Business Badassery Podcast: Recent Episodes
Amy Posner and Kirsty Fanton
Business Badassery: the audio advice column for your online business. Each week we answer questions our listeners submit. Without taking ourselves too seriously, we cover anything and everything to do with running, building or growing an online business.
Got a question? Ask it here: https://bit.ly/2ZsvJ2A
This week's listener has a very excellent question today. And it is this. "I'm working on list building at the moment and have lost God knows how many hours to research on what kind of download slash lead magnet to create. While the advice and sounds the thing I'm missing is real life examples. So I was wondering, would you to be comfortable running through the lead magnets you've had over the years and talking about which ones worked? Which ones didn't? And why."
This week's listener has a question that reads like this. "It feels like everyone who's anyone has a sub stack at the moment. I love caps writing. And I'm a content writer by trade and wondering what strategic or business value there would be in starting one up, I'm torn between reviving my blog or starting a substack." We figure out what might make sense here!
This week's listener wants to know how many offers to have available for clients. We talk about offer ecosystems, how to decide what number makes sense, whether you should put the offers on your site, or keep them private and internal. There are a few things to keep in mind regarding your pricing and your potential clients and we discuss them all.
Some online courses and programs requirean application. Is it a good idea to use one? We discuss why to use one and when and how Kirsty has used them in her programs as well as what you should be aware of, and why, if you decide to add an application to one of your offers.
List building is critically important. What to do when the bots show up on your list in force? Where do they come from? Whatcan you do to get rid of them? We discussthese Qs, plus list health and strategy a bit too in this very short episode.
Scope creep. Mispriced projects. Unexpected challenges during a project. What's your responsibility and what falls to your client? This week we tackle a curly question for someone in the middle of a sticky project.
This week we talk about creating content to keep yourself in front of your audience. What do you create, how do you stay motivated, what's it all in service of anyway? We address what to do when you're in a slump, where to find inspiration and why
it's such an important part of your business growth.
This week we go behind the scenes in Kirsty's business to talk about her email membership, how she's thought about and structured offers in her business, and how she responds to market inquiries and demands. She's a super sharpmarketer who has a unique way of thinking about possibilities. She's also aboutto take her second maternity leave and we talk about what's different this time, how she prepared knowing now what she didn't before, and what she expects of her business while she takes time off.
We have a rather gut wrenching question today, that I'm sure many listeners can relate to. The question is: "I was asked to speak at a big in-person conference and I wanted to say yes so much. But it requires international travel and I just can't manage that at the moment with kids and family commitments. I'm feeling a little deflated. Any advice on how to navigate this feeling of feeling pulled between what's best for my kids and me as a mother, versus what's best for my business?"
Connect:
hello@businessbadassery.com
Amy on Linked In
Amy on Instagram
Kirsty on Instagram
In this episode, Amy brings listeners up to date with what she's been up to in her business.
A detour from Magnetic North Mastermind, her core offer over the last 2 - 3 years, Amy has spent most of 2023 building a new course that encompasses all of the skills and techniques she's honed over her 30+ years of experience building six successful businesses.
As a business-development specialist and coach for more than 1,000 creative freelancers, Amy's learned that there is one fundamental difference between freelancers who are good, (even great) at their craft and make a ‘just meh’ living and those who crush it.
The difference? Business skills. Understanding what clients really want. Understanding what you really want. And then, knowing how to get it.
Connect:
hello@businessbadassery.com
Amy on Linked In
Amy on Instagram
Kirsty on Instagram
On this week's episode of Business Badassery we have a question from a desiger who specializes in creating PDF's as interactive tools. The product helps break down complicated processes into manageable steps and includes features like self-check quizzes and tool tips. It's a very useful product that makes people's "brains expolode" once they understand the value, but our listener doesn't have a large enough audience to sell the service.
So - the question is "My business overall runs on referrals, but I feel like I need I need to be more proactive in finding the audience for my interactive PDF's. I'm unsure of how to get in front of people who will need these and are willing to invest in a product like this. Where do I start?"
