In This Episode Despite becoming a Direct Response millionaire in his 30s, Justin Goff considers himself a slow learner. He spent the first few years online pinballing around from “thing to thing” trying to figure out how to make real money. His parents were convinced he was throwing away his education. His friends thought …
EP 268: Wisdom Tree – Justin Goff’s Millionaire Blueprint Read More »
I was unwinding in my hotel room last week when this email popped up in my inbox. A guy named Saraj CALLING ME OUT about why he DOES NOT TRUST the sales letter for our big anniversary sale for Copy Chief: Hey Kevin. This might sound silly. But I really wish you had some video …
A few years ago the direct response copywriting industry had a SERIOUS PROBLEM… There was only one place online for copywriters to connect with clients, and to put it bluntly, the place was a cesspool. It was overrun with bullies and trolls and loudmouths with no actual experience writing copy. REAL copywriters and marketers with …
FACT: Good clients don’t waste time in free groups Read More »
Have I told you my “red, yellow, and green zones” concept for deciding how to write copy for a product? It’s a super-simplified version of Gene Schwartz’s heady concepts around Market Sophistication and Solution Awareness. Basically, there are 3 levels of pain your product solves… Red is severe. Like, you just got a scary call …
How to write copy for a product using“red, yellow, and green zones” concept Read More »
In This Episode Until recently, I never saw myself doing business with Grant Cardone. On the surface, he wasn’t my cup of tea. Now that I’ve had a look behind the curtain, I’m very impressed. The guy we’ve seen posting IG Reels on his private jets is one part of him (you don’t achieve …
A-List copywriter Lorrie Morgan, known for writing (and teaching) incredible copy bullets, said this about last week’s Bullet The Podcast breakdown: Bullet writing is one of the top 3 skills every copywriter must master to become great. Watching email copywriting innovator, Daniel Throsse, break down bullets about our podcast episode showed the SUBSTANCE behind his …
When Tania was 18-years-old she wanted to become a teacher. She found a company that would pay to send her to school overseas, and place her with a company teaching Art and English Literature. “It was a ten-year contract that dictated every step of my life,” she explains in the video. When you’re eighteen and …
In This Episode “One girl wrote to me angry that I’d ruined her birthday because she spent hours ignoring her boyfriend while reading my emails.” That’s just one of the extreme replies Daniel Throssell has received from readers of his daily emails (get them at persuasivepage.com). His writing is fresh, occasionally angry, and consistently …
I’m booking calls with ambitious copywriters who want to earn or multiply, six figures with their copywriting. This will be a small group (12-15) and right now there are very few seats left. If it looks like we’re a good fit to work together, here’s what I’d like you to have ready for our call… …
Have this ready for our call… A short list of your FAVORITE Read More »
Six months from now things in your copywriting career could be very different. In August I’m taking on a new group of freelance copywriters who are ready to take their businesses to the next phase. From burned out with problem clients to on fire for new projects… From panicked over filling their calendars to booked …
In This Episode In 3 short years, Brenna McGowan went from full-time Mom, to “accidental” social media manager, to email copywriter, and now the leading expert on Pre-Launch marketing strategy. If you’ve ever felt like “there’s just no time” to do it all, and been stymied by choosing a specialty, today’s episode with Brenna …
EP 265: Freelancer’s Journey: Brenna McGowan Is Owning It Read More »
My friend Billy and I pooled our money and counted it up… Exactly six dollars and fifty-eight cents between us for lunch, and that was it. I don’t remember where the next money was coming from, or even where we were headed next, but I remember that exact amount because we were damn hungry and …
I like to say that “I can trace every dollar I’ve ever made to a handshake somewhere. It’s true. Connections ARE the fastest way to leap a few rungs on the proverbial ladder of success. It was that way early in my freelancing career when my friend from comedy, Vin Montello, became my friend in …
In This Episode I met AJ Harper in the office of best-selling author Mike Michalowicz (Profit First, Clockwork). He introduced her as his writing collaborator – essentially the person who wrote the words I’d been reading intently under his name for years. By the end of the first day of Mike’s workshop, I saw …
EP 264: New Breed: AJ Harper on How To Write A Must-Read Read More »
It’s halftime of 2022. How’re you feeling about everything? Plans can go to shit fast when we’re not aligned with our goals. Sometimes the hardest part is deciding what you want. Why are we SO good at seeing other people’s best options, and go completely blind on our own? Lots of reasons, actually. Too many …
If you’ve been at this freelance copywriting thing for a year or so, you’re likely facing burnout. What does burnout look like? It’s a bit different for everybody because we’re all wired a bit differently. The SIGNS OF BURNOUT are pretty much the same for everyone though… If you consistently ask yourself, “when’s the last …
Signs you might be burning out …don’t ignore these warnings Read More »
In This Episode This funny thing happens with high achievers (like you?)… As we’re transforming into the best versions of ourselves, we soak up tons of inspiration from self-development gurus (for me it was Jim Rohn, Earl Nightingale, Napoleon Hill, etc.)… Then, once we arrive at success, we tend to stop looking for new …
EP 263: Wisdom Tree: Rob Dube on the 10 Disciplines for optimal living Read More »
When you enter Phase 4-5 of your Freelancing Journey, landing gigs is no longer a problem. Now it’s all about fighting for YOUR time. As you can see from the graphic, Phase 4 is all about STABILIZING your business. That means… Knowing exactly how much you earn per hour for different types of work… Learning …
How to replace your worst client …even if you still like ‘em Read More »
