Ray Edwards Show

Can you imagine opening the lid to your toilet, only to discover a snake? What would you do? Here’s what my wife did…OK relax. My wife did not find a snake in the toilet. But this little exercise reveals the subject of today’s podcast…Using story-based emails and subject lines to capture your reader's attention. There is more noise than ever before in the marketplace, and therefore there’s more competition to get emails opened and read. You’ve got to have something really powerful to hook people's attention. Nothing beats a great story. We’ll  explain how to use story-based subject lines and email copy in this episode. Spiritual Foundations  Do Not Boast About Tomorrow. “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”    James 4:13-15 I don't think this means that we shouldn't set goals, but I think it does mean we need to have the humility to admit we cannot predict the future...that sometimes, God simply has a different plan. Feature Presentation Story Based Email Copy That Gets the Click One of the cardinal rules of writing is the importance of learning to “show and not tell”. So instead of saying “he had searched the room from top to bottom”, you might say instead, “He systematically begin taking things out of the top of the closet and throwing them on the floor. Boxes, shoes, sweaters...then he moved to pulling clothes from the hangers and throwing them on the floor. He proceeded to empty the drawers of the dresser, his face growing more and more puzzled the longer he searched." Notice how the second version conveys a lot more drama and emotion. That’s what stories can do for any copy, and especially for email. Don’t say “this is very interesting” – you make it very interesting by telling a story about it. Three subject line examples: sent the email TEMPLATE by mistake – and our open rates went crazy… when she opened the email, she screamed… She found a snake in the toilet! (and THEN…) Each of these subject lines paints a very different scenario. Each of them begged you to fill in the blanks in your imagination about what happens next. And that’s exactly what you want to occur whenever you send an email. You want the subject line to induce so much curiosity, the recipient has to read the email to find out what happens next. But keep in mind, then you have to deliver. You have to give them something that satisfies the set up in the subject line. It’s the best of all possible worlds when you tell me a true story that beautifully illustrates the point you’re trying to make in the email copy. Because the next thing you’re going to do is ask the reader to click through to get… “The rest of the story”…And to maintain your credibility you have to be telling the truth. Take that headline about sending the email template, for example. True story. One of our best testing email open rates for a case when we sent an email with the subject line: “insert subject line here”.We even got tons of replies to that email. Not something you should do on purpose, and probably would not have worked as well the second time because it was an honest mistake. But that’s just a point. It was true, and it contained an element of story. Start telling the story in the subject line, continue it in the body of the email, and have the reader click through to get the rest of the story on your landing page (or in your podcast, for instance)… Are there “new rules” for copywriting? Undoubtedly. We are living in a different time now. We’re going to be spending some time going into these new rules during our Copywriting Academy Live event which takes place April 8th and 9th. This is a totally live, but virtual workshop. We’re going to spend these two days writing your copy together. You should register now, while the price is still just $197 per ticket – because at the end of this week (January 31) the price goes up. Get all the details by going to https://rayedwards.com/tcalive. How To 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.

I think of Entrepreneurs as Kingdom Builders - and I don’t think of kingdoms in some domineering, benevolent tyranny sense - but in the sense of the “King’s Domain”. Who is the King? For me the King is our Creator. The Kingdom of God that I know is one of peace and mutual benefit. That describes a good way to live, and it describes a good way to do business. But hang on - This episode isn't about the spiritual Kingdom. It's about the earthly Kingdom I would choose for my business to emulate - The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. I have some incredible, almost surreal memories from there (surreal because there is no other place like it on Earth). So how does such a mega-company provide such an inimitable, fanciful atmosphere full of employees (cast members) who seem genuinely enthused to be part of the experience? Lets find out, shall we? Today we talk with the former vice president of Disney's Magic Kingdom, 26-year Disney veteran, Dan Cockerel. He has some fascinating insights about the culture of YOUR kingdom. Feature Presentation 10 X growth is what we discussed last week... and it cannot be additive, it must be multiplicative. Instead of going into specific tactics and techniques, I think it's important to first focus on the primary driver of everything we do in our company, which boils down to our culture. And I know no one more qualified to talk about “kingdom cultures” in the realm of business than Dan Cockerel. Dan was, for a very long time, in charge of the Magic Kingdom at Disney. His book is called "How's the Culture in Your Kingdom?”. Dan took some time off the ski slopes in Breckenridge to chat with me about company culture - how important it is, and how to create “magic” at any size company. I stress "any size" because most of us don't have the resources that Disney has at their four-fingered white gloved fingertips. Dan's brilliant advice - Don't spend time getting your people motivated - hire motivated people and treat them like gold. Links From This Episode Dan's Book - "How's the Culture in Your Kingdom" Event that can drastically change your life for the better: The Copywriting Academy Live

