This week we're revisiting one of our most popular pods: the one about copywriting fees and how much to charge. Why is this topic so popular? Until you have a few copywriting projects under your belt it can feel like you're just making up numbers in your quotes. Not many copywriters share their rates so it's hard to see what the industry standard is. Not us though. In this podcast we explain how we charge for copywriting, how we put together quotes, essentials tips on collecting deposits and why...
Sep 07, 2016•49 min
So let’s first explain that sales copy is the text you use to persuade your readers to take a specific action. The copy can be used in sales emails, on web pages or is brochures and letters. But while we know it’s effective but many copywriters aren’t so keen on writing it. In this episode we’ll be chatting with Jesse Forrest all about how to write Sales copy that drives conversion without being overblown and cheese ball. Tune to learn: What is sales copy? How direct response copy differs from b...
Aug 24, 2016•44 min
In this episode, Kate and Belinda share 16 types of copywriting clients almost every copywriter will get to work with. Some are awesome and some… are not. We share our tips on spotting them and how to work with them (so the your copywriting project is smooth sailing). Tune to learn: Our favourites types of clients How to deal with scope creep and requests for free work How to guide clients who can’t tell you what to change The best way to organise disorganised clients Tell us what you think Leav...
Aug 10, 2016•1 hr 1 min
Getting your financials right from the start is vital to running a successful copywriting business. But there’s so much to get your head around, GST, Medicare levies, depreciation and what the heck you can claim. In this episode we talk with Kate’s accountant Karen Goad and ask here all those finance and accountant questions you’ve been dying to ask. Karen is a small business owner and principal of Goad Accountants and Simply Business Bookkeeping. She specialises in helping business owners get t...
Jul 27, 2016•46 min
How to format your copy for maximum impact Today we’re talking about formatting. Some listeners may wonder about this. Talking about formatting. Not even writing. Just formatting. But how you present your copy to clients will have a huge influence on how well they receive it. And clever formatting can make your copywriting a lot more readable to the end audience as well. In this episode, Kate and Belinda share their thoughts and some pro-formatting tips for more readable copywriting. Tune to lea...
Jul 13, 2016•54 min
We've chatted in previous podcasts about how it's impossible to make all clients love you, and how occasionally it's better all around if you just let them go. In this podcast we'll be giving you tips and tricks on how to spot, handle and, if necessary, fire a difficult client. Tune in to learn: How to spot bad clients Tips and tricks to get difficult clients back on track How to decide if firing a client is the right move How to do the dirty deed of firing a client Dealing with the aftermath of...
Jun 30, 2016•31 min
Once you’ve got a few copywriting projects under your belt, you learn that some clients will respond very quickly and others will take a short ice age to reply. But how long is too long? When do you know your client is MISSING IN ACTION and what should you do? Tune in to learn: Why clients legitimately go missing How long should you wait? How too long is too long? How you can avoid having clients go missing How to follow up with clients after the quote, proposal, first draft and last draft What ...
Jun 15, 2016•31 min
Blogging certainly isn’t new but it is a source of anxiety for many new copywriters, especially when it feels like it’s all been done before. In this episode, Kate and Belinda break down the walls of blogging, sharing their views on the importance of blogging and how to get your blog working hard for your business. Tune to learn: If you actually need to blog How to write authority If copywriting is all you can and should write about Why Kate says vagina multiple times How often you should blog H...
Jun 01, 2016•33 min
Do you ever wish you could step back in time and talk to your younger self? In this episode Belinda and Kate chat about some of the copywriting lessons they’ve learned along the way and what we wished we’d know when we started out. Perhaps you can benefit from their hindsight! Tune in to learn: What Belinda wanted to be when she grew up Why you should make your competitors your buddies Why being successful and working yourself into the ground are NOT the same thing Why referring work to other co...
May 18, 2016•28 min
In this episode we chat to Amy Harrison, a well-known UK copywriter. Amy is also a copywriting coach and keynote speaker at marketing events around the world. You might have seen her guest post on sites like Copyblogger, DuctTape Marketing and Problogger. Or watched her YouTube channel. The lady gets about and we picked her brain about copywriting, content and story-telling in modern marketing. Tune in to learn: How Amy made the leap from screen writer to copywriter The benefit of saying YES and...
