An easy tip to make it happenIn this short series, we've talked about the importance of authenticity in copywriting: what it is and why it matters. In this video, I share a quick tip for actually *achieving* authenticity. Check it out! So on to that tip, share a personal story. Sounds simple, right? But let's imagine you're writing a blog. Sure, you could just share the facts. But what if you weaved in a story? It helps to humanize your brand. It helps to humanize the story. It's what connects people to each other. So a great place to include this on your website copy would be on your about page. You'd be surprised how just adding that little bit of detail and personality can help make someone laugh, help them feel connected to you and make them feel like you are their kind of person. Today I'm recording this video from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is not warm as you can see. Anyway, that's it for this week. If you're interested in connecting with me as a copywriter, I'd love to talk to you. I do free connection calls. I'd love to tell you about my process and learn about what your goals are for your business. So please do reach out. Until next week, I'll talk to you then. Have a tip on authenticity you'd like to share? Go for it...share it here!
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How to know you're being authenticIn my last video, I talked about the importance of authenticity. Today, I’d like to talk about how you know when something is authentic. Watch below or keep reading to find out more... So, how do you know when something is authentic? It’s a really difficult question to answer, but there’s really only one way to know. Would you say it? You are the only person that can answer that question. You are the only one who really knows if it feels right. The funny thing is, it's contextual. We don’t walk around saying “why did I just say that? Does that sound right? Does that fit in line my life views?”
So when it comes to authenticity, it not only comes down to whether or not it feels right to us, but how its perceived by other people. And today, I’d like to talk about a tip to help you be perceived as authentic in the eyes of others. As leaders, and I suspect that you are a leader if you’re watching this, it can be difficult to allow yourself to be imperfect. So to appear authentic to others, we need to be okay with imperfection and embrace that. Now it might seem difficult to embrace imperfection in a professional context, but in the right context, it can really lend itself to authenticity. You know what it makes me think of, is the question that is often asked in job interviews: “what’s your greatest weakness?” And when you take that weakness and turn it into a strength, you say things like “you know, sometimes I’m pretty hard on myself, so it means I end up working pretty hard or sometimes I’m tireless and don’t know when to quit”. But if you’re an accountant for example, and you’re asked about your greatest weakness and you answer, “sometimes I get the 6 and the 9 confused”, uhh…that’s not going to bode so well for you. So when you’re sharing your imperfections, look for the silver lining. Today I’m filming this video from beautiful British Columbia, Canada. I’ve struggled a bit with people and noises behind me, so hopefully this turns out. But, there’s a gorgeous rainbow behind me (see, always find that silver lining!) and you can still see the remnants of it. That’s all I want to share for today. If you’re interested in learning about me as a copywriter, I do free connection calls. I’d love to hear more about you and what you’re working on. Until then, keep smiling. What does authenticity mean to you? Leave a comment below and let's talk about it. I like to keep it real and look forward to hearing from you! 2 reasons it super mattersSo today, I'm going to start with a statement of fact. The word “authentic” is an adjective, it means something that is authentic to one's own personality, spirit, or character.
And here's the second fact. There's no one else in the entire world exactly like you. Combine those two facts, put them together; it means that when you are really and truly yourself, when you behave in an authentic way, it is what differentiates you from the masses. Why does that matter? In today's world, people have more coaches, more copywriters, more financial advisors, whatever it is, you do, they have so many of those kinds of service providers to pick from that they hardly know where to start. So when you differentiate yourself, It means that you stand better chance of being picked. So I'm going to launch into a quick little story time here. I'd like you to imagine that it's two in the morning, your phone buzzes and it says it's your mom. And your mom's message says, “sup, dawg, you need to Venmo me like 200 bucks, plzzz”. I don't know about you, but for me, I would read that and be like, okay, a Nigerian prince has abducted my mother because that's just not how she talks. That's not authentic for her. The reason I know that is because she has a personal brand that's consistent. And what consistency means is, it starts to build trust. When you have trust, love can come from that and from love, come sales…and we all know where sales are important. So that's kind of a first delve into why authenticity is important. I know I've been away for a little bit. I haven't posted a video in a while, sorry about that. But I'm filming this today from steamy, steamy hot San Antonio, Texas. I'm in the historic marketplace right now. And it's a million degrees, I think it's about 37 degrees Celsius, maybe 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm going to do some more videos on this and how to actually work authenticity into your copywriting. So if you're interested in hearing about that, please leave a comment below. Quick freebie offer as well, I do free connection calls if you are interested in talking to me and seeing if we might be a good fit. Tell you what my processes is and tell me about what you're looking for. I would love to do that with you! Apart from that, that's it for today. On this channel, I talk about travel and nomadic lifestyle, copywriting and editing tips, of course, and some motivation and inspiration stuff. So that sort of thing interests you, please consider subscribing or leaving a comment below. In a recent video we addressed whether or not you can write your own copy, and the answer is yes, but we also looked at some things that you need to consider if you’re going to be doing that. In this video, I have two more things to share about what to look out for if you’re going to write your own copy. Check them out below... So, those things you need to look out for. After you’ve written your copy, you need to make sure that its spick and span, totally error free, no funny grammar mistakes, no silly spelling, no weird sentence structure stuff because when your client looks at that and they see mistakes, they look at it and think one of two things. They think “ooh, I’m not sure that this person is legit. They can’t afford the experts that they need. They can’t afford to have someone copy edit it or afford a copywriter.” So make sure it looks clean.
