The Copywriter Club Podcast

Samar Owais, content expert and email copywriter is our guest for the 158th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. This one has been a long time coming... this is our fourth attempt to make this interview happen and it is worth the wait. Kira and Rob ask Samar about a lot of stuff from email to being the only person at TCCIRL with a hijab. Here's the list of what we asked: •  how Samar built her content business and charged $1000 per blog post •  what content writers should be doing to build their business •  why she “transitioned” from content to conversion-oriented email copy •  what she does to find clients for her business right now •  what email sequences should use in their business •  the 4 phases of her process and what she accomplishes in each phase •  the things she struggles within her business •  how she storyboards emails to make sure the sequence does what it should •  how she tracks her success—and gets access to all of her client’s numbers •  why she offers to help implement the emails she writes •  how she packages her services and what she charges for an engagement •  her writing process and how she applies her strategy to each project •  the impact of the pivot—from content to email—on her business •  her experience attending TCCIRL last year (and why you should go this year) •  what she experienced as the only hijab-wearing Muslim woman at the event and why we need more people from all backgrounds at all copywriting events •  how she deals with self-sabotage and how we can stop doing that to ourselves •  who she relies on to help her get things done •  her advice for anyone who wants to specialize in email copy •  what’s next for Samar in her business Like we wrote above, this one is worth the wait. To hear all the advice Samar had to share, Click the play button below, or scroll down for a full transcript. Or download the episode to your favorite podcast app (and don't forget to subscribe so you won't miss future episodes).   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Paul Jarvis Copyblogger Copyhackers Val Geisler Prerna Malik Eman Zabi TCCIRL The Copywriter Underground Chanti Zak Samar's website Samar’s Twitter Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: Kira:   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 and idea or two to inspire your own work? That's what Rob and I do every week at The Copywriter Club Podcast. Rob:   You're invited to join the Club for episode 158 as we chat with copywriter, Samar Owais about going from $5 blog posts to assignments that pay more than 50 times that much today. How she finds good clients, willing to pay her rates. What she did to write for clients like Copyblogger, Men with Pens, and Mercy, and how she stays productive while raising a young family. Hey, Samar. Kira:   Samar, welcome. Samar:           Hi, guys, how are you? Kira:   So good, so good to talk to you. This has been a long time in the making. I think this is our fourth attempt to make this interview happen, but I'm feeling, I think we're all feeling good. This is going to happen and we're really excited to talk to you today. So, let's just kick off with your story. How did you end up as an email copywriter? Samar:           Mostly through trial and error. So, before I was an email copywriter, I was a content writer. I spent about eight years building my business and authority. Wrote for clients like Paul Jarvis, and big brands like Marriott and Intercontinental. Got published in places like Copyblogger and Founder. My business as a content writer was at a pretty sweet spot, to be honest. But then, three things happened. One, I got more interested in pursuing the ROI of the content that I was writing, but my clients weren't. Two,

Copywriter and expert cold emailer, Laura Lopuch, is our guest for the 157th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. In this interview, Kira, Rob and Laura covered a lot of ground when it comes to what to say when you're cold pitching new prospects. Here's a pretty good list of what we covered: •  the path Laura took from paralegal to copywriter •  what made her decide it was time for a job change •  how she attracted her first clients when she went out on her own •  how to cold pitch effectively •  the difference between personalization and relevance and why it matters •  the thing that no one talks about when it comes to cold emails •  what Laura does BEFORE she starts to write a cold pitch •  why you might need to indulge your inner stalker when you cold pitch •  how to tell if a potential client is ready to invest in what you can offer •  the best way to phrase the call to action so you get results •  the subject lines that work well—Laura’s “backslash secret” •  the ways a cold pitch email differs from a regular email to your list •  how she figured out the niche to focus on in her business •  the basics of a good presentation and how it all comes together •  why she doesn’t focus her mentorship on learning •  how she became a travel hacker so she could travel for free •  where Laura thinks copywriting will go in the future •  the templates she used to land +$20K in business If that seems like a lot, it is. And it's good stuff. To hear this interview, click the play button below or subscribe to The Copywriter Club Podcast using your favorite podcast app. And if you prefer to read, you can scroll down for a full transcript.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Crystalknows Copyhackers Shine Bootcamp MicroConf Hayley Hopson Tarzan Kay thepointsguy.com Laura's website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: 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 157 as we chat with email copywriter, Laura Lopuch about why she loves writing emails, the worst mistakes we make when writing emails, the relevancy method and how to structure a cold pitch so potential clients become actual clients, and how she became a travel hacker. Kira:   Welcome Laura. Rob:   Hey Laura. Laura:            Thanks guys for having me. I'm very excited to be here. Kira:   Yeah, we're excited to chat and we want to kick this off with your story. So how did you end up as a copywriter? Laura:            I took a long detour through the legal field. I thought I wanted to be a lawyer. You can blame Jerry Maguire and all those awesome John Grisham novels and all that kind of stuff for it. I just thought, yeah, this would be cool. I like arguing. I could be a lawyer. So I did something smart and actually took a job at a law firm to see real world experience if A, I wanted to be a lawyer, before I spent B, all that money to get a fancy dancy law degree. Fast forward a couple of years and I figured out no, I didn't want to be a lawyer. But it was a really good job and I was learning a lot. I really liked the stories. We were a civil defense law firm. For example, if you get in a car accident, we were usually the insurance for the law firm that your insurance company would hire to defend you against the plaintiff, the person who's suing you. So I got to see some really interesting cases and stories. People do some crazy, crazy stuff, let me tell you. But I got seduced by a steady paycheck and a good job, until I just couldn't take it anymore and I quit. And so at that point I was like,

