by Erica | Nov 12, 2013 | Business Design, Inspiration, Mind
It’s Mind Candy Monday – except it’s Tuesday!
Better late than never, right? Enjoy sweets!
Everybody’s talking about charging premium prices. Growing bigger. Larger. Faster. Stronger. (Oh, wait. That last part’s a Daft Punk song. But you get the idea.)
Honestly – if you’re a newbie to business like most of my clients are – all this talk about leveling-up and charging what you’re worth and all that can feel terrifying. It puts a lot of pressure on somebody who is only trying to learn the ropes.
That’s why I was super stoked to hear Daily Whipstress + the second business coach I ever encountered Erika Lyremark say on a call recently, “Enjoy the slow grow.”
Ah, the slow grow.
Slow is not a word we hear everyday in business, now is it?
But yet taking time to slowwww down & revel in the moment is essential.
Think about it:
This is just the beginning, sweetcheeks. And it’s the beginning of something beautiful. Just like the first few weeks of a new romantic relationship are both exhilarating and slightly OMG-I-may-pee-my-pants terrifying, so are the first few months (or even years) of business-building. It’s something new. It’s something different.
And – don’t you dare forget – it’s something not a lot of people are so lucky to experience.
So this is your permission to take it easy, sugar.
If you can’t run with the big dogs, you CAN enjoy life on the porch.
You do NOT have to go crazy & “upgrade” your products/websites/prices every few months.
You do NOT have to make six figures this year (especially if you can’t even steadily make five).
You do NOT have to quit your job if you need it to feel safe & cared for (not to mention sane).
You do NOT have to charge premium prices if the thought makes your skin crawl.
Instead, I invite you to just breathe into & enjoy this exciting time in your business. You have a lot to learn – but also oodles of space to grow.
So savor it, and remember IT IS NOT ABOUT THE END RESULT.
It’s all about the journey, baby.
(Also: PORCH SWINGS. Who doesn’t love porch swings? Those big dogs out in the yard give up the comfort of PORCH SWINGS. So whose really winning, amiright?)
by Erica | Nov 7, 2013 | Business Design, Copylicious, Inspiration, Mind
Lately, a lot of people have been asking me how I do it.
And by it, they don’t mean..like, IT. (Cause that would be rude. And weird. And probably result in me filing a restraining order.) They mean how I run my business.
And honestly? It kinda sorta trips me out. People are asking little old me for advice on running a business? At first I think, “What the hell do I know?” and then I take a moment. And I realize…Wow. I may not know everything, but I know a helluva lot more today than I did a year ago, or even 3 months ago.
What’s even crazier is that not only do I know business a lot better than I did a year ago, I know myself a lot more today than I did a year ago.
Honestly when I first started copywriting, I was doing two things:
1. Trying to be like everybody else
2. Trying NOT to be like me
Okay, it’s not like I was actively trying NOT to be myself. But I definitely wasn’t looking inward for answers (like I suggested you do through meditation right over hurr).
At the beginning, I think I truly believed that somebody else had some super-sweet secret that would immediately make my business blow up like a sorority girl after the holidays.
I think a lot of us feel that way at first, when encountering new things with fresh eyes for the very first time. (Anybody else totally have a Madonna moment? Ahem. Anyway…)
It seems like everybody has it together & you’re just kinda making it up as you go along & praying the whole operation doesn’t fall apart.
Newsflash: We’re all making it up as we go along.
(But that’s another post for another day.)
So first, I realize that nobody really knows much more than I do. AND THEN I realize that by being me & bringing what I do know to the table, I’m actually doing oodles more good than I ever could hiding behind my MacBook never making a peep.
SO. I took my own advice, and tuned inward to try to ferret out what makes so me uniquely Erica Lee.
And a funny thing happened: I realized that a lot of the things that make me different and awesome at what I do are things I used to dislike about myself.
Ouch, right?
Well let me further explain. Below are a few things I used to loathe about myself, and how they actually make me da bomb at what I do now.
1. Being “overly sensitive” (& crying a lot) seemed dorky & got me picked on a ton.
Now it helps me connect with healers, coaches & therapists & truly understand where their market is coming from because I feel for other people and I’m not without my own problems.
