The Digital Commerce and Content Marketing Podcast Network
Darrell Vesterfelt and Tim StoddartCopyblogger FM is a weekly, short-form broadcast hosted by Darrell Vesterfelt and Tim Stoddart. Each week, she and a cast of rotating experts analyze the week in content marketing, copywriting, email marketing, conversion optimization, mindset, and much more.
Where do great business ideas come from?
What about products — how can you know (or at least make a highly educated guess about) whether your idea will actually fly in the market?
In his must-read book Breakthrough Advertising, master copywriter Eugene Schwartz wrote:
“This is the copywriter’s task: not to create mass desire — but to channel and direct it.”
Chris Brogan is everywhere.
From the outside, it seems that in just a few short years, he’s created an independent publishing and speaking empire with nothing more than his personality and a laptop.
The truth of his story is a lot more compelling.
He spent 10 years writing into the void. He flew to conferences around the country broke, eating leftover granola bars. He struggled to pay the mortgage, to pay the electric bill. After eight years of work, he had an audience of just 100 subscribers.
Think having a huge Twitter following is enough to drive your marketing?
Is big media attention (social or otherwise) enough to drive the sales you need and want?
Those certainly help, but the future of a successful marketing campaign lies — in part — in becoming a “Youtility,” finding creative ways to to be unforgettably useful to your interested propects.
John Carlton is a professional copywriter who charges $2,500.00 for his one-on-one consulting calls.
In this 30+ minute interview, he decided to lay out some of his best advice for carving out a career in the writing trade. And he decided to give it up at no charge.
Part 1 of this interview went over well last week. Make sure you don’t miss it.
If you write persuasive copy (and content) as a freelancer, or for your own business, do not miss Part 2 below for some of the most valuable tips and trade philosophies you’ll find online …
John Carlton is a force of nature.
He’s that rare breed who can write fascinating copy, and is just as fascinating to listen to. Every story ends up a great story.
Through the lens of his remarkable journey to and through the copywriting trade, John delivers practical business tips and killer copywriting advice in this first half of a two-part interview I did with him.
Whether you’re a veteran writer, or just starting to learn your craft, the next 30 minutes with this outspoken ad man is a worthwhile spend …
What’s one of the most reliable ways to earn an income online?
If done right, affiliate marketing is a hard model to beat.
Problem is, there’s a lot of bad (and unethical) advice out there on how to approach it. So, I’ve invited Sonia Simone and Jessica Commins to jump on the line today to counter that bad advice, and offer their best strategies for effective, ethical, and profitable Affiliate Marketing.
Where do you begin? How do you attract customers? What are the pros and cons of various Affiliate Marketing business plans? How do you make money by building a loyal audience?
We know that online marketing works when selling digital products.
When’s the last time you thought about selling physical products online?
Of course, the business of physical widgets is booming, even though Internet types tend to shy away from it. Online marketing doesn’t necessarily mean an exclusively online business.
Ben Settle jumped on the line with me this week to talk about his old school physical information product business.
What if most of the business world stopped blogging tomorrow?
Would you stop as well?
No, if that happened, you’d find yourself sitting on the opportunity of a lifetime. Social networking sites would explode with likes and retweets and pins and +1s of your original content all day long.
This is why the annual “blogging is dead” claim is so dumb. Even if it were true, your continued content production would dominate the web in every way.
I asked two pros to come on and spill their best advice on the three biggest email marketing questions we get here at Copyblogger.
DJ Waldow joins me and Sonia Simone to discuss:
What if getting big PR and media exposure for your business or idea were no longer out of your reach or budget?
What if you could “inject” your name or brand into a national or international story of your choosing, becoming part of the story yourself?
David Meerman Scott, a veteran PR and marketing expert, has written a book that teaches you how to accomplish that, and more.
Enter Newsjacking, a powerful way to get seen and heard in today’s big media environment…
It’s human nature to look for the easy way out.
We dream of the “big break” that will carry us away from our current troubles forever.
Then, along comes a guy like Steven Pressfield.
He’s the type that tells you that this single day is what matters. That money and recognition come and go, but your desk and your work remain.
He’s the type that shatters your illusions about the very nature of work, and the reasons why you do what you do.
Applying web design to business goals is a serious business.
A few weeks ago — through the hard work and formidable talent of Rafal Tomal (our Lead Designer) — we launched a redesign of copyblogger.com.
