In This Episode In this episode of Paid to Create, I sat down with Dave Munson, founder of Saddleback Leather and author of the new book They’ll Fight Over It When You’re Dead. Dave’s story is one of relentless curiosity, unwavering faith, and a passion for building things that matter. We got deep into how […]
EP 330: How Dave Munson Built Saddleback Leather on Faith, Grit, and Story Read More »
In This Episode In this episode, I handed the mic to Lolita Allgyer—our brilliant messaging and story strategist here at Copy Chief—for a deep dive into what makes story-driven copy land with real emotional punch. This was more than just an interview. Lolita came in with the mindset of a strategist working with a client
EP 329: Why Human Curiosity And Great Questions Will Never Be Replaced by AI Read More »
Did I tell you that I’m taking dance lessons? Right? It’s awkward AF. As an older white dude with tight hips, there’s extra work to be done. Not to mention that my instructor is a 25-yr-old dude who looks like Lenny Kravitz. But, I’m going to get good. I know this because… Even the frustrating
How to get good at anything (a simple process) Read More »
In This Episode In this powerhouse episode of Copy Chief Radio, Kevin Rogers chats with Daniella Wade—a strategic copywriter and entrepreneur from Trinidad and Tobago—about what it really takes to thrive as a freelance copywriter and what it’s like to land an elite in-house gig with Jeff Walker’s team at Internet Alchemy. Daniella shares her
In This Episode In this special Behind The Copy session, I’m joined by one of the most legendary and unfiltered voices in copywriting—Chris “Mr. Moneyfingers” Haddad. If you’ve ever wondered how someone turns emotional pain and dark humor into multi-million dollar sales letters… Chris holds nothing back. We go deep into the psychology of persuasion,
EP 327: Behind The Copy with Chris Haddad – “Manipulate Responsibly” Read More »
April 10, 2024 — My 21-year-old son Ben and I flew from Tampa to Detroit, on a trip loosely orbiting Jack White’s show at the Masonic Temple and the unspoken desire to mark time. What started as a shared love for music became something deeper. An unfolding adventure. A chance to see the world —
Third Man, Only Son (Four days in Detroit with Ben Rogers) Read More »
I won’t spoil the episode. Let’s just say there’s a scene in the latest White Lotus—Episode 7, Season 3—where a man gets what he wants not by pleading, not by pressuring… but by seeing someone clearly. Rick stops by Sritala’s table at breakfast. White linen tablecloths, soft clink of silverware, morning light cutting sideways across
How to use persuasion over pressure in selling (The White Lotus Effect) Read More »
In This Episode Most freelance copywriters are introverts—which makes the idea of networking feel about as natural as small talk at a corporate retreat (aka painful). But what if you could build powerful, career-changing relationships in a way that feels natural, rewarding, and even fun? That’s exactly what Selena Soo teaches in this episode. She’s
EP 326: Introvert’s Guide To Rich Relationships with Selena Soo Read More »
It usually hits in the morning. I’ll wake up in a fog—heart heavy, thoughts scrambled, like I just left a dream I can’t quite remember but still feel the weight of. That’s when the funk comes in. Not the feeling—the fix. Sometimes, it’s meditation. Sometimes, it’s stillness. But more often than not, it’s music that
When your groove is gone, get the funk out Read More »
I told you about that squirrel I’ve been feeding. Our relationship is deepening. It started with the consistent laying of shelled nuts on the outside window sill. The squirrel (sex unconfirmed, but I sense “he” so going with that) would appear in the window, “Yo! Where’re the nuts at?” I’d hold one out in my
Return of the squirrel Read More »
When it comes to personal style, I’m a big believer in the idea that a little effort goes a long way. Especially for men. Living in Florida magnifies this observation. Most dudes here—and let’s be real, most men anywhere—put minimal thought into how they present themselves. They’ll throw on a semi-clean shirt, slap on a
“I’m straight, but I appreciate the fit.” Read More »
I’ve been feeding a squirrel shelled peanuts outside my front window. Not on purpose at first, but once you start, you’re kind of in it. And I’ve noticed something. This little guy is stealthy. Before making a move, he scans the whole front yard, making sure no other squirrels—or anything else with a taste for
Bluebird vs. Squirrel Read More »
There’s a moment in the series Justified—pretty much once per episode—where Raylan Givens, a man who treats conflict resolution like a contact sport, gives some lowlife one last chance to reconsider their choices. It’s polite. Measured. Almost friendly. And then, about two seconds later, the guy’s on the floor, leaking. That’s Justified in a nutshell.
Copywriters are the anti-hero Read More »
In This Episode Peter Hoppenfeld and I dive headfirst into the state of marketing in 2025 and what it means for freelance copywriters like us. We’re talking about the major shifts happening right now, including how the FTC is tightening the reins on marketers, why bloated copy is losing its edge, and what it’s going
EP 325: New Rules For Digital Marketing 2025 with Peter Hoppenfeld Read More »
Let me take you inside a private dining room (the Sancho Panza dining room to be exact), in a famous restaurant in Tampa’s Ybor City called, The Columbia Restaurant, that opened in 1905. The historic room, and the restaurant itself, is worthy of several emails, but today we’ll focus on what was discussed in that
At Dinner with Copy Legends: The One Theme That Emerged Read More »
In This Episode In this episode, I sit down with Brian McCarthy, mindset coach and former copywriter, to break down imposter syndrome—one of the biggest roadblocks for freelancers. We discuss why so many copywriters struggle with self-doubt, how social media fuels insecurity, and why traditional advice like “push through it” doesn’t work. Brian shares actionable
EP 324: Crushing Imposter Syndrome for Freelance Copywriters with Brian McCarthy Read More »
In This Episode In this episode, I sat down with Dan Walker, son of Jeff Walker (product Launch Formula) and a seasoned leader at Internet Alchemy, to explore the intricacies of hiring top-tier copywriters through the innovative “Goods” process. We dove deep into the strategies behind finding copywriting talent that balances creativity, adaptability, and strategic
In This Episode In this thought-provoking episode of Copy Chief Radio, Kevin Rogers sits down with Eddie Shleyner, creator of “Very Good Copy,” to discuss the artistry, psychology, and daily practice of being a copywriter. Eddie shares the journey of writing his first book, the life lessons passed down from his grandmother, and how the
EP 322: Living Like a Copywriter: Craft, Creativity, and Control with Eddie Shleyner Read More »
In This Episode In this powerful episode of Copy Chief Radio, Kevin Rogers sits down with mindset master Jeremy Bellotti, founder of Personal Mastery®, to discuss the deeper levels of personal growth, high performance, and mastery. Jeremy takes listeners through the stages of personal development and how to move beyond survival-mode thinking to achieve sustainable
EP 321: “If It’s Hard, You’re Doing It Wrong: The Path to Mastery with Jeremy Bellotti” Read More »
In This Episode Being a writer is so much more than the words. John Carlton and I did a 25 episode podcast series together and the actual “writing of words” accounted for maybe a third of the conversation. The majority of the episodes were about the “living and thinking” behind the words. I’ve been pondering
EP 320: W.R.I.T.E N.O.W. framework with Kevin Rogers Read More »
In This Episode Daniel Throssell breaks down one of his most studied emails line-by-line in this rare look into the mind of one of the best copywriters in the game. As if Australia’s Best Copywriter revealing his most closely guarded “I dare you not to buy” email wizardry wasn’t enough, we held a bullet-writing contest
EP 319: Behind The Copy with Daniel Throssell Read More »
Everyone remembers their first paid gig. It changes you for good. No matter how big or little the pay, the fact that a person of reasonable intelligence has decided to send you money to perform your money skill for them… Wow. The moment you see that digital dough hit your account is the moment the
The Moment It Gets Real: How Your First Paid Gig Transforms Everything Read More »
In This Episode Lizzie Mills was just 20-yrs-old and a new mom when she joined Copy Chief as one of the first members through the door in 2014. She felt like the greenest copywriter in the place, but not for long. The veteran copywriters were more than happy to guide her and show her the
EP 318: Lizzie Mills builds a copywriting family business Read More »
In This Episode Live coaching session with Kevin Rogers giving you the Easy Fix on all aspects of the copywriting business. Resources Leave a review here – STITCHER | SPOTIFY | ITUNES | YOUTUBE Plus… whenever you’re ready: Become a member of Copy Chief here Join our program for new freelancers – Accelerator Place yourself on the Freelancer’s Journey Timeline Learn How
EP 317: Easy Fix with Kevin Rogers (June 2024) Read More »
“Back-up Singers.” Such a lacking title for people who play a vital instrument for the listener–and, more so, the artists they back. A better title would be, “Vocal Intensifier.” (Not nearly as fun to say though.) I’m listening to “Leonard Cohen: Live In London” now as I write. (He’s the guy who wrote “Hallelujah,” made
The Art of Leadership: What Leonard Cohen’s Back-Up Singers Teach Us Read More »
In This Episode Tom Hammaker’s life in copywriting took a radical turn last month when he was hired to become Rich Schefren’s copywriter. Better yet, Tom won the gig in a six-week competitive search against dozens of other copywriters – some with more than 20 years in the game. We called it “The Goods,” and
EP 316: How Tom became Rich Schefren’s new copywriter Read More »
The most powerful book I’ve consumed in the last decade is “The Middle Passage” by James Hollis. I’m on my second reading now. The simple premise is that, what most people refer to as a “crisis” in midlife, is actually a very natural, and quite necessary, transition. My friend Joe recommended it to me, almost
The Turn Within, thoughts on “The Middle Passage” by James Hollis Read More »
In This Episode Could there be connections between perfume and storytelling and writing? And what if the scents you love could help you tell stories as vivid as the most captivating novel? In this episode of Copy Chief Radio, we explore the captivating world of perfume and its unexpected parallels with the storytelling engineer-turned-perfumer Helida
EP 315: The Evocative Power of Scent and Story with Helida Dodd Read More »
It’s 4:10 A.M. and I’m pumping gas at a 7-11. A ratty truck rumbles up to the pumps. Inside is a lone man who looks to be about my age. His window is down. He backs up the truck to get a full view of me and says, “You shot homeboy, right?” This could go
Gas Station Encounter: Mistaken Identity at 4AM Read More »
As writers, we need fuel in the tank to spark the next 100 miles of inspiration. Summer is the perfect time for this. Days are longer, clothing shrinks, moods mellow – there are festivals, gatherings, barbecues, travel. Summer is the season of renewal. Families go on vacation. Kids go off to college. People move. Later
Refilling Your Creative Tank: How Summer Fuels Writers Read More »
In This Episode I recently took 25 copywriters through the process of landing a six-figure copywriting gig. The Grand Prize was becoming the primary copywriter for Rich Schefren and being Chiefed by Mark Ford! It was a one-of-kind experience (imagine Hunger Games for copywriters). Everyone survived, but no one is the same. Here’s what
EP 314: Coffee w/ Kev – Landing six-figure copy gigs Read More »
Have you ever been betrayed by a friend you trusted with a secret? Or… Have you ever been the one to leak a secret you promised to keep? Both feel devastating. If we’re either the victim or perpetrator of a secret not kept, hopefully it happens early in life so we have a chance to
How To Build Trust by Keeping Quiet Read More »
For ten years our slogan in Copy Chief has been: Nobody Writes Alone. Some people love it; others, not so much. The ones who take offense to it have a valid point, in that… Writing is PERSONAL. Sitting alone at the keyboard, the notebook, whatever, is YOU and YOUR IDEA. Writing, to me, is less
Alone Yet Connected: The Essence of Personal Writing Read More »
In This Episode How do you build a career or a team in the Era of Large Language Models and what happens to talent development when even the lowest intern needs full-stack CMO skills? In this episode of Copy Chief Radio, we’re going on a mind-bending ride with Aaron Winter, Founder of Dig.On, and
EP 313: The Minimum Is Everything with Aaron Winter Read More »
I’m binging the limited series Ripley on Netflix right now. Actually, the proper description would be “double-binging” since I watched 7 of 8 episodes last week. I couldn’t bear the thought of it ending, so I went back through and am now watching the same seven episodes AGAIN before finishing. (Also, because I had to
Ripley on Netflix: A Masterclass in Copywriting Techniques Read More »
Can I admit a guilty pleasure to you? Award shows. There, I said it. Oscars, Grammys, NFL Draft Day (broadcast live in the next room as I write this)… It’s not the achievements, per se, that give me the shot of dopamine… It’s the stories of perseverance I can’t resist. Yes, these award shows are
The ONE skill copywriters must develop So, last April 10th we held our one-day virtual event. I won’t recap what you missed if you weren’t there, but instead, give you… My one big takeaway from the day. This “one big thing” is what prevailed in my mind the most after four days of cooldown. Like
How to Connect with Copy Read More »
In This Episode What if instead of just focusing on bringing in new customers, you could take the people who said “yes” and get them to tell everybody they know that they love you? In this episode of Copy Chief Radio, we’re going behind the curtain with Jason Friedman, CEO of CX Formula. Today,
EP 312: Creating Unforgettable Customer Journeys with Jason Friedman Read More »
Yesterday was 4/20. You know, Weed Day. It got me reminiscing. I’ve had a long and complicated relationship with cannabis (“weed,” “grass,” “za”) since about the age of 13. I remember the first time I tried it. Some kid from the neighborhood turned me on. That good ol’ 80’s street weed. Pretty awesome. Just the
In This Episode Sara Estes had a secret. She’s pregnant with her first child and would need “an entire month off” for maternity leave. Why should that be a secret? Because Sara is a freelance copywriter and she was negotiating a long-term contract with a prospective client. Her maternity leave would come in the
EP 311: Getting clients to say “Yes!” w/Sara Estes Read More »
Last week my son, Ben, and I flew to Nashville to see the Black Crowes concert at the Opry House in Nashville. Before the show started, I’m walking towards the restroom when a guy jumped in front of me and spread his arms out wide. WTF? I’m not opposed to random hugs from strangers, but,
A reason, a season, or a lifetime Read More »
The first step towards getting what you want is to know what you want, and why you want it. Without the mighty “why” you will struggle to muster the motivation for going after it. And let’s forget about money for today. Money is but a resource. It comes and goes and flows in strange ways.
