BOW 092: Jacqueline Burns: Publishing Books That Sell Millions

In This Episode:    After 100 amazing episodes, we are stepping away from The Business of Writing Podcast to focus on exciting new ventures and partnerships.    In the final episode of this first chapter, Laura and Rachel reveal why they’re making this decision, what we’re doing next, the biggest lessons we’ve learned along the way, and how you can make space for your business (and yourself) to evolve.    Episode Highlights Why we’re stepping away from the BOW Podcast for a little while How to give yourself and your business space so you can evolve and change over time Why you should never forget that everything has a shelf life  Finding people who can ask you hard questions to make sure you don’t get “stuck” in your business How to treat your business as an experiment so you can test new ideas without fear Where we’re putting our focus and attention next  A very special ‘rapid fire’ question round   And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode:    Adam Hunt is a TV Producer turned Copywriter who specializes in comedic copywriting. He says there’s an art to writing jokes that work for brands – and a science that makes sure the end result is on-brand, on-message and won’t get you cancelled.   Adam brought together TV’s best comedy writers to form his White Label Comedy Hive-Mind.    They, to help brands of all shapes and sizes entertain, engage and sell. Which, he says, was not as hard as it sounds, since they were all in the same branch of Starbucks complaining about the WiFi. He now keeps them in a small bucket on his coffee table, occasionally feeding them episodes of Cheers.   Episode Highlights   How Adam convinced a bunch of TV writers to give up their fat paychecks and jump ship and start a copy agency Why joke formulas don’t always work in persuasive copy (and the counterintuitive reason Adam still uses them) How to find the perfect balance of comedy, psychology, and marketing to write a winning piece every time Why you should always start with conversion copy before thinking about the joke How to use comedy to get your audience to lower their resistance and be more open to hearing your message.  The secret to avoiding cringe worthy jokes when injecting humor into your brand How to avoid the biggest mistakes newbie writers make when trying their hand at humor  Adam’s advice for managing (and corralling) a team of writers and comedians   And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.  

In This Episode:    So many of our listeners want to market themselves and build great platforms, we want to highlight the kind of person who can really make it happen. So today we are interviewing Laura Valenti, who is the genius behind many of the systems here at the Business of Writing. We could not have made this show without her.    Laura is a creative and dynamic project manager and UX/UI designer freelance. Ever since she was young, Laura rejected the idea that having a job had to be exhausting so she simply decided to build her dream career.   She spent 5 years working in London and a year and a half in Lisbon, before moving back to Italy (where she grew up) and bringing back everything she learned abroad. Right now she is working for multiple clients with different "hats". These days Laura is primarily a designer but she is also a project manager, social media manager and ux researcher.   Today we talk about project management, mindset, and building a business that’s authentically you.   Episode Highlights   How to embrace free online learning to change your career (and your life!) Laura’s advice for getting paid to learn new skills How to see change in your business as healthy and exciting (rather than stressful) The first person you should hire when launching your new business How to build trust and brand awareness quickly when you’re just getting started  Which parts of your business you should automate and systematize first How to automate more of your writing business so you can focus on the work you love most Becoming a collaborator (rather than an employee) when working with clients The powerful mindset strategy behind increasing productivity and creativity  Laura’s advice for fixing an unproductive day  The 3 lists you should carry around with you daily to consistently move toward big goals  How to enjoy the “journey” of building your business (and not just the destination)   And plenty more along the way. 

In This Episode:  Finka Jerkovic is an author, international speaker, and coach. She consults with clients on their personal branding, leadership, sales, client experience and employee engagement.  Finka believes when you bring authentic leadership and a mission-based mindset to business, you can achieve inner fulfillment, outer success and leave a transformational impact. Today we’re talking about how to “own” your offers and your business, as Finka share her strategies from selling from a place of love, instead of fear.  Episode Highlights How to pull on the tendrils of the book hiding inside you  Dealing with the pain (and sometimes necessity) of throwing out your first draft How to know when it’s the right time to write your book The strategy behind fitting a book into your overall business plan How to write your book while balancing a full time job or business Working with a book writing coach to get past your sticking points  How to fully embrace what you’re selling so you can feel free in promoting yourself and your work Managing book launch anxiety (and how to avoid constantly hitting the ‘refresh’ button on your results) How to sell from love instead of fear (for both your own business, and your client’s) And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode:    Angie Colee is a heavily-tattooed rocker turned copywriter and entrepreneurial coach. She was one of our very first guests here on the show, and since then she’s made some incredible shifts in her business.    She’s recently said goodbye to most of her client work to focus on her coaching, podcast, and writing a book – All supported by the incredible lessons she’s learned on her journey from cubicle copywriter to badass business owner.   In that time she’s coached hundreds of creative freelancers through finding clients and confidently fulfilling the gig…   Strategized and written multiple multi-million dollar launches, including two during the recent pandemic…   And Generated over $50MM in direct-to-consumer sales with her copy.   Since she walked away from her day job, she’s created strategies and promos for companies like Masterclass, Copy Chief, The Hustle, Rich Dad Poor Dad, and Product Launch Formula.   These days, she’s teaching everything she’s learned in her new business called Permission to Kick Ass. There she provides business and confidence coaching for creative entrepreneurs.   Episode Highlights Why Angie decided to move away from being a copywriting gun for hire  How Angie manages her creative work while working remotely from the road Her superpower that makes her the perfect person to turn to when you need a loving kick in the butt. How to have difficult conversations with clients when you need to set boundaries The difference between a "red flag" and s "miscommunication" when it comes to managing clients How you can use your personality and quirks to attract the right clients  The filters you should run all prospects through to make sure they’re easy to work with   And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode:    Mayank and Prerna Malik are the founders of Content Bistro where they serve up wallet-wooing conversion copywriting services for creatives and seasoned-for-growth consulting for service providers.   They’re also the creators of Profits on Tap ® and Momentum Mise-en-Place ® where they work closely with fellow service providers who want Sustainable Scale ™ for their businesses.   They’ve worked with over 500 clients worldwide including some of the biggest and best names in the industry, such as Pat Flynn, Vanessa Lau, Amy Porterfield, Kerwin Rae, Carrie Wilkerson, Alli Worthington, and others!   They live in India with their daughter, Manini and when they aren’t working on launches with clients or on profit optimization with service-based businesses, they’re traveling the world and eating all the food! (Sounds like our kind of people!)   Today we talk about getting strategic about your profits and mindset, scaling on your own terms, running a business Internationally, and how to grow your business while scaling back the hours you work.   Episode Highlights   How chronic illness forced Prerna and Mayank to launch their own business  Their system for finding international clients while based in India How they moved from “content creation” to sales copywriting (and why they made the switch) Scaling your business on YOUR terms (and doing it sustainably) How they scaled BACK the hours they worked without sacrificing growth in their business  The 3 key areas of your business to focus on if you want to work LESS hours while your business continues to grow How to be intentional and strategic about building profits in your business (and you don’t need to be an accounting whiz)   And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.  