Sometimes we like to try a little something different with the podcast and today's interview is a bit different than our standard. Preacher, coach and copywriter Les Hughes is our guest for the 156th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. We talked to Les about ..... •  how awesome, giving and kind Kira is •  the path from preacher to business coach •  what he did to build his platform as he pivoted his “business” •  having the right mindset before you make a shift •  trusting the process (and mentors and a higher power) •  what he would have done differently—and faster—if he did it again •  the tactics that helped him move forward quickly •  what he does today and the success he has found •  what copywriters can do to build their own authority to serve their own clients •  why you need to create a success path for your clients •  how to get your clients to help you serve them more effectively •  the importance of humility •  how he helps his own clients thing more strategically •  Les’ writing process and what helps him improve his writing •  how to prepare for adversity (but hope for the best) •  the place service to others plays in a successful business To hear it all, download this episode to your favorite podcast player or click the play button below. If you're a reader, scroll down for a full transcript.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Ray Edwards Mel Abraham Stu McLaren Tribe Jim Rohn Zig Ziglar Joni Eareckson Tada (athlete, painter) Les' website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: Kira:   What if you can 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 Rob and I do every week at The Copywriter Club Podcast. Rob:   You're invited to join the club for Episode 156 as we chat with preacher, business coach and strategist Les Hughes about his surprising career path, how we can think more strategically about our own businesses, what he does to help his clients transform their businesses and the power of volunteer work to change lives. Kira:   Welcome, Les. Rob:   Hey, Les. Les:    Thank you all both. Kira, great to talk with you again. Rob, great to talk with you as well. I really look forward to our conversation today. Kira:   It's so great to hear your voice. We met in Ray Edward's Mastermind last year and it was so great to meet you. I'm just happy to hang out with you for the next hour because it's been a while since we've chatted. Let's kick this off with your story, Les. How did you end up as a preacher, a pastor to pastors, a coach, a strategist to business leaders, a copywriter and many other things? Les:    I will do that and thank you for asking. Before I do, I'd like to share if I could take a point of peripheral privilege, so I'm going to ask for forgiveness rather than permission, okay? Kira, the people that know you are going to know what I'm going to say, but maybe new listeners or those that only listen to your podcast. Kira:   You're making me nervous. Les:    Well, don't be. It's going to be good. Listen, it's going to be a little uncomfortable for you, but that's all right. I want your audience to know what a giving and servant-hearted person you are genuinely. I think that doesn't come always across on your podcast because you're also very professional and objective and friendly and all of that. You're a very organized person, but I want the people that are listening this to know that you are one of the most giving, kind, empathetic people in this space that I've met. I just wanted to say that. I don't know if I've ever told you that, but I wanted you to know that. Les:    When we began our relationship in the mastermind group together, you were certainly further ahead than many of ...

