TCC Podcast #179: The Platypus Model for Client Work with Helen Tremethick

Copywriter and former cookie maker, Helen Tremethick, is our guest for the 179th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Helen has an interesting approach to working with her clients, so we asked her all about it... and we asked her about these things too: •  the path she followed from R&D director at a cookie company to copywriter •  the common thread running through the jobs she had before she became a writer •  her “complimentary relationship” tactic for finding clients •  the “platypus model” for working with branding and copy clients •  how to create, sell and deliver a workshop for clients (and the economics of it all) •  the mistakes you’ll want to avoid if you want to hold workshops •  what her Clarity Sessions include—getting the underlying brand values right •  the questions she asks her clients in her consulting work •  how she prices her introductory offers in order to attract clients •  the tactics she uses to “do brand voice” better—this is an idea worth stealing •  what she includes in her roadmapping sessions •  where things go off the rails with style and brand voice guides •  the other unique things she’s doing in her business that other copywriters aren’t •  her experience as a blocker in roller derby •  Helen’s and Kira’s copywriting lessons from roller derby •  where she thinks copywriting is going in the future To hear everything Helen shared, click the play button below, or scroll down for a full transcript. Or, even better, subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher so you never miss an episode.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The price survey Tanya Geisler Helen’s website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: Kira:  This episode is brought to you by The Copywriter Accelerator, the 12 week program for copywriters who want to learn the business skills they need to succeed. Learn more at thecopywriteraccelerator.com. Rob:   What if you could hang out with seriously talented copywriters and other experts, ask them about their successes and failures, their work processes and their habits, then steal an idea or two to inspire your own work? That's what Kira and I do every week at The Copywriter Club Podcast. Kira:  You're invited to join the club for Episode 179 as we chat with copywriter and brand voice strategist, Helen Tremethick about how to position of business so you attract the right clients, creating more than one revenue stream in her business, how she creates balance and ignores the hustle and her experience in roller derby. Welcome, Helen. Helen:          Hi, thank you. Kira:  Kick this off and let us know how you ended up as a copywriter and brand voice strategist. What's your story? Helen:          Oh, yes, thanks. The short story is that I went to school for radio and television broadcasting. Then I went to school for International Development. Brand voice strategy is really about communicating who you are, and really understanding that deeper motivation. It's really hybrid of both of those educational channels that I took along the way in a very formal way. But the truth of the matter is, if you get a little bit deeper and uncover the story, there are a lot of hats that I wore along the way from being a research and development consultant for a cookie company, to being an executive director of a nonprofit, and even being a purple tea apprentice at a farm in central Ontario. All these experiences allowed me to really see business owners as they are, what works, what doesn't work, and really start formulating a way of communicating that connects to the people that we want to connect to, but still maintains this really genuine and authentic, not authentic TM, but this really authentic way of communicating who you are. Rob:   Did you just say you were an R&D specialist in a cookie company? Helen:          Yes, vegan cookie company in Toronto,