The Copywriter Collaborative: Recent Episodes
Jessi Honard + Marie Parks
Learn how to build, grow, and sustain a copywriting business that is personally and professionally fulfilling. Join Jessi Honard, Marie Parks, and guests as they share how you can write copy like the best of ‘em, and create a lucrative career as a writer.
As a content creator and a copywriter, you deserve a sustainable business. One that doesn’t ever require a Plan B. And by focusing on the elements of STABLE, you can create that for yourself. In today’s episode, we’ll recap the different elements of STABLE and talk about how we’re walking our talk.
If you’re on the verge of burning out, your business is not sustainable. You could be making all the money in the world, but a truly STABLE business fills your energy wells as well as your bank account. For many writers, this is a tough one, because writing requires energetic output. Today we’re digging into how you can acknowledge the energy costs of your business while also creating more creative space.
Why’d you start your writing business? We hope that one of the reasons was to provide for yourself while doing something you love. So is your business set up to be lucrative? For many writers, the answer is ‘no.’ In this episode, Jessi discusses how to turn this around, while remaining in integrity with our values.
Setting boundaries with clients can feel risky, because you don’t want to scare them off (or their money)! But setting boundaries can serve you AND your client more than any other action you can take as a writing business owner. In this episode, you'll learn how.
Does your writing business—and the clients you serve—leave you feeling appreciated? This is a huge key to running a writing business that feels sustainable and exciting. When you feel appreciated, you’ll enjoy your work even more, and be able to do your best for your clients. In this episode, Jessi and Marie talk about building a writing business where you feel appreciated.
Do you serve any client who will pay? Are you worried that niching down in your writing business will prevent you from making as much? In this episode, we’re here to talk up the benefits of getting focused on a specific audience target.
Does your writing business have an offer strategically designed to keep you in your zone of genius AND fill your clients’ needs? This episode is Part 1 in a new 7-part series on Creating a STABLE Writing Business. Today, Marie talks about building a strategic writing business, with particular focus on your offers.
Meet a professional writer who specializes in conversion copy. We’re thrilled to welcome Aaron Wrixon back to the show for a copywriting deep dive. Tune in to learn what conversion copy is, how to write copy ethically, and how it has changed over time.
Is it possible to run a 6-figure copywriting business without exhausting yourself or charging a heart attack-inducing amount per project? YES! Today, our special guest Aaron Wrixon tells us how.
Do you want to run a solo writing business? Or have you considered expanding into a team? During this episode, Jessi + Marie talk all about the lessons learned from their journey of having and growing a team of writers—and how you can do the same!
Marketing, sales, and networking are all parts of running a writing business. How can introverts survive? Being an introverted business owner can come with some challenges, but it also imbues you with a lot of strengths. We wanted to bring on our favorite expert in introverted business ownership, Casey Lightbody, to talk about those strengths.
The content you write for an audience should be flexible, but template-able. It should be able to speak to different subsets or nuances of an audience, but not spread yourself too thin. So… how do you do it? Tune in to today's episode and learn more about writing for sub-audiences!
A strong business is built on stability. North Star has experienced both Feast and Famine, and we’ve learned over time ‘yes’ isn’t always the best answer. Instead, we structure our business around having “enough,” rather than “too much.” This allows us to create more predictability in our workload, making it easier to manage the varying demands of our clients. It also creates stability, preventing the never-ending Feast or Famine cycle. So... how do you do it? In this episode Jessi will tell you how!
In this week's episode, we have guest Laura Sprinkle, an affiliate partnerships strategist who specializes in working with digital course and membership creators. Over the past 4 years, her relationship-based approach to partner programs has helped everyone from budding entrepreneurs to seven-figure industry leaders garner more than $25 million in partner revenues. Tune in to this episode to learn more about how writers can create affiliate content for their clients and use it in their own business.
Welcome to the Copywriter Collaborative! When we first started this podcast, we were speaking to CEOs. But fairly quickly we realized that who we really wanted to talk to were our peers: copywriters and content creators! Now our name, intro, outro, and branding matches who this podcast is truly for… you!
We’re here to share our stories, our expertise, our mistakes, and our insights to help you achieve personal and professional success in the copywriting industry. So if you’re a copywriter, content creator, or content strategist, stay tuned.
