The Copywriter Club Podcast

Liv Steigrad is our guest on the 314th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Liv is a copywriter and brand messaging strategist with a psychology and sociolinguistic background. She helps her clients create powerful brands through her B.R.A.V.E framework, and in this episode, she breaks down how copywriters can use it to build their own brands. Here’s how the conversation went: Does a psychology degree help in being a better copywriter? How to get better at voice of customer research. Making friends as an adult and applying the same techniques in networking. How to prepare and execute things that are terrifying. The one habit you need to build to gain momentum in your business and life. Do you have a definition of success? And is it really true to you? What is a brand story and why does it matter? How to envision big goals and create your ideal day. The balance between a full-time job and a full-time business. What you need to take advantage of while you’re working a full-time job. What is brand strategy and how in-depth does it get? How to make microcopy both functional and filled with brand personality. The B.R.A.V.E framework – How to apply it for your personal brand. Why brand strategy is essential and how to communicate its value to prospects. Where are most copywriters struggling with UX? BE BOTHERED – How this simple phrase will help boost your business. The two business lessons Liv learned from gymnastics. When your mindset wavers… Remember this. Hit play to listen to the episode. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Liv's website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 118 Episode 187 Episode 215 Jenn's website Full Transcript: Kira Hug:  When's the last time you felt bothered by something? Doesn't matter if we're talking about client acquisition or friendship, which we actually talk about a good amount in this episode, because let's face it, friendship is hard as an adult. It pays in multiple ways to be bothered, to speak up, and to show you care for the clients and friends in your business and life. And today's guest knows a lot about not only being a great friend but also about how to be brave in business and life. This branding strategist isn't afraid to terrify herself on a regular basis. This could look like stepping on a stage to do spoken word poetry, or doing a backflip, or traveling in a foreign country alone, or even building a business that's different from everyone else's business. In today's episode of The Copywriter Club podcast, you are in for a treat with brand strategist, gymnast, and all-around brave copywriter Liv Steigrad. Rob and I have had the luck of getting to know Liv in our Think Tank Mastermind and every time I spend time with her, I feel inspired to be more brave in my own business and life. Stay tuned because you won't want to miss this conversation. All right, so today I have a special co-host. I'm really excited to chat through this episode with Jenn Jouhseik, a personality-driven copywriter, and brand storyteller, and an incredible email copywriter as well. I know we don't want to give you three titles Jenn, but I feel like I have to mention email because you are a prolific email writer as well. So Jenn, thanks for being with me to talk through this episode. I appreciate it. Jenn Jouhseik:  Of course. So happy to be here. Kira Hug:  All right, so before we start to talk and dissect this conversation, I just want to mention that, of course, the podcast is sponsored by The Think Tank, which is our Mastermind Program. And Jenn, you are a member of The Think Tank. So I'm just going to ask you a question about it. From your experience, what has been the biggest benefit to your business from being in a Ma...