Connect:
hello@businessbadassery.com
Amy on Linked In
Amy on Instagram
Kirsty on Instagram
Great question about how to define success in your business. This week's listener has a personal definition of success, which is freedom and flexibility. This person doesn't want to work 40 hours a week but is curious to hear BB's thoughts about how that definition of success may or may not appear to current and potential clients. How transparent do we need to be?
Evergreen funnels are a great way to secure passive income in your business. If it's a new term to you, 'Evergreen Sales Funnel' is a fancy way of saying an automated system that sells your product year-round, to your audience, in a strategic way. Our listener this week is launching a digital product, a downloadable eBook resource for around the $50. She's wondering the best way to go about setting up an evergreen funnel for her new product.
Great question from a listener this week: "I'm launching a joint offer with another fellow business owner who is not a copywriter. She's a designer, and we'd love to know how to go about this. How do we combine our processes, invoicing, workflow, etc, in order to ensure we're delivering the best to our clients while having fun ourselves?"
We have a very special guest with us this week. Emma McMillan is someone we know quite well and truly admire and respect.
Emma believes everyone can write better. As a copy coach, she guides small business owners and others to connect authentically – and consistently – with their audience. A former teacher of 12 years, Emma has run a successful copywriting business since 2016. Her unique skill set gives her a deep understanding of both how people learn and the realities of small biz life.
As host of the podcast Not Just About Copy, Emma shares inspiring conversations along with practical coaching episodes on how to write better - with more ease, purpose, joy and flow.
To learn more about Emma, see links below:
- https://www.emmamcmillancopy.com/
- https://www.emmamcmillancopy.com/the-not-just-about-copy-podcast/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mcmillan-copywriter/
- https://www.instagram.com/emmamcmillancopy/
This week's question is hugely relevant to both Amy and Kirsty: "How do you take a good chunk of time off your business without disappearing from your clients radar?" It can be an agonizing decision to walk away for a period of time, but is all that anxiety really worth it? Take a listen as we describe our experiences with taking blocks of time off and how it affected our businesses.
There's so much packed into this week's question "What are the elements of a successful partnership like yours? And when I say successful, I also mean still having a blast together." We get very transparent about how we came to our business partnership and the secret sauce that makes our particular joint venture not only successful, but fun.
This week's question comes from a listener who has been in business for two years, and still isn't hitting their financial goals. They're struggling with overwhelm, inconsistency and hiding behind the 'next new course' instead of trusting in their business. Is it time to quit?
Beta testing is a popular way to discover how people relate to your product or offer before its final release. Join Amy and Kirsty as they answer this week's question about how they go about beta testing, how many people they include and the benefits it can provide prior to a proper launch.
This one's all about Lead Magnets. Do you need a download? Are there other strategies that provide value and interest people in joining you list? Take a listen as Kirsty and Amy chat lead magnet success...and some flops.
We've got a juicy question this week and it's about money. Do you have an emergency fund, and if so what does that look like? How many months of expenses should it cover? Tune in as we chat 'life boats' - aka, emergency funds to protect your business.
We are so excited to welcome our special guest, Tanya Geisler today. If Tanya is new to you, she's a certified Leadership Coach, an international TEDx women's speaker, and a writer who teaches leaders how to combat their imposter complex and lead with iconic impact so they can achieve their ultimate goals. You can learn more about her at tanyageisler.com and we definitelyrecommend taking her quiz to discover your OWN Iconic Identity.
In this episode we bat around ideas for the future of the Business Badassery podcast as well as how we plan to move forward as a duo.
Hello! For those of you awesome, regular listeners you likely noticed we took a bit of time off. But we are back and can't wait for you to hear what we've been up to. Check out this episode all about our Business Badassery retreat in Mexico!
Today we have a very special guest, Kaity Griffin! Kaity comes to us from Melbourne where she is a mum and Google Ads whiz. Kaity teaches businesses and marketers how to profitably use Google Ads and has a knack of breaking down totally confusing concepts (hello, Google Ads!) and letting you in on the trade secrets she uses with her 7 figure clients.
