In This Episode: After 100 amazing episodes, we are stepping away from The Business of Writing Podcast to focus on exciting new ventures and partnerships. In the final episode of this first chapter, Laura and Rachel reveal why they’re making this decision, what we’re doing next, the biggest lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how you can make space for your business (and yourself) to evolve. Episode Highlights Why we’re stepping away from the BOW Podcast for a little while How to give yourself and your business space so you can evolve and change over time Why you should never forget that everything has a shelf life Finding people who can ask you hard questions to make sure you don’t get “stuck” in your business How to treat your business as an experiment so you can test new ideas without fear Where we’re putting our focus and attention next A very special ‘rapid fire’ question round And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Adam Hunt is a TV Producer turned Copywriter who specializes in comedic copywriting. He says there’s an art to writing jokes that work for brands – and a science that makes sure the end result is on-brand, on-message and won’t get you cancelled. Adam brought together TV’s best comedy writers to form his White Label Comedy Hive-Mind. They, to help brands of all shapes and sizes entertain, engage and sell. Which, he says, was not as hard as it sounds, since they were all in the same branch of Starbucks complaining about the WiFi. He now keeps them in a small bucket on his coffee table, occasionally feeding them episodes of Cheers. Episode Highlights How Adam convinced a bunch of TV writers to give up their fat paychecks and jump ship and start a copy agency Why joke formulas don’t always work in persuasive copy (and the counterintuitive reason Adam still uses them) How to find the perfect balance of comedy, psychology, and marketing to write a winning piece every time Why you should always start with conversion copy before thinking about the joke How to use comedy to get your audience to lower their resistance and be more open to hearing your message. The secret to avoiding cringe worthy jokes when injecting humor into your brand How to avoid the biggest mistakes newbie writers make when trying their hand at humor Adam’s advice for managing (and corralling) a team of writers and comedians And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: So many of our listeners want to market themselves and build great platforms, we want to highlight the kind of person who can really make it happen. So today we are interviewing Laura Valenti, who is the genius behind many of the systems here at the Business of Writing. We could not have made this show without her. Laura is a creative and dynamic project manager and UX/UI designer freelance. Ever since she was young, Laura rejected the idea that having a job had to be exhausting so she simply decided to build her dream career. She spent 5 years working in London and a year and a half in Lisbon, before moving back to Italy (where she grew up) and bringing back everything she learned abroad. Right now she is working for multiple clients with different "hats". These days Laura is primarily a designer but she is also a project manager, social media manager and ux researcher. Today we talk about project management, mindset, and building a business that’s authentically you. Episode Highlights How to embrace free online learning to change your career (and your life!) Laura’s advice for getting paid to learn new skills How to see change in your business as healthy and exciting (rather than stressful) The first person you should hire when launching your new business How to build trust and brand awareness quickly when you’re just getting started Which parts of your business you should automate and systematize first How to automate more of your writing business so you can focus on the work you love most Becoming a collaborator (rather than an employee) when working with clients The powerful mindset strategy behind increasing productivity and creativity Laura’s advice for fixing an unproductive day The 3 lists you should carry around with you daily to consistently move toward big goals How to enjoy the “journey” of building your business (and not just the destination) And plenty more along the way.

