This week, I'm covering 10 rules for living a richer life, whether you're a writer or not. A rich life is not limited to (but can certainly include) money. My goal is a "richer life" - as in, a more satisfying experience on this planet. These are thoughts which I have adopted as beliefs. They have served me well, and will continue to do so as I strive to be better at following them. Try them for yourself, and I am certain you will see positive changes and ultimately, a richer life. [00:00] Intro...
Nov 22, 2022•16 min•Ep. 596
What do you do when your copy isn't converting the way you think it should? Trust me, the best copywriters in the world write the occasional dud...You put it out there, and it just falls flat. There are 5 common reasons your copy isn't converting, and on this week's episode, I'll explain how you can fix them all. [00:52] Reason 1 : Failure to understand the "P" in the P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework [02:01] Reason 2: Not doing enough research [02:46] Reason 3: Not dealing with competing solutions [03:49]...
Nov 14, 2022•7 min•Ep. 595
Now is not the time to hide in a bunker...waiting for the impending economic doom we hear about every day. What you should be doing is turning your knowledge and skills into a business built around your own personal brand. That's what we're talking about in this week's episode. [00:00] Intro - Turning your knowledge, wisdom, and experience into a business [01:27] There's a storm coming...Batten down the hatches? [02:29] Being a personal brand [03:55] How we're transitioning at Ray Edwards Intern...
Nov 11, 2022•17 min•Ep. 594
A couple of weeks ago, we did an episode devoted to the copywriting purists in the audience...A copywriting Q&A. That episode generated a lot of positive feedback, so this week, we're doing another round of questions submitted by some of our listeners. If you are (or want to be) a copywriter, I think you'll find some worthwhile knowledge inside. If you have a question, leave a comment below. I'm not sure when the next Q&A episode will be, but it largely depends on the quality and quantit...
Nov 02, 2022•17 min•Ep. 593
It was such a pleasure to welcome my son, Sean, back to the show. When the pandemic hit, it quickly became apparent that Sean would need to devote more time to our bricks and mortar coffee shop that we purchased together in 2017. In this weeks episode, I want Sean to explain what it was like to keep the business afloat amidst the shutdowns and restricted operations we faced here in the state of Washington. We both learned some valuable, life and mindset-altering lessons and I think some of those...
Oct 25, 2022•51 min•Ep. 592
Are you making progress toward being the person you wish you were? Most of us have more than one area of our lives we would like to improve, and most of us even know what we need to do to get there (or at least, get closer). So what's the hold up? You're about to find out. This week, I want to talk about our greatest addiction. It's not drugs, food, or anything of the sort, but it's real, and it is probably the source of your stagnation. The good news? It's fixable. Click below to listen. [00:00...
Oct 18, 2022•27 min
This week, I'm getting back to the core of what I teach by answering questions submitted by copywriters. I encourage you to leave any questions of your own (or corrections/additions to the answers I gave) in the comments on this page . [00:00] Intro [00:56] Question 1 - Should I be worried about A.I. taking my clients? [05:01] Question 2 - Do I need to use contracts? [07:30] Question 3 - Did I write this, or did I steal this? [10:40] Question 4 - What's the best formula for a subject line? Links...
Oct 15, 2022•15 min•Ep. 590
The term "quiet quitting" predates the pandemic by more than a decade, but has become commonplace since 2020. So, what is it? Quiet Quitting is when you decide to the absolute bare minimum of what is required to keep getting a paycheck...No more aspirations of "moving up the ladder", just "acting your wage", as they say. When the pandemic forced so much of the workforce to work from home, outside of the constant supervision of the traditional workplace, it became a lot easier to quietly quit. Th...
Oct 08, 2022•14 min•Ep. 589
That is the question that keeps coming up: "Is Ray retiring?" It's my own fault. It's because I said (in yesterday's email) that "this is your last chance to work with me personally." For 98% of those reading this email that remains true, but I am absolutely not "retiring". And I AM NOT shrinking the goals for my company. Quite the contrary, we have significantly increased our goals . My reasons for continued growth , and scaling up, are very different than they were three years ago, however. Li...
Sep 30, 2022•36 min•Ep. 588
This week's entire episode is devoted to an incredible tool for copywriters (although, I'm quite certain it was not built exclusively for us) - Notion. Notion is one of those things I was "sort of" familiar with... I knew it was some sort of workspace management system, but I had no idea how much it could be tailored to copywriting and content creation until I got a look at how Cliff Ravenscraft was using it. I'm not easily impressed these days, and I certainly don't feel the need to learn a new...