As a copywriter and a business owner, your greatest resource is the relationships you build. Your community is a referral network, a place to celebrate your wins, to commiserate in your challenges, to ask questions, grow, learn, try new things, and above all, to feel at home. Some writers just want a safe space to ask questions to fellow writers, and that’s ok. But for many of us, we want a community where we can be our true selves…no matter how nerdy, overly logical, and slightly awkward we might be. Learn more about finding a community to suit your needs in today's epsiode!
The longer you put off looking at your expenses, the bigger of a monster they become. It took us a long time to figure out a system to manage our expenses, but when we finally did, it was immensely helpful.
Money shouldn’t be scary. You just need to pull the monster out from under the bed and figure out what it truly costs to run your business. Then, you can create a system that will help you get comfortable and confident managing your money. In this episode, we'll go over the cost of being a writer and how to manage it.
When done intentionally, charging based on packages you’ve created can result in higher efficiency, professionalism, and financial predictability. It’s a win-win for you and your client! So, how do you go about designing packages that are aligned with your business goals and will support you in establishing healthy boundaries with your clients? Tune in to this episode to learn how!
There’s no one right method for pricing your services. You can charge per word, per hour, per project, or per package. But the minute you fall into the trap of “competitive pricing,” your financial well-being—not to mention your energy and overall quality of life—is totally kaput.
So, how do you charge for your services, if not competitively? In this epsiode we'll go over the four main elements you need to reflect in your pricing strategy.
As a writer, you deserve to be paid. And the good news is, most clients are more than happy to do so. Not only do you deserve to be paid, you deserve to be paid on time. But the reality is, it’s your responsibility as the writing business owner to advocate for yourself. In this episode, we share a few ways to make it as easy as possible for your client to give you money.
There are several ways to become invaluable to your clients as a writer, content strategist, and collaborator—but have you also considered a role as cheerleader? Providing support, encouragement, and celebration can go a long way towards strengthening your writer-client relationship, which can lead to all sorts of great things, like long term partnerships, referrals, collaborative opportunities, and yes, even friendship.
In this episode, we share a few tips for building genuine, relationship-based business partnerships with your clients.
In the early days of North Star, we allowed ourselves to be treated as employees, or worse, guns-for-hire. We’d never worked for ourselves {or with clients} before. We swapped bosses for clients. But working with clients is very different. In this epsiode, we'll discuss the potential issues that might arise when treating your client as your boss, and some tips on how to have a better relationship with your clients.
One of the most common problems business owners face when hiring a writer is finding someone who can do both—write strategic content and make it sound like their voice. But that’s easier said than done! The easiest way to familiarize yourself with your client’s voice is to deeply understand their cadence, stories, and vocabulary. In this episode, we'll give you some tips for becoming a content chameleon, using word banks!
In the early days of North Star, we avoided conversion copy because frankly, it intimated us. Conversion content is created specifically with the intent of making a sale. Even if you never write conversion copy for your client, as a writing business owner… you’ve got to write it for yourself at some point! So in this episode, we share some tips and tricks for writing conversion copy.
On this podcast, we highly encourage writers to shift their mindset from being a “hired gun” to being an invaluable strategist. Yes, that requires you to actually advise on your client’s content strategy! To advise on strategy, it’s important to first understand the different types and purposes of content. On today's episode, Jessi and Marie will discuss the two main types of content: nurture and sales.
Finding the time, energy, and inspiration to write creatively can be tough. Life inevitably throws various stressors in your path—client changes, unexpected travel, illness, family responsibilities, etc.
It’s important to ask yourself: when was the last time you stepped away from your regular writing routine? If it feels long overdue, it might be an opportune time to reset and rejuvenate. In this week’s episode, Jessi and Marie came together {in the same room, in real life!} for a writing retreat, and shared some of the lessons they learned during the experience.
When a client flags specific language, words, or phrases, it can feel embarrassing {especially when you’re in the business of brand voice!}. Choosing the wrong word can create a sort of spiral effect—now, everything feels off, and it ends up taking the editing process into a largely unproductive direction. Now, you’re parsing out particulars, when really what you need to focus on is the overall message.This can be remedied by adding “avoider words and phrases.” In this episode, Marie and Maggie explain how to identify and manage these "avoiders."
As writers, not every day is created equal—some days you feel clear headed, capable, and motivated, and other days you struggle to get anything done.
So, how do you minimize the days that lack creativity and spark, and experience more days where writing flows? Writing can be challenging {especially when it’s your job to show up and write every day!} but there are ways to prepare your mind, your body, and your environment to support your success. In this episode, Marie and Maggie share a few tips to help set yourself up for writing success.