How to get what you want Read More »
I’m not being gratuitous here… When I say: To have writing in your life is a privilege. Writing makes life more meaningful. Writing makes us better humans. Writing keeps us sane. Don’t you agree? That moment you get a great idea, and any obligation in the way of giving that idea life suddenly feels like
In This Episode Today, we’re talking about how freelance copywriters can create partnerships with their clients because really, isn’t that why we’re doing this? If you’re actively working with a lot of clients, you always have those moments where it’s like, “Wow, they’re celebrating some really big numbers. And I wonder if I could
EP 310: Profit Partnerships w/ Chris Mason Read More »
Think about it… Is there anything more discombobulating than your first day at a new job? Your brain is redlined in logistics overdrive, fighting to process all the new instructions and advice: “Okay, restrooms are down the hall, but the better one is two floors up…” “The HR lady is a total bitch, find a
Two types of people in the world Read More »
“How much are you making per week working at the hotel?” I was sitting across from Charlie behind his desk inside a ramshackle office building in Pinellas Park, FL. A shithole, pass-through town of ragged stripmalls occupied by auto parts stores and tattoo parlors. The intersection of my old life in comedy, and whatever my
The offer I couldn’t refuse Read More »
My first real business mentor was a guy I never wanted to be friends with again. I had known him from stand-up. He was in our circle of local comics. We all ran pretty hard back then, but this dude (let’s call him “Charlie”) always took it too far. The one pushing coke… taking stupid
When the thing you want least – is the thing you need most. Read More »
In This Episode We’re in something of a crisis in copywriting right now. But, it’s not for the reasons you might think. Technology is not the issue. It’s actually the opposite… BARBARIANS. People who treat our proud craft like a biz-opp product and sell it like a “get rich quick” scheme. Today I’m sharing
EP 309: Coffee w/ Kev – Kevin Rogers is out to save copywriting Read More »
I’m into this new thing called “calling people on the phone.” It’s actually an old thing, but I just rediscovered it. Pretty wild! Here’s how it works… I look up someone’s phone number… Then I call it. Crazy, right? Sometimes I have these numbers in my contacts. Sometimes I find them in our membership files.
My mid-life crisis has arrived Read More »
Back in January when I asked you what you wanted to read more of in these Sunday Series emails… I was thrilled to see “the craft” ranked so highly. So, today, I want to deliver on that by digging into the technique I used in last week’s story “How to fight.” This was an ambitious
Let’s talk story technique Read More »
“Everybody circle up,” yelled Pete, the wiry, wild-eyed boxing instructor at Combat Fitness. “If I point at you, get on the mat. Three-minute rounds.” I stood awkwardly adjusting the tattered, sour-smelling headgear over my ears and scanned the other men in the circle. A full spectrum of ages and fitness levels, all with one common
At the corner of the street leading out of our neighborhood was a fighting gym called Combat Fitness. From the street, through the window, you could see a full size boxing ring inside and hardcore fighter types going in and out. I found it fascinating. Less than a mile away, in our cozy little housing
A “good dare” vs a “bad dare” Read More »
I was in the “shaving needs” aisle of a small grocery store when it hit me and I started FREAKING OUT. My nerves on end, adrenaline pumping relentlessly, my feet disconnected from the floor. I felt like a character in a Twilight Zone story where the world moves at half your speed. People at the
In This Episode No pressure, but the ONE job of your sales copy is to make strangers BELIEVE things they currently do not. And believe it strongly enough to pull out their wallets and buy what you’re selling. Words are only the vehicle, how you frame beliefs is everything. So, before you sit to
EP 307: Buyer Belief-Shifting with Stephen Hutson Read More »
“Are we sure January is the best time to go?” I was questioning Michelle in one of our countless discussions about moving our son, Ben, to Nashville. Then added, “Traveling in winter can get ugly fast.” “What!?” She exclaimed. “It hardly ever snows in Nashville! That is the LEAST of my worries.” Twenty-four years of
Writers thrive in the sh*tshow Read More »
“Oh, wow, 2:00 A.M.,” I mumbled to nobody in particular amongst the chatter, fits of laughter, and loud music of this spontaneous house party. “Time to call my Lyft.” My driver, Faizon, would be arriving nine minutes from now in a black Chevrolet Suburban. I made my round of goodbyes. A myriad of fistbumps, bro
My Lyft driver is lost Read More »
In This Episode So, it’s 2024 and you’re still a human. We’re off to a good start. Copywriting needs good humans. Today, I’m going to reveal the Top 3 Copywriting Categories for Freelancers in 2024. And also, the one place where your services are no longer needed. This is a session from the live
EP 306: Kevin Rogers & Rob Tillman – 3 Best Copywriting Categories for 2024 Read More »
Welcome to a new year, dear Sunday reader. To kick off, rather than dispense some semi-deep wisdom or big life perspective… I’d like to hear from you about what you WANT me to write about in these Sunday blogs. See, I regard these Sunday messages, and all the wise replies you send me through emails,
Whataya want from me? Read More »
I saw this image yesterday that will live in my mind forever. My twenty-year-old son, Ben, guitar bag over his left shoulder, amplifier hanging heavily from his right hand, brown hair flowing below his jacket collar, as he walks out the front door of our house into heavy rain. It’s an image I’ve seen countless
A way to say “goodbye” Read More »
I talked with a lot of people this week. People I know intimately. People I’m meeting for the first time. People I’ve seen around, but never really talked with before. All of them with vastly different circumstances. And one presiding issue at the forefront of their minds: FEAR. There’s so much to be afraid of.
What’s your secret ingredient? Read More »
In This Episode If you have a business you have a brand… The question is, was your brand created by design or default? Most freelancers and solopreneurs put too little thought into their brands, and end up confusing their audience and prospects. Today, branding experts Carlos and Brenda Citron will show you how to…
EP 305: One-Person Brand w/ Carlos and Brenda Citron Read More »
It’s Thursday and today there is just one call on my calendar. I’m talking to a guy I’ve messaged with sporadically in the past. But, in some ways, I feel I know him very, very well. Here’s what I know… He’s a copywriter. And he’s pretty good at it. Good enough to land two big
The worst mistake freelancers make Read More »
In This Episode What does it take to “make it” in business as a creative, and what does making it actually look like? That’s the central idea of this special episode of CCR for a series I’m calling, Paid To Create. A show that explores three phases of a career in creativity: THE CALLING,
EP 304: Paid To Create w/ TV Producer David Matthews Read More »
Hey, Everyone remembers their first paid gig. It changes you for good. No matter how big or little the pay, the fact that a person of reasonable intelligence has decided to send you money to perform your money skill for them… Wow. The moment you see that digital dough hit your account is the moment
first real copywriting gig… Read More »
There comes a time on this entrepreneurial journey when you will lose friends. When the spirit of what’s possible for you begins to drive your thoughts and actions, and all the things you used to think and talk about – the things your friends still think and talk about – suddenly feel trivial. Annoying, even.
So, about your friends… Read More »
Last Sunday’s email 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 my
All it takes to “make it” Read More »
In This Episode In this episode, you’ll pull up a chair next to me so I can walk you through my latest sales letter. This is the kind of “look over my shoulder” insight we rarely get to see in copywriting. I’ll share my process for… Coming up with the headlines and lead (and
EP 303: Coffee w/ Kev – Over My Shoulder Writing A Sales Page 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…
Think back. What’s the biggest risk you ever took in life? I wish you and I were sitting in a dimly lit bar right now so I could hear your answer. I bet it’s a killer story. The jukebox on autoplay at half volume, providing, in certain moments, the perfect soundtrack to your tales of
The risk you don’t regret Read More »
In This Episode Until now, the only one to hear this conversation was an AI note taker, and it was very impressed! Just look… The meeting was a conversation between Kevin Rogers and Nicholas Kusmich, discussing Kusmich’s personal and professional journey, including his upbringing in an immigrant family, his early calling to ministry, and
EP 302: Nicholas Kusmich – Kill Your Funnel Now Read More »
It’s November 5th here in the States, which is also the end of a ridiculously archaic thing we do called Daylight Saving Time, where in the spring we flip our clocks ahead an hour in an attempt to trick the sun into giving us more time to spend money every day. So, now, it’s time
Do this before you’re supposed to Read More »
Someone recently asked me, “What is your definition of ‘wealth’?” Good question. This was on a podcast, so maybe I was supposed to proffer how “true wealth” comes from things money can’t buy and yada yada. But, while we all know that’s true philosophically… it’s not how I answered. I talked about money. Because money
Maybe you CAN afford it… Read More »
“Can I see your ID, sir?” “Are you fking serious?” That’s how my day started at the “Copy Legends Lock-in” event Tuesday in Orlando. The “lock-in” was a one-day, invite-only mastermind hosted by Todd Brown, fulfilling a longtime dream of his to gather around a table with what he considers the “absolute royalty of Direct
In This Episode “How the hell did an interview about writing lead to THIS!?” said Marie at one point, throwing her hands up and her head back with laughter. I had a lot of questions or Marie since our last interview years ago, including her take on AI, longevity in business, and why she
EP 301: Marie Forleo “Write it rude” Read More »
Tina tends to get in her head about things. Sound familiar? Toiling over the unknowns we face as freelancers… What kind of copy should I specialize in? What if I’m not good enough for that? What if a prospect asks me a question using words that sound totally foreign to me? What if I’m exposed
“Even if it scares you” Read More »
(Part 1 is here) I arrived at the restaurant in Anna Maria Island to find my Uncle Jerry waiting for me at an outdoor table. The air was cooler than usual, swirling gently in a steady breeze from the Gulf. Jerry wore a blue windbreaker over a white Polo and pleated khakis… his permanently side-combed
Despite your upbringing (Part 2) Read More »
In This Episode Fresh off a year-long hiatus, John is introspective and fiery as ever in this sprawling interview that covers his wildest personal adventures, his take on AI as a writing partner, and his best advice for anyone who wants to be a top copywriter. John also shares the “one regret” that would
EP 300: John Carlton: “My only regret…” Read More »
When I quit comedy I needed a fresh start. As you may recall from my fateful chat with Mrs. Kravitz in Los Angeles, at the end of my stand-up journey, I didn’t know what I wanted next, so I was starting with what I didn’t want. I no longer wanted the grueling uncertainty of success
Despite your upbringing (Part 1) Read More »
“Wait… is that an actual suggestion, or is this some sort of metaphor?” My brain wasn’t comprehending what my therapist, Nick, was telling me. “Just for three months to see what happens,” Nick replied. “Absolutely not,” I said tersely. “I am not up for that.” Up until this point, in nearly six months of sessions
In This Episode You may have heard me obsessing about the Enneagram. It’s an insightful tool for understanding what drives your thinking and behavior. Super important to know as a copywriter and business owner. My guest today, Debbie Owen, is an Enneagram coach who has taken things to another level by incorporating neuro-science into
EP 299: Self-awareness for the win with Debbie Owen Read More »
Get this… It’s Thursday of last week. I have, essentially ONE thing on my calendar: “Podcast Recording – Marie Forleo 4:30” You should know… I friggin’ LOVE Marie Forleo! I could take up the next three pages listing all the reasons I admire her and what she’s built through MarieTV, B School, Copy Cure, her
After a stand-up show in downtown Chicago one night… A clean cut, middle-aged guy came rushing over to a long-haired, 22-year old me, pumped my hand enthusiastically and said… “Man, I loved your pot jokes. You’d be PERFECT for an event I’m hosting next month at the Tennis Club. How much do you charge for
In This Episode There’s no getting around it, these days you need to be seen and HEARD by your clients and customers. Susan Berkley is a world-renowned vocal trainer. She helps speakers, executives, and every other kind of influencer on how to use vocal inflections to move past nerves and persuade their audiences. In
EP 298: Susan Berkley on shifting your human voice for influence Read More »
Fate is a fickle thing. Do you ever sit back and wonder how different life would be if you’d made other choices? It could be a small thing, like the time you passed on seeing Miles Davis in concert a month before he died (just me?). Or a huge thing, like marrying the wrong person,
Beyond your control? Read More »
In This Episode “Good copy in the wrong voice is not good copy.” – Justin Blackman Wanna know how to stay indispensable as a copywriter? Learn to master copy voice. AI currently sucks at it. Every brand and guru who hires cares about it – A LOT! And, the more people start using machine-generated
EP 297: Justin Blackman – Next level copy voice Read More »
About a year ago my wife and I decided we wanted to get our first tattoos. Who knows why. Probably something to do with being at a place in life where we’re getting back to our independence. The kids are pretty much grown. We often have weekends to ourselves. Spending languid Saturdays with a heavy
Tell me about your tattoo Read More »
The thing I remember most about that basement is the waterbed. I was probably six when it happened. So, 1976. My parents always partied with their friends on weekends. Or, so it seems in my memory. Us kids would be shooed into a bedroom or a basement, tucked away from the dirty words and pot
No one knows what it’s like Read More »
In This Episode If you’ve been serving clients as a freelancer for a year or more and feel like nobody knows your name… today I want to help you fix that. I’ll tell you how I became an “accidental” specialist when I was freelancing, and how it boosted my client rates from $10k to
EP 296: Coffee w/Kev – Yes, you really must specialize. Read More »
There are certain skills in life that require us to lean into discomfort. Having difficult conversations is right there at the top. It was for me, at least. Maybe, you too? Some people seem to find it easy to say EXACTLY what’s on their mind. They have no issue with “coming off like an asshole”
Difficult conversations Read More »
In This Episode For my money, there is no better, or more entertaining, email copywriter in the game right now than Daniel Throssell. In fact, he recently TOOK MY MONEY after declaring “war” on me to promote my own course (Escape Velocity) to his list. AND, he did it in less than 48 hours!
EP 295: How Daniel Throssell declared war on me, and won! Read More »
There was a moment sitting in my therapist’s office when things “clicked.” Where I suddenly understood what motivates me – intrinsically. And why the things that are supposed to be motivating do nothing for me at all. The moment made me think of how super-rich people love to reveal that, “Money won’t make you happy.”
Trusting your instincts Read More »
My therapist, Nick, laid out two academic books on the far end of the coffee table before him. “This one on the right is the guide we use for diagnosing disorders,” he explained. “The one on the left is where we identify the healthiest version of someone’s psychological traits.” Then added, “Think of it as
My private therapy “breakthrough” Read More »
In This Episode As creative freelancers, selling ourselves and our services feels unnatural. But, it’s a critical part of the gig. There’s no getting around it. So, I decided to interview a licensed psychotherapist to find out… Why do creatives have mental blocks around selling? What can we do to remove the mental stress
EP 294: Stress-Free Selling with Psychotherapist, Leah Benson Read More »
My friend Jim knows a stunning amount of super famous people. Like, really knows them. Major celebrities, business moguls, even presidents. He told me something about Bill Clinton once that really struck me. He said, “He has an amazing presence because he’s amazingly present.” You know, that whole “makes you feel like you’re the only
Presence over personality Read More »
So, check this out… I’ve been seeing a therapist. How long, you ask? Hang on, let me check Zelle. Started back in April. Why, you ask? Goodness, aren’t you inquisitive. I’ll keep that to myself – for now. But I will share some things I’ve been surprised to learn. About me – and maybe you,
I’m seeing a therapist Read More »
In This Episode The realization hit me like a brick to the noggin’… “Teachers make great copywriters for the same reason comedians and musicians do… they spend a lot of time interacting with a live audience.” I’ve seen the pattern for years in Copy Chief; former teachers getting very good, very fast, as copywriters
EP 293: Why Teachers Make Great Copywriters w/Tania Yeo Read More »
“Use all that energy on something good, because you won’t always have it.” My stepdad, Scotty, told me that once. I was probably nineteen or twenty at the time… Driving all over the country, telling my jokes, stopping in at his and my mom’s place occasionally to refuel and pick up mail. I sort of
Took me a while to get this Read More »
Wanna hear my new definition of good copywriting? I have to warn you… It might screw with your current perception. So you can say “no.” I won’t be offended. You sure? Okay. You asked for it. Here we go. Good copywriting is… A Two-Way Conversation Driven By One Side You feel me? Is that resonating?