2. Being so in tune with others’ emotions whenever I was in a room with them made me feel like a weirdo, and a people-pleaser (always trying to make the other person feel at ease, although that’s not my job).
Now it helps me read a potential clients’ energy so I can easily decide 1. If we’re a right fit and 2. How committed they are to moving their business forward. (Because you gotta be committed ya’ll. Again, another post for another day.)
3. Feeling – like really, truly, deeply – for other human beings & my freakish ability to slip into their (metaphorical) stilettos (and/or TOMS, if that’s more their thing) made me feel emotionally heavy allllll the time.
Now it’s such an asset to be able to truly connect with business owners and feel the passion for what they do. SUCH. An. Asset.
4. Desperately wishing to be “like other people,” stalking the Instagrams and Tumblrs of gorgeous girls who seemingly had it all (natural beachy blonde waves and a wardrobe Rachel Zoe would envy? Life is so unfair!) & studying them like crazy used to make me feel insecure & different.
Now, I realize my fascination with pretty things and pretty people is based mostly on my desire to know what makes us all tick. And now this deep psychological desire to truly know what determines human behavior helps me do stuff like figure out makes Suzy Q’s coaching business (and sassy lil’ Suzy Q herself) radically different than Suzy A’s coaching business. I’m able to easily see the differences in people & what makes them so darn amaze. And I think I help boost my clients confidence as a result (and rightfully so!) I’ve had many-a-client tell me that after I wrote their bio pages, they totally wanted to befriend themselves. (And not just befriend, but BF-Friend.) Talk about a compliment!
All of this has opened my eyes so much.
In fact, I’ve embraced the idea so wholeheartedly that I’ve decided loving (+ capitalizing on) that thing that makes you a weirdo is a part of my core message.
(And I gotta say, it’s been sooooo much fun helping others discover that “thing” with my Mini Message Sessions which I’ll be offering again soon!)
Now, since you’ve made it this far, I’m gonna go ahead & assume the idea intrigues you. SO. I want you to take a moment today to sit, center yourself + take a few deep breaths. (No, really. Don’t just think about it. Do it, lady!) And then, repeat the following:
I am okay just the way I am.
I can become successful just by being me.
Nothing about me needs to change for me to have a thriving business. NOTHING.
Don’t you feel better already? I thought so!
Your Turn! //
I’d love to know what it is about you that makes you so damn weird – and how you can use that in your business. I challenge you to brainstorm at least one way to totally rock your individuality in your biz. Share it with us in the comments!
I’m Erica Lee Strauss, pixie-sized copywriter, word weaver & marketing maven. I help women entrepreneurs craft conversational copy that sells. I want to live in a world where women rule, people aren’t afraid to say “I love you” and sequins can be worn year-round, without question.
When I’m not working out, downward dogging on my yoga mat and tinkering away on my MacBook, you can find me laughing with friends in the sunshine, sipping chai tea or ferociously writing in my journal. Or shopping.
Keep up with me on twitter @ericaleexo or come hang out over on the Facebook page.
by Erica | Oct 28, 2013 | Inspiration, Mind, MoneyMoneyMoney
I grew up in a home where it was not okay to buy brand name things. True story.
(Paradoxically, we were also “not allowed” to shop at Walmart. This may or may not have totally messed me up. But I digress.)
Obvi, this sent a pretty mixed message to a growing girl. It was almost, dare I say, detrimental to me – especially in junior high – when all my friends were wearing Victoria’s Secret G-strings, Abercrombie tees, washing their bouncy, voluminous hair with Pantene Pro V and spritzing themselves with their mom’s “Chanel No. 5”). In my house, spending more than $29.99 on jeans was a near sin.
Except on days it wasn’t.
Every so often, my mom would decide she just had to have something. So, we’d go on a shopping spree. And while we never ended up at the mall like I always prayed, I was still usually over-the-moon grateful. Who cared where I was? I was shopping, baby.
Although the trips were fun, the fun was short-lived. As soon as we stepped outside the store with our treats + trinkets, my mom would flip the script. The stipulations would come. “You know you can’t show this to your dad,” she’d say on the ride home, as I was proudly fingering my latest spaghetti strap tank in the backseat. (My mom always drove me around like a chauffeur. I still don’t quite understand why.)
This wasn’t surprising.