Although creative burnout cannot necessarily be conquered, it’s important to acknowledge that it’s normal. If you’re in the midst of it, remember that your self-worth is not a product of your creative output. You’re still a writer, even if you’re struggling to write right now. In this episode, Marie and Madeline share a few tips to help you navigate creative burnout.
Setting your own hours and schedule is both a blessing and a curse. You can capitalize on those late night bursts of creativity, but you can’t just sit around and wait for the muse. It’s important to strike a balance between working well under pressure, and giving yourself enough structure and space to avoid last minute stress. In this episode, Marie and Madeline share a few tips to help overcome writer’s block on a deadline.
When North Star started, we initially resisted requests to create persuasive copy for our clients, because we didn’t know how to write it without feeling a bit...skeezy.
Part of the reason we felt hesitant was because we didn’t have a structure, and we certainly didn’t want to sound like used car salespeople. And then Marie discovered Amy Hoy and Alex Hillman's formula called PDF: Pain Dream Fix.
In this episode, Jessi and Marie will discuss applying those three components to persuasive copy.
Traditional marketing aims to poke the pain. It intends to make the target audience acutely aware of what they don’t have. Although effective, at North Star we believe it’s an awful approach to marketing, because it encourages people to buy from a place of lack, fear, or upset.
You can acknowledge your audience’s struggles without belittling, demeaning, or painting a picture of “gloom and doom” if they don’t move forward with the product or service you’re offering. In this episode, Jessi and Marie talk about how empathy makes all the difference.
Big or small, surprise shifts can send entire content plans flying out the window. When that happens, it can feel like all the work you’ve done is for nothing. As frustrating as sudden strategy shifts can be, there are ways to manage {and prepare} for change.
Jessi + Marie are back to share stories, tips, and strategies around what to do when your content strategy shifts.
Saying “I’m a writer” can mean SO many different things. For some, it implies being an author, for others it’s writing a vast array of content for clients. Regardless, writing is a real, respected, skilled, and valuable profession.
So, how can you succinctly explain the work you do in a way that communicates its importance and uniqueness, without confusing people?
In this week's episode, you'll learn some tips from co-hosts and North Star Writer Mentors, Maggie and Madeline.
Most copywriters choose this line of work because they love writing, but most of us probably didn’t discover this love through writing copy. If you’re anything like us, you likely grew up reading and writing fiction and continued to develop your writing skills, eventually making it into a profession.
Getting paid to do what you love sounds like the ultimate dream, but how do you achieve work-life balance when the practice you’re most passionate about is ALSO your job? In this episode we'll tell you how!
Most writers are accustomed to operating behind-the-scenes, so interviewing clients can be intimidating—let alone for 90 minutes! But that’s exactly what the Brand Voice Intensive (BVI) is, and it’s the foundation of North Star’s Brand Voice Process.
In this episode, North Star Writer Mentors and guest co-hosts Madeline and Maggie give listeners a peek behind the curtain of the BVI from the writer’s perspective.
Imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling undeserving or unqualified, despite your education, experience, or abilities. For writers, imposter syndrome can come up in many ways.
Guest co-hosts Maggie and Madeline share their own stories of encountering imposter syndrome throughout their writing careers, and how they combat feelings of self-doubt.
Working on weekends? Pushing deadlines? Sunday scaries {writers edition}?
If you’re a content creator or writer, you can probably relate.
We all recognize the concept of time management and its importance, but why is it so hard to actually implement the practices?
On this week’s episode, guest co-hosts and North Star Writers + Mentors Madeline Crone and Maggie Grimson break down the topic of time management—specifically, how to apply time management principles to your life and career as a writer.
Well, we’re thrilled Madeline decided to take his advice to heart, because she has since authored an array of stories, essays, poems, parodies, and successful marketing content. North Star is her first professional writing gig {she joined the team in October 2020} but she’s had several unique opportunities along the way, including at a salon + spa and a music school. Learn more about Madeline in this episode!
Today, we’re introducing you to one of the Brand Your Voice podcast’s upcoming guest co-hosts, Maggie Grimason. Maggie was the first writer to join the North Star team, and she now serves as a mentor for the other writers, answering questions and helping everyone stay on top of the latest best practices.
