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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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) …
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 …
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 »
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 …
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 …
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 …
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… …
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 »
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 »
In This Episode In the six years I’ve been coaching freelance copywriters, no one has blasted through the first 6 (of 7) Phases of the Freelancer’s Journey faster than Chris Orzechoski. Four years ago this guy was teaching high school and coaching wrestling, and now he’s running his own agency. Like, a real agency, …
EP 202: CCR Freelancer’s Journey – Chris Orzechowski – “Embrace the work” Read More »
In This Episode Carline’s new book, My Life As A 50+ Year-Old White Male is a rollicking ride through her life as a Haitian immigrant in the U.S., a colorful childhood with a tough love twist, becoming an A-List copywriter known as “queen of the control”, and raising children to understand the power of …
EP 201: CCR Wisdom Tree – Carline Anglade-Cole – The Copy Control Queen Read More »
In This Episode I was thinking about this journey we take to grow our freelance businesses… It’s a bold choice, right? Most people just would not choose like you did. But something in us makes it feel like independence is the only choice. I was thinking about you, and me, and the paths we …
In This Episode Ross was struggling to commit to making the leap to full time freelancer.He knew he wanted it. Believed he could manage it. But kept pushing his own deadline to make the leap out further.Then fate (and the Canadian government) stepped in and decided for him. Today on Copy Chief Radio, Ross …
As I write this, San Diego’s Comic Con just wrapped up. Fans were served tasty selections of their favorite fictional universes. Predictably, some offerings unleashed a flurry of geek-citement. But others ignited a firestorm of critiques. Cause few folks are as argumentative as fanboys. As a market, they’re sophisticated and very vocal. That’s why storytellers …
[Story Sells] How to Answer Customer Objections with the “Death Star” Solution Read More »
As freelance copywriters, we’re at this weird intersection between ‘creatives’ and ‘craftspeople’… Because our working practices need to draw from both areas. Creatively, copywriters must be sensitive to human emotions and highly empathetic… We have to be regularly inspired to create and develop ‘big ideas’ that resonate with people and help sell our clients’ products… …
When I feel stressed out at the end of the day, and I need to relax, I’ve got something better than single malt scotch. I tune in to an artist with a big ‘fro named Bob Ross, and step in his world of Happy Little Trees, in the Joy of Painting Series. (How’d he get …
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 »
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 »
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 loved watching SNL as a kid. My favorite player? Dana Carvey. You might remember some of his best characters … The very special Church Lady. The dependable Garth. And, of course, the fake George Herbert Walker Bush. Carvey’s impression of President Bush became so widespread, that the former president himself once did a …
[Story Sells] How Bush beats Obama in your sales stories Read More »
You will lose sales unless you hook your customer’s attention with the very first sentence. But what do you say? Well, to figure that out, let’s look at what not to do. And then just do the opposite. Captain Hook and his pals at Jake and the Neverland Pirates hold the treasure we seek. If …
[Story Sells] How to Capture Drifting Attention with the Captain “Hook” Rule Read More »
It’s one of the most notorious openings to any novel… Shocking, gruesome… …and so very, very vivid. From Stephen King’s epic 1986 tale, IT: “A small boy in a yellow slicker and red galoshes ran cheerfully along beside the newspaper boat. The rain had not stopped, but it was finally slackening. It tapped on the …
Stephen King’s IT And The Secret To Creating Emotion-Driven Copy That Converts 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 »
The latest Marvel blockbuster ‘Dr. Strange’ makes you believe in magic. To the tune of $653 million and counting. And one of the secrets of the believability is a little storytelling magic trick you may use in your next promotion. We live in the Golden Age of Fantasy Movies. From epic fantasies like Game of …
When I was in 5th grade, I woke up extra early on Halloween morning and took a seat in the makeup chair. My dad had a plane to catch in a few hours but before he did, he smothered grease paint on my face and glued three layers of fake fur, to transform me into …
[Story Sells] Quickly Grab a Prospect’s Attention with these “Werewolves” Read More »
In This Episode David Garfinkel is a living legend in copywriting. Also known as the “world’s best copywriting coach,” David works exclusively with seasoned copywriters and direct response companies. He’s the coach that modern day copywriters like Chris Haddad and Million Dollar Mike Morgan credit with their development. David also wrote two best-selling books …
Ep 87: David Garfinkel – Brainstorming Great Hooks 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 …
My buddy John, a veteran cop, got kicked out of his house recently. He’s a tough guy, but I’ve never seen him so down in the mouth. Things don’t look good. His old lady just accepted a job on the other side of the country. But John’s a fighter. So he decided to make one last try. He …
When I was a teenager, I stood in a long line to watch the first Jurassic Park. I had just read the novel in one big gulp and I was dying to see real dinosaurs on the screen. I wasn’t alone. The movie brought in over 1.02 billion dollars. Steven Spielberg, the director, knew how to tease …
There I am innocently perusing Facebook and then… woah! Good copy alert. Yes, I’m a nerd, buuuuuut… Check it: So I did what completely normal people do (right?)… and broke this down quick by asking 4 questions: What are they saying? Who are they speaking to? What is the voice? Does it work? 1. Why are …
Conterintuitive Copy – Why this company reveals how to make their product on your own Read More »
The Next Million Dollar Copywriter Live Hangout with Brian Kurtz and Kevin Rogers This epic live summit sought to help direct response copywriters and companies discover better ways to work together. Add your voice to the conversation using the comments section. Chat Log: [00:00:00 – chat] Kevin Rogers: Welcome! We will start in a few …
The Next Million Dollar Copywriter Live Hangout with Brian Kurtz and Kevin Rogers Read More »
In This Episode Brian Kurtz joins Kevin to discuss the controversy around how freelance copywriters and business owners work together. Brian’s recent article, The Next Million Dollar Copywriter, created a lot of talk in direct response circles about the problems with how companies have been hiring and compensating freelance copywriters. Companies want teams of full-timers …
Ep 54: Brian Kurtz – Becoming A Million Dollar Copywriter Read More »
In his book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, author Greg McKeown recalls his days as a first year law student in England. On a trip to the U.S., an executive mentioned casually, “If you decide to stay in America, you should come and join us on a consulting committee.” It wasn’t the offer that …