This really could've been entitled, “what I have learned after doing 500 episodes of this podcast.” But that seemed like a boring title. Then I realized that around episode one marked the year my business made just over $100,000. After 500 episodes – a little over 9 years or so – our company revenue is somewhere between 1 million to 1.5 million per year. That's roughly 10X. And now we're looking at how to 10X again. We can't do it by working harder – we have to do something completely different.   I will share a few thoughts on that as we go, but there is definitely one Master Skill that is key to every step of your business growth. That Master Skill: Copywriting. Unless you're totally new to this podcast, you probably know that writing great copy is my passion. In fact, I wrote this book which is an excellent place to start if you intend to master this skill. Most of the copy I write is aimed at business growth…pretty much all of it in fact. But how do words make your business grow? If copywriting is the weapon, what is target? Back in the 90's, I discovered a book that taught me many valuable (literally life changing) concepts. It taught me there are 3 ways (and only 3 ways) to grow your business: 1. Get more customers. 2. Get each customer to spend more with each purchase. 3. Get customers to buy more often. You can learn more about this book and the brilliance of Jay Abraham in this video. Succeeding at any of those three goals will grow your business, but if you succeed at all of them, even just a little (think 10% each), you're talking exponential business growth. The key to doing all this is being able to write the appropriate copy for each stage. That’s why we’re having the Copywriting Academy Virtual LIVE Video Workshop, April 8-9. (Tickets are just $197 for a very limited time – price increase January 31.) If you attend this workshop, you will not only gain some powerful, proven, business growing skills, BUT you will also get your copy finished, polished and ready for deployment. All the details on this are right here.  

This one is for the entrepreneurs who are weary, tired, longing for things to get “back to normal”… who possibly are coming out go the holidays not rested and revived, but even more discouraged. Now, don’t get me wrong. This is not what EVERYONE is feeling. SOME people are energized, excited, and on FIRE! SOME saw their revenues climb instead of fall in 2020 …. SOME saw their profitability SOAR …While others would label 2020 as “difficult” at best, or a “total disaster” on the other end of the scale. Regardless of where you call on this scale, and what your “business problems” might be, you’ll find some encouragement here. SPIRITUAL FOUNDATIONS First - a caution. Don’t kill yourself making a killing. You’re not in competition with ANYONE. You’re not “behind”. Grace Over Grind, my friends, in the words of Shae Bynes. Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. Matthew 11:28-30 TIP OF THE WEEK I’ve got a couple of tips for you this week - First, check out Jennifer Allwood’s podcast last week, Episode 199, called “Friend, You Are Not Behind”. Second, check out the “30 Days of Hope Challenge” with my friend Andy Mason. YOU’RE NOT BEHIND! You can still join this source daily encouragement by clicking here. Third, would you like a shoutout on this podcast, and for us to pray over your business? Just write us a review and give us a star rating on Apple Podcasts - go to RayEdwardsPodcast.com and be sure you let us know you did this so we can mention you. After you’ve posted your review, you can just email us at support@rayedwards.com. Here are a couple of our most recent reviews     OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION It is possible, by making this one decision, to transform every business problem into profit - even if the problem is YOU! The key decision: DECIDE to use cognitive reframing to produce positive results from almost any situation. How you think about the “problem” is usually the actual PROBLEM you are NOW facing. 3 ways to transform problems into profit Transformation 1: Wisdom profit. You learned a lesson, got smarter, got wiser. That’s valuable. Transformation 2: Character profit. You built character - perseverance, patience, faith. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  James 1:2-5 Transformation 3: Ask Transformative questions to reframe how you see the problem. 1. What can I learn from this? 2. What’s great about this problem? 3. What is not perfect yet? 4. What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it? 5. What am I willing not to do to make it the way I want it? 6. What does this make possible? 7. How can I enjoy the process? Links From This Week's Episode Jennifer Allwood Episode 199: Friend, You Aren't Behind - Jennifer Allwood 30 Day Hope Challenge - Heaven in Business Recalibrate your year with clarity and confidence. Leave us an honest review on I-Tunes here. Don't forget to email us at support@rayedwards.com and let us know you left your review so we can give you a shoutout on the show!