Cue the confetti and obnoxiously loud sound effects: We did it! We officially made it through a year of podcast episodes! This is definitely worth celebrating, considering we kicked around the idea of creating a podcast for years before we actually did it {thanks Brigid, you were right!}
That was one of our biggest lessons learned: You don’t have to have it all figured out, you just have to start. This imperfect action is what led us to find and serve the audience we most LOVE talking to...you! Our beloved writer community.
Voice can be one of the more complex {and overwhelming} aspects of writing fiction. Not only does every character have their own unique voice, but the story itself has a specific voice—think narration, genre, the language of the universe, or even the time period. Not to mention, as an author you likely have a natural voice you lean towards when writing. It’s a lot to keep straight in your brain! So in this episode, we're going to dive into using brand voice for fiction writing.
A lot of writers refer to a client's past content to help capture their voice and guide the copy they set out to write. But if you're only looking at past content, you're actually missing a crucial part of brand voice: the actual VOICE of the client. In this episode, we talk about how you can learn your client's voice, and bridge the content gap.
We've been in the copywriting business for a while, and in that time we've noticed a trend: Business owners WANT to outsource their content creation... but at the same time, they don't always TRUST the people they're outsourcing it to. So as a copywriter, one of your jobs is learn how to build that trust between yourself and your client.
Here it is—the final episode in our core brand stories mini-series. Today, we’re talking about the Influence Story. The Innovation Story is about nailing down those special benefits, exploring how your product or service creates long-lasting change for clients and customers.
As writers, we’ve found that this one can be polarizing for our clients. Some are naturally great at talking up their expertise, while getting others to speak to their accomplishments can be like pulling teeth!
Today, we’re diving into the fourth of our five core brand stories: the Expertise Story.
A brand's Innovation Story demonstrates why they're truly unique, telling the story of their innovation on the marketplace. This could be a product or service, a way they do business, or something else! This week we're continuing our mini-series on core brand stories. Today, let's dive into the Innovation Story.
Sometimes people are afraid to talk about their personal passions when it comes to their business. They think others won't care... But that's just not true! In fact, when an audience connects to a business's purpose, it can have a huge impact on brand loyalty.
Hence...the Why Story: the driving purpose behind your brand.
It’s time for our next podcast mini-series! For the next few episodes, we’re going to dive into storytelling, and five core stories we believe every business should know how to tap into.
In this episode, we’re starting at the beginning: The Origin Story.
We’re just going to say it—you’re not a magical writing unicorn.
Now, that doesn’t mean you’re not a talented writer. What we mean is writing isn’t all intuitive, even if you feel like it is! Whether you realize it or not, when you’re writing you’re going through a specific process. And if you can break down that process into a repeatable system, you can save a ton of creative energy and ultimately grow your writing business.
We’re copywriting experts, but not SEO experts, so we’ve invited Meg of Love at First Search to join us as we break down the power of SEO for business owners and content creators. We’ve seen the magic of her work firsthand, and she’s got a ton of great insights to share about SEO.
Brand voice is the North Star bread and butter. In this episode, we’ll discuss how we first recognized the power of capturing a brand’s unique voice, as well as the benefits investing in learning about brand voice can have for your business. Then, we’ll tell you how to get started on your own brand voice journey!
Today, we’re talking about the Architect voice!
Architect brands excel at strategic planning. They’re not just looking at the big picture—they’re taking steps every day to get there. Architects are logical, methodical, organized leaders. They love data and research, and they’re the best at setting goals and following through with them. Architects help bridge the gap from where their audience is to where they want to be with easy-to-learn frameworks and step-by-step processes. They truly believe results can be achieved through a little trial and error, commitment, honesty, and hard work.
Today, we’re talking about the Scholar voice! {It’s kind of our favorite, since this is our own primary content voice!}
Scholar voices tend to be what you envision when you think of professional writing. These brands are analytical and methodical, valuing knowledge and expertise. But they don’t just want to learn for themselves—they want to act as a guide to their audience, serving as their teacher and mentor. They excel at communicating their ideas, encouraging discussion, contextualizing facts, and breaking down difficult topics in a way that makes them easier for others to understand. These brands love to dive deep, and they want to take their audience along for the ride!
Today, we’re talking about the Nurturer voice!
Nurturer brands value service and community, focusing on providing support and guidance to their audience. They’re usually optimists and empaths, inspiring positive action and gratitude in others. These brands are all about commitment—when they say they’re going to put their time and energy into something, they mean it. They want to make sure everyone’s voice is heard, acknowledged, and respected.
Today, we’re talking about the Artist voice!
You don’t have to pick up a paintbrush to be an Artist. These brands are all about innovation and invention. They’re focused on creative freedom and expression, and allowing their audience to express their own authentic vision. These brands ask questions and encourage deeper exploration, and really know how to tap into their emotions and the emotions of others. They always see the world not just how it is, but how it could be.
Today, we’re talking about the Rebel voice!
Rebel brands lean into their individuality and use it to motivate their audiences. They don’t believe in doing things a certain way just because that’s how they’ve been done before. They lead the charge, go against the grain, and make waves. Rebel brands aren’t afraid to have difficult conversations and challenge the status quo.
In this episode, we’ll explore some of the benefits of tapping into brand voice {for both writers and business owners}. Plus, we’ll give you a high-level crash-course on documenting brand voice in just three steps.
Did you know 90% of consumers want to know how companies support charitable causes?
And yet, we hear from clients all the time that they’re hesitant to talk about their giveback campaigns. They don’t want to sound like they’re bragging, or accidentally distract from their core messaging strategy.
But talking about your giveback campaign actually benefits everyone: your business, your audience, and your chosen cause! That's what we're talking about today.
Do you know who your business’s messaging is calling in?
If people aren’t sold on your message, they won’t be sold on your product or service, either. So you better make sure you’re talking to the right people {and that your message is conveying both your company’s offer and values} to make those connections.
In addition to your everyday messaging, in this episode we’ll discuss how to shift your messaging as your business goes through a transition period, like changing your target audience.
Sometimes, clients ask for guarantees writers can’t really make, like promising a specific conversion rate for an email sequence, or a certain profit from a launch.
And while writers can promise a lot—quality content, created according to best practices, written in the voice of their client—they can’t promise specific outcomes from their copy.
It’s not always easy to tell a client these things can’t be guaranteed. So today, we’re talking about how to keep your clients happy, without over-promising something you can’t deliver.
From the vague “I’ll know it when I see it” or “This isn’t quite right” types, to the constantly shifting “Whoops, I changed my mind” type, to the type that never seems to give any feedback at all {but still isn’t quite satisfied with your work}, navigating the editing process can be difficult.
So in this episode, we’re breaking down strategies you can use to turn vague or unhelpful feedback into critiques that are clear, kind, and actionable.
In this episode of the Brand Your Voice podcast, we’re talking about managing writer-client relationships. This one has tips for both writers AND business owners outsourcing their content, so anyone can dive in!
Some writers hate talking to people. And even if you’re not super introverted like us, facing down a sales call can still be pretty anxiety-inducing. After all, if you can’t land clients, you won’t make money.
The problem is writers often head into a sales call so focused on their need to make money, they ignore all the red flags screaming, “Don’t book this client!” You need to learn to detach from the outcome, or you’ll end up with clients who aren’t a good fit for you.
Sometimes, business owners hire writers to hand off specific writing tasks. Other times, they hire to get strategic input.
And content creators themselves often fall into one of these two types: the task-focused creator or the strategy-focused creator. In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between these two roles, plus helping writers identify their preference and business owners identify who they should hire.
When you think of networking, you probably think of a corporate event. A room full of dozens of people in business suits, all looking to climb the career ladder. And whether you’re an introvert overwhelmed by the prospect of talking to all those people, or an extrovert excited for it, one thing is always true: it’s a lot of pressure. But while building relationships is important, it doesn’t have to be so intimidating. In this episode, we'll go over how to network as a writer.
Here’s a common problem for business owners: you need money, so you focus on sales. Then you land a bunch of sales, and panic about delivering on what you’ve promised. So you focus on delivery, but then you’re not selling. So you panic about sales, and focus on that… See the problem?
It’s called the feast-or-famine cycle, and it’s an exhausting way to try to run a business. In this episode, we'll go over some ways you can learn to keep your work at a manageable level and break the cycle.
Change can be scary, especially when it comes to your business. There are real financial consequences if you try something new and everything blows up in your face. But making sure your business evolves with your needs is actually key to its success. By giving yourself permission to try something new, you can evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Today we are talking about why it's important to take the leap and try something new in your business!
Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. They make the world go ‘round. It’s a topic so important, we had to cover it twice.
At their best, boundaries benefit both you and your clients. They set you up for the best quality work AND the best quality working relationship. But how do you figure out when to set boundaries? In this episode, we'll teach you how!