May 04, 2016•51 min
Even the most experienced copywriters can suffer from confidence wobbles. Those moments you begin to question your writing abilities or your business skills... or both! In this podcast, we chat through some confidence blurts copywriters have kindly shared with us and add our own experiences and tips on overcoming them! Tune to hear us chat about confidence blurts like: Comparing yourself (and your writing) to others Answering the phone Communicating off the page (verbally) Meeting clients to dis...
Apr 21, 2016•44 min
Today we’re talking to Ryan Wallman Head of Copy at Wellmark a Melbourne creative agency that specialising in niche industries and in particular healthcare and pharmaceutical communications. Ryan has an alter ego Dr Draper on Twitter and is a well known name in copywriting circles. Tune in to learn: What a Head of Copy job entails How Ryan started out as a copywriter? Advice for copywriters considering specialisation? Whether you need qualifications to become a medical copywriter? Tips for break...
Apr 06, 2016•35 min
In the last Hot Copy podcast we shared some copywriting techniques to help your clients build trust and credibility with their audience. One of those techniques is getting testimonials and it’s so important for your own business that it deserves a pod of its own. This week we get stuck into getting and using testimonials to power up your marketing. Tune in to learn: Why testimonials are such a powerful tool Different types of testimonials and how to get them Best questions for awesome testimonia...
Mar 23, 2016•38 min
When it comes to deciding on whether to do business with someone, trust is key. So if you can help your copywriting clients build trust and credibility with their audience you’re doing a great job. We’ve put together some top tips to help you write trustworthy copy, inspire confidence and convert readers into customers. Tune in to learn: How to use specifics, stats and facts to earn trust The importance of clarity and error free content How to use guarantees Using testimonials, clients lists and...
Mar 09, 2016•33 min
This week we chat with Jacqui Pryor. Jacqui has more than 16 years of experience in the trademark industry helping businesses protect their intellectual property. She is the founder of Mark My Words Trademark Services Pty Ltd and shares her knowledge on the Flying Solo website. In this podcast we pick her brains about copyright and trademarking. [Tweet "Podcast 21: Know your rights when it comes to copyright? Hot Copy interview with expert, Jacqui Pryor #hotcopy #copywriting"] Tune in to learn: ...
Feb 24, 2016•31 min
You've won the copywriting project. Whoo hoo. But now the hard work begins. Although many copywriters might be great writers, they're often not so good at project management. Belinda and Kate believe that your process, particularly when it comes to sign offs - can make a huge difference to both your client's satisfaction levels and your sanity levels. Tune in to learn: Why process is so important How managing your sign offs carefully can boost your income How to deal with too many amends Managin...
Feb 10, 2016•33 min
This week we're talking copywriting fees, what to charge, when to charge and how to charge. We'll explain how we charge our clients, how we put together our estimates, how we use deposits to ensure cash flow and why we're not big fans of charging by the word. Tune in to learn: How to work out your hourly rate Different ways to charge for your copywriting work How to use retainer agreements Our quoting formula Why getting a deposit is so important How to chase up later payers Useful links Copywri...
Jan 27, 2016•49 min
This week we chat with Valerie Khoo. Valerie is a well-known Australian author, founder and National Director of the Australian Writer’s Centre , journalist, keynote speaker and host of not one but two podcasts ( So you want to be a writer , with Allison Tate and So you want to be a photographer , with Gina Milica). Tune in to learn: When Valerie began to consider writing a viable career choice What let her to create the Australian Writer's Centre Valerie's advice on dealing with failure Valerie...
Jan 13, 2016•19 min
A brand new year is about to begin. This is the time we usually reflect on the year that has been and the year ahead. Maybe you’re setting SMART goals or maybe your goals are a little more sweeping. In this New Year’s Eve episode Belinda and Kate discuss their goal setting habits and share their own goals – business and personal – for 2016. Share the pod love! If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or co...
Dec 30, 2015•15 min
We both LOVE Christmas but it can be a tricky time of year, juggling copywriting deadlines and family plans. Often we’re burned out and ready for some time off to recharge! We hosted a special Hot Copy Christmas party on Blab and asked other successful copywriters what they do to make sure they – and their copywriting businesses - survive the Christmas period. Tune in to learn: Who is having holidays and who is working through How to respond to client who need rush work over Christmas How to wra...