I knew the drill. We’d be able to fondle and fawn over our new purchases in the car, but as soon as we pulled in the driveway, they all had to be packed away.
Then, as a ritual, Mom would check to see if Dad was inside, and if he was, the bags would have to sit in her minivan until he went to sleep and we’d sneak them in stealthily.
Yep. Dad was the worst about spending money.
In his mind, money should only leave our pockets if we were buying something absolutely pertinent to survival. Anything else was deemed unnecessary. Frivolous. And downright selfish.
But you know me. I’m a bit of a rule breaker. And I have never felt the same way as my parents in that department.
Except…actually, I realized last week – I do.
Last week I went on a mini-online shopping bender.
I spent a nice wad of change ON MYSELF. AND on things that I didn’t absolutely need or I’d go hungry/lose my home/not be able to get around. I got a few “trendy” pieces of clothing and a few “basics” I’ve been eyeing for a long time. It all sounds super sensible on paper, and to most people, it probably wouldn’t be a big deal.
But for me? It set off all my crazy internal programming in a major way. Seriously, an immense amount of guilt, shame & overall “icky” feeling kicked in almost as soon as I clicked the “check out” button.
It hit me like a punch in the stomach.
I just felt really fucking guilty for spending money on myself.
Logically, it was ridic. Here I am – after working myself to the bone for the last three months – finally buying myself something nice with money I made with my own two hands (literally…typing is quite a laborious activity for los manos!). (Oh, and did I mention it’s also my birthday next week? Yeah. That, too.)
The thing about irrational beliefs like this is that we know they’re irrational. In my mind I was thinking, “Seriously, any balanced, “spiritual,” normal human being would NOT be freaking out like this” – which honestly only made me feel worse. But for real, why should treating myself to a little somethin’ somethin’ make me feel terrible instead of amazing?
Well old habits die hard, ladies.
I kept thinking over & over: Am I really feeling guilty for buying a hot pair of nude flats I’ll probably wear 100 times in the next year? Am I really beating myself up over purchasing a graphic sweatshirt that says “stay weird” – one of my fave phrases of all time? …Really? Am I?
Oh, but I was.
Even worse, in that moment it hit me: I realized that this “spending money is bad” mindset totally spills over into my business.
Like, I often “talk myself out of” buying the good shit. The fab website. The premium session with the photographer who I know would knock it out of the park. The biz coach w/ the high price tag but phenomenal, life-changing results. (Although there must be a disclaimer on that one. I know that there are times a couple extra zeros tacked on the end of a price not equal a better quality experience. But I also know that sometimes it DOES.)
However, like what happens after most mini-meltdowns, I actually came to a moment of clarity.
Something kinda sorta miraculous happened.
I took a step back. I asked myself why I was truly feeling bad.
And then I realized two undeniable truths:
1) this was an old bullshit mindset + my ego trying to sabotage me feeling and looking fucking awesome (read: changing!)
2) everything I bought I bought because it made me feel fucking awesome + that was absolutely something to feel good about
While comforting, my guilt did not immediately dissipate after these realizations. But it did bring those insights to light.
So, like any balanced, spiritual person would do (wink face!), here I am, (attempting) to make a vow to myself to stop this shopping guilt nonsense.
From this day forward, I vow to give myself permission to purchase & wear things – heck, even eat things – that are high quality JUST BECAUSE I can.
I hereby promise myself to never again let my old thought patterns convince me I should feel bad for choosing Prada over Payless – in business or in life – if it’s what I truly want.
I truly believe that as long as I’m not spending out of my means or being manically reckless with my moolah, I have a RIGHT to want (and have) the best. Creme de la creme. Top shelf shizz, y’know.
But, a word of warning to any of you ladies reading this like, “Yes! I knew I should put that coaching package on a line of credit! Thanks, Erica!” This is NOT a permission slip to put things like y’know, paying bills or having enough cash to buy toilet paper at the bottom of your To Buy list. Those things – the essentials for survival – NEED to take precedence over anything else. They just have to.
I’ve done the whole “Oh I’ll just buy this fancy dinner and then..I don’t know…eat Ramen noodles for a week if I have to.” No. Just no.
If a true lack of money is what’s preventing you from investing in yourself or your business – keep it that way. Get to a place where you actually have extra bucks in your checking account to spend.
