Build Your Copywriting Business

I know: the 3 keys to unlimited (really!) copywriting success sounds like a big promise. But we (really!) follow through on it. And frankly, these are the steps for success at anything , not just copywriting. Whatever goals you have for yourself, you CAN achieve them. The only way to “fail” is if you don’t get started. Or if you stop doing the work. OK, I’m going to stop typing (really!) because t...

Any guesses on the fastest way to make people believe what you’re selling? Show them proof. That’s exactly what case studies do. And it’s why case studies are one of the most valuable pieces of copy you can write—for your clients or your own business. On this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode we’re talking all things case studies so you can use this powerful storytelling tool...

A client hires you for a “VIP day.” Suddenly, you’re tasked with: Kicking off the project Writing a creative brief Coming up with a strong concept Outlining the copy Writing the copy (for how many deliverables is another question …) Getting feedback on that copy Incorporating that feedback Getting final sign off  … all in the span of 8 hours. And let’s be real: no one has 8 good hours of work in t...

Raise your hand if you’ve ever thought any of the following: “It’s too late.” “I should have done that years ago.” “I’m too old now.” Well, where did that idea come from? If you’ve got 5, 10, 20+ years of a career left, that’s a lot of time to spend doing something that doesn’t make you happy. On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, CCA student Carol is bringing the wisdom: it’s n...

Time to put on your business owner hat: Would you pay someone to clean your house? What about do your grocery shopping? What if someone could find clients for you? Would that be worth it for you? On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, I’m not asking you to commit to hiring someone to do any of these things. But I’d encourage you to listen to this episode and explore the possibili...

How much does a banana cost for you? At Trader Joe’s they may be 26 cents (maybe a bit more for organic).  At Whole Foods they may be around 70 cents. But a banana costs relatively the same amount wherever you go, right? It’s a difference of a few cents. Copywriting is a not a banana. And, even if we agree on that, I don’t think you’re going to like this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Busin...

Do you love a to-do list as much as I do? I loooove a to-do list. Well, mostly I love checking things off that list.  But on this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, Kate and I dug into how we’ve been rethinking the to-do list so we don’t fall into what Kate is calling the “to-do list trap.” If you ever put things on your list and: Feel guilty for every day that an item sits on...

Like many Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students, Caleb was a burnt out teacher looking for a different career. On this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode, he’s generously sharing how he made that transition, including how he’s learned to use his ADHD as a strength. Several people in the community have asked about working as a copywriter with ADHD and, whether or not you are manag...

If you’re in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy, you know this community is packed with talented, creative, smart, generous humans. One of those humans is Shelby Stockton. Shelby is a comic, copywriter, and co-host of  Herstory , a podcast spotlighting the stories of badas* women throughout history. So, this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode is  actually  a special crossove...

Our feelings on niching have never wavered: niching unnecessarily limits your opportunities, especially when you’re first starting out. But what if you have an entire career in an industry? You can—and should—absolutely use that experience to your advantage.  CCA student and former healthcare worker Molly is sharing how she did exactly that on this week’s Build Your Copywriting Business podcast ep...

Ever wonder what makes a banner ad actually  work ?  As in: what separates a scroll-past banner ad from a stop-and-click banner ad? While Kate and I don’t have the data from these ads, we do have some thoughts on 8 different banner ads.  Some of these banner ads are single frames. Some are dynamic (meaning, they switch frames every few seconds). Some have solid messaging. Some…not so much. While t...

Talking on the phone feels a little old school, don’t you think? ☎️ But guess what? It’s still how a lot of business gets done. And one phone call completely changed the trajectory of Victoria’s career. Victoria went to school for business and launched her business as a VA in 2021. Her clients? They wanted marketing and copywriting support, too. As she started building her skills, she realized the...

OK first things first so we’re on the same page: A Discovery Call is one of the most important calls you have as a copywriter. This is where you and a client get on a 15 or so minute call and determine if you want to move forward together on a project. But what does that look like? And how do you move forward with the project? In this podcast episode, I’m sharing exactly what I’d say on a discover...

