Nothing motivates action like a time limit. It’s why sales and coupons don’t last forever. Deadlines seem to be hard-wired into our brains. It goes back to caveman days: “We get home before sun goes down, Thog. That when monster attack.” And when it comes to closing a sale, time limits create urgency to act. […]
[Story Sells] How a “Ticking Time Bomb” Helps Capture Attention Read More »
In This Episode The real backbone of your business isn’t just building a list. To make in this cutthroat industry, you’ve got to build a list of buyers. Today, I’ve got Bushra Azhar on the show. When she came into the world of direct response and copywriting, she was already a high-level corporate consultant
Ep 150: Bushra Azhar – The Reverse Sign Up Method For Building A List of Buyers Read More »
In This Episode I often cite Ross O’Lochlainn as the “poster child” for the Entrepreneurial Freelancer. That’s the kind who, rather than grow a business driven by traditional copy client projects, discovers a “super ability” they’re passionate about and creates a high-value service around that. For Ross, it was helping business owners define their
Ep 90: The Magic of “Paid On Results” Offers with Ross O’Lochlainn Read More »
In This Episode Just hung up the call with Justin Brooke from adskills.com. He’s the most sought-after traffic guy in the game right now. Also one of the best teachers about how to convert on cold traffic, which is the HOLY GRAIL of any marketing business. We went deep into the psychology of winning
In This Episode A few weeks ago we wrapped up our first ever Copy Chief Live event. Three days of learning, bonding, high-level networking, and just a whole lotta fun. It was an unforgettable moment seeing all the chiefs light up the halls of that Hilton… then soak up wisdom from legendary copywriters and
[CCR] Ep 79: 100 Chiefs Check Into A Hotel… Read More »
In This Episode We’re only a week away from our first ever Copy Chief Live event. On top of some of the most prolific copywriters sharing the secrets behind their most successful campaigns… … we’ve also got top-of-the-heap marketers gracing the stage and sharing insider tactics that’ll multiply your sales faster than you ever
Ep 135: Marketing Masters Highlights with John Carlton, Todd Brown and Joe Schriefer Read More »
In 2017, it’s dang-near impossible to scroll down any social feed without smacking into a meme. The rise of 10+ million follower comedy brands like @thefatjewish and @fuckjerry (who pump out memes faster than Deepwater Horizon) indicate the medium is here to stay. After sinking more than a few hours into the vast ocean of
3 Ways To Ethically Steal Profitable Ideas From Memes Read More »
I used to work at a movie theater in high school. One of my best jobs ever. I could watch any movie for free, and eat all the popcorn and drink all the soda I wanted. But some days were bad. When the film skipped — or worse — broke. (These were in the old
You know when you’re sitting in a movie theater and hear all the noise before the film begins? The flash of phone screens, the chatter, the rustling in seats, the unwrapping of a big box of Red Vines licorice? But then when the movie begins with a strong scene – like the “rolling boulder” sequence
In This Episode “We talk a lot about entering the conversation already going on in your prospect’s head… but what does that really mean?” Roy said during our interview. My guest today is top copywriter Roy Furr. He has written control-busting copy for the likes of Bill Bonner and Mark Ford at Agora. Roy
Ep 118: Roy Furr – The PAISA Framework For Writing Rock-Solid Financial Controls Read More »
In This Episode “I’ve never had a conversation quite like this before…” Perry said to me as we wrapped up the interview. “This was not the standard set of canned answers…” My guest today is a decorated veteran of internet marketing who has been in the game since 2003. Former engineer turned marketing consultant
Ep 117: Perry Marshall – The “Homer Simpson Trick” For Attracting Your Perfect Prospect Read More »
June 2017 marks 50 years since David Bowie released his first album. The title of this landmark record? Somewhat unimaginatively, it was called: David Bowie. Ironic, because nothing else in Bowie’s extraordinary life was ever that predictable again… The Ultimate Artist-as-Entrepreneur As a long-time fan, I was recently struck by just how well some of
David Bowie: The Ultimate Artist-As-Entrepreneur? Read More »
In This Episode Here’s the reality: You’re likely addicted to getting the sale―like most marketers are―without even knowing it… … and your prospects can FEEL it. In fact―the harder you chase the sale, the farther away it slips from you… and these days, prospects are not giving you a second chance. So… how do
Ep 54 – How To Be More Human Through Automation with Mike Rinard Read More »
In This Episode Proof is the lifeblood of your sales message… … and with today’s hyper aware consumer, it’s more critical than ever that you nail your offer’s proof. (In fact–your prospect is waiting for you to get this wrong, so they’ll have the perfect excuse to click away and buy somewhere else) Here’s
Ep 53 – How to prove your value like a lawyer proves facts with Candice Lazar Read More »
Before I became a copywriter, I spent 29 years working with brands. The power of those brands allowed me to create multi-million dollar businesses around the globe. That’s a nice piece of change. It worked because each brand had a clear identity that resonated with certain consumers. In fact, the product itself was often secondary.
