Build Your Copywriting Business

“Stop calling yourself a freelancer!” In typical Internet fashion, there’s plenty of bad information and scare-tactic hooks. That “stop calling yourself a freelancer” is just one of the examples Kate recently saw when she was on LinkedIn. In a video posted on the site, a marketing “expert” calls on freelance writers to stop calling themselves “freelance writers.” Huh? On  this episode of the Build...

Ever struggled with finding your “thing” in life?  (But really…who hasn’t?! I know I have several times!) That’s the place John was in before he discovered copywriting. For years, John was a monk in Japan before returning to the US and becoming a middle school teacher. But after seven years, as many teachers can relate to, he was incredibly stressed. The “ah-ha” moment came when John realized a bo...

There are certain questions you're going to get asked as a copywriter, around the holidays or otherwise. Make sure you're prepared with your responses to 5 of the most common questions friends and family are sure to ask! In episode 5 of this 5-part series, we'll give you various answers you can use to navigate the "working with family and friends" conundrum. Whether you want to do work with relati...

There are certain questions you're going to get asked as a copywriter, around the holidays or otherwise. Make sure you're prepared with your responses to 5 of the most common questions friends and family are sure to ask! In episode 4 of this 5-part series, you'll be able to correct the narrative that AI is crushing copywriting—because despite what your nephew Tyler thinks, it's very much not. Inst...

There are certain questions you're going to get asked as a copywriter, around the holidays or otherwise. Make sure you're prepared with your responses to 5 of the most common questions friends and family are sure to ask! In episode 3 of this 5-part series, we're navigating the well-meaning, but often inappropriately asked, "how much are ya even making?!" question. Because so many other writing pro...

There are certain questions you're going to get asked as a copywriter, around the holidays or otherwise. Make sure you're prepared with your responses to 5 of the most common questions friends and family are sure to ask! In episode 2 of this 5-part series, we've got your answer for dispelling the myth that freelancing is inherently risky. It's actually much *safer* than a full-time job. Get ready...

There are certain questions you're going to get asked as a copywriter, around the holidays or otherwise. Make sure you're prepared with your responses to 5 of the most common questions friends and family are sure to ask! In episode 1 of this 5-part series, we're covering how to answer the age-old question: "what do you even do?!" Pro tip: don't just say, "I'm a copywriter," unless you want to expl...

The title of this podcast episode might sound dramatic, but it’s 100% true. There are copywriting experts touting this strategy. It’s so incredibly risky and, well, Nicki and Kate don’t want this strategy to put  your  copywriting success at risk. Because this strategy  sounds  good. The idea is that, if you can get your copywriting portfolio to show up in search results when people Google “copywr...

We’ve talked  a lot  about boundaries. You know they’re important … … but how are you with  enforcing  your boundaries? It’s all too easy to let those boundaries slide.  And the message your sending when you set a boundary, but don’t enforce it, is that none of your boundaries mean anything. Brutal, but true. On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Nicki and Kate are sharin...

Ever set your mind to make a change (like, oh, say buying a course?), ready to dig in and go full steam ahead and then … … find life getting in the way? That was the start of Crystal’s journey. But, she kept seeing fellow Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students posting wins in the student-only Facebook group. She knew life was  always  going to get in the way—and change was always going to feel...

Last week, Kate and I busted through some of the most common copywriting myths (if you missed it, you can catch that episode here!)  This week? You guessed it: the last of some of the most prevalent (and, yup, still dangerous) copywriting myths. This is the information we wish  we  had when we were starting out. It’s all too easy to dwell on the negatives and the “what ifs.” If we focused on what...

Turns out, just because it’s on the Internet doesn’t mean it’s true. 😉 Now, many of us  know  this, but it can be easy to believe things we read or see—even on an unconscious level … … And some of those things  may  be getting in the way of you achieving your full copywriting success—or even preventing you from getting into copywriting in the first place!  Raise your hand if you’ve heard any of t...

