Ray Edwards Show

For this week's episode, I wanted to get back-to-basics and give you the nuts and bolts explanation of who I am and my philosophy of writing persuasive, direct-response copy. I had done this already for someone else's podcast back in 2018 as a guest host. That someone was the great Jeff Goins, and he gave me permission to use that audio for this week's episode. I have a ton of respect for Jeff and the work he puts out, so if you're not familiar with him, I recommend you check out his blog, best-selling books and podcast. You'll find the links below. If you're a regular listener of my podcast, this week's content will seem familiar, but I encourage you to jump in for a succinct review of the copywriting process; specifically, the P.A.S.T.O.R. framework. This universal framework (to sell products, services, or even ideas) gives you a starting point for every piece of copy you'll ever write. [01:55] Get to know Ray [02:56] Ray's career in broadcast radio [04:19] What is Direct Response Copy? [06:45] The value of good copy [07:29] What is copywriting and why does it matter? [08:26] Everything is copy [09:38] The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework [10:24] P - Person, problem, pain [12:47] A - Amplify the pain, give asperations [14:30] S - Story, struggle, solution [15:07] T - Transformation and testimony [16:18] O - Offer [17:30] R - Request a response Links https://trainwithray.com - If you're serious about becoming a stellar, in-demand copywriter, check out this page https://goinswriter.com/hey - This is Jeff Goins's new podcast called Hey Creator which I highly recommend. While you're there, make sure you check out his blog and his best-selling books. This is the kind of stuff your entrepreneurial brain needs! How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

We're a couple of weeks into 4th quarter 2010 (October-December), but it's not too late to make more money in this last quarter than you've made so far this year. No matter what your business, this week's podcast lays out a simple plan for you to CRUSH your goals for the year, rake in the revenue, and pile up profits. How great would it be to start 2022 with that amazing momentum? [00:45] Getting prepared for your 4th Quarter Miracle [01:12] Put the past in the past [02:39] Define your objective [03:14] Calendar your plan [03:38] Ray's Unpopular Ruthless Rules of Revenue [04:09] How to make a great offer? (Alex Hormozi's book) [05:06] High profit offers [06:05] The O.P.E.N. Scale [09:00] Frictionless Path To Paradise [09:40] Two elements you need to add to your offer: Urgency and Scarcity [11:00] The more offers you make, the more sales you make [12:32] Operation Money Magnet [14:28] Action Plan (Commit to the challenge, create a Money Magnet offer, market your offer EVERY DAY on EVERY MEDIUM) [16:07] Read the mind of your marketplace...with your calendar [20:31] Crafting your copy (same offer...different clothes) [20:57] Join my free copywriting community on Facebook   Links From This Week's Episode $100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No by Alex Hormozi How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This may blow a few minds, but I, Ray Edwards, direct response copywriting evangelist and educator, am telling you that Copywriting, alone...Is not enough. Today's sophisticated, high-paying client demands that you have more to offer. This week, I'll tell you what other skills you must possess to thrive, AND give you an actionable checklist that will simplify the process of getting you (and keeping you) in high-demand. [1:49] - The dirty little secret of the copywriting world (The title says it all.) [5:40] - The Race to the Bottom - If you win, you lose...big time. [8:17] - Becoming the brand of You (Mike Kim's book will make this abundantly clear - Link below) [9:54] - Two fears you must overcome - Here's what happens when you finally get in the spotlight [13:28] - Why you need an exit plan - Keep the end game in mind. [16:32] - Coaching programs - In my humble (but accurate) opinion, these are the best ways to learn [17:45] - Action guide checklist - A few questions to get you started. Links From This Week's Episode Last Week's Episode (538) - If you missed last week's episode, How to Create Products Out Of Thin Air (With a 99% Profit Margin), I suggest you check it out. It's the first of this 3-part series. You Are The Brand This is the new book from Mike Kim I mentioned in the show. This should required reading for those wishing to create a brand built on their personality, ideas and reputation. I highly recommend it. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs, and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