In This Episode: Finka Jerkovic is an author, international speaker, and coach. She consults with clients on their personal branding, leadership, sales, client experience and employee engagement. Finka believes when you bring authentic leadership and a mission-based mindset to business, you can achieve inner fulfillment, outer success and leave a transformational impact. Today we’re talking about how to “own” your offers and your business, as Finka share her strategies from selling from a place of love, instead of fear. Episode Highlights How to pull on the tendrils of the book hiding inside you Dealing with the pain (and sometimes necessity) of throwing out your first draft How to know when it’s the right time to write your book The strategy behind fitting a book into your overall business plan How to write your book while balancing a full time job or business Working with a book writing coach to get past your sticking points How to fully embrace what you’re selling so you can feel free in promoting yourself and your work Managing book launch anxiety (and how to avoid constantly hitting the ‘refresh’ button on your results) How to sell from love instead of fear (for both your own business, and your client’s) And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Angie Colee is a heavily-tattooed rocker turned copywriter and entrepreneurial coach. She was one of our very first guests here on the show, and since then she’s made some incredible shifts in her business. She’s recently said goodbye to most of her client work to focus on her coaching, podcast, and writing a book – All supported by the incredible lessons she’s learned on her journey from cubicle copywriter to badass business owner. In that time she’s coached hundreds of creative freelancers through finding clients and confidently fulfilling the gig… Strategized and written multiple multi-million dollar launches, including two during the recent pandemic… And Generated over $50MM in direct-to-consumer sales with her copy. Since she walked away from her day job, she’s created strategies and promos for companies like Masterclass, Copy Chief, The Hustle, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and Product Launch Formula. These days, she’s teaching everything she’s learned in her new business called Permission to Kick Ass. There she provides business and confidence coaching for creative entrepreneurs. Episode Highlights Why Angie decided to move away from being a copywriting gun for hire How Angie manages her creative work while working remotely from the road Her superpower that makes her the perfect person to turn to when you need a loving kick in the butt. How to have difficult conversations with clients when you need to set boundaries The difference between a "red flag" and s "miscommunication" when it comes to managing clients How you can use your personality and quirks to attract the right clients The filters you should run all prospects through to make sure they’re easy to work with And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Mayank and Prerna Malik are the founders of Content Bistro where they serve up wallet-wooing conversion copywriting services for creatives and seasoned-for-growth consulting for service providers. They’re also the creators of Profits on Tap ® and Momentum Mise-en-Place ® where they work closely with fellow service providers who want Sustainable Scale ™ for their businesses. They’ve worked with over 500 clients worldwide including some of the biggest and best names in the industry, such as Pat Flynn, Vanessa Lau, Amy Porterfield, Kerwin Rae, Carrie Wilkerson, Alli Worthington, and others! They live in India with their daughter, Manini and when they aren’t working on launches with clients or on profit optimization with service-based businesses, they’re traveling the world and eating all the food! (Sounds like our kind of people!) Today we talk about getting strategic about your profits and mindset, scaling on your own terms, running a business Internationally, and how to grow your business while scaling back the hours you work. Episode Highlights How chronic illness forced Prerna and Mayank to launch their own business Their system for finding international clients while based in India How they moved from “content creation” to sales copywriting (and why they made the switch) Scaling your business on YOUR terms (and doing it sustainably) How they scaled BACK the hours they worked without sacrificing growth in their business The 3 key areas of your business to focus on if you want to work LESS hours while your business continues to grow How to be intentional and strategic about building profits in your business (and you don’t need to be an accounting whiz) And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Many industries today - especially online marketing - are so transient and based on “trends.” One thing we want to do here on this show is make sure we’re sharing lessons and insights that will stand the test of time. Stories to help you build a business without being worn out, stressed out, and ready to quit. Stuff that is sustainable and can help you build long-term growth. So today Laura and I want to share more about the evolution of our businesses over time, and the lessons we’ve learned that will help you build a business that’s set to thrive through all kinds of ups and downs, and turns of industry so you can always make great money doing what you love. Episode Highlights The catalyst that caused each of us to launch our businesses How we overcame the biggest difficulties as we built our businesses The main values we seek out in clients, employees, and business partners Our biggest “ah ha” moments over 10 years of working for ourselves How we stay updated with new business ideas and strategies The secret to finding that work-life balance Our best advice for our younger selves if we were to do it all again And plenty more along the way.

