to these 5 Steps

1. Narrow Your Focus – the riches are in the niches
2. Find Your Hook – are you my kind of weird?
3. Create Your Manifesto – here we stand
4. Recruit True Believers – can I get an amen? And an email address?
5. Build Your Media Empire – the everywhere effect

And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation:

• And now…the end of the story (10:55)
• The worst place to draw a line (11:30)
• The Secret of Getting a Bigger Audience (13:19)
• The myth of self-discipline (14:45)
• Aim small…miss small (15:39)
• You talkin to me? (16:45)
• Embrace your inner misfit (17:20)
• Scratch that niche (18:35)
• Nobody wants to hear that…do they? (19:40)
• The Weirdness Magnet (20:32)
• This should scare you (22:59)
• Your most valuable asset (24:48)
• Ray's Rant of the Week (26:14)
• Barbarians at the Gate (27:07)
• The Secret of the 5-Steps (28:45)

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Spine Book Tower
• You Everywhere Now

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and "Save As" to Get the PDF Transcript.

You have a message, a product, or a service and you want to spread the message far and wide. But despite your best efforts, you don’t seem to be getting any traction. In this episode we’ll show you how to be like your heroes and make money while making an impact. Click here to download […]

Early in my copywriting business I was doing client work for 80-100 hours per week, I was killing myself. Two mentors intervened and got me out of that madness.

Almost every business success story I can name has a mentor – or several. Today we'll talk about why you need a mentor and how to find one.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

Running a business, especially as a spiritually-oriented person presents us with a lot of challenges, and most of those challenges are ones we never expected.

There will be days when you want to just quit and give up, but God will always be there to catch you and uphold you.

He even says so…"The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand." (Psalm 37: 23-24 NIV)

Selah.

Tip Of The Week

The big trend these days is traveling light, but this week I'm going to show my contrarian side.

I've tried to travel light, and for me it doesn't work so well. If I travel with a small bag and just a few things, I always seem to wind up buying a bunch of stuff I need at my destination. It kind of defeats the purpose…and it can become expensive really fast.

So I've embraced the opposite approach to travel. I take a big hard-sided case where I place my delicate gadgets (in smaller hard cases), which yes, I have to check, but it beats the hassle of competing for overhead space with all my fellow passengers.

I comfortably board the aircraft and enjoy the journey…and isn't that what life's all about?

Feature Segment: "Why You Need A Mentor (And How To Find One)"

I believe there are five reasons you need a mentor, and here they are:

1. You can't read the label if you're inside the bottle.
2. Wisdom protects from pitfalls
3. Wisdom helps yo recognize opportunities
4. A true mentor will call you on your bone-headed moves or attitudes
5. You need someone looking at your situation who is not emotionally invested in the outcome
   …Plus I'll show you how to find the right mentor.

And…as always…some snippets from our conversation:

• The superpower to see the unseen (8:58)
• Ears to hear (9:31)
• The "Acres of Diamonds" Syndrome(10:24)
• That's just stupid (10:43)
• Can you hear me now? (11:33)
• Mentorship has nothing to do with age (12:37)
• Surgeons don't work on their own family (12:46)
• How to ask for help (13:58)
• Be the best student (15:02)
• Engineer your discovery (16:09)
• Two heads are better than one (16:43)
• Low-hanging fruit is delicious (16:52)
• Embrace the unconventional (17:31)
• Keep your eyes open (18:35)
• Mentors don't need to be alive (19:37)

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Acres of Diamonds
• Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
• John Adams
• Alexander Hamilton
• Plato: The Complete Works
• The Basic Works of Aristotle
• Seneca Six Pack
• The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and "Save As" to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Early in my copywriting business I was doing client work for 80-100 hours per week, I was killing myself. Two mentors intervened and got me out of that madness. Almost every business success story I can name has a mentor – or several. Today we’ll talk about why you need a mentor and how to […]

If you've listened to this show for any length of time, you know that our intro music is a catchy little ditty about changing the world and watching your business grow.

This week we're going to introduce you to the five influences you exert as a business person, and how these influences empower you to change the world.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

This week it's all about giving you an encouraging word (as it is most weeks).

"In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly." – Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

As inspired business leaders, this is how we should begin our day.

The result is a more peaceful and productive day, regardless of the challenges we may face.

Tip Of The Week

This week's tip comes straight from renowned coffee connoisseur Sean Edwards himself.

Enjoy a highbrow coffee experience and drink your coffee from a ceramic mug – not from paper cups. It tastes better and it's better for you.

This is a real thing…your tastebuds will thank you.