This week, I want to talk about writing as a business. Not just copywriting, but writing in general. From fiction, to how-to e-books, to blogging (yes, blogging is NOT dead - proof below), etc. There are so many myths and misconceptions about this topic, that many people don't realize: Yes, they can make a living as a writer. It's not even that difficult to do. Two bold claims...Can I back them up? Can I show you realistic ways this can be done? Tune into this week's exciting episode to find out! (spoiler alert: Yes. I can.) Feature Presentation My title may seem like clickbait (Products out of thin air? 99% profit margin?) - Until you realize that I'm talking about writing...putting words on "paper". Your writing is a product and that is exactly how you should treat it. From conception to creation, you should have your ideal customer in mind...Who is this for? Who will this help? In fact, I recommend using the same formula you use when you're writing sales copy - My P.A.S.T.O.R. framework. Let's say you decide that you're going to write a how-to book on some topic that you're passionate about. I suggest the first thing you do is write the sales page for it. Write it as if your unwritten book were finished and ready to hit the shelves. Why would you write a sales page for a product that doesn't exist? Because it outlines the reasons that it should exist. As you use the P.A.S.T.O.R framework to craft your copy, you are essentially giving yourself the list of promises that this book must fulfill. You will write a better book because of this.   Links From This Week's Episode Maria Popova's Brainpickings - Think the days of making good money as a blogger are over? Not so. Maria Popova has incredible content and she is supported by her readers. rayedwards.com - Head here to download my 6-Step Master Persuasion checklist that I mentioned in the show. How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Odds are, you don't have Parkinson's Disease, and if you don't, is there a benefit to listening to this week's episode? Absolutely! The truth is, we're all dealing with something - Either something big, bold and in-your face (chronic pain, degenerative diseases, injuries, etc.), or the subtle, waiting patiently in the background, definitively terminal condition that we all have in common - Life. Whatever your situation is, I believe these ten directives will help you live a better life. Click below to listen and I'll break down all ten. [4:31] Be a Rational Optimist - I don't believe the best will always happen, but I do work to make the best of whatever does. [6:24] Consciously choose a philosophy of life and live in a state of non-contradiction [8:17] Take 100% Responsibility for everything in your life. You're not in control of everything that happens in your life, but you are in control of how you respond to everything that happens in your life…100%. [9:46] Be well, even when you're not. [13:26] Pursue growth and contribution. If we don't feel that we're growing as a person, we begin to feel that we're dying. [15:34] Trade your expectations for appreciation. [19:54] Build daily rituals to control your focus, your physiology and your neurobiology. [24:11] Do your best to stay awake - Stay out of the hypnotic trance that society puts us in. [25:11] Live from your future to your present. Many people are living from their past which severely limits the possibilities of their future. [27:20] Ask better questions. For a transcript of this episode, visit https://rayedwards.com/537 How You Can Help Subscribe to the show in iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will definitely mention you on this show. We are also on Stitcher.com, so if you prefer Stitcher, please subscribe there. Connect with Ray on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Visit Ray's community on Facebook – This is a friendly group of writers, entrepreneurs and coaches who share ideas and helpful advice.

A surprising call from an old friend got me thinking … It seems almost everyone I know is being faced with big decisions. Maybe you, too, are thinking through one of these "big decisions". Decisions about whether to keep the job you have … Or decision about whether to accept the new job you've been offered… Maybe you're thinking about starting your own business… Or you might even be considering whether to move to a different city (or country) … If you are making any kind of decision, it's a good time to make all the decisions. About every part of your life. Don't let this freak you out. It's actually a good thing. It's a way to unleash lightning bolts of positive energy in your life.

Look, let's be real.    These last couple of years have been very difficult for most of us.    Think of all the crazy stuff that has happened.   There's a really good chance you did not see all of that coming.   I surely did not.   In today's podcast, I get gut-level real.   Many of my clients and friends in the world of business really did have their “best year ever” in 2020, and things are looking even better for them as we round out 2021.   It seems for many people I know the last couple of years actually bro have been charmed. No wonder they are so happy. Everything went their way.    It was not so for me.   Behind the scenes, my life was turned upside down. And there were some very dark moments moments that are hard to talk about. But I feel it's important that we do talk about them. Otherwise I'm not being honest with you.   This is important, especially if you’re a leader of any kind.    When you stop being honest, you stop being a leader.   We are about to start the fourth quarter of this year. These are 12 precious weeks that you and I can use as an excuse to turn our lives and our business is completely around. Or to turn them up to an all new level of enjoyment contribution and reward.   If you would like to run on the track with me, so we can spread together and make more progress in the next 12 weeks than most people will make in the next 12 years, invite you to join us for our live workshop which is happening Tuesday, September 14, 2021.   In this workshop I'm giving you everything you need to do this 12 week sprint. I'm not holding something back, I don't have any "secrets" you need to pay for, this is 100% free, it's going to be a powerful training, we got a killer workbook created for you but you must sign up to get it so right now go to https://rayedwards.com/million 

