Ever freeze up when someone asks "So, what do you do?" Or worse, have you found yourself reciting a robotic elevator pitch that makes you sound like a walking LinkedIn profile? If so, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm breaking down why traditional elevator pitches often fail and how to craft one that actually starts conversations instead of killing them.You'll learn how to build a flexible elevator pitch framework that adapts to different situations and audiences. And, you may also ...

Have you ever been told you need to pick just one ideal client avatar? You know, that mythical person who's supposed to represent your entire customer base, as if all your potential clients are exactly the same person. Meh, I don't buy it.In this episode, I'm calling out this "one ideal client" rule for what it is—outdated advice that might be holding you back. I'll show you why having multiple ideal client personas isn't just okay—it's actually essential for most businesses. You'll...

Ever feel like your brand messaging is just a jumble of nice-sounding words that don't actually mean anything? You're not alone, and that's exactly why this brand messaging series is so important for creatives and small business owners. In this episode, Ashlee Sang and I tackle the often-overwhelming task of creating authentic mission, vision, and value statements that actually guide your business decisions—not just collect dust on your website's about page.We break down Ashlee's three-phase ...

A brand messaging kit isn't just another business document that takes up space and collects dust in your office—or at least it shouldn't be. Think of brand messaging as your business's North Star. It ensures consistent, powerful communication across every platform or marketing action you take. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain to show you exactly what goes into the brand messaging guides I create for my clients, and why they're absolute game-changers for businesses of any size.Want to ...

Ever found yourself tongue-tied when trying to explain what makes your business special? If so, you're not alone. In this episode of Talk Copy to Me, I chat with fellow copywriter and brand messaging strategist Zoie Callihan about brand messaging pillars and guides. We explore how these tools can improve everything in your marketing, help you connect with your audience in a way that feels genuine, and make your brand pop in a sea of — let's face it — sameness.Whether you're flying solo o...

Ever found yourself tongue-tied when someone asks, "So, what do you do?" or "What is your business about?" If so, you're not absolutely not alone. In this episode of Talk Copy to Me, I'm tackling the question, "What is brand messaging?" I'll cover why it's important to move from a bland "Ehhhh....We sell stuff?" question-like response to a comfortable, cozy, well-practice narrative. I'll break down common messaging mistakes that might be holding you back and serve up practical tips to c...

Are you struggling to define your unique selling proposition (USP) and feeling stuck in your marketing efforts? In this episode of Talk Copy to Me, Belinda Weaver joins me to talk about a refreshing alternative: being choosable. Instead of obsessing over what makes you different from everyone else, learn how to showcase your passion, process, and personality to create meaningful connections with your ideal clients.Belinda and I will explore some practical strategies for leveraging your e...

How can you establish your business as a trusted expert in your field? The key is building brand authority through strategic content creation.In this episode of Talk Copy to Me, I break down what brand authority means and why it's crucial for small businesses. You'll learn practical strategies for creating content that showcases your expertise and builds trust with your audience. We'll cover:Identifying your unique area of expertiseCreating content that addresses your audience's pain points a...

What's the status of all your content ideas? Are you struggling to keep track of your blog posts, social media updates, and marketing campaigns? If you're anything like so many of my clients, organization feels impossible. It takes everything you have to create and publish content, never mind organizing both your ideas and your output. Plus, effective content organization isn't just about tidiness – it's the key to strategic marketing, consistent messaging, and maximizing the impact of e...

As a business owner, your success hinges on attracting and retaining ideal customers. And I've got a secret for you today. Lean in, friend....Case studies are your secret weapon in this quest. They showcase real results, build trust, and help potential clients see themselves in your success stories. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting out, this episode on case study interviews offers valuable insights on gathering client data, conducting engaging interviews, and leveragi...

Are your testimonials gathering dust?We've been talking about social proof in the last few episodes of Talk Copy to me, and if you've been following along, you likely collected social proof and you've organized it so you know exactly where to grab it when you're ready to use it.And now? Now it's time to use those testimonials. In this episode of Talk Copy to Me, I'm going to talk about how to use testimonials to build trust and credibility. You'll learn how to strategically place them o...

Tell me something: Is asking for testimonials something that's been on your to-do list for quite some time? Do you know how to edit testimonials to your advantage — while still being true to your customer's intended thoughts?Social proof is often a deciding factor when it comes to making sales, but there's never really urgency built into asking for testimonials, which means you need to put in the effort yourself to build systems and processes that do this all for you.If you're not sure how to...