There’s been a good bit of discussion around it, and a lot of good questions.
What’s changed? Why did we change it? And the big one — how is it all working out for the business?
Since Ray Tomlinson sent that first email in 1971, it’s been the backbone of all social technology.
40 years later, and it’s still the most powerful (digital) communication tool on earth.
My reclusive pal Ben Settle jumps on the show today to talk email marketing.
While the seven-step “snowball effect” he lays out can be applied to almost any aspect of profitable content marketing, we bring it all back to the loyal, always-willing, unbeatable and unstoppable … email.
I have a few things in common with Gene Hackman’s character in Enemy of The State.
If you want to build a loyal following and make more sales in the next ten years, so should you.
Get your tin foil hats on and pull the battery out of your cell phone, today we’re talking privacy-as-marketing.
Hey, who’s that behind you?
Also, Sonia exercises monumental self-control and allows me to live for one more week.
Copyblogger Media is a company that was built on two blog posts per week.
In the early days it was just Brian, and those two posts. Week in and week out.
A lot has happened since then, but the basic structure of how this business is marketed remains.
The writer should run yours too.
Robert Greene is the bestselling writer of some of the most legendary nonfiction books of his generation.
The 48 Laws of Power, The 33 Strategies of War, The 50th Law (with rapper 50 Cent), and …
The Art of Seduction.
Though much of his work can be applied directly to good writing, business, and marketing online, it’s the principles of seduction that can seal the deal between you and your audience.
So grab a coffee and come on in, the water’s just fine …
Can regularly publishing relevant, useful, entertaining and valuable information online actually build a business over time?
Or, is this whole content marketing thing just a massive waste of energy?
You can probably guess where we stand on these questions, but in this episode we lay it all out anyway. You, of course, can make your own decisions.
Also, Sonia gets another new executive title based on her expertise in email marketing.
There will never be another Nirvana.
Or Coca Cola. Or Stephen King.
Apart from a very few anomalies, no band, brand, or author will ever achieve the level of cultural penetration that Generation X was the last to witness happen in real time.
Our culture has broken apart into millions of little tribal pieces.
It’s not because kids these days aren’t heading down to the crossroads with their guitars and web dev tools to do a deal with the devil.
It’s something much weirder than that.
Copyblogger partners Darrell Vesterfelt and Tim Stoddart use this episode to talk more specifically about the new content marketing plan for 2020.
In this episode, Darrell and Brian share about a new change to Copyblogger Media, and expose some of their exciting plans for the future of Copyblogger in 2020!
In this episode, Darrell talks to John Jantsch — the founder of Duct Tape Marketing — about his new book titled The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur.
In this episode, Darrell talks with Matt Ragland, the Director of Customer Success for Podia.
In this episode, Brian Clark and Darrell Vesterfelt talk about the past, present, and future of online education.
Productivity coach Charlie Gilkey talks about going from ideas to completed projects — and how to take a more balanced approach to getting it all done.
In this episode Brian Clark and Darrell Vesterfelt dive deep into the topic of email.
In this episode, Brian Clark hosts the Copyblogger FM podcast for the first time, and reveals — among other things — why he’s returning to Copyblogger and aiming to reinvent it along with new partner Darrell Vesterfelt.
Copywriter and webinar strategist Beth Hayden talks about some of the most effective ways companies are using webinars.
Tim Brownson talks about how we can use our values to design our businesses and make wiser decisions.
Challenges and opportunities for content-driven business in 2019 and beyond … and a new look at a content marketing platform.
Ever been told you’re “too nice” to run a business? Yeah, I’m gonna call BS on that.
Part three of our series: How to polish and promote an epic blog post or other piece of remarkable content.
Part two of our series: How to write an epic blog post or other piece of remarkable content.
New series! Part one: How to prepare to write an epic blog post or other piece of remarkable content.
Want to do a little bit of work and see really good results with your content? Make some time to learn about crafting great headlines.
Has the “influencer bubble” really burst? Maybe, but … probably not
Having a hard time coming up with headline ideas? Here are 13 tweaks, prompts, and hacks to keep you moving.
It turns out those successful people you admire aren’t always so perfect.
Are you writing for a paycheck … or to create revenue for your organization?
Looking to create a much greater impact with your content? Start by understanding how it’s framed.