It’s always going to be easier to reconnect with someone you’ve previously worked with than it is to find someone new to hire you. When you have an established relationship, you can use it to turn a former client into a repeat customer, or ask them to refer you to someone else.
So approaching client relationships with retention in mind from the start is super important. Instead of wasting a huge amount of time and energy always trying to make new connections, invest a fraction of it into the relationships you already have. In this episode, we will be talking about how you can build a great relationship with your existing clients.
Is your business set up to guide clients along a clear path? Or is everything from onboarding to off-boarding a bit like navigating a maze?
We’re talking to writers here, but creating a streamlined client journey is important for any business. You want your clients to feel heard and supported. You want them to feel like working with you is a privilege they’d want to experience again, not a challenge they’d rather avoid.
And how do you get clients to feel that way? In this episode we talk about how you can create a system that supports them through every step of their journey.
If you’re in a creative field, you’ve probably heard the “starving artist” warning before.
And honestly? You’ve probably wondered at some point how you’re going to make money too. Setting your own prices for writing services is confusing. There isn’t a set “going rate” for writing projects, and all writers don’t even use the same approach to pricing. They might charge by the word, or by the hour, or by the project.
But we’re here to tell you your work DOES have value. You CAN be a writer and make money, but you have to set yourself up to succeed. And we can teach you how to do it.
What’s your process for content creation? A lot of creatives struggle to answer, because they feel like writing is intuitive.
But when you’re trying to land a new client and they ask about your process, you can’t just say, “I don’t know how I do it. I just do it.” That doesn’t help them understand what you do, and it definitely doesn’t convince them to hire you.
Labelling your writing as purely intuitive is a mindset block. Try thinking of it this way: you’re not just good at writing. You’re good at the process of writing.
In this week’s episode, we’re discussing the importance of getting your creative process out of your head.
You don’t have to have years of longevity to win over clients. You can have decades of experience, but if you’re not talking up that experience consistently, no one is ever going to know {or care!} about your skills. What REALLY matters is trust.
And you build trust through consistent, reliable messaging.
In this week’s episode, we’re discussing the importance of having a clear, consistent message as a writer or content creator.
When you tell people you want to be a writer, the responses often range from concerned to patronizing. You’re going to be a starving artist if you don’t get a REAL job, or I guess with that English degree you could always become a teacher instead.
And if you’re a writer or content creator, we’re willing to bet you hear a lot of things like that too. It all has to do with living in a culture that values content… but not creators. So in this episode, we’re making sure you know your worth as a content creator.
Content creators often worry laying down a bunch of ground rules upfront will scare off potential clients. No one wants to be seen as too difficult to work with, right?
But setting boundaries is SO important — for you and for your clients. In this episode, you’ll learn what kind of boundaries to set as a content creator, how to establish those boundaries, and why you need them in the first place.
Networking: it’s not just for business owners.
If you’re a copywriter or content creator {or working any done-for-you-service job}, relationships are key to your success. Luckily, there’s a special kind of networking perfect for meeting your needs. The kind that will land you more jobs AND help you make more money.
We’re talking referral relationships, and how building a referral network helps you succeed as a content creator.
Businesses need to establish solid relationships to grow. And if you’re in content creation, you know client relationships are among the most important you can have. Looking back, we can associate nearly every major milestone for our business with a key relationship that helped us get there. How can YOU harness the power of relationships to build your client list? We’ll teach you!
Having clear, consistent messaging is crucial to your brand’s success.
But there’s actually such a thing as being TOO consistent. There are three key times your messaging could use a revamp. When things change around you {or when YOU change} your messaging needs to shift too.
In this episode, we’ll discuss 3 types of changes that mean your content needs a revamp.
Ever feel like you don’t know what to post about?
We’ve all been there. That’s why we developed the STAR method: a four-part acronym to give you a simple, go-to list of ways to create content.
Sales are about relationships. Whether you find selling comes naturally to you or every new offer feels like a challenge, we can all agree there are good sales tactics and bad ones. In this episode, we talk about four common — but sleazy — sales tactics to avoid, and offer alternate suggestions so you can sell your offer with integrity.
Are you trapped in an endless cycle of write-post-repeat? Do you ever feel like you’ve run out of things to say, or that you’re saying SO much it’s just disappearing into the void?
If you’re struggling to find the right thing to say, you should take a step back to consider how you approach core and supporting content.