Would you agree that freelancing is the greatest opportunity on earth? Think about it… You get to get paid to learn on your client’s dime… Paid to learn the skills required to produce and sell quality products… Paid to learn about YOURSELF! And which of your strongest skills will earn you the most. PAID to …
The product you are sitting on right now … it’s a shame to not collect Read More »
By now you’ve probably heard about the “Beyond Client Work Accelerator mastermind event we’re having September 14-16. (If not, get the deets and one of the few remaining tickets here) You may be wondering, why did we choose Knoxville as the place to build a game plan for launching and scaling your own offers? Besides …
In This Episode Look, I get it. Money is how we measure success. So, the appeal of a promise that you can “double your (freelancing) income in X days” is a sexy one. We see this promise every day online and, understandably, people fall for it. Here’s the problem: It’s not only UNREALISTIC to …
EP 262: Coffee with Kev: The Truth About Doubling Your Copywriting Income Read More »
I’ll never forget the first time I released my own offer… I had partnered up with two of my friends, both copywriters, to create a quick copy course. (I can’t even remember what it was called, tbh) We released it on a marketing platform called the Warrior Forum. Mostly we just wanted to throw something …
My pocket was buzzing like crazy with these alerts Read More »
Last week, on a whim, I invited my subscribers to pitch me their offer. Just a 2-3 sentence description and a link to the product page. I was curious to know… How MANY of you had existing offers What KIND of offers you are creating How you’re PITCHING them to prospects This is on my …
Are you a freelancer? If so, have you created your own offer yet? In this instance, I’m defining an offer as anything other than your standard service. Something that you sell “on the side.” That gets you paid for what’s in your brain. So… A course… A coaching workshop… A consulting call… A framework or …
In This Episode If you thought there was no market for direct response copywriters in the tech space, today’s guest will shed some new light. Karl Hughes was leading high-profile tech teams until the lockdown freed up half his time to do what he always loved: write. So, he started blogging in his conversational …
EP 261: Freelancer’s Journey: Karl Hughes – Tech Copywriting Kingpin Read More »
I received this email with a question about Escape Velocity, my live training that kicks off on June 1st: Hi Kev. I think I own the values you require for the EV live program. I’m not motivated – I’m driven. And I’m a student of Escape Velocity [non-live version] already. I want to become an …
Look, I get it. Money is how we measure success. So, the appeal of a promise that you can “skyrocket your freelancing income overnight” is a sexy one. We see this promise every day online and, understandably, people fall for it. Now, if you’re thinking, “The people who would believe that probably don’t care about …
Do you remember your first copy client? Of course, you do. (unless you’re still looking for them, in which case, read closely.) My first ever client? It was a dude with a landscaping service. He knocked on MY door to pitch me his services. Which was an instant “Sorry, no” because, back then, my wife …
In This Episode In this Coffee With Kev episode, I share some big lessons in… Customer support (via Virgin Hotels and Virgin Airlines failing hard at this) Developing your motivation into revenue (via Jack White’s elegant and inspiring Third Man empire) Strengthening your business with short, in-person mastermind events The most dramatic (and powerful) …
Get this, I bought my father-in-law a $50 Amazon gift card for his birthday. (Please, hold your applause. My overwhelming generosity is NOT the point of this story.) The circumstances are important here. When I purchased the gift card, I was sitting with my father-in-law (imagine an 81-yr-old Barney Rubble on oxygen). And because I …
Bezos owes me fifty and why this matters to copywriters Read More »
In This Episode Chris Farrell is a long admired and respected leader of communities where he helps people improve their lives. He’s done it with online marketing and other business skills, and now he’s building what he considers his most meaningful community yet. Here’s what he told me about it: “I want people …
EP 259: Wisdom Tree: Chris Farrell “We are all going through something” Read More »
This weird thing happens when you do freelance work… … because we work alone, and doing our work typically means disappearing into the laptop for a few hours… No one ever sees the work getting done. They see the results of the work, sure. But very few people have a clue as to what goes …
Have you ever had a freelance gig go straight into the toilet? Happens to all of us eventually. In comedy, we call them “Hell Gigs” And they’re kinda funny. Eventually. I mean, it’s painful, believe me, to stand before a roomful of strangers, your voice amplified twelve times the natural volume, saying things everyone knows …
In This Episode What does it really mean to have a “compliant” sales copy? The answer is a moving target, guided by risk tolerance, and trending enforcement measures. The ONE thing you can be sure of is that the law will follow the complaints, the money, and the headlines. Today, “badass attorney” Peter …
EP 258: New Breed: Peter Hoppenfeld – Copy Compliance Read More »
As a self-identifying outsider, I’ve always hated social cliques. Have you ever seen the show Freaks and Geeks? I was the little brother, Sam. Awkward in my skin and want to fit in, but never find a groove socially. I was painfully shy with girls, too. I remember crushing so hard on the cashier at …
If I were starting out in copy now, this is where I’d focus Read More »
Hey, How happy are you with your clients right now? Do you get excited about what you see on your calendar? Or does your stomach swirl into nausea at the mere thought of a random email from a client with the same subject I used in this one? Or worse: “Quick call?” Random emails from …
In This Episode Michael Fishman has been the private insider brand consultant for the biggest health brands (Bulletproof, VitalChoice, Healthy Directions) over the last 25 years. Today we discuss… The marketing voice vs. the relationship voice… Why clear, compassionate marketing is the most persuasive, and… Who the prospect trusts least, and why… A …