The definition of good copywriting Read More »
A few weeks ago I had a spat with one of my competitors. I can’t go into the details without exposing who it is and what it was about. Which would distract from the lesson I’m out to share here. The details are trivial anyway. What matters is the way it went down. When somebody
Things you do in private Read More »
In This Episode Here’s ONE thing everyone in the copywriting industry can agree on (probably the only one)… The best copywriters in the world write in the financial niche. I could list a dozen reasons why that is, but you likely know them already. It really comes down to the fact that… Financial is
EP 292: The secret side-door into financial copywriting w/ Joshua Lee Henry Read More »
My dad is 75 and suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. But, that’s not why I forgave him. I spent years being angry with my dad. For not believing in me. For not encouraging me. For not listening to me. When I was young and needed it most. I remember when I first started doing road gigs…
Don’t listen to your father Read More »
In This Episode “I went into a [yearlong] spiral trying to rewrite this thing.” Writing a “book, book” is not for the faint of heart. As writers with lists, we wake up, think of something worthy of sharing, do our best to make it valuable and entertaining, and ship it an hour or two
EP 291: Wisdom Tree: Laura Belgray on writing, and selling, Tough Titties Read More »
In the mid 90’s Warner Robins, Georgia was not the part of the state that swings elections. It was the part that makes you drive behind farm equipment on the highway. Where the “good” restaurant is a giant buffet of processed food items simmering in square tins, the dress code is coveralls, and there are
The night I quit comedy Read More »
“I’d love to hire you, but I just can’t afford your price.” “I’d love to work with you, but I just can’t wait for your next opening.” “This all looks great, but you’re a bit out of my league.” Hearing these phrases from good prospects is music to a freelancer’s ears. I call them, “a
In This Episode Here’s something it took me far too long to figure out as a freelancer… How to “wow” my clients through the whole project? As copywriters, we work on different schedules than most people, and it’s easy to get lost in our creative bubbles. Little things we can do for our clients,
EP 290: New Breed: Ben McLellan on “Wowing” Your Clients Read More »
One of the greatest challenges for freelancers is creating “the bubble.” The impenetrable little cocoon of sanctity where you do your thinking, your writing, your creating… the stuff people are actually paying you for. All the other “functional” stuff we must do for our businesses; the marketing, the billing, the communicating… doesn’t require the same
Your writing bubble Read More »
This is a picture of my daughter a quiz in her forensic science class… This year, as a junior in high school, she started attending school virtually. It’s the first time in her life that she was free to do her work in the way that works best for her. She has all A’s and
In This Episode How short can you write a great story? Sue Rice calls them “tiny thunder” and they’re incredibly effective at winning attention and compelling your reader to action. Sue and I sat down to discuss her new book, Tiny Thunder (I couldn’t put it down), the power of metaphorical stories, and how
EP 289: New Breed: Sue Rice brings the Tiny Thunder Read More »
“I’m negotiating with the airport. They want five grand. I told them $3,500.” It was around 10 p.m. on a Friday night after the final day of the Creative Machines event here in St. Petersburg, FL. About twenty of us were gathered in my favorite local bar, The Scott, in the lobby of a quaint
Only in real life does this happen… Read More »
Kim Krause Schwalm walked past me and said, “I’m sorry you have to follow that.” The audio guy was running a mic cable down the back of my shirt to wire me up. Sam Woods was wrapping up his Q&A with Brian Kurtz, which was running 20 minutes over, after Sam’s hour-long talk. The room
In This Episode The only way writers and creatives like us will stay ahead of AI is to create things with MEANING. Today I’m sharing a talk I gave a couple of weeks ago at Brian Kurtz’s Titans Mastermind. The room of about 50 people was packed with heavy hitters, like Jay Abraham, Joe
EP 288: Coffee with Kev: Copy with MEANING (Titan’s talk 2023) Read More »
“This is shit. Write it again.” It was John’s very first day working under Gary. He’d accepted Gary’s invitation to give up his current clients and spend a year living in L.A. to become his apprentice. John had quickly established himself as a hot hand on the copy scene and had no problem landing projects
When John met Gary Read More »
Three times in my life I’ve packed everything I could fit into the trunk of a used, four-door sedan and relocated thousands of miles from home. Twice towards a place, and once, away from it. The away was Los Angeles. I’ll never forget pointing the hood of my Oldsmobile East and watching that smog pit
In This Episode “Were you ever a copywriter?” I had to ask Jason this in the middle of our interview because I rarely hear anyone but us talk so deeply about the levels of customer awareness. Jason is a funnel fixer and marketing consultant for some very high-level coaches and business advisors. He’s created
EP 287: New Breed: Jason Van Orden – The Customer Awareness Spectrum Read More »
I like to call traveling “the great equalizer.” Because when you pack a bag, kiss your family, scratch your dog behind the ears, and leave your safe and predictable nest of a home, anything can happen. Especially when you’re flying. There’s a significant price difference between first class and coach, and sure, people in first
You’ll never be the same Read More »
What’s the last thing a redneck says before he dies? “Hey, y’all, watch this!” – One time my wife and I were at a Lucinda Williams concert at Jannus Live here in St. Pete. It’s an outdoor venue. Holds a couple thousand. Bars line the perimeter. Jam-packed in the middle, where the sound is best.
In This Episode Kelly Brown was working at a bank and had never heard of copywriting before getting hired at Stansberry Research, where she learned directly from Mike Palmer, and is currently the Copy Chief. Now, Kelly and the team are looking to bring on 5 new copywriters through a bootcamp they’re hosting on
EP 286: New Breed: Kelly Brown – Stansberry is Hiring Copywriters! Read More »
A phrase my friend, John Carlton, said to me once has stayed with me for years… “You earn the big bucks for making the hard calls.” It was during my freelancing years and I was stressed about which way to go with a lead. “The client wants me to make the call. There’s no room
Hard calls = big bucks Read More »
When I was a skinny, punk-ass 16 year-old… My step-dad, Scotty, ran a construction crew building new homes in Tampa. He was a tough-as-nails, but fun-to-be-around guy (picture Walter White and Jeff Spicoli merged as one) who had one rule on the job site: Never get outworked. That summer, rather than sit around broke watching
In This Episode One of the most challenging elements of launching a product is getting your audience EXCITED for it. Why do people line up for the new iPhone release? How did Taylor Swift “break the internet” in pre-sale for her latest tour? Sure, they both have massive legions of raving fans, but there’s
EP 285: New Breed: The Art of Anticipation Marketing Read More »
Timestamps: 1:00 Meet two great thinkers of the new AI copywriting world 7:00 Why copywriters are so afraid of GPT (and the pro writers’ secret to staying sane) 15:00 How to stay ahead of the curve as GPT4 takes the world by storm 30:00 Step-by-step tips for using ChatGPT in your copywriting process 35:00 Why
In a world where people are trained to share every mundane detail of their lives just to feel relevant. Where every trip to the ER, passing of a grandparent, or dog in a cast is milked like an almond for heart squeeze emojis… Where every beachy sunset, greasy cheeseburger, and spontaneous shoe purchase has people
The 8-word sentence you should never say Read More »
You can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle the restroom door in a public place. Not the multi-unit kind, but the SOLO public bathroom. Solo public bathrooms are the best. I’ll gladly wait for one to open up so I can be alone in there, rather than wedge in next
In This Episode Henry Bingaman operated at the highest possible levels of direct response copywriting for nearly 20 years… Working alongside Jedd Canty (one the greatest innovators in the industry) and Mike Ward at Money Map Press, he consistently produced the highest converting “winners” in the toughest game there – financial copywriting. If you’re
EP 284: Wisdom Tree: Henry Bingaman “The threat of the cage” Read More »
The truth about marketing, which very few people will admit, is that you never know what is going to work. True marketing teams comprise a gaggle of experts. Experts in predictive data. Experts in funnel design. Experts in messaging. All making their most educated guesses at which angles, hooks, and prices will click in place
It’s 11:13 pm and my son, Ben, is in his room practicing the solo to Crazy Train, over and over (and over) again. I was 10 when that song came out. Ten years later I was on the road full-time, performing stand-up comedy. (Killing time between shows c.1990) Ben is 19 now. His dream is
My son is living my same life Read More »
In This Episode If you’re a freelancer, or biz owner hiring freelance copywriters, this is a MUST listen because you will learn, from a client’s point of view, what matters most when hiring a full-time copywriter. In this episode we cover… For Freelancers: How to tell a great opportunity from a potential hell gig…
EP 283: Freelancer’s Journey: How to instantly become the #1 choice for a great client Read More »
“Chris Rock is headlining next week, do you want to feature for him?” I really didn’t. But, of course, I said “sure” because… money. This was around 1994 and Chris Rock’s reputation among comics was not good. Not that he was a bad guy or anything; he just wasn’t funny. For some reason though, Eddie
My week with Chris Rock Read More »
I’m not the classic definition of a “car guy.” Meaning I can’t tell you the specs on every car that passes by, like some people can. But I love the cars I love. My friend Lou is the ultimate car guy. He’s also one of the greatest raconteurs you’ll ever meet. Driving around with Lou
What are you driving these days? Read More »
In This Episode Brian McCarthy was burned out on writing copy for clients. It figured it must be a mindset issue, so he did a lot of work with personal development coaches to get to the root of it. What he discovered was that what he really loved was helping other people get over
EP 282: New Breed: Brian McCarthy on ending procrastination Read More »
Here’s a casual Sunday topic for you… What’s your take on life with technology these days? Is it advancing us? Or has it already left us dead as a society? Take your time, and get back to me. Meanwhile, here’s my take… I think the spot where having these life-changing tech advancements… … combined with
Are you playing with it? Read More »
Writers are “moody” people. If you’re not a moody person, get out of the business now! Kidding! (Sort of.) A question I get asked a lot by business types is: Why are copywriters so friggin’ weird? I stumbled on a quote from an interview in CREEM magazine that shed light on why we’re so friggin’
What to do when the words won’t come Read More »
In This Episode Ryan Schwartz is one of the most unconventional copywriters I’ve ever met. From cubicle hell (and praying to get laid off), to optioning screenplays, to writing a book on the challenges and revelations of breadwinning, relationships, and fatherhood (dropping in May ‘23)… and many impressive traditional copy projects along the way…
EP 281: Freelancer’s Journey: Ryan Schwartz on the magic of acting on instinct Read More »
I must have been around 27. Living in a shared second-story apartment with my buddy, Chad, in the heart of the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago. If you’ve ever seen the movie High Fidelity with Jack Black, that was Wicker Park in the 90s. Hip, gritty, a block from “dangerous” in any direction. I was
The power of curiosity in storytelling Read More »
As copywriters, we are a nation of introverts. Let’s be clear that the extent of my psychology degree is a messy pile of ¼ read books on the topic… (we’re also rather prone to attention deficit issues) I’m pulling this not just from my ass, but equally from my 17 years of experience coercing and
How shy is “too shy”? Read More »
In This Episode Carolynn Ananian did a lot of “bouncing around” as a freelance copywriter before falling in love with financial copywriting and landing her current “Dream Job” at Stansberry Research. Carolynn started out (as most of us do) as a “Path 1”, doing all the jobs to run and grow a freelance copywriting
EP 280: Freelancer’s Journey: Carolynn Ananian – Adventures of a “Path 2” copywriter Read More »
There’s an irony behind the slogan we’ve used in the Copy Chief community since 2014: “Nobody Writes Alone” The irony is more profound in the recent wake of machine learning tools that have tsunami-waved into writers’ lives. Fact is, the ability to “write alone” is a sacred ability, and is now more critical to the
In This Episode The robots have arrived! I’ve been saying this for two years now, but most people shrugged it off as a “someday” problem. Now, “SOMEDAY” IS HERE. Of course, all the overnight experts are parachuting from the sky dressed up in their “special forces” costumes to save the day and cash in
In This Episode I started doing stand-up when I was 18 and was on the road full-time by the age of 20, so aside from a few short-lived stints washing dishes and detailing cars, when I left comedy and needed work, I had NOTHING to put on a resume. And no amount of creative
EP 278: CWK: My bizarre path to copywriting Read More »
How’s your head? Is it wrecked from too much bottom-shelf champaign? Numb from hours of obnoxious people blowing plastic noisemakers into your ear? (When I was a comic, some clubs would pass those things out to the new year’s crowd on the way IN to the show! Nightmare. How do you combat getting heckled by
One of my former coaching students, who is now the copy chief at a high-volume agency reached out to me last week to show me the rating system her company created for evaluating members of their copy team. She shared this with me because they hire their writers from Copy Chief, so she knew it
How you’ll be judged as a copywriter Read More »
In This Episode On the surface, the idea of “thinking big” sounds a bit vague. It’s bound to mean different things to different people based on their current view of reality. So, I pressed Jon on the idea of “thinking big” since that’s how he frames his big promise as a business coach. He
EP 277: Wisdom Tree: Jon Dwoskin on what it means to think big Read More »
In This Episode How do you define a “dream client”? If you said, “someone willing to pay me”, we need to talk 🙂 After 12 years of freelancing, and eight years of recruiting copywriters for all kinds of companies, I’ve learned (all too well) what to look for – and what to avoid –
EP 276: CWK: What is a “dream client”? Read More »
If you’re feeling nervous about ChatGPT taking all the copywriting jobs… let me help you with that. As I mentioned in my IG reel on Monday, writing words is actually the THIRD job of a copywriter. And yes, someday a bot will be able to replace low-level copywriters who just want to get paid to
5 ways to stay ahead of AI as a copywriter Read More »
In This Episode Ever freak out over giving a prospect your price? There’s more to it than “nerves”. It’s likely some deep-rooted societal programming from your childhood. Sounds kinda worse than you thought when I put it that way – lol. But, it’s actually good news, because when you recognize what’s at the root
EP 275: New Breed: Patty Lennon – Receiving What You’re Worth Read More »