“Pitching is hard.” “I am scared to meet with clients.” “I can’t become   a copywriter.” Do any of these sound familiar? The patterns we create by feeding our brain certain narratives is  the  ultimate roadblock to our success. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. What we tell ourselves has a  huge  impact on what we believe—whether we notice these narratives or not. On this episode of the Build...

Does the word “sales” give you the heebie jeebies? It did for Jared, too. Jared was working in tech when he started a blog about customer success, software as a service, and other tech topics. But … he was in  technology . He wasn’t a writer, right? And he certainly didn’t want to  sell  his services. Ick. Spoiler: he’s now partnered with the largest entrepreneurship network in Arizona. On this ep...

Copywriting is one of the  most flexible careers  (You’ve  probably  heard us say that so many times you’re like, “Nicki and Kate, we  know! .”) Just because its flexible does not mean there aren’t certain rules, or laws if you will, that you need to follow. Now, if you break the laws will you get a ticket? Nah. But you may see less work coming in or less repeat work. On this episode of the Build...

You don’t have a crystal ball to predict the *exact* copy that will resonate with your client’s audience. But, you do have a different tool that can help: A/B testing. A/B copy tests—comparing  one  element of copy to the same element with different copy—helps you learn what makes your client’s audience tick. (For example, you may have two ideas for a subject line—how do you know which one is bett...

Freelancing or contracting: what’s the difference? There are differences between the two and, as a copywriter, you have the flexibility to work full or part time, as well as an employee, as a freelancer, or contractor. Most of us are familiar with what it’s like to be an employee. And because we’re familiar with it, it feels “safer.” But there’s nothing that makes being an employee safer (in fact,...

You wake up in the morning, excited to start the day … then remember you have to go to work.  *Groan* Burnout: we’ve all been there. For Leslie, it turned out she still enjoyed being an attorney—just not full time. But, like all of us, there are still bills to pay. On this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Leslie is sharing how— instead of completely leaving her career as an...

As writers our clients hire us to … well … write! So, what happens when you  know  your client wants to take the copy in the wrong direction? Do you speak up? Or do you just roll with what they want? As you’ll hear in this laser coaching session, there are a few ways to tactfully and professionally disagree with your client in a way that further positions you as a valuable copywriting partner. Ult...

Having the ability work from anywhere is a HUGE benefit of being a copywriter. For many of us, that means we can visit and spend more time with loved ones. And that’s a huge perk—we love our friends and family! It’s 100% doable to work from their homes. But working remote from family and friends’ homes is a  very  different experience than working from pretty much anywhere else. If you think you’l...

Are you ready to stand out in your next copywriting interview or discovery call?  Whether you’re applying for an on staff position or a freelance role, the key to success lies in the right preparation. That’s why we’re taking you back to this must-listen episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, where Nicki and Kate share their top tips on how to ace the prep for your copywriting int...

Learn the indispensable traits that forge a successful copywriter with Nicki and Kate. From resilience to creativity, learn the insider attributes that could shift your writing career into high gear. It’s not just about witty words; it’s the hustle, learning curve, and more in this value-packed discussion. Are you embodying the characteristics that clients covet? Tune in and uncover the facets of...

"It wasn't even a stepping stone; it was a springboard for my career!" Like most Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students, Audrey had no idea what copywriting was. She was working as an interior designer before she was sidelined by an illness that forced her to leave her job. Looking for a job with more flexibility, she discovered copywriting. Audrey went from feeling heartbroken leaving a job s...

One of the biggest reasons that people “don’t make it” as a copywriter? Undercharging. (Or worse, charging by the word.) But on the flip side, you also have to be careful not to overshoot the market rate for your expertise. As you can already see, pricing your services is a delicate balance to master. And with no exact formula to tell us how to do it, calculating your rates can feel like an imposs...

Ditch the corporate chains and jump into the dynamic world of freelancing with Nicki & Kate! Unravel the myths behind losing benefits as they dive deep into healthcare, retirement perks, and endless vacay possibilities—proving the freelance lifestyle’s true worth. Ready to redefine your work-life? --------------- Mentioned on this Episode How to Build Your Own Benefits as a Freelancer Related...