ill communication: copywriting tips & sales strategies for small businesses

Want to set yourself up for an incredible 2025?  Today I want to guide you through a powerful end-of-year reflection practice designed specifically for entrepreneurs and business owners. I'll walk you through a series of thoughtful questions that will help you celebrate your wins, acknowledge your challenges, and craft an intentional vision for the year ahead. Starting with a grounding medita...

If you caught last week’s episode on how to remix your content, this episode is a live example of that. I’m practicing what I preach and remixing a podcast episode from a couple of years ago. I'm also breaking away from my usual copywriting content to share a testament to the power of "surprise and delight" content - those unexpected, personal moments that help you connect deeply wi...

Feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to create fresh content during the holiday season? What if I told you there's a stress-free way to keep your audience engaged without burning yourself out? In this episode, I'm revealing 9 game-changing strategies for remixing and repurposing your existing content that will save you time, energy, and sanity. From creating "greatest hits" coll...

Are you struggling to break through your marketing plateaus and looking to make 2025 your most successful year yet? In this episode, I dive deep into the strategies and services that can transform your business's copywriting and marketing approach.  I'll share five powerful ways to overcome common challenges like stalled sales, inconsistent messaging, and feeling stuck in your marketing...

How do you find joy and gratitude during challenging business years?  I’m sharing my reflections on 2024, diving into the ups and downs of my entrepreneurial journey while highlighting the unexpected sources of happiness that have sustained me through a difficult period of business uncertainty. From celebrating my incredible family and rediscovering the magic of reading to appreciating in-person e...

What’s the best way to make the most out of Giving Tuesday? In this episode, I share 13 creative, last-minute strategies that charities and businesses alike can use to ride the wave of generosity and excitement during this global day of giving. From simple email-only campaigns to thoughtful donor appreciation ideas, you’ll hear practical ways to connect with your audience and maximize results with...

Is your business missing out on potential customers and revenue by not including FAQs in your marketing efforts?  In this episode, I dive into why FAQs are so valuable for your business and bottom line. You'll learn how FAQs can help move your readers toward making a purchase decision, tackle common objections, and even boost your SEO. Plus, I'll share the best places to showcase your FA...

Want to know the secret behind growing your audience without spending a dime on ads? Today I’m answering a “pick my brain” question I got from one of my business buddies, Lauren, about how I've managed to regularly rank in the top 200 (and sometimes top 50!) marketing podcasts on Apple Charts in Canada.  I break down my three key strategies for boosting discoverability and growing your audien...

Are you staring at the calendar wondering how you'll get all your content created before the year ends? Well, you’re in luck because I'm sharing one of my favourite copywriting prompts, "My Favourite Thing". This prompt consistently helps my Joy of Copy Club members create engaging email content in record time. I'll walk you through exactly how to use this prompt to craft...

Is your copywriting taking too long and still not getting the results you want?  In this episode, I’m walking you through how to go from feeling confused and overwhelmed about your copywriting to becoming confident and efficient. I share my proven strategies that have helped countless business owners write everything from weekly emails to sales pages in record time.  You’ll also hear how one of my...

Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank page, struggling to start writing? In this episode, I'm sharing three mind-blowing secrets I wish I'd known before becoming a professional copywriter. Drawing from my experience in both the nonprofit sector and as a self-employed copywriter, I’m diving into why pro copywriters never start from scratch, how great copy is actually assembled r...

I’m coming in hot on this episode with a very special invitation you’re not going to want to miss! If you've ever found yourself staring at a blank page, unsure of what to say or how to say it, this episode holds your ticket to copywriting freedom. Join me to learn about my upcoming free masterclass where you can discover how to banish writer's block, connect deeply with your audience, a...

You've probably heard the supposed secrets to small business success: posting 5 times a day on Instagram, going viral on TikTok, adhering to a strict 5 am morning routine, or constantly churning out new digital products. But are these really the keys to small business success? As someone who's built a highly profitable and surprisingly relaxed service-based business that's generated...