How Eugene Schwartz’s Branding Secret Ignites Direct Response Sales Read More »
In This Episode Would you be shocked to know that striving to “develop your authentic voice” is actually killing your connection with your audience? Here’s the thing: most sales copy your prospect reads comes off bland (even if you think you wrote something completely unique)… … and without a confident voice leading your prospect
Ep 52 – How to develop a voice that cannot be ignored with Jody Raynsford Read More »
Can you establish credibility while lying your ass off? Yep. Novelists and other storytellers do it all the time. And when you tell true stories as a marketer, you can copy their technique to build trust. (Bonus: when you pull from real life, you don’t have to work as hard as professional liars.) Here’s
[Story Sells] Establish Authority by Copying This Novelist Trick Read More »
Add strong proof elements to your marketing materials and watch your sales soar. The young lawyer wrapped up his closing argument. He felt confident in his performance over the course of the trial. As the jury began deliberating, he and his boss walked toward the attorney conference room. He gave the senior attorney a broad
Boost Your Conversions by Thinking Like a Lawyer Read More »
I’ve been watching this for a while and wondering if others have noticed it too. The modern-day consumer is more aware and conscious than ever before. For us as marketers, copywriters and business owners, we need to be more aware of what we do when we sell to them. You may be thinking… “what
The Conscious Consumer: Who they are and why you need to know about them Read More »
How do you measure whether your voice is a success? Here’s a quick test. Try reading this out loud: It’s impossible not to read it in Liam Neeson’s voice. If you’ve nailed voice, that’s exactly what you should be looking for when someone reads your copy. They need to hear you. On Copy Chief, we’ve
The Voice Mistakes That Are Costing You Money (And How To Fix Them) Read More »
In This Episode Kim Krauss Schwalm is the perfect follow-up to Clayton Makepeace’s copywriting masterclass. Kim is a top-level copywriter Brian Kurtz couldn’t hire fast enough to work for Boardroom… … where she became the first ever female copywriter to beat one of their controls (her first Boardroom project out-performed a 7-year Parris Lampropoulos
Ep 107: Kim Schwalm – Consistently Beating Control Ads Read More »
In This Episode Clayton Makepeace is the mind behind ads that sold a Billion and a half dollars worth of products in the health and financial markets. There aren’t many copywriters alive who can bring a whopping four decades of in-the-trenches experience to the table. So naturally, Makepeace is also one of the most
Ep 106: Clayton Makepeace – Selling on Emotion ($1.5 Billion Worth!) Read More »
In This Episode Imagine reading what your babysitter thought of you when you were 4-years-old. Would it foreshadow the persona you are now, or would you be shocked at what you read? James Schramko, founder of SuperFastBusiness.com, is known for taking entrepreneurs under his wing and showing them the amazing world of “wealthification“. As
Ep 105: James Schramko – “Reprogramming” Your Brain For Success Read More »
I remember when I first deadlifted a barbell. Before that moment, I hesitated to pick up the 12.5lb dumbbells at bootcamp classes. So when I heard the barbell is 20kg (44.4 pounds) without plates on it, you can imagine how terrified I was. As I walked up to the platform, bullets of sweat were rolling
4 Things You Should Be Testing But Probably Aren’t Read More »
In This Episode “I’ve only done like three podcast interviews…” Frank told me just before rolled tape. I knew right then this would be extra juicy, and I wasn’t disappointed. If you’ve been around marketing for more than a hot minute, you know the legend of Frank Kern. He pioneered online video as we
Ep 104: Frank Kern – Becoming The “Rolling Stones Of Marketing” (Then Quitting The Band) Read More »
