Ray Edwards Show

I have previously claimed that Writer's Block does not exist. That was true for me at least...until recently.

What happened? How could my seemingly endless well of ideas and words suddenly run dry? 

This week I'm sharing the cause, and the cure.

Key Insights

• ​Expressing my gratitude for you in this season of thanks
• ​Suddenly self-conscious
• ​Age is NOT a handicap in this arena. There is value in your wisdom
• ​Accept who you are and embrace your imperfections
• ​Be a source of positivity online and in the world
• ​Your influence and impact will live longer than you​

Links

How To Write Copy That Sells - Get your FREE copy of my bestselling book (just pay shipping)

YouTube and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/642

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Building your business and your brand requires a particular set of skills. I want to talk about those skills (one in particular), but also issue a reminder about your other brand...the one built by others. Your shadow brand. What is it, and how do you manage it?

Key Insights

• ​ What's the best, must-have skill for creating cash flow and building wealth?
• ​AI has made it easier to build a business with less human help, but at a certain level you must start hiring people.
• ​The harder you work, the more money you make... Not True - That philosophy can destroy you
• ​To achieve true wealth, you must create assets that generate income
• ​You must learn to communicate strategically and influentially
• ​Use your writing to build your personal brand - Do not just hand this job over to AI...use AI as a helper, not an author
• ​How to take control of your Shadow Brand (make it intentional)
• ​Build a personal brand based on the Real You
• ​Embrace your Authentic Self - keep your quirks intact to build a personal brand that people connect with and recognize
• ​Copywriting is the number one skill when it comes to building your brand (Everything is copy)
• ​A.I. can help make you more productive, but you MUST understand the fundamental principles of good copy in order to use it correctly

Links

• ​How To Write Copy That Sells - Get your free copy of my most popular, bestselling book (just pay shipping)

Transcript and Video

rayedwards.com/641

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

"People Pleasing" is NOT the way to build a brand. You might build a BIG list that way, but you won't build a QUALITY one.

Your list, your followers, your subscribers...They need to know the real you if you want to build a meaningful connection. (You know, the kind that brings in revenue for your business.) Your message must align with your brand.

My guest this week is known as "the People Displeaser" (a.k.a. Nick Pollard), and he has done exactly that.

Nick and I will discuss his journey, and how being authentic with his audience has helped him build a list of actively engaged, loyal followers. 

Key Insights

• ​Nick Pollard's recent video on TikTok has over 1.8 million views (and climbing)...but why "that" one?
• ​Don't worry about the size of your email list, focus on the depth of your relationship with your subscribers.
• ​Maintaining a high list engagement with a 50% open rate, even without marketing to them, shows the importance of having a targeted and interested audience.
• ​Nick's engagement with his audience's list is HUGE. That's a result of building a strong connection with his audience which paves the way for successful marketing.
• ​The key to building engagement with your audience is being honest and authentic from the start.
• ​Nick had rapid list growth, going from 1,500 to over 11,000 subscribers, thanks to a little bit of luck, and a viral video.
• ​The content that performs the best is when the creator is being authentic.
• ​Nick believes that high engagement on social media comes from sharing only what truly matters and resonates with the audience, rather than bombarding them with irrelevant content. (Don't force it!)

Video and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/640

Links

• NickPollard.com - How to Stop Being a People-Pleaser, Quit Lying to Yourself About How Miserable You Are, And Finally Build a Life of Freedom Where You Don't Come In Last Place.
• ​CopyCrew.net - Unlimited Copywriting for online business. Fast, effective, and 100% Guaranteed. A copywriting subscription to grow your business.

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Check out this incredible conversation I had with my fellow word-nerd, Molly Rouse-DiCioccio.

Molly has an amazing insight as to (as she puts it) "why people do stuff". Once you understand the psychology of your audience, the right words become obvious.

And, of course, if you're a copywriter that can "connect", you can charge appropriately (6-figures in the case of the project we discussed), and are free to work from wherever.