On the 313th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast, Todd Brown makes an entrance on the show. Todd is an expert marketer with over 15 years of experience and in this episode, you’ll find out how he went from making $8.50 an hour as an overworked employee to creating a sought-after marketing approach other experts utilize in their own direct response marketing campaigns. The conversation goes a little like this: Where Todd got his start in the direct response marketing industry. What he learned about discipline as a bodybuilder and how he carries it into his everyday life and business. The importance of consistency and why it wins every time. His perspective on discipline and how anyone can add it to their toolkit. The double-edged sword of hiring a team. His shift from marketer to entrepreneur and how it changed the game for his business growth. What is marketing really? How to use Todd’s E-5 method for marketing campaigns and to grow a thriving copywriting business. Two ways to bulletproof your copywriting business and NOT become a commodity. The easy way to compete against AI software. Can you create a valuable USP in a saturated market? Why you should interrogate your own processes and how to justify it to your audience. How to be seen as the genius in the room by solving problems. An inside look at (THE) Todd Brown’s life + a handy book recommendation. Business and life lessons he’s taken from fatherhood with two daughters. The only swipe file you’ll need for the rest of your career. Do not hesitate to press play on this episode. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Get Todd's Swipe file Todd's website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 24 with Roy Furr Our episode on Roy Furr's podcast Full Transcript:   Rob:  What does it take to become a truly great marketer? How do you learn the skills you need to serve your clients in a way that helps them grow? And when do you step beyond the role of copywriter and take on the title and role of entrepreneur? Our guest for today’s episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast is expert marketer Todd Brown. Over the past decade and a half, Todd has become the go-to expert for creating flourishing direct-response businesses. Todd is one of our mentors and we’ve learned a ton from him and his team. And every time we talk, we walk away with ideas and insights to implement in our business. What he shared in this interview will do the same for you. It’s a little longer than our usual, but Todd shared so many good insights. Do not skip this episode. Kira Hug:  So let's kick it off. How did you end up as The Todd Brown? How did you get here? Todd Brown:  I mean, first of all, I don't know if I would say I'm "The" anything. Let me be crystal clear about that. But it’s so interesting. First of all, I knew nothing about marketing or selling. I never liked selling, I was never really good at selling. But I was working for a health club company in central New Jersey, and through good luck, I guess I was promoted in this company. This company, they owned health clubs in New Jersey, that were all about 40,000 square feet, these big facilities, really beautiful architecture. They did something really special back then.  The company was growing very quickly. Actually, an interesting little gem was the owner of the company, I like to say that he was like my Steve Jobs, he was brutal to work for but I learned so much. I don't believe that I would be where I am today, if it wasn't for the experience, seeing how this guy looked at the numbers and was relentless with production and all that. Anyway, what was interesting was that prior to the gym business, he was one of the first people to lease computers.

Jennifer Spivak is our guest for the 312th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Jennifer is the CEO and founder of The AdGirls Agency, and she’s helped hundreds of businesses generate millions of dollars on Facebook and Instagram with the use of simple funnels. In this episode, she breaks down her funnel process and how copywriters can implement a low ad-spend approach to lead generation. Here’s how the conversation went: How Jennifer got into the entrepreneurial space and her mission behind her business. Getting out of an abusive relationship and how $1500 saved her life. How she grew her business through organic relationships and virtual door knocking. Why she set up one simple ad to book a call with her and how it turned out. Is it a good idea to turn your business into an agency? When this happens… It’s time to make a business pivot. Her team of 16 and how each position allows for her to step into her visionary role. What she would do differently if she was starting her business over. Her system and process for hiring and how to find out who would be a good fit for your team. Do you need a business partner? Split of equity – what’s that conversation like? Integrator role vs visionary role – what’s the difference and what are each responsible for? What NOT to do in your funnel and how to get chosen as the no-brainer choice. Her 4 messaging buckets to build relationships quickly and effectively. What if you don’t have a large budget for ads? The better follow-up method when someone books a call with you. The benefits of having a simple funnel in place… Call it the easy, lazy marketing approach. Switches and changes you might need to make to step into the visionary role in your business. Struggles of a 7-figure business owner and navigating new businesses. Why you should throw your timeline out the window and do this instead. Don’t wait to listen (or read) this episode. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Join the P7 Client Attraction Pipeline The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Jennifer's Forbes article  Jennifer's website Join Million Dollar Agency and use code "copywriterclub" for 25% off. The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 54 Episode 64 Episode 203 Full Transcript: Rob Marsh:  If you've been in the marketing world for more than a few days, you've probably heard the idea that you need a funnel. After all, a single funnel that reliably brings the right clients to your business is the difference between feast and famine and working with clients that you love versus working with those who tax your patience and drive you crazy. Our guest for this episode of The Copywriter Club podcast is Jenn Spivak, the founder of The Ad Girls agency. Jenn's take on creating a great funnel that attracts ideal clients is different from the approach of almost every other expert that we know and, in the second half of this interview, she broke it all down so that you can borrow her approach for your business. Before we share that, Jenn also talked about building her agency, how she hires the various roles on her team and a lot more. We covered a lot of ground in this interview, so stick around because this one has dozens of insights that are going to help you in your own business. Kira Hug:  Before we jump into our interview with Jenn, this podcast is sponsored by the P7 Client Attraction Pipeline. If you haven't heard about it and you have no idea what's going on with P7, there's still one day to jump inside before we officially start this intensive on Thursday, and if you're like, "I don't know what this is. What's P7? What does this mean?" we'll give you an idea of what it's all about. After talking to hundreds of copywriters over the last five years,

On the 311th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast, Peta O’Brien-Day joins the show to discuss… Politics. But not in the way you’d imagine. Peta is a copywriter and messaging strategist who educates her audience on how to tread in delicate territory by leading with empathy in marketing their efforts. Here’s how the conversation goes: Her background in social work and learning how to empathize with teenagers by building relationships. What’s the secret? Working in mentally challenging conditions and the toll it can take. Becoming a widow and transitioning into many different careers. Starting a blog about starting over and getting hired by parent-based companies. Beginning on Upwork and optimizing her profile to appear first in the search bar. How to communicate empathy with skeptical audiences as a business owner. Never say these two things when someone is grieving — take notes. How she upleveled her skills before cold pitching and landing a company who needed email copy. How she went from $500/mo to consistent $4-$5k months. The importance of being strategic about being more visible and how to do it. How she found what truly lit her and began attracting more ideal clients. Why she has a large ecosystem of where she acquires leads. Her framework for writing values and molding them into your message (clear as day!) What tools we can use when having difficult conversations. Why it’s important to keep our perspectives open. Tune into the episode by hitting that play button or reading the transcript below. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: P7 Workshop – get more clients The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Peta's website  Peta's politics membership waitlist  The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 63  Episode 274 Full Transcript:

On the 310th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast, Rob and Kira sit down and chat about what’s new in the world of The Copywriter Club. Catch up and tune into what needs to be on your radar for the last quarter of the year. Here’s what they talk about: The 2022-2023 Definitive Guide to Pricing for copywriters – and how you can apply it to your business. What’s the difference in salary between content writers and copywriters? Do you need a degree to be a copywriter? (new blog alert!) Do copywriters really need a niche? How you can get better at prospecting and scale your income. The number one problem copywriters are facing. What do habits have to do with gaining clients consistently? Are you ready for the Think Tank? What podcasts are Rob and Kira listening to lately? A podcast to improve your storytelling game. Tune into the episode below.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: P7 Workshop – get more clients How much do copywriters get paid? Do you need a degree to be a copywriter? Do copywriters need a niche? The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM   Full Transcript:

Melissa Harstine is our guest for the 309th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Melissa is a Customer Research Strategist who helps her clients pull out the best insights for her clients, so they can increase their reach and results. In this episode, Melissa gives us a breakdown of how we can all increase our customer research skills and why they matter in the first place. Check it out below: Melissa’s beginnings as a journalist at a small nonprofit for the elderly and how she was able to connect with her target audience. Writing for a demographic much different than your own – how’s it happen? Why she decided to hone in on a niche and how it worked out for her. How to connect with potential clients in your local business networking groups. Her advice on asking better questions during the research phase. Why you need to lead with empathy and how to respond to people’s demeanor and tone. The specific questions she asks clients to pull the best details and information for a project. How she packages research and presents it to prospective clients. The key to communicating value and knowing your target market. Working with well-known leaders in the industry through building relationships. Finding dream clients once you actually know what you’re looking for. How to turn research into strategy. Her process for pulling out the best pieces of customer research. Why it’s important to stop overbooking yourself and what to avoid. Questions you *probably* shouldn’t ask. How she presents the research report to her clients and helps them apply and implement in real time. Should you position yourself as a “thought partner?” Resources you can use to become a better researcher. How The Copywriter Accelerator helped her grow her business. How to add more value for your clients. Tune into the episode by hitting play or reading the transcript below.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Melissa's website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 12 Episode 28 Episode 154 The TCC Shop  Full Transcript: Kira Hug:  Customer research is one of those things all copywriters need to do in order to truly connect with the audiences we write for, but not all of us like doing it, and some clients hate paying for it. Doing it well can be a bit of a challenge. Today's guest on the podcast is messaging strategist and copywriter, Melissa Harstine. She talked about how she went from a copywriter without a niche to specializing in customer research for a variety of clients, including other copywriters. As we talked, she shared her favorite interview questions, ideas for selling research to clients, and how she turns her research data into a strategy her clients can execute on. It's a great interview you won't want to miss. Rob Marsh:  But first, this episode is sponsored by the Copywriter Underground. That's the membership for ambitious and growing copywriters. As a member, you have access to copywriting and business training, group coaching calls, copy critiques, our bimonthly newsletter, and a lot more, all designed to help you grow your business. And if you join now, as in the week that we're releasing this podcast, you not only get your first month for just $17, which is a screaming deal, but you'll also get a hard copy of our 24-page Copywriter's Definitive Guide to Pricing, which includes data about what copywriters of all experience levels are charging for 22 different project types, as well as things like the six figure niches and so much more. So go to Thecopywriterunderground.com to join now. Kira Hug:  And if you want to get your first month for just $17, like Rob said, use the promo code, TRY IT, that's all caps, TRY IT, and that will get you in for $17 for your firs...

Our guest for the 308th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast is Kristin Lajeunesse. Kristin is an author and former digital nomad who has traveled to all 50 states in the U.S. and 21 countries on a mission to find delicious vegan food along the way. Her travels led her to copywriting and over the last couple of years, she’s built a thriving business. Here’s how her story goes: Kristin’s 3 lives and how they led her top copywriting. Starting a business on Fiverr before hiring a sales consultant. Landing large clients with employees vs solopreneur clients. What it’s like to work with a sales consultant – how does it fit into the budget? Are you doing the same amount of work for less money? The best tool you can use on a sales call. How to turn your sales call into an organic conversation rather than an interrogation. How much do we really need to do to ensure a high-quality customer experience? The two best investments Kristin has made in her business. How she manages her small team and hires subcontractors to support her business. How she pays her subcontractors. Her process for being the main point of contact and delegating to subcontractors. What it’s like to write for businesses that may take a toll on your mental state – what should you consider? Balancing being a highly sensitive entrepreneur and setting boundaries. Why she chose the van life? The best destination for digital nomads. What it’s like to write a book for a traditional publisher. Setting up a book tour and finding sponsors. Hit play or check out the transcript below. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Kristin's website  The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 81  Episode 137 Episode 305 The TCC Shop  Full Transcript:

Jenn Prochaska is our guest on the 307th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Jenn is a copywriter who specializes in message strategy and websites. This episode is truly an inspiring journey as we hear how Jenn has navigated her way through addiction, motherhood, and scaling a thriving business. This episode will leave you with wisdom, practical business advice, and even a email marketing strategy… Here’s how the episode goes: Jenn’s 25 year background in sales and marketing and why she went from LA back to Cleveland. The journey to getting sober and realizing the “cushy” job didn’t bring happiness. Going back to school to get a Masters in creative writing and rediscovering old passions. Making big changes in adulthood and investing in yourself. Working for agencies, being a lead copywriter, and diving into freelance copywriting. How tires helped her learn about educating an audience, urging them to care, and how to incorporate benefits. Why is addiction misunderstood? Doing better vs. doing different – is there a difference? Jenn’s systems and processes to make hard decisions and being a successful integrator. Being a good parent vs being a good business owner? The aha advice Jenn got from Rob about writing expectations. Getting permission to shut Shirley up (who the heck is Shirley?) Mapping out workflows and finding holes in your process. How Jenn created her unique framework and niched her business. How Jenn’s support, community, and mentors have helped silence her limiting beliefs and strengthened her mindset. Jenn’s morning routine as a parent and business owner. Communication and boundaries – and how it helps Jenn become a better entrepreneur. The power of the Think Tank community. Jenn’s FORTY-week drip sequence? How did she do it? Tune into the episode by hitting play or reading the transcript below. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Jenn's website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 82 Episode 270 Episode 301 Erin's website Juliet's website   Full Transcript: Rob Marsh:  Life is messy. Sometimes life is really messy. And it can take a while, sometimes even years or decades to figure things out. And as we've interviewed copywriters on this podcast, many of them have described long winding, sometimes really messy pathways that they followed to get to where they are today. Today's guest on the Copywriter Club podcast has a path like that. Jenn Prochaska shared how she went from LA's music scene to a somewhat more sedate and fulfilling role as a mom copywriter and brand strategist, and how it took more than a decade to figure it all out. We talked about a lot of things in this episode. Everything from addiction to creating and scaling a business that fits the life you want to mindset and a lot more. We think you're going to like it. You're also going to hear a lot of voices in this episode. That's because Kira interviewed Jenn while I was on vacation. And invited copywriter, Erin Pennings, to join her to ask questions. So, you're going to hear Erin, you're going to hear Kira. And now as we're recording a few additional comments to go along with this interview, Kira's on vacation and I've invited copywriter, Juliet Peay, to join me to share her thoughts. Juliet, thanks for your help. Welcome to the podcast. Juliet Peay:  Thank you so much for having me. I'm glad to jump in and hope Kira is having a blast. She deserves it. Rob Marsh:  Yeah. She definitely deserves it. I mean, we should all take more vacation, I think. So, this is fun. Before we get to our interview with Jenn, we just want to make you aware of a new copywriting business training available from the Copywriter Club and Jamie Jensen.

On the 306th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast, Jamie Jensen makes her second appearance on the show. Jamie is a copywriter, screenwriter, creative coach and some-day showrunner. Jamie’s many lives have led her to her absolute passion of screenwriting and helping other multi-passionate creatives discover how to balance it all. Here’s how the conversation went: What’s the difference between hitting a wall and burnout? Walking away from something that’s going well? How to create a step by step process for what comes next. Why you need to give yourself permission to be messy. The balance between business person and artist. What goes into the screenwriting process? The importance of allowing yourself to be bad at your craft. The shift in the screenwriting industry – what have been the effects of streaming? What goes into Jamie’s writing process? Why you should treat your projects like relationships – projects as people? What are work retreats all about? What’s a pilot vs a screenplay? How to get into screenwriting. How to get a lot done in a short amount of time. What is it like to work with an editor? How does it help improve the writing process? Dabbling into new projects and passions… How do we balance it all.Read the transcript below or hit that play button. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Join the Accelerator  Join the Flip the Switch Workshop The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Jamie's website  The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 62   Full Transcript: Rob Marsh:  This is the 306th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. And if you've been here since the beginning, you've certainly noticed some themes that tend to recur as we've interviewed nearly 300 copywriters. Obviously, we like to ask about things like prospecting and sales calls teams, and all the things that copywriters do in their business so that you can borrow or steal an idea or two to use in your own businesses. So it's a little surprising when we stumble across a topic that we've never addressed before. And today's guest on the podcast is copywriter, screenwriter, creative coach, and someday showrunner, Jamie Jensen. When we