EP 257: Wisdom Tree: Michael Fishman – “Flag on the moon” Marketing Read More »
The first time I met Dean Jackson on the white couches in Celebration, FL, he asked me a question… “How long could you sit on this couch and do nothing before it had a negative effect on your business?” I didn’t have to think too long. “I’d be dead in two weeks,” I said and …
You may have heard whispers about my private coaching group called Accelerator. We sometimes refer to it as a mastermind, but it’s very different from what that term has come to mean in our industry. This is not a “mastermind” where you’re paying to “belong”… maybe do a bit of networking, get occasional access to …
Interested in joining my private coaching group? Read More »
I just got back from Nashville where I hung out with my friends Rob and Kira and their gang at TCC. Fine group of humans – much fun was had. I love meeting freelancers. No matter which Phase they are in, hearing their stories about what led them out of the “norm” and into this …
In This Episode A really fun and insightful conversation with Yara Golden, an email copywriter who now runs her own agency strategizing and producing email content for some of the biggest names in marketing (Russel Brunson, Shanda Sumpter, Peng Joon). She started out in business as an “accidental” relationship coach after her marriage …
EP 256: New Breed: The “List Assist” Email Strategy Planner w/ Yara Golden Read More »
“Quit overthinking it. If you’ve done your research, just sit down and brain dump a sloppy first draft.” My mentor, John Carlton, would say this to me often when I was stressing over getting into “the writing part” of a copy project. He was right. It should be easy. I’d spent days or even weeks …
In This Episode I’m thrilled about this episode today because I get to jump all the way to Phase 7 of The Freelancers Journey Timeline and talk to you about more advanced business strategies and tactics. If you don’t know about the Freelancers Journey – it’s a simple 7-step roadmap to freelance success. It …
Spoiler alert: Yes, you can. I have proof that if a skill “is in you”, then all you need is a modicum of basic instruction to bring it to life. I’ve seen this, as I bet you have, with many different skills. Here’s the formula: Someone (maybe yourself) has a passing interest and a touch …
I’m headed to London for the first time next month, and I’m so damn excited that I decided to create a one-day-only COPY CONVERSION OPTIMIZATION WORKSHOP where I will work closely with a select group of marketers and teach them my method for… Pumping out a proven to convert sales letter in 60 minutes …
LIVE in London! 60-minute sales letter workshop – It’s happening April 10th Read More »
In This Episode Gary Goldstein became the producer of Pretty Woman and other Hollywood blockbusters by seeking to help the creative forces behind those films navigate the cut-throat world of the entertainment business. Through his decades in the wild world of show business, he has never stopped being a champion for creatives. …
EP 254: Wisdom Tree – Gary Goldstein Mega Hollywood Producer and Champion For Creatives Read More »
Later today (12:00 ET) my friend Tim Diering is teaching his unique system for harvesting Big Ideas in sales copy. Tim is not a “guru”, except to his clients, which are billion-dollar publishers in the most competitive niches. So, I can promise that today’s training from Tim will be unlike any you’ve seen before. It’s …
People are finally beginning to understand introverted behavior. Forever it was an “either/or” thing. But, “the great resignation” and the ability for some workers to discover how they operate best — usually AWAY from other people — even has the “big corporate work machine” mentality shifting a bit. They’re discovering what creatives have known all …
Revenge of the introvert (intimate chat with John Carlton) Read More »
In This Episode Could you tell your life story in ten minutes? It took me about 45 minutes, but the good folks over at Mirasee edited it down to ten minutes for an episode of their cool new podcast called Making It. I thought they did a really good job choosing the …
My daughter and I love going to the Saturday Morning Market here in St. Petersburg, Florida. Every visit is a new adventure in discovering the cool people doing cool stuff in our hometown. Stuff that’s easy to lose sight of behind the growing walls of shiny new shops and breweries that’ve come to dominate our …
In This Episode Colin Chung admits he is “terrible at small talk”, yet he cites “connecting with people and networking” as the #1 asset a freelancer can have in succeeding in business. In this deep diving Freelancer’s Journey episode, Colin reflects on the work, and the network, that has led to his Phase …
EP 252: Freelancer’s Journey: Colin Chung – “Safer than a real job.” Read More »
If you’re selling services as a freelancer, then you either have, will, or are currently, dealing with some issues that feel super daunting. A few of them are so hard they make you want to quit and go back to the jooooob 🙁 Like… Feeling stuck with low-paying clients who don’t “get” what you really …
In This Episode Copywriters face two hazards when writing ongoing content for clients, or themselves… Coming up with enough good ideas Connecting our ideas to relevant calendar events These usually happen in succession… In the early going you struggle to come up with ideas. Once the ideas start flowing, you almost can’t stop them, …
EP 251: New Breed: Copywriting publicity tactics with Selena Soo Read More »
I’ve been fascinated by motivation lately. (If I was a Millennial I’d say I am “OBSESSED” with it, and everything else I’m into, wherein the hyperbole would void the meaning of any genuine interest I have on the topic. So, not obsessed. Just fascinated.) Specifically… What makes us do some things – and feel great …
In This Episode There’s no avoiding the camera these days. From conference calls to Insta updates, your camera is how you stay present with your prospects, clients, and growing audience. But it isn’t just about how to stage your background or wear your hair… The way you speak and express yourself on camera …