Most days I’m content to look the other way at the filth I see being slung around our industry. Not that it doesn’t make me curse at my screen – it does. It’s just that you gotta choose where to put your energy, and I choose to put it into the people who’ve already trusted
I’m going off on the LIARS today Read More »
In This Episode When Tania Yeo 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
When I started my copywriting career after 10 years as a (broke ass) stand-up comic, I was nervous and insecure about “selling myself”. I charged way too little for way too long. Like most of us, I pinballed around trying to learn every tactic I read about, thinking that I had to figure out everything
The five words that changed my life Read More »
In This Episode What do you do when your personal beliefs are at odds with your copywriting projects? The conflict is real. There are choices to be made. Jamie Ryder was feeling that, so he took his personal life philosophy of Stoicism into his work as a copywriter. The results have been revolutionary, for
EP 273: New Breed: Jamie Ryder – Aligning your personal philosophy with your copywriting Read More »
Today we wrapped up the final training in our groundbreaking World of Financial Copywriting course. If you haven’t heard of it yet – you will soon. See, the incredible thing about having a community like Copy Chief is it allows us to develop training in real-time, for the benefit of our members, then take the
Dig the well before you get thirsty Read More »
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 Brandon Roe was a self-described “outcast nerd” throughout his childhood. So, he became fascinated with the psychology around what makes some people part of the “in crowd” and others relegated to being “out”. At first, he wanted to figure out how to switch camps and become more popular… Then, around the
EP 272: New Breed: Brandon Roe on Decoding Consumer Psychology Read More »
Think you don’t have enough “powerful” stories to tell in your emails and social content? My friend Laura Belgray (founder of Talking Shrimp, co-creator of The Copy Cure with Marie Forleo) has built a 7-figure brand on the power of personal, every day, “mundane” stories: running for a tight connecting flight at the airport, forgetting
Struggling with story ideas? Read More »
A week goes by fast. Here we are staring into the final two months of 2022. If this year hasn’t lived up to your expectations, I want to show you how one week can change everything. I’m offering (until this Tuesday, Nov 8th) a chance for you to spend a week diving into everything inside
By this time next week… Read More »
In This Episode It took Kyle Jordan two years to find his edge in copywriting. And he was pissed at me about it. Here’s what he wrote to me: Hey Kevin, Two years and one month ago, I graduated from RFL 10. And to be honest with you, when I finished your program… I
EP 271: New Breed: Kyle Jordan – How to explode a famous athlete’s email list Read More »
Look, I understand… The idea behind the popular advice to hand-copy famous sales letters is that rote repeating the words on paper will magically implant the ability to write great copy into your brain. People love to point to a quote by Hunter S. Thompson about how he would hand-copy passages from Hemmingway novels just
Stop hand-copying sales letters Read More »
Have you seen that meme about a $500 vs $50,000 client? The note from the $500 client says: “I just feel as though with this investment I’m about to make in you, that we should understand how our lives are about to change. I need results and you need to bring them. I am entrusting
Higher fees = Less Stress Read More »
In This Episode The most organic way to “show your work” as a freelance copywriter is to simply teach what you’re learning. That’s exactly what I did when I started my first blog (The Copywriter’s Edge) back in the day. Teaching what you’re learning is a great way to “find your voice” as an
EP 270: New Breed: Eddie Shleyner’s “Very Good Copy” Read More »
Let’s get some action today… This is my favorite two-sentence framework for telling a great business story. You can use this for your services, or for a client. It works like magic for… Getting super CLEAR on the big WHY behind your business Telling YOUR STORY in about 40 words If I was the clever
These two sentences can change lives Read More »
It’s easy to assume that savvy marketers who make a lot of sales have tight funnels. I can tell you, THEY DON’T. I’m not throwing shade on them, though. As a freelance copywriter turned business owner I totally get why these gaps in their marketing game exist. With so many moving parts it’s easy to
These marketers NEED your help Read More »
In This Episode Brand advertising often feels like a foreign world to Direct Response marketers. But, they are far more aligned than we think, and that trend will only continue. The big pockets publishers now focus way more effort on video platforms (VSLs, Social Media ads) than on long-form text-only platforms… and building brands
EP 269: New Breed: Gary Kopervas – How Big Brands Tell Great Stories Read More »
Nothing gets the laughs started with a group of copywriters than talking about our worst jobs before copywriting. We’ve all had ‘em, and they all sucked. I had a number of “no resume” jobs after retiring from stand-up comedy while I was searching desperately to find something new I could do to earn the money
Nobody makes it in copywriting without THIS… Read More »
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
This guy CALLED ME OUT about the sales page Read More »
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
EP 267: CWK: The Truth About Grant Cardone Read More »
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
“A masterclass in bullets” Read More »
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
Are your instincts working against you? Read More »
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
Give me 6 months… flip it all in your favor Read More »
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
Dude, we just ate cat… Read More »
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
I have a $93k copy job waiting for you 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 »
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
Why I’m flying 14 hours for a 6-hour meeting Read More »
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
Wait… why Knoxville? The Scruffy City 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 »
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
RESULTS of my “pitch me your offer” email Read More »
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
Pitch me your offer, I’m in the mood to buy. 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 »
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
“I’m not motivated – I’m driven.” Read More »
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
The bizarre way I landed my first copy client 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)
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
what are you working on? (show me) Read More »
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
the client from hell 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
How’s the copy coming? 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 »
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
“I’d be dead in 2 weeks” Read More »
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
Yes, you DO need an “elevator pitch” 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 »
“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
How to write a sales letter in 60 minutes 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
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
Can you learn to write from reading a book? Read More »
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
Making connections Read More »
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
EP 253: Coffee with Kev – On “Making It” Read More »
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
Write once, Paid twice Read More »
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
5 “Career-Killer” Freelancing Screw Ups 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 »
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
Maybe it’s not for you 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 »
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
Deadliest storytelling mistakes Read More »
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
The night I quit comedy – Part 2 Read More »
In the mid 90’s Warner Robins, Georgia was not the part of the state that swings elections. It was the part that makes you drive behind farm equipment on the highway. Where the “good” restaurant is a giant buffet of processed food items simmering in square tins, the dress code is coveralls, and there are
The night I quit comedy 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 »
“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
This is how to tell if someone will “make it” 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 »
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…
Are you UNEMPLOYABLE? 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 »
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
Can you write a letter? 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 »
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,
Those days when the laptop eats your brain Read More »
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
Three superstar guests joining me… (guess who) 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
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
The question to ask if you only have 30 minutes Read More »
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
How we landed speakers who normally don’t speak Read More »
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
Should you go full time with one client? Read More »
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
the starving part of being an artist 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 »
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,
Rejection turns to flattery 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 »
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
How to ask for something big and get it 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 »
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
If I woke up tomorrow with nothing Read More »
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
The 40 words that led Branson into space 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 »
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
The joy of mistakes Read More »
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
Today is halftime 2021. What’s your gameplan? Read More »
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
unique vs “you freak!” Read More »
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
Ever feel like a fraud? Read More »
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
Well, THAT went well… Read More »
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,
A copywriting crossroads moment (what’s yours?) Read More »
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
The #1 request I get for copywriting Read More »
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
The best email copywriter I know? Read More »
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
The one word headline that saves lives Read More »
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…
You don’t have to figure it out alone Read More »
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
What do you want to be known for? Read More »
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
A simple reframe for how to price your services Read More »
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
What is a customer avatar? Read More »
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
Interested in joining my Supergroup coaching? Read More »
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
How much for an hour of your time? 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
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,
Big name clients are cool and all, if… 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,
Are you “going big” or just burning out? Read More »
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
Are you still writing ALL the copy in your biz? Read More »
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
Creating “escape velocity” Read More »
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 »
In This Episode Peep Laja has been a leader in conversion optimization for nearly a decade. Through the thousands of complex technical tests he and the crew at ConversionXL run, they can pinpoint exactly how your marketing pages are performing, and, of course, what’s needed to make them perform better. Of course, “the copy”
EP 209: New Breed: Peep Laja – Human Copy Testing with a New Tech Twist Read More »
Everyone remembers their first paid gig. It changes you for good. No matter how big or little the pay, the fact that a person of reasonable intelligence has decided to send you money to perform your money skill for them… Wow. The moment you see that digital dough hit your account is the moment the
First real copywriting gig Read More »
In This Episode If you’ve never heard of Damian Lanfranchi, that’s mostly on purpose. “I’ve done a lot of erasing throughout my entrepreneurial journey” he told me when I remarked that beyond his LinkedIn profile, there’s not much about him online. It isn’t that he’s embarrassed by the different businesses he’d created before becoming
EP 208: Wisdom Tree: Damian Lanfranchi – “The guy with no Plan B” Read More »
You and I both know that hiring a freelance copywriter is not exactly the same as hiring other types of contractors. That’s because no other contractor will represent a client, their voice, and the quality of their brand to the world with greater impact than a good copywriter. Copy Chief is the only copywriting community
5 ways freelance copywriting is different now Read More »
In This Episode Taking the big leap into starting your own business is freakin scary. But, it actually doesn’t have to be. Today, over a cuppa Joe, I’ll share my advice for taking small steps toward the big leap. Making it both a lot more doable, and far less frightening. In this episode we
EP 207: CCR Coffee with Kev – A Small Step Towards The Big Leap Read More »
If your website is taking longer to build than the Taj Mahal, then you’re doing it wrong. Or, your designer’s doing it wrong. All I can tell you is it’s wrong. I know this, cuz I’ve been there. WAAAY overthinking every detail… Like, which colors will position me as more of an expert? How to
The big holdup with your website Read More »
In This Episode Some business experts just seem too smart, too experienced, too connected to fail. Perry Marshall is one of those experts. Here’s a guy who’s written not just one, but several books that became “the book” on their topic – Google Ads, Facebook Advertising, 80/20ing your sales and business. He’s endlessly intelligent
EP 206: CCR New Breed – Perry Marshall – “There Will Be Dragons” Read More »
In This Episode Call it “Copy Chief Impossible”… Just like business makeover shows like Restaurant Impossible or (my new favorite find) Hotel Impossible… this episode is an unfiltered look behind the curtain of the intense rebuilding project to completely overhaul Copy Chief. My business integrator Rachel Mazza and I share all the gory details
…(as we escaped the law!) Let’s imagine that you and I were thrown together by some random “madcap” movie plotline… Something really zany, like I’ve been falsely accused of a bank heist because I’m a dead ringer for the actual bank robber (played by Bryan Cranston)… who the cops don’t know just escaped through the
Everything I would tell you about copywriting on a long road trip Read More »
In This Episode David Deutsch is an A-List Copywriter in the truest sense… he started at Ogilvy and Mather (when Ogilvy was still leading the troops), pioneered the “magalog” style of direct mail sales letters, and has written for or consulted just about every major player in the industry for the over three decades.