Sep 20, 2022•51 min•Ep. 587
If you're not familiar with Jennifer Allwood, let me introduce her with this quote from her site, JenniferAllwood.com : I teach Christian women how to build a business online using social media, top-notch strategy and a proven framework all while keeping their faith and family top priority https://jenniferallwood.com I've admired Jennifer's work for some time now, so when I was asked to be a guest speaker in her private mastermind group, I was honored. For those who ask for episodes that are "al...
Sep 13, 2022•57 min•Ep. 586
That is an intentionally provocative title, but I assure you it's not clickbait. Give me a quick 7 minutes and I'll explain why I believe the answer to that title question is an emphatic, "Yes!" A Note About This Episode: The audio from this week's podcast comes from a recently released YouTube video of the same title. If you prefer video, you'll find it here . [00:12] Intro ... Are you serious? [00:53] Do you own a business...or a job? [01:49] What's a true marketing system? [02:21] The simple ...
Sep 06, 2022•8 min•Ep. 585
Listen to this week's podcast to learn how Click Funnels (and the upcoming Funnel Hacking Live) actually saved me from brain surgery. My neurologist was telling me it was time to give in and have the brain surgery … but my heart was telling me a different story. To go to the event, I had to say NO to brain surgery - and to do that, I had to actually get better. [00:00] Intro - Is it true? [08:34] How does this relate to you? [10:14] Are you stuck in the loop? [12:11] Here's an example [12:41] Yo...
Aug 30, 2022•17 min•Ep. 584
Let's start this week's encouraging podcast with some discouraging facts from our friends at the Bureau of Labor Statistics: 22% of business startups fail in the first year 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years 97% of online businesses fail within the first five years Did you catch that last one? Ouch! I've been doing business online for nearly two decades. Is it just luck that I've beaten the nearly insurmountable odds? I don't think so. This week, I want to share 7 Power Belie...
Aug 23, 2022•18 min•Ep. 583
If you're a new copywriter, or perhaps find yourself in a slump, your immediate question is likely: How do I get clients, now? This week, I'm sharing some methods that have consistently worked for me and I'm certain can work for you as well. Bonus - These client-getting methods are not exclusive to copywriting! [smart_track_player url="https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/rayedwards/REP582.mp3" artist="Ray Edwards", title="Get Clients Now" background="default"] [00:00] Intro [00:48] Method Number 1...
Aug 18, 2022•24 min•Ep. 582
When I say, "change your words, change your world", it isn't just for the sake of marketing - it's a fact. This week's episode is about the importance of language. From the way we express ourselves in person and online, to our most private internal dialogue, the words we choose are critical. They truly shape our view of reality. Quick note: Much of this content was inspired by an interview with Robin Arzón I heard on Rich Roll's podcast (linked below). I highly recommend you add it to your must-...
Aug 09, 2022•14 min•Ep. 581
No matter how bad things get, there are almost always things you can do to improve yourself and your situation. This week, I'm giving you 14, easy to understand rules that will help you do exactly that. Disclaimer : "Easy to understand" doesn't always mean easy to follow, but my belief is that if you make the effort, you will be rewarded. If you attempt some or all of these rules, I would love to hear about your results. How has your life changed? I will read and respond to every comment, so ple...
Aug 06, 2022•33 min•Ep. 580
This week's podcast comes from a meeting I hosted recently entitled, "Ask Ray Anything". The original intent of this meeting was to answer questions related to my Accelerated Certification Program , but I made the last-minute decision to make it a complete free-for-all...A true, "Ask Ray Anything" meeting. The end result: A lot of great Q&A that I felt would benefit more people if I shared it here. [00:00] Intro / What is the purpose of this meeting? [02:58] Why the world NEEDS you right now...
Jul 26, 2022•46 min•Ep. 579
If you're an entrepreneur, I'd be shocked if you didn't own at least two books on the subject of time management. I'd be even more shocked if you own a time management book that I haven't read. I've been fascinated with this particular subject since my high school days. That's quite a few years ago (decades in fact), so it seemed unlikely that anyone could completely change the way I manage my time at this stage of the game. Then along came Richie Norton, and his book, Anti-Time Management, did ...
Jul 16, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 578
This week, I wanted to tackle a huge question: "Is this the end?" Spoiler Alert: No. It isn't. We're dealing with unpleasant realities at this time. Tune into the news, and you hear things like: Recession Inflation High Interest Rates the Labor Market the Great Resignation Bear Market Supply Chain Shortages War in Europe It's important to realize that the news media is in the business of selling fear. I don't mean to vilify the media...Fear is what we buy the most of, so that's mostly what they ...
