Brand Your Voice Podcast

As a content creator and a copywriter, you deserve a sustainable business. One that doesn't ever require a Plan B. And by focusing on the elements of STABLE, you can create that for yourself.  In today's episode, we'll recap the different elements of STABLE and talk about how we're walking our talk.

If you're on the verge of burning out, your business is not sustainable. You could be making all the money in the world, but a truly STABLE business fills your energy wells as well as your bank account. For many writers, this is a tough one, because writing requires energetic output. Today we're digging into how you can acknowledge the energy costs of your business while also creating more creative space.

Why'd you start your writing business? We hope that one of the reasons was to provide for yourself while doing something you love. So is your business set up to be lucrative? For many writers, the answer is ‘no.' In this episode, Jessi discusses how to turn this around, while remaining in integrity with our values.

Setting boundaries with clients can feel risky, because you don't want to scare them off (or their money)! But setting boundaries can serve you AND your client more than any other action you can take as a writing business owner. In this episode, you'll learn how.

Does your writing business—and the clients you serve—leave you feeling appreciated? This is a huge key to running a writing business that feels sustainable and exciting. When you feel appreciated, you'll enjoy your work even more, and be able to do your best for your clients. In this episode, Jessi and Marie talk about building a writing business where you feel appreciated.

Do you serve any client who will pay? Are you worried that niching down in your writing business will prevent you from making as much? In this episode, we're here to talk up the benefits of getting focused on a specific audience target.

Does your writing business have an offer strategically designed to keep you in your zone of genius AND fill your clients' needs? This episode is Part 1 in a new 7-part series on Creating a STABLE Writing Business. Today, Marie talks about building a strategic writing business, with particular focus on your offers.

Meet a professional writer who specializes in conversion copy. We're thrilled to welcome Aaron Wrixon back to the show for a copywriting deep dive. Tune in to learn what conversion copy is, how to write copy ethically, and how it has changed over time.

Is it possible to run a 6-figure copywriting business without exhausting yourself or charging a heart attack-inducing amount per project? YES! Today, our special guest Aaron Wrixon tells us how.

Do you want to run a solo writing business? Or have you considered expanding into a team?  During this episode, Jessi + Marie talk all about the lessons learned from their journey of having and growing a team of writers—and how you can do the same!

Marketing, sales, and networking are all parts of running a writing business. How can introverts survive? Being an introverted business owner can come with some challenges, but it also imbues you with a lot of strengths. We wanted to bring on our favorite expert in introverted business ownership, Casey Lightbody, to talk about those strengths.

The content you write for an audience should be flexible, but template-able. It should be able to speak to different subsets or nuances of an audience, but not spread yourself too thin. So… how do you do it? Tune in to today's episode and learn more about writing for sub-audiences!

A strong business is built on stability. North Star has experienced both Feast and Famine, and we've learned over time  ‘yes' isn't always the best answer. Instead, we structure our business around having “enough,” rather than “too much.” This allows us to create more predictability in our workload, making it easier to manage the varying demands of our clients. It also creates stability, preventing the never-ending Feast or Famine cycle. So... how do you do it? In this episode Jessi will tell you how!

In this week's episode, we have guest Laura Sprinkle, an affiliate partnerships strategist who specializes in working with digital course and membership creators. Over the past 4 years, her relationship-based approach to partner programs has helped everyone from budding entrepreneurs to seven-figure industry leaders garner more than $25 million in partner revenues. Tune in to this episode to learn more about how writers can create affiliate content for their clients and use it in their own business.

Welcome to the Copywriter Collaborative! When we first started this podcast, we were speaking to CEOs. But fairly quickly we realized that who we really wanted to talk to were our peers: copywriters and content creators! Now our name, intro, outro, and branding matches who this podcast is truly for… you! We're here to share our stories, our expertise, our mistakes, and our insights to help you achieve personal and professional success in the copywriting industry. So if you're a copywriter, content creator, or content strategist, stay tuned.