• ​Molly's fascination with human behavior and psychology drives her passion for marketing and helping people with marketing psychology, influence, persuasion, and mental triggers
• ​​The importance of copywriting skills (and where to learn them)
• ​How Molly ​used the PASTOR formula to write a proposal that secured a $120,000 deal
• ​Language is powerful!  Mastering it is important not just in copywriting, but also in ALL communication​
• ​ "It's better not to speak at all unless what you're going to say expresses compassion, inspiration, or mutual benefit."
• ​Mind your mental state: Don't write when you're angry​
• ​AI is a powerful tool to give you a start, but human understanding of how words are perceived and the psychological impact is still crucial.

Links

• ​WhyPeopleDoStuff.com What makes people listen to you?
  To trust you? Buy from you? Contact you?
  What makes YOU stand out more than anyone else? - Check out Molly's site to answer those questions.
• ​Start Your Own Writing Business - Check out some free training, and a special offer from Ray.

Watch the Video and get the Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/638

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Amanda Foust is a shining example of someone who turned their passion into a profitable business. Her love of writing inspired her to learn a skill that she's used to build TWO successful businesses — Copywriting.

She'll explain how important copywriting has been in BOTH of her businesses (including the one that has nothing to do with writing). Because, as she puts it, "I just don't know how you sell otherwise."

Key Insights

• ​Thank God for teachers
• ​Understanding the importance of framing and presentation in copywriting is crucial for success
• ​Focus on finding "the whos" (the right people) to help, rather than getting caught up in the details.
• ​Amanda became a certified, high-performance coach after being inspired by receiving coaching in college.
• ​Give us some numbers...Amanda talks about the growth of her company, Homegrown, going from part-time work to achieving six-figure earnings and retiring their husband within five years
• ​Knowing how to write good copy (or partnering with someone who can) is crucial for success​
• ​AI-generated copy still needs human help to be more than mediocre
• ​Coaches help people navigate imposter syndrome, loneliness, and lack of clarity by focusing on time management, productivity, and finding meaning in their work
• ​Creating a community for learning is more effective than just offering a course
• ​AI For Copywriters can help improve your marketing and learn to use AI as a tool to amplifiy your own voice, not replace it

Links

• Wake Up To Your Life - Want to learn more about Amanda's coaching and other services? Check out her brand new site

Video and Transcript

https://www.rayedwards.com/637

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Many entrepreneurs start their journey out of necessity. An unforeseen set of circumstances gives them the push, and then it's sink or swim.

My guest this week was facing some major family and financial challenges. She fought through the fear and built a successful, 6-figure business in less than a year...That's a story worth paying attention to.

Listen and learn from my conversation with Anita Anello.

Key Insights

• Anita's career success and achievements left her feeling unfulfilled, questioning if there was more to life than just titles, money, and accolades, emphasizing the need for a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.
• ​​Be impeccable with your word and build a reputation of reliability and trustworthiness.
• ​Everything Is Copy - Anita discovered the importance of copywriting through the idea that "everything that we say and do​ is all copy."
• ​Build your business around the deep desires in your heart and be rewarded with freedom.​
• ​Anita's passion lies in helping other successful women of faith who have reached a pinnacle in their careers and have a God-sized idea inside of them, guiding them towards fulfilling their potential.
• ​Creating a movement of women who champion each other, meet each other where they're at, and have no tolerance for complainers or those who don't take responsibility for their lives.
• ​Anita and her husband were able to pay off over $40,000 of debt in just a four-month period, demonstrating their commitment to financial stability.
• ​Anita's journey of finding work-life balance and being present for her kids while still making money and pursuing her interests is inspiring.
• ​"Being a person of Integrity is one of my core values...whatever you say you're going to do, that's it because all I have are my words."
• ​Anita's list of necessities for her family's survival and thriving included not just financial aspects, but also time, health, and other non-monetary factors.
• ​Overcoming challenges and declaring one's accomplishments can empower individuals to walk confidently in their journey, leaving a ripple effect for generations to come.

Links

• TheRippleAffect.net - The place to connect with Anita Anello, and "Turn Your Corporate Skills into a Consulting Business You Love"

Video and Transcript

rayedwards.com/636

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Ever have that dream of waking up and finding that your most recent video got hundreds of thousands of views while you were sleeping? I have. I have yet to experience this personally, but that's exactly what happened to my guest, Matt Wolfe.