EP 204: CCR Wisdom Tree – A conversation with David Deutsch Read More »
… to produce a single gallon of syrup. I was watching an interview with the great documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns, when he cited that fact. Of course, that sent me down a three-hour rabbit hole of research about the syrup making process, or “sugaring” as it’s known in the industry. The big takeaway? Sugaring is
It takes 40 gallons of sap… Read More »
In This Episode Dominic Hodgson took an unconventional route to building an internet marketing empire – dog walking. In this loose and insightful conversation, Dom explains how he gained an immediate advantage by niching down into the “luxury pet care” market – targeting wealthy pet owners and offering not just a “dog walk”, but
Smack dab in the middle of the most anxious moments (Presidential election coverage) of the most anxious year (uh, this one) on record… where EVERYWHERE you look, EVERYONE is talking a mile a minute and shooting an information firehose straight into the face of America… How would you use 30 seconds of TV airtime to
This genius 5-word ad provides the ultimate “zig” 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 »
What makes the difference between a piece of copywriting that stirs a deeply positive emotional reaction in the reader… and one that has them trashing it immediately. Or worse… forwarding it to a government agency as a potential scam? Very different reactions, clearly. And yes, the stakes really are that high. The difference comes
The “invisible” reason why sales copy thrives or dies 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 »
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
The future of copywriting (happening now!) Read More »
In This Episode It’s our 200th episode and we’re celebrating with a total show makeover!New music, new intro, and lots of exciting new guests. Plus we’re categorizing the episodes into four different styles. Listen now to hear the new and improved Copy Chief Radio! In this episode we cover… It’s our 200th episode! We’ve
EP 200: CCR Makeover – The Four New Episode Styles! Read More »
My recent post about “Entrepreneurial DNA” really struck a chord. I heard from subscribers on both sides, some who consider themselves “gamblers” willing to take “risky action in hopes of achieving a desired result” … … and others who confessed to being “hoarders” who tend to clutch onto things they have out of fear
“I am so scared to take the leap” Read More »
In This Episode Adam Hunt runs White Label Comedy, a done-for-you social media copywriting service that helps companies stand out with tweets and ad copy that build trust and engagement with humor. (A topic very close to my heart.) He recently joined Copy Chief and began devouring the training and applying what he learned
EP 199: If Brands Told Jokes with Adam Hunt of White Label Comedy Read More »
In 1962, a seven-year-old boy named Edward boarded a ship with his family and sailed from the life he knew in Holland to a new life in America. The family had no money. All their belongings stuffed into a single trunk and their piano. Ed’s dad earned their ticket by playing with the ship’s
Finding your voice Read More »
In This Episode Looking back to when I first started, there are a few things I wish I’d figured out earlier. It would have saved me a lot of needless frustration, boosted my confidence and made the actual writing a lot more fun. So, I wrote out the 5 things I wish I’d known
EP 198: 5 Things I Wish I’d Known As A New Copywriter Read More »
Wanna know what defines an entrepreneur? It isn’t the “billion dollar” ideas… Or the scrappy rebelliousness… Or even the ability to create revenue. Those things are inherent in most entrepreneurs, but also in wantrepreneurs – those who chatter about starting a business but never make the leap. To me, what defines an entrepreneur is
The entrepreneur’s “DNA test” (which type are you?) Read More »
In This Episode You’ve surely seen the hilarious viral video ads for products like Squatty Potty (with the famous ice cream-pooping unicorn), Purple Mattress, Lume Deodorant, and Poo Pourri. Those ads are made by Harmon Brothers and have single-handedly revolutionized the world of Direct Response marketing by using bold humor to interrupt the long-running
EP 197: Can Harmon Brothers make stock tips funny? (ad breakdown with creators) Read More »
Rather than tell you the answer, I’d like to show you… by sharing this incredible exchange between a member of my community who left nursing to become a freelance copywriter, and a third-generation fireman turned copywriter. The nurse confessed in a post to feeling overwhelmed at the idea of creating a customer avatar. He’d
The #1 instinct of a great copywriter? Read More »
In This Episode The world’s coolest marketing lawyer, Peter Hoppenfeld, is back to discuss California’s AB 5 statute that is wreaking havoc for the “gig economy” out there. Some in the freelancing community are fretting about how this could affect the nature of how Independent Contractors do business. Should you be scared?Are freelancers losing
EP 196: Realities of California’s new AB 5 “freelancing law” with Peter Hoppenfeld Read More »
I bought an acoustic guitar from a pawn shop in Louisville, KY. This was around 1994. I was living on the road, touring the comedy circuit, with lots of time to kill between shows. Looking at me back then, you’d naturally assume I played SOME kind of instrument, so maybe it was time to
If writing copy is just not clicking for you… Read More »
In This Episode Mike Rinard has his business running smooth on all cylinders right now. He’s been a frequent guest on CCR talking about his story-driven copywriting frameworks that are outperforming everything else on Facebook, and how he’s created a long string of super successful workshops and “mini-offers” to his growing email list. Today,
EP 195: Mike Rinard’s (it was ugly for a minute) Freelancing Journey Read More »
It thrills me to meet new copywriters at their enthusiastic best. I love guiding them through to the next levels, helping them avoid the nasty traps that derail progress. Looking back to when I first started, there are a few things I wish I’d figured out earlier. It would have saved me a lot of
5 things I wish I knew when I started writing copy Read More »
In This Episode Jay Jackson began his rise to marketing expert status legit old school hustle style – hanging out in the parking lot of Whole Foods pitching customers on his fitness training as they scurried nervously to their cars. Then he discovered the world of online marketing and quickly tripled his income. Now,
Ep 194: From Old School Hustle To Internet Marketing Muscle with Jay Jackson Read More »
Ever done this one? You block a day on your calendar to write sales copy. You’ve pushed off starting a bit perhaps, but you know what you’re doing… there’s still plenty of time to get it done on deadline. You sleep well, you pour a hot beverage, you kill distractions, you open a fresh, blank
(FIRST LOOK) THE ADVANCED COPY CREATION BLUEPRINT Read More »
In This Episode As copywriters, mastering the one-sided conversation is a major part of our job. We assemble the people we’ll be talking ‘to’ (our customer avatars) from research, and some real-life people who match the audience, then go about constructing a very personal conversation that hopefully triggers no threat alarms at all. No
Ep 193: The Art of The One-Sided Conversation (5-min coffee break) Read More »
Back in 1990, I drove almost nonstop from my barely furnished apartment in Clearwater, Florida, up and over to Dothan, Alabama for my first ever road gig as a comic. I was still trying to make it as a comedian back then and the booker called me last minute to cover the show, so I
The brutally honest style of critique I adore… Read More »
In This Episode When Lorrie Morgan lost her “miserable” job, she decided to go freelance and stumbled into the world of direct response copywriting. From running into the ladies room in tears of intimidation during the first marketing conference she attended, to creating an alter ego named Roxie that has helped her fight off
Ep 192: Igniting Your Freelancing Moxie with Lorrie Morgan Read More »
That line from Elton John’s “Honky Cat” has been ringing in my head lately. The song is about a guy who grew up on the farm with dreams of moving to the big city… When I look back, boy, I must have been green Bopping in the country, fishing in a stream Looking
ohhhh, change is gonna do ya good Read More »
In This Episode Ever feel like all those books on productivity just don’t apply to you and your freelancing biz? That’s because running a freelance business IS different than other businesses – especially in early days when it’s JUST YOU doing everything. Yet, many of the freelancers I coach have been able to win
Ep 191: More time for the “big buck stuff” with Ashlee Berghoff Read More »
On a trip to Los Angeles, I came across the car wash where I had a conversation with a famous stranger that changed my life forever. (Here’s the story as I told John Lee Dumas on this Entrepreneur on Fire episode – his tenth most downloaded episode ever :-)… Let me tell you something. Anybody
What “freedom away from something” looks like Read More »
In This Episode If you and I sat down for coffee, and the subject of money came up, this is what I would share with you. I’ve never really talked about it publicly before. I’m hoping it can help you avoid the same mistake. The first thing you need to realize is a SYSTEM
Ep 105: My Secret About Handling Money with Kevin Rogers Read More »
In This Episode I met Eric a couple of years ago when he joined Copy Chief, and then my coaching program, Real Free Life. He was fresh off an intense and honorable stint the U.S. Army and ready to take the marketing world by storm. I knew right away he was either going to
Ep 100: The Unique Strategy of Preeminence with Eric Bakey Read More »
In This Episode I bet you’ve heard of the Pareto principle before… known as the 80/20 rule. The concept is simple: 80% of your results come from 20% of the activities you do. The surprising part of this principle is how many levels deep it can go… And I quote: “By the 3rd or
Ep 157: Perry Marshall – Fix This Mistake When Using The 80/20 In Your Business Read More »
In This Episode “Tutorial Video” sounds boring, right? We’ll that’s because most people do them all wrong. Coming on today’s podcast is David Power. He’s going to share a blueprint for creating a simple tutorial video funnel to generate new leads and customers for your business. Plus, how to harness the power of video
Ep 99: The Secret Selling Power of “Tutorial Videos” with David Power Read More »
In This Episode I don’t blame you for questioning whether Ryan Levesque is an actual machine. In 3 years he’s taken his ASK Method process for customizing your copy and marketing to dizzying heights. His company was recently ranked #462 on the Inc. 500 list of Fastest Growing Companies in America and named the
Ep 156: How Ryan Levesque is Revolutionizing Direct Response Marketing – Again Read More »
In This Episode What do you think sets a pro copywriter apart from a good copywriter? It’s your ability to make your reader FEEL something using your words. When you write copy, you want your ideal buyer to say, “Where do I buy this right now?”… Or, “I feel like you were speaking directly
Ep 155: Tepsii – The “Dynamic Avatar Method” For Writing High-Converting Copy Read More »
In This Episode You know the value of having PROOF. But are you using it as effectively as you could? These days, it’s not enough to simply present quotes from happy customers. Getting your readers to happily part ways with their hard-earned money means you need to overcome the doubts and fear about your
Ep 98: Selling Through Case Studies with Brian McCarthy Read More »
In This Episode If communication is the key to a good client-copywriter relationship… Then your ability to communicate well determines your level of success. That’s why I brought on my good friend Angie Colee. Angie is our lead Ambassador in the Copy Chief community, and it’s not an exaggeration to say she gives life-changing
Ep 97: Avoid These Copywriter Career Killers with Angie Colee Read More »
In This Episode Wanna know the fastest way to become an in-demand copywriter? It’s learning to break down the copy to its essence. If you can break it down (and understand the WHY behind the copy) then you know what it takes to write the kind of copy no perfect prospect can resist reading.
In This Episode This man needs no introduction. Bond Halbert is the son of the great Gary Halbert, a man who left a giant thumbprint on the direct response industry… If Gary’s name doesn’t sound familiar, he probably the copywriter you started studying when you were starting out. In fact, Gary Halbert was one
Ep 154: Bond Halbert – Copy Secrets From A Legend In Direct Response Read More »
In This Episode The most important copy you write is that which the prospect sees first. We call that “deck copy” because it stacks up like a deck at the top of the webpage… … or “above the fold” copy, which is a term from journalism to describe squeezing the juiciest headlines into page
CCR Ep 95: Big Deck Copywriting (with Elin Marie) Read More »
In This Episode One of the biggest points of confusion for clients looking to hire a copywriter, and freelance copywriters looking to charge a fair price for their services. Look, there’s no a la carte menu we can all abide by when it comes to pricing. Many factors contribute to how you price a
CCR094: Should you charge hourly or project rates? (with John Hays) Read More »
In This Episode As I was scrolling through my newsfeed, I saw my friend Ron Douglas post 10 things most people don’t know about him… I’ll share the first three: 1) My parents met in a heroin rehab clinic in Harlem, NY in 1973. 2) My dad was a drug dealer as well as
Ep 153: Ron Douglas – How To Get Rich “Stealing” Recipes Read More »
In This Episode One click nearly cost me $10,000. That click was to LinkedIn where today’s guest, a LinkedIn optimization expert, saw that I had NO profile there. Actually, it was worse than that. “There was just an old picture, and it was quite scary,” Irene Scott told me during the interview. See, Irene
In This Episode What makes the difference between an ordinary story and a powerful story? (For starters, they don’t make the 5 mistakes in this upcoming episode 🙂 The real answer is Emotion, and knowing which parts of the story to use for the biggest impact on the reader. Remember, if your readers don’t
Ep 152: Michael Hauge – 5 Mistakes of Ordinary Storytellers Read More »
In This Episode This episode is about what happens when, as a freelancer, you get the “dream gig” you think you want, only to find out it isn’t what you want. If you remember the Matt Mason episode, where he lands the gig with a publisher and moves to Baltimore to become a junior
Ep 92: The Dark Side of Landing a Dream Gig with Gerald McDonald Read More »
In This Episode “I’m going to eat my face now.” That subject line, “I’m going to eat my face now” is the 12th most popular (by open rate) in Laura’s list of her top 33. (You can get a link to them all in the show notes) My favorite interviews are the ones with
In This Episode Back when I started out in direct response, the fastest way to generate new leads was using Google AdWords. These days, Facebook Ads is all the rage. But if you’re a business owner, you may be wondering, “What’s the difference between the two? And isn’t Facebook cheaper?” To answer that, I
Ep 91: How Copy Can Save Your PPC Campaigns (AdWords Case Study) with Zach Goldie 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 Jon Stoltzfus is currently the most in-demand copywriter in the industry. He’s an engineer who loves his work and makes a very comfortable living. He’s also a damn good copywriter. He’s been creating super strong controls in his part-time. He’s about to make the leap into full time copywriting, because when
Ep 149: Jon Stoltzfus – The Most In-Demand Copywriter On The Planet Right Now Read More »
In This Episode If you’re a freelancer, chances are at one point or another you’ve considered going full-time with one client. Good idea? Could be. It could also become a nightmare. Our friend Carolynn Ananian is here to help you navigate your path. She’s been on both sides, as a freewheeling freelancer with multiple
Ep 89: All In With One Copy Client? The Pros And Cons with Carolynn Ananian 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 Ever notice how we associate habits with “bad” behavior? “I have a terrible habit of being late…” “Bad habit, I need to fix that…” “Dude, you need to get out of the habit of…” The first big takeaway (of many) in this conversation with Nate Dye is to realize we can
Ep 88: Creating Automatic Habits For Better Creativity with Nate Dye Read More »
In This Episode “I get asked to do these every week and I always say ‘no’ because I hate doing interviews… but with you I feel pretty good.” Truth is before now I didn’t realize Mike Morgan was an extreme introvert. We’ve had some night of gut-busting laughter together hanging out with our friends.
Ep 147: Mike Morgan – An Introvert’s Path To Copywriting Royalty Status Read More »
In This Episode The old method of defining a SINGLE profile for your best customer is no longer a reality. That’s because modern society is way more diverse than it was even 10 years ago. These days we self-select our information, our entertainment, and our social cultures. That means we need to be
Ep 87: Allison Carpio – The Naked Truth About What Motivates Your Customer Avatars Read More »
In This Episode If you feel stuck trading time for money, then this episode is for you. Whether you’re a freelancer or business owner, there’s one metric that you can track right now to get started working less and earning more… My guest James Schramko can show you how in this latest episode
Ep 146: James Schramko – How To Work Less And Earn More Read More »
In This Episode Imagine you’re thinking about buying something. You stop by the store, check a few things out, and decide “Ehh, maybe not right now…” On your way out, you see some testimonials from past customers. You think, “Huh. I wonder what this is about…” You see, most people are pros at
Ep 86: Next Level Testimonials Using A Simple Story Technique with Scott McKinstry Read More »
In This Episode What does it take to break Agora’s single-day record for sales? Not just by a little, either. We’re talking old record: $5 million, and you kick out a TWELVE MILLION DOLLAR DAY. The answer surprised me and I think it will surprise you, too. Especially considering the cut-throat nature of
Ep 145: Aaron DeHoog – The Invisible Force Behind A 12MM Sales Day Read More »
In This Episode Many freelancers struggle for months to land at first client. … but what happens when you land your first gig before you intend to? That’s what happened to my guest today, Rebecca Rosman. Rebecca showed up to Copy Chief Live to meet friends from the community and get a feel for
Ep 85: Rebecca Rosman – How To Show Up Big On Your First Copy Gig Read More »
In This Episode If you love “copy”, you’re gonna dig this interview with Carline Anglade-Cole. For those who aren’t familiar with this A-List writer, Carline is one of the best direct response copywriters of all time. She’s legendary in the health publication business. Her credits include a slew of controls for publishers like Healthy
Ep 144: Carline Anglade-Cole – Sex, Drugs and Writing Controls Read More »
In This Episode What does it take for a raw beginner to work with some of the top names in the direct response industry? Back in October, I hosted Copy Chief Live. If you didn’t get to attend, the event was all about connecting pro copywriters with business owners who needed writers. Everything about
Ep 84: Matt Mason – From Zero Freelance Gigs To Being Courted By The Big Publishers Read More »
In This Episode “YouTube is the place where the world goes to watch a video. Right now, the standard experience is we press play… and a completely irrelevant ad pops up on your screen.” Tom said during our interview. “The secret to effective YouTube advertising is giving your viewer a great experience… so they
Ep 143: Tom Breeze – How To Capture YouTube Viewers Before They “Skip” Your Ad Read More »
In This Episode Establishing credible authority in your marketplace as a freelancer is one of the most powerful ways to fast track your career. Thing is, this whole “stepping up as an authority” comes standard with a lot of head trash. One of the most common mental hurdles is getting over the idea that
In This Episode Most businesses make the mistake of handing the marketing reigns over to technology. And they chase the latest and greatest “shiny tools” thinking it’ll move their profit needle. Reality is, this is one of the biggest sales killers in your business… and the fastest way to burn your budget without boosting
Ep 142: Andrew Lermsider – 5 Easy Fixes That Instantly Boost Revenue on Your Website Read More »
In This Episode Freelancer and Facebook Ad specialist Mike Rinard returns today for the second episode of a two-part series… where we dive deep into the 5 most critical elements of creating sales-boosting FB ads for your business. If you haven’t heard the first part, make sure you catch it here first: FB Ads
Ep 82: FB Ads Case Study: 20K To 60K Per Month In 7 Months (Part 2) Read More »
In This Episode “I was doing a hot seat at a mastermind group to figure out what niche to write for as a copywriter. And someone goes: ‘Why don’t you write 100 headlines a day for 100 days?’” Justin said during our interview. “Truth is… I was too dumb at the time to say
Ep 141: Justin Blackman – What Justin Learned Writing 100 Headlines A Day (For 100 Days) Read More »
In This Episode There’s no question about it, FB ads are now a big needle mover for your business. In fact, you can even double and triple your leads with one successful FB ad campaign in just a few months. Problem is, it’s easy to burn your budget… and find yourself frustrated and overwhelmed
Ep 81: FB Ads Case Study: 20K to 60K Per Month In 7 Months with Mike Rinard Read More »
In This Episode Reality is, copywriting IS research. Any veteran copywriter will tell you they spend more than half a project’s time just on research. It’s where you’ll stumble upon all the juicy hooks, BIG ideas, and bold angles you need for a successful promo. So it’s no surprise top writers make research a
[TAM] Ep 140: Elin Marie – Elin’s Ten Step Control-Beating Copy Process Read More »
In This Episode The single biggest challenge for marketers selling expertise is how much to give away for free… without blowing the sale by giving away the farm. Reality is, it’s a fine line between building goodwill with upfront value… and getting carried away with teaching too much. So… how do you build goodwill
[CCR] Ep 80: Can Your Passion Hobby Be Your Business? (Case study with Craig Beckta) Read More »
In This Episode “The reason people wanna become freelancers is we’re rebels, man. We’re outcasts… we don’t really fit into a regular job structure.” We’re doing something new this episode. There’s no guest! It’s a “one-sided” conversation plucked out of a previous interview I did about freelancing. As you already know, the freelancer’s journey
[TAM] Ep 139: My Best Advice For Freelancers Read More »
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 “For the longest time… it was always about the copy. But things are changing.” Erik said during our interview. “Right now, 65% of people are visual learners. So you’ve gotta start paying attention to that stuff. Most businesses completely overlook that.” My guest today is design specialist Erik Stafford. Erik helps
In This Episode Here’s the thing, all great businesses start with the basic idea of tackling a problem that NEEDS solving. This eliminates most of the friction and resistance from your prospects… because they’re LOOKING for someone to step up and relieve the pain. Reality is, most marketers overlook clear cut opportunities to solve
Ep 78: The “FIRE” Formula For Finding Your Market’s Biggest Needs with Catie Harris Read More »
In This Episode Believe it or not, within seconds of hearing you speak… your prospects form lasting impressions about YOU and your business based on the sound of your voice. Your spoken image is a BIG part of your brand. This is why some of the best marketers and salespeople hone their rapport-building voice.
