Build Your Copywriting Business

Put a check next to any of these that you've thought: [ ] That business is too big to need my help. [ ] That business works with an agency already. [ ] They must have copywriters already. [ ] Solopreneur? They can’t afford me! [ ] It's a holiday. I can't reach out to them now. Admittedly, this isn't like a Cosmo quiz where 0-2 checks means one thing and all 5 means another. If you checked any of these, you're making an assumption that could be costing you opportunities (and money). In fact, our brains are pretty great at coming up with ALL kinds of reasons *not* to reach out to potential clients ... And that's exactly what we're going to put the kibosh on today. Listen now to debunk some of the most common pitching assumptions before they cost you even MORE money and opportunities. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Sending lots of emails to potential clients, but never getting a response? As a business owner for 15+ years, I've received my fair of share of pitches (CCA students: you've seen some of the good and some of the bad!). And I can tell you that there are a handful of super-common mistakes. But you don't have to make those same mistakes, my friend! We're running through the biggest of the big no-nos (with real examples!) on this episode of the By the end, you'll know how to spot these errors so you can fix them before you hit "send" on your emails. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Be honest with me for a sec: Have you ever said any of the following before reaching out to a client? "No one wants my pitches." "This is hard—and I'm just going to get a no." "This person doesn't even know me. This is basically spam." "There's an easier way. I'll just use those job bidding sites." As a business owner, I can tell you that all of this negative self talk is not only dangerous, it's just not true. When you send an email packed with value (CCA students, you know what I'm talking about), business owners are grateful. They may not reach back out, but I can tell you they save your emails (I've got a few I've saved for upcoming projects!). So, if you've ever said any of these, you need to listen to this episode now. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Does it ever feel like someone’s trying to put you in a box? It can feel … constraining, to say the least. We all have multiple interests, and as our professional and personal lives increasingly get blurred, it seems silly to try to distill our identities down to a single word. That’s why I can’t wait for you to hear Shelby’s story on today’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode. A copywriter, comedian, actor, podcaster, former teacher, and CCA student (among, many, many other things!), Shelby is sharing allllll the details on how she makes her multi-hyphenate career work. But even more helpful than her tips for balancing multiple income streams and passions are her tips for balancing all of your interests without burning out. I can’t wait for you to hear all of her hard-earn wisdom … Psst: You can hear Nicki and Kate on Shelby’s podcast Herstory right here . --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Ep. 70: Tips for Tackling Blank Page Syndrome Ep. 280: Making Herstory: Nicki Krawczyk & Kate Sitarz The Anatomy of a Good Ad: 6 Elements to Include Shelby’s Instagram Herstory Podcast Related Links Ep. 61: Juggling Multiple Copywriting Clients Ep. 154: How Freelancers Can Masterfully Juggle Multiple Projects – with Kaitlyn Spinney The Three Steps to Career Change --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

I know: the 3 keys to unlimited (really!) copywriting success sounds like a big promise. But we (really!) follow through on it. And frankly, these are the steps for success at anything , not just copywriting. Whatever goals you have for yourself, you CAN achieve them. The only way to “fail” is if you don’t get started. Or if you stop doing the work. OK, I’m going to stop typing (really!) because this is one episode you need to listen to ASAP. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode The Real Math on Job Bidding Site “Success” Ep. 154: How Freelancers Can Masterfully Juggle Multiple Projects – with Kaitlyn Spinney Ep. 199: #1 Thing Getting in Your Way of Copywriting (and Other!) Success Related Links The Secret to Sustaining Freelance Copywriting Success Book Pick: How to Get Out of Your Own Way and Achieve Copywriting Success Habits of Wildly Successful Copywriters --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Any guesses on the fastest way to make people believe what you’re selling? Show them proof. That’s exactly what case studies do. And it’s why case studies are one of the most valuable pieces of copy you can write—for your clients or your own business. On this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode we’re talking all things case studies so you can use this powerful storytelling tool to bring in business. Whether you want to write case studies for yourself or add them to your service offerings, here’s what you need to know. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode 4 Things Most Copywriters Get Wrong on Their Portfolio Websites 5 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Copywriting Portfolio Site -------------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

