Well hello there, copywriting friend!
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out loud.
Join us on our journey to polish up our copywriting skills, every episode! You’ll get actionable copywriting techniques, real-life case studies, business advice, mindset reframes and marketing strategies.
Join our membership to get access to the Tried It weekly newsletter, as well as the chance to pick our brains and to vote for the next book we talk about on the Tried It podcast. It’s your commitment to becoming a better copywriter.
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This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out loud.
Join us on our journey to polish up our copywriting skills, every episode! You’ll get actionable copywriting techniques, real-life case studies, business advice, mindset reframes and marketing strategies.
Join our membership to get access to the Tried It weekly newsletter, as well as the chance to pick our brains and to vote for the next book we talk about on the Tried It podcast. It’s your commitment to becoming a better copywriter.
And if you want to know more about us, stalk us here:
Luke Bergs & Waesto - Follow The Sun | https://soundcloud.com/bergscloud/
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Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0
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Edit Your Copy Like a Pro (‘Everybody Writes’ Discussion)
Season 1 · Episode 1
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 • Duration 49:47
Everybody Writes. That’s the statement that Ann Handley uses as the title of her guide to good writing. We all write, all the time, whether it’s work emails and WhatsApp chats, or your PhD about Virginia Woolf. Because we all write, Ann Handley says that writing is a skill anyone can perfect, with the help of her book.
In this episode, Nicole and Sarah discuss Everybody Writes, dissecting Ann’s writing process, her grammar rules and her real-life examples of excellent writing. The copywriters share their thoughts on the book, highlighting what stood out to them and why other copywriters should read it.
At the end of the episode, Nicole and Sarah give the three lessons they’ve learnt from Everybody Writes and make commitments as to what they want to work on for their copywriting clients and for themselves. You can catch up on how that went in the next episode of the Tried It Podcast: Your Proven Pathway To A Better Copywriting Business. Make sure to subscribe so that you hear it as soon as it’s released.
Timestamps
[0:00] Introduction and description of Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
[4:20] Why you need to warm up before starting to write
[6:15] But can everybody actually write?
[8:45] Why your writing needs empathy
[10:25] How to use Everybody Writes to improve your writing
[12:30] Ann Handley’s Writing GPS and creating an editing process
[19:40] Getting over your Ugly First Draft
[23:20] Nicole’s editing process
[26:50] Ann Handley’s empathy for the reader
[29:40] Why ‘Call Larry’ is the best homepage button that Ann’s ever seen
[33:45] Scroll anchors and other kinds of micro copy
[35:20] Ann Handley on AI-generated writing
Copywriters, Do You Write Daily? (‘Everybody Writes’ Follow-Up)
Season 1 · Episode 2
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 • Duration 40:31
Reading great books about copywriting isn’t enough, because if you’re just reading, you’re not necessarily learning. And if you’re not learning, you won’t write amazing copy. So on the Tried It podcast, for every book that Nicole and Sarah read, they commit to implementing three things they learnt from it and to reporting back to you, their faithful podcast listeners.
In this episode, Nicole and Sarah recap the three implementation commitments they made after reading Ann Handley’s book Everybody Writes. They share what worked, what didn’t work and what you can do to become a better copywriter. You’ll hear about how to edit copy, how to write more creatively and there’s a great idea in there for your social media calendar too. At the end of the episode, Sarah and Nicole announce the next book they’ll read for the Tried It podcast.
If you want to get better at writing copy, sign up for the Tried It Podcast Membership, which includes access to the newsletter. Unlike the podcast, the newsletter runs all year round, giving you the shot of Vitamin C your copywriting business needs. You’ll receive actionable advice straight into your inbox, plus you can ask Nicole and Sarah for their thoughts on your copywriting.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Tried It podcast to get the next episode automatically in your favourite podcast app!
Timestamps
[2:30] Nicole recaps her three implementation goals and shares her results
[10:00] Sarah’s implementation goals: Writing practice and reflections on creativity
[17:20] “Editing is the fun part of writing”: Creating an editing process
[20:20] Editing for clarity and… conciseness?
[26:00] An idea for your social media content calendar
[28:50] Writing your posts with a purpose in mind
[31:30] Putting processes over outcomes as business owners
[33:35] What you’ll get out of joining the Tried It Membership programme
What Makes A Good Brand Story? (‘StoryBrand’ Discussion)
Season 1 · Episode 3
Tuesday, October 15, 2024 • Duration 51:32
Having established some of the foundational techniques of good writing with the help of Ann Handley’s Everybody Writes, today Sarah and Nicole look at what it takes to develop a coherent brand story for a business.
In this episode, the two copywriters dissect Donald Miller’s marketing Bible, Building a StoryBrand (or BrandStory, if you’re like Sarah and Nicole and can never remember exactly what the book’s called). They walk through his seven-part framework that details how to create a compelling story to set your business apart. You’ll hear them analyse the framework to see how it works for different kinds of businesses and its potential drawbacks.