In This Episode Today you’re in for a treat. My guest is Marcella Allison and she’s the perfect guest to follow two epic episodes with Parris Lampropoulos. Why? Because she is one of the few writers that top-of-the-heap A-Listers including Parris, and David Deutsch look to team with first when it’s time to beat
Ep 103: Marcella Allison – The Truth About Speaking Your Customer’s Language Read More »
In This Episode If you missed Part 1 of the rare interview with Parris Lampropoulos listen to that first for the full context of the interview and to get the backstory about the bullets (edited by Parris) that accompany these episodes. Enjoy Pt 2 right here. Can’t Miss Moments: 4:30 – Why most people
Ep 102: Parris Lampropoulos – Next-Level Persuasive Copywriting Pt. 2 Read More »
In This Episode Parris Lampropoulos is universally regarded as one of the best living copywriters. He’s a face on Brian Kurtz “Mount Rushmore of Copywriters” for the record number of control ads and revenue generated at Boardroom. His list of winners is mind-boggling. Parris credits his incredible success solely on the bullets in his
Ep 101: Parris Lampropoulos – Next-Level Persuasive Copywriting Pt. 1 Read More »
In This Episode I wanted to do something special to celebrate the 100th episode of the Truth About Marketing podcast — I hope you like it. No interview today, but we’ve got some of our best coming up, including a 2-parter with copy legend Parris Lampropoulos that is a marketing course all on its
Ep 100 – The Truth About Your Voice Read More »
In This Episode A long overdue episode with the world’s most ripped off and respected copywriter alive, John Carlton. I’ve had the privilege of hosting a podcast with John called Psych Insights For Modern Marketers. It’s an amazing show that I describe as “hosting John’s brain”. Listeners of the show can’t get enough, and
Ep 99: John Carlton – The One Skill Every Copywriter Must Master Read More »
In This Episode Dan Kuschell grew up in Detroit’s inner city without any natural business skills. He knew his parents did the best they could with what they had, but after watching his dad get laid off from 9 different jobs, he became determined to control his own fate. Dan was gifted with athletic
Ep 98: Dan Kuschell – 1% Incremental Changes That Scale Your Profits Read More »
You already know case studies inspire hope, prove you’re credible, and give your reader that “If they can do it, so can I!” feeling that makes them take action. But done right, they can do a whole lot more. They can uncover objections and fears you didn’t realize your audience had. And ensure you write
How to 2X the value of your case studies (follow these 4 steps) Read More »
In This Episode Ron is an infomercial and digital direct marketing giant, credited with launching big brands like Silk’n Beauty®, Samsung North America®, and the viral GoPro® “Be a hero” campaign. To date, his work has generated over $4 billion in sales. Ron has an incredibly deep understanding of what makes a product sell.
Ep 95: Ron Lynch – Using TV to Sell $4 Billion In Consumer Goods Read More »
In This Episode Proud to have my good friend (and repeat guest of TAM) Ryan Lee on today’s episode. I have to admit, I’m always blown away by the incredible amount of value Ryan delivers… If you don’t know Ryan, he’s the founder over at Freedym, where entrepreneurs learn how to build a lifestyle
Ep 94: Ryan Lee – Earning The Trust Of Your Tribe 15 Minutes At A Time Read More »
In This Episode 4.49 – The exact time and day when your list is most open to your promotions during a launch… ignore this “perfect persuasion window” and watch the bulk of your sales slip through your fingers 5.48 – The “pee in your own pool” scarcity mistake that destroys your credibility and breaks the trust
Ep 93: Jack Born – Perfect Persuasion Windows Read More »
The dream of becoming a successful freelance copywriter is an alluring one. You make your own schedule. You work with who you want to work with. And you get paid handsomely for all of it. Plus, your job is to learn about psychology and persuasion — skills that improve every single area of your life.
