Ray Edwards Show
Ray Edwards is a sought-after Copywriter, Author, Speaker, and Communications Strategist. His clients include Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, Jeff Walker, Robert Allen, and more. On this show, Ray helps you start, run, and grow their Internet-based businesses. The show includes interviews with well-known experts like Michael Hyatt, Jeff Goins, Dan Miller, Cliff Ravenscraft, Michael Stelzner, Amy Porterfield, Don Miller, and many others.

If you’ve listened to this show for any length of time, you know that our intro music is a catchy little ditty about changing the world and watching your business grow.

This week we’re going to introduce you to the five influences you exert as a business person, and how these influences empower you to change the world.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

This week it’s all about giving you an encouraging word (as it is most weeks).

“In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” – Psalm 5:3 (NIV)

As inspired business leaders, this is how we should begin our day.

The result is a more peaceful and productive day, regardless of the challenges we may face.

Tip Of The Week

This week’s tip comes straight from renowned coffee connoisseur Sean Edwards himself.

Enjoy a highbrow coffee experience and drink your coffee from a ceramic mug – not from paper cups. It tastes better and it’s better for you.

This is a real thing…your tastebuds will thank you.

Feature Segment: “How to Change the World  (And Watch Your Business Grow)”

As an entrepreneur, you exert 5 Influences that create world-change, and business growth. You exert Influence in these ares:

  1. Your Self
  2. Your Team
  3. Your Customers
  4. Your Community
  5. Your Competitors

And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation:

  • Drop the stone in the pond (10:08)
  • The Butterfly Effect (10:27)
  • Don’t skip this step (11:12)
  • Sean channels his inner Tony Robbins (12:32)
  • How to multiply your time and influence (14:12)
  • Set the bar and receive the love (16:09)
  • The key to virtual influence (17:27)
  • Get fanatical about this one thing (19:33)
  • Take the Ray Challenge (21:28)

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript. 

Direct download: REP277.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

You know you need great copy to sell your stuff, and you’re thinking of hiring a copywriter, but how can you make sure you don’t get ripped off?

In this episode we’ll show you how to successfully navigate these waters and arrive safely on the shores of copywriting bliss.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

Are facing challenges in your life right now? I have excellent news for you.

No matter what is happening in your life, God is completely on your side! That, my friends, is called the Divine Advantage.

In Romans 8:31 God says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

No matter what life throws at you, take courage because you’re on the winning side!

Tip Of The Week

If you use a Mac user and you’re a productivity geek I highly recommend you get the most out of your Apple technology by checking out the Mac Power Users Podcast with David Sparks and Katie Floyd.

In addition, David Sparks has his own blog called MacSparky.com where he has created free screencasts that show you how to get the most out of your productivity apps.

He also has a series of Field Guides you can purchase on a variety of subjects that will make you want to hug your Mac. Prepare to feel the Apple love.

Feature Segment: “10 Commandments of Hiring a Copywriter”

Maybe you’ve tried to hire a copywriter in the past, but you had a bad experience with The 7 Deadly Copywriter Sins:

  1. The copy was just plain bad (too hypey, too weak, or “info-only”)
  2. The copy sounded like everyone else (the Sea of Sameness, Mired in the Muck of Mediocrity)
  3. Your copywriter took the money and ran
  4. Your copywriter never communicated with you…ever.
  5. The copy was late.
  6. They never asked for your feedback, so the final product was miles off target.
  7. They Found You, Fooled You, and Forgot You

You’d like to hire a pro, but you can’t afford the fees of an “A-List Copywriter” (Ray’s current minimum is $250,000 up-front, plus a percentage of sales, for a “Private Client Launch Package”.) Yikes!

You’re frustrated because it seems like the biggest “X-Factor” in your product launch is the copy, and you are afraid neither you nor your team is good enough to get it right.

The 10 Commandments of Hiring a Copywriter

i. Scope: Thy copywriter shalt help you determine exactly what type of copy you’ll need, and how much copy you’ll need to bring you the results you seek.

ii. Voice: Thy copywriter shalt spend time with you and your material to learn your unique voice, and then infuse that voice into your copy. Your voice is what differentiates you from the crowd.

iii. Deadline: Thy copywriter shalt deliver your copy on time…every time. If he doth not, woe unto them, and they shalt be cast into outer darkness.

iv. Milestones: Thy copywriter shalt set up mile markers along the way during your project so that you can be consistently confident that your project is receiving the loving care it deserves.

v. Communication: Thy copywriter shalt check in with you throughout the process to get your input and make absolutely certain that you’re thrilled with the hand-crafted copy thou receiveth.

vi. Revisions: Thy copywriter shalt continue to work with you until thou art thrilled.

vii. Proofreading: Thy copywriter shalt have thy copy proofread, and ensure the text is error-fee.

viii. Review: Thy copywriter shalt put thy copy under the watchful eye of a mentor or other senior copywriter.

ix. Results: Thy copywriter shalt have a track record of results.

x. Followup: Thy copywriter shalt NOT just hand off your project and wish you luck. Thy copywriter shalt be there if things go sideways ready to swoop in and save the day!