Struggling to collect testimonials for your business? Not sure what to do with reviews once you get them? Wishing you weren't using such dated social proof on your website and sales assets?Well, look no further! This episode of Talk Copy to Me breaks down the 4 types of testimonials and shares examples of how and why you should be using them. You'll also learn the advantages and disadvantages of each testimonial type. It doesn't matter if you're a small business owner, entrepreneur, or creati...

Are you struggling with closing sales and navigating client interactions? In this episode of the Talk Copy to Me podcast, sales expert Nikki Rausch breaks down the art of preparing for discovery calls, asking permission of your leads to guide the conversation, and most importantly, asking the right discovery call questions to maintain momentum and get the best information you need from your leads to turn them into clients and customers.With valuable advice on the importance of discovery calls...

If you're running a business — regardless of whether you're a creative, SaaS startup, or medium-sized company — website conversions should be top of mind. Moving your audience into leads and customers should be the highest priority if you want to grow. But it can be tricky to know how to go about doing it.In this episode, I'm going to continue the momentum from last week's conversation about website UX and dive into everything website conversions. You'll learn about the different types o...

Have you ever visited a website in search of information, only to be left frustrated by the lack of clarity you find? You may not know where to look on the site, you may be confused by the flowery language or overwhelming design, or you just might be unsure as to how to get to where you need to be.As a user, you're not alone in your hope for seamless and intuitive interactions online. In fact, they should be common place! However, as a business owner, you do have the responsibility to p...

Ever wonder how top thought leaders consistently deliver impactful ideas? It's all about frameworks.Thought leadership frameworks help you organize your expertise and ideas and guide your audience better into understanding your message. They break down complex concepts into clear, actionable steps, making it easy for listeners to understand and connect.In this season finale of our thought leadership series, Regina Anaejionu joins me to talk about crafting powerful frameworks. We'll dive into ...

Brace yourself for the emotional ride of writing a book, my friends. Because there sure as heck is a lot of vulnerability in sharing your thought leadership in print.Good thing we have Jodi Brandon, a book coach and editor, on the podcast today. We'll help you navigate the long-term strategy of book publishing, and we'll make sure to explore the art of balancing intellect and creativity in crafting a impactful business book.Buckle up, this is a great episode, friends.____________________...

We're a few episodes into this mini-series on thought leadership, which means its just about time to address the fact that a person isn't born WITH thought leadership. Thought leadership is actually created, developed, recreated, curated, and built upon over time.And one way to do that: to practice your thought leadership and strengthen it is to offer workshops and roundtables to an interested audience. When you're in front of a live audience, you'll be better able to determine what hits, wha...

You’ve been searching for public speaking opportunities for quite some time to share your thought leadership. Now, imaging stepping onto the stage. Do you feel all of the audience’s eyes on you? Will the words that you’re about to share with them change their minds, motivate them or inspire them?Even more important: How will those words drive your business forward? How do the public speaking opportunities that you participate in fit in with your overall thought leadership?Today, Charlotte Dav...

Have you ever thought about having a course for your business? Or, maybe you have a course or courses right now and you're wondering how it fits in with your overall thought leadership. Regardless of how you answered that, I want you to stop and think for a second: What do you want to be known for? And can the courses that you'd hope to create or that you already have fill the role of thought leadership for your business.In today's episode, Christina Rava joins me on Talk Copy to M...

Think about all of the leaders in your industry who are consistently getting headlines, who speak at major conferences, and who seem to have a loyal and dedicated following who hang on their every word.What sets them apart? It's not luck. It's not just having the right connections. It's simple: These individuals understand the art of thought leadership. They have taken the chance on themselves to develop what could be a body of work, what could be intellectual property, and they're posit...

Is plagiarism a crime? You betcha. But regardless of the legal implications and ethical issues with stealing someone else's work, plagiarism in the digital age runs rampant. Business owners, course creators, and creatives of any kind often have their intellectual property stolen from them. It's often discussed, and people definitely feel strongly about this, but I don't think you really GET how awful it feels to be plagiarized until someone does it to you.And my friends, someone just did...

We talk about return on investment a lot in the marketing world. But how do you know that the thousands of dollars you spent on copywriting and design really gave you any website ROI? Today I'm talking all about how to measure a website's success after it launches. After listening to the case study that I did with Tony Howell, who recently invested in a website copy project with me, I realized that there was a lot to be said about getting some data to know if the messaging choices, the...