A client hires you for a “VIP day.” Suddenly, you’re tasked with: Kicking off the project Writing a creative brief Coming up with a strong concept Outlining the copy Writing the copy (for how many deliverables is another question …) Getting feedback on that copy Incorporating that feedback Getting final sign off … all in the span of 8 hours. And let’s be real: no one has 8 good hours of work in them every day. On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, Kate and I are digging into why VIP days make 0 sense—for you and especially for your clients! Just the thought of this task list stresses me out. And, I know some copywriting “gurus” tout the benefit of VIP days, but these days are reputation ruiners, my friend. Here’s why… --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Copywriting Is Only 1/3 Writing—Here’s Why That Affects How You Charge Copywriting Rush Fees: When and How to Charge Them What Do You Bill For? (And What Don’t You?) The Case for Slowing Down: Fast Copywriting Doesn’t Equal Better Copywriting Related Links How Can You Know if a Copywriting Deadline is Doable? 5 Easy Tips for Maximizing Your Time --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought any of the following: “It’s too late.” “I should have done that years ago.” “I’m too old now.” Well, where did that idea come from? If you’ve got 5, 10, 20+ years of a career left, that’s a lot of time to spend doing something that doesn’t make you happy. On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, CCA student Carol is bringing the wisdom: it’s never too late. Carol had a decades-long career in pet PR and she’s sharing how she transitioned to copywriting and the lessons she’s learned along the way. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode SmartDogCopy.com Ep. 84 When to Break the Copywriting Niche Rule Ep. 130: 4 of the Highest Paying Copywriting Niches Should You Get a Copywriting Internship? Related Links Best Backgrounds and Degrees for Getting Into Copywriting Ep. 120: Most Common Copywriter Backgrounds --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Time to put on your business owner hat: Would you pay someone to clean your house? What about do your grocery shopping? What if someone could find clients for you? Would that be worth it for you? On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, I’m not asking you to commit to hiring someone to do any of these things. But I’d encourage you to listen to this episode and explore the possibilities. If you charge your clients $75/hour and you can hire someone at $25 or even $50/hour to do a task better and faster for you, is that worth it? It’s all math. And it’s worth playing around with the numbers to see what opportunities you might be overlooking. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode BONUS Laser Coaching: Lower the Pressure on Pitching BONUS Laser Coaching: Top Tips for Wildly Effective Pitching Related Links When to Be in Client-Finding Mode Land Copywriting Clients With These 35 Tips BONUS – Laser Coaching: How Do I Find Clients for Freelancing? --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

How much does a banana cost for you? At Trader Joe’s they may be 26 cents (maybe a bit more for organic). At Whole Foods they may be around 70 cents. But a banana costs relatively the same amount wherever you go, right? It’s a difference of a few cents. Copywriting is a not a banana. And, even if we agree on that, I don’t think you’re going to like this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast. See, we hear all the time, “I found this pricing guide and it’s really helpful!” But what you may not realize is those guides are actually hurting you. It’s presented as an easy solution to a complex problem: how much do I charge for an email? Or a homepage? Or an about page? I hate to break it: there’s not an easy button for this. These guides are a marketing gimmick to put $$$dollar signs$$$ in your eyes and get you to click or opt-in or buy the program. Ready to hear me out? Listen to today’s episode now before a pricing guide leads you down the wrong path. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode The (Surprisingly Easy) Art of Negotiation for Copywriters Copywriting Revision Rounds: How Many Rounds Do You Offer? Ep. 17: How to Set Your Copywriting Rates Ep. 109: The Right Way to Raise Copywriting Rates Related Links Increase Your Copywriting Pricing Without Burning Bridges Why Most Advice About How to Price Your Services is Dead Wrong for You How to Price Copywriting Services: By the Minute? The Hour? The Word? --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Do you love a to-do list as much as I do? I loooove a to-do list. Well, mostly I love checking things off that list. But on this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, Kate and I dug into how we’ve been rethinking the to-do list so we don’t fall into what Kate is calling the “to-do list trap.” If you ever put things on your list and: Feel guilty for every day that an item sits on your list—and you don’t complete it Feel like you have to check off every item on your list because they’re there Or feel like your list is never-ending (because it literally will never end!) Then you’ll come away with new ways to look at your to-do lists so you get all the benefits of a list without the burden. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Ep. 154: How Freelancers Can Masterfully Juggle Multiple Projects – with Kaitlyn Spinney Episode BONUS: AI & Copywriting: Using AI to Your Advantage to Wow Clients and Land High-Paying Work Ep. 241: ChatGPT: Friend or Foe? – with Amber Smith Related Links 4 Tools to Stay On Top of Your To-Do List Ep. 154: How Freelancers Can Masterfully Juggle Multiple Projects – with Kaitlyn Spinney --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Like many Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students, Caleb was a burnt out teacher looking for a different career. On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, he’s generously sharing how he made that transition, including how he’s learned to use his ADHD as a strength. Several people in the community have asked about working as a copywriter with ADHD and, whether or not you are managing it yourself, Caleb’s tips are wildly helpful. As he says, he can’t just rely on “feeling” like working, but has to set up his environment so that getting started is the easiest thing to do. And when he’s working, Caleb uses the “sprint” method to avoid the mid-day fog. Listen to hear him explain these tactics—and others (and let us know if you try any!!). -------------- Mentioned in the Episode Caleb’s LinkedIn How to Put Together a Copywriting Portfolio (Even With No Experience) Ep. 37: Improve Your Copywriting Productivity and Professionalism Ep. 237: AI is Going to Take My Job!!! … But Is It Related Links Finding Your Copywriting Flow State BONUS Laser Coaching: Tips for Neurodivergent Copywriters Ep. 256: From Teaching to Copywriting While Facing Life’s Biggest Tests – Joanna’s Story --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