Ep 137: Susan Berkley – Sharpen Your “Spoken Image” With The Industry’s Top Voice Coach Read More »
In This Episode Reality is, ad click costs are higher than ever. Gone are the days of 30 cent clicks. Now, you’ll pay upwards of $3 for a single click in competitive niches like finance and health. And it’s only gonna get pricier to advertise as more marketers flood the internet. Plus, the recent
Ep 77: The “Remarketing Generator” Method To Getting Cheaper Clicks with Matt Ambrose Read More »
In This Episode “What’s really special about this is that there is NO model,” Hollis said during our interview. “All the stuff we’ve done before in direct response follows someone’s system or formula. It always felt too systematic.” Former rafting guide turned Baby Bath Water Institute co-founder Hollis Carter joins me on the show.
Ep 136: Hollis Carter – From Rafting Guide To Top Level Biz Consultant Read More »
In This Episode Most marketers believe a “big benefit” driven headline is all you need for a successful ad. Truth is, that’s not gonna cut it anymore in today’s more sophisticated markets. Especially if you’re in the health space. In fact—chances are your perfect prospect has already seen your headline or “hook” before. So…
Ep 76: Money-Making Health Headline Strategies with Jason Rutkowski Read More »
In This Episode Singer-songwriter and premiere copywriter Addison Rice returns to the show today for the second episode of a two-part series where we go DEEP on how you can use the basics of songwriting to beef up your sales copy. If you haven’t heard the first part, go back and check it out
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 This Episode Reality is, copywriting is much like a performance art. And one consistent thing I see in great copywriters is… … they all have an interesting hobby or passion that fuels their creativity. In fact, the most compelling copy usually packs a rhythmic punch just like a good song. So it’s no
In This Episode We’re doing something a little different for this week’s episode. As you may know, our first ever Copy Chief Live event is just around the corner. And we’ve got some of the most accomplished and respected copywriters and marketers in the game taking the podium… … and sharing insider secrets and
In This Episode “Copywriting isn’t exactly a writing gig…” John said to me during our interview. “Once you start thinking of it as just ‘writing ads’… you risk writing stuff that sounds good… but isn’t persuasive.” Former $15/hour article writer turned prolific copywriter John Forde joins me on the show today. John is one
Ep 133: John Forde – Great Leads and Learning From Losers With Agora’s Top Freelancer Read More »
In This Episode Today’s episode is the second of a 2-part series with Casey Stanton. If you missed the first one, recommend you go back and check it out here before diving into this one. Casey is a former Tulane University professor who specializes in helping 7 and 8 figure health and fitness businesses grow
Ep 73: Freelancer’s Guide To Closing Deals (Part 2) with Casey Stanton Read More »
In This Episode “This isn’t about burning bras and marching on Washington. This is about empowering more women to step up and share their knowledge and experience with the world.” Marcella said during our interview. “If you want more women on the stage, don’t wait for a man to ask you to speak… build
In This Episode “Sales is developing relationships with people, so that when they have a need… they come to YOU to solve it. That’s sales.” Casey said during our interview. “If you’re just in it to squeeze money out of as many people as possible… you’re not gonna succeed long term.” In this two
Ep 72: Freelancer’s Guide To Closing Deals (Part 1) with Casey Stanton Read More »
In This Episode Kevin Rogers and Max Hamm share mindset tips from the greats, how to “re-invent” your persona, and how to turn your jokes up a notch. Resources Get the 4 P’s here Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our product and it’s potential. Any claims made of actual earnings or
Ep 006: Joke Writing Tips, Tricks, and Mindset Read More »
In This Episode Today, If you want to grab someone’s attention… it’s no longer enough to just tell a compelling story. You’ve also got to get specific. Most stories fall flat because we’re afraid of diving deep and getting specific in our tales. Reality is, that’s exactly what you must do to tap into
In This Episode “The most common problem with people giving marketing advice today is they’re focusing on offering a 12% lift in conversions here, or 16% there…” Mark said to me during our interview. “What I teach is that this is BS. You’re wasting your time trying to build your business with small increments
Ep 130: Mark Ford – Hard Lessons From The Most Interesting Man In Direct Response Read More »
In This Episode So now that you know the 4 P’s and how to construct an emotional punchline, where do you use this? Listen in for some real life examples of humor in marketing… Resources Get the 4 P’s here Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our product and it’s potential. Any
Ep 005: Where To Use All This Stuff? Read More »
In This Episode Here’s an undeniable marketing truth: Email remains one of the most powerful ways to sell your product or service today… no matter your market. In fact—you can even sell expensive, high-end physical products to skeptical customers who demand first-class craftsmanship with just email… if you do it right. So… how can
Ep 70: Selling A Million Bucks In Guns Through Email (What Bob Learned) with Bob Conroy Read More »
In This Episode Kevin and Max reveal real live examples of the comedic formula (the 4 P’s) so you can see it in action, start creating jokes on the fly, get that emotional punch with your listeners. Resources Get the 4 P’s here Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our product and
Ep 004: 4 Ps In Action – TED Talks Read More »
In This Episode Here’s the thing: Overwhelm is the #1 business killer for even top entrepreneurs and marketers. There’s too much you CAN do at any point in time… … so it’s easy to fall prey to the “long to-do list” trap, and neglect the critical stuff that actually multiplies your income. So… how
Ep 129: Taylor Welch – The Business-Boosting Power Of Humor And Personality Read More »
In This Episode Reality is, it’s now tougher than ever to attract donations. Seems like everyone has a GoFundMe page these days… … making it hard to stand out and pull-in some bucks for your cause. So… what can you do to get more eyeballs on your donation page… and attract more difference-making cash
Ep 69: The Secret To Attracting Difference-Making Donations with Abbey Woodcock Read More »
In This Episode Kevin and Max reveal the full formula for creating humor in your marketing, and examples on how to use it to make your listeners laugh. Resources Get the 4 P’s here Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our product and it’s potential. Any claims made of actual earnings or
Ep 003: All About The 4 Ps Read More »
In This Episode Reality is, search ranking remains one of the cheapest, most powerful ways to get organic traffic to your site. Most business owners and marketers make the mistake of splurging on websites with all the expensive bells and whistles… … and neglect the selling power of SEO. (90% plus of websites today
Ep128: Kris Reid – The Overlooked Selling Power Of Search Rankings Read More »
In This Episode The reality is, most marketers make bold promises they can’t really keep… and they do it without thinking about the severity of the prospect’s situation. If you’re in this game for the long haul… you’ve got to take responsibility for how your content, product, or service will impact someone’s life. Thing
Ep 68: Tjark Hartmann’s Journey From Freelancer To Product Creator Read More »
In This Episode Kevin and Max dive deep into the reason why Persona is key to telling a joke that hits the mark. You must establish this before telling any joke, or you risk telling one that could backfire on your business. Resources Get the 4 P’s here Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to
Ep 002: Humor Blunders & Diving Deeper Into Your Persona Read More »
In This Episode Here’s the thing: today you can pass so much MORE emotion to your prospects using a short 1-min video, than a bunch of pictures and text… … and when you can show RESULTS quickly─with case studies and narration─you have the power to indoctrinate prospects into buyers, fast. So, how do you
Ep 127: Bedros Keuilian – The “Cockweed” Mindset For Rock-Solid Success Read More »
In This Episode Here’s a marketing truth: When you ask your prospects the right questions, you’ll never wonder what to offer them next. Most business owners and marketers make the mistake of asking the wrong questions… or worse, they ask their prospects complex questions. (Even if you think it’s crystal-clear to you… it’s likely
In This Episode Kevin Rogers and Max Hamm created a series called You, But Funny to show you why knowledge content is dead, what you should do to stand out, and how to inject humor in your writing without losing the sale. Resources Get the 4 P’s here Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to
Ep 001: This Is Fun… And More Important Than Ever Read More »
In This Episode “I wanted to wake up everyday excited to start my day, but everyone I worked with was just waiting for Friday to come…” Damian said to me during our interview. “I never wanted to be one of those people who say ‘oh well, life just flies by doesn’t it?…’” My guest
In This Episode Here’s the thing: social media isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And with over 700 million users per month on Instagram alone… … it’s important you start paying attention to the hidden selling power of this medium. In fact, there’s a lot in common between the strongest sales messages… and the most
Ep 66: The Hidden Selling Power Of Meme Marketing with Austin Lee Read More »
In This Episode My standard philosophy on “writer’s block” is, if it’s happening, you haven’t done enough research John Carlton taught me this and I’ve found it to be very true. However, there are times when you’ve got a hard deadline looming, or you don’t have the time to dive deep into your topic…
Ep 65: Beating Back “Writer’s Block” And Finding Your Flow with Angie Colee Read More »
In This Episode Here’s an indisputable truth… Honing your writing chops is the fastest way to set yourself apart in a crowded market. In fact, just by being a BETTER writer than your competition, you’ll leapfrog your rivals and build a loyal following faster than you imagined possible. So… how do you sharpen your
Ep 125: John Romaniello – Leapfrogging Your Competition With Superior Writing Chops Read More »
In This Episode The over 55 market boasts over 750 Billion dollars in spending power. Today I’ve got Julie Luedtke on the show. Julie is 72, just ran a 10K (6 miles) charity event… … and is on a MISSION helping people over 55 get fit, and live life with a passion that gives
In This Episode The most important thing in marketing today is emotion. If you don’t stir enough emotion in your prospect, your message is as good as dead. One of the most powerful ways to hit the emotional hot buttons of your buyers is coming up with fresh, new, even dangerous ideas worth testing.
In This Episode Smooth writing and a great story are useless if you don’t tie ’em into your promotion. One of the biggest mistakes even top copywriters make is losing themselves in the writing and forgetting the purpose of the ad. And if your visual language doesn’t fit the promo like a glove, you’ll
Ep 63: How To Write Visually and Spring Your Sales Copy to Life with Henry Bingaman Read More »
In This Episode Your audience craves transparency and authenticity more than ever. In fact, you’re more likely to hit your buyer’s emotional hot buttons shooting a real, raw video straight from your iPhone… … than splurging on a big budget production from some high-end agency. And the game is changing so fast, even political
In This Episode I gave her the nickname, The Indoctrinatrix for a good reason; she’s really good at helping you draw in your best prospects and then dominating the market. See, most marketers and business owners fail to indoctrinate prospects the right way… … and just because something is crystal clear to you, it
In This Episode What can you learn about storytelling from the guys that Hollywood stars (like Will Smith) rely on to help them get it right? Stupid question, I know. Thing about story is… It usually sounds better in our heads than it does in our reader’s head. So it’s easy to wander down
Ep 122: Michael Hauge – Story Secrets Of A Hollywood Script Doctor Read More »
In This Episode One of the biggest mistakes marketers and copywriters make is assuming the prospect will read your entire message. They won’t. In fact, most readers are LOOKING for that one paragraph that gives them the perfect excuse to click away and forget all about you. So… how do you make sure you’ve
In This Episode I remember it clearly… Sitting on my back porch, scrolling through emails on my mobile phone, when I saw Jon’s email. I get a lot of messages from people who want to be on this podcast. In this episode you’ll learn why I ignore most of them, and why Jon’s was
Ep 121: Jon Buchan – How To Reach Important People With Humor Read More »
In This Episode “Scope creep” IS an illness in this industry… and right now, you’re likely getting taken for a ride by “well-meaning” clients, who aren’t even aware how devastating this is for a freelancer. So… how do you rid yourself of “scope creep”, without ruining your relationships with clients? Copywriter Dean Edelson returns
Ep 60: How to avoid “scope creep” in copy projects with Dean Edelson Read More »
In This Episode Here’s the reality: if the ONE thing distinguishing your business from the other guy is that “you’re better at it”… … it’s only a matter of time before you’re dead in the water, unless you quickly get hip to the single biggest profit multiplier for your business today. In fact—your sales
Ep 120: Todd Brown – The E5 Method for Marketing The Big Idea Read More »
In This Episode It’s more important than ever to inject persuasive stories into your marketing. In fact, just “telling a story” won’t cut it with today’s attention spans. You’ve got to hook ’em fast… otherwise they’ll click away and buy from someone else. So… how do you tell a story so good that you
Ep 59: The BAR Method For Addictive Storytelling with Carolynn Ananian Read More »
In This Episode My guest today is social media specialist Anna Selby. She helps clients market their businesses and grow their audiences on social media. She has also worked with top-of-the-heap entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk. “I was like the Black Sheep Kanye West of Real Estate…” Anna said, laughing during our interview. “I had an
Ep 119: Anna Selby – The “Dream 50 Secret” To Conquering Social Read More »
In This Episode As a freelancer, you absolutely must carve out some daily “white space” to recharge your creative battery. Ignore this―like most freelancers do (especially earlier in the game)―and it’ll only be a matter of time before you burnout. So… how do you strike the perfect balance between doing good work and staying
Ep 58: How Freelancers Jump To The Next Level (Without Burning Out) with Pete Michaels Read More »
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 Here’s the reality: Most of your prospects are seeing the same cut-and-paste emails promoting a product launch… … and it’s because business owners shelve crafting compelling launch copy till it’s too late. This kills your sales. So, how do you quickly inject high-converting emails into your launch without burning your budget?