Dec 16, 2015•53 min
In this episode of the Hot Copy podcast we talk about whether it’s possible to be a copywriter and find time for creative copywriting. Or if the two are mutually exclusive. Tune in to learn: Kate’s writing achievements and why she put her creative writing on hold Belinda’s surprising admission about her creative writing What other copywriters think about this! Share the pod love! If you like what you’re hearing on Hot Copy, the best way to support the show is to take just a few seconds to leave ...
Dec 02, 2015•18 min
In this extra special episode of the Hot Copy podcast we answer some copywriting questions from our lovely listeners! This was so much fun that we plan on making it a regular feature. Thanks to Kate Merryweather, Angela Denly. Jennifer Morton and MaryClark Rardin for submitting their copywriting questions and conundrums. Want to know more? Tune in to learn: How frequently you should blog for SEO payoff How to get into the head space of a target audience (to understand their motives) How to navig...
Nov 18, 2015•25 min
Tom Albrighton is the founder and director at ABC Copywriting based in Norwich in the United Kingdom. He’s also the Co-Founder of Professional Copywriters’ Network - the UK’s largest membership organisation for commercial writers. He’s an extremely well respected and well-known copywriter, who I discovered when I was starting my own business back in 2006. We particularly loved his home page slider copy – which you should definitely check out. Tune in to learn: What Tom did before he became a cop...
Nov 04, 2015•43 min
We’re very excited to welcome Kelly Exeter to the Hot Copy podcast. Kelly is a highly successful and popular blogger at A life Less Frantic and manager of Swish Design . She was a finalist in the Australian Writers’ Centre Best Blogs Competition in 2014 and has spoken at Australia’s biggest blogging conference, ProBlogger. Kelly is editor at Flying Solo , Australia’s biggest online community of solopreneurs and microbusinesses and the published author of Your Best Year Ever . Over the years she’...
Oct 21, 2015•42 min
Brainstorming benefits from features is an essential copywriting technique. One you really have to master if you want to write compelling copy. But many copywriters fall short of nailing the real benefit on the table. Do you? In this episode we get technical, talking about features and benefits with some surprising differences and techniques to help your brainstorming. Want to know more? Tune in to learn: Belinda and Kate’s technique for going from features to advantages and finally, to the bene...
Oct 07, 2015•21 min
Is there a good age to become a copywriter? Is it better to start when you’re young and enthusiastic, or when you’re older, wiser and totally exhausted by life! In this week’s podcast we’ll talk about copywriters of all ages, from those straight out of school to those heading into retirement. We’ll discuss the challenges and positives of each age group and try to discover the perfect age to start your copywriting business. Want to know more? Tune in to learn: Whether starting your copywriting ca...
Sep 23, 2015•28 min
Darren Rowse is a globally renowned blogger and speaker. Just as many people know him as the founder of Problogger as for his other business, Digital Photography School. He inspires bloggers every year at the Problogger training event and we grabbed him to pick his brain about writing, routines and being a totes famous introvert. Tune in to learn: How Darren finds the time and inclination to write in his ultra-busy schedule Where he gets his inspiration How he turns negative comments into conver...
Sep 09, 2015•27 min
If you’re a working copywriter you’re likely to have seen a big increase in the number of customers requesting video scripts. But if you haven’t written one before they can be daunting. In this week’s podcast Kate and Belinda will give you the top tips and advice you need to get started. Want to know more? Tune in to learn: Some interesting statistics about videos and why they works so well The different types of videos scripts you can write Kate’s top 8 tips on writing great video scripts The c...
Aug 26, 2015•45 min
When you’ve been a copywriter for a while, you learn which copywriting apps and tools help you most, day to day. Some apps help you be a more creative copywriter. Some apps help you manage your time. Some of them help you offer a better service to your copywriting clients. In this episode of Hot Copy, Belinda and Kate share their ten favourite copywriting apps and tools. Tune in to learn: Our ten favourite copywriting apps and tools What we love most out about then How much they cost Alternative...
Aug 12, 2015•28 min
Attracting clients is just half of the copywriting battle. How do you turn a copywriting enquiry into a copywriting client? In this podcast, Belinda and I will talk about different ways of ‘on boarding’ potential clients, how to get them to complete a brief, sign off your proposal and actually start work. Want to know more? Tune in to learn: How to deal with client enquries by phone and email When is the best time to send the client brief What you should include in your proposal Deposits, how mu...
Jul 29, 2015•33 min