In This Episode: Ilise Benun helps creative professionals bust through mental money blocks, to find better projects with bigger budgets. She’s a national speaker and author of 7 books, including "The Creative Professional's Guide to Money," and 3 online courses tailored to the needs of creative professionals. Since 2008, she has hosted the Marketing Mentor Podcast and her newest project is her role as “Business Coach” for the Savannah College of Art & Design. With over 30 years of experience, Ilise has a lot to teach about clearing the mental clutter, getting more comfortable with tough money conversations, and building a thriving creative business. Let’s dive in. Episode Highlights How Ilise helps her clients clear their mental clutter Why promoting your creative on social media may NOT be a good idea How to create a marketing plan for your business that works for you and your personality How to break out of the “low paying client’ cycle and work with clients who are happy to pay you more Why Ilise thinks you’ve been brainwashed to avoid marketing your business Understanding the difference between “worth” and “value” when pricing your services How to develop great collaborative relationships with your clients The 3 simple action steps you can do over and over again to get a flood of great clients How to meet potential prospects and develop a genuine relationship with them Busting through mental money blocks that stop you from earning more How to make money negotiations a conversation instead of a confrontation And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Jacqueline Burns was commissioning editor at Random House and Editorial Director at HarperCollins. There she edited classics such as Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus, Who Moved My Cheese, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Toddler Taming - all of which have sold millions of copies. She is the author of Write a Bestseller, and a bestselling series of successful books for Random House. Jacq has also ghostwritten a number of well-known titles, co-founded The London Writers Club, and is a literary agent for authors. Today we get her to spill the beans on the “behind the scenes” details of publishing books that sell millions of copies, how authors can work with large publishers, and what makes a blockbuster bestseller. Episode Highlights What it’s like working on the most well-known books of modern times What Jacq looks for in books that she chooses to publish How authors can write a book that will stand the test of time The common elements of books that are likely to become blockbusters How to avoid the biggest mistakes new authors make when writing their first book The #1 piece of advice Jacq gives authors who want to make it big The specifics of what you should look for in a writing coach (and it’s not a long list of accreditations) And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Every once in a while we have an interview that is so packed with value and actionable advice, that it could be a whole masterclass on it’s own! Our guest today really pulled out the good stuff for us in this interview. Licia Morelli is a copywriter, best-selling author and marketing consultant. Her writing has been featured in Vanity Fair, The Boston Globe, Publisher's Weekly, Elephant Journal, Johns Hopkins University Press and more. She is also a poet and prose writer, publishes children’s books, helps copywriters grow their businesses, has worked as an editorial director in the online marketing industry for over 10 years. Today we’re diving into writing copy that goes above and beyond, getting bad-ass testimonials (and referrals) from your clients, pricing your services like a pro, and how to balance everything without going insane. Grab a notebook and buckle up for this one! Episode Highlights How Licia launched her writing career by telling jokes on twitter Her “single person” copy tactic that guarantees her work will hit hte mark How she gets bad-ass testimonials (and measurable results!) from her clients Her system for using “The 5 Love Languages” to get incredible case study’s and proof for your biz How to get testimonials for a brand new offer that’s never been sold before Licia’s system for getting long-term clients who book out full days with her months in advance How to manage a busy roster, your personal life, creative work, and the functional part of your biz without going crazy Why Licia DOESN’T raise her prices And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism writer, a professional B2B writer and blogger, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast. She holds Masters degrees in both media and education and has not missed a deadline in 25 years of work! More than that, she’s a true veterans of the industry – having thrived through the many changes that professional writers have weathered as the market shifts. Today we talk about growing your business as a B2B writer, building a strong network of writers to support you as you grow, and the fast-growing needs that writers can fill as diversity, inclusion, and equality take the forefront. Episode Highlights Sharon’s accidental launch into journalism How she made the transition to B2B writing The truth about competing against other writers Her process for bringing in new client leads The criteria she runs through before accepting new clients How she builds a strong network of writers (and why it’s been critical to her career) The nirvana fallacy about creating an equal world And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: By now we’ve all discovered that things did not magically go back to normal after the