Lessons from our first copywriting jobs (Episode 295)

You may have heard Mel Robbins say that motivation is garbage. Unfortunately, I happen to 100% agree with her. 🙃 I wish I didn't. I wish I had some magic motivation secret I could share with you all. Instead, Kate and I have some ridiculous ways of getting things done even when we reaaaaaally don't want to. And, in the spirit of Halloween, we're sharing our best tricks on this week's Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode. 🎃 Now, first, I trust you. We're sharing this with you since, while you may laugh, you're not going to think we've completely lost our minds. What I would looooove is if you share your own mental hacks for when you need to GSD (get *ahem* stuff done...). Hit reply, leave a comment -- whatever way you feel comfortable sharing -- I'll be on the lookout for it! --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

OK, OK major caveat before you listen to this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode: If you've made any of these mistakes you're not alone. Kate and I have made a few of these. But we're not here just to rattle off a list of no-nos and tell you, "don't do it!" We're talking through the biggest mistakes we see freelancers (copywriters, or otherwise!) make again and again, and sharing how you can avoid them. A lot of this is—you may have guessed it—mindset work.  Because it's very easy as freelancers to blame our lack of work on outside variables—AI, the economy, crummy clients. But when you strip away the feeling and look at the facts (Kate even brought statistics for this one ...), you realize there's a lot more in our control that maybe, just maaaaaybe we've let go. Ready to get honest with each other?  --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Not gonna lie: AI is great for a lot of things … but it’s not gonna teach you how to write copy. If you’re like, “But Nicki, you’re just trying to sell me on the CCA.” Nope. (But, CCA students: tell ’em how it’s waaaaay more fun to learn alongside bada** humans. 😉) What I am saying is AI isn’t the answer. At least for this. It’s a robot. It’s never worked as a copywriter a day in its life. On episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, we’re breaking down exactly how the learn-copywriting-from-AI strategy is bound to backfire. The tricky thing is, AI seems super confident. So, too many people are treating it like a know-it-all expert. Don’t let it trick you. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

OK, OK, you know I hate click bait. But Jeff Goldblum really did help Eli land his first clients—for piano lessons. Wait, what?! On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Eli generously shared how he started copywriting before he even knew it was a career (that's where Jeff Goldblum comes in) and how he's using humor (definitely check out his LinkedIn!) to land clients. The takeaway? Leave "playing it safe" for the generic AI copywriting.  If you want to stand out, and really connect with humans, then write copy. Like a human. --------------- Follow Eli on LinkedIn View Eli's portfolio --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Time to hop in the way, way back machine, friends! We're sharing the good, the bad, and the, yes, ugly lessons we learned from our first copywriting clients, including how Kate missed a client meeting (that led to $100K+ in work) and how Nicki sent postcards to land her first clients. Get ready for some stories we're sharing for the first time, and some tactics you'll want to try ... and some you'll want to avoid. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

Do the headlines about AI and job prospects have you a little depressed, confused, or even downright angry? Join the club. Gee, it’s almost as if it benefits the media and the AI companies for us to feel scared and powerless! (It absolutely does.) That's why a few weeks back, Kate and I gave a free training on the state of the copywriting industry. No speculation. No B.S. And...not to brag...but after the training, one CCA student called me the GOAT (thank you, Alandria 🥰).  We're covering: ✅ The surprising stats that aren’t scary or sexy...so naturally they don't make the news ✅ The 180-degree turnaround even the AI companies themselves have made ✅ What real copywriters are earning today (and gearing up to earn in the future) Spoiler: things actually aren’t doom and gloom… In fact, we’re entering into a whole new era for copywriting! --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

I am not a believer in "slow seasons are a fact of freelancing." I've been doing this long enough (20+ years) to know that 99% of the time, a slow season happens when you stop reaching out to clients (both past and present). Now, some copywriters lean into these slow seasons and enjoy the break. To these copywriters I say, build in your vacations so you're not waiting for a slow season to take time off! Buuuuuut more often, I see copywriters hit the PANIC button (yes, all-caps-style panic). I've noticed it's gotten even worse with AI entering the conversation. I've even seen copywriters on LinkedIn wondering if they should throw in the towel. No, my friends, the fact remains that there is no better time to become a copywriter—you're needed now more than ever.  But it can feel pretty doom-y gloom-y. And I don't want to discount that. I want to help you address it. So, listen in to hear our our top tips for what to do when you're in a slow season. And no, hitting the giant PANIC button is not one of them. 😉 --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

CCA student Sarah is copywriting 3.5 days/week from Mauritius and here's the thing: That could—and should!—be ALL of us. I don't mean Mauritius (though if you LOVE island living, then ... yeah ...). What I mean is there's absolutely NO reason all of us shouldn't be living the lives we want to live. Yes, there are bills, and kids sports games, and endless laundry loads. But that doesn't mean those can't coexist alongside our biggest, wildest dreams. Listen to hear how Sarah started pursuing the things she loved most—and wanted more from—in life. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

In addition to your creative brief (that you need for every project), you need to start with this step—before your fingers even hit your keyboard to write copy. Too many copywriters skip this step and it shows in weak copy. Make sure you're not one of them. I promise that including this step on every project will save you time AND will result in much stronger copy. --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here

When you’re just starting out in your copywriting career (or even just considering this as a career path), it’s hard to feel confident when you might not have landed any clients or work yet.  That means you might need to borrow a little bit of confidence from the people who have been there, done it, and bought the T-shirt (if only we had some Comprehensive Copywriting Academy merch?!). So, this week, we’re giving you the opportunity to hear a roundup of some of the best advice from our CCA students and working copywriters.  But you have to promise me, one thing: You will take this as inspiration. Motivation. A kick out of your comfort zone. You will not take this as an opportunity to compare their step nine or ten with your step one. You're right where you're supposed to be. And if they can do it, so can you. OK, we're on the same page, right? Let's listen! --------------- Get Free Copywriting Training here