Jul 08, 2022•21 min•Ep. 577
This week's episode is not a puffed-up pep talk (although there maybe some motivational side effects). When I say THIS is the time to become an entrepreneur, I mean it...And I have 7 great reasons that back it up. [00:00] Intro / Why now? [01:00] Let's define "entrepreneur" (Ryan Moran) [02:05] No retreat! [02:19] Seven reasons why... [02:22] Now is the time to re-form the habits that shape your future. (Think if you had saved $500 a month 20 years ago). Right habits are NECESSARY for SURVIVAL ....
Jun 27, 2022•22 min
Not only can you start a business that actually prospers during recession, but you can do so for less than a $100 investment. In this week's episode, I'll explain what that business is, why recession actually increases demand for it, plus a few pitfalls to avoid and some shortcuts to take. [00:00] Show open - What is it? [01:49] Here's 3 reasons why a copywritng business is perfect for a recession [02:18] Businesses are your customers (They NEED you!) [03:46] Operating cost is virtually nothing ...
Jun 20, 2022•18 min•Ep. 575
How should entrepreneurs view economic recession? Is it "brace for impact", or "full speed ahead"? I've lived through enough periods of recession to know this: Any entrepreneur can USE the recession to proposer. You just need to keep these 10 principles in mind… [00:19] What's happening? [02:23] Always be making offers [02:47] Always give a reason why for immediate action [03:07] Always be clear and directive in what you write [03:40] Always track and measure with ruthless accuracy [04:10] Alway...
Jun 13, 2022•9 min
My guest this week is Tim Schurrer, author of The Secret Society of Success . First of all, I must admit that when I saw that title, I was a little leery.. .Secret society? Really, Tim? Then, I read the book. In case it isn't made obvious by the fact that he's my guest this week, this book has an incredible message and it deserves a spot in your library (and in your brain). [00:00] Intro - Who is Tim Schurrer [03:41] What's the book about? [06:05] Defining success [07:39] "...nobody there has yo...
Jun 06, 2022•28 min
I'd like to preface this by acknowledging that America is not officially in a recession, and that things may not get as bad as some of the typical sources of gloom and doom would have us believe. There are, however, some facts that can't be denied. As we continue to recover from the costs of the pandemic and the threat of war still looms over us, things will no doubt get worse in some sectors. The fear that the fearmongers are spreading is not completely unfounded. This week, I'd like to remind ...
May 30, 2022•10 min
If you have a goal of building a successful online business, I know of no better way to quickly build a reputable, memorable, brand, than by writing a book. This isn't some tidbit I picked up somewhere - I've experienced this personally. My book, How to Write Copy That Sells, has sold about 30,000 copies since it was released in 2016. That's certainly not enough book sales for me to retire on, but the amount of business that book has generated for my company has resulted in millions of dollars i...
May 23, 2022•12 min
Last week I shared the story of how I recently received a $150,000 advance from a publisher for an upcoming book. Furthermore, I suggested that you can do the same...If you have the right idea and follow the right process. That episode raised a lot of interest (and a bit of skepticism). How can this be possible? There's a simple reason why this is possible for you: Publishers want to make money. Someone is at work right now sorting through various manuscripts and proposals looking for the next "...
May 16, 2022•29 min
Is it possible to get $150,000 check for a book that has yet to be written? Absolutely. I know this because that's exactly what I experienced thanks to my friend, and this week's guest, Jeff Goins. Jeff and I discuss the process of going from idea, to proposal, to publishing deal. NOTE : For a more in-depth discussion, check out our other conversation HERE . [00:00] Intro: How it all started [01:09] Coming up... [01:53] How to get 150k for a proposal [03:54] Jeff's "reinvention" [05:55] "Every g...
May 11, 2022•43 min
In today's world, there is no shortage of fuel for negative thinking, and none of us are immune to it. The good news is that you can minimize your negative thinking by making a conscious decision to control the one thing you should always be in control of: your attitude. The message of this week's episode is not "think good things and good things will magically happen." The message is about finding opportunities in bad situations. "What does this make possible?", as my friend and mentor, Michael...
May 04, 2022•14 min•Ep. 568
Last week I promised to share with you, 9 income streams for copywriters. In the interest of overdelivering, this week I present to you... 11 income streams for copywriters . Not all of these may be in your wheelhouse, but I'm fairly certain you'll get some new ideas from my list. The point I'm trying to make with this episode is this - Building multiple sources of revenue is a smart play for any entrepreneur. Tune in to find out how to do it. [00:00] Why do you need this? [01:38] Income Stream ...
Apr 26, 2022•21 min