If you’re in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy, you know this community is packed with talented, creative, smart, generous humans. One of those humans is Shelby Stockton. Shelby is a comic, copywriter, and co-host of Herstory , a podcast spotlighting the stories of badas* women throughout history. So, this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode is actually a special crossover episode from Herstory . Shelby kindly invited Kate and me to talk about how we each got started in copywriting, how I built the CCA, and the realities of freelancing. We also get into book recommendations, behind-the-scenes stories, and more. ----------------- Mentioned in the Episode Herstory Spotify Podcast Helping Copywriters Start and Scale Wildly Successful Careers The Fastest Way to Grow Your Copywriting Business Related Links If I Make So Much Money Writing Copy, Why Am I Teaching Copywriting? Get Your Copy of “Copywriting Strategies” by Our Own Nicki Krawczyk Ep. 8: Meet Nicki Krawcyzk, Founder of Filthy Rich Writer Ep. 4: Meet Our Head Copy Coach, Kate Episode 251: Lessons from Nicki’s New Freelance Client Episode 258: From Scarcity to Strategy: An Honest Update on My Money Mindset ------------------ Get Free Copywriting Training here

Our feelings on niching have never wavered: niching unnecessarily limits your opportunities, especially when you’re first starting out. But what if you have an entire career in an industry? You can—and should—absolutely use that experience to your advantage. CCA student and former healthcare worker Molly is sharing how she did exactly that on this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode. Molly didn’t focus her entire portfolio on healthcare copywriting. Instead, she focused her outreach on the healthcare industry—and turned that into a six figure freelance career. So, why’d she decide to take a full-time job? Listen to hear Molly explain … --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Molly’s LinkedIn The Real Math on Job Bidding Site “Success” Ep. 84: When to Break the Copywriting Niche Rule --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Ever wonder what makes a banner ad actually work ? As in: what separates a scroll-past banner ad from a stop-and-click banner ad? While Kate and I don’t have the data from these ads, we do have some thoughts on 8 different banner ads. Some of these banner ads are single frames. Some are dynamic (meaning, they switch frames every few seconds). Some have solid messaging. Some…not so much. While this is a very visual episode and I recommend watching on YouTube, Kate and I do read the copy out loud so you can listen, too (we know at least a couple of you listen in the school pick-up line; we’ve got you!!). --------------- Mentioned in the Episode What’s a Creative Brief? A Guide to a Copywriter’s Essential Document How Copywriting Projects Actually Come Together How To Come Up With Wildly Effective Copywriting Concepts Ep. 21: How Copywriters and Designers Work Together with Yoav Broum Related Links The Biggest Banner Ad Writing Mistakes --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Talking on the phone feels a little old school, don’t you think? ☎️ But guess what? It’s still how a lot of business gets done. And one phone call completely changed the trajectory of Victoria’s career. Victoria went to school for business and launched her business as a VA in 2021. Her clients? They wanted marketing and copywriting support, too. As she started building her skills, she realized there was so much more she could be offering—and charging. She’s sharing how she went from VA to sending a $120,000 proposal for copywriting work She also came to the podcast PREPARED. Victoria is giving her top five tips for copywriters—and these are tips that are valuable whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in the game for years. I can’t wait for you to hear what she wrote on a sticky note and posted on her laptop! --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Victoria Website BONUS Laser Coaching: Top Tips for Wildly Effective Pitching How to Draw Copywriting Work Opportunities to You Related Links BONUS Laser Coaching: Breaking the Feast or Famine Cycle, Nailing a Discovery Call, and Getting Replies on Pitches Ep. 203: Secrets to Smooth Copywriting Client Relations --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