Ep 57 – Secrets of a High-Converting Email Affiliate Funnel with Chris Orzechowski 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 »
In This Episode Here’s the thing: most product descriptions are a snooze fest… … and you’re likely losing sales by overlooking the power of benefit-packed product descriptions. So… how do you write a compelling product description that forces your prospects to ignore your competition and buy only from you? Today I’ve got e-commerce specialist
Ep 56 – The Hidden Seductive Power Of Product Descriptions with Angie Colee Read More »
In This Episode “Marketers today rely too much on emotion…” Will said during our interview. “The competition for your prospect’s inbox is fierce… so you absolutely must give your customers a reason to stay with you.” My guest today is copywriter and email wizard Will Hoekenga. He helps clients multiply sales with his knack
Ep 116: Will Hoekenga – The 5 Deadliest Email Sins Read More »
In This Episode “I could tell my guest was pissed and uncomfortable being there…” Fabienne said in our interview. “At the end of it my guest goes ‘You should have done more research on me before the interview… I could tell you’re not experienced…’” Shy, stiff, and sticking to scripted questions… … Fabienne Raphaël
Ep 55 – How To Give (And Get) A Great Interview with Fabienne Raphael Read More »
In This Episode “‘If I do good work the world will find me’. That statement has never been more false…” Tim said during our interview. My guest today is Tim Castleman. Tim helps musicians monetize their art using his sales and marketing talents. His company is the official note providers for major marketing events
Ep 115: Tim Castleman – Take My Notes, Please 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 “By 19… I went down from 360 pounds to 170, had more money than I knew what to do with, and everybody looked up to me…” Scott said during our interview. “By 21, I was $726,000 in debt… and using air miles to pay for food and gas…”. Financially ruined, drowning
Ep 114: Scott Oldford – What a short, strange trip it’s been 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 »
In This Episode “I’m addicted to murdering on stage… I want to hurt you,” Jim said in our interview. “Once I fell in love with doing this again and discovered my real mission, I became unstoppable.” My guest today is stand-up comedian Jim Breuer. He’s famous for co-starring with Dave Chappelle in “Half-Baked” and
Ep 113: Jim Breuer – How The Former SNL Star Revived His Career With Social Media 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 »
In This Episode “I posted my lettering work for two years and no one even bothered to look…” Sean said during our interview. Sean McCabe started out cleaning windows―almost getting himself killed in the process―and repairing computers to pay the bills. When he wasn’t working, he was completely immersed in his love for hand
Ep 112: Sean McCabe – The Truth About Monetizing Your Passion, Risk-free Read More »
In This Episode “Frank Oz sits me down to review the draft and goes: ‘This writing is too cute for this project’…” Hillary told me during our interview. Today copywriter Hillary Styles joins me on the show. She’s currently helping Frank Oz with the sales copy for a new documentary. (He’s the puppeteer behind
Ep 51 – What I learned Writing Copy For Frank Oz with Hillary Styles Read More »
In This Episode “I was going door-to-door trying to sell satellite dishes to the Amish… I sold a grand total of zero…” Terry told me during our interview. Introverted, stuck delivering pizzas for $8 an hour, and bombing hard in belly-to-belly sales… … Terry Dean turned it all around and is now flourishing in
Ep 111: Terry Dean – The Truth About The Selling Power Of List Indoctrination Read More »
In This Episode There’s a new reality about to dominate the marketing world: Your customers are more hyper aware than ever… … this “conscious consumer” sees everything you’re doing. Stay blind to this critical shift and your business will die off like the dinosaurs. (And if you’re thinking this is just another fad─like most
Ep 50 – Why you must understand the conscious consumer with Pauline Longdon Read More »
In This Episode Here’s the reality: It’s one thing to sell something on a platform like Amazon… … but to sell your product or service on your own website (with cold traffic) is the Holy Grail of sales for your business. Today, former animator turned online entrepreneur Jason Leue joins me on the show.
Ep 49 – The Revenue-Boosting Power of Sub-Niching Your Product with Jason Leue Read More »
In This Episode “I got hooked up to this brain machine… and the doctor said that in 75,000 sessions, he’d only ever seen one other person with brain waves like mine…” Jesse told me during our interview. Even though he’s been a personal mentor and close ally for years, I’m always on the edge
Ep 110: Jesse Elder – The Truth About Having Nothing To Prove And Nothing To Hide Read More »
In This Episode Do your heroes and favorite experts struggle with the same mental hurdles you wrestle with in your business? Here’s the thing: Everyone has Impostor Syndrome at one point or another. No one’s safe from it… … and if you never have it, you’re probably a sociopath! Today freelance copywriter Max Hamm
Ep 48 – How To Beat Back Impostor Syndrome And Thrive with Max Hamm Read More »
In This Episode We’re going deep today. What if everything you’ve been told about “goal setting” is actually the source of your stress? In fact, what if your goals are actually wiping out your dreams (the ones you hold close but rarely talk about) one by one? So the more goals you achieve, the
Ep 109: Robert Gibson – The Truth About Giving Your Best Read More »
In This Episode What if you can get your prospects hanging on to every word of your sales copy like they were kids hypnotized by their favorite cartoon? Today, former screenwriter and stand-up comic turned copywriter, Dean Edelson joins me on the show. Dean helps high-level clients craft compelling marketing messages using explainer videos.
Ep 47 – The Huge Opportunity Hiding In Short Explainer Videos with Dean Edelson Read More »
In This Episode Why would one of the most prolific and proven copywriters in the world spend a small fortune (and two years of his life) creating a “robot” that can write copy so human-like, “you’d never be able to tell the difference’? It’s probably not the reason you think. Jon Benson is the
Ep 108: Jon Benson – The Truth About Ethical Manipulation Read More »
In This Episode You ever notice how people are happy to carry around a thousand page Stephen King novel? What if it was possible for you to connect with prospects so strongly that they can’t stop reading your sales copy? Today freelance copywriter and Copy Chief founding member Peter Michaels joins me on the
Ep 46 – Spice Up Your Messages with “Snapshot Copywriting” with Pete Michaels Read More »
In This Episode If you’re not hip to Ivan Misner and his incredible entrepreneur-connecting group called BNI, then buckle up for an inspiring ride. Get your head around these numbers… 7200 meetings worldwide 190,000 members $8.6 Billion in revenue via shared leads for members All in 2016! The secret? As Dr. Misner explains in
“Best Of” Episode 48: Ivan Misner – Billion Dollar Networking Read More »
In This Episode Here’s the reality: your customers are smarter than ever… and their attention spans are unforgiving. So… what can you do to cut through all the noise and still make more sales? Today Freelance copywriter Max Hamm returns for a follow-up episode. It builds on our last discussion about using humor in
Ep 45 – When To Just Shut Up And Sell with Max Hamm 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 Here’s the reality when it comes to testing: There are no “failed” split tests. You’re always one step closer to your big win with every test… if you do it right. Today I’ve got freelance copywriter and A/B testing specialist, Allison Carpio, on the show. She has helped clients in her
Ep 44 – The Rocky Balboa Guide To A/B Split Testing with Allison Carpio 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 Have you ever thought you’ll connect deeper with your audience if you inject some humor? Here’s the tricky part about humor in sales: The biggest danger is that your audience can easily misunderstand you. As a former pro stand-up comic turned copywriter, many people ask me HOW to get funnier so
Ep 43 – How to use humor in sales with Max Hamm 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 »
In This Episode Here’s the thing about testimonials: You have to have them, but they rarely get read. So… What else can you do to beef up the social proof of your offer? Today I’ve got freelance copywriter Brian McCarthy on the show. He has helped big names like Ramit Sethi get more sales
Ep 42 – The Hidden Power of A Well-Placed Case Study With Brian McCarthy 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 If you’re in business for yourself and you’ve always thought “I don’t need a brand”… I’ve got some eye-opening news for you today. Here’s the reality: You have a brand identity right now. Either you are controlling it, or your audience is creating it on their own. My guest today, Nicole
Ep 41 – How To Build Customer Loyalty Like The Big Brands With Nicole Piper 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 Have you ever had a call or meeting with a potential customer go SO good you thought the gig was already in the bag… only for the whole thing to go up in smoke in the end? We all have… and you’re left scratching your head wondering what the heck just
Ep 40 – 10 sales-killing phrases (and what to say instead) with Max Hamm 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 Abbey is a freelancer herself, and recently switched to the other side of the table when she needed to hire some writers. She was surprised to see how many applicants were making foolish mistakes ruining their chances of landing the gig. These are common mistakes that most employers never share with
Ep 39 – Freelancers: Why You’re Not Getting Hired Pt 2 With Abbey Woodcock 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 If you’ve been in the freelancing game long enough, you know exactly what it’s like to be turned down for a gig with no explanation at all. In this episode, you’ll learn how to increase your chance of landing a gig and why talent is only one small factor in the
Ep 38 – Freelancers: Why You’re Not Getting Hired Pt 1 With Abbey Woodcock 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 couple months back a friend challenged me to do something that scared me. Come hear why my instant “No” to Billy turned into a “Yes” weeks later, and how my journey back to comedy has helped others get back into something they thought was a part of their past, too.
Ep 37 – Comedy Comeback Update 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 In this episode, Copy Chief member April Dykman will show you how to discover how to create a newsletter that your readers look forward to reading and what you must do if you want to monetize your newsletter (without jeopardizing the new relationship you formed with your readers). Resources: There’s no
Ep 36 – The Hidden Power of Weekly Newsletters with April Dykman 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 »
In This Episode NOTE: Sadly, one week after this episode published, Scott Haines suffered a stroke on Christmas day and did not recover. He passed away on January 11th 2017, surrounded by friends and family in Tulsa, OK. This was his last interview. Another exciting episode for Truth About Marketing with a copywriting great,
Ep 97: Scott Haines – Shortcutting Your Way To High Converting Copy Read More »
In This Episode Another hot episode with a Copy Chief member, AJ Silvers. He’s here to help you discover how to make your sales copy more engaging and effective in boosting the bottom line using flash fiction principles. Resources: Learn what “flash fiction” means and how to use it in the name of higher
Ep 35 – Flash fiction for powerful story copy with AJ Silvers Read More »
In This Episode My guest today is Jenny Thompson, a brilliant marketer and fierce proponent of higher conversions. Jenny started working as a marketing manager with Agora Inc. back in 1996, and within her first 3 years, she successfully tripled profits for the Oxford Club. Then she began a new career in New Market
Ep 96: Jenny Thompson – Using “Sticker Shock” To Double Your Sales Read More »
In This Episode Melanie is going to share some common roadblocks aspiring copywriters face and how to overcome them using her and Kevin’s advice. Resources: Get all the details by listening to the episode here. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here
Ep 34 – How to fast track your freelance career with Melanie Saladino Read More »
In This Episode Patty and Pam are rocking today’s episode. This dynamic duo will show you exactly how to understand your target market at a deeper level and give them what they really want (and not what you think they want). Resources: Find out what other advice Patty and Pam have for you by listening
Ep 33 – Create buzz now with Patty Dominguez and Pamela Hermann 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 Today, we’re getting personal. I’ll share my biggest lessons while I was away and you’ll discover how you can get the most out of your travel (especially if you’ve got a family to take care of). Resources: Go get this episode in your earhole now by listening to the episode here. Subscribe to
Ep 32 – Road Journal Recap 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 Today’s a hot episode with Kev Kaye from GrowthBOKs. You’ll learn how to save a massive amount of time and money by separating ideas worth investing in from the duds and time sucks. Resources: Get Kev’s method for cutting through the mental clutter and finding the money-making ideas by listening to the
Ep 31 – The Ultimate 2X Traffic and Conversion Growth Engine with Kev Kaye 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 »
In This Episode In this episode, you’ll learn how to turn your expertise into an emotional experience your readers can’t resist reading about using Aaron Crocker’s 5 rules for high-converting lead magnets. Resources: Get Aaron’s hard and fast rules for high converting fitness reports by listening to the episode here. Subscribe to the podcast
Ep 30 – 5 hard fast rules for fitness reports that convert with Aaron Crocker (Pt. 2) Read More »
In This Episode Jamming out today with my man Eric Wong. Eric is a martial artist, fitness marketer, and an innovative, forward thinking marketer. He runs Power Dojo, where he teaches you how to improve your flexibility, strength, and power. Eric is a true marketer who is always testing and optimizing for results. In
Ep 92: Eric Wong – Winning The Sale By Thinking One Step Ahead Read More »
In This Episode Aaron Carter pulls back the curtain on how to turn a “fitness report” into a high converting lead magnet. You’ll also see how the language of “emotions” morphs into stories that influence your readers to take action. Resources: Learn how to take your lead magnet past the surface clutter and into
In This Episode Charles Kirkland is co-founder of Media Buyers Association, a community of entrepreneurs who are focused on growth through quality, paid traffic. Charles, as you’ll soon discover, is passionate about helping and teaching people exactly how to make paid traffic convert. He’s an expert in recognizing patterns that most people don’t see
Ep 91: Charles Kirkland – Turning One Dollar Into Three Read More »
In This Episode Today, Nate Dye will teach you how to validate big ideas (using what we call “The Lean Ask”) so you can hit the ground running with a quiz funnel that’s actually worth investing the time, energy, and money into. Resources: To learn this proprietary method of validating big ideas, go here
Ep 28 – The “Lean” Ask Method For Quickly Validating Ideas with Nate Dye Read More »
In This Episode We have a different kind of marketer come on the show today. Chad Mureta is head of App Empire, a place where people without coding experience can learn to make money in the App Store. Chad’s amazing and inspiring story of his journey into entrepreneurship is proof that you don’t need
Ep 90: Chad Mureta – Million Dollar App Ideas Read More »
In This Episode In this episode, A/B split test specialist Allison Carpio will show us what split testing is, how you can get started with testing, and ways to get real results with it in your marketing. By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to use it for higher conversions and
Ep 27 – A/B split testing with Allison Carpio Read More »
In This Episode Today, I’m glad to have Joanna Wiebe with us. We’re going head first into freelancing to find out what makes freelancers successful (and what holds others back)… You may know Joanna as the woman behind CopyHackers.com. She’s a passionate copywriter who created this site to help copywriters and freelancers build their
Ep 89: Joanna Wiebe – Saying “Yes” When It Scares You Most Read More »
In This Episode Jonathan and I talk about good (and bad) ways to get yourself on a podcast. We dug up some insights on how to plan your outreach strategy, so you don’t end up disrespecting anyone you’re reaching out to. Resources: Inject this episode straight into your earhole: Good and bad ways to invite
Ep 26 – Good and bad ways to invite yourself on a podcast Read More »
In This Episode My guest today is Jon Morrow. Jon writes blog posts that get MILLIONS of visits. His readers hang on his every word… and he’ll be the first to tell you, none of that means a thing if you’re not attracting BUYERS to your blog. A little background on Jon… When Jon
Episode 88 – The Truth About Attracting Buyers To Your Website with Jon Morrow Read More »