Feature Segment: "How to Change the World  (And Watch Your Business Grow)"

As an entrepreneur, you exert 5 Influences that create world-change, and business growth. You exert Influence in these ares:

1. Your Self
2. Your Team
3. Your Customers
4. Your Community
5. Your Competitors

And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation:

• Drop the stone in the pond (10:08)
• The Butterfly Effect (10:27)
• Don't skip this step (11:12)
• Sean channels his inner Tony Robbins (12:32)
• How to multiply your time and influence (14:12)
• Set the bar and receive the love (16:09)
• The key to virtual influence (17:27)
• Get fanatical about this one thing (19:33)
• Take the Ray Challenge (21:28)

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and "Save As" to Get the PDF Transcript. 

If you’ve listened to this show for any length of time, you know that our intro music is a catchy little ditty about changing the world and watching your business grow. This week we’re going to introduce you to the five influences you exert as a business person, and how these influences empower you to […]

You know you need great copy to sell your stuff, and you're thinking of hiring a copywriter, but how can you make sure you don't get ripped off?

In this episode we'll show you how to successfully navigate these waters and arrive safely on the shores of copywriting bliss.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

Are facing challenges in your life right now? I have excellent news for you.

No matter what is happening in your life, God is completely on your side! That, my friends, is called the Divine Advantage.

In Romans 8:31 God says, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

No matter what life throws at you, take courage because you're on the winning side!

Tip Of The Week

If you use a Mac user and you're a productivity geek I highly recommend you get the most out of your Apple technology by checking out the Mac Power Users Podcast with David Sparks and Katie Floyd.

In addition, David Sparks has his own blog called MacSparky.com where he has created free screencasts that show you how to get the most out of your productivity apps.

He also has a series of Field Guides you can purchase on a variety of subjects that will make you want to hug your Mac. Prepare to feel the Apple love.

Feature Segment: "10 Commandments of Hiring a Copywriter"

Maybe you've tried to hire a copywriter in the past, but you had a bad experience with The 7 Deadly Copywriter Sins:

1. The copy was just plain bad (too hypey, too weak, or "info-only")
2. The copy sounded like everyone else (the Sea of Sameness, Mired in the Muck of Mediocrity)
3. Your copywriter took the money and ran
4. Your copywriter never communicated with you…ever.
5. The copy was late.
6. They never asked for your feedback, so the final product was miles off target.
7. They Found You, Fooled You, and Forgot You

You'd like to hire a pro, but you can't afford the fees of an "A-List Copywriter" (Ray's current minimum is $250,000 up-front, plus a percentage of sales, for a "Private Client Launch Package".) Yikes!

You're frustrated because it seems like the biggest "X-Factor" in your product launch is the copy, and you are afraid neither you nor your team is good enough to get it right.

The 10 Commandments of Hiring a Copywriter

i. Scope: Thy copywriter shalt help you determine exactly what type of copy you'll need, and how much copy you'll need to bring you the results you seek.

ii. Voice: Thy copywriter shalt spend time with you and your material to learn your unique voice, and then infuse that voice into your copy. Your voice is what differentiates you from the crowd.

iii. Deadline: Thy copywriter shalt deliver your copy on time…every time. If he doth not, woe unto them, and they shalt be cast into outer darkness.

iv. Milestones: Thy copywriter shalt set up mile markers along the way during your project so that you can be consistently confident that your project is receiving the loving care it deserves.

v. Communication: Thy copywriter shalt check in with you throughout the process to get your input and make absolutely certain that you're thrilled with the hand-crafted copy thou receiveth.

vi. Revisions: Thy copywriter shalt continue to work with you until thou art thrilled.

vii. Proofreading: Thy copywriter shalt have thy copy proofread, and ensure the text is error-fee.

viii. Review: Thy copywriter shalt put thy copy under the watchful eye of a mentor or other senior copywriter.

ix. Results: Thy copywriter shalt have a track record of results.

x. Followup: Thy copywriter shalt NOT just hand off your project and wish you luck. Thy copywriter shalt be there if things go sideways ready to swoop in and save the day!

And…you guessed it…here are some snippets from our conversation:

• Oops I did it again (8:03)
• The Stepford Copywriter (8:40)
• Visit your money in Mexico (9:28)
• Can you hear me now? (9:44)
• Don't be tardy for the party (10:50)
• Have we met? (11:46)
• Avoid the One Night Stand (12:11)
• Have map…will travel (13:31)
• Hire a chameleon (13:55)
• Better bring a flashlight (14:37)
• Give your copy a hug (15:15)
• Artisan copywriting (16:41)
• The value of sweat equity (17:46)
• That copy sure is pretty (18:58)
• Four eyes are better than two (19:57)
• Win…and win often (20:54)
• Copywriting Superhero! (21:25)

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• MacSparky Blog
• MacSparky Field Guides
• Mac Power Users Podcast

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and "Save As" to Get the PDF Transcript.

You know you need great copy to sell your stuff, and you’re thinking of hiring a copywriter, but how can you make sure you don’t get ripped off? In this episode we’ll show you how to successfully navigate these waters and arrive safely on the shores of copywriting bliss. Click here to download or listen […]