In this conversation with Matt, we'll talk about his sudden boom (9 years after launching his channel) - What caused it? How have things changed? What opportunities has it made possible?

Matt is a passionate student of A.I. and it shows in his videos. We'll discuss the importance of creating the content you're passionate about, what role A.I. (and humans) play in the future of content creation, and why Matt thinks the human brain is not yet obsolete.

• [00:00] Matt and I discuss his popularity increase after chat GPT became public, his journey of creating videos, gaining traction, and finding success with AI-related content.
• ​Overnight success? Hardly. Matt started his YouTube channel in 2009, focusing on WordPress and teaching people how to build websites
• ​Matt discovered that his videos about AI gained more popularity than his marketing content, leading him to shift his channel's focus. One of his A.I videos has now hit 1.2 million views.
• ​[04:36] Matt shares his 14-year journey to success and how he is monetizing his business.
• ​​Matt created his website, futuretools.io, to organize and access useful tools he discovered. This site now serves as an A.I. resource for thousands of visitors each day.
• ​Lots of copycat sites have emerged since Matt's launch of futuretools.io, but that doesn't bother him. He originally built this site as a resource for himself and not as a business model.
• ​Matt sees himself as an enthusiastic user of AI technology rather than pretending to be an expert. He believes (and I agree) that has played an important role in his success.
• ​Matt's revenue streams include: affiliate links, featured listings, sponsorships, a weekly newsletter, a YouTube channel, and a podcast.
• ​[12:35]  Will A.I. take over content creation? Matt believes that real people creating content on YouTube will always win because the audience connects with a genuine creator.
• ​[19:46] Creating authentic and passionate content that resonates with you is more valuable than focusing on data-driven strategies, spammy content, or trying to please the algorithm or audience.
• ​Be real...Let your personality shine through in your content. Focus on creating content that excites and interests you.
• ​[22:56]  Use AI as a tool to enhance content creation
• ​Feedly is an AI-powered RSS feed reader that allows users to find and filter articles and news on specific topics.
• ​[27:54]  What about AI's  potential to create fake content and undermine the credibility of video and photographic evidence
• What does Matt think about AI replacing jobs?
• ​[33:19]  Do we still need people? Of course. But not for everything...
  AI will potentially replace manual labor jobs, but humans will adapt and find new ways to add value.
• ​[36:47]  Where to find Matt...and when do we get the new podcast?

Links

• ​futuretools.io : Matt's site that "Collects & Organizes All The Best AI Tools So YOU Too Can Become Superhuman!"
• ​Matt's YouTube Channel : Definitely worth subbing and binging

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

Get The Transcript and Video

https://www.rayedwards.com/635

I can think of no more valuable skill than the one that conveys the importance, uniqueness, value, and necessity of everything else you have to offer - Copywriting.

Feel free to try and convince me otherwise...but guess what skill you'll need to do that?

Copywriting is fundamental to any business because it's how you communicate who you are and why people need you. Any transaction begins with communication, and the quality of that communication dictates everything that comes after.

This week's episode is about recognizing that EVERYTHING is copy - Not just sales pages and ads. Social media posts, emails, videos, podcasts...even conversations are copy. Use the techniques and triggers that have been used for millennia to improve ALL of your interactions.

You'll also learn how you and I can be "study buddies", working through Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula together. I've bought PLF every year since 2005 because it works, and it gets better every iteration. 

We'll soon be launching the updated, AI version of Copywriting Academy using PLF blueprints. Listen to find out how you can get a behind-the-scenes look at our launch, step by step.

Key Insights

• ​The one high-value skill to rule them all: Copywriting
• ​AI does NOT eliminate the need for human copywriters
• ​​Everything is copy - not just sales pages and ads
• ​Jeff Walker's Product Launch Formula changed everything in 2005
• ​Get free access to the PLF Masterclass Here
• ​Emails require stellar copywriting skills to get opens and responses
• ​Social Media Posts are copy - Treat them as such. Be intentional!
• ​Your website builds trust and drives conversions, and...it's copy.
• ​In-Person interactions can be "Conversational Copy"
• ​Get PLF using my link, and we'll go through it together
• Soon, we'll be launching the updated, AI version of Copywriting Academy. Get behind-the-scenes access to my own, PLF-Powered launch, step by step. A "vlogumentary" that shows you how my team and I put PLF to work.

