Hey you. Tim here.
What an amazing month it has been. Creativity month has brought out some of your best work. I'm thrilled and thankful for the effort you've been putting in.
We have some great things in store for next month. It's time we start putting that creativity to use and learn how to combine your creativity with technology to drive more sales and earn more clients.
More to come. Stay tuned!
1. Brian's Free Report Is Out - The Killer and the Poet
Brian Clark's new report went out the waiting list yesterday, and people are already raving. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to let you grab it since it's all been behind the scenes so far, but better to ask forgiveness than permission, right?
When I read The Killer and the Poet, I was instantly reminded of why I've idolized Brian for all these years. He sees into the future and has developed a perfect game plan that you can use to level up your digital marketing and your life during uncertain times.
Beyond uncertainty, the times are definitely changing ... fast. But this report will keep you up to date with what really works in today's digital marketing landscape.
P.S. It's 30 pages long, but still a quick read. Simply click here to download it, and I encourage you to sit down with it the first chance you get. It's worth the time. And let's not mention this to Brian. ;-)
2. Why the World's Most Confident People Create Alter Egos
Polina Marinova is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers.
This week, she published a thought-provoking piece about creating alter egos. We can create "characters" for ourselves and in doing so, we can remove ourselves from the anxiety of publishing our work.
Your alter ego doesn't get nervous about publishing your creative writing, and knows how to separate helpful advice from useless criticism. Even the world's most talented creators feel the pressure when showcasing their creative work. For example:
" Inspired by Beyoncé, Adele did something similar to help deal with her nerves.
"I was about to meet Beyoncé, and I had a full-blown anxiety attack. Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, 'You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God.' Can you believe she said that?" Later, "I went out on the balcony crying hysterically, and I said, 'What would Sasha Fierce do?' That's when Sasha Carter was born."
If the mighty Adele needs to tap into her alter ago from time to time,this might be a strategy you can use to create and release your best work.
3. 5 Copywriting Tips to Double Your Revenue Today
Neville Medhora and Noah Kagen discuss some simple copywriting examples that we see in everyday life. These 5 techniques could be the missing ingredient for people who are struggling with increasing conversions.
- Use multimedia, not just text
- Show, don't tell (A picture is worth 1000 words)
- AIDA outline (Every good copywriter should be familiar with AIDA)
- Eliminate the unnecessary
- Have fun with it (Write like you talk)
When I see examples of great copy, I'm always reminded on how simple these techniques can be.
One of the best habits you can build in your copy is to always be mindful of the basics. The same copy techniques that worked 50 years ago, still work today.
4. How to Hook Your Ideal Prospect with Content that Connects
When it comes to selling through direct response copywriting, professionals know they need to find the right combination of meaning and fascination to overcome the natural skepticism and resistance to being "sold" to.
They dig deep to find the hidden hook that will elevate the piece of content to a must-read for the right prospect, which in turn will lead to more people investing in the product.
Guess what? In the current online environment, there's now a natural skepticism and resistance to simply consuming your free content. In essence, you have to "sell" people on investing a precious resource — their time — in what you're sharing.
Over the last 6 months, I've been obsessing over the work of Jack Butcher. Jack gives me an appreciation of how using visuals can tell abstract stories in a way that the written word can't always do.
There are countless ways you can use visuals as persuasive elements. This visual can either be an addition to your written work, or the visual can serve the purpose of the sales copy all on it's own.
Jack abides by two principles in the visual content he creates.
- Stay within the parameters of a certain restraint
- Tell a complex story through simple visualizations
I highly encourage you to follow him on his journey. You will learn a lot from him.
Closing Thoughts - "Making Investments in Your Future Self"
I've been thinking a lot this week about investing. All the successful people I know got that way by making investments that would pay off in the future.
One of the downsides about our "content overload" society is that it can be easy to fall into the trap of instant gratification. You can post a selfie and instantly feel gratified by the response. But the reality is that instant gratification has few long term benefits. Long term success requires delayed gratification and it requires making decisions that your future self will thank you for.
That 2,000 word essay you wrote may not get the attention you hoped it would, but that meaningful work is still an investment in your message, your audience, and your skill set. Over time, that work will pay off.
I have been asking myself some questions...
- Am I investing in my education?
- Am I investing in my skills as a content creator and a copywriter?
- Will the choices I make today pay off at a higher return in the future?
Investments come in many forms, but there is no greater investment than the investment in yourself.
This week, I encourage you to look at the choices you make and analyze them. Ask yourself, is this an expense or an investment?
Investments compound over time.
Talk to you next week.
Tim Stoddart
Copyblogger Media
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P.S. We love hearing from our readers. Feel free to hit reply and let me know what you think about the newsletter format, or ask a question.
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