As with Ann Handley’s book, Sarah and Nicole then set themselves three goals each to take from StoryBrand and apply to their own businesses or their client work. Stay tuned to the end to find out what implementation goals they pick and subscribe to the Tried It podcast to catch the next episode where they discuss how they got on!
Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction and Book Overview
[02:04] Choosing 'Building a Story Brand' and Personal Background
[04:02] Overview of the Story Brand 7 Framework
[08:43] Critiques of the Book and Salesy Nature
[13:07] The Importance of Problems in Brand Messaging
[25:19] Exploring Stories Outside the Framework
[27:39] Using Storytelling in Brand Marketing
[29:52] Recommendations and Conclusion
[30:44] Exploring the Elements of the StoryBrand Framework
[32:13] Applying the StoryBrand Framework to Different Industries
[34:36] The Limitations of the StoryBrand Framework
[36:37] The Importance of Focusing on the Customer
Does Your Company Need A Brand Story? (‘StoryBrand’ Follow-up)
Season 1 · Episode 4
Tuesday, October 22, 2024 • Duration 47:44
Sarah and Nicole gave some pretty honest feedback about Donald Miller’s Building a StoryBrand book in their previous episode, but that won’t stop them from implementing what they learnt from it. In this episode of the Tried It Podcast, they share their results and announce the next book they’ll analyse for the podcast.
Sarah begins by sharing her revelation that freelance copywriters aren’t the target audience for Miller’s StoryBrand framework and explains who she thinks would benefit from the book. Then she walks you through the three commitments she made based on the framework and how they turned out. You’ll get insights on how to write a one-liner for your business, plus a discussion on the limitations of the StoryBrand framework for website copy.
Nicole gives her thoughts on implementing the StoryBrand framework in the clean tech copy space, letting you in on some of the biggest challenges that clean tech copywriters face.
At the end of the episode, Sarah and Nicole highlight the benefits of joining the Tried It Podcast Membership and reveal the next book they’re reading for the podcast. Subscribe to the TriedIt Podcast to make sure you catch it.
Timestamps
[0:00] Introduction and an overview of StoryBrand
[3:20] Nicole’s three implementation points
[4:00] Sarah’s revelation on who StoryBrand is actually for
[9:25] Sarah’s implementation goal #1: Write a business one-liner (and how it went)
[16:30] Sarah’s implementation goal #2: Analyse her homepage copy using the StoryBrand framework
[20:55] Does the StoryBrand framework really work on websites?
[22:40] Sarah’s implementation goal #3: Write a blog post and a LinkedIn post using the StoryBrand framework
[32:25] Nicole recaps her implementation goals
[37:00] “It’s not about the tech”: The big problem in clean tech copy
Pivoting Your Copywriting Business to 6-Figure Success ('Six-Figure Copywriter' Follow-Up)
Season 1 · Episode 8
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 • Duration 44:55
One number gets bandied around copywriting circles more than another other: six. Specifically, six figures. A six-figure income. A freelance copywriter with a six-figure income. But in the age of AI and with post-COVID market volatility, is that still even possible? Or realistic? Joanna Wiebe thinks so, and she wrote a book about it.
In this episode of the Tried It Podcast, hosts Sarah and Nicole discuss what they learnt when they implemented the advice that Joanna and her copywriting buddies shared in The Six-Figure Freelance Copywriter. Listen out for long-term business growth strategies, handling the emotions of pivoting a business and the one thing that Donald Trump actually got right.
For non-members, this is the last episode in the first season of the podcast, so thanks so much for sticking around! If you could review the podcast or even subscribe to it, that would be great! And for those of you who have already become members of the Tried It Podcast, your exclusive episode with a full season one overview will be out very soon. Thanks for supporting Sarah and Nicole and for caring about your own copywriting business enough to invest in it.
Timestamps
[0:30] What is The Six-Figure Freelance Copywriter? Get in touch with Sarah and Nicole if you’ve read it!
[2:00] Sarah recaps her first implementation point - pitching to podcasts
[4:05] “Most people are happy to hear from you”: Why podcast pitching is solving a problem that many podcast hosts face
[5:20] Authority is a long-term game
[8:30] Predicting the future of your industry as a way to stand out from the crowd
[14:00] How do you pivot a freelance copywriting business?
[18:25] How does it feel to navigate a business in the throes of major upheaval? Or: What’s missing in The Six-Figure Freelance Copywriter?
[21:40] The one thing that Sarah and Donald Trump have in common
Can You Make 6 Figures As A Copywriter? ('Six-Figure Copywriter' Discussion)
Season 1 · Episode 7
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 • Duration 01:02:51
If you’ve been writing copy for more than a hot minute, you’ll know the pressure of setting and meeting your income goals. Particularly if you’re trying to reach a big income goal like a six-figure one. On this episode of the Tried It podcast, copywriters Sarah and Nicole break down the pathways to running a six-figure copywriting business.
