169. 12 Marks of a Lazy Copywriter (And How to Avoid Becoming One Yourself!)

As a freelance copywriter, your business depends on getting work—whether it’s from existing or new clients. But managing multiple clients (and clients-to-be) with different needs, deadlines, and expectations can get a little hectic. So how can you protect your time, energy, and creativity without compromising on your quality of communication (or your own sanity)? In this episode, Nicki and Kate share their top tips for effectively communicating with clients, right from the initial outreach, all the way to project completion. Listen in now to find out how to set yourself up for successful communication with a client from the get-go, how to make sure you’re *never* at a client’s beck and call, and if texting clients is a smart move or a recipe for disaster. --------------- Mentioned on this Episode One Sec AppHunter.ioRocketReach Related Links Learning to Effectively Communicate as a CopywriterWhat Are Your Copywriting Business Rules?You Don’t Have to Work With Clients You HateHow NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

Whether you want to work as a copywriter on staff or as a freelancer, it’s always worth taking a look at job listings. (But remember: job postings are just a small fraction of the available opportunities!) The trouble is, many people get discouraged when they see the dreaded line: “Must have at least two years of experience”. One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking at job descriptions is taking everything as written in stone. But that is absolutely *not* the case! In fact, they’re really more of a wish list for the company. (And frankly, some are like that kid who writes to Santa Claus asking for the ability to fly!) In this episode, Nicki and Kate unpick some real LinkedIn copywriting job postings to show us why we shouldn’t say “no” to ourselves before someone else does. --------------- Mentioned on this Episode This Brand-New Copywriter Landed a Senior Copywriting Role Related Links Why Companies Requiring Experience for Copywriting Jobs is a Good ThingHow to Land Copywriting Work with an Ad AgencyToo Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting PitchesWhy Freelance Copywriters Should Still Apply to Full-Time JobsSupercharged Job-Hunting Tactics --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

There’s a reason Dolly Parton (and many others!) found success singing about why working the 9 to 5 sucks—for a lot of people, it just does. And when you’re neurodivergent like Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student and coach Cleo, it can almost feel impossible.  But since going freelance as a copywriter and being in control of nearly every aspect of her professional life, it has made it a lot easier for Cleo to thrive. Not only is she financially supporting herself as a single parent, she’s also working a heck of a lot less than 40 hours a week. In this episode, we hear all of the ways having a neurodivergent mind has been an asset for Cleo as a freelance copywriter and the wider impact it’s having on her personal life, too. Plus, we get to hear about a pretty mammoth win that puts her in a very exclusive club with the likes of F. Scott Fitzgerald! --------------- Mentioned on this Episode 5 Books to Read Written by CopywritersView Cleo’s portfolioConnect with Cleo on LinkedIn Related Links Setting Boundaries as a CopywriterBuilding Your Career for Maximum FlexibilityTips for Neurodivergent Copywriters --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

As consumers, we are surrounded by discounts tempting us to make all kinds of purchases. So as a copywriter, it’s natural to ask yourself, “Should I offer discounts to customers?” Spoiler alert: Not a smart move. While discounts and sales might seem like a quick fix, they’re not a great way to start landing more clients. The good news is, there *are* ways to make yourself more marketable to potential clients. Listen in to find out the dangers of discounting your rates and how to effectively encourage potential clients to take action! --------------- Mentioned on this Episode How to Set Your Copywriting Rates Related Links Are Your Copywriting Prices Leaving Money on the Table?Why Most Advice About How to Price Your Services is Dead Wrong for YouCopywriting Is Only 1/3 Writing—Here’s Why That Affects How You ChargeSet Your Copywriting Business Up for Financial Success --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

It’s a question that pops into most aspiring—and even established—copywriters’ minds at some point: “What if I fail?” Our brains LOVE to catastrophize and fear the worst (just another great perk of being a human…). But if you notice yourself descending into a spiral of negative thoughts, the good news is that one simple method can combat all of your panic-inducing “what if” scenarios. If you’re the type of person who tends to give yourself a hard time over every little setback (yes, we’re looking at you, high achievers!), you’ll definitely want to listen in to today’s episode. Join Nicki and Kate as they unveil a powerful tactic to reboot your confidence and remind you that, yes, you *can* do this! --------------- Mentioned on this Episode Why Some Copywriters Fail Related Links Why People Tell You “Copywriting Is Hard to Get Into”Fight These 10 Fears with a Systematic ProcessWhy Setbacks and “Failures” Don’t Mean What You Think They Do --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