Does your content make you sound like a broken record? That’s actually a good thing! While saying the same things over and over can feel tedious to you, it actually helps your audience. It lets them know what you’re an expert in!
Plus, let’s be real here — EVERYONE isn’t seeing EVERYTHING you post. With all the content that’s out there, things are always going to slip through the cracks. But that’s an opportunity for your business. If you’ve already written something transformative, why reinvent the wheel? Share it again instead!
Last week, we discussed how to prepare your content strategy to deal with a crisis before it happens. In this episode, we’ll cover what to do when a crisis actually hits.
Content management during a crisis is tough. That’s why we developed a 3-step framework to help you Assess, Acknowledge, and Act with your content during a crisis.
Your business {and your audience} will thank you for it.
With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all experienced firsthand how our businesses and brands have had to adapt during a crisis.
As human beings, we crave stability. The COVID-19 pandemic is an extreme example, but a crisis is really any event that causes us to experience instability. And instability and pre-planned content do not mix.
Content management during a crisis is tough. But while you can’t predict the future, you can prepare for it.
Every good content creator knows we have to understand people for our marketing to perform well. Conducting audience research never really goes away — and for a good reason! Relationships are one of the most important parts of content creation.
That’s why we’re talking about the ICA. It’s one of the most widely-used marketing models… but we prefer a different approach.
Did you know your content has a personality? And as you know, personalities have strengths and weaknesses. When you know the content personality that’s naturally inherent in your brand, you can really play to those strengths, which will attract your audience to you. It also allows you to connect in a real and authentic way. {Hint: That’s a win!}
If your tone and voice are inconsistent, it’s harder for your audience to really know who you are. That consistency in voice is so important in building trust -- it shows people what it would be like to interact with you, to work with you.
In a previous episode, we briefly touched on content pillars and the role they play in choosing the content you’re putting out. In this episode, we take a closer look at HOW to identify your content pillars and WHY those pillars are foundational to a solid content marketing strategy. {Think Stonehenge, not the Parthenon.}
What are your values? Did you know that your values play an important role, not only in your content, but also in the way you run your business?
If you aren’t sure what your values are, one place to start is by looking at the causes that are close to your heart. In fact, many of you already have a give-back strategy, which can be very helpful in defining those things that really matter to you most.
Did you know we are big proponents of talking about your giving in your content? Many entrepreneurs shy away from that because they feel like they’re bragging, but when you let your audience know that they are making a difference just by doing business with you, that’s a win!
You might have heard the phrase, “Words tell, stories sell” before, but what does that mean for you and your business?
Storytelling is a powerful way to communicate and build relationships between your brand and your audience. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be hard to know which stories to tell… after all, there are so many!
In this 15-minute episode, Jessi + Marie make storytelling simple by digging into the 5 core stories every brand needs.
In recent episodes, we’ve talked about how capturing your brand voice is a vital part of an effective messaging strategy. Today, we look at HOW to do it. After all, you want your brand to be recognizable above the myriad of other “voices” out there.
So how do you get started? We’ll discuss some simple, actionable steps for defining (or refining) your brand voice so you can have an authentic connection with your audience.
This episode introduces Marie, North Star co-founder and Jessi’s fellow word nerd.
Marie started her career writing grants for a large non-profit, where she honed her skill of crafting compelling content that moves people to action. She talks about how that experience propelled her to do what she does now in helping CEOs capture their brand voice.
Who IS Jessi Honard, anyway? This episode is all about Jessi. And Marie. And how they met, became instant camping buddies, and then birthed a business within 6 months of meeting each other. {Hey, when you know, you know!}
Does your business have an “origin story”? {Hint: The answer is yes!} In future episodes, we’re going to look at how using storytelling in telling YOUR story helps you connect to your audience in an authentic way. We’ll also be unpacking the concept of brand voice and how it has EVERYTHING to do with your content marketing strategy.
If you’re at all familiar with North Star Messaging + Strategy, you’ll know that we talk a LOT about brand voice. But what exactly is it? And does it really matter if you have one? {Short answer: YES!}
In our first episode, we dive into the components of brand voice and why it’s so important for a business to nail this down. Large or small, taking the time on the front end to work on this important aspect of your content marketing will save you time, money, and energy on the back end.
The Brand Your Voice Podcast will help you find your brand’s unique voice and leverage it to create powerful, expressive content that speaks directly to your audience, human-to-human. We dig into the most common content conundrums and share real solutions based on years of experience supporting hundreds of businesses.