EP 250: New Breed: Jen Gottlieb – Connecting Through The Camera Read More »
Once you learn the “basics” of a sales pitch it isn’t very hard to write an ad that sells. It’s so simple in fact that my best selling “stand-alone” product is a framework for fitting all ten of the elements on a single 4×6 index card. Combine that with a good product that solves a …
Here’s a lesser-known secret to success in the business world: Learn how to pick up the tab. Notice the wording there. Not, “be willing to pick up the tab”, but “learn HOW to pick up the tab”. Maybe you are a natural at this. If so, congratulations. Just like people with shampoo commercial hair or …
You got this? The right (and very wrong) way to pick up the tab. Read More »
In This Episode Carline Anglade-Cole is relentlessly honest. So, if you put your sales copy in front of her for review, you better be prepared for a lot of notes and no punches pulled. “Your copy sucks, you don’t,” is the loving warning shot she puts out before launching into the kind of …
EP 249: Wisdom Tree: Carline Anglade-Cole – “Your copy sucks, you don’t” Read More »
[Part 1 of this story is here] My thought as I sat in the far back of the small lounge while the host uttered my bloated credentials to the audience was… “I would pay anyone in this room every dollar to my name (about $65 at that time) to go up there and pretend to …
In This Episode In the trendy, fast-changing world of direct response marketing, staying consistent to your marketing beliefs can be difficult. But if the foundation of what you do is focused on OUTCOMES for your client, digging in and holding steady against the trends in a strong way to position yourself. Kev Kaye …
EP 248: Freelancer’s Journery: Kev Kaye “What you actually need is a growth strategy.” Read More »
“How’s that asshat landing all these great gigs!?” Maybe it’s okay to feel jealous. I mean… Yes, of course, social media is a human highlight reel with (very) questionable accuracy. Yes, it’s a waste of energy to “count other people’s money”. And yes, your time is better spent doing your thing instead of wishing you …
“How’s that a**hat landing all these great gigs!?” Read More »
In This Episode April Dykman has worn your shoes. She struggled up treacherous Mt. Freelance with just a pair of mittens and a pickaxe to start. Met some trusty guides along the way, and did ALL the work to become the independent (and in-demand!) business owner she is today, calling the shots and …
EP 247: New Breed: April Dykman – How to land (or lose) the gig Read More »
In This Episode Terri Trespicio is a creative force. A sharp-witted comedian, eloquent writer, trusted brand advisor, and world-renowned speaker with 7 million views on her TEDx talk. Her new book, Unfollow Your Passion: How To Create A Life that Matters To You is a category above the typical development book. Funny, challenging, …
EP 246: New Breed: Terri Trespicio – How to thrive inside your comfort zone Read More »
Life is going to throw all kinds of shit at us. That’s Life’s job. Like a mean, but well-meaning, older brother… It pushes our faces in the dirt often enough to make sure we learn our lessons along the way. So we can use the wisdom to do better. Learn. Grow. Adapt. And, ultimately, have …
There is no “one size fits all” path to freelancing success Read More »
In This Episode Let’s face it, launching a product is typically as stressful as launching a spacecraft… Lots of staring at screens with a sweaty brow and biting fingernails down to a bloody nub until it’s time to hit “go”… then you cross your fingers and pray everything works like it you hoped. …
EP 245: New Breed: Brenna McGowan – The no stress launch plan Read More »
Wow… Last week’s post about being “unemployable” really struck a chord. E Major if I had to name it. Thick, raw, bluesy. I appreciate all the replies. If you missed it, I wrote about all the “no resume” jobs I did after stand-up, waiting to find something new I could do to earn the money …
In This Episode As an entrepreneur or service provider your reputation is (by far) the most valuable asset you have. A good one will catapult you into the highest levels of opportunity, and a bad one will cost you dearly, often without even knowing the cause. So, how do you establish and protect …
EP 244: Coffee with Kev – 7 Reputation Boosters (and Killers) Read More »
When I quit stand-up comedy and got off the road, I was STUCK. Ten years of driving all over the United States, sleeping in dingy motels, and talking dirty to strangers for laughs was incredible fun. But, when it was time for me to pull off the road and find a new line of work… …
In This Episode Last week a copy chief member sent me a piece of sales copy to look at. It was 20 pages long. In a typical first draft copy review there’s something critical on the very first page that needs to be fixed, so I rarely get beyond that before sending over …
EP 243: New Breed: Craig Dave – Ramping up tension (and laughs) in your copy Read More »
I’m still buzzing from our big virtual event last week (Copy Chief Live). I was blown away at how close it FELT to our in-person events. Our community showed up in full, as usual, and brought the sessions and the conversations to the next level. Pondering all we covered in 3 days made me think …
In This Episode Today’s episode could save lives – no joke. Arthur Lih is my guest, he’s the inventor of LifeVac (lifevac.net), a simple, plunger-like device that has saved 160+ lives (70 of them children) since he invented it. His “reason why” story will break your heart, as will the many stories of …
EP 242: New Breed: Arthur Lih – The tricky business of saving lives Read More »
If you’re a copywriter, there are two types of leads you can get all day long with very little effort… The “lowest bidder” leads on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork where you’re forced to do a high volume of low dollar gigs. (The only way to “win” this game is by living in the …
In This Episode How does a high school gym teacher with dial-up internet end up starting, running, and being the face of multiple companies across vastly different niches, all without any formal business education or investors of any kind? By not overthinking it. Ryan Lee is a master of “ready, fire, aim” style entrepreneurship, …
EP 241: Wisdom Tree: Ryan Lee on reinventing your business without losing your way Read More »