Links

• ​Product Launch Formula Masterclass - Your once-a-year shot at getting thousands of dollars in practical, actionable, launch education. Learn the key elements of Product Launch Formula directly from its creator, Jeff Walker. These videos come down this week, so DON'T Wait!

Video Of This Episode (Youtube)

https://youtu.be/UIiLyWApXGE

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week we review the fundamental differences between marketing and selling, and how to properly execute both.

Plus, I introduce you to two of my students, Jason and Melanie Crane. We'll talk about their entrepreneurial journey as a husband and wife team, they're challenges, and how you can achieve success without sacrificing your marriage.

I'll also tell you how you can learn the same fundamental sales system that we use for each and every product and service we sell (Product Launch Formula), absolutely free of charge.

Key Insights

• ​Marketing and Selling are NOT the same thing
• ​Marketing is where you connect with your audience and let them buy in to your worldview, philosophies, and ideas - Marketing is preparing your audience to buy from you.
• ​The offer is critical. Get it right, or nothing else works. It must be made irresistible to the audience.
• ​Building a list through lead magnets and email marketing allows for sequential communication and increased chances of making a successful sales offer.
• ​Building a relationship with customers and being perceived as a helper, rather than someone trying to sell, can amplify your business and foster connections.
• ​Sacrificing personal relationships for the sake of success can lead to negative consequences and the breakdown of marriages.
• ​Creating or joining a Mastermind group can provide a supportive and motivating environment for personal and professional growth.
• ​Being part of a supportive community can be transformational in achieving your goals and overcoming challenges.
• ​Making the process of improving a marriage fun (even integrating dance in Jason and Melanie's case) can help engage both partners and create a positive experience.

Links

• ​Free PLF Masterclass - Get the fundamentals of Product Launch Formula, taught by its creator, Jeff Walker. This is my sales system. It's what my company uses every time we launch a new product or service. If you want to sell online, this is the way. These free Masterclass videos are only available for a few days, so get them while you can
• ​BAM Prosperity - Visit Jason and Melanie's site to learn more about how to build a business without sacrificing your personal relationships

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

A lot of people are asking this question when it comes to "Content Marketing":

How much is too much?

At what point do you saturate your readers, listeners and viewers with so much knowledge that they are no longer interested in buying what you're selling?

In this week's episode, I'll give you a solid answer to that question...free of charge.

Key Insights

• ​Giving away valuable content for free in content marketing can help build trust with potential customers and lead to future sales.
• ​The success of a marketing strategy can be measured not just by immediate revenue, but also by its ability to position your brand in the marketplace and generate long-term results.
• ​People often don't do what they know because they either don't know how to do it, don't like doing it, or find it too overwhelming. That presents an opportunity for content marketers to provide guidance and support in the form of courses, coaching, and other revenue-generating services.
• 7 steps do doing this right
• ​Step 1 - Know your audience and the problem they want to solve
• ​Step 2 - Give the FULL Answer
• ​Step 3 - Teach your whole process
• ​Step 4 - Illustrate the value - Show what your process is worth when you put it to work
• ​Step 5 - Ask your audience, "Why aren't you doing this?"
• ​Step 6 - Offer to do it with them.
• ​Step 7 - Repeat
• ​Providing valuable knowledge and illustrating the value of your process can help build trust and demonstrate the worth of your content.
• ​In my latest book, Read This Or Die, I share how I used my skills as a marketer and copywriter to write a sales campaign that helped me overcome the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and change my life.
• ​Marketing is about changing mindsets and sharing your beliefs, values, and worldview, not selling products or services.
• ​Next week, we'll talk about the selling process

Links

• ​Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself To A Better Life There's still time to be part of my upcoming bookclub and workshop - and get your free video mini-course when you purchase the book (click the link for details)

Video and Show Notes

https://www.rayedwards.com/632

How You Can Help

Subscribe to the show in Apple Podcasts or on Spotify, 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 definitely mention you on this show.

Questions or comments?

Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.