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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:10] Pricing copywriting services is more of an art than a science—there’s no exact formula that will work every time. Be wary of online tools and calculators for pricing as they are often unreliable and produce unrealistic figures (like the calculator that suggested Kate charge $13,800 for a homepage—good luck finding a client for that!)

[5:00] Every single client and project is different. As professionals, our strength lies in adapting to each project’s unique needs and tailoring solutions for our clients. Fixed pricing doesn’t allow us to be the partner that we should be for our clients.

[6:50] It’s important to understand the specifics before setting prices, especially since clients who aren’t copywriters may not know what questions to ask initially. Don’t feel pressured to provide a quote until you have a clear understanding of the project’s scope and requirements from the client’s perspective.

[12:10] Nicki and Kate discuss key factors to prioritize (and disregard) when establishing baseline prices and hourly rates, including project scope, rush time, previous pricing, and more.

[15:00] How do you know how long a project will take? Nicki and Kate discuss the importance of timing tasks like drafting emails accurately, and to consider factors such as revisions, client communication, and urgent project requests.

[17:37] Avoid providing a quote during a discovery call. Take into account all necessary elements before preparing and sending the quote to your client!

[22:44] There are a number of elements that you want to factor in as you’re coming up with your quote.  Kate and Nicki encourage us to work at a rate we are happy with instead of comparing your rates to other copywriters.

[28:50] Nicki and Kate touch on some of the other ways people charge, including by the word and hourly work. As a copywriter, you want to avoid clients that are asking to pay by the word!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Part of what makes us valuable as professionals is that we go into each project fresh and build a solution for a client based on their individual needs and that individual project. So if we say, ‘This is the only thing we offer, and this is the only price for it,’ then we’re not being the partner that we should be for our clients and not offering them everything that they need in order to accomplish their goals.” – Nicki

“You can’t have templatized costs for things because it’s going to vary from client to client. And you can’t base your prices on what other people are quoting either. Sometimes in the group, our students will ask, ‘OK, guys, what are you guys quoting for this?’ And I completely understand that impulse because everybody wants to know, ‘Am I in the right area? Am I in the right ballpark?’ But it’s going to be so different from client to client and from project to project, and even the area that your client is based in.” – Nicki

“There are lots of questions you want to dig into before you even start working on the pricing. And bear in mind too that clients don’t know what to ask. They’re not professional copywriters. So the only thing they know to ask is, ‘Oh, are you a copywriter? Are you available? And how much does it cost?’ That’s the only thing they know how to ask. So instead of automatically going, ‘Oh, I have to figure out what to tell them my’, take a step back and you can say to them, ‘You know what, that’s a really great question, but I can’t really quote you a price until I have a better understanding of your project.'”

Related Links

• Why Most Advice About How to Price Your Services is Dead Wrong for You
• Copywriting is Only 1/3 Writing, Here’s Why That Affects How You Charge
• What Copywriters Charge for Content Writing
• When and How to Raise Your Copywriting Rates

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

The post Summer Rewind: Ep. 17 How to Set Your Copywriting Rates appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[1:50] Transitioning from an employee mindset to a business owner mindset can be challenging, especially if you’ve spent the vast majority of your life in the employee mindset, making decisions based on having a limit to your income.

[4:20] Typically, when you’re a consumer, you are making a purchase. But as a business owner, there are many opportunities to make investments in your business, which have the power to pay for themselves many times over.

[7:08] Unlike the average consumer who might hesitate and wait during challenging economic times, business owners can’t afford to give in to fear and scale back. You have to keep taking action to sustain your business, which may involve exploring new strategies.

[11:07] Changing your environment when you’re working on your business can help shift your mindset away from consumer concerns so you can focus on the investments your business really needs.

[12:27] Set aside time each month to dig into your numbers (income, number of clients, time spent on tasks etc.) to help optimize your income, time, and energy.

[14:35] Be mindful of the conversations you’re having as a business owner, especially when it comes to the economy. People around you may have more of a pessimistic outlook if they’re influenced by the media. Block out the noise and stay focused on your goals and what you can control.

[20:07] Instead of following consumer or employee-oriented advice, lean into your community to make sure you are thinking like the business owner that you want to be instead of the consumer that you used to be.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“I feel like the key difference between an employee mindset and a business owner mindset is, when I’m spending my money as a consumer, I’m making these purchases. I’m buying things that aren’t actually going to give me anything back. They might bring me joy, I might have fun with them, I might use them, and it might be valuable to me in some way. But as a business owner, the things I’m spending my money on have the power, if I’m making the right investments, have the power to pay for themselves many, many times over.” – Kate

“Make sure that you are listening to and thinking like the business owner that you are and that you want to be instead of the consumer that you used to be. It’s not easy, but it is crucial and it will have such a positive, positive impact on you and on your business.”- Nicki

“When you are in a more challenging financial time, for a business owner, that’s actually not the time to scale back on activities. And even potentially not the time to scale back on spending. Whereas when the economy gets a little uncertain, the average consumer kind of goes, ‘Oh, we’re not going to do anything. And I’m going to pull the blankets over my head and just wait it out.’ The business owner does not have the luxury to give into that fear. You have to keep taking action in order to keep your business going. And sometimes you have to explore different kinds of action to take.” – Nicki

“When 2020 started, I, like everyone, was just like, ‘Oh, pandemic, work’s going to dry up.’ I had a lot of people in my network who did lose jobs and it was a hard time for many, many people. I’m very, very fortunate. I’m very grateful. And I don’t say this to toot my own horn in any way, but 2020 was one of my best financial years as a copywriter. And if I had listened to what was going on in the news and just went on that feeling and got scared or stopped doing what I was doing, maybe it would have been a different year. But instead I buckled down and I blocked out the noise. Here’s what I know is happening. Here are my clients. I’m going to continue doing the things that I have control over.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• 3 Tips for Combatting Imposter Syndrome
• Overcome Scarcity Mindset as a Copywriter
• Face Your Freelance Finances Fears
• Want to Earn Six Figures as a Copywriter? Get Your Finances in Order
• Actual Freelance Copywriting Salary: Digging Into One Copywriter’s Numbers

Related Links

• Top Copywriting Advice from Working Copywriters
• #1 Change That Will Double Your Copywriting Income
• Master Your Money Mindset
• Set Your Copywriting Business Up for Financial Success

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 185: Copywriting Pitching Assumptions That Will Cost Your Business

The post Episode 186: Are You Stuck in an Employee Mindset? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[1:39] There absolutely *is* such a thing as too much work, especially when you are a freelancer and it’s all too easy to say “yes” to every project that comes your way. Even one project can be too much if the timeline is tight. 

[4:37] To tackle overwhelm effectively, start by understanding your reaction to it. Are you someone who rises to the challenge or buries your head in the sand? Recognize your cues early on, so that you can take proactive steps to address it and prevent burnout.

[7:35] If you’re looking at your schedule and thinking, “Oh my gosh, I can’t get all of this done”, you have to put the brakes on anything else coming in. But when it comes to pitching, you don’t want to completely stop, otherwise you’ll end up stuck in a “feast or famine” cycle.

[9:55] When you’re busy, it’s a good time to practice saying “no” or propose a suitable start date (include some buffer time). There’s no need to worry about saying “no” as long as you communicate clearly—plus, being booked up shows clients that you’re in-demand!

[12:50] If you’re in doubt about meeting current client deadlines, consider bringing in another copywriter to help you, even if it means you just break even. You *never* want to miss a deadline!

[14:58] Your deadlines should drive your actions, so prioritize by the actual deadline, not by what seems more fun or doable. Breaking your priority list down into smaller steps can make it more manageable.

[18:00] Sometimes we have to deal with the consequences of our choices, like working weekends or canceling plans. But it may teach you a lesson about how you manage your schedule so you make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future.

[21:20] If you’ve built a strong rapport with a long-term client and know the deadline isn’t strict, you could politely request a one-time extension, but only if you’re confident there’s flexibility. Use this sparingly though, as it could impact your credibility. 

[23:45] When you’re faced with a Friday deadline, it’s worth proposing a Monday delivery instead. Most clients don’t work weekends, so those extra days could offer valuable breathing space.

[25:24] Make sure to build in buffer time for each project and aim to deliver projects earlier than the agreed deadline. That way, you have some wiggle room in case life gets in the way.

[27:50] Even if the deadline seems far off, don’t wait until the last minute to start working on it (we’re not in high school any more!). Starting early ensures you have enough time for all aspects of the project, including editing and polishing your work.

[29:19] Having a reliable network allows you to handle unexpected situations professionally. If you are faced with an emergency situation, introduce your client to a trusted colleague who could take over. This ensures your client’s needs are met while you focus on what’s important. 

[31:40] Blocking out time on your calendar for different projects can help you have a better visual representation of where your time is going and how much time you actually have available.

[32:54] Working on your money mindset is also an important piece of this. Saying “yes” to every project out of fear of missing out on income, simply isn’t sustainable. Remember, you have the skills and resources to generate income, so trust in your abilities and follow the steps to success!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“If you’re hearing this and you’re like, ‘Oh, okay, then I should probably also stop pitching. No, scale down your pitching. Don’t be sending out five pitches, but don’t stop. Because as you know, when you stop pitching is when you experience that dry spell. And when you pitch, you’re kind of seeding projects for the next couple of weeks to couple of months. So don’t stop. Dial it back, certainly, but you don’t want to completely stop.” – Nicki

“This is how the feast and famine happens. If you have too much work and then dry spell and then ‘oh my gosh, too much work’, that’s unsustainable to continue working like this, completely stressed out, overworked, too much work to zero. To keep going 0-60 back and forth, you don’t need that and so this process will help hopefully smooth out that process a little bit but to Nicki’s point, continue pitching so you don’t hit the ‘oh no now I have no work!’” – Kate

“We think of saying ‘no’ as being so tough, being so mean. No, all you’re doing is communicating. And it can be very, very simple and very pleasant and nice. And just say, ‘Oh, unfortunately I’m booked up for the next however long, the next couple of weeks, but I could get started with it on X, Y, D, Z date.’ Clear communication is key. By the way, it’s a good thing for a client to see that you are booked up. It always kind of makes me do a little bit of an eyebrow raise whenever anyone’s like, ‘Yeah, my schedule is completely open.” – Nicki

“Sometimes we have to deal with the consequences of our choices. And you may be dealing with the short-term consequences and that does sometimes involve working weekends or giving up some plans or that kind of thing. Is it fun? No. But it may be painful enough that it will teach you a lesson moving forward to make sure that you keep an eye on your schedule and you set up the boundaries that you need to set up to make sure that this doesn’t happen in the future.” – Nicki

Related Links

• What Are Your Copywriting Business Rules?
• Amp Up Your Copywriting Productivity With Ultra Scheduling
• When the [ahem] Stuff Hits the Fan
• How Can You Know if a Copywriting Deadline is Doable?

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 182: What’s the Best Way to Communicate with Copywriting Clients?

The post Episode 183: You Will Have Too Much Copywriting Work … Here’s What to Do appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:33] Nicki found some of the principles in the book “The Gap and the Gain” particularly valuable when she found herself in a negative space earlier in the year, comparing herself to others and what they’ve achieved.

[4:18] The “gap” is the space between where you currently are and where you want to be or where you think you want to be, whereas the “gain” is where you are looking backward to where you’ve come from.

[5:20] The book highlights that your brain has evolved to forget gains. That means when you hit a certain target like $10K a month, it’s easy to move on to your next goal very quickly. But it’s important to take the time to celebrate these achievements before moving the goalposts again.

[8:04] When you spend all of your time in the “gap”, thinking of where you’re not yet measuring up, it’s going to make you unhappy. Focusing on the things that you have achieved will make you a more appreciative person.

[9:52] Our minds trick us into believing that if we just get to a certain point, then we’ll be happy, we’ll be safe, and we’ll know we will have achieved enough. But in reality, there’s always a next step.

[12:03] Setting yourself time to actually write down the steps you’ve taken to reach your goal means you can see all of the ways that you have grown and all of the challenges that you have overcome. This is a great way to gently force yourself into the “gain”.

[13:52] Try to notice when you have those moments of living in the “gap”, so that you can take the chance to refocus yourself on the “gain”. The book shares some useful exercises to help with this, like looking for things that indicate that you are being successful.

[17:19] Think about what success means to you so that you can see where you are being successful in your life. Is it having the freedom to take days off? Or to work from wherever you want? Nicki and Kate share their own examples of what success looks like to them.

[22:11] You can also think about success in terms of how aligned your schedule is with what you say your priorities are. Often we don’t prioritize the things that we say are the priority, like health, wellbeing, and family.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“We don’t stop to celebrate our wins. We’re so continuously moving the goalposts. We hit a thousand dollars a month, and are like, ‘okay, great, that was easy. Now I want to hit two, now I want to hit five, now I want to hit 10.’ And we’re always just looking at what the next thing is versus celebrating the fact that getting our first client is a huge win.” – Kate

“Remember that you’re not jumping from a thousand dollars a month to $10,000 a month. It’s not an instant thing. So what’s going to be happening is you’re going to spend a lot of time getting there and building there and getting up close. And what often happens is that by the time we finally hit that point, so many of us spend a moment ago, “oh wow, that’s cool” and then go on to the next thing because we’ve been building up to it for so long that it’s no longer this amazing thing that’s so far away. However, it is still worth celebrating.” – Nicki

“When you spend all of your time in the gap, thinking of where you’re not yet measuring up, it’s going to make you unhappy. But spending more time focusing on the gain, focusing on the things that you have achieved and the progress that you’ve made, will make you a happier and more appreciative person.” – Nicki

 “Writing down all of the things that you have achieved, all of the ways that you have grown, and all of the challenges that you have overcome is a great way to gently force yourself into the gain and to appreciate who you’ve become and how much you have done. It’s a very effective tactic for gently pulling yourself out of that low energy or those low emotions.” – Nicki

Mentioned on this Episode

• Master Your Money Mindset – With Brie Sodano
• The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Related Links

• Should a Money Mindset Matter to Copywriters?
• Book Pick: Why Your Obsession with Money is Getting in the Way of Your Copywriting Success
• #1 Thing You Need to Do Throughout Your Copywriting Career

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

The post Episode 157: Are You Living in the Gap or the Gain? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:06] Managing finances can be intimidating for freelancers, but it’s important to face your fears and start understanding the numbers!

[3:25] If you have a bookkeeper, Crystalynn recommends having a sit-down meeting with them at least once a month to go over your numbers.

[4:20] If you are currently managing your finances on your own, it’s a good idea to find a QuickBooks expert to set you up and teach you how to properly manage your books.

[6:02] Crystalynn recommends five reports to look at, including the accounts receivable aging report.

[7:47] Crystalynn advises keeping a separate business account, even if you’re using your personal account to fund things initially.

[12:35] Investing in accounting software has many benefits and can help you to keep on top of business expenses more easily.

[16:10] Scheduling regular time to review your transactions is a great way to stay organized when it comes to your business’ finances.

[19:51] Finding ways to reward yourself after completing financial tasks can make them a lot more palatable!

[21:43] Waiting until January or February to compile 12 months worth of information is very stressful. Managing your finances on a monthly basis makes the process a whole lot easier.

[24:27] Bookkeepers tend to do all of the day-to-day work like invoicing, recording, and categorizing of the numbers, whereas an accountant reviews and analyzes the financial statements to help give some insight into what the numbers say about the business.

[27:58] Accountants can also support with tax planning and discussing any changes to your legal entity.

[31:45] Try to use as little cash as possible when you’re purchasing items for your business or paying for expenses. It’s better to use something that’s going to have a record.

Must-Hear Takeaways

” I think a lot of people don’t realize that while your Excel spreadsheet is great, having an accounting software allows you to go paperless and automate things such as uploading your receipts. So I would just say while it does cost you money to purchase the software, it’s worth it because there are so many benefits. I would say another benefit would be connecting all of your bank accounts.” – Crystalynn

“As soon as you can afford to pay someone, a professional, I would say do it. But I still want the business owners out there to realize just because you hired someone to manage your books, that doesn’t mean you have a hands-off approach. Absolutely not. You still need to understand what that person is doing.” – Crystalynn

“There are just some things that we don’t necessarily feel like doing or maybe even things that intimidate us a little bit, especially as it can be when it comes to numbers, but that’s still something you have to do. And so we have to figure out a way to make ourselves do it and maybe even make it more palatable for ourselves. – Nicki

“Try to use as little cash as possible when you’re purchasing items for your business or paying for expenses. Use something that’s going to have a record. So use your credit card or use your debit card, or write a check if you need to do that.” – Crystalynn

Mentioned on this Episode

• Listen to her podcast: https://www.crystalynnshelton.com/podcasts
• Website: https://www.crystalynnshelton.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalynn.shelton.5/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalynn-shelton-cpa-09436995/ 
• Instagram: @crystalynnshelton

Related Links

• Set Your Copywriting Business Up for Financial Success
• Opening a Business Bank Account as a Copywriter
• Accounting Tips for New Copywriters
• Ep. 112: Want to Earn Six Figures as a Copywriter? Get Your Finances in Order

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 145: Catchy Hook or Clickbait? How to Tell the Difference

The post Episode 146: Face Your Freelance Finances Fears – with Crystalynn Shelton (CPA) appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

As copywriters, we do a lot of work on our own. After all, the actual writing of copy is a fairly solitary job. But often, we need to collaborate. With designers, yes, but also with project managers, marketing managers, and other key stakeholders within an organization.

The Importance of Collaboration

This is true whether you work in an ad agency or on an in-house team. Even as a freelancer, you may not consider the people you work with your “colleagues” in the traditional sense, but while you’re working for a given client, their team becomes your colleagues.

Now, this may sound obvious, but it’s crucial to act professionally as a freelancer. You’d be shocked by how many freelancers, copywriters or otherwise, don’t. Those are the folks that churn through clients, never landing a repeat project and consistently wondering what they’re doing wrong. But it’s not hard to stand out and ensure you’re providing the professional service your clients expect.

That’s where Tell Me More: How to Ask the Right Questions and Get the Most Out of Your Employees by Michael Sherlock comes in.

Our Book Pick

Another book for your copywriting toolbox, Tell Me More helps you change the way you approach collboration.

Sherlock is a sales communications strategist and global sales leadership expert. In this book (the first in her Shock Your Potential series), she takes you through her “Listen, Learn, and Lead” framework.

First, you’ll learn to embrace active listening. Then, using the information gained during this active listening, you’ll learn how to unpack any issue, as well as how to follow up and follow through.

Tell Me More is unique in that, unlike other leadership books, this one is told through the eyes of a fictional character. The story makes it easier to process concepts versus reading dry “how-to” instructions that make it hard to understand how they work in action. With this book, you’re taken through a real scenario to see how it all works.

While it’s aimed at those who have direct reports, the information in the book is still applicable to copywriters in any situation:

• Developing positive relationships? Check.
• Turning negative situations into positive with honest and direct communication? Check.
• Developing leadership qualities like humility, fairness, and empathy? Check, check, check!

Developing strong partnerships with designers from the first conversation is crucial. You want to have a partnership that ensures you can work together towards a common goal versus letting small annoyances start to fester.

These skills can also improve your relationships with clients. Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students know, clients want to work with a partner. Rather than sit back and wait for clients to just hand you work, how can you help them reach their goals? What solutions do you see that would make their lives (and by extension yours) easier?

This is a must read if you have your sights set on a copy manager or lead copywriter role within an organization, or if you plan to take your business to the next level by starting an agency or outsourcing work (such as hiring a virtual assistant).

Bonus: Listen to Michael’s Podcast

If you’re a podcast fan (and we hope you are; take a listen to the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast), then you may love Michael Sherlock’s Shock Your Potential podcast. Each month has a theme and includes episodes that will help you grow both personally and professionally. Take a listen wherever you listen to your podcasts!

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Break Through Self-Imposed Roadblocks to Realize Your Full Potential
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

Your Turn

What are your tips for collaborating more effectively and building strong relationships with your colleagues and clients? Tell us in the comments below!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Book Pick: How Copywriters Can Collaborate More Effectively appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Money: whether we’re thinking about how much more we want to make in our copywriting business or, alternatively, how scared we are to not make money as a copywriter (or both!), our hang-ups about money are often what cause us to hold ourselves back or even prevent us from fully committing to and pursuing our copywriting careers.

Negative Thoughts About Money

If you’re the type of person who has been saying things to yourself like:

“I could never quit my job.”

Or: “Not now. Maybe in a few months.”

Or how about: “I just don’t have the money for that!”

Then this month’s book recommendation is definitely one you want to put to the top of your reading list. (Really, Reese’s next book club pick can wait )

Our Book Pick

The Illusion of Money: Why Chasing Money Is Stopping You from Receiving It by Kyle Cease offers tools so you can break past these self-imposed roadblocks you’re creating and realize your full potential in using the skills and knowledge you have at your disposal.

We all have work to do on our money mindset, but where Cease begins is…well…at the beginning, addressing our ingrained beliefs about money and how we can break past these excuses we create in the name of safety.

Rather than letting ourselves argue for our limitations, Cease shares ways to argue for your goals.

With several exercises throughout, the book will prompt you to really pause and work on your money mindset, rather than just read about it (you know we’re all about taking action!).

To be clear, we are 100% not advocating everyone quit their jobs and pursue their dreams tomorrow. (Some of you may love your jobs and want to pursue copywriting as a side hustle!)

But we are advocating you push past any limiting beliefs you may be carrying (and perhaps not even realize). Money is one of the major ways we limit ourselves, and working through these limiting beliefs may help you realize others you need to work on, too.

Books for Copywriters to Improve Skills

• Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter
• Find Your Why
• Amp Up Your Persistence
• How To Collaborate More Effectively
• Job-Seeker Advice
• Shift Negative Mindset
• Stay Focused Year-Round

More Books for Copywriters

• Books Copywriters Will Enjoy
• Books Every Copywriter Must Read
• More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
• Books by Copywriters
• Business Books for Copywriters

Your Turn

What do you need to work on when it comes to your money mindset? Share in the comments below!

*P.S. This page contains affiliate links.

The post Book Pick: Why Your Obsession With Money is Getting in the Way of Your Copywriting Success appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Note: We are not legal experts or tax preparation professionals, so always consult an accountant, tax prep professional, or attorney if you have concerns. This information is aimed at copywriters in the United States. Copywriters in other locations may find this information useful for determining what questions they need to ask and answer based on their country, region, or city.

When it comes to business bank accounts, the first step is knowing what you need to do based on your business structure. 

If you’re an LLC or corporation, you need a business bank account in your business’s name. Since most copywriters operate as sole proprietors, we’re going to focus on that.

As a sole proprietor using your legal name, you do not legally need a separate business account. You do need to keep your personal and business expenses separate.

But, that doesn’t mean you need to open an account in your business’s name. You can simply open another account in your name and direct all client payments to that account, as well as use a debit card tied to that account for all business purchases.

You should still put a monthly reminder on your calendar to go through your personal bank accounts to make sure there are no business-related purchases. If there are, note them so come tax time you will be able to add them as deductions as appropriate.

The key when it comes to banking is to have all your personal banking in one place, and all your business banking in another place. 

If you’re operating under a DBA, you’ll want a business account that allows you to cash checks clients make out to your business name. Your bank may allow you to add a DBA to a personal account versus a business account.

To open a business bank account (rather than a personal bank account you use for business), you’ll need your EIN and you may also need additional documents depending on your business structure and your bank’s requirements. Ask your bank what information and documentation you’ll need.

Regardless of which route you choose to go, business or personal, look for no-fee options. Depending on the bank, there may be perks with business accounts that we don’t need as copywriters, like a line of credit.

If you like the bank you use for personal banking, that’s the best place to start. 

At the very least, you need a separate account to set money aside for tax payments. The last thing you want is to face paying taxes on all the income you made in a year all at once, and not having the money set aside to cover it.

If you’re accepting payments via PayPal, you’ll want one account for your personal transactions and one for your professional transactions.

For more tips, listen to the Build Your Business Copywriting podcast, episode 11. We talked with a bookkeeping pro, who shared her top tips for keeping your finances straight when running your own freelance copywriting business.

Your Turn! Have you opened a business bank account? Why or why not?

The post Opening a Business Bank Account as a Copywriter appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Normally, I’m wary of using a clickbait-y style headline like “This One Tactic Will Double Your Income.” But in this case, it’s true: Making this change will easily double your income, if not increase it even more.

And I warned you that it’s subtle, so I’m going to need you to stick with me for just a bit to explain exactly how implementing it will make such a monumental difference.

So, what is this subtle shift?

It’s treating your business like a business.

Stop Treating Copywriting like “Bonus” Work or a Hobby

Here’s the thing: Most of us come to copywriting from another full-time job or other full-time responsibility. Maybe the goal is to transition to copywriting full-time or maybe the goal is to keep it as a part-time opportunity. Either way, most people treat “side hustles” like this like bonus work. Really, like something a step or two above a hobby.

And that is seriously getting in the way of your success.

What happens when you don’t treat your business as a business?

• You let yourself off the hook when you don’t feel like studying or practicing. 
• You settle for “good enough” in your practice work.
• You let your self-doubt or insecurity get in the way of taking the steps you know you need to take, like doing the practice work, reaching out to designers, or pitching clients.
• You don’t dedicate consistent time to taking action and making progress.
• You don’t have clear goals for where you want to be and you don’t have a plan for how to get there.

Now, let me ask you a question. Do you think the CEO of any company would put up with ANY of that for even a moment? 

Sara Blakely, Daymond John, Oprah, or insert-your-favorite-business-leader here would NEVER let any of that slide.

And you can’t either.

Becoming the CEO of Your Copywriting Career

When you’re running a business (and—surprise!—you are) you have to treat it just as seriously as any other CEO would treat their businesses. 

You, as a person, might feel some temporary self-doubt. But, as the CEO, you wouldn’t dream of letting that get in the way of taking the necessary action.

As an average person, it’s easy to think, “Ooo, I’m nervous about sending out these pitch emails.” But a CEO would recognize that that action is essential to the survival and growth of the business, so they would just DO IT. 

They might, personally, feel a little nervous, but they don’t let feelings get in the way of what must be done.

Are you getting the distinction here? When you’re running a business, there’s no equivocating and no indulging in fear or negativity. There’s just figuring out what needs to be done and doing it.

Now, I’m not saying that it’s easy to be the CEO of a business. Getting to that mindset takes a lot of personal growth and a lot of willingness to face your fears and perceived limitations and move past them.

But, until you embrace that your business is, in fact, a business and, as such, you are the CEO of your business, you’ll never see the success you want to see. 

(And, by the way, this goes for those of you who want full-time, on-staff jobs as copywriters, too. You are the CEOs of your own careers and you have to act accordingly!)

When you come up against something that makes you uncomfortable or that you don’t feel like doing, ask yourself “What would a CEO do?” And then (here’s the challenge) do THAT.

Average people give in to their fears, insecurities, and laziness, and let all that keep them from doing what they want to do. You have to be stronger than that internal desire we ALL have to be average and stay in our comfort zones.

You have to step up and be the CEO.

Pro Tip: Asking your copywriting clients this one question will double your income. What is it? Read all about it here >>

Watch More

On episode 141 of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Nicki and Kate dig further into what it means to treat your business like a business. Watch for more tips on how you can make this mindset shift that will help you increase income. And, if you’re just starting, they will help you get your business off the ground.

Your Turn

Are you willing to commit to treating your business as a business and being the CEO of that business? Let me know in the comments below! 

The post Use an Entrepreneur Mindset to Double Your Copywriting Income appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

If you spend any time online among entrepreneurs and business owners, you’ll already be familiar with a very popular topic: the “money mindset.”

If you don’t, here’s what it refers to in nutshell: Your money mindset is how you think about your finances and about money in general.

People with a positive money mindset believe that they can make as much money as they want and that abundance is perfectly possible for them at any time.

People with a negative money mindset believe that money is hard to come by, that they’ll always have to work hard for money, that they’re not truly deserving of making money, or any of a host of other beliefs that put a cap on their earning potential.

If this all sounds a bit “woo woo” to you, it is…and it isn’t. If you’re a devotee of the Law of Attraction and the “think it, believe it, achieve it” philosophy, then this makes a lot of sense to you.

But even if you’re not, even if you’re deeply skeptical of anything that feels at all metaphysical or New Age-y, your money mindset is still something you need to investigate.

You may say, “Heck, sure I’ll give this copywriting thing a try! I’d love to make a great income as a writer!” but if your ingrained beliefs are things like, “Writers can’t make any money,” “I’m not cut out to make much money” or “You have to be a jerk or really salesy and conniving to make a lot of money,” you’re going to sabotage yourself at every opportunity.

I see this every time I run an ad on Facebook. Invariably, someone will comment something like, “It’s impossible to make good money as a copywriter!” or “Yeah right: Writer work their butts off for no money.”

But here’s the interesting thing: These beliefs absolutely dictate these peoples’ experiences. Copywriters who make six figures and more aren’t commenting, because they know it’s possible; they do it every day. What’s to comment on?

It’s only the underemployed ones, the ones who are working hard on the wrong things and in the wrong ways, who have developed this limiting belief. And by operating from the place of “it can’t be done, it’s impossible,” guess what? They’ll never do it! That’s not metaphysics or some kind of New Age-y stuff; that’s just a fact.

Limiting beliefs keep you closed off from possibility and keep you trapped in a small life. And the bad news is that pretty much all of us have limiting beliefs in one way or another.

You owe it to yourself to really think carefully about what you believe about money and what you believe you’re capable of.

There are plenty of great resources and books out there about changing limiting mindsets and limiting beliefs so I won’t go into exactly how to change them. (I’m also no expert! I have to work on my own limiting beliefs just as much as the next person.)

But I will tell you that the first step is the most important one: Just identifying what limiting beliefs you have. Once you start identifying them, you’ve taken the most significant step toward changing them.

Watch More

As a business owner, you have many opportunities to make investments in your business, which have the power to pay for themselves many times over. In this episode, Nicki and Kate explore the importance of adopting a business owner mindset rather than an employee mindset, so you can spend *strategically* in your business to drive growth.

Your turn! What limiting beliefs do you have? Are you willing to share? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Should a Money Mindset Matter to Copywriters? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.