What a great guest to help ring in the new year- Mark Timm! This guy has created more than a dozen successful businesses and I'm sure there's more to come. Just reading his story is a great motivator for those planning to enter the entrepreneurial ranks in 2021. Of course, Mark credits much of his success to the mentors who shaped him, one of whom is Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank fame and coauthor of Mark's book, Mentor to Millions: Secrets of Success in Business, Relationships, and Beyond

This week's episode is a little different from the usual format. It was recorded with a live audience on Facebook. I've missed the instant interaction I get from a live broadcast, so I intend to do these live broadcasts every Friday morning at 7 a.m. Pacific. To be clear, these live broadcasts will not be replacing the podcast; they will be separate shows. I chose to showcase the Facebook broadcast this week for two reasons: First and foremost, it's useful content that I think will benefit you. To officially invite you to join me live Friday mornings at 7 a.m. Pacific The podcast content is a streamlined version of the live broadcast, but if you want to watch it as it happened, check out the comments and add your own - you can do so by clicking here. Feature Presentation Here's what we're diving into in this episode: 3 Unpopular Rules for Optimizing Your Life: Don't take on other people's problems There is no simple answer to complex questions Don't trade short term pleasure for long term pain Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

2020? My best year ever? Yes! And I've got the proof in this week's episode.       Spiritual Foundations I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians [4:11]-13 Most people, whether they are followers of Jesus or not, have heard at least a portion of these verses typically in a triumph over adversity context. It was of course written by the apostle Paul (kind of the Rambo of the apostles) and is an excellent verse to keep in mind as you process the events of this year. Tip of the Week My tip this week is that you do a Psycho-Spiritual  Inventory and analyze what you want going in your brain. It's human nature to want to ingest information and there is certainly no shortage of that these days. I'm challenging you to actually inventory what you are ingesting and draw some sort of conclusion as to whether it is helping or hindering your development as a person. We've all heard the saying, “You are what you eat”, but I'm suggesting “You are what you think.” is much more accurate. Feature Presentation Do I really have 12 reasons why 2020 is my best year ever? No…I actually have more, but I picked my top 12 to share with you in this week's episode. I've developed the deepest connection I have ever had with God. I have experienced the deepest connection and growth I have ever had in my marriage. I am convinced that I am already as prosperous as I could have ever dreamed, and there’s no way for me to become more or less prosperous. I grew in my ability to adapt to unexpected events outside my control. I honed the power of unshakeable faith & extraordinary effort. I discovered the power of growing through constraints. As a team, we removed every system, practice, habit, and person that was causing friction and slowing our manifestation of our purpose and vision. I became a true student/beginner/learner again and began a “long-game” learning practice. We created a true marketing SYSTEM that works even when I don’t. We found our team’s core strengths, their “Zone of Genius” and aligned those with each person’s work, so everyone is working on what ONLY that person can do best. We created a vision and a plan to DOUBLE our growth in 2021. I learned that I am capable of enduring much higher levels of discomfort than I ever thought possible – and to actually ENJOY THE PROCESS! Those are all true statements. Could I come up with some reasons as to why 2020 is the worst year of my life? Probably…but why would I do that? How would it serve me? I choose to feel gratitude rather than despair – AND I can do so while still remaining true to myself. Doing so makes me better in literally every aspect of my life. Links From this weeks Episode 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

Do you still think LinkedIn In is just a job posting site? These days, it's much, much more - and John Nemo explains how to put it to good use for your business in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations Jesus never promised that life would be easy. On the contrary, Jesus said that we would have trials. Sometimes, we may wonder if God is truly concerned about our situation. It may feel as though he’s not listening, or even that He is not going to help us. Not matter how bad it gets, whether we go through health scares, or huge losses, or business problems… God is with us. Joshua 5:13-14 says, “Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come."(NIV) Joshua was about to take the city of Jericho. The manna had stopped. Being very human, Joshua asked the angel of the Lord whose side he was on. “Are you for us?” The answer: neither.  The angel was there to do the will of the Lord. Think...He is not on “sides” of human arguments, industries, businesses, nations or even sport teams. God is working to accomplish His will in the lives of everyone. In your situation, pray about what is God’s will for your life and understand that God does not have anything against you. The enemy would love for you to believe that God is angry with you and therefore has abandoned you; especially when you see others prosper or the wicked blessed. No, whether you see it or not, the Bible says that the “Father is always at His work” (John 5:17, NIV). God is working for your good. His will for you IS your highest good. Even when you can’t necessarily see it - yet. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Tip of the Week This week's tip is a concept that I use to make sure that I complete the important stuff every day: The power of 3. Each Sunday, decide your Big 3 for the week, the 3 things that MUST get done this week. Then, at the end of each day, give yourself the Big 3 for TOMORROW. In Donald Miller’s words, “pass yourself a baton”. Feature Presentation So many people have yet to shake off LinkedIn's reputation of a resume` website. These days, it can be a powerful tool from getting clients. My friend John Nemo literally wrote the book on using LinkedIn to generate revenue. It's called LinkedIn Riches and you can get it for free right here. John gave me a live demonstration of The Nemo Method and, as many genius things are, it's dead simple! You can get the in-depth version in John's book, but the nutshell version is this: You find someone that you feel could benefit from your services and introduce yourself - Not bulk email...not a link to a lead page... Just a simple formula for an introduction and a pitch straight to their inbox. LinkedIn has not only made it easy to get in someone's inbox, but they've also provided powerful tools to really make a personal connection - like dropping a quick video introduction in their inbox. As I said, the book will take you on the deep dive, so be sure and grab it - AND John's other resources for online marketing can be found right here. Links From this weeks Episode John Nemo's LinkedIn Riches! (Get your free copy there) 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670  