OK first things first so we’re on the same page: A Discovery Call is one of the most important calls you have as a copywriter. This is where you and a client get on a 15 or so minute call and determine if you want to move forward together on a project. But what does that look like? And how do you move forward with the project? In this podcast episode, I’m sharing exactly what I’d say on a discovery call. Well, if we’re getting technical, Kate is sharing exactly what she’d say on a Discovery Call. As you’ll hear, I’m playing the role of client and Kate is playing the role of copywriter as we discuss a potential project. Listen in so you know exactly what types of questions to expect from clients and how you can (gently!) steer the conversation in way that makes you look like the pro that you are. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Ep. 224: Why You Should (Almost) Never Quote Copywriting Prices on a Call Laser Copy Coaching: Getting Information From Clients, When to Price Your Services, and Boosting Confidence Related Links BONUS Laser Coaching: Breaking the Feast or Famine Cycle, Nailing a Discovery Call, and Getting Replies on Pitches Ep. 45: How to Calm Your Nerves for Meetings with Copywriting Clients How To Mess Up a Call With a Prospective Client --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Have your heart set on freelancing? A lot of copywriters do. And that was Jen, too. She was freelance or bust. In fact, the last time we talked to her , she was thriving as a freelancer, making upwards of 10K/month while home schooling her kids. So, why the heck did she take an on-staff job?! When you’re really clear on what you want and why you want it, you realize there are multiple ways to get there. For Jen, flexibility and freedom are the MOST important. But freelancing isn’t the only way to get those things. If you’ve always felt like freelancing was the only way to hit your goals, you’ll want to listen to Jen’s update. I’ll leave it to Jen to fill you in on the rest … --------------- Mentioned in the Episode Ep. 51: Working at an Agency & Collaborating with Other Copywriters – Jen’s and Julie’s Story Copywriting for Nonprofits: 2 Tips to Crafting Compelling Copy Related Links Ep. 36: From Full-Time, Faith-Based Nonprofit Work to Part-Time Copywriting – Kate’s Story Ep. 236: Raising 2 Kids, Writing for Nonprofits, and Going at Your Own Pace – Stevi’s Story --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

When you think of “networking,” what do you think of? 😖 “Hello my name is …” name tags and business cards being shoved at you like confetti? 😫 Memorizing an elevator pitch that ends up feeling sales-y and robotic? ☠️ A room full of strangers that makes you feel like you’re back in the middle school lunchroom trying to figure out what table to sit at? I hear you. All of that makes me want to run and hide under a blanket, too. And that’s why on this this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, we’re sharing how you can reduce the pressure of in-person events and, dare we say it, have fun . The biggest mistake people make when going to an event is similar to the biggest mistake people make in an email: they make it all about themselves. Here’s how to not make this about yourself and connect with other humans in the most authentic way possible. --------------- Mentioned in the Episode 8 Tips for Networking Success Use Copywriting Networking to Help Land More Clients Find Copywriting Clients by Networking in the Right Places The One Question That Makes Copywriting Networking Easy Related Links The Simplest Way to Start Finding Copywriting Clients Ep. 213: Find Copywriting Clients Anywhere You Go --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

If you heard our first conversation with Kelsey then you already know she’s a bada** human. If you missed that conversation, I can’t even sum up all the insights she shares (so definitely check it out if you haven’t already). But the major win was Kelsey earned a promotion to senior copywriter after only a year of being with her in-house agency. Since then, Kelsey has been up to A LOT, making the major decision to shift from an in-house agency copywriter role to an ad agency copywriter role. We caught up with Kelsey and she shared what when into her decision to change jobs (even though she LOVED her previous role!), as well as how she went into the interview process feeling more empowered than ever before. If you’ve ever wondered the difference between in-house and agency teams, Kelsey shares some of the differences she’s noticed as well as how she’s continuing to balance her personal and professional aspirations. ----------------- Mentioned in the Episode Copywriting for Ad Agencies: What to Expect and Why It’s Great for Your Career What’s an Internal or In-House Ad Agency? Ep. 105: Building an Agency – with Michelle Fernandez Related Links Ep. 99: Running a Copy Agency from Costa Rica – Poorva’s Story Episode 140: Traveling Europe While Running a Copywriting Agency—Chris’s Story --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here