Some advice from Rainmaker Digital Services spun copywriter and teacher Belinda Weaver into a surprising new direction with her content.
Three ways that good writers can find the great clients they deserve.
Speaking to your prospects’ emotional brains isn’t manipulative — it’s just good communication.
“Document your content marketing strategy” can sound about as exciting as “buy new socks.”
The lines between content and copywriting, and why you want to make yourself the “Chief Empathy Officer” for your audience.
While no single tactic is a “magic bullet” for your content marketing, this one comes pretty close.
The key to marketing success isn’t the latest shiny tactic. It’s making sure that your tactics are resting on solid strategy.
A look into why it’s so hard to move forward with creative work
Is it better to do all of your own copywriting and content marketing, or to bring in a pro?
Prospects need to be at the right stage of awareness before they can move forward with a purchase. And content marketing is a superb way to get them there.
There’s a huge volume of content marketing advice out there — but most of it only applies to certain sites. Pamela Wilson joins us to talk about “content lifecyles” of websites, and how to know precisely what to focus on for your site, depending on where you are today.
Stressed out? Anxious? Just out of sorts? Stress can wreck havoc with your creative productivity. Here are some thoughts on how to manage it.
Creating excellent content is expensive — in time, money, or both. Make sure your content marketing strategy is driving real business results.
Think you know what LinkedIn is all about? Today’s
conversation with Amber Naslund may get you seeing the platform in a new way.
Thoughts on how to create really good content … without a huge team or an unlimited budget
We often take it as a given that businesses should always grow — but is that really true?
The foundation you choose for your persuasive copy can make all the difference.
If marketing or content strategy plays any role in your professional life, you need to understand copywriting. Here are five of our most important bits of advice for writing that persuades.
“The big distinction here is to see confidence as an ability that you keep getting better at.” – Dan Sullivan
How to stand out in a sea of boring content? It might be time to get stinky …
When does traditional sales advice actually push prospects further away?
Ever been frustrated by the daunting task of making a (really good) living as a writer? I have some thoughts on what it takes …
Busting social media marketing myths with Social Media Lab’s Scott Ayres.
“You’re so vain … you probably think your About page is about you …”
There’s so much content marketing out there that’s perfectly ok … but it lacks creative spark. Here are some ways you can get more vitality into your blog posts, videos, and podcasts.
Have a new content site, or an existing site that needs more focus? Here’s a “checklist” of 10 things to keep in mind.
How can we find the confidence to publish regularly — when we’re not completely confident in our writing ability yet?
A quick three-step check to make any piece of content more interesting and more effective.
ConvertKit founder Nathan Barry dropped by to talk about their platform, their evolution, and why they’ve taken a leap into a brand-new name and identity.
Most of us won’t make a living making “pure art” that only serves our creative expression. But you won’t make a reasonable living writing cynical garbage, either.
A lot of us feel a tension between effective copywriting and content that fully respects our audiences. “Conversational Copywriter” Nick Usborne joins us to talk about why that’s a false choice.
Does search engine optimization seem depressingly hard to stay on top of? Things do move quickly, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it drive you nuts.
Lots of businesses and marketers are scrambling over the new data protection law, GDPR. But Tara Gentile is here to talk about some of the real-world benefits it can bring — not just to consumers, but to business.
Tim Paige is that rarest of creatures: A really good salesperson who understands the people who aren’t (yet).
Selling is a skill, not an innate talent. But that doesn’t mean it’s always comfortable to learn.
Legislators, citizens, and advertisers are all concerned about the trends in privacy and permission on social platforms — but they’re concerned for different reasons.
A conversation about what matters in marketing and business.
Given everyone’s crowded inboxes and fragmented attention spans — what’s the best way to reach people?
There’s an incredibly useful tool that can actually sabotage your content … if you don’t use it correctly.
What’s the best way to handle overwhelm, especially when it comes with a side of procrastination?
It’s time for the latest round of “Content Marketing doesn’t work any more” stories. Can you tell these make me a little cranky?
Tech and tactics come and go — but storytelling lasts forever. In this episode, Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas of Contently share their favorite techniques for developing a storytelling edge. (Part 2 of a 2-part episode.)
Tech and tactics come and go — but storytelling lasts forever. In this episode, Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas of Contently share their favorite techniques for developing a storytelling edge. (Part 1 of a 2-part episode.)