Something a little different for you this week! This eposode is likely landing in your ears towards the end of 2022, so we thought we'd share some behind the scenes intel and information about what's happened in both of our businesses this year. Grab a cup o 'cheer and cozy up as we chat about the leaps and hurdles, highs and lows of 2022.
Today we have our first ever special guest on Business Badassery and it is the WONDERFUL Anna Rogan. If you have not heard of her she is a self confessed copywriting Jill of All Trades. Brand voice and messaging strategy, sales pages and launch copy, emails, websites and UX - she does it all. Anna helps business sound just like themselves (only better) in their copy so they can get out into the world and create a ruckus.
This week on Business Badassery we have a question around positioning and managing multiple offers to different audiences. Our listener wants to know "How do you keep your content and messaging on point when you have many strings to your bow? How can I still do all the things without confusing people?" If you are an entrepreneuer wondering how to tailor your content in a way that connets with different audiences, this pod's for you.
We've got a meaty question this week on Business Badassery. Our listener asks "I'm at a point in my business where I'm booking out months in advance. Yay! But also, what now? I have quickly created a waitlist to deal with inquiries but am a bit lost as to where to go from here. Ideally, I'd love to open my books once a quarter and fill my schedule with great clients. But I'm not sure how to get to that point. How do I stay top of mind with people? Do I open it to everyone on my list or prioritize who gets first dibs? Would love to hear your ideas and experience with waitlists."
It's no secret that visibility is a big piece of growing a business, and this week's question is all about that. This listener wants to know more about how to land speaking gigs and be interviewed on podcasts. They have been looking for a podcast to pitch but most of the ones their audience listens to will only interview in-house marketers and have a no freelance / consultant policy. Take a listen as Amy and Kirsty give their advice on how to up visibility and land more gigs.
Welcome to this week's short and pithy episode of Business Badassery! Today our listener wants to know 'How do you decide that raising your rates might NOT be the answer?'
This week's questions in Business Badassery: 'Are there more creative ways to scale than just bringing someone on? I hate the idea of managing someone and feel like the amount I'd need to pay someone decent might put me out of business. But I would like to grow my business, earn more dollars and keep growing. How do you scale witgout hiring or subcontracting? Raising your rates is one, but are there others?'
Having a great mentor in the business world can sometimes make all the difference when it comes to resolving issues, developing strategies and streamlining the ol' learning curve. But if the role of mentor or mentee is new to you, how do you navigate creating a trusting relationship with appropriate boundaries?
We've got a juicy Q & A this week on Business Badassery! This listener wants to know how to approach freelancing during an economic downturn. Is it best to expand offerings, adjust pricing or try a new niche? What are the most productive prospecting routes to explore within a limited amount of time? Tune in as Amy and Kirsty chat about how to handle a downturn without getting scattered and overwhelmed.
This week's episode of Business Badassery peeks into Kirsty and Amy's different approaches to launching an offer. They chat audience building, nurturing, the mechanics behind a lauch and how they get it in front of the right people.
You might remember a few episodes ago when Kirsty shared about her first ever Instagram reel experience. Well, our listeners noticed that she hasn't posted a reel since and want to know "Kirsty! Why no more reels!?" Check out this episode of Business Badassery for her answer.
Ever set a financial goal you wanted to make in say a month or maybe a year and then you look at that big number and say 'great, that's what I want to make now how the hell do I make a roadmap to get there?' That's what we address in this week's episode.
This week we have a listener who is about to launch their own podcast. They have some tactical questions about their online presence and current social accounts. We share some thoughts along with certain decisions we’ve made about this pod.
Today's episode is all about Instagram reels. An eagle-eyed listener noticed Kirsty is creating reels after talking recently about the fact that she doesn't need to do that for Instagram to support her business goals. What changed? Kirsty shares why she's made that decision, what's driving it and whether it might be a relevant move for you to make too.