BUT when you DO have a cash cushion?
Don’t be afraid to splurge every once in awhile. Don’t be afraid to let yourself buy the designer jeans because you know damn well you’ll wear them much longer than the Target cheapies.
So, how do you know when to choose Prada over Payless?
Here are some hard-n-fast rules:
1. You have the money. (Duh, right!) But I mean like, it’s not on credit or stretching you far beyond your means.
2. It will help you make MORE money. (Although use some serious discretion on this one. While I’ve never regretted taking a business or copywriting course, I have absolutely regretted doing it at the time that I did. Don’t do it when the money is tight, yo.)
3. It’s something that you know you’ll use, over & over & over again. I am all about quality shoes, coats & jeans. Because I wear them all. the. freaking. time.. and they still look awesomesauce. Quality is worth paying more for.
Your Turn! // Do you have any guilt around spending money on yourself? How do you gauge when you should splurge and when you should pass? Tell us in the comments! xo
I’m Erica Lee Strauss, pixie-sized copywriter, word weaver & marketing maven. I help women entrepreneurs craft conversational copy that sells. I want to live in a world where women rule, people aren’t afraid to say “I love you” and sequins can be worn year-round, without question.
When I’m not working out, downward dogging on my yoga mat and tinkering away on my MacBook, you can find me laughing with friends in the sunshine, sipping chai tea or ferociously writing in my journal. Or shopping.
Keep up with her on twitter @ericaleexo or come hang out over on the Facebook page.
by Erica | Oct 21, 2013 | Business Design, Inspiration, Mind
Source: PinterestI’m not much an advocate of one-size-fits-all stuff. Blame it on the fact that I’m 4’10” and anything made to “fit all” seriously DOESN’T fit me, but it’s just so not my style.
However, there are exceptions to every rule.
There’s only ONE thing that I believe is truly non-negotiable in an entrepreneur’s life. One “one-size-fits-all” piece of advice that I truly believe works every single time.
Ready for it?
MEDITATION.
Oh yeah, baby.
BUT. I know, I know. So predictable, right? Well, yes and no.
I know meditation is no secret in the circles you run in. It’s widely talked about + accepted as “the thing” to do. It’s cool. It’s hip. It’s almost – dare I say – trendy. (The horror!)
But it’s my reasons for choosing meditation as the non-negotiable part of my business that make what I’m about to say less “woo-woo” and more, um, “wow, this crazy biotch might be onto something!”
4 reasons I think entrepreneurs should make meditation their #1 biz priority…
1. because you already know the flippin’ answers (even though most of us still desperately grasp for solutions on the “outside”) – Imagine how much cash you could save on courses and e-books if you just flipped the switch on your Macbook Pro, and tuned into your own intuition every once in awhile? Innate trust is essential in this profession.
2. because you’ll be able to access your true voice SO much easier – I know “finding our own voice” (which, BTW, gag me – that phrase is so overplayed!) can seem futile when you’re immersed in a sea of content everyday. Make it easier on yourself by taking a time out everyday to shut the other voices out, and focus inward on your own. Ommm’kay?
3. because it’s easy to get frazzled living the lifestyle we live – When I meditate on the reg (which for me usually means two 10 minute blocks a day), everything else seems to magically come together. I don’t get so pissed off that the line at the pharmacy winds around the block. I have more life in me to do things like prep a fantastic, homecooked meal of organic chicken and asparagus sprinkled with a dash of salt and pepper, or tackle rush hour traffic to hit the elliptical and jam out to my latest Spotify playlist. Ideas come to fruition near-effortlessly. And I always have MUCH better hair. (I don’t quite know why, but it’s true!)
4. and NOT because I said so – ’cause the main message here is to FOLLOW YOUR GUT and NOT blindly take advice from others – even super smart ones *ahem*
I talk with so many women who I can tell aren’t looking within for the answers before they start seeking outside advice. And when that happens, and you forget to check in with the person who has to actually deal with the decisions you make (aka you!), disaster ensues.
You’ll take course after course and just become more confused as a result.
You’ll start soaking up everybody else’s ideas – and forget that the best thing you have to offer is your unique perspective.
You’ll do things because so-and-so said so and not because it makes sense for you.