A coaching student asked me: “How do I know when I’m working ‘too much?’” Good question, actually. The answer is personal… based on what we want – and need – at that time. However, this idea that we should all be “striving to achieve balance” is completely vague and, frankly, WRONG. As a non-conforming, cubicle-shunning, …
It’s no secret that a lot of copywriters who attend Copy Chief Live want to find new clients there. So why did one company become worried about their favorite copywriter attending this event? I’ll let Derek explain… “What happened was, they knew I was going to be at Copy Chief Live so basically that became …
His client was afraid he’d go to Copy Chief Live…See Why Read More »
I was recently on a Facebook live with special guests… master copywriter David Deutsch, uber-successful entrepreneur, Ryan Lee, and celebrity productivity expert, Adrienne Dorison… Watch the replay to get an actionable preview of the kind of tactics we’ll be sharing at the upcoming Freelancing Transformation Bootcamp in November. Over …
In This Episode Dropping services you no longer enjoy delivering is hard for freelancers. Especially when those services are in demand. It takes a giant leap of faith to believe that by creating that space, better things will come. Copy Chief Live guest expert Laura Belgray has made a career of creating wildly popular …
A few people have asked… “Why is Copy Chief Live all about freelancing this time?” Good question. Yes, I could have easily made the content for Copy Chief Live all about the “insider secrets” to writing “killer copy”. We certainly have the resources. In fact, several of this year’s speakers are considered the best in …
Copy Chief Live (the Freelancing Transformation Bootcamp) is all virtual this year, and one of the great benefits of that has been getting commitments from speakers who are typically hard to land because they… a) just don’t like traveling and/or speaking on stage, or b) charge tens of thousands when they do. Mike Michalowicz, who …
In This Episode Cole Schafer is a writer. And like a real writer, he bares his soul in his work. Including in his ad copy. Even his descriptions of cookies can make you feel challenged, amused… even annoyed. Something you’d expect at a live spoken word event, far more than a chocolate chip cookie …
EP 239: New Breed – Cole Schafer on being the man in the arena Read More »
This is a big question: When (if ever) is it a good time to sell all your time to a single client? First off, if you’re being offered this — well done! It means you’re kicking ass in a special way for a client, and they want all the ‘you’ they can get. That’s never …
Let’s be real.Freelancing is hard.Especially for creatives. We care – a lot. About the craft.About the client.About the audience. The thing that makes us great at what we do,is the same thing that can sabotage our careers. Our caring nature has our instincts working against us. We…Undercharge for our services.Overthink our specialties. Overwhelm ourselves trying …
In This Episode Dean Edelson was a stand-up comic working the NYC club scene with legends like Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David… then he started writing TV promos and movie scripts in Hollywood before getting into real estate investing where he realized he loved writing the stuff to sell properties more than selling properties. …
EP 238: Freelancer’s Journey – Dean Edelson, ClickFunnels Senior Copywriter Read More »
Rejection sucks. But if you think about it, how many times has it turned out to be a gift in disguise? One of the funkier jobs I held between comedy and copywriting was working the overnight shift at a haunted beach hotel. It’s called the Don CeSar. If you’ve ever been to St. Pete Beach, …
In This Episode If I could corral my on-the-go teenagers for three days of focused attention, these are the 3 things I would want them to know about how to work with great clients, from anywhere, on their own terms. I came to these 3 things by reviewing what the most successful freelancers in …
EP 237: Coffee With Kev – The 3 things I would teach my kids about freelancing Read More »
Have you ever wanted something desperately, but could not afford it, and thought… “What if I just asked them to give it to me?” There’s a good way and a really bad way to ask for something you want badly. And every year, I hear both versions from people who are eager to attend Copy …
In This Episode Best-selling author Mike Michalowicz (Profit First, Clockwork) has a new book about how to stand out in the deafening world of marketing noise. It’s called “Get Different” and it’s really good. “This isn’t about putting on a clown costume and making the ‘wonka, wonka’ sound,” Mike clarified to start the interview… …
EP 236: New Breed – Mike Michalowicz on how to Get Different (minus the clown shoes) Read More »
I’ve got two teenagers (15 and 17) who are preparing to take on the world, so I think a lot about what I can give them to make the journey ahead a little less treacherous. Sure, I welcome all the ass-kickings they surely will endure – and survive – because wisdom from experience is the …
Here’s what I’d teach my own kids about freelancing (3 things in 3 minutes)… Read More »
In This Episode Today I’m sharing a cool bit from one of my paid training sessions… It’s a way to take an ordinary review (or critique) and easily turn it into a piece of content that will instantly position you as a respected expert in your field. I call it R.E.A.C.H. content and I’m …
EP 235: Coffee With Kev – The R.E.A.C.H. content method Read More »
Tell me if this one rings a bell… You kick royal ass on a project for a client… You get paid on time (great). You get a virtual high five for your excellent work (cool). And a friendly “see you on the next one” to close out the deal. Ok, nice. Feels good. Everything went …
Is your client “fading” you? (how to know and what to do) Read More »
In This Episode Making the “big leap” is never an easy decision, and that’s why Claire knew if she didn’t make two of them (ending her stressful career AND marriage) simultaneously, she would likely put them off too long, or even forever. Today you’ll hear how Claire found the courage – and the path …
EP 234: Freelancer’s Journey: Claire Fernan – The Pharmacist Turned Copywriter Read More »