Getting into a funk happens to all of us from time to time. Problem is when you don't know how to crawl out of it. Clearly these past couple years have served up a lot of funk. Here's a few thoughts about what you can do when you find yourself in that space. .
Today we share some thoughts about the future of this podcast. We were chatting after a recording and it occurred to us it might actually be of interest to you, our listeners. If not, hang tight -- we will get back to your questions next week!
Are you at a point in your business where you’re feeling a little bit overwhelmed with how much is on your plate? Or at capacity with the amount of work and projects you can take on? If so, you might want to think about outsourcing some bits and pieces or partnering with someone on your core skills so you can serve more people at any one time. If this sounds relevant for you, Amy and I share some tips for making this possible.
Unless you've been hiding under a very large rock for the last few months you know that most global economies are in pretty dire straights at the moment. Inflation is on the rise, recessions are official in some places around the world and predicted in others. The question Amy and I tackle on this episode of Business Badassery is about whether you can use relationships with your clients to recession-proof your business.
Is there such a thing as too many offers? Should you have tons, or do you need to cull down? What's the best way to know - and be strategic?
Retainer clients, a good idea, a bad plan, a fit sometimes, but not others. How to evaluate if retainers are good for you is what we tackle in this week's episode.
If you've ever wondered whether Instagram is still a good place to get leads in 2022, this episode is for you. We talk about strategy. We talk about the dreaded algorithm and we talk about how to actually pinpoint whether that's where your ideal prospects are hanging out.
Do you have a morning routine, or do you wonder about the morning routine of other people, particularly people you perceive as successful? This week someone wanted to know about our morning routines. So here you go…
Do you ever have a slow period in your business and you think to yourself, oh, I really should be working on my business, but you're kind of anxious cuz you also feel like you should have clients. So how do you stay motivated and stick to your plan? That's what we address in today's episode.
This episode is all about the downside of increased visibility. We talk about the pressure, the constant expectations and the increasing requests and favors being asked of you.
We dive into boundaries, self-care, and we also talk about what we see as the curve of visibility.
Ever thought about bringing on a subcontractor? Then wonder: "Uh, how do I do it? Is it worth it? What do you pay them? What else do I need to know?" We tackle these questions in this episode.
Frustrated with the number of business coaches that are popping up in the online space?
We discuss when people are actually qualified enough to be offering this kind of service and when it's too soon. We also talk about the boundary between when it's just you offering a friend good advice, or you actually charging for that coaching service.
Did you ever have so many ideas, you weren't sure which to run with, which to ax, and which to put aside for later on? In this episode we discuss our perspectives on vetting business ideas.
For copywriters, getting a mention on the Copyhackers website can be a big feather in your cap. In this episode we talk about Kirsty showing up there in a recent article, and whether it should impact your own thinking.
We put cold pitching under a microscope and talk about the legwork that goes into a successful pitch, how long you need to be in someone's vicinity before you approach them, and how to give yourself the best possible chances of getting a yes.
Kirsty shares a trend in the launch space, which she feels might be a bit of a mistake when it comes to pre-launch content and warming up a wider audience. And Amy shares some thoughts about the value of being competent in your offers and how the stance of not yet knowing everything, but being willing to find out can really help you nail your position.
Is your to-do list weighing you down? Do you feel like hitting pause might cause your business to come to a screeching halt? We share a best practice for dealing with overwhelm and next steps in your business.
When your calendar is fully booked, you have decisions to make. How do you decide what’s next? How do you know what you need to do to grow and scale? Or know if you even want that. We share our thoughts including how to take stock of where you are in your business so you can set the course for what comes next.
Do you ever get in your own way, maybe actually slow down your business growth? It happens, as today's inquiry reveals. Listen up.
It's a random thought of the month episode this week on Business Badassery. Amy shares some thoughts around how to work out when to hire new members for a team if your business is on a growth trajectory. And Kirsty gets a little more personal talking about how to juggle motherhood and owning a business, and some thoughts around mum guilt.
We tackle a bit of a sensitive topic today based on an Insta post that Kirsty made that got quite a lot of response. So it may well be on your mind. Let's dive in.