Marketing OG, Nigel Stevens, is our guest for the 155th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Nigel is in the middle of a move from Asia to Spain and we caught him as he was packing his bags to talk about the business he's built, his experience in content marketing and SEO, and maybe most interesting... how to raise your prices and up level the clients you work with. Here's what we covered... •  how he turned an English degree into a position as the marketing OG •  why he left a cushy job in San Francisco to create his best job •  what it takes to build an agency from the ground up •  the early days… how he started finding clients and growing his leverage •  how he grew his confidence charging more money •  value based pricing and getting better referrals •  his discovery and proposal process and what he wants to learn •  how to build your portfolio of clients (most copywriters won’t do this) •  what’s working (and not working) right now in content marketing •  how he figures out what kind of content to create for clients •  what copywriters need to know about SEO (Nigel’s answer surprised us) •  how he helps clients understand the right approach to SEO content •  how he’s built his authority to engender trust with his clients •  the future of content marketing It's a good discussion that will get you thinking about the kind of business you're building and the next steps. To hear it, click the play button below, or download the episode to your favorite podcast player. Readers can scroll down for a full transcript.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Nigel’s website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: Rob:   What if you could hang out with seriously talented copywriters and other experts, ask them about their successes and failures, the work processes, and their habits, then steal and 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 155 as we chat with marketing specialist, Nigel Stevens, about what it takes to build a marketing agency, what copywriters need to know about SEO, building authority, attracting, and working with really big clients, and what it's like to live and work in Barcelona. Kira:   Welcome, Nigel. Nigel: Thanks, great to be here. Kira:   Yeah, great to have you here, and we're going to see you in just a couple weeks in Barcelona because you will be presenting at our Think Tank retreat, so excited to meet you in person. Until then, we can get to hear all about your story today. So why don't you share your story and how you ended up as the marketing OG? Nigel: Yeah, so it's a little bit of a winding story as it tends to go. So, I got an English degree, got out of school, realized I had no idea what I wanted to do, somehow found my way into a job doing copywriting for this weird mattress startup that no longer exists anymore. And then, I got a job offer to be a SEO analyst, which I was exactly zero percent qualified to do. But I somehow got the job, and I went from being more of a kind of writer and qualitative marketer to then having to also pick up some quantitative skills, and then I had a couple more jobs, worked at BigCommerce for a while, e-commerce platform doing kind of a combination of SEO and content marketing. And then, after a little while there, I decided I kind of wanted to blow up my life. So, I left my job, moved to Thailand and then started taking on work. And it escalated quickly, one thing led to another. And now, I have a team, and we work with various SaaS clients and other companies. So that's the summary. Rob:   Yes, quick summary, but can we talk a little bit about at least this last section of your career, building an agency and what has taken to do that? I'm sure we can ask other questions about some of the stuff you've done earli...

Copywriter and expert researcher, Hannah Shamji, joins us in the ultra-plush Copywriter Club studio for our 154th episode. Hannah has been making a name for her self doing research for Copyhackers Agency and we wanted to learn more about how she does it. We asked Hannah about: •  how she went from boring public policy to copywriter and research specialist •  The catalyst  for making her career change •  how her previous experience helped her make the jump more quickly •  the first steps she took as a new copywriter (and started looking for clients) •  what it feels like to find clients when you don’t know everything yet •  Hannah’s research process… goals, questions, hypothesis •  how to define the goals for research so you know what’s most important •  the kinds of data she looks for as she does her research •  the one thing she always does when asking questions •  two things you can do immediately that will help you do research better •  the mistakes most copywriters make when conducting research •  the bad questions you probably shouldn’t ask •  how to get clients excited about research •  what you don’t know (that you should know) about interviews Want to improve your research chops. Then add this one to your favorite podcast app. Or click the play button below. If you prefer reading, scroll down for a full transcript.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The copywriter therapist post Hannah’s website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Intro: Content (for now) Outro: Gravity   Full Transcript: Kira:   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 Rob and I do every week at The Copywriter Club Podcast. Rob:   You're invited to join the club for episode 154 as we chat with conversion copywriter Hannah Shamji about how she became a copywriter, the best way to get good voice of customer data, how to conduct a great interview, her role at Copy Hackers, and how psychology makes her a better copywriter. Kira:   Hey, Hannah. Welcome. Rob:   Hey, Hannah. Hannah:        Thank you. Hey, guys. Kira:   All right, Hannah. This conversation has been a long time coming. We've had to reschedule a couple times, but we're really excited to chat with you and really dig into some of your processes around research and experiences. But before we do that, let's kick it off with your story, how did you become a copywriter and researcher? Hannah:        Yeah, for sure. Well, I'm super excited to be here thanks for having me on. My story is kind of meandering as I feel a lot of folks are. I have a bachelor's in psychology, a master's in public health and jumped into public health policy and research. So pretty heavy in the academic side of research, and kind of government policy development, pretty boring words to most folks, myself included. And I think it was about like five-ish years ago that I... Maybe four years ago, and I just kind of pump the brakes, looked up the clock. It was 10:08, I remember the time exactly and decided I was just going to quit. So I handed in my resignation the next day and had zero idea of what I was going to do, and I didn't even really think about clearly planning that before. So it was a few hops before I found copywriting. I had my own jewelry business, I did affiliate marketing, a t-shirt business, and kind of just hopped around. And I started a counseling training program which was a three year program. I just graduated from that last year. And it was on that path that I've always liked writing, enjoyed writing, and came across one of Copy Hackers' blogs. I think it's written by Sam Woods, and it's talking about the theory of copywriters towards therapists, and that blend which was exactly the line I wa...