Emotions are habits and that's great news, because habits can be changed. Before I go any further let me clarify...Obviously, not all emotions are habits. Some emotions are genuine responses to your present, personal situation, but those are not what I'm talking about today. I'm talking about the emotional defaults - the mood you naturally gravitate to. For instance, we all know someone who seems to be grumpy most of the time. It might fluctuate a little, but "grumpy" seems to be their default state regardless of the circumstances. On the other end of the spectrum, we all know someone who seems to be perpetually happy...sometimes annoyingly so. So is that just how it is? Some people are generally angry and there's nothing they can do about it? I'm proposing that people can in fact change their general disposition by acknowledging the underlying emotions and dealing with them. People who are generally angry will look for reasons to be angry. And with the endless supply of 2020 news, they don't have to look very hard. If you tend to live in this zone of frustration and anger, you should make an effort to focus on different things. Try to avoid the things that irritate you the most and focus on things that inspire you or bring you joy. I'm not suggesting you bury your head in the sand and ignore the world around you, but rather to recognize the things that are negatively influencing your mood and try not to dwell on them. This is not meant to be an easy, quick-fix. Longterm, deeply engrained habits are never a quick fix. They take work to change, but they are changeable. The main point is this: Don't just decide that you "identify as angry" and that's your fate. Treat this like any other lifestyle change. Stop fueling your mind with things that aren't healthy for you. Make a conscious decision to change your mental habits in the same way you would for physical habits. (Less cupcakes, more carrots... Less news, more music) Once you succeed, you might find that those perpetually happy people aren't so annoying after all. Links From this weeks Episode 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th) Questions about the show? You can text me anytime at 509-245-2670

What's worse than having a job you hate? Having a job you don't like. In other words, having a job that is in no way fulfilling, but you tolerate it because you need the paycheck. Is there a better option? Oh yes! My friend and best-selling author, Dan Miller, has the solution in this week's episode. Spiritual Foundations Whatever work we're doing, there is a perspective that will make it better, richer and more meaningful (even if it's not what we want to be doing). The scripture that taught me this comes from the Apostle Paul in the book of Colossians:  Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 CSB Tip of the Week My tip this week is for what could be our final 6 Figure Small Group Intensive, December 17th - 19th. It's not too late to lay the groundwork for your 6 Figure Business before the end of the year. These groups are limited to 8 entrepreneurs because of the intense focus and personalized attention required to build your highly customized action plan. The goal: 6 Figure Business, in six months or less! If you're ready to work with me to build your new business, or adapt your existing business to make it more profitable, click here to get started. Our Feature Presentation My guest this week is my friend and New York Times best selling author, Dan Miller. His book 48 Days to the Work You Love is celebrating its 20th anniversary and should be required reading for anyone who feels like they have missed their calling in life. As Dave Ramsey put it, “Few categories of our lives define us and grow us spiritually, emotionally, relationally, and as people. Our work is one of those defining areas. Sadly, a ‘j-o-b’ is what most people settle for. But as Dan Miller so powerfully points out in 48 Days to the Work You Love, a calling lights up your life.” The wisdom Dan shares in the interview goes beyond occupation. We discuss Dan's perspective on life during the pandemic, the challenges and opportunities it has brought and how he still plans ahead to navigates these uncharted waters (or as every third commercial I hear says, "uncertain times"). Links From this weeks Episode Dan's Book - 48 Days to the Work You Love: Preparing for the New Normal 6 Figure Small Group Intensive (December 17th-19th)