Sarah and Nicole discuss Joanna Wiebe’s 2023 book ‘The Six-Figure Freelance Copywriter’, which profiles 21 copywriters who hit the six-figure benchmark to ask them how they did it. They point out the common threads in their advice and also the conventional advice that copywriters hear about finding clients and earning money that doesn’t feature in the book. In a Tried It first, there’s also a surprise mention of Paris Hilton.
At the end of the episode, the hosts share the three implementation points that they will work on to boost their freelance income, which they will report back on in the next episode of the Tried It podcast.
For other copywriters out there looking to grow their business and polish their skills, check out the Tried It membership. You’ll get a weekly newsletter with actionable copy exercises, plus bonus podcast content, copy feedback AND the chance to vote on the next Tried It book!
Timestamps
[0:50] Nicole introduces The Six-Figure Freelance Copywriter
[3:00] Freelance copywriters don’t just write copy, plus the power of networking
[4:50] What you can get out of networking
[7:20] What it looks like when you’re a copy strategist
[9:20] “The closer you are to the money, the more you can charge”
[13:10] Can copywriters still make good money in the age of AI?
[16:10] The mythical pull of running a six-figure business, and Paris Hilton’s money trauma
[23:20] The different paths to hitting six-figure business
Is Brevity Always Better In Copywriting? ('Smart Brevity' Follow-up)
Season 1 · Episode 6
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 • Duration 55:01
Introducing the new character on Nicole and Sarah’s Tried It podcast: Dylan’s mum. She has big main character energy.
In this episode of the Tried It podcast, Sarah and Nicole pick up from where they left off in the last episode to discuss what they learnt when they implemented the Smart Brevity writing formula. Find out what it’s like to write in Smart Brevity and where Smart Brevity works… and doesn’t.
Sarah reports back on her experience of turning her freelance copywriting business into a Smart Brevity business and the copywriters analyse gender and relationship building in writing. At the end of the episode, they reveal the last book they’ll read in this first series of the Tried It podcast.
If you’ve enjoyed the podcast so far, you’ll love what you get out of joining the Tried It Membership. It’s a weekly shot of Vitamin C for your copywriting business. You can also support Tried It by subscribing to the podcast and leaving a review. It’s what Dylan’s mum would do….
Timestamps
[1:45] Nicole recaps her three implementation points from the Smart Brevity book
[5:45] Why Nicole recommends Smart Brevity to writers
[7:30] Where Smart Brevity doesn’t work
[11:20] Is there a way to do Smart Brevity lite?
[16:20] Sarah’s implementation points: Smart Brevity writing for blogs, LinkedIn and emails
[25:10] Does Smart Brevity make you write like AI?
[27:05] Is it easy to write in Smart Brevity?
[29:20] Who should use Smart Brevity?
[30:50] The news, in Smart Brevity format
[33:25] Copywriters x Smart Brevity: Where Smart Brevity helps you to write better copy
[34:55] Sarah’s third implementation point: Running a Smart Brevity-style business
[38:45] Smart Brevity and gender in writing
How To Master The Art of Brevity In Copywriting (‘Smart Brevity’ Discussion)
Season 1 · Episode 5
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 • Duration 57:20
Two copywriters weigh in on Smart Brevity.
What it is: A podcast episode about Smart Brevity, hosted by two professional copywriters
Why it matters: Because it’ll help you decide whether or not Smart Brevity is for you.
Sarah and Nicole continue their Tried It adventure by analysing Smart Brevity, a book with a formula promising to streamline your communication for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
The copywriters discuss their takeaways from Smart Brevity and evaluate how the framework impacts storytelling and other forms of communication. At the end of the episode, they make three commitments each to take what they’ve learnt from the book to apply to the real, messy world of writing copy for paying clients.
Subscribe to the Tried It podcast to find out how they got on and join the membership to hear from Sarah and Nicole every week in your inbox, amongst other great benefits.
Timestamps
[1:10] Nicole and Sarah break down the principles of Smart Brevity
[3:55] From journalism to Smart Brevity: Nicole’s opinions on the Smart Brevity framework and how journalism has changed
[7:50] What is the best way to tell a story?
[10:50] The Smart Brevity take on empathy
[13:40] Does Smart Brevity leave space for creativity and storytelling?
[18:45] “Brevity is confidence. Length is fear”
[21:00] How Nicole implemented some Smart Brevity principles for her client
[24:00] Comparing writing rules in Smart Brevity with Everybody Writes
[28:40] Where can you use Smart Brevity in your daily life?
[30:20] Nicole’s thoughts on the Axios AI tool
Season 1 Wrap-Up Party: What's Next for the Tried It Podcast?