Here’s a bizarre story best told through video…It’s six minutes long, which I know is an eternity in the world of 8-second attention spans, but totally worth it if… You plan to have a career as a freelance copywriter… (Especially if you plan to focus on FB ad writing)… You want the world’s best tactic …
The best possible way to end a client relationship Read More »
In This Episode Sure Instagram is a visual platform… but if you’ve been overlooking the copy in your captions, then you’re missing the biggest conversion factor. Copywriter and prolific Instagrammer, Sammy Musgrave is back to explain how she’s using proven copy strategies for turning scrollers into subscribers. Listen to Copy Chief Radio #233 New …
EP 233: New Breed: Sammy Musgrave – Instagram Caption Copy That Converts Read More »
We’ve just opened up a very few spots in my Freelancer’s Journey Accelerator coaching program. Accelerator is my mid-level coaching program where twice a month I host a call and give you 1-1 advice and action plans for… Resolving tricky client issues Raising your fees Specializing your services Connecting with copy-centric companies looking to hire …
How to solve ANY freelancing problem in 10 mins or less Read More »
In This Episode Fractional CMOs are essentially a hybrid of Marketing Consultant (which nobody really wants) and Chief Marketing Officer (which many companies can’t afford or aren’t yet ready for). Whether or not you feel equipped to step into a company as their fractional CMO, today’s episode will expand your thinking about… – Positioning …
EP 232: New Breed: Casey Stanton on Fractional CMO-ing Read More »
It’s a really good question: “Hey Kevin, if you woke up tomorrow with nothing; no contacts, no experience, no idea how to get paid for writing copy… what would you do to kickstart your career?” I always like this question because it forces me to think back to when I still wore hair on my …
I just finished a call with one of the most in-demand freelancer’s I coach… He’s got a lot going on. Full roster of well-known clients where he primarily consults on, rather than writes, their ads. A suite of training products he sells consistently for thousands in passive monthly income. Paid workshops that fill to capacity every time …
The latest (and most ironic) trend in freelancing… Read More »
Today I’m going to show you a super cool (and crazy short) copywriting framework for… Getting super CLEAR on the big WHY behind your business Telling YOUR STORY in about 40 words This is the very framework that helps people like us give some purpose to our passion.It’s what helped a young, rebellious me move …
In This Episode One of the fastest ways to build a strong reputation for yourself as a freelancer is to create Authority Content by simply teaching what you’re learning. Csaba Borzasi (CH-aba Bor-za-SHE) has done an amazing job of this with his recent public challenge to break down 100 Legendary Sales Letters in 100 …
EP 231: Freelancer’s Journey: Csaba Borzasi – Growing Your Business By Showing Your Work Read More »
Last week a group of us were out at my favorite live music venue here in St. Pete… It’s the Hideaway Cafe, where we held our first ever X-Factor Extravaganza music and comedy show during Copy Chief Live! I love the Hideaway because it is specifically designed for listening to music (not talking over …
In This Episode Today I’m talking with Laura Lopuch who spent a gruelling three months sending cold emails into the silent void before she finally broke through and figured out why they weren’t working and what to do instead. The results were impressive: A quickly filling schedule of clients, her emails being forwarded to …
EP 230: New Breed: Laura Lopuch – Cold Outreach Email That Actually Work Read More »
This will sound strange coming from a guy who lives in Florida, but… I love the month of July. Yes, it’s stupid hot here. Not fit for humans, kind of hot. Yesterday I saw a lizard wearing a headband. It’s hot, okay? And there are mosquitos everywhere. Big ones. So big they serve you orange …
In This Episode At some point, every freelancer will face “The Leap.” That Leap can be a calculated choice from a position of safety – for instance, finally having the confidence to quit the “main job” and go freelance full time. Or it can look more like life giving you a swift and unexpected …
EP 229: Freelancers Journey: Angie Colee “Making the big leaps” Read More »
My daughter did a cool presentation for school on the concepts of Uniqueness and Vulnerability. Pretty deep, eh? We started brainstorming, her and I, and we realized that these concepts go hand-in-hand because… … you can only be truly unique when you are willing to be vulnerable. Makes sense, right? It’s one of those …
In This Episode The only thing worse than having boring sales messaging these days is trying to be entertaining and missing the mark. The fails aren’t just cringeworthy, they can cost you big – and at worst even sink the entire ship. So, it makes sense that most business owners avoid the risk of …
EP 228: New Breed: Adam Hunt is revolutionizing humor in marketing Read More »
When copywriters join the Copy Chief community, one thing we ask is: “Where does it hurt?” A lot of new copywriters tell us they “feel like a fraud” because it’s so hard to know if what you’re writing is good enough, and none of us can know until the ad goes live and buyers vote …
In This Episode “I hear stories about how horrible I was to people, and I say, ‘I’m sure that’s true, and I’m very sorry… but I have no recollection of it’.” If you’ve ever woken up after a wild night cringing because you can’t quite remember everything you did or said the night before, …
EP 227: Wisdom Tree – Chris Haddad, “My brain is a very frightening place” Read More »
How ‘bout a little look behind the curtain today? This’ll be revealing to you if… You love copywriting and freelancing… You consider yourself to be a natural teacher… You’ve thought of creating your own courses and products… Many freelancers do, over time. Others don’t. They prefer to hang behind the scenes and produce. Which is …
In This Episode Hey! It’s Sammy Musgrave here for Copy Chief, your comrade in freelancing and copywriting. Tell me… how did you feel when you found out direct response copywriting was a thing? At first, I thought the chances of “making it” were as likely as starring in the next Avengers movie alongside my …