year ticked over into 2021. Surprise! (not). For many writers, working from home, where family and domestic distractions run wild takes a serious toll on our creative work. Today Laura and Rachel dive into the headspace (or lack there of) involved with protecting and fueling your creativity while everything feels like it’s in flux. Because when everything feels crooked, sometimes you need a little help getting your head straight. Episode Highlights How to focus on work when life feels crazy Balancing your own passion projects with client work when creativity is low How to manage your financial goals when you need to pull back on your workload The easiest way to reserveHow to work when you feel like life is crazy Dealing with the lack of novelty and stimulation that usually fuels your creative ideas The best way to reduce your “mental load” when you feel like you’ve got nothing in the tank And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Athena Dixon is a poet, essayist, and editor. She is the author of The Incredible Shrinking Woman and No God in This Room. Her work also appears in The BreakBeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic. Athena’s work has appeared in various publications including GAY Magazine and Narratively. She is founder of Linden Avenue Literary Journal, which she launched in 2012, and the co-host of the New Books in Poetry Podcast. She lives in Philadelphia. When she’s not publishing her own work, Athena helps businesses and authors edit their work – both for quality, and by providing “sensitivity reading” which helps them hone their marketing in a way that promotes equality, and fights discrimination and stereotypes. In this episode, we cover a wide range of valuable topics like getting your prose published, what to do FIRST if you’re just launching your writing career, and the raw truth about what it takes to make it as a professional writer. Episode Highlights The step-by-step process Athena used to find and land her publisher Demystifying the “romantic writer’s life” with the truth about a professional writer’s day to day How Athena supports her “ideal writer’s life” financially Why she recommends NOT writing every single day What to do FIRST if you want to build a career in editing or professional prose The biggest mistakes new writers make when pricing their services How to package up editing services so they’re a “no brainer” for clients to say yes to Athena’s advice for helping business owners market with equality and inclusion in mind How the publishing industry can make more room for smaller presses and authors And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Rebecca Otis Leder founded an award-winning blog, TheRebeccammendations® in 2009, as well as a marketing consulting company for small businesses, startups, and nonprofits. Rebecca has shared her career development, personal branding, and marketing insights for organisations like Salesforce, DePaul and Loyola Universities, Startup Institute Chicago, BlogHer, and YearUp. Now she teaches marketers how to develop genuine, lasting career relationships through her communication and networking system called The Knock Method. In this episode, we dig deep into one of the biggest challenges for freelancers and writers – cold outreach to forge new connections and open doors to new opportunities. Episode Highlights How Rebecca took her blog from fun creative outlet, to award-winning content The KNOCK method for cultivating genuine (and valuable) relationships in your career How to stand out when doing cold outreach (and avoid looking like a spammer) Rebecca’s strategy for finding common ground with new connections so a “cold” message quickly becomes a personal conversation How to show value right up front so new connections WANT to get to know you more The best way to put new connections in a “collaboration mindset” so they’re ready to work with you Cold outreach killers - the biggest mistakes that make new connections fall flat. And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Mike Abramov is a direct response copywriter and consultant based in Los Angeles, California. He's written for industry titans like Agora, PaleoHacks, The Dig Agency, NativePath, and Organifi – and is now branching out to seek exciting new ventures of his own. When he's not writing, he's coaching up-and-coming writers – helping them move past mental and emotional blocks they have around their writing process. Episode Highlights How Mike ended up the youngest copywriter for some of the writing from some of the biggest direct response publishers in the world Mike’s process for qualifying new client projects Why Mike prefers a holistic approach to writing a sales page How he works with other copywriters to make sure he’s doing his best work Mike’s advice for moving past perfectionism How he finds stories hidden in “boring” product research Mike’s advice for balancing work and life while in lockdown How to start writing a new draft quickly Mike’s advice for creating urgency in your copy without being sleazy How to manage your emotions when it comes to the writing process And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Sooo, obviously 2020 happened. And it was a doozy. This past year has been transformative for everyone, and not a single person or business came out the same way they went in. There’s no magical switch that will flip when we tick over into 2021, but we can plan and prepare ourselves to move into the new year with strength and a clear direction. In this episode, Laura and Rachel sit down together to take a close look at how things changed in 2020, and their plans for moving into next