In this week's episode, we help a listener to work out whether a day rate will undermine her other bigger, more expensive services. And talk through how you can help differentiate the two offers to make each one seem appealing for the right people.
We have a very short and to-the-point question today, that brings up all kinds of interesting other questions about marketing. How it used to be done, how it's being done now, what makes sense, a new approach Amy is working with, and what to think about going forward. So let's jump in.
Matthew McConaughey, focus, Harvard Business Review, personal identity, ease, and lightness. Seemingly random, right? They all come together in our random thought of the month episode. Stay tuned.
Well, as we're entering the third year of the COVID pandemic, I think it is safe to say that a lot of us are just really fried. And we have a listener who, because of this, maybe because of this has lost their business mojo or fears they have, and is thinking that the grass looks greener over on the employment side. And wants our take.
In this week's episode, we help a listener who has found herself pigeon-holed in the world of content writing. She offers a unique point of view and has a unique skill set to fill a niche, but is finding that, although she enjoys the work, she isn't able to make the kind of money she wants to. So she asks us, is it even possible? Short answer? Yes. And the long answer is coming to you in this episode.
When you have your own business, staying on top of things and avoiding burnout can feel like a full-time job, especially when it comes to those tasks that you really don't like doing. Like for most of us acquiring new clients.
In this episode, we share our tips to help one listener, get her head around how to approach landing more clients and good clients with the less is more approach.
Is there such a thing as the perfect client and if so, are they found or are they made? Listen in to hear our take.
You know, that thing you're really good at, but it comes so easily to you. You're pretty sure that everyone must have that skill. Not always in this week's episode, we talk about how to identify that thing and understand how to value it and then how to amplify it. So it becomes a central part of your business.
Today's questioner is wondering how you grow and scale your business when money isn't your primary motivation. This person cares deeply about their customers and the experience they deliver. And they're not sure that they could adopt an agency model and stay in integrity. So Kirsty and I bat these questions around in today's episode.
This episode is absolutely chock-a-block with Amy P wisdom. She talks in really incredible detail about what she sees as the three levels of freelancer and how to move up the ladder. So you become in control of your business, your time and your finances.
We're back this week with another random thought of the month episode. So tune in to hear us share two very different, but hopefully equally helpful thoughts about running your own business.
Today's listener is keenly interested in what we might call the baby and business conundrum. She took Kirsty up on her earlier offer to fill us in when she had her bab and had a sense of what her life was like. So we're back seven months later.
Black Friday and Cyber Monday were particularly crazy this year. And our listeners spotted a few new trends and wanted to know our thoughts on the tactics and their future viability. Listen in.
Everyone measures the success of a project differently. Today we talk about how to dig down, get a client's right KPIs and the questions you should ask.
Content marketing is great for playing the long game and getting yourself known, but it can be tricky and time consuming. We talk about how we do it, what we think makes sense and why.
Most copywriting projects need a designer to bring everything to life. And while a great collaboration can result in something truly glorious, the fact is that the copywriter and designer often work in isolation. Which can lead to awkward exchanges and poor project outcomes. Here's how we work our way around this problem.
This week, we have a question about a client who keeps putting off payment. We talk about how to get payment, what kind of language to use, and Amy shares a story that has Kirsty shaking her head in surprise.
If you've ever found yourself tongue tied when a client asks for one more little thing, today's episode will help. We talk boundaries, generous pricing, and re-positioning your assumptions.
We have decided to do something a little bit different this episode. And we'd love your feedback on whether this is something that you would like us to continue doing, or something you would like us to never do again.
We had this idea that we would have one episode a month where we share our random thought of the month. Here it is!
You know that feeling of overwhelm when there's so much to do? Should I be over here speaking on podcasts? Should I be writing blogs? All the social channels? Some of the social channels? What about niching? Too narrow, too broad?
All of the questions that you ask either when you're starting out or when you're making a change like launching a new website or changing a business model. Today's question is all about how you deal with that overwhelm.