Season 1 · Episode 9
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 • Duration 12:07
Hey Tried It listeners! We’ve come to the end of the first season of the Tried It podcast but that doesn’t mean that the fun stops here.
Catch our end-of-season wrap up party episode below and you if can’t wait to hear more from Sarah and Nicole, hop on over to the Tried It Podcast Membership for weekly emails and so much more.
Thanks for listening and see you next year!
Timestamps
[0:25] Welcome to the partaaaay!
[0:45] Thanks for chilling with us, guys
[1:40] Can reading books about copywriting make you a better copywriter?
[2:35] “Change IS possible”
[3:55] Getting honest about how we implement changes to our writing and our businesses
[5:50] What’s stuck with Sarah since recording the first season of Tried It
[8:05] How the books have influenced Nicole
[9:10] Taking it to the Members’ Zone
[9:50] What happens next for the Tried It Podcast?
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out loud.
Join us on our journey to polish up our copywriting skills, every episode! You’ll get actionable copywriting techniques, real-life case studies, business advice, mindset reframes and marketing strategies.
Join our membership to get access to the Tried It weekly newsletter, as well as the chance to pick our brains and to vote for the next book we talk about on the Tried It podcast. It’s your commitment to becoming a better copywriter.
And if you want to know more about
[38:05] Announcing the next book featuring on the Tried It podcast
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out loud.
Join us on our journey to polish up our copywriting skills, every episode! You’ll get actionable copywriting techniques, real-life case studies, business advice, mindset reframes and marketing strategies.
Join our membership to get access to the Tried It weekly newsletter, as well as the chance to pick our brains and to vote for the next book we talk about on the Tried It podcast. It’s your...
[37:48] Differentiating Features and Benefits in Marketing
[44:03] Implementation goals!
[50:51] What you get out of the Tried It Membership
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out loud.
Join us on our journey to polish up our copywriting skills, every episode! You’ll get actionable copywriting techniques, real-life case studies, business advice, mindset reframes and marketing strategies.
Join our membership to get access to the Tried It weekly newsletter, as well as the chance to pick our brains and to vote for the next book we talk about on the Tried It podcast. It’s your commitment to becoming a better copywriter.
And if you want to know more about us, stalk us here:
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client...
[23:00] “I don’t like what I’m seeing”: Nicole on the clean tech copywriting field
[24:10] Why Nicole’s not fighting the chaos any more
[25:50] An update on Nicole’s first implementation point
[29:20] Are newsletters a way to stand out in a crowded industry?
[33:00] “Even though I’ve been running a business, I haven’t really been running a business”: Nicole’s getting into the driver’s seat of her business
[34:15] The part of the book that stuck with Sarah
[35:30] Diversifying your income and who should read this book
[37:15] Building a copywriting business in the age of AI
[38:15] Why joining the Tried It membership will help you to grow your copywriting business
[41:25] Sarah shares an inspirational quote that might help you to grow your business
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work....
[26:30] Niching as a copywriter: How niche should your niche be?
[29:00] Is the Tried It membership a good fit for your copywriting business?
[32:10] Sarah and Nicole’s “Hell no!” copywriting tips
[37:30] Yes, you can get better at networking
[39:25] When should you invest in your own business?
[42:25] The advice that wasn’t featured in the book
[46:55] Nicole’s implementation points: network building, working less, post outreach and an industry newsletter
[53:20] Sarah’s implementation points: pitching podcasts, getting ahead on Podcasting 2.0 and maaaaaaaaybe… a business pivot?
[59:20] What happens when you work ON your business, not IN your business
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out
[41:00] Can you build relationships with Smart Brevity communication?
[44:50] How should Dylan’s mum let the parents of Dylan’s friends know that his birthday party has changed location??
[49:20] What you’ll get out of joining the Tried It podcast membership
[53:10] Announcing the next book for the Tried It podcast!
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk...
This is the Tried It podcast: Your proven pathway to a better copywriting business. How do we know it works? Because we’ve Tried It.
We’re Nicole and Sarah, two copywriters on a mission to elevate your freelance copywriting game. We’re reading the great books about copywriting, marketing and business. Once we’ve read each book, we spend a hot minute applying the techniques we’ve learnt to our own businesses and to our client work. And then, we talk about it. We’re learning, out loud.
Join us on our journey to polish up our copywriting skills, every episode! You’ll get actionable copywriting techniques, real-life case studies, business advice, mindset reframes and marketing strategies.
Join our membership to get access to the Tried It weekly newsletter, as well as the chance to pick our brains and to vote for the next book we talk about on the Tried It podcast. It’s your commitment to becoming a better copywriter.
And if you want to know more about us, stalk us here:
Luke Bergs & Waesto - Follow The Sun | https://soundcloud.com/bergscloud/
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