What do the search engines mean by a “high quality site”?
Here’s a simple way to make the best use of your time when you’re creating new content, improve your SEO, and create a great user experience on your website.
I see and hear the horror stories on Facebook, on LinkedIn, at conferences. Folks who spend months or sometimes years on a big, bold business idea … only to see it die at launch with no sales.
The web needs talented writers. So why is it (sometimes) so hard for the best writers to get paid what they’re worth?
Content sharing is the great “free ride” of 2018. You get more people looking at your stuff, and you don’t have to pay a dime for it. But you do need to set your content up for sharing success.
I don’t believe in predictions. The future isn’t a mystery novel, with carefully selected clues left for us to decipher. But there’s something I do think is useful to watch.
January is the traditional month to work on goals for the new year, but there’s a lot to be said for starting in December.
Why do some of the most talented people see the least success? Sometimes they’re held back by misconceptions about marketing and sales.
It’s hard enough to come up with ideas — but when we do, how do we know they’re any good? How can we evaluate our ideas and make sure we’re choosing the ones that will create the best content?
Do the usual “gratitude practices” ever feel formulaic or simplistic to you? Here are some that I’ve found can go a little deeper.
William Maynard of the Bates agency once wrote that “… most good copywriters fall into two categories. Poets. And killers. Poets see an ad as an end. Killers as a means to an end.”
And David Ogilvy famously added,”If you are both killer and poet, you get rich.”
Happy Halloween week! Today we’re talking with Rebecca Tracey about entrepreneurial fear — how it holds us back and what we can do about it.
Neuroscience tells us that making decisions for our content strategy or our websites is “cognitively expensive.” In simpler terms — it’s exhausting. Here are a few “back of the envelope” factors that can help you zero in on the right choice.
5 painful mistakes I’ve seen writers, marketers, and business owners make … and how you can avoid them
How one freelance copywriter found his groove, and how you can find yours, too.
Think marketing is evil? Only if you’re doing it right …
A collection of great questions from our smart audience!
A comment from one of our blog readers sparked some thoughts…
Seems simple enough, right? Then how come so many people are terrible at it?
Which works better in content marketing — positive messages or negative ones? Well … it depends.
Being able to visualize a specific and vivid “who” is one of the most important things you’ll ever figure out in your marketing or your business.
We all know the cliche of the starving artist — but how about the thriving artist? Jeff Goins has some advice on how to “build a bridge in the direction of your dream.”
Can we change who we are? Are we stuck with the aptitudes and habits we have today, or can we make fundamental changes? And if change is possible … are we up to the challenge?
Are you a “training addict”? Wondering how to handle all of the marketing and business information you’re taking in? Allow me to suggest a plan.
Want to be more persuasive? You need to start with a great idea. Here’s how to develop one.
Is your fear of selling keeping you from where you want to go?
A business community for the new economy
Perception is not reality. Reality is still reality.
Our certification program for content marketers will be opening up again soon.
Has the entire business world lost its mind? Some thoughts on interesting disasters … and on how to do your homework for better results.
There’s so much mindset advice out there to make you more successful … but is it doing you more harm than good?
In memory of Washington Post copyeditor, Bill Walsh, and the finer points of grammar and usage peeves.
This week, I talk with copywriter and content creator Kaleigh Moore about her tips for staying productive and creative.
A conversation with Brian Gardner about the evolution of WordPress and new things happening at StudioPress
What’s a freelancer’s biggest nightmare? Clients from hell! Guest Bryce Bladon shares his experience on how to cope — and how to avoid problems from the outset.
Is it wise to get political with our content marketing?
We love books at Copyblogger! Today, we’re digging into Jonah Sachs’ Winning the Story Wars.
No, content marketing strategy is not “make a whole bunch of spaghetti and see what sticks to the wall.”
New Year, New You? Or Nah?
So much bad advice …
See ya, 2016! We’re starting 2017 early this year.
Ever thought about launching an online course … or some other digital product or service? Here are the four most important elements you need to put into play.
It’s time again for Andy Crestodina’s annual survey of 1000(+) bloggers. Take a listen and see how your site measures against the trends …
Is it too late to start a podcast? Should we all just shut up and listen quietly, rather than launching something that isn’t great?
“Help! No one is reading my content!” We have some thoughts …
Content marketing is a long game … but that doesn’t mean we can’t create some quick wins.
