So you want to be a copywriter with Bernadette Schwerdt

AI might be dominating headlines, but when it comes to getting found online, Google is still king. In this episode, we’re cutting through the hype and getting back to basics - because no matter how fast AI evolves, knowing how to write an SEO blog that ranks is still essential. To walk us through it, I’ve invited back Matt Farmer - former student, long-time SEO content strategist, and past team member at award-winning agency Studio Hawk. Matt knows exactly what it takes to get content noticed by Google, and in this mini masterclass, he shares practical tips and strategies you can use right now to boost your website rankings. If you want to sharpen your SEO writing skills, this episode is for you. Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we chat with Kieran Browning, a consultant with deep expertise in operations and digital marketing. If you’re a copywriter struggling to scale, feeling overwhelmed with client work, or battling endless revisions, this conversation is packed with practical insights to help you streamline your business. In this episode, you’ll discover: The biggest bottlenecks copywriters face when scaling. How to efficiently delegate tasks and systemise your business. The simple email tweak that reduces unnecessary revisions. Why onboarding is the key to preventing scope creep. How to manage difficult client expectations without losing them. The best ways to generate leads without it taking up all your time. The "phase two" trick for handling clients who always want more. A streamlined sales process that works for conferences and networking. Follow-up techniques that help close deals (without feeling pushy). Kieran shares invaluable advice on making your business more sustainable, so you can focus on what you do best. Tune in now and start implementing these strategies today! Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starting a copywriting business is exciting, but navigating the financial and legal aspects can feel overwhelming. From choosing the proper business structure to understanding tax obligations, there’s a lot to consider.  In this episode, Andrew Nicholls, an experienced finance expert and business advisor, breaks it all down in a way that’s easy to understand. Whether you’re just starting out or already running your copywriting business, this episode will help you make informed financial decisions and avoid common pitfalls. Andrew shares insights on when to register for GST, how to structure your business for success, what insurances you need and what deductions you can claim.  This episode is a goldmine of practical advice for copywriters and small business owners looking to take control of their finances and set up their businesses for success. Whether you're just getting started or thinking about growing, Andrew’s insights will help you navigate the complexities of business finance with confidence. You’ll learn: The different business structures available to copywriters (sole trader vs. company vs. trust) Why you need an ABN and how to get one What to do if you're freelancing on the side while working full-time When you need to start charging GST and what that means for your business The reporting obligations of a GST-registered business When it makes sense to transition from a sole trader to a company The key differences between a bookkeeper and an accountant (and when you need one) What business expenses you can and can’t claim as a copywriter The types of business insurance you need (and which ones you can skip) Common rookie accounting mistakes that get small business owners into trouble with the ATO When to start using accounting software like Xero and how it can help manage your finances Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this conversation with Steven Lewis, a veteran Australian copywriter and founder of Taleist, listeners dive into the art of crafting engaging newsletters and effective email marketing. Steven reveals his 3-step structure for writing emails that inspire trust and action. He emphasizes the power of plain-text emails and relatable content over flashy designs. Plus, discover how to harness AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance your writing while preserving your unique voice, making this discussion a must-listen for aspiring copywriters.

Discover the lucrative world of grant writing and how it intertwines with copywriting. Learn what grants are, where to find them, and how to craft winning applications. Dive into effective strategies for pitching your services to not-for-profits and the importance of transparency in financial estimations. Explore opportunities in government procurement and the challenges faced by small businesses in this field. Gain insights into building connections within the grant writing community and the vital skills needed for success.