Yep. You already know all the answers.
And the best part? Meditation will help you discover them.
Your only responsibility from there is to take action + get ta makin’ your dreams come true!
Your Turn // Do you have a non-negotiable in your life? What do you have to do in order to function at your absolutely most fab?
BONUS!
If you’re a total newb, here’s a great little tutorial about mindfulness meditation, which is by far my favorite kind.
xo Erica Lee
P.S. If all that stuff up there about being confused made you nod your head in (downtrodden) agreement, I’ve got a fun little offer for three more people. It’s called a “Mini Message Makeover” and it’s all about working 1:1 with me to hash out the “biggies” – your biz message, your sexy cocktail pitch – and we’ll even uncover exactly what makes you so damn awesomesauce. Other surprises included. All for $100. Check it out here!
I’m Erica Lee Strauss, pixie-sized copywriter, word weaver & marketing maven. I help women entrepreneurs craft conversational copy that sells. I want to live in a world where women rule, people aren’t afraid to say “I love you” and sequins can be worn year-round, without question.
When I’m not working out, downward dogging on my yoga mat and tinkering away on my MacBook, you can find me laughing with friends in the sunshine, sipping chai tea or ferociously writing in my journal. Or shopping.
Keep up with her on twitter @ericaleexo or come hang out over on the Facebook page.
by Erica | Oct 14, 2013 | Business Design, MoneyMoneyMoney, Organization
Smoking in planes hasn’t been allowed since..I don’t know? Long before I can remember. But this bitch don’t care about breaking rules. And neither should you. (EXCEPT when it comes to smoking on planes. Sometimes people don’t do things cause doing them is just plain stupid. That said, I do not assume any liability if you choose to light up mid-flight.)
[Welcome to my brand new thing, Mind Candy Monday! Every week I’ll be spilling my unadulterated, uncensored thoughts on some aspect of business and life. It may get raw. It may get ugly. But no matter what, I promise it’ll always be damn interesting.]
On Deck This Week: Three Totally Unorthodox Pieces of Biz Advice from Yours Truly
Ready to roll? Leggo!
1. Give it all away, baby. FOR FREE.
This is not dating and you are not trying to woo the man of your dreams with your business (well, unless you are…but then we may have more pressing problems on our plate). You can give it away. In fact, you should give it away.
Giving people a taste of what your paid offerings will be like is a great way to show ’em what you can do. And do it in a way that’s low maintenance for everybody.
(Caveat: You can’t operate a business from the scarcity mindset that you’ll “never come up with more good stuff” if you give it away for free. Seriously. Stop it, lady! You know you’re smarter than that. Your brain is basically like a vat of idea stew. You will NEVER run out of ideas. EVER. Print that shit out and repeat it. Your new mantra!)
BUT. If you’re not comfortable dishing your “secrets” in e-books or blog posts or what have you, or afraid to “waste time” on the phone with potential clients who may turn out to be duds – then try this.
Offer your lowest products at a PAY WHAT YOU CAN rate. Because sometimes getting $5 feels better on both ends. (Seriously, there’s psychological research to back this up, yo.)
And now I’m going to totally contradict myself with this next little ditty…
2. Keep your prices low.
Most of my clients & prospects (that’s you!) are first-time business owners within their first year or so. Some of you haven’t even done the thing that you plan to be selling, like, ever.
I want you to know that that’s okay. And that just because so-and-so says you should charge premium prices (’cause you’re worth, it mm’kay?) doesn’t mean you have to do that IF IT DOESN’T FEEL RIGHT TO YOU.
Don’t get it twisted (I’ve always wanted to say that!): You have a right to make money from what you do.
You have a DIVINE RIGHT to be able to rock Jimmy Choos and sport a Marc Jacobs crossbody AND fly to Europe twice a month if you so please. (Yes. DIVINE right.)
But. While I totally believe your prices should exhilarate and maybe frighten you a teeny bit – they shouldn’t terrify you to the point where you can’t even get on the phone with a client dare they ask you to utter the number out loud. (Another pro tip? Unless it’s a product or course with a set price, ALWAYS tell them you’ll send a proposal AFTER the call with the numbers in it.)
Premium prices can come about organically, as you grow your influence & become more confident doin’ your thang.