Smart content producers know that we can produce a lot more (and better) content when we collaborate. But collaboration brings its own set of headaches and complexities. Today we talk about a nifty new tool to make it simpler.
There’s a word that comes up a lot when we talk about content marketing: Intimidating.
Here’s a great problem to have: Producing so much high-quality content that your audience gets overwhelmed. But the thing is … it’s still a problem.
Fiction needs what editor Shawn Coyne calls “obligatory scenes” — the elements that satisfy audience expectations and make the book a must-read. Do those elements exist for content? And if so … what are they?
The Copyblogger blog was founded on a simple but powerful idea — that our content (blogs, podcasts, video) can be strengthened by adapting techniques from the world of direct response copywriting.
A common newbie marketing mistake is trying to talk to everyone. There are all kinds of buzzwords around speaking to a specific audience — segmentation, demographics, psychographics, generational marketing. Today Sonia talks about a few pitfalls and best practices.
There’s a lot of great content out there … and then there’s the topic of today’s podcast. Sonia looks at the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Sonia’s back on the podcast this week with suggestions on how to address three challenges that pop up often in our communities.
Did you realize that making it a habit to give testimonials regularly can pay off in some powerful ways?
In an age where we’re faced with too many choices, testimonials help us trust enough to make a decision to buy. Are you using this powerful tool in your business?
Your headline is the epic gateway to your content. Are you doing everything you can to pull your readers across the threshold?
Are the rules of content marketing different for nonprofits? We talk with Help One Now founder Chris Marlow to find out.
In the copywriting world, some of us are poets and some of us are killers. The really great ones are a blend of both.
Whether you love it or hate it — Pokémon Go is the biggest global hit in a long time. Is it worthwhile to try and find a Poké-marketing angle?
Expressing deeply held values in your content can have powerful results. But what happens when the conversation becomes controversial?
In the explosion of online courses and education … what role will universities play? Announcing a new Copyblogger collaboration …
What is it that makes people “almost buy”? Why do some customers online get most of the way through the purchase and then … close the page and walk away?
Can automating certain elements of our marketing actually make our messages more personal and less “robotic”?
It really is possible to make a good living as a freelancer, if you approach it as a business and get strategic.
Linda Formichelli is a longtime advocate for writers — and she has a new book out to help all of us get a lot more great stuff into our lives.
Content marketing doesn’t work without a consistent flow of high-quality content. But how do we get all of that created … on a schedule?
Email works incredibly well as a marketing tool … except when it doesn’t. What’s the best way to get people to sign up for an email list … and continue to read our messages?
Copyblogger and Rainmaker Digital have always benefited from what Brian Clark has called “brute force authority” — plenty of organic traffic. But we’ve started to experiment with something new.
Content marketing news, including trends in live video, Apple’s quarterly numbers, Facebook ads, and … that Trump fellow.
The Queen of Fascination shares a new crop of insights with us …
The theme behind the scenes at the Rainmaker Digital company meeting this year was: A bias for action. Here are some resources for you to get it all done!
The social media platforms are changing constantly. Can we develop an approach that lets us stay current … without driving ourselves to distraction?
The 5 steps to a strong B2B podcast, and more content and business thoughts with Relationary Marketing’s Clark Buckner
Chatting about business, content strategy, and the scientific method with Sol Orwell, co-founder of Examine.com.
A behind-the-scenes look at the brand-new Rainmaker.FM redesign.
If you want to get smarter and more successful, you need to hone this skill: Listen.
Traditional success advice points you to role models. If you want a seven- or eight-figure business, look for one and then copy how they got there. Sometimes that’s a smart move … and sometimes it isn’t.
Email is the conversion powerhouse for most content marketing programs — and it’s so often misunderstood.
Digital commerce is a rising buzzword around the web — and with that, we’re offering an expansive set of new resources for digital business owners. What do we need to know about d-Commerce in 2016?
You read that right, this is the last episode of The Lede. But don’t worry too much about it, this also happens to be the inaugural episode of Copyblogger FM …
I’m told there is this debate between audio content and written content. And it’s an acrimonious debate. So Pamela “Battle Axe” Wilson decided to address the issue head on.
Get the best of the Rainmaker.FM network in a single weekly email, along with two weeks
of free training that will change the way you think about online marketing ...