If you want to be a leader, you need to develop a reading habit.  “Leaders are readers,” says Jeff Brown, my guest on today’s podcast. Jeff is the host of The Read To Lead Podcast, and the author of a new book called, not surprisingly, Read To Lead. In Jeff’s book, you will learn Why you need to read like your career depends on it. The eight research-backed reasons reading will help you build your career. How to absorb a book into your bloodstream. Tips on creating a lifetime reading habit. In our conversation, Jeff and I dig deep into: Why books still matter, and why you should develop an intentional reading habit. Why you should read physical books and not only audio or summaries. Why you should read books with views that oppose your own. Why reading contributes to higher income and more success. How to remember what you read. The startling simple math formula that will help you decide what to read next. How reading makes life more fulfilling, How you can find time to read - even if your life is “crazy busy”. How to read faster - almost instantly. (You can read a 200-page book in 2 hours). Do audiobooks “count” as reading? The “secret” service both Jeff and I use to organize and export our notes from Kindle. What we’re both reading now, and why. Links From This Episode Jeff's Podcast https://readtoleadpodcast.com/ Jeff's Book https://readtoleadbook.com/ About Jeff https://readtoleadpodcast.com/about/

How much of your thinking is by design? I don't mean that in the spiritual sense, but rather, by your design. How much of your thinking is intentional? How much of it is YOUR thinking? Is it possible that most of your life is being dictated by random bits and pieces of knowledge, unintentional habits, misconceptions, and various other noise that you no longer even choose to think? And if so…Can you fix it? This topic isn't new to the podcast. In fact, there are several episodes where I have asserted that most of us are thinking thoughts that don't serve us…Thoughts we never intended to put on "Auto Pilot". I've also claimed that those repetitive thoughts can be removed and replaced with thoughts that do serve you. But is any of that true? I mean, Dammit Jim…I'm a copywriter, not a neuropsychologist. Lucky for us, my guest this week is a neuropsychologist. Dr. Shannon Irvine holds a PH.D. in neuropsychology (the study of the relationship between behavior, emotion, and cognition), and is also a renowned business advisor with a passion for guiding entrepreneurs. When she says she can help you train your brain for success, it's not just a motivational pep talk - She's a bonafide expert in the science behind it. Tune in to learn: How to Recognize "destructive programming" - The unintentional, negative thoughts are running a portion of your life. Why to Record those thoughts - As in, physically write them down. This isn't a meaningless exercise. Dr. Irvine explains the science behind this critical step. A great way to Refute those thoughts How to Replace them with positive truths Links from this episode https://drshannonirvine.com/ - Dr. Irvine's official site. Be sure to check out her Epic Success Podcast.  

At some point in life, I think most people find that they are essentially living the same day, over and over. Going to the same job, talking to the same people, thinking mostly the same thoughts, feeling mostly the same emotions...Everything is just mediocre repetition; neither advancing nor improving. They have brief notions of making changes, but ultimately go back to their routine. This week's episode details my personal journey through that scenario...And the diagnosis that snapped me out of it. Here's what we cover in this episode: Is the way you are setting your goals keeping you from reaching them? Is your attitude standing in the way of you being able to overcome your problems?  Be intentional about your goals. It is worth the effort to get the result.  Are you in the Matrix? Will you choose the blue pill or the red pill. Wake up to reality or stay in the illusion? Are you doing the same thing every day over and over again. Do you need to break this cycle? I signed up for Michael Hyatt’s Best Year Ever Program and this program was different, and it helped me make some decisions to change my life.  After starting it, I made 1 million dollars in my business, lost 67 pounds, paid off our debt. It woke me up and forced me to complete the past. Looking back at your past gives you the ability to learn, be aware and analyze what has happened and what I will do differently in the future. Quote of the Day: “You don’t need easy, You just need worth it” — Jim Rohn