In This Episode:  Many industries today - especially online marketing - are so transient and based on “trends.” One thing we want to do here on this show is make sure we’re sharing lessons and insights that will stand the test of time.    Stories to help you build a business without being worn out, stressed out, and ready to quit. Stuff that is sustainable and can help you build long-term growth.    So today Laura and I want to share more about the evolution of our businesses over time, and the lessons we’ve learned that will help you build a business that’s set to thrive through all kinds of ups and downs, and turns of industry so you can always make great money doing what you love.    Episode Highlights   The catalyst that caused each of us to launch our businesses How we overcame the biggest difficulties as we built our businesses  The main values we seek out in clients, employees, and business partners Our biggest “ah ha” moments over 10 years of working for ourselves How we stay updated with new business ideas and strategies The secret to finding that work-life balance Our best advice for our younger selves if we were to do it all again   And plenty more along the way.   

In This Episode:    Ilise Benun helps creative professionals bust through mental money blocks, to find better projects with bigger budgets. She’s a national speaker and author of 7 books, including "The Creative Professional's Guide to Money," and 3 online courses tailored to the needs of creative professionals.   Since 2008, she has hosted the Marketing Mentor Podcast and her newest project is her role as “Business Coach” for the Savannah College of Art & Design.   With over 30 years of experience, Ilise has a lot to teach about clearing the mental clutter, getting more comfortable with tough money conversations, and building a thriving creative business. Let’s dive in.    Episode Highlights   How Ilise helps her clients clear their mental clutter  Why promoting your creative on social media may NOT be a good idea How to create a marketing plan for your business that works for you and your personality  How to break out of the “low paying client’ cycle and work with clients who are happy to pay you more  Why Ilise thinks you’ve been brainwashed to avoid marketing your business Understanding the difference between “worth” and “value” when pricing your services  How to develop great collaborative relationships with your clients The 3 simple action steps you can do over and over again to get a flood of great clients  How to meet potential prospects and develop a genuine relationship with them Busting through mental money blocks that stop you from earning more How to make money negotiations a conversation instead of a confrontation And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.

In This Episode:    Jacqueline Burns was commissioning editor at Random House and Editorial Director at HarperCollins. There she edited classics such as Men are from Mars; Women are from Venus, Who Moved My Cheese, Chicken Soup for the Soul, and Toddler Taming - all of which have sold millions of copies.   She is the author of Write a Bestseller, and a bestselling series of successful books for Random House. Jacq has also ghostwritten a number of well-known titles, co-founded The London Writers Club, and is a literary agent for authors.    Today we get her to spill the beans on the “behind the scenes” details of publishing books that sell millions of copies, how authors can work with large publishers, and what makes a blockbuster bestseller.    Episode Highlights   What it’s like working on the most well-known books of modern times What Jacq looks for in books that she chooses to publish  How authors can write a book that will stand the test of time The common elements of books that are likely to become blockbusters How to avoid the biggest mistakes new authors make when writing their first book The #1 piece of advice Jacq gives authors who want to make it big The specifics of what you should look for in a writing coach (and it’s not a long list of accreditations)   And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.  

In This Episode:    Every once in a while we have an interview that is so packed with value and actionable advice, that it could be a whole masterclass on it’s own!   Our guest today really pulled out the good stuff for us in this interview.    Licia Morelli is a copywriter, best-selling author and marketing consultant. Her writing has been featured in Vanity Fair, The Boston Globe, Publisher's Weekly, Elephant Journal, Johns Hopkins University Press and more.    She is also a poet and prose writer, publishes children’s books, helps copywriters grow their businesses, has worked as an editorial director in the online marketing industry for over 10 years.    Today we’re diving into writing copy that goes above and beyond, getting bad-ass testimonials (and referrals) from your clients, pricing your services like a pro, and how to balance everything without going insane.    Grab a notebook and buckle up for this one!   Episode Highlights   How Licia launched her writing career by telling jokes on twitter Her “single person” copy tactic that guarantees her work will hit hte mark How she gets bad-ass testimonials (and measurable results!) from her clients Her system for using “The 5 Love Languages” to get incredible case study’s and proof for your biz How to get testimonials for a brand new offer that’s never been sold before Licia’s system for getting long-term clients who book out full days with her months in advance How to manage a busy roster, your personal life, creative work, and the functional part of your biz without going crazy Why Licia DOESN’T raise her prices   And plenty more along the way. Get the resources mentioned in this episode below.