Conversion content writer, Doug Paton, is the guest for the 153rd episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. We've known Doug since the beginning days of The Copywriter Club, so it's about time we had him on the show to talk about his approach to content writing. We asked Doug all about: •  his favorite place to fly fish (in British Columbia) •  how “not wanting to talk to people” led to his career choices •  why he chose content as his focus as a copywriter •  his stint writing books for kids—and how he landed it •  how he applies his experience writing for kids to his work today •  his process for writing content and how he grabs attention •  how he pitches new clients on content projects •  what he done to build his network and the result on his work load •  what Doug would do if he had to start all over •  his definition of “conversion content” and how its different from other content •  what he’s done to land amazing clients like National Geographic •  what he still struggles with in spite of his recent success •  how he balances work with being a dad and the other demands on his time •  what’s next in his business and what the future holds for copywriting To hear what Doug had to share, click the play button below, or scroll down for a full transcript. You can also subscribe and download this episode to your favorite podcast player (recommended). Don't miss this one.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Justin Blackman Shanelle Mullins Jessica Mehring Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Intro: Content (for now) Outro: Gravity   Full Transcript: Transcript delayed but on its way soon...

Continuing what’s been a bit of a theme on the show lately, we invited copywriter Mai-kee Tsang to talk about how to pitch podcasts for the 152nd episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Mai-kee recently set a goal to pitch 101 podcasts in 30 days, and she joined Kira and Rob to talk about how she did it, what she learned, and the impact the project had on her business. During our discussion, we asked her: •  how Mai-kee finally listened to her heart and became a copywriter •  how she applies ideas from psychology and coaching to her copy •  overcoming fears and how she overcame her fear of acceptance •  developing a habit of trying things regardless of the expected result •  the importance of sales—and why copywriters can’t afford not to sell •  what she did to find her first clients •  how she announced her copywriting business to the world •  why hiding until you’re ready is the wrong approach to launching •  why she took on a “101 podcast pitches” project •  the biggest lessons she learned while pitching podcasts •  the terrible first pitch she sent and what she learned •  the elements of a successful pitch and how Mai-kee personalized each pitch •  how she finds elements to personalize her pitches •  the group program she launching to help others get on more podcasts •  overcoming the idea that you don’t have something to share •  the impact podcasts have had on Mai-kee’s own business If you’ve ever listened to a podcast and though you could do better than the person you heard on the show, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Combine it with our interview two weeks ago with Brigitte Lyons for best results. Click the play button below, or scroll down for a full transcript. Or download the episode to your favorite podcast app and listen wherever you are.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Think Tank The Podcast Pitching Masterclass Mai-kee’s Website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Intro: Content (for now) Outro: Gravity   Full Transcript: Transcript to come...

Marketing strategist and event planner, Patsy Kenney, is our guest for the 151st episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast. Patsy is wrapping up a couple of transitions in her business, including combining her event planning business into an agency with two of her best friends. We asked Patsy about all the changes in her life and... •  how Patsy became a brand and event specialist •  all the things someone needs to know to be an event planner •  how to think about the purpose of your event to magnify your ripple effect •  Patsy’s 4P process for event planning •  the power of being intentional about everything at an event •  how to foster more connection at an event (what we try to do at TCCIRL) •  the part that branding and marketing play in your event •  when copywriters should consider holding their own events •  why retreats and personal gatherings are such a great opportunity •  the mistakes she’s seen others make with their events •  why she decided to fold her business into an agency with friends •  navigating business and growing when life throws you a setback •  what comes next for Patsy and her business(es) To hear the brilliant things Patsy shared about events and dealing with change, click the play button below, or download this episode to your favorite podcast app. Or scroll down for a full transcript.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Nikki Groom The Good Life Project Seth Godin Vidyard AndCelebrate.com TheBrandingEdit.com Patsy's Instagram Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: 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 151 as we chat with branding and events strategist, Patsy Kenney, about celebrating something every day, what it's like to start an agency with your best friends, how to know if you should have your own event, and what it takes to make an event successful. Welcome, Patsy. Rob:   Hey, Patsy. Patsy:            Hey, thank you both so much for having me. I'm really excited about this conversation. Kira:   Yes, we are excited, and we met ... I was trying to trace it back, but we met via Nikki Groom, who is also on our show, and we met at the Good Life Project, which is such a nice place to meet you. Patsy:            We did. It was a lovely space, and I just adore that community because it is full of amazing people like yourself who are looking to really get the most out of this human experience that we're a part of. Kira:   All right, so, Patsy, let's kick us off with your story. I know you've gone through a lot of changes in your business and your life. Let's just start with how you ended up becoming a brand and event strategist. Patsy:            Awesome. Yeah, so my path has not been a linear one by any means. When I first graduated from high school, I grew up in a small town in Maine, and I knew I wanted to leave the state, at least for those four years of college. I found myself in Rhode Island. When I first started that college pathway, I really didn't know what I wanted to focus on, and I didn't really have a great sense of self. I knew that I loved learning about people, and I was a decent writer. Those two things as my filter, I eventually found myself pursuing a public relations degree, and quickly, after graduation, found myself in a corporate setting in a marketing department for very well-known brands, but in an industry and space that wasn't exactly what I would call interesting to me. While it was a great foundational place for me to land in terms of learning about how a business works and what it's like to be out in this sort of corporat...