EP 226: Coffee With Kev – Copywriting Crash Course During A Car Chase Movie Scene Read More »
In This Episode Addison Rice is on one hell of an adventure. His journey into copywriting started with a question… and a Negroni. “Hey, how would you go about making money with music online?” The answer sparked a conversation that moved Addison out of Phase 0 (searching for salvation) and catapulted him into Phase …
EP 225: Freelancer’s Journey: Addison Rice – His recipe for digital nomad freedom Read More »
A couple years into my freelance copywriting career, I was suffering from serious input overload. You know, that nagging feeling that even though you’re doing pretty good you’re constantly aware of how much better you could be doing…. and you really want to be there RIGHT NOW. It was messing up my mojo pretty bad, …
In This Episode When it comes to learning the absolute essentials of email copywriting… … the proven message frameworks… … the exact order of sequences, … the psychology behind every email you send (right down to the subject line), … and in what order and timeframe to send them… There is only ONE email copywriter I trust …
EP 224: New Breed: Elite Email Copywriting with Chris Orzechowski Read More »
About three years into hosting the copy chief community, I became “the guy who can hook you up with a great copywriter.” Like most “bat signal talents” (the thing you get recommended for), it wasn’t a calculated move — just something I was doing naturally because a LOT of business owners need copywriters and most …
In This Episode Marcella Allison is a copywriter of the highest calibre. Her controls dominate the most aggressively competitive markets like health and finance. If that was all she did, I could interview her endlessly on the topic of copywriting alone. But, she does SO much more than write amazing sales copy. Today we …
I have this friend who is a pretty famous book author. A couple of years ago in the thick of his book launch, he paid just under a hundred grand to a top social media influencer to promote his book to their audience of tens of millions of followers. That’s a lotta bread. But hey, …
The truth about email vs social for actual sales Read More »
In This Episode Landing your first few gigs as a freelancer can be an exhilarating combination of intense excitement and gnawing fear. It’s natural to be nervous… after all, you want to deliver great work your client will love… but there can be a whole new set of internal fears that come leaping forward …
The numbers are in, there are now over SEVEN MILLION copywriters calling themselves “email copy experts”… … and that’s just in the dating niche! (Ba-dam, tsss) There are a few million more self-titled “email wizards” now teaching super wizardly email tactics like… “writing as your dog”“spicing it up with memes” and “using whacky ‘from names’” Holy …
In This Episode “I have a confession to make… and I need your listeners to know this…” said Johnny when I asked a non-related question. His big confession was that he’d been “holding a microphone in front of his face” the entire interview, which covered his acclaimed Tedx talk, the wild financial ride of …
Did you ever hear the phrase: “Sometimes you just need to sell the damn thing”? I heard it from John Carlton… a phrase he and Gary Halbert used to say often when they were writing ads together. It’s a response to the idea that there are a million ways to talk about a product, and …
In This Episode There is magic in Laura Belgray’s writing. And she’s used it – with her email list specifically – to go from a TV Land promo writer, pumping out clever callbacks to Andy Griffith episodes… to running a seven-figure business from her couch. All with her words. The phrase, “I want to …
EP 220: Wisdom Tree – Showing up in your reader’s dreams with Laura Belgray Read More »
Here we are in the thick of Q2. Last year’s income staring you in the face as you prepare to meet that extended tax deadline. How’s everything coming together for good ‘ol 2021 so far? Did you get a running start down the path towards all the big opportunities you saw back in January? Or… …
In This Episode If your freelancing business is starting to feel like a sh*tty job… and, worst part?… YOU are the nasty boss! Demanding these long hours, the “working weekends”, and now that you’re thinking about it, the pay kind of sucks, too! Then, we feel you. Every successful freelancer we know has been …
If you’ve been freelancing for more than one year, there’s an important decision in front of you… “What do I want to be known for?” That’s the question Rachael Kraft had when she came into the 9th session of Real Free Life (“RFL” – my private coaching program for freelancers) a year and a half …
In This Episode Productivity expert Adrienne Dorison (RunLikeClockwork.com) is one of the experts I sought advice from last year when the pandemic poop hit the proverbial fan. Today we’re examining the changes that actually came from working in a year in lockdown. How are we working differently, which changes are here to stay, and …
Let’s not sugarcoat this. Pricing your services is the most daunting part of running a freelancer biz. For good reason. The simple act of telling another person how much money they need to hand you is inherently awkward. Just watch any small group of otherwise rational adults figure out who owes what on the dinner …
In This Episode Sammy Musgrave is a rule breaker. She discovered her love for copywriting before she even knew it was a thing – during a sales presentation workshop… “Looking back, it was all copywriting principles – and I LOVED it.” Against their warnings, she used what she learned in that presentation to update …
EP 217: Freelancer’s Journey – Sammy Musgrave, Going full time and loving it Read More »
Do you love April Fool’s Day? Have you been planning for weeks exactly when to drop the plastic spider from the ceiling above the toilet and phone-record a family member screaming half-pantsed down the hallway? That’s some Tik Tok gold right there! (forced segue alert…) But, ya know… One place it’s ALWAYS UNCOOL to try …
The “no outcome pending” method for making big connections Read More »