More writing, happier clients: 5 ways to handle the business side of copywriting Read More »
In This Episode Another hot episode with the man who is credited with mailing over 1.8 billion pieces of direct mail during his time with Boardroom and Rodale. My guest today is Brian Kurtz, coming back for his third time on Truth About Marketing… and there’s a good reason for it. Brian is here
Ep 86: Brian Kurtz – The Legends Of Copywriting Read More »
In This Episode Special episode today with that man, Max Rouzier on race relations – how to talk about someone’s identity (without offending them), why remaining silent is worst than saying something, and more… Resources: Get this episode all up in your earhole here: Race Relations with Max Rouzier Subscribe to the podcast on
Ep 19 – Race Relations With Max Rouzier Read More »
In This Episode My guest today is Sean D’Souza, a cartoonist turned marketer. Early in his career, Sean consulted businesses, but never saw his work implemented. While he continued to get paid to do nothing, the meaningless work made him wonder, “is this really how it’s supposed to be?” His answer led him to
Ep 78: Sean D’Souza – Taking 3 Month Vacations Read More »
“You’ve got to stop buying into your own bullshit.” With that line, he built a deeper connection and showed he could help me. I was on the phone with a productivity coach. We were talking about my goals for the year — stop overworking, build a side business, and have a social life again. When
How to create deep, instant connection with your audience Read More »
In This Episode When was the last time you felt like you weren’t living up to your potential? For many of us, it was just this morning. When Jim Harshaw retired from his career as a NCAA wrestling champion, he struggled to transition back into the “real world.” He couldn’t shake the feeling that
Ep 77: Jim Harshaw – The Truth About Teaching Your Kids To Fail Read More »
In This Episode At 25, Will Hamilton turned down an opportunity to work inside the famous Beltway. His reason? So he could start a tennis website in his parent’s basement, using a brand name that sounds dangerously similar to an “adults only” site — Fuzzy Yellow Balls. Will started out creating videos to teach people
Ep 76: Will Hamilton – Why Asking Good Questions Sells A Lot Of “Fuzzy Yellow Balls” Read More »
In This Episode Doberman Dan’s never been the kind to follow the rules. He didn’t start his career in marketing but as a cop breaking up domestic disturbances. Desperate for a change, he launched his first company and handled all the copywriting himself because he couldn’t afford a copywriter…making him a rare marketer with
Ep 75: Doberman Dan – Stumbling Into Success Read More »
In This Episode Chelsea O’Brien is a secret weapon here at Copy Chief, and one the reasons we were able to build our community so fast. Her specialty is conversion optimization, or as Chelsea likes to call it, “the delicate art and science of making websites that get customers.” Since 2002, Chelsea has generated
Ep 74: Chelsea O’Brien – High Converting Landing Pages Read More »
Bullets — they’re those titillating snippets of copy designed to tempt your reader into taking action… Have you ever read one so intriguing you couldn’t get it out of your head? Where you just HAD to know its secret? Sometimes, a single bullet is all it takes to knock your prospect off the fence and
How To Write Badass Bullets Your Readers Simply Can’t Resist Read More »
In This Episode From the start, today’s episode took off so quickly, I hit the record button in the middle of our “warm up” conversation… My guest today is Michel Neray. He’s an all around storytelling expert, coach, consultant, and speaker. Yet he was frustrated with the lack of human connection at events he
Ep 73: Michel Neray – A Live Audience Read More »
In This Episode Before starting her popular website, A Series Of Adventures in August 2015 (and still going strong), Gail was “blindly” following other people’s rules… She got good grades, went to college, found a job, and continued checking off a list of accomplishments that didn’t matter to her. Gail opens up about
Ep 72: Gail Jessen – The Truth About Living Where The Story Takes You Read More »
In This Episode Have you heard of Dan Ferrari yet? If not, it’s only because he just exploded onto the scene faster than any other copywriter we know. (“Like Prince riding a pegasus!”) Three years ago, Dan had no clients whatsoever. He’d never even written a sales letter in his life. Nobody knew his
Ep 71: Dan Ferrari – The Truth About Mastering Sales Copy Read More »
Grab your copy of the Perfect Day Formula here In This Episode If you don’t already know Craig Ballantyne, he’s a fitness trainer, business coach, and publisher of the popular newsletter Early to Rise. His mission is to transform the lives of 10 million people by teaching them how to build wealth, improve their
Ep 70: Craig Ballantyne – The Truth About Your Perfect Day Read More »
In This Episode 0.10 – Freelancing SECRET! Visit this one site to become booked solid as a go-to authority instead of cold-calling tire-kicking prospects. 7.00 – How to exploit Will’s “Copy Hierarchy of Needs” to increase conversions without spending more on copy lessons and freelancers. 9.00 – The question every business MUST ask to