year strong and focused. Join us as we chat about shifts in the industry, what we’re prioritizing moving into 2021, and how we’re adapting to all the changes that happened this past year. Episode Highlights How businesses changed the way they work in 2020 The biggest shifts in the way we find new clients and projects Why streamlining and simplifying is more important than ever How to deal with feelings of failure that come with the chaos of this past year Doubling down on your most profitable activities (and reducing the energy draining tasks) How to find the right help so you don’t have to do everything yourself Our thoughts on specializing and “niching down” in 2021 How to make yourself a “no brainer” fit for your ideal clients Getting specific about your specialty and experience How to prioritize your health, sanity, and life without dropping the ball on client work And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Bonnie Caton is an in-house copywriter at AWAI — The American Writers and Artists Institute – where she helps AWAI provide copywriting training for over 250,000 writers. Before her time at AWAI, she was a content marketer and travel writer – using her writing skills to work her way around the world in over 40 countries. Now she writes for one of the biggest companies in the copywriting industry, is a regular contributor to The Right Way to Travel, and also runs the Breakfast Stock Club, which helps folks to get up-and-running selling their photos in online stock photo agencies. Join us today as we talk about using your writing skills to work your way around the world, working in-house for a major marketing company, and battling imposter syndrome. Episode Highlights How Bonnie has used her writing skills to travel to over 40 countries What it’s like working in-house for AWAI How Bonnie transitioned from content writing to copywriting What’s involved in writing big front-end promos that bring in new leads How experienced copywriters deal with imposter syndrome What it’s like working with a high-level Copy Chief How Bonnie writes for multiple platforms while still fully “showing up” for her copywriting at AWAI And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: We’re tackling something a bit different in this episode, and that’s how all us writers can take good care of our health. Writing is a sedentary, solitary job, and the better health, the better work we’re able to do. So today, we have a special double-guest interview, with two very dear friends of ours, Rosie Moore and Dr. Alexis Shields. Rosie is an online fitness, nutrition and accountability coach who helps busy professionals create sustainable change in their health and wellbeing. Dr. Alexis Shields is an online functional medicine doctor who specializes in the assessment of blood work and creating customised health plans for each client, in order for them to restore and optimise their health. Today we’re talking how your health impacts creativity, how to counteract the sedentary nature of our work, and tactical advice for taking care of your health as a writer. Episode Highlights How your physical health impacts your creativity and ability to write The #1 thing you can do to manage stress (and creativity killing cortisol) Tactical advice for offsetting the sedentary nature of our work Why entrepreneurs and freelancers are more prone to perfectionism than most How to motivate yourself without relying on willpower A doctor’s tactical advice for counteracting loneliness or depression And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: Eric Maisel is a creativity coach and the author of 50+ books, including A Writer's Space, Coaching the Artist Within, and Mastering Creative Anxiety. He leads deep writing workshops around the globe to help writers form their ideas into actionable offers and programs, and also coaches writers on how to manage anxiety and mindset around their creative work. Episode Highlights Why creative work causes so much anxiety Anxiety management tools to help you manage your creative energy The visualization exercise to reduce your stress How to control self sabotaging thoughts while still allowing your brain to have creative freedom Why we often push our own work back in favor of client work How Eric has written over 50 books without sacrificing quality What to do when your fears are realized and your writing doesn’t work How Eric uses his writing to travel around the globe Eric’s advice for carving out space to work on your own business in between client work The sleep-thinking exercise to “write in your sleep” so your words flow smoothly the next day And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode: There’s a lot of head trash that pops up around pricing your services and selling your own services. Even if you’re great at selling your clients’ offers, freelancers and creatives are notoriously bad at promoting themselves and confidently presenting their achievements. Join Laura and Rachel in this episode as we talk about money mindset, building confidence in your skills, and how to get over the fear of promoting your offers and services. Episode Highlights Why creatives struggle with promoting themselves How to be more obvious about what you’re offering so people seek you out for your services What to do when you get bored of promoting the same thing The 1 thing that’s worse than a prospect saying “no” and rejecting your proposal How to get over the fear of quoting big numbers The biggest mistake people make when raising their prices How to practice your price pitch before getting on your next sales call And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.