Sales pages – we’ve all heard of them but do you really know what they are, what they’re designed to do, how they’re different to other web pages, and more importantly, how to write one? Ash Chow is a sales page expert – she’s the ‘go to’ copywriter for those looking to write high converting sales pages. In this episode, Ash gives us the low down on everything you need to write a sales page and shares with us her unique 5-step formula for doing it quickly and effectively - from writing the hero section to addressing audience objections, Ash breaks down the essential elements of a sales page, shares her proven process, and discusses the strategies that make sales pages stand out. Whether you're new to copywriting or looking to sharpen your skills, Ash’s insights will inspire and empower you. You’ll learn how to: Understand the purpose and structure of a sales page Differentiate sales pages differ from other web pages Use Ash’s 5-step process for writing sales pages Meet your audience where they are at and guide them towards a solution Write a compelling hero section and lead Build trust through writing effective bios, testimonials, and objection-busting sections Create clear and irresistible calls to action Avoid common mistakes when writing sales pages Adapt sales pages for B2B vs. B2C audiences Write sales pages for live launches and evergreen offers Offer VIP intensives to generate immediate revenue Structure VIP days to maximise efficiency and offer great value for clients Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you like to become an expert at UX copywriting?Would you like to make money from UX copywriting?What even is UX copywriting? UX copywriting is a fascinating and super important sub-genre of copywriting that can turn a good customer experience into a great customer experience. UX stands for User Experience and it’s the art of helping users navigate a website in the most efficient way possible. If you’ve ever been frustrated at how unhelpful a website is, or struggled to find the buy button or the contact us link, chances are those website owners never hired a UX copywriter. If you’d like to learn how to become a UX copywriter and learn key skills to help you write better UX copy for your own website, this is the episode for you. Susan Reoch is a seasoned expert UX copywriter with over 14 years of experience. Her career has taken her from Amsterdam to Australia, working for industry leaders like the juggernaut of tourism - Booking.com. In this episode, we explore the fundamentals of UX writing, how to design user-friendly websites, and how you can add UX copywriting to your suite of services. Whether you’re a copywriter looking to expand your skill set or curious about UX principles, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will give you the edge on creating next level copy. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to understand UX copywriting: Grasp the basics of user experience writing and its role in creating seamless digital interactions. Learn the difference between UX copywriting and traditional conversion copywriting. How to add UX to your copywriting suite of services: From teaching and sales to UX writing at Booking.com, discover how Susan built her diverse skill set and applied it to copywriting. Hear how life experiences, from architecture studies to global travel, shaped her unique perspective. How to create a UX-friendly website: Discover the importance of understanding client goals and user motivations. Learn how to map out user journeys and design website navigation for optimal functionality. How to avoid common UX mistakes: Avoid overwhelming users with too much information. Use customer-friendly language to ensure clarity and connection. Learn how to make your website's purpose immediately clear. How to integrate SEO, brand voice, and UX: Balance user-friendly design with effective SEO strategies. Learn tips for identifying and incorporating brand voice in website copy. How to apply practical UX tools and techniques: Explore resources like the Nielsen Norman Group for learning UX principles. Understand how to collaborate with designers and developers to bring copy to life. Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lizzie Mulherin, an experienced copywriter and brand strategist, shares her expertise on using Substack to boost a writing career. She explains the unique benefits of Substack versus traditional blogging, revealing how to monetize through subscription models and engaging content. Lizzie offers actionable tips for growing an audience and leveraging social media while balancing free and paid offerings. She also discusses transitioning to freelancing, emphasizing financial prep and ethical AI use in copywriting, making this a must-listen for aspiring writers.

Would you like to scale your writing business and maybe turn it into an agency? Would you like to have other writers working for you so you don’t have to do the actual writing? Or maybe you’d like to get work through a writer’s agency? That’s what I’ll be talking about today with Sara Howard, the founder of Writers Australia, a content writing agency with some of the biggest brands on its copywriting books. In this episode, Sara Howard shares her journey from solo freelancer to agency founder, offering practical insights and strategies for freelancers who are ready to scale up.  Here’s what you’ll learn: How to start a copywriting agency  How to find new business How to shift your mindset for growth How to know when to expand beyond solo work How to make your first hires How to choose the right personality fit for your team and business How to maintain work-life balance as you scale How to grow exponentially and scale/streamline your writing process How to plan your exit or succession strategy Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I chat with Leanne Shelton, founder of HumanEdge AI Training, about how copywriters can harness the power of AI to write copy quickly and accurately, without losing the human touch.  What you’ll learn: How to overcome fear of AI: Discover practical tips to help you embrace AI as a tool that complements, rather than replaces, your creative abilities. How to train AI tools for your needs: Learn how to customise AI tools to fit your unique brand voice and specific client needs, and how to turn AI into your digital assistant rather than your copywriting competitor. How to use AI effectively in content creation: Get a step-by-step roadmap for setting up the right AI tools for your writing projects, including how to brief the AI tools using the right prompts, and how to refine the output to match your voice and creative standards. How to avoid common AI pitfalls: Discover why and how AI "hallucinates," and other common mistakes that can trip you up, and learn how to use prompts that ensure the AI tools delivers you content that is authoritative and credible from the stated sources. How to stay ahead of AI trends: Gain insights into how to keep up with rapid changes in AI technology without feeling overwhelmed, and get a curated list of the best tools for copywriters. How to integrate AI into small business content strategies: Discover how to use AI to generate content for your clients - from generating ideas to crafting headlines and more, including how to write an entire campaign deck in a few minutes - all while maintaining a personal, human touch. How to position yourlf as a Human-Centric AI expert: Learn why balancing AI with human creativity is crucial in today’s marketing landscape and how to position yourself as a leader in AI-enhanced copywriting. Read the show notes This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.