Ep 68: Will Hoekenga – The Truth About The Copywriting Hierarchy Of Needs Read More »
In This Episode 2.59 – Why Dave made an “educational” video teaching knock-off artists how to rip off his designs (and how the video’s 500,000 YouTube views became a viral marketing bonanza…) 6.35 – Turning near-tragedy into a bonding story – hear how an attempt on Dave’s life in Mexico turned into a killer
Ep 67: Dave Munson – Training Thieves To Steal Your Work Read More »
In This Episode 1:50 – John’s brutally honest about why you should NEVER start a podcast if you want to “sprint to success”. 4:40 – 93% of podcasts fail within their first month! (Why this is great news for you if you play your cards right.) 7:20 – The critical skill you need to succeed at
Ep 66: John Lee Dumas – 7 Figure Podcasting Read More »
In This Episode 06:20 Why Robert literally RAN out of a luxury hotel after experiencing a vision of Freddy Krueger… at a financial services event 07:35 “People don’t mind passion…” but most won’t stand for this type of person (this isn’t you, is it?) 12:32 Freelancer reality check: your guarantee is worthless to prospects
Ep 65: Robert Gibson – Showing Up Ready To Rock Read More »
In This Episode (1.35) The “Big-Lumpy-Red-Robot” technique you need to try BEFORE you reach out to any influencer you want to connect with (and how it won over Kevin in a second) (6.30) How a Marine Corps fighter jet pilot attracts a raving crowd of clients on day one without the expected lows of starting
Ep 64: Barry Moore – Working Backwards Read More »
The 60 Second Sales Hook can ignite a timid prospect into action. Or it can freeze ‘em faster than the Ice Bucket Challenge – if you’re telling the wrong story. In a sec, I’ll give you a simple rule on how to chose which story to tell. First, a brief refresher of the Hook by way of
[Story Sells] Exposing the 60 Second Sales Hook: When Your Story Sucks Read More »
In This Episode 2.53 – Alexi’s “one-two-punch of awesomeness” for creating life changing transformations. (She stumbled on to this gem after quitting the rock star life and becoming a bartender) 9.57 – The “Reese Witherspoon” incident that forced Alexi out of her television career and into sharing uplifting videos… and how it snowballed into a
Ep 63: Alexi Panos – Letting Go and Getting Raw Read More »
In This Episode 0.40: Mike pulls back the curtain on the breakthrough website that’s revolutionizing every smart copywriter’s game. (If you’re not taking advantage of this sweet opportunity, shame on you.) 5.15: The absolute worst crime someone can accuse you of, if you’re a copywriter or a comedian. (Avoid this or your reputation is toast.)
Ep 62: Mike Schauer – Swiping Copy Read More »
In This Episode (2:30) How to choose the fitting social media app without tediously testing every shiny new platform. (3:20) Tina’s first words out of the womb and how she consistently grows her audience – even with subpar copy. (5:00) The unusual VA task for creating new ideas. Kevin shares his technique to turn a
Ep 61: Tina Dietz – Walking Your Talk Read More »
In This Episode 1.24 The one thing you must do to engage in deep conversations about business…(Hint: It’s not just hitting up business savvy friends.) 2.56 Jon’s accidental discovery after interviewing his first 30 guests, how it grew his business, AND why applying this to your business could yield the same results… 5.50 Why Jon’s
Ep 60: Jon Nastor – Asking The Best Questions Read More »
In This Episode 00.35: Kevin introduces Elin, one of the elite few writers he recommends without hesitation, and how she accidentally invented a new way to write copy so it flows effortlessly from your fingertips like water. 2.05: “I feel like you picked me up and took me there!” Elin shares her secret to writing
Ep 59: Elin Marie – The Dreamweaver Sales Copy Formula Read More »
In This Episode 2.00 Why Billy never had a chance for a normal childhood with popular toys and bunk-bed slumber parties (and the shocking “gift” his Vietnam War veteran dad gave him when he was 4-yrs-old) 2.40 “The hidden bonus” of fitness. Why dedicated people show up to the gym to get ripped or lose
Ep 58: Billy Beck III – Delivering Big Read More »
In This Episode 1.10 How David went from temp worker to A list copywriter and what he really thinks about his start at a Madison Avenue ad agency. (Did it help or nearly destroy his career?) 6.29 David’s sneaky shortcut to beating his own winning ads without rewriting the entire thing. (Just two small changes
Ep 57: David Deutsch – Problem/Solution Copywriting Read More »
In This Episode 1:35: The copywriting cardinal rule for all marketers (and why failing to heed it is costing you a big ol’ pile of money). 3:05: How Melanie discovered an obscure book that helped her build a “no fail” system for capturing the hearts and minds of only the perfect customers. 6:00: What thousands
Ep 56: Melanie Saladino – How To Write For The 9 Buyer Types Read More »
In This Episode [ 1:30 ] The counter-intuitive approach to business site design that rendered one of the world’s leading direct response copywriters speechless. (Yep, like a drooling simpleton staring up from the floor of the Sistine Chapel when he first laid eyes on it.) [ 1:55 ] Why Marie says she’s no genius (and
Ep 55: Marie Forleo – Glam and Gall Read More »