This week's question is about affiliate marketing. We have two different answers. It's one of those 'how long is a piece of string' kind of questions. So see what you think.
When you see your competitors pop up in Facebook and Instagram ads, it can be tempting to think you need to join in the paid traffic party just to keep pace. But what if you took the time to think about it strategically and make a call based on what's right for you and your business?
Tune into today's episode to hear us talk this through for a listener in the wedding photography space.
Have you ever seen a sales page for a group program that encourages you to apply even though the price of the program is nowhere to be seen? Yep. Us too. And here are our thoughts on this practice. Fair warning, there are some unbleeped curse words in today's episode.
Today's episode is all about digital product launches. We talk stats, pre-launch strategies, segmentation, wait lists, beta testing, and live writing. There's a lot to cover. So let's jump straight in.
We've got a question today from someone who's just not feeling it in her business and was hoping we could help her sort out her situation. Or at least tell her how we approach those days when it's just not coming together.
We have an interesting question today directed toward Amy specifically about a new offer she has this year that's been an absolute dream come true for her. So join us as we goof our way through another episode.
Do you know that cycle where you're really excited about your business followed by a cycle of just not caring? Or feeling like it's too demanding or it wants something from you? Well, today someone wants to know how we stay balanced and focused inside that chaos and what works for us. So let's find out.
Do you ever have the sense that your potential clients know more than you, even though you've done all the courses and learned all the things? Tune into today's episode to hear the counterintuitive approach we suggest to tackle this conundrum for one of our listeners who works in the launch space.
Today we help out a listener who's stuck at square one in their business. We talk about fear, laziness, to do lists, and giving yourself some grace. Hope this one resonates.
Today, we dive into a question about project planning, specifically around launches. How many to take on, how to plot them out, and how to work out the price to time ratio using Amy's low bar rule.
In this week's episode, we address a really juicy question that sits right at the heart of what it means to run your own business. How do you give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy where you're at rather than constantly reaching for what's next?
Today's episode is all about what Kirsty's business looks like for her as she returns from maternity leave. She talks logistics, shifts, and her one concern moving forward.
Today's question is about the difference between productivity and busy work. And it's caused both of us to think about what busy work means for us, how we get distracted, and what distractions we allow in our days.
We discuss what you can do to be productive and how you know what you should be doing and when.
Today, we have a question about approaching bigger clients. When you're talking to clients and you move away from the small and medium sized business market to working in a more corporate structure. Maybe there are some C-suite people involved in the decision-making process and the entire project.
This person wants to know what to expect, what's different, and how do you go into that process with your eyes open?
We have a question today on a topic we've spoken about before and that's day rates and VIP rates. So we dig down deep into the different ways those could work, what promises you're making to a client, how you can position day rates in your marketing, and how to incorporate day rates and VIP days into your service offerings.
We take on an interesting question today about rebranding. Someone who's just changing up everything and is in the midst of the process and wondering what do they need to think about? Did they miss anything?
Listen up and learn about what's really involved in a rebrand? It may be different than you think.
In today's episode, we talk about a rarely discussed topic. And one that's very dear to my heart. So stay tuned and see what we have to say about the things that you don't normally talk about in business.
We have an interesting one for you today where a potential podcaster asks current podcasters questions about podcasting.
In this week's episode, we dive into all things financial planning. We talk about business structure, knowing your numbers, making strategic investments, and what we'd do differently if we had our time again.
You know that old cliché, it's impossible to know what you do not know? Today's question is a bit that from someone who wants to start an online course or group program. We share our experience since we've both done just that.
Today's episode is all about leveraging podcasts and online summits to increase your visibility. We talk about who to pitch, how to land those pitches, and how to make sure you maximize every opportunity.
The question of whether or not to niche has got to be one of the most frequently asked things in the world of online business.
Today's episode dives into a different part of this conversation. Is it ever okay to change your niche? We get really definitive on this one, so expect some straight answers and some clear-cut advice. Let's dive in.
On today's episode, we dive into all things evergreen. From how to pick the right top of funnel asset to ethical, transparent selling, and the one thing you absolutely must do before you bring paid traffic into the picture.