The other thing about clean writing is that it says that your message is worthy of attention. You and I both know that it is, but let’s make sure that your clients do as well. I am recording this video from Bolivia. A beautiful salty lake…somewhere. :) If you’re thinking you’re not keen at making a go at it alone, why not consider hiring a copywriter? Take a look at what I’m all about. Here's a link to a free connection call if you’d like to talk to me and see what I’m all about and tell me what projects you’re working on. Otherwise, we’ll talk to you next week. I hope everything is great with you! Let's connect! Leave a comment below and tell me about things you're working on or share a "clean" copywriting tip of yours. So you need a website and you’re wondering if you can do your own copywriting. I’m a professional copywriter and I’d love to give you my opinion on whether you can and why I feel that way. Let’s find out…keep reading or watch below. So, can you write your own web copy? Short answer, yes you can! You bet your butt you can. You want to know why? Because no one can understand or knows your business like you do. No one knows and understands your brand like you do. You are your business. You are your brand, and therefore you have all of the information that you need to make this happen. Of course, there’s some provisos… First thing that you really need to be aware of, good writing requires practice so don’t be horrified if it takes you a couple of shots or if you need someone to help you edit and if you need to rewrite it a couple of times. That’s part of the game. Clarity. Confuse people and you lose people. Being cute and clever is fun, but if people don’t know what you mean you’re not going to get yourself any clients. So err on the side of “just make sense”. Help people understand what it is you do. And third, there are a lot of different elements that go into copywriting that actually win clients. I have something called the BRIDGE Approach™, which is my trademarked process for writing phenomenal copy. If you take a look at my website you’ll see what the different elements are and I’ll record videos about these in the future, but consider taking a look to find out now. So there you go, that’s the short answer. I believe you can write your own copy, but, if you do want help, if you want a pro who’s gonna give you some more confidence that you’re actually going to attract your dream clients and connect with people that you really want to serve, then reach out to me. I do free connection calls. Let’s talk about my process, let’s see if we’re a good fit and let’s take it from there. Today I’m recording this video from Ollagüe, an active volcano in Bolivia. And by active, it has been several thousand years, but that's still pretty cool. Ahhh...This is the life of a digital nomad! Until next week, we’ll talk to you then. Have a question about writing your own website copy or have any tips to share? Leave me a comment and let’s talk about it!
Are you feeling a little guilty about hiring a copywriter? Or maybe you’re thinking about hiring a copywriter and you’re wondering if it’s “cheating” to let them do your writing for you? Watch this short video to debunk that particular myth (or read on). Recently I had a client share with me that she was feeling guilty that I was writing her content for her. The way we used to work together, she would provide me with an email that she had written, I’d edit it and get it back to her. But I pointed out to her that I could save her some time by writing in her voice and writing the emails for her. She LOVED the results and the time savings, but she worried, “uh, I didn’t write the words myself, is that ok? Is it cheating?”
In response I asked her, “do you think Oprah is writing her own email blasts?” I don’t know Oprah (yet!), but I bet you dollars to donuts that she’s not writing her own emails. No woman is an island. We can do a lot ourselves, but we can’t do everything ourselves. And the emails I wrote for this client, they were her ideas, her voice… I just helped her write them down. You can have that too! If you’re thinking about hiring a professional copywriter, reach out to me. I’d love to have a free connection call with you. Let’s see how I can help. So there you are thinking to yourself, “Uh huh. Getting myself a writer or editor is totally worthwhile… it’s much more than merely a second set of eyes. I’ll get the joy of having someone else make my word problem go away, confidence my message will resonate with my readers, engaging and clear writing that isn’t jammed full of my silly mistakes. It’ll help me establish myself as an authority in my field, and I’ll get more customers. No brainer.”
This is all the stuff you knew you were paying for. You know bad writing looks unprofessional and makes it much tougher for prospective clients to trust you. But you know what? There are other super valuable benefits that aren’t often talked about, simply because we’re focused on the “direct” benefits. When you do your research and you pick the “write” copy writer for you, magic happens. You unlock some next level shizz. It can literally make you a better business owner, and your money will go even further than you imagined! Without further ado, here are 10 ways the right copywriter or editor can make that a reality for you: 1. Get assistance seeing the forest for the trees (AKA a fresh perspective) You know your business better than anyone else. You know so darn much, and you’re so close to it, that it can be difficult to dumb it down and start at the beginning for someone who knows less. Do you ever feel like you can’t explain what the heck you do? You’re the expert but it’s so easy to get lost in words, words, words. This is when a good copywriter becomes your new BFF. A good one will listen, absorb, and then give you the written perspective you’d never have been able to put together in a million years. “But they don’t know anything about what I do!”, you might be thinking. I’ve got two words for you: EVEN BETTER! Because what you need is someone who’ll ask key questions, connect dots, and bang out some writing for you that will make it seem like you’re magically reading your soon-to-be clients’ minds. When you’re thinking through the answers to those key questions, you’re likely to find other things clicking for you. This can generate content ideas for other parts of your business. The bottom line: A fresh perspective means higher quality writing and ideas, and more of them. 2. Get someone holding your buns to the fire (AKA accountability) A copywriter can’t do their job without you. As Jerry Maguire would say: “help me help you. Help me, help you!” You’ll a have responsibility and accountability to give her what she needs to get the job done for you, whether that’s ideas or a draft. A perk of hiring someone to help is that they will pester you if required. Some people need that (you know who you are). It’s going to get done! HALLELUAH. At first blush this doesn’t seem like an “unexpected” perk (I mean, you’re paying for the service, it better darn well get done!) Hear me out, though: many people never get their website up because they just can’t get their copy done. When get the accountability leverage from using the right copywriter, the hidden advantage is that you put yourself lightyears ahead of alllll of those people who couldn’t get past their copy hang ups. Just getting the dang thing across the finish line literally gives you a competitive advantage. The bottom line: Your copywriter or editor can be the accountability buddy that helps you ensure your projects are seen through. 3. Learn some shweet shtuff you won’t have to pay for (AKA knowledge sharing) Any copywriter worth her salt is no dummy. She’s a bit like the village bicycle… she’s been around the block. (What? Like, everyone has had a ride? No, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter, for goodness’ sake.) Anyway, she’s been around the block and she’s a smart cookie. She’s worked with lots of other people who were up against the same challenges you are, even if they aren’t specifically related to copywriting or editing. She pursues personal passions she knows a bunch about. She’s worked in other environments and industries. Maybe she has even worked in another profession. Her secret strengths will come out as you work with her. Maybe she’s a communications pro, a competitive dog grooming expert, or knows all the best ways to cook cabbage. You never know when you might need info on these things. The bottom line: Working with someone smart and well-rounded means they’ll have lots of non-copywriting/editing wisdom to share. 4. Enjoy friends with benefits… I mean, the benefits of friends (AKA connection) When it’s you at the helm making all the decisions, you can make the right ones for you. When you pick the right copy editor, you get to (gasp!) work with someone you actually like working with. In my humble opinion, this might be the most important benefit in this guide. It’s a well-known fact that our happiness depends on the quality of our relationships. But did you know you can also expect to produce better work when you’re happy? Anne McKee, author of “How to Be Happy at Work”, puts it like this: “We are generous with our time and talents because we’re committed to people, not just the job or the company. Friendships—not instrumental, task-oriented relationships—are at the heart of a company’s resonant culture, the kind of culture that supports risk-taking, innovation, and results.” So there’s the science-y explanation… I just would have said life is too short to work with assholes. The bottom line: As entrepreneurs we can CHOOSE our colleagues. Pick people whose company you enjoy, then have fun AND develop better end results for it! 5. Fall in love with your work again (AKA inspiration) There’s a new email in your inbox; it’s from your copywriter. You open up the new copy that she sent through and it sounds just the way you wanted it to, only better. Your voice, only better! You feel ENTHUSED! You’re ready to wake up your web designer to get it posted as soon as humanly possible! Or… You’re feeling confused and unsure where to start. Your editor asks you the good questions or proposes a new solution and your heart sings, “YES!” You can’t freakin’ WAIT to implement the new idea. Can you imagine how good it would feel if someone helped you reinject the passion that got lost while you were frustrating the crap out of yourself trying to do it alone? When you work with someone who is passionate about the work, they can inspire that in you. Passion can be contagious. The bottom line: The right person can help reinject or further amp up your passion for your business. 6. Become all famous and whatnot… “No pictures, please… no pictures” (AKA visibility) Good copywriting will improve your search engine optimization (SEO). That means you’re coming up more often in people’s searches. You don’t even have to understand anything about SEO for it to be improved. People can’t buy from you unless they can find you, so the value of this can’t be understated. Search engines are much more sophisticated than they were even a few years ago. Google recognizes quality writing that offers value and answers the questions it says it’s going to (i.e. gone are the times when littering your copy with keywords will do any good). The bottom line: The words written by a good copywriter will get you SEO exposure. 7. Get value you can count on (AKA consistent quality performance) An independent writer runs her own business. A smart one is going to do everything in her power make sure you are one dang happy camper so that she’ll have the opportunity to work with you again. Independent consultants depend on repeat work and loyal customers. Having a steady stream of income is entirely dependent on consistent, quality output, and that knowledge tends to keep them on their “A” game. They know how important it is to maintain good relationships with clients and deliver quality work on time, each and every time. After all, the next project is never guaranteed. So yeah, trust me, she cares if she’s making you happy. She will ALWAYS do her best for you, so you can believe your dollar is working hard for you. The bottom line: A copywriter/editor who is an independent consultant can’t afford to not do amazing work for you. 8. Get the feels (AKA satisfaction and delight) Yep, the words your copywriter writes for you are going to do what she promised (sound like angels singing, make your readers squeal with delight, create a line-up around the block of people who want to buy from you, etc.), but how will it make YOU feel? “Every time I open up and read your edits, a burst of energy takes over me which results in an outburst of concentrated cheers! I am always SO PLEASED with your WORK!” (These are actual words from an email one of my clients wrote to me.) In a word: Amazeballs. Happy-rific. Zippy-doodle. Splendiferous. It’s a special thing, the way it makes you feel to read words that express just what you wanted them to (particularly when you couldn’t make them do it yourself). You’re likely to feel excited, motivated, proud, professional, reinvigorated, enthused, confident. The bottom line: There’s a certain “je ne sais quoi” of reading words expertly curated just for you. You’ll like the way your new copy makes you feel. 9. Get the MOST VALUABLE THING IN THE WORLD (AKA your time back) Ever noticed how the things you like to do and the things you’re good at doing seem to be one and the same? And have you ever noticed the annoying corresponding truth that the things you hate doing take for-freaking-ever? Not even just because it makes time go slower (which it does seem to do), but because you literally just can’t do it as fast as the things you like to do. As it applies to your web copy, content, and everything words, that can make writing massively time and consuming and not fun. That said, perhaps you’re an excellent writer. Either way though, spending time on what only you can do is just plain smart, especially since I bet that thing that only you can do is your core business offering. Outsource what doesn’t have to be done by you, and multiply your time for what matters. The bottom line: Hire an expert to help with your word woes, and you get that time back to work on what you do best instead. 10. Become super popular and super prolific (AKA scale your business faster) The goal of your words is to inspire action, and usually the action you’re hoping for is that your online lookers become buyers. When your copy successfully achieves that, in the copywriting world we say it “converts”. The better your copy, the higher your conversion rate. The higher your conversion rate, the more profit you make. With the super fly new web copy/newsletters/blog content you have from working with your copywriter, your business will expand. As your business expands, so will your content writing requirements. It’s this whole circular thing. If you’ve picked a copywriter whose work you like and with whom you’ve established a good relationship, you can easily scale your writing requirements. And when business is booming, you will be grateful for the help! A good copywriter will be well-equipped to help with your need and will be more than happy to do so. The bottom line: With good copywriting, you’ll be able to scale your business far faster than you would have been able to alone. --- And that, my friend, is what’s in store for you. Well actually, that’s just the stuff that sweetens the pot. I’ll post about the more obvious benefits, the “meat”, at a later date. Trust me, the main dish is pretty tasty. Were these benefits surprising to you? Which one would be the biggest help to you and your business? I want to hear about it in the comments. (No, really. Like I’ll reply and everything.) Does this article leave you feeling enthused about bringing a copywriter into your life? Meet the lady who wrote it here. |
Megan Haney
Megan is the owner of Megan Words, a boutique copywriting and editing consulting business devoted to helping female entrepreneurs with worthy causes develop high-quality web copy and content. She sometimes wears pants. Learn more about her here. Archives
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