In this episode, I’m introducing an exciting new segment of the podcast called "Pick My Brain," where I answer your burning questions about copywriting, messaging, marketing, and sales. To kick this segment off, I'm tackling a question that many content creators struggle with: How to consistently come up with fresh ideas for podcasts, emails, and other content. I’m sharing the 12 wa...

I’m all about finding the easy, simple way to do things, so in this episode, I’m sharing my approach to a simple yet effective marketing strategy: the monthly marketing moment.  As a copy coach and sales strategist, I’m breaking down how hosting regular, low-key workshops or Q&A sessions has helped me grow my email list, build authority, and foster relationships with potential clients.  Whethe...

I’m taking a much needed detour on this episode to address a common issue many of us entrepreneurs face: feeling overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks and systems needed to run a successful business.  Through two real-life examples from my recent coaching calls where this exact topic came up, I illustrate how both new and experienced business owners can become paralyzed by trying to implement too...

Recently, I almost marked an email as spam—from someone I know and follow! Why? Because her name wasn’t in the sender section.  I had no idea it was from her and thought it was spam, which could have hurt her deliverability. I don’t want this to happen to you! In this episode of ill communication, I’m diving into the importance of putting thought and strategy into your Sender Name. Topics We Cover...

Thinking about running a flash sale? Then this episode is for you. In this replay episode, I'm sharing one of the best ways to get a little revenue boost or book a few more clients into your calendar, the 5P Flash Sale Formula. This formula is the best way to make your flash sales faster, easier, and more profitable! Topics covered in this episode include: What flash sales are and how they ca...

In this episode of ill communication, I’m sharing a rebroadcast of an episode I recorded with my friends Rob and Kira over on The Copywriter Club podcast.  I have had several copywriters reach out to me after listening to this episode because in it I talk about some of the practical and tactical ways I started my freelancing business, how I find clients, and how I've weathered the economic sl...

Do you love your bio? As business owners, a bio is something we all need, and it’s one of the first things we write for our business.  In this replay episode of ill communication, I’m sharing one of my most popular episodes of all time. It's the number one most downloaded episode on my podcast, and I think it's because it answers a big pain point or a search topic all business owners hav...

In this episode of ill communication, I’m turning the tables… on myself. Instead of me doling out the advice and wisdom and coaching, I’m GETTING advice and wisdom and coaching from an incredibly smart speaking and messaging coach, Heather Sager in a rebroadcast of her podcast, Hint of Hustle.  In this conversation, she helped me zero in on my zone of genius, workshop some speaking topics, and eve...

In this episode of ill communication, I’m continuing our Greatest Hits series and this episode is one of my personal favorites.  It’s all about the Rule of 3. This rule is a way to organize your copy and your thoughts into a pattern that is memorable to our human brain.  You’re going to find out why the Rule of 3 is a powerful tool to have in your marketing toolbox. You’ll begin to use it to stren...

Today you’re going to meet one of the most favourite people I’ve met in this online business world - Emily Reagan. To go along with our summer playlist, I’m sharing a replay from her podcast where she had me on as a guest.  In this rebroadcast episode, you'll hear about my journey to becoming a freelance copywriter, and why I think there's a lot of misleading messaging out there that mak...

We are trucking along on our summer playlist programming and I’m sharing another Greatest Hit with you today! It’s one of my most popular episodes about why GenX women are an untapped market.  They call us the Slacker Generation. The Forgotten or Lost Generation. The Latchkey Generation. But I like to think that we are the generation that had the best and possibly the highest hair. We are Gen X. ...

In this episode of ill communication, I’m sharing another Greatest Hits episode, and this is one that I know really struck a chord with many of you. It’s why the world needs to hear from more women in business.  Have you ever struggled with self-confidence and self-worth? You’re not alone in feeling like that.  Women are generally socialized and conditioned not to trust our own expertise and when...