And…you guessed it…here are some snippets from our conversation:

  • Oops I did it again (8:03)
  • The Stepford Copywriter (8:40)
  • Visit your money in Mexico (9:28)
  • Can you hear me now? (9:44)
  • Don’t be tardy for the party (10:50)
  • Have we met? (11:46)
  • Avoid the One Night Stand (12:11)
  • Have map…will travel (13:31)
  • Hire a chameleon (13:55)
  • Better bring a flashlight (14:37)
  • Give your copy a hug (15:15)
  • Artisan copywriting (16:41)
  • The value of sweat equity (17:46)
  • That copy sure is pretty (18:58)
  • Four eyes are better than two (19:57)
  • Win…and win often (20:54)
  • Copywriting Superhero! (21:25)

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Direct download: REP276.mp3
Category:Copywriting -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

You asked…we answered.

In this episode we’re going to answer seven of the most common questions we get about copywriting.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19

Another story from our friend Andy Mason of HeavenInBusiness.com:

A business owner of a small insurance (brokerage) agency has been sharing with his employees about how good Father God is and how He likes to love, help, and bless people.

One of the staff, who has been professing to be an atheist for, comes to the boss and says, “Will you pray for a good quote on this account? We really need a miracle.”

The owner says, “You want me to contact Heaven and get a good quote rather than the insurance company?”

She says, “Yes.”

There was only one insurance company (underwriter) left who hadn't declined or offered unreasonable terms. This was their only hope.

Later that day they received an outstanding quote, better than they expected, from this insurance company.

The proposal was presented and they wrote the new business. This new account will represent almost 20% of the “atheist'” salesperson's annual target!

How about that…God even cares about atheists.

Tip Of The Week

For a limited time I’m making available my free copywriting course entitled “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing” plus a free ebook about the $2 Billion Sales Letter You’ve Never Heard Of.

Inside this free course you’ll find the answers on how to sell without feeling sleazy, and I’ll walk you through the most successful sales letter ever written, and show to how to apply it to your product or service.

Feature Segment: “The 5 Readers You Either Benefit Or Betray”

Here are some of the most common questions we get about copywriting:

  1. What is copywriting?
  2. What is a sales letter?
  3. Why is copy so hypey/cheesy/pushy?
  4. Will this work for my business? My business is different.
  5. Does long copy actually work?
  6. Should I learn copy or just hire a writer?
  7. Isn’t copy manipulative? Isn’t that wrong?

And…you guessed it…some snippets from our conversation:

  • Do I need a lawyer for this? (9:40)
  • Sean’s rant of the week (10:20)
  • Words that move the world (12:55)
  • How not to gracefully exit a packed room (13:38)
  • The world before the internet (15:16)
  • The Bottle Cap Incident (16:08)
  • The Father of the Sales Page (17:10)
  • Hold the cheese (18:04)
  • The Dark Side of Jedi Mind Tricks (20:13)
  • Trickless Marketing (21:01)
  • You are, but you aren’t (21:28)
  • B2B or B2C…it’s ATS (24:58)
  • Are you boring? (25:24)
  • Do I really need to learn this? (28:14)
  • Aristotle was a great copywriter (30:58)

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Direct download: REP275.mp3
Category:Copywriting -- posted at: 3:00am PDT

When you write, whether it’s copy, essays, or words of any nature, you’re making a much bigger impact than you think.

Almost without fail more people will read what you write than you
believe. In a very real sense you’re setting waves into motion.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

I believe we often don't see God's miraculous intervention in our lives because we don't believe he'll do it…and we don't ask.

We believe God for little, vague things that don't put our faith to the test.

Pray that God will relieve our back pain? No problem.

Pray that God will heal a killer disease like cancer? Somehow we think that is harder for God.

Yet God says in His word, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?”

Just know that whatever you're facing, God has what you need and He's ready, willing, and able to supply you with it.

In this episode I’ll share some astounding examples that prove once and for all that nothing is too hard for God.

Tip Of The Week

For a limited time I’m making available my free copywriting course entitled “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing” plus a free ebook about the $2 Billion Sales Letter You’ve Never Heard Of.

Inside this free course you’ll find the answers on how to sell without feeling sleazy, and I’ll walk you through the most successful sales letter ever written, and show to how to apply it to your product or service.

Feature Segment: “The 5 Readers You Either Benefit Or Betray”

The 5 Readers You Either Benefit or Betray

When you write something, I think you should take it seriously. You have more readers who are affected in deeper ways than you realize.

Here are the readers you either benefit or betray with your words:

  1. You
  2. Team
  3. Family
  4. Tribe
  5. Competitors

Here are some snippets from our conversation:

  • Your first, and most important, reader (11:50)
  • Gymnastic Thinking (12:40)
  • The hobgoblin of little minds (13:50)
  • There is no “I” in T-E-A-M (15:12)
  • The philosophy of existence (15:50)
  • When in doubt, write it out (17:00)
  • Don’t send me an email about this (18:05)
  • The dirty bag of water (18:47)
  • The obscure reference rewards program (19:37)
  • Why things matter (20:25)
  • Be sure to leave this for your family (22:19)
  • The psychology of fandom (23:17)
  • How to think for yourself (23:57)
  • It doesn’t feel good, it feels necessary (25:02)
  • One of us is unnecessary (26:04)
  • Why you want the other side to win (26:32)
  • Sharing is caring (29:14)
  • Creating value out of thin air (30:14)

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

How To Help

Subscribe to the show through iTunes and give us a rating and review. Make sure you put your real name and website in the text of the review itself. We will mention you on this show. PLEASE USE THE APPLE PODCAST APP!

Get The Transcript

Right-Click and “Save As” to Get the PDF Transcript.

Direct download: REP274.mp3
Category:Podcast -- posted at: 3:00am PDT