We also talk about Kirsty's own evergreen funnel, which you're very welcome to test out by heading to kirstyfanton.com and clicking on the announcement bar right up top.
On that note, let's dive right into today's episode.
Getting started in your own business can be overwhelming. Today, we give a listener a good sense of what matters, what doesn't, and where and how to get started.
In today's episode, Kirsty gets a little bit personal in order to answer someone's question about the nitty-gritty of how she's preparing for maternity leave. She talks finances, mindset, adjusting goals, and recognizing privilege.
If you're someone who is thinking of taking time away from your business in the near future, for whatever reason, we really hope this helps.
As business owners, we tend to finish one thing and be quickly onto the next. In this week's episode, we talk about how to take the pause and actually celebrate your wins and what some of the benefits of that might be.
There are a lot of courses and programs out in the wild that are probably dropping into your inbox on the regular. Have you ever agonized over which to join and what you actually need? And maybe in what order?
We've got some insight for you in this week's episode.
Ever wondered what a good off-boarding process looks like and how to collect all those end of project pieces like testimonials, referrals, and feedback without feeling as though you're drowning your client in asks?
Great! Today's episode will be right up your alley.
Have you ever been in this situation where your client brings new ideas to the table every other week? Or pushes back on what you've previously agreed on?
In today's episode, we share tips on how to stand up for your work and give it the best chance of success without damaging the client relationship.
You might be surprised by what actually happens in sales calls. Especially from your prospective client's point of view. Tell us after if this shifted your thinking.
Have you ever wondered or worried how to price your offers? Creating offers is often a first step people take away from project and one-on-one work. Let's take a look at what's involved to make you successful.
The question we answer in today's episode takes us deeper into the whats, hows and whys of the circular business model we spoke about in a previous episode.
We dove into how it differs from the traditional ascension model, when it makes most sense for your business, and how to work out where your offers fit.
Today's episode is all about day rates. We talk boundaries, positioning, onboarding and offboarding, and how to make sure you don't get yourself into a situation where your client is expecting you to finish a certain deliverable. We hope you get a lot out of it.
There's a lot of banter in the business world about hitting that coveted six figure mark. But what else matters?
How do you measure success and craft a business you enjoy day in and day out? We have both put a lot of thought into this particular topic and we share our views on earning well on your own terms.
Today, we address the age old question, how do you find time to work in your business and on your business?
We talk about how we each tackle that and how to get traction and grow while you're also executing on client work. We share some ideas for planning, scaling, and growing your business.
Today, we tackle a listener's hypothetical question about how to charge multiple five figures per project fast. The short answer is product market fit, reputation, and mindset. And the long answer is waiting for you in this episode. We hope you enjoy.
In today's episode, we dive right into the controversial topic of bro marketing. What it is, what we think of it, and the fine line between coercion and persuasion.
There are some phenomenal resources in the copywriter community. Trainings, group programs, masterminds, you name it. Amazingly, it's available. That hasn't been true for all that long.
We talk a lot about getting in those rooms, but we don't talk about when to leave and how. We tackle that question for a listener this week.
This week, we dive into how to make your first hire in your business.
We chat about what to nail down before you look for someone. We explain the difference between a Virtual Assistant and an Online Business Manager, give some tips for task delegation, and also talk about the importance of open communication.
2020 is finally behind us.
We can all breathe a deep sigh of relief. Kirsty and I both managed to make some pretty big changes during 2020. We thought it might be interesting to give you a look inside our businesses and what those decisions and changes look like and how they come about.
Today, among other things we talk about reflective practice and how to think about your business, how to think about growth, how to think about challenges and a specific tool that makes that planning and thinking simpler and way more streamlined.
We also talk about a talent that every copywriter possesses that they ought to use to build their own business and not just share with clients, let's get started.
Today's writer asks us about voice of customer research. And so we talk about the power of VOC research, why it matters, how we each do it and how it sets conversion copywriters apart from other copywriters.