In This Episode Abbey Woodcock and KC Baney are here to talk about productivity and how to better manage distractions in your life. You’ll also learn how to use productivity to 10x your writing. Resources: Get this episode all up in your earhole here: Sanity-restoring project management for freelancers Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes here
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 Today, Abbey and Kevin help businesses owners understand what to look for when hiring a copywriter, plus how to overcome the anxieties of reaching out to a copywriter. You’ll also learn (if you’re a freelance copywriter) how to make it easier for clients to choose you… Resources: To get all the
Ep 24 – What you need to know before hiring a copywriter 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 In this episode, Scott McKinstry will teach you how to write a killer story opener using advanced story tactics. He shares the underlying principles behind how story openers work, plus live examples of how this “old” formula is used in modern shows like Homeland and Walking Dead. Resources: If you want
Ep 23 – Advanced Story Tactics with Scott McKinstry Read More »
In This Episode Great to have my friend (and a marketing superstar) Taylor Welch on today’s episode. He’s living proof of someone who went from hand-copying ads to landing his first client. He got his first experience in marketing working for his wife’s salon business, took off running with client work, and quit his
Ep 85: Taylor Welch- Making A Million Bucks By Becoming Scarce Read More »
In This Episode Rockin’ the mic with Mike Rinard today in another hot episode of Copy Chief Radio. In today’s episode, we’re going in depth with the 5 elements that make up a successful retail brand launch. Mike also shares highly actionable information — like the email launch sequence and custom landing page that
Ep 22 – 5 Elements of a High Converting Retail Brand Launch with Mike Rinard Read More »
In This Episode Ben Settle is a modern legend among copywriters … which is truly ironic as he hasn’t even taken a client in the last five years. That’s the power of his craft. His popular emails will either make you laugh or piss you off (maybe both). But one thing’s for sure, you
Ep 84: Ben Settle – Never Compromising Read More »
In This Episode This week is a conversation between Producer Jonathan and I, where we give the inside scoop of what our lives are like… and the cool things we’re up to these days. You’ll get to learn what Producer Jonathan’s life is like now, since he has a new addition to his wonderful
Ep 21 – How Life Dictates Business Read More »
In This Episode Proud to bring on Ian Stanley to the seat today. At 26 years old, Ian’s career has been so explosive, it’s hard to say he’s still exclusively a copywriter anymore. Armed with a hilarious personality and savvy marketing skills, he’s known for creating hilarious parody videos about people in the Internet
Ep 83: Ian Stanley – Why People Laugh Read More »
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
[Story Sells] Every Great Story Has This… Read More »
In This Episode We’re proud to welcome back Dean Jackson, our first ever guest, as our first repeat guest at TAM. Dean’s philosophy and teachings about marketing have made him a true celebrity in the industry. He is friend and “speed dial” consultant to the business elite, including Tony Robbins, Peter Diamandis, Ariana Huffington and
Ep 82: Dean Jackson – Compelling, Not Convincing Read More »
In This Episode Bringing back Ross O’Lachlainn on the show to talk about productivity and how to better manage distractions in your life. You’ll also learn how to use productivity to 10x your writing. Resources: Get this episode all up in your earhole here: How To Be A More Productive Writer Subscribe to the podcast
Episode 20 – How To Be A More Productive Writer Read More »
In this short article, I am going to show you how to use a few basic principles from the opening scene of The Lion King, “The Circle Of Life”, to create a VSL that influences and converts your audience. In case you’re unfamiliar with the success of The Lion King, upon its release in 1994, the movie brought in
How To Turn Your Sales Page Into A Blockbuster VSL Read More »
In This Episode Nicky Roche is a bit of a rare bird. She’s got no less than 3 science degrees under her belt, plus 25 years of senior management experience at some of the biggest multinational corporations on the planet like Unilever and Coca-Cola. A transplant from her native South Africa to the beautiful
Ep 81: Nicky Roche – New Rules of Marketing in the 21st Century 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 Before becoming a CEO, Julia Lundstrom hit rock bottom when she discovered the love of her life was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. Things spiraled downhill from there. She drank heavily to cope with the pain. When that didn’t work, she resorted to workaholism. Ironically, Julia’s obsession with work finally
Ep 80: Julia Lundstrom – Dating The FBI’s Most Wanted Bank Robber Read More »
In This Episode Today’s episode is specifically targeted for freelancers. And if there’s one thing I always talk about, it’s about the counterintuitive move every freelancer needs to make if they want to get more business in their life. Resources: Get this actionable tip in your ear bud here: The ONE Thing Every Freelancer Should
Ep 18 – The ONE Thing Every Freelancer Should Do To Get More Business Read More »
“I think it was a dud man, nothing is happening,” said Brett. Brett is the founder of Territory Run Co., an online retail company in the running/outdoor space. We had just pressed GO on his latest product launch – an email launch sequence that I wrote – and… …nothing was happening. Heart dropping into my
The 5 Elements Of A High Converting Retail Brand Launch Read More »
In This Episode Where were you when the internet started? Ben Hunt was just a lowly college student making a fortune off the new craze. He could build anything you wanted, from a website to a fancy 3D logo. Since then, Ben’s authored several books on web design, presented at conferences around the world,
Ep 79: Ben Hunt – Avoiding Tactical Marketing Hell Read More »
In This Episode In today’s episode, I’m taking you through the backstory of why I decided to promote (for the 2nd time ever) someone else’s product. I reveal my 3 biggest lessons learned competing with other marketers with 10x my list size and still managed to make the top ten. Resources: Get this episode
Ep 17 – Ask Launch Recap Read More »
My nephew recently asked me how The Flash got his super-speed powers. My answer: “Barry Allen was struck by lightning while standing in front of a shelf of chemicals. The combination of the chemicals and the lightning gave him super speed. Lightning is very fast, after all.”* This story made sense my nephew. Lightning is fast,
[Story Sells] Sell On Emotion, Justify With This … 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 »
In This Episode Jonathan Rivera finally sought out USP Master, Ross O’Lachlainn, to help create the reason why his ideal clients should listen to The Podcast Factory show rather than any other show. Resources: Get deep inside the process and learn what Jonathan’s new USP is by using this link: USP Follow Up
Ep 16 – USP Follow Up 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 Listen to the 2nd part of the 7 stories every promo needs to be successful. Resources: Go directly to the episode by using the link below: The 7 Stories Every Sales Letter Needs With Henry Bingaman Part 2
Ep 15 – The 7 Stories Every Sales Letter Needs (Pt 2) 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 Listen to the 7 stories every promo needs to be successful. Resources: Download the episode here Listen to Part Two here
Ep 14 – The 7 Stories Every Sales Letter Needs (Pt. 1) Read More »
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
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 »
This will sound strange coming from a guy who lives in Florida, but… I love the month of July. Yes, it’s hot here. Stupid hot. Not fit for humans hot. Yesterday I even saw a lizard wearing a headband. Hot, okay? And there are mosquitos everywhere. Big ones. So big they serve you orange juice
How to save your year in 12 minutes Read More »
In This Episode Copy Chief Radio presents…How to write catchy taglines (and say it quickly under pressure). Resources: Go directly to the episode using the link below: How To Write Great Product Taglines with Angie Colee
Ep 13 – How To Write Great Product Taglines 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 Great episode with Abbey Woodcock on how to master voice — a critical skill for both copywriters and business owners. When I survey people about what holds them back from hiring a copywriter, voice is always one of their biggest concerns. And as an entrepreneur, I can attest that handing off
Ep 12 – Mastering The Voice of Your Copy 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 Discover 5 rules for writing headlines that turn into melodies. Resources: To listen to this episode, use the link below: Kevin’s 5 Rules For Writing Better Headlines
Ep 11 – 5 Rules For Writing Better Headlines 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 A few weeks back, there were some great episodes of Copy Chief Radio and I want to make sure you knew about them. In case anyone is new, Copy Chief Radio is the show where we go into the trenches of the community. This is where we get deep into marketing
Ep 10 – The Accidental Copywriter Read More »
A few years back I followed my buddy to a multilevel marketing event for a health supplements company. It was a big event, designed to bring curious seekers into the fold. Presenters talked up the company and the products … but what I remember most were the testimonials. And when I say testimonials, I mean ‘testimonial’ in
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 »
In This Episode In this episode, April Dykman talks about the most forgotten page of your website — your About page. Resources: Use the link below to learn the surprising truth about why most people get this page completely wrong: About You
January 2015 — Rochester, New York It was 11:22 AM and for the last 3 hours 22 minutes I’d been gagging on the question, ”What should I do next??” For the 13th month in a row my business was flat. No growth. No new opportunities. Nada. I was freaking out because I’d always heard: I
The Growth Engine: A Three-Step Repeatable Process That Accelerates Growth 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 Can you tell someone why they should choose YOU rather than any of your competitors? Resources: Listen to Ross’s live case study of crafting a USP using the link below: USP Case Study
Ep 08 – USP Case Study Read More »
You can ramp up the intensity of the stories you tell when you insert one basic theme. My friend Michael Hauge revealed this to me recently. According to him, nearly all stories in the world revolve around this central dilemma. And, so too, do our lives. When you put this theme into your stories –
[Story Sells] How to harness the power of “Authenticity” for your sales story Read More »
In This Episode Got a question for the Ask Man? Let me ask Ryan for you… HEY LISTENER: If you hear this before June 9th and want to ask Ryan a question, I’ll see him next week in Austin. We’ll be filming a Q&A session featuring your questions. If you’d like to be included
Ep 69: Ryan Levesque – The Truth About Specializing Read More »
In This Episode Get the insider’s view of freelancing and common obstacles you’ll face when you get your first “serious client”… Resources: Insight Into Freelancing with Jody Raynsford
Ep 07 – Insight Into Freelancing 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 Want to learn how to 10x your writing and quickly find out what you love to write about? Resources: Listen to today’s episode about a breakthrough challenge the Copy Chief community is taking on: 30 Day Email Challenge
Ep 06 – 30 Day Email Challenge Read More »
The following is a series of emails sent about a serious epidemic in online marketing circles. Email 1 Subject: Do you suffer from “shiny tactic syndrome”? (a quick test) Here’s a quick test to see if you (or someone you love) suffers from Shiny Tactic Syndrome (STS)… __ You bought and never used Guru Buckweasel’s
How to Cure Your Shiny Tactic Syndrome And Start Creating Offers That Convert 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 In today’s episode, you’ll discover the formula for creating crisp, attention-grabbing videos (and how to use to make specific content for your audience): The POSER Video Formula
Ep 05 – The POSER Video Formula Read More »
“Story sells…” “Your customers connect with stories, not features and benefits…” “Thou shalt not bore thy customers…” If you study sales copy, you’ve no doubt heard variations of the above…that you should be telling stories. Stories are what people remember, and the way to your audience’s heart. And you can probably name at least two
5 Steps to Transform Your Personal Stories Into Sales Machines 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 If your audience zones out when you speak, you could be using these “authority robbing” words in your copy. Resources: Learn more on today’s episode at Libsyn: Authority Robbing Words
Ep 04 – Authority Robbing Words 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 In today’s episode, you’ll learn the third part of the 3-point model you must follow to scale your business and make it purposeful – reach. Resources: Go directly to the episode using this link: Reach: 3 Things That Must Happen Before You Can Sell A Thing (Part 3) Listen to Part 1
Ep 03 – Reach: 3 Things That Must Happen Before You Sell A Thing (Part 3) 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 »
In This Episode In today’s episode, you’ll learn the second part of the 3-point model you must follow to scale your business and make it purposeful – identity. Resources: Go directly to the episode using this link: Identity: 3 things That Must Happen Before You Can Sell A Thing (Part 2) Listen to Part 1
Ep 02 – Identity: 3 Things That Must Happen Before You Sell A Thing (Part 2) 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 In today’s episode, you’ll learn the first of the 3-point model you must follow to scale your business and make it purposeful – clarity. Resources: Go directly to the episode using this link: Clarity: 3 Things That Must Happen Before You Can Sell A Thing (Part 1) Listen to Part 2 (Clarity)
Ep 01 – Clarity: 3 Things That Must Happen Before You Sell A Thing (Part 1) 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 An insider’s peak of what you’ll see behind the doors of Copy Chief (and how to keep up with today’s evolving trends) Resources: To listen to this episode, use the link below: Who Is This Show For?
Ep 00 – Who Is This Show For? Read More »
Ray Bradbury fumbled his early stories. They took him a long time and were boring to read. Until in his twenties he stumbled upon a “trick” that gave him an endless supply of story ideas … giving us Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and creepy tales like Something Wicked This Way Comes. With this trick, he
[Story Sells] The Bradbury Trick for Spinning Easy Story 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 »
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 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 »
During World War I, the British Army believed high morale was the key to victory. And what builds morale better than love notes and care packages from home? So they developed an efficient way to deliver 12 million heart-wrenching letters to active-duty soldiers… every week. Here’s an excerpt from a real letter sent home during
How to sell beyond emotion and logic (Melanie Saladino’s safety and excitement scale) 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 »
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 This Episode 03:29 – What the greatest minds in marketing take notes on at big conferences 06:19 – The ONE crucial factor that dictates whether a product launch will bomb… or become a historic success 10:25 – The surprising reason Michael’s “reliable as gravity” marketing strategies bombed on one project… and crucial lesson you
Ep 23: The Truth About Michael Fishman Read More »
In This Episode 03:23 – Why Tim can freely offend people when he chooses… without having to worry about the financial impact on his business 05:37 – Why the people most concerned about their image are the most vulnerable to having it tarnished (and who’s the least at risk in the public eye) 10:55 –
Ep 21: The Truth About Tim Castleman Read More »
In This Episode 03:27 – The smartphone app responsible for Chris and Kevin growing their relationship over the years (a great way to stay connected for busy entrepreneurs) 05:02 – The place Kevin sends overwhelmed newbies who want to fast-track their way from zero to an online business that makes them money 07:47 – Chris’s
Ep 19: The Truth About Chris Farrell Read More »
In This Episode There’s something magical in the rhythm of great copy. Discover how Kevin pumps the funk into any sales process. Mentioned Resources Roy’s Writing Tools Pump The Funk Into Your Copy [podcast_optin] Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to accurately represent our product and it’s potential. Any claims made of actual earnings or
Ep 10: How To Write With Rhythm Read More »
Have you ever noticed that the companies we love the most are usually rooted in rebellion? For instance… Apple started in the garage after Jobs and Wozniak left college, fed up by the slow pace of technology. Virgin Airlines was born out of Richard Branson’s frustration with crappy airline travel. Dollar Shave Club started when
The amazing two-sentence answer to “what do you do?” Read More »