I recently taught my method for connecting with your customer avatar for the first time. This is essential to writing copy that FEELS personal to the reader. It’s part of the Mind Reader Copy Method we’re using in Copy Chief to very quickly dial into the person you’re writing your copy to when it’s time to …
In This Episode John Lee Dumas is the epitome of self-made success. He started his industry-shifting podcast, Entrepreneur on Fire to solve his own problem… “I’m 32 and I hate working for other people, but I have no idea how to make money on my own.” So he started asking the people who were …
EP 216: New Breed – John Lee Dumas’s Uncommon Path To Success Read More »
I recently joined a panel of the world’s best copywriters to honor Clayton Makepeace. It’s been a year since the industry was rocked by his untimely death soon after being hospitalized. His wife, Wendy, as always, was at his side as he passed. She then served as our “rock” by inspiring us with how she …
Hunger, Smarts, and _____ Clayton Makepeace’s 3 traits every copywriter needs Read More »
You may have heard whispers about my private coaching group called the Supergroup. We sometimes refer to it as a mastermind, but it’s very different from what that term has come to mean in our industry. This is not a “mastermind” where you’re paying to “belong”… maybe do a bit of networking, get occasional access …
In This Episode Like so many freelancers, Ross O’Lochlainn was waiting for “just the right time” to quit his job at an engineering firm and strike out on his own full time. Then “fate stepped in” and forced his hand. Dive into this in-depth review of how Ross has gone from nervous newbie (Phase …
So… today is my birthday!Aw, thanks. That means a lot coming from you. Not like those total strangers who DM you the same exact heartfelt happy birthday as the last 4 years… It started out kinda sh*tty when I woke up with a weird soreness in my left eye and what appears to be a …
In This Episode Frank McKinney is one of the most fascinating and inspiring people I’ve ever met. Considering I met him a few minutes before this interview started, that’s saying something. This dude defies common titles… He’s a real estate artist who’s designed and flipped 44 oceanfront homes at an average price of $14 …
If there’s one thing most freelancers want, it’s to work with high end clients. The hero’s journey of a freelancer starts out in the muddy pits of “I’ll take what I can get.” There’s a phase where we have to “prove the model” of getting paid as a freelancer and it’s filled with clients who, …
A coaching student asked me: “How do I know when I’m working ‘too much?’” Good question, actually. The answer is personal… based on what we want – and need – at that time. However, this idea that we should all be “striving to achieve balance” is completely vague and, frankly, WRONG. As a non-conforming, cubicle-shunning, …
In This Episode A raw and rarely shared “in the moment” recording of Kevin with his private coaching group of freelance copywriters. One member asked: “When was the moment that freelancing “clicked” for you?” I couldn’t resist sharing 3 key moments… The first was with the writing itself… the second with closing clients deals… …
There’s a problem freelancers face when it comes to personal productivity: Knowing how to use our time! It seems so elementary, but it’s understandable why we struggle with this. Because, as independents… No one teaches us how to manage our own projects, let alone which things will actually grow our business and which are a …
The “make or break” part of freelancing no one prepared you for Read More »
In This Episode If you’re an expert at what you do – and have some case studies to show for it – then it’s time to step up and get yourself featured as an expert… on major blogs, podcasts, and even glossy magazine publications and television. Problem is, most of us don’t know where …
EP 212: New Breed – The Copywriter’s Edge For Landing Publicity with Selena Soo Read More »
Is Clubhouse the next Periscope? It’s funny the choices we have to make these days about how to use our time… where to put our attention… who deserves our energy. Some people are eager to give it all away. They don’t think of it as a choice they can make for themselves. Instead they …
The #1 reason talented freelancers struggle to choose a direction Read More »
A member of Copy Chief posted a thread this week to say that they were feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. They didn’t understand why copywriting seemed to come easily to others, but felt like a cold slog through thick mud for them. They said they watch copy trainings but struggle to retain the information, and lack …
How (and when) to seek a personal copywriting mentor Read More »
In This Episode Freelance copywriting changed in some significant ways in 2020, and if you’re prepared, those changes play perfectly into your hands. Today, in an intimate “Coffee with Kev” episode, I’m detailing how businesses are working differently with freelancers in 2021. We’ve seen 5 major shifts in the marketplace, all spurned by the …
EP 211: Coffe With Kev – The New Reality of Freelance Copywriting in 2021 Read More »
I strongly believe every business owner should be their own first copywriter. No one else has the passion for the product, the market, or understands WHY you created a solution to a problem, like you do. But, at some point, it’s time to bring in a pro to take the writing of copy off your …
I’m not one to dwell on the negative aspects of marketing. You could spend all day there. And many people do. I’d rather be creating something better, wouldn’t you? It’s amazing that we have the power to choose exactly what we want our businesses to look and feel like to attract ONLY the people we …
In This Episode If it’s true, as Booker T. Washington says that, “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome” then Kelly Felix is living a very impressive life. Kelly is not only one of the best …
EP 210: Wisdom Tree – Kelly Felix – “I just knew I was going to die” Read More »
I recently told you about my first paid copywriting gig. How it came from a copywriting forum called The Copywriting Board (the same one I modeled Copy Chief after) and… … how I beat out other writers for the gig, even though I had ZERO real-world experience writing email copy. Those were the good parts. …
5 things you need to land your first copywriting gig Read More »
