In this episode I talk with Lizzie Mulherin, an experienced copywriter, brand strategist, and founder of Create Your Living on Substack. Lizzie has worked with top brands like Red Bull, Afterpay, and David Jones, and she’s here to share how she leverages Substack to build an audience, earn recurring income, and offer unique content. If you’ve ever thought about using Substack to amplify your writing business, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What Substack is and why it’s valuable:

• • Gain a clear understanding of how Substack works and why it can be an excellent platform for writers

  • Learn the differences between Substack and traditional blogging or newsletter platforms, and how to utilise its unique features

• Monetising on Substack:

• • Discover strategies for building a subscription-based income on Substack, including how to structure payment tiers

  • Learn about setting up content behind a paywall, and balancing free and paid content to attract and retain subscribers

• Attracting readers and growing your audience:

• • Explore actionable tips for building a loyal subscriber base, from leveraging social media to using Substack’s internal promotion tools like “Notes”

  • Learn how to use cross-promotions with other creators on Substack to expand your reach

• Creating engaging, consistent content:

• • Understand how to choose compelling topics, structure posts, and find your unique voice to create content that resonates

  • Gain insights into creating a content schedule that fits your workload and keeps readers engaged

• Personal branding and storytelling:

• • Learn how to build a personal brand that attracts your ideal audience, using storytelling and a consistent tone of voice

  • Discover Lizzie’s approach to sharing personal anecdotes to connect deeply with readers and build community

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you like to scale your writing business and maybe turn it into an agency? Would you like to have other writers working for you so you don’t have to do the actual writing? Or maybe you’d like to get work through a writer’s agency?

That’s what I’ll be talking about today with Sara Howard, the founder of Writers Australia, a content writing agency with some of the biggest brands on its copywriting books.

In this episode, Sara Howard shares her journey from solo freelancer to agency founder, offering practical insights and strategies for freelancers who are ready to scale up.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to start a copywriting agency
• How to find new business
• How to shift your mindset for growth
• How to know when to expand beyond solo work
• How to make your first hires
• How to choose the right personality fit for your team and business
• How to maintain work-life balance as you scale
• How to grow exponentially and scale/streamline your writing process
• How to plan your exit or succession strategy

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I chat with Leanne Shelton, founder of HumanEdge AI Training, about how copywriters can harness the power of AI to write copy quickly and accurately, without losing the human touch.

What you’ll learn:

• How to overcome fear of AI: Discover practical tips to help you embrace AI as a tool that complements, rather than replaces, your creative abilities.
• How to train AI tools for your needs: Learn how to customise AI tools to fit your unique brand voice and specific client needs, and how to turn AI into your digital assistant rather than your copywriting competitor.
• How to use AI effectively in content creation: Get a step-by-step roadmap for setting up the right AI tools for your writing projects, including how to brief the AI tools using the right prompts, and how to refine the output to match your voice and creative standards.
• How to avoid common AI pitfalls: Discover why and how AI "hallucinates," and other common mistakes that can trip you up, and learn how to use prompts that ensure the AI tools delivers you content that is authoritative and credible from the stated sources.
• How to stay ahead of AI trends: Gain insights into how to keep up with rapid changes in AI technology without feeling overwhelmed, and get a curated list of the best tools for copywriters.
• How to integrate AI into small business content strategies: Discover how to use AI to generate content for your clients - from generating ideas to crafting headlines and more, including how to write an entire campaign deck in a few minutes - all while maintaining a personal, human touch.

How to position yourlf as a Human-Centric AI expert: Learn why balancing AI with human creativity is crucial in today’s marketing landscape and how to position yourself as a leader in AI-enhanced copywriting.

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This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Do you struggle to price your copywriting services?
• Do you constantly undercharge and feel undervalued?
• Do you see others less talented than you getting paid more>

If any of that resonates with you and you feel just a little bit annoyed that you’re not getting paid what you’re worth, this is the episode is for you!

Today, we dive into a topic that many creatives struggle with: pricing their services. In our chat today Andrew Griffiths shares his insights on how to charge what you're worth and build a successful, profitable copywriting business. Andrew is a business coach and the author of a book called ‘Someone has to be the most expensive – why not make it you’, one of the best books I’ve read for how to change your mindset and management practices around pricing.

With decades of experience on how to build a high paying clientele, his practical advice will give you a blueprint for how you can always get paid top dollar for the work you do.

In this episode, Andrew discusses:

• His journey from poverty mentality to running a successful business
• The importance of mindset and self-worth in pricing your services
• Strategies for building credibility and showcasing your value
• How to handle pricing conversations with potential clients
• Practical tips for increasing your rates and attracting better clients
• Why consistency in your business is critical to success
• How to differentiate yourself in a competitive market
• The importance of doing what others aren't willing to do

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Would you like to earn a six figure income from copywriting?

Would you like to leverage your existing career to help you find new copywriting clients?

Would you like to write about something you love and get paid well to do so?

If any of that resonates, this episode is for you.

In this episode I talk to Sophia Auld, a health and medical copywriter who turned her 25 years of healthcare experience into a successful copywriting career. Sophia shares her unique journey and provides valuable insights on how to pivot your career and harness your background to succeed in the copywriting industry.

You’ll learn how to:

• Transition from one career to another
• Leverage your existing skills to find lucrative copywriting clients
• Price your services
• Choose a niche that inspires you and pays you well
• Cold call clients using an easy-to-follow email pitch template
• Create a point of difference from other copywriters in your niche
• Discover your ‘why’ that will help you overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome
• Market your business on a budget
• Use simple business development techniques to find a consistent stream of new clients
• Avoid rookie errors when starting out

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever wondered what niching is, or how to niche your copywriting business, this is the episode for you. Whether you're considering specialising in a specific industry or want to understand the benefits and drawbacks of niching, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice to help you make an informed decision.

In this episode I talk about:

• Copy vs Content
• • Understanding the critical differences between copywriting (selling and persuasion) and content writing (informing and entertaining)
• What is niching and the kinds of niches available
• • Social Media: Posts, videos, ad copy
  • Email: Newsletters, sequences, sales campaigns
  • Content Marketing: Blogs, case studies, white papers
  • SEO: Web pages, blogs, title tags
  • Ecommerce: Product descriptions, category pages, sales emails
  • Brand Storytelling: Brand narratives, tone of voice, case studies
  • Sales Copywriting: Sales pages, landing pages, direct mail copy
  • Video: YouTube scripts, webinars, course content
  • AI Writing: Emails, product descriptions, technical documents
• Examples of copywriters who have niched
• • Learn about those who have successfully niched in various industries, how they did it and why
• Why less glamorous but lucrative industries can be a good source of niche work
• The pros of niches:
• • Easier business development
  • Reduced time learning new topics
  • Enhanced expertise and reputation
  • Potential for higher fees
• The cons of niches:
• • Limited variety
  • Risk of boredom
  • Dependence on one customer or industry
  • Time required to establish recognition
• How to get started in your niche
• • Using the 'hedgehog' concept to identify your niche
  • Leveraging platforms like Eventbrite to discover niche opportunities

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adrian Elton is an award-winning creative who has worked for some of the world’s biggest brands including Disney, Sesame Street, Australia Post, Fairfax and many others. Adrian’s career journey is as eclectic as it is inspiring. He started by studying interior design, transitioned to graphic design, evolved into an art director, became a musician, and finally found his calling as a copywriter. His work spans multiple sectors, and he’s known for his creative strategy and compelling copywriting. Tune in to discover how Adrian’s diverse background shapes his approach to copywriting and learn valuable tips for creating award winning copy.

In this episode, you will learn how to:

1. How to Identify and Develop Your Creative Talents:

• Discover the steps Adrian took to transition from interior design to graphic design, and eventually to copywriting.
• Learn how diverse creative skills can be integrated and leveraged across different mediums.

2. How to Break Into the Copywriting Industry:

• Gain insights into Adrian’s unconventional journey into copywriting and how he turned opportunities into long-term success.
• Understand the importance of taking on different roles and projects to build a robust portfolio.

3. How to Create Impactful Brand Messages:

• Explore Adrian’s approach to balancing design and copywriting to create powerful and cohesive brand narratives.
• Learn the significance of headlines and brand positioning in advertising.

4. How to Leverage Short-Form Content:

• Understand why Adrian prefers short, impactful copy and how to excel in creating concise and compelling messages.
• Get tips on writing effective headlines and brand positioning lines.

5. How to Apply Creative Philosophies:

• Discover the influence of Bauhaus architect Adolf Loos on Adrian’s work and the principle of "God is in the details."
• Learn how meticulousness in creative decisions can elevate the quality of your work.

6. How to Excel in Outdoor Advertising:

• Learn why billboards and outdoor advertising are considered the primary unit of advertising
• Get tips on how to craft messages that capture attention.

7. How to Use Songwriting to Enhance Copywriting:

• Understand how songwriting helps develop a keen sense for language and rhythm in copywriting.
• Learn the parallels between crafting lyrics and writing compelling ad copy.

8. How to Maintain Creative Momentum:

• Learn the importance of continually practising and developing new ideas, even outside of client briefs.
• Discover how personal projects can keep your creative skills sharp and lead to unexpected opportunities.

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m the author, ghostwriter and coauthor of 7 books about entrepreneurship. I’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in business. Ruslan Kogan from Kogan. Gabby Leibovich from Catch of the Day. Jane Lu from Show Po. Naomi Simson from Red Balloon. Simon Griffiths from Who Gives a Crap. And many more.

I’m often asked, ‘What have you learnt by interviewing over 100 of Australia’s top entrepreneurs? Do they have anything in common? And if so, what? Did they all get lucky or did they do something others didn’t?

I’ve learnt a lot from these people about entrepreneurship so I thought I’d dedicate an episode to sharing with you what I have learned from them all.

We’ll cover how to:

• build a culture
• use language to shape the mindset of a company
• make your own luck – there is a 3-step formulas
• use your weaknesses to create a super power strength
• compete with the big firms even when you’re on a tiny budget
• level the management hierarchy so you are seen as being ‘one of the team’
• start a meeting and break the ice
• write a cultural statement that sets your company up for success – with examples from Swisse Vitamins that saw them win “Best Employer” over multiple years
• give feedback
• create a content machine that delivers outstanding results

Read the show notes

This podcast is brought to you by the Australian Writers' Centre. WritersCentre.com.au

Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.