What's really the power behind VOC? Let's dig in.
In today's episode, we talk about the one universal truth of having your own business: imposter syndrome.
We dive into why it's not a one-and-done type thing, how it can actually be an indication of something good, and we share some tips and tricks that are helping us deal with it in our own businesses.
In this episode, we dive into an elephant in the room type situation with a client, a copywriter, and a graphic designer. We talk about the importance of context, working with the client when the relationship has changed, something called the "what-if-ometer", and what to do when knowledge and skill alone can't lead you to a decision
In this episode, we help a business owner who's ready to come out on their own after building their skills subcontracting through a big name in their space, but who is a little wobbly when it comes to landing clients.
We share what clients are really buying on the sales call, how to demonstrate your value without a portfolio or testimonials, and where to find a process you can leverage to land your very next client.
In this episode, we talk about the sticky issue of maternity leave. When do you tell your clients? How do you handle it? What do you do if you're on retainer? What do you do if you're planning to take time off and how much time? What if you work with subcontractors? Can you hand things off to them? And if so, how?
We talk about all of it in today's episode.
In today's episode, we discuss the difference between launch copy for courses and launch copy for products, whether there are any other types of launch copy that you need to know about, and whether launches follow a similar strategy across different industries.
This episode of Business Badassery is all about difficult clients and the dreaded scope creep. We talk preemptive verse responsive strategies, the value of a solid process, and how generosity factors into your pricing. To round it all out, Amy shares her magic phrase for starting difficult conversations, and it is a bloody ripper.
So get ready.
In today's episode, we talk about what to do when your copy skills and your rates no longer match your client base. Or when your copy skills and rates do match your client base, but they're suddenly scaling back, because of budget or because of changes in their world.
So what do you do? How do you bridge that gap? Listen on, we'll tell ya.
In this episode, we talk about the problem with the idea of being ready, how to pick a path for your business, the value of thick skin and the business of permission.
So, yes, we are diving deep with this one. I hope you enjoy.
There's no question that these are very odd times and you are not alone if you're feeling overwhelmed some days, laser-focused on others, and you don't give a rip on the days in between. None of us has ever been through a year like 2020 so we're here to offer some suggestions for coping with the overwhelm and with the emotional side of things.
And just a side note that they're working for us, at least most of the time. We hope you get something out of this one.
In this episode, we cover two things you need to know about yourself to maintain balance with your client projects, how to set boundaries with your clients, some ideas for handling multiple client projects at once without losing your mind, what to do when clients don't follow the rules, and we also talk a bit about how we each handle our own schedules when we're working with multiple clients at one time.
"I feel like I'm wasting a lot of time on discovery calls that don't pan out. How do you know whether someone is a good fit before you actually get on Zoom?"
In this episode, we discuss the questions you should ask before you book a discovery call, how to do some stealth research to set yourself up for success on that call, knowing the right time in the process to book that call, and once you're on it, how to determine if a client is the right fit for your business.
Kirsty also shares some of her process that she uses on her website to screen people before any of this happens.
Today’s question is: "When you're first starting out, how much would you admit to clients about how new you are, what you don't know, and what you do know?
And how do you charge prices that reflect this without paying yourself $5 an hour and knowing that charging the 15K price tags of the copywriting queens such as yourselves isn't yet fair?”
To answer her question, we get into what clients are really looking for beyond price and how to position yourself in the marketplace. We also talk about what it’s like in the early days when there’s so much to learn and know, and how you can get past the “there’s so damn much to know” overwhelm.
Not every client wants the most seasoned copywriter. New writers tend to be open minded and full of great ideas. They tend to charge less and bring a lot of energy to projects. There’s an advantage to being new -- once you know how to position it.
We touch on imposter syndrome and the value you can bring to the table by being willing to problem solve and dig deep by asking questions and becoming a partner in finding solutions. You’re about to find out that being a great (and well paid) contractor is about a whole mess of different things.
We also tell you why it doesn’t matter what your competitors are chagrin and how to respond to that constant drumbeat of Raise Your Rates!