invited Jamie to the show, we thought we'd be talking more about the changes that she's made in her business since we interviewed her a few years ago, but we discovered something that we've really never talked about before on the show. And so while today's episode does address Jamie's business and how it's evolved, it's also a primer on writing for TV and cinema. Kira Hug:  But before we get to Jamie's interview, we just want to share a final announcement that today is the last day to join the Copywriter Accelerator Program before we shut the doors and kick off this program this September. So if you have any interest in building your business, so you have consistent income processes that help you feel really confident about what you're doing. So it's easier to sell what you're doing. This is a great program. A lot of the conversation today with Jamie is about creative pursuits in writing. And I think most of us have some creative ideas that we're inspired to work on, but it's tricky to do that if we don't have a business that's running and providing consistent revenue. So we're not stressing over paying our bills and stressing about where our business is going to go. And so the Accelerator Program is actually a really nice fit for people who just need a workable business. That feels really good to them and is something they could depend on so that they can pursue those projects, whether it's writing or something else and shape their life around, or I guess, shape the business around their life rather than vice versa. So today's the last day we hope we can work with you. If you have any interests,

Our guest for the 305th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast is sustainable and cruelty-free copywriter, Topaz Hooper. Topaz focuses on working with eco-friendly brands whose values align with her own. The slow fashion, environmentally conscious niche is growing rapidly, and Topaz spills all the details for those who are keen to join in on the movement to help the planet. Here’s how the conversation goes: How Topaz became a vegetarian and transitioned to veganism. Her beginning in the vegan coaching industry and how it was the catalyst for her copywriting career. What are the benefits of going vegan? Is Rob going to give it a go? How she tuned into her audience's needs and wants, so she could speak directly to them and shape their transformation. What mistakes copywriters are making in their sales copy – and how to fix it. How can you get paid to make mistakes? How she quickly became known as the cruelty free copywriter in 2022 and scaled her income to $10k months. Her method for working less hours, earning more, and achieving what she’s only heard about on podcasts. What mistakes do copywriters need to avoid to scale their businesses? The simplest way to go about getting testimonials – and something to absolutely avoid. Is there room for copywriters to enter the cruelty free industry? (you’re not going to believe how much it’s worth). How to find clients in the sustainable and cruelty-free industry. What is she doing differently as a strategist and how it helped her land a huge tech client. How The Copywriter Accelerator helped grow and scale her business. The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Join the Accelerator  Join the Flip the Switch Workshop The Copywriter Think Tank Kira’s website Rob’s website Topaz's website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Free month of Brain.FM Episode 253   Full Transcript: Kira Hug:  Could this be the TCC episode that turns Rob Marsh into a vegan? Possibly, or maybe this conversation simply highlights a gigantic opportunity for our community of copywriters and content writers and marketing strategists. We're talking about a fast-growing industry that is estimated to be worth $7 billion and growing. We're talking about the plant-based food space and cruelty-free products.   And today, we're talking with content strategist, cruelty-free copywriter, and our guest on The Copywriter Club podcast today, Topaz Hooper. Topaz chose her niche based on her morals and values. And she's built a six-figure business out of it. She's also managed to snag a huge client that we don't actually mention in this episode. We never actually name the client. But if you do a quick Google or a quick LinkedIn search of Topaz, you'll quickly figure out the client that we're talking about in this conversation. You won't want to miss everything Topaz is about to share with us. But first, I have a special guest as my co-host today. So I am so lucky to be here with my co-host, Mike Garner. Mike is an Accelerator alumni member, and a current member of the Think Tank Mastermind. Mike is finishing, about to finish a book, his first book, or did you just finish it, Mike? Mike Garner:  I'm just finishing the first draft. I'm editing. Kira Hug:  It's in editing mode. Mike is also an incredible email copywriter, and we just figured that out after working together on an email sequence recently, with so much talent and so much experience to share with us. So I feel grateful that you're here, Mike. Is there anything else you want to share that's really important to know about you before we continue? Mike Garner:  I feel slightly embarrassed at an introduction like that. I've been a copywriter for far too many years than I care to remember. I was a translator before that. And like you said, I fell out of the Accelerator into the think tank because I wan...