So seriously. DON’T feel like you have to charge your monthly rent for one client. If you’re new or a little unsure of yourself, SET YOUR PRICES AT A PLACE that feels good TO YOU, and matches YOUR PERCEPTION OF YOUR SKILL LEVEL.
And if you work with a few clients & realize you’re totally undervaluing yourself? You can raise your prices, right there on the spot.
Ahh. The beauty of entrepreneurship.
So. I repeat: DO NOT FEEL PRESSURED TO CHARGE PREMIUM PRICES JUST ‘CAUSE “EVERYBODY’S DOING IT.”
Do it when it feels right for you. (Cue tune, “Listen to your heart”.)
In that same vein, a piece of follow-up advice: BETA test the shit out of your stuff – before you charge premium prices. Make sure there’s a market for your thing first. Invite a few select peeps to try it at a reduced rate. Troubleshoot with the lucky few throughout the process and then you can re-launch with (most) of the kinks worked out & attach that beautiful higher price tag.
3. Forget about your list. Or your blog.
…Or that one thing you truly, truly hate but everybody else swears is the “secret sauce” to a successful biz. (Also, I like secret sauces. Unless they’re coming from the elementary school cafeteria, or a bearded drunk old man at the bar.)
My business pal, all-around brainy babe & money making expert Ellen Ercolini suggested this to me awhile back when I was stressing over what to publish on this here blog (obvs, I’m kind of gotten over this. As she told me I would when I gained more clarity.) She actually just wrote about this recently over on her little blog right this way.
Turns out the permission to let that go was exactly what I needed to actually get all amped up about blogging again. Whodathunk?
If there’s something in your business that really does not jive well with your personality (i.e. you HATE having client calls and you’re somebody who works mostly with the written word, like me) – this is your official permission to just drop it. Fuhgheddaboutit! Seriously. Take it off your plate. Table it. Maybe you can come back to it later. But if it’s really mucking up your groove or just feels shitty everytime you try to do it – don’t.
This can apply to virtually anything in business. Hate sending out newsletters? Don’t do it. Amp up your time on social media instead. Stressing about WTF to blog about? DON’T. BLOG. No, really. Don’t. (Or, alternatively, try blogging in a different medium. Who says you can’t be a writer who primarily vlogs? My fingers hurt after a long day writing for clients anyway!)
Somebody out there will always, always disagree with your choices to “chuck” the annoying thing from your life. There will always be some guru or coach or otherwise super-smarty-pants person who swears that you’ll totally fuck up your biz if you don’t do this, that or the other thing.
Newsflash: They’re lying.
There is NO one-size-fits-all model for business. (And honestly, why is there one-size-fits-all for anything? Who decided it was okay to create one size of something and say, “Yep, that’s it!” Somebody damn lazy, that’s who.)
So don’t stress it if you hate the thing all the cool kids are doing. It’s fun to be cool. And it can be lucrative to be cool.
But it is not necessary to be cool.
Your Turn! // Is there any traditional business advice you don’t (or wish you didn’t) follow? Tell us about it in the comments, cute stuff!
by Erica | Sep 28, 2013 | Inspiration, Mind
I think one of the biggest obstacles I face as an entrepreneur – especially as a writer-entrepreneur – is the fear that everything I could possibly say, all the value I could possibly give, has already been said or done (or, specifically, written) before.
This idea paralyzes me. It stops me from creating for this blog. It stops me from reaching out to new, potential clients. It stops me from doing my best work for the clients I already have, when dirty thoughts like, “Well, this other copywriter would surely know how to say this better than I can and so I must be a really fucking shitty writer!” sneak all up in my brain uninvited.
Frankly? Feeling like it’s all been done before really fucking sucks.
It sucks because I’ve been an online entrepreneur and writer since I was 10 years old. It sucks because I ran my first e-zine at that same age, and knew right then and there I wanted to leverage the Internet somehow to make money (this was in like 1997 or so, mind you). It sucks because when I sat behind my big old grey box wearing my jellies shoes and slap bracelets and created those cutesy little online magazines in 5th grade, my favorite part was writing the ads I posted across different AOL message boards (the Style Channel, anyone?) (BTW, AOL message board ads of 1997 are the online sales pages of today. Truth.)