As a copywriter and a business owner, your greatest resource is the relationships you build. Your community is a referral network, a place to celebrate your wins, to commiserate in your challenges, to ask questions, grow, learn, try new things, and above all, to feel at home. Some writers just want a safe space to ask questions to fellow writers, and that's ok. But for many of us, we want a community where we can be our true selves…no matter how nerdy, overly logical, and slightly awkward we might be. Learn more about finding a community to suit your needs in today's epsiode!

The longer you put off looking at your expenses, the bigger of a monster they become. It took us a long time to figure out a system to manage our expenses, but when we finally did, it was immensely helpful. Money shouldn't be scary. You just need to pull the monster out from under the bed and figure out what it truly costs to run your business. Then, you can create a system that will help you get comfortable and confident managing your money. In this episode, we'll go over the cost of being a writer and how to manage it.

When done intentionally, charging based on packages you've created can result in higher efficiency, professionalism, and financial predictability. It's a win-win for you and your client! So, how do you go about designing packages that are aligned with your business goals and will support you in establishing healthy boundaries with your clients? Tune in to this episode to learn how!

There's no one right method for pricing your services. You can charge per word, per hour, per project, or per package. But the minute you fall into the trap of “competitive pricing,” your financial well-being—not to mention your energy and overall quality of life—is totally kaput.  So, how do you charge for your services, if not competitively? In this epsiode we'll go over the four main elements you need to reflect in your pricing strategy.

As a writer, you deserve to be paid. And the good news is, most clients are more than happy to do so. Not only do you deserve to be paid, you deserve to be paid on time. But the reality is, it's your responsibility as the writing business owner to advocate for yourself. In this episode, we share a few ways to make it as easy as possible for your client to give you money.

There are several ways to become invaluable to your clients as a writer, content strategist, and collaborator—but have you also considered a role as cheerleader?  Providing support, encouragement, and celebration can go a long way towards strengthening your writer-client relationship, which can lead to all sorts of great things, like long term partnerships, referrals, collaborative opportunities, and yes, even friendship. In this episode, we share a few tips for building genuine, relationship-based business partnerships with your clients.

In the early days of North Star, we allowed ourselves to be treated as employees, or worse, guns-for-hire. We'd never worked for ourselves {or with clients} before. We swapped bosses for clients. But working with clients is very different. In this epsiode, we'll discuss the potential issues that might arise when treating your client as your boss, and some tips on how to have a better relationship with your clients.

One of the most common problems business owners face when hiring a writer is finding someone who can do both—write strategic content and make it sound like their voice. But that's easier said than done! The easiest way to familiarize yourself with your client's voice is to deeply understand their cadence, stories, and vocabulary. In this episode, we'll give you some tips for becoming a content chameleon, using word banks!

In the early days of North Star, we avoided conversion copy because frankly, it intimated us. Conversion content is created specifically with the intent of making a sale. Even if you never write conversion copy for your client, as a writing business owner… you've got to write it for yourself at some point! So in this episode, we share some tips and tricks for writing conversion copy.

On this podcast, we highly encourage writers to shift their mindset from being a “hired gun” to being an invaluable strategist. Yes, that requires you to actually advise on your client's content strategy! To advise on strategy, it's important to first understand the different types and purposes of content. On today's episode, Jessi and Marie will discuss the two main types of content: nurture and sales.

Finding the time, energy, and inspiration to write creatively can be tough. Life inevitably throws various stressors in your path—client changes, unexpected travel, illness, family responsibilities, etc. It's important to ask yourself: when was the last time you stepped away from your regular writing routine? If it feels long overdue, it might be an opportune time to reset and rejuvenate. In this week's episode, Jessi and Marie came together {in the same room, in real life!} for a writing retreat, and shared some of the lessons they learned during the experience.

When a client flags specific language, words, or phrases, it can feel embarrassing {especially when you're in the business of brand voice!}. Choosing the wrong word can create a sort of spiral effect—now, everything feels off, and it ends up taking the editing process into a largely unproductive direction. Now, you're parsing out particulars, when really what you need to focus on is the overall message.This can be remedied by adding “avoider words and phrases.” In this episode, Marie and Maggie explain how to identify and manage these "avoiders."

As writers, not every day is created equal—some days you feel clear headed, capable, and motivated, and other days you struggle to get anything done. So, how do you minimize the days that lack creativity and spark, and experience more days where writing flows? Writing can be challenging {especially when it's your job to show up and write every day!} but there are ways to prepare your mind, your body, and your environment to support your success. In this episode, Marie and Maggie share a few tips to help set yourself up for writing success.

Although creative burnout cannot necessarily be conquered, it's important to acknowledge that it's normal. If you're in the midst of it, remember that your self-worth is not a product of your creative output. You're still a writer, even if you're struggling to write right now. In this episode, Marie and Madeline share a few tips to help you navigate creative burnout.

Setting your own hours and schedule is both a blessing and a curse. You can capitalize on those late night bursts of creativity, but you can't just sit around and wait for the muse. It's important to strike a balance between working well under pressure, and giving yourself enough structure and space to avoid last minute stress. In this episode, Marie and Madeline share a few tips to help overcome writer's block on a deadline.

When North Star started, we initially resisted requests to create persuasive copy for our clients, because we didn't know how to write it without feeling a bit...skeezy.  Part of the reason we felt hesitant was because we didn't have a structure, and we certainly didn't want to sound like used car salespeople. And then Marie discovered Amy Hoy and Alex Hillman's formula called PDF: Pain Dream Fix. In this episode, Jessi and Marie will discuss applying those three components to persuasive copy. 

Traditional marketing aims to poke the pain. It intends to make the target audience acutely aware of what they don't have. Although effective, at North Star we believe it's an awful approach to marketing, because it encourages people to buy from a place of lack, fear, or upset.  You can acknowledge your audience's struggles without belittling, demeaning, or painting a picture of “gloom and doom” if they don't move forward with the product or service you're offering. In this episode, Jessi and Marie talk about how empathy makes all the difference.

Big or small, surprise shifts can send entire content plans flying out the window. When that happens, it can feel like all the work you've done is for nothing. As frustrating as sudden strategy shifts can be, there are ways to manage {and prepare} for change.  Jessi + Marie are back to share stories, tips, and strategies around what to do when your content strategy shifts.

Saying “I'm a writer” can mean SO many different things. For some, it implies being an author, for others it's writing a vast array of content for clients. Regardless, writing is a real, respected, skilled, and valuable profession.   So, how can you succinctly explain the work you do in a way that communicates its importance and uniqueness, without confusing people?  In this week's episode, you'll learn some tips from co-hosts and North Star Writer Mentors, Maggie and Madeline.

Most copywriters choose this line of work because they love writing, but most of us probably didn't discover this love through writing copy. If you're anything like us, you likely grew up reading and writing fiction and continued to develop your writing skills, eventually making it into a profession.  Getting paid to do what you love sounds like the ultimate dream, but how do you achieve work-life balance when the practice you're most passionate about is ALSO your job? In this episode we'll tell you how!

Most writers are accustomed to operating behind-the-scenes, so interviewing clients can be intimidating—let alone for 90 minutes! But that's exactly what the Brand Voice Intensive (BVI) is, and it's the foundation of North Star's Brand Voice Process.  In this episode, North Star Writer Mentors and guest co-hosts Madeline and Maggie give listeners a peek behind the curtain of the BVI from the writer's perspective.

Imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling undeserving or unqualified, despite your education, experience, or abilities. For writers, imposter syndrome can come up in many ways.  Guest co-hosts Maggie and Madeline share their own stories of encountering imposter syndrome throughout their writing careers, and how they combat feelings of self-doubt.

Working on weekends? Pushing deadlines? Sunday scaries {writers edition}?  If you're a content creator or writer, you can probably relate.  We all recognize the concept of time management and its importance, but why is it so hard to actually implement the practices? On this week's episode, guest co-hosts and North Star Writers + Mentors Madeline Crone and Maggie Grimson break down the topic of time management—specifically, how to apply time management principles to your life and career as a writer.

Well, we're thrilled Madeline decided to take his advice to heart, because she has since authored an array of stories, essays, poems, parodies, and successful marketing content. North Star is her first professional writing gig {she joined the team in October 2020} but she's had several unique opportunities along the way, including at a salon + spa and a music school. Learn more about Madeline in this episode!

Today, we're introducing you to one of the Brand Your Voice podcast's upcoming guest co-hosts, Maggie Grimason. Maggie was the first writer to join the North Star team, and she now serves as a mentor for the other writers, answering questions and helping everyone stay on top of the latest best practices.

Cue the confetti and obnoxiously loud sound effects: We did it! We officially made it through a year of podcast episodes! This is definitely worth celebrating, considering we kicked around the idea of creating a podcast for years before we actually did it {thanks Brigid, you were right!} That was one of our biggest lessons learned: You don't have to have it all figured out, you just have to start. This imperfect action is what led us to find and serve the audience we most LOVE talking to...you! Our beloved writer community.

Voice can be one of the more complex {and overwhelming} aspects of writing fiction. Not only does every character have their own unique voice, but the story itself has a specific voice—think narration, genre, the language of the universe, or even the time period. Not to mention, as an author you likely have a natural voice you lean towards when writing. It's a lot to keep straight in your brain! So in this episode, we're going to dive into using brand voice for fiction writing.

A lot of writers refer to a client's past content to help capture their voice and guide the copy they set out to write. But if you're only looking at past content, you're actually missing a crucial part of brand voice: the actual VOICE of the client. In this episode, we talk about how you can learn your client's voice, and bridge the content gap.

We've been in the copywriting business for a while, and in that time we've noticed a trend: Business owners WANT to outsource their content creation... but at the same time, they don't always TRUST the people they're outsourcing it to. So as a copywriter, one of your jobs is learn how to build that trust between yourself and your client.

Here it is—the final episode in our core brand stories mini-series. Today, we're talking about the Influence Story. The Innovation Story is about nailing down those special benefits, exploring how your product or service creates long-lasting change for clients and customers.

As writers, we've found that this one can be polarizing for our clients. Some are naturally great at talking up their expertise, while getting others to speak to their accomplishments can be like pulling teeth!  Today, we're diving into the fourth of our five core brand stories: the Expertise Story.

A brand's Innovation Story demonstrates why they're truly unique, telling the story of their innovation on the marketplace. This could be a product or service, a way they do business, or something else! This week we're continuing our mini-series on core brand stories. Today, let's dive into the Innovation Story.

Sometimes people are afraid to talk about their personal passions when it comes to their business. They think others won't care... But that's just not true! In fact, when an audience connects to a business's purpose, it can have a huge impact on brand loyalty. Hence...the Why Story: the driving purpose behind your brand.

It's time for our next podcast mini-series! For the next few episodes, we're going to dive into storytelling, and five core stories we believe every business should know how to tap into. In this episode, we're starting at the beginning: The Origin Story.

We're just going to say it—you're not a magical writing unicorn. Now, that doesn't mean you're not a talented writer. What we mean is writing isn't all intuitive, even if you feel like it is! Whether you realize it or not, when you're writing you're going through a specific process. And if you can break down that process into a repeatable system, you can save a ton of creative energy and ultimately grow your writing business.

We're copywriting experts, but not SEO experts, so we've invited Meg of Love at First Search to join us as we break down the power of SEO for business owners and content creators. We've seen the magic of her work firsthand, and she's got a ton of great insights to share about SEO.