For the 150th episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast, we asked public relations and podcast expert, Brigitte Lyons, to talk about the best ways to build authority. Brigitte has presented to our Think Tank and The Underground, but we felt like what she has to share is too good to keep secret. In this interview, we asked her about: •  her early experiences as a PR specialist •  how she shifted her business from PR to specializing in Podcasts •  why podcasting is a powerful medium for building authority (and finding clients) •  how to get started pitching podcasts—what to think about before you pitch •  her advice to beginners and those who have “nothing” to say •  the elements of your podcast pitch—what you need to include •  what not to do when you pitch (the bad pitches she’s seen) •  what to do after the podcast goes live to maximize the impact •  how to make the interview successful—how to prep •  why you need a clear call to action to direct people to your website If you've thought of using podcasts to build your authority as a copywriter, you'll want to listen to this episode. To do that, just click the play button below or subscribe with your favorite podcast app. Readers can scroll down for a full transcript.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: Creative Live Entrepreneur on Fire Lacy Boggs Zencastr Sims CatQuest Brigitte’s website Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground   Full Transcript: Kira:   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 Rob and I do every week at The Copywriter Club Podcast. Rob:   You're invited to join the club for episode 150 as we chat with media strategist and podcast expert Brigitte Lyons about building a reputation, tactics copywriters can use to build authority and recognition, what to include in your podcast pitch so the host will say yes and a few details about her new business Podcast Ally. Kira:   Welcome Brigitte. Brigitte:         Hi. Thank you so much. Episode 150. I heard you saying in the intro. I feel like that's a milestone episode. Kira:   This is a big deal episode. Yes. Rob:   Definitely a big deal episode. And I probably just said the business name wrong too, it's Ally, right? Not Alley. Brigitte:         Yeah, it's Ally. The naming of the business, that mistake right there was actually my biggest kind of fear. And there's another company that has a pop-up ally and for years I thought it was Ali, so I'm like, it'll just, it'll be what it is. Rob:   Yeah. My apologies. Everybody check out Podcast Alli and yeah and learn more. Kira:   So we are so excited to have you here, Brigitte, because you have been in our community, you've already run a couple of workshops for our mastermind group and for our membership. And every time you run a workshop you teach, there's so much you bring to the table and you teach us about podcasting and PR. So we knew we had to bring you on the podcast and I'm personally working with you too. So I'm clearly a big fan. So let's just kick this off with your story. How did you end up in PR? Brigitte:         Yeah, well I got into PR really early in my career. When I was in college, I was a creative writing major and of course, like all creative writing majors, I thought I'm going to leave school. I want to do something really creative. I want to write. Of course, I want to write the great American novel, which I haven't done, but there's still time. And I stumbled into PR by accident, while I was still in school, I did an internship for actually a local sheriff's department. It's this crazy story where the sheriff ended up in the hospital. My mom was an ER nurse and they got to talking and she's like, ‘Hey,

This episode of The Copywriter Club Podcast, is all about The Copywriter Accelerator—the 16-week program designed to help "newish" copywriters build the foundations of a healthy business. Kira and Rob talk about what it includes and who it's for in this short, informational episode. The Copywriter Accelerator opens up for new members on August 27 and launches for good the first week of September.   The people and stuff we mentioned on the show: The Copywriter Accelerator Kira’s website Rob’s website The Copywriter Club Facebook Group The Copywriter Underground Intro: Content (for now) Outro: Gravity   Full Transcript: Since this is just a short discussion of The Copywriter Accelerator, there is no transcript for this episode.