It sucks because I can’t really imagine myself doing anything other than writing. (And trust me guys, I’ve tried. And it’s all been in vain.) It sucks because – as much as I absolutely adore the Internet & the freedom & wondrous ideas & experiences & friendships & information it’s given me – if I didn’t spend so much time on the Internet, I would probably still feel at least somewhat original. (I actually wrote a blog post on my blog about whether you can really be unique on the net….back in 2010.)
But when you have an entire world wide web of information (and, mostly, writing) at your manicured fingertips? It’s easy to feel like you are really nothing but an imposter. A fake. A total rip-off of someone else.
How many of you have come up with what you thought was the absolute perfect idea for a blog post, or a super-sweet new service…only to do a quick Google search& stumble upon 3-10 others exactly like it?
I know it’s happened to more than one of us.
And it doesn’t feel good. It feels fucking terrible.
We creative types like to think we’re original.
And smaht. (Yes, smaht. Just like my Nana on Martha’s Vineyard would say.)
And different. And wise. And just plain…awesome.
So finding out that in fact, most of what we want to say or produce has indeed already been said or produced before?
It stings. It hurts our little creative hearts.
But there is indeed a silver lining to this sob story. And that’s this:
Nobody’s ever said it (or done it) like you before.
This simple little mindset shift can do miraculous things for your business. And your self esteem.
For real though. How many of us have only ever loved one human? Or one movie? Or one song?
The same applies to people in business. We like different people, things, experiences for different reasons.
And, if it makes you feel better (’cause all that up there sounds way too woo-woo), science agrees. Studies say people have to hear new information multiple times before it truly sticks.
Like, you could be speaking to someone who has heard the same idea a thousand times before. Likely, you will. But if you’re talking about a subject in a fresh way (which you will be, because you’re talking about it your way), you could say something that finally makes them go, “OMG, I finally fucking get it, dear Watson!”
Now, you don’t want to rob that person of what could be a life-changing moment of clarity, do you?
Exactly.
I know it’s not going to be easy.
I know you’re still going to encounter people and experiences and ideas and go, “Damn it, I thought I invented that!” but you have to remember that THAT’S OKAY.
Because you’re you. And you can only do things your way.
And the world – or, at least, that one person who just doesn’t quite get your thing (yet) – NEEDS your way.
And because Edith Wharton would be very proud.
by Erica | Sep 23, 2013 | Business Design, Copylicious, MoneyMoneyMoney
[Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing some of my insider intel with a little series I like to call, “The 4 C’s of Crushworthy Copy.” (Yes, I realize crushworthy is not actually a word. No, I don’t care. Yes, I’ll eventually tell you why.) Today we are covering the first (and arguably most important) C: Clarity. Dig on in, sisters!]
I know you’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again:
If you want to sell something, you need CLARITY.
It’s become a total buzzword in the online community and honestly – it should be. But like, WTF is it really? What does it mean to have clarity around your business, your brand, your offerings, your target market? Fear not, sisterfriends. Check out my handy-dandy guide to copy clarity below.
Clarity is knowing WHAT YOU SELL, WHO YOU SELL IT TO and (here’s the biggie!) WHY THE EFF YOU’RE SELLING IT.
…But how the hell do you figure this stuff out, you ask? Especially if you’re a total noob?
Here’s a quick look at how you can figure all this totes essential business groundwork stuff out:
Your What.
What it means:
♥ Knowing the features and benefits of your product/service (and the difference between the two)
FEATURES: A feature is a tangible. It’s like saying, “When you purchase my Overnight Celebrity copywriting package, you get one sexy sales page…” The sexy sales page is a feature.
BENEFITS: On the other hand, a benefit is what the sexy sales page is really doing for you. When you think about what you’re selling, you gotta take a step back and look at things a little more objectively. You’re not just selling life coaching to women going through a career change. You’re selling confidence. I’m not just selling words on a page. I’m selling you time. I’m selling you peace of mind. I’m selling you the ability to make more money. You see?
A QUICK GUIDE TO FINDING & COMMUNICATING YOUR BENEFITS:
// Ask yourself What kind of experience your clients will have while working with you. What feelings will you give them during your time together?
// Ask yourself what your client’s life will look like AFