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

• MacSparky Blog
• MacSparky Field Guides
• Mac Power Users Podcast

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.

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

• Heaven in Business
• “Ray's Short Course on Copywriting: Selling Without Sleazing”

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.

You know copywriting is used to sell stuff… but today we’re about to show you how it’s not just for sales pages any more.

As a matter of fact, when consciously employed, copywriting becomes the “quantifiable multiplier†for every part of your business and your life.

Click here to download or listen to this episode now.

Spiritual Foundations

What you say has power – huge power. You can wreck your life be repeating things that empower destructive forces in your life.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.†—Proverbs 18:21

Line up your words with the experiences you want to see.

Tip Of The Week

More books I’ve just finished and highly recommend:

• Making Sense of God, Timothy Keller
• Daring Greatly, Brene Brown
• Tools of Titans, Tim Ferris

Feature Segment: “Seven Weird Ways to Use Copy”

Copy is not just for sales pages. If you think the ability to craft transformational copy is limited only to sales letters and the like…you’re in for a pleasant surprise.

Here are some examples we cover on this episode:

1. About pages
2. Blog posts
3. Podcasts
4. Speeches
5. Converstations
6. Subject lines
7. Social Media

Here are some snippets from our conversation:

• The Secret to Persuasive Copy (10:27)
• Your favorite radio station (11:05)
• The formula for successful blog posts (11:44)
• How you say anything is how you say everything (12:52)
• Why you should Zig when everyone zags (13:10)
• How to write a speech in 5 minutes (14:35)
• Sway, Steer, or Stir-up (15:06)
• Grab ‘em by the eyeballs (15:38)
• Copywriting Kumbaya (16:05)
• Sean’s special bonus use for copywriting (17:34)

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• Making Sense of God, Timothy Keller
• Daring Greatly, Brene Brown
• Tools of Titans, Tim Ferris
• The P.A.S.T.O.R. Formula
• Zig Ziglar
• Free Resource: The Two-Billion Dollar Sales Letter You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

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.