Have your heart set on freelancing? A lot of copywriters do. And that was Jen, too. She was freelance or bust. In fact, the  last time we talked to her , she was thriving as a freelancer, making upwards of 10K/month while home schooling her kids. So, why the heck did she take an on-staff job?! When you’re really clear on what you want and why you want it, you realize there are multiple ways to get...

When you think of “networking,” what do you think of? 😖 “Hello my name is …” name tags and business cards being shoved at you like confetti?  😫 Memorizing an elevator pitch that ends up feeling sales-y and robotic? ☠️ A room full of strangers that makes you feel like you’re back in the middle school lunchroom trying to figure out what table to sit at? I hear you. All of that makes me want to run...

If you heard  our first conversation with Kelsey  then you already know she’s a bada** human. If you missed that conversation, I can’t even sum up all the insights she shares (so definitely check it out if you haven’t already). But the major win was Kelsey earned a promotion to senior copywriter after only a year of being with her in-house agency. Since then, Kelsey has been up to A LOT, making th...

Even the MOST successful people have intrusive thoughts. Yes, influencers on Instagram who share their flawless-looking morning routines five times a week. Yes, Fortune 500 CEOs. Yes, the author who just hit the NYT bestseller list for a third time. The difference between them and those who don’t achieve their goals? They’ve learned to manage their intrusive thoughts. The bad news is we can’t make...

The biggest opportunity for copywriters right now? Meta ads. If you’re like, “But Nicki, haven’t Meta ads always been a big opportunity? And isn’t Facebook dying?” Yes and no. Yes, they’ve always been a huge opportunity, but I’m letting you in on some things our Meta ads rep has told us that makes fresh messaging more crucial than ever. And, no, Facebook is very much alive (though to be clear, Met...

Is your copy unintentionally alienating parts of its intended audience? We're getting tactical on this week's Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode and digging into how you can keep your copywriting inclusive while still writing to a target audience. You might be thinking, "Nicki, if my creative brief says the audience is men over 50, I'm going to write to men over 50, right?"  Yes, but...

You know why copywriting is so fun? Once you understand the foundations, you unlock a superpower you have for the rest of your life. 🦸 Features vs. benefits, clear CTAs, how the audience and medium impact the message: once you understand that, you can wield that superpower on any project with any client. That’s what CCA student and agency owner Michelle realized. And it unlocked a world of opport...

The other day, Kate and I were talking about the reasons why we like working on staff versus freelancing. Candidly, Kate told me that being on staff can sometimes  feel  easier (don't worry, I asked her if I could share this conversation with you!). And, hey, some seasons in our lives we just need  ease  in certain areas. We want to put our feet up for a sec and  breathe . Of course, we're still p...

Are you (unintentionally) alienating your audience? Kate and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student and bilingual copywriter Ceci and WOW!  This episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast is a masterclass in connecting with your audience in a meaningful way. And Ceci’s story is incredibly inspiring, too. As a Latina copywriter, Ceci notices wh...

When self-doubt is loud, it’s hard to tell whether discomfort is fear or intuition. That’s why learning to tell the difference is  so  important—in life … and, in this case, copywriting. So, Kate and I figured it was time to share our best tiny-but-effective tips for building trust in your gut. We’re talking about how to trust your instincts both when you’re writing copy and when you’re deciding t...

I hope you’re ready for the WEALTH of information Alex is sharing. On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, we are beyond lucky that CCA student, former account manager, and current copywriting dynamo Alex is sharing her wisdom from BOTH sides of the agency aisle. On the account side, Alex managed timelines, scopes, and client relationships.  And, lucky us, she’s sharing pro...

If you’re using AI to help you with your copywriting tasks (and I hope you are!), you need to watch this. On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, we are SO lucky that the brilliant copywriter and AI expert Amber Smith is back, sharing all her knowledge around the ethics of AI. Two of the biggest concerns when it comes to AI are: 1. Energy and water consumption 2. Plagiarism...