As the owner of a freelance business, you *want* to keep growing but it can be hard to know where to go next in a way that stays true to your vision. And most importantly, how do you get there without burning out? As the leader, you’re steering the ship of your business solo, and it can feel lonely without anyone to help you make sense of what’s next.  Instead of following someone else’s roadmap or throwing more shiny objects at the problem, it’s time to craft your own path to success. Meet Jessica Lackey, a strategy and operations advisor who combines her wealth of experience working within a huge range of businesses—from global brands to solopreneurs—with a human-centered approach, to help entrepreneurs grow and scale sustainable businesses. She joins Nicki and Kate to help you think more deeply about your business’s challenges, goals, and how to build a solid foundation from the roots up. --------------- Mentioned on this Episode Visit Jessica’s WebsiteFollow Jessica on LinkedInFollow Jessica on Instagram Related Links The Fastest Way to Grow Your Copywriting BusinessCareer Resolutions to Make Right NowYour Copywriting Business Plan for a Successful YearPreventing Burnout as a Copywriter5 Ways to Instantly Improve Your Copywriting Portfolio Site --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

Life has a funny way of coming full circle sometimes. But if you’d told ex-teacher Rebecca that, just ONE YEAR after signing up to the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy, she would be copywriting for the Filthy Rich Writer team…well, it’s safe to say she would have laughed in disbelief. In this episode, we find out the secret ingredient that set her pitch apart from the rest—and helped her land a client she *never* thought was possible. Listen in to hear more about how the CCA paved her escape route out of teaching, allowing her to enjoy more freedom and flexibility as a new mom. --------------- Mentioned on this Episode Rebecca’s PortfolioAre You Living in the Gap or the Gain? Related Links Transitioning Out of Teaching to Copywriting – George’s StoryHer Goal Was to Replace Her Teaching Income in 5 Months: She Did It in 6 WeeksGreat Summer Job for Teachers: CopywritingToo Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting Pitches --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

The arrival of a new year often sparks an enthusiasm that makes us set wildly ambitious resolutions. Shed 60 lbs? On it. Become fluent in French? Let’s go. And then would you believe it, a few weeks down the line, you’re done. One of the biggest reasons why resolutions are set up for failure is because we never stop to break it down into smaller steps. While we absolutely encourage you to have goals or resolutions (which, by the way, don’t have to start on January 1st!), we also need to make sure we take the *right* approach. In this episode, Nicki and Kate break down how to make our goals more effective, more fulfilling, and more fun! --------------- Mentioned on this Episode Fire a Copywriting Client—Without Burning Bridges Related Links Are You Living in the Gap or the Gain?Is Manifesting a Copywriting Career Bogus?Your Copywriting Business Plan for a Successful YearSet Your Future Self Up for Success Right Now --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

Whenever we embark on something new, it can be tempting to go out and buy allll the new accessories to help you get started. “But a shiny, new desk will make me *feel* professional…and THEN I can do the work, right?!” Well, we hate to break it to you but…a new desk is *not* going to magically boost your productivity.  In fact, the “urge to splurge” is often just resistance showing up and trying to distract us from doing the work we need to do. So in this episode, Nicki and Kate remind us of the absolute essentials to kickstart your copywriting career, as well as the “nice-to-haves” that might come further down the line (when you have regular income coming in!). --------------- Mentioned on this Episode Best Free Software for CopywritersDubSado (for client tracking and invoicing)Asana (for project management). Related Links What Software Do You Need to Run Your Copywriting Business?Home Office Essentials for a CopywriterWhat Does a Typical Copywriter Day Look Like? --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here 

You *know* LinkedIn is important for landing work but when it comes to building or updating your profile…well, taking a nap always seems like a better option. But LinkedIn can strongly impact your career and by taking the right steps to optimize your page, you could be attracting job leads and recruiter connections while you sleep! In this episode, Nicki and Kate are running through some of the most important changes that will zhuzh up your copywriter LinkedIn profile and make yourself irresistible to hiring managers, potential clients, and recruiters! --------------- Mentioned on this Episode What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview  Related Links How to Optimize Your Copywriting LinkedIn PageYour Ideal Clients Want You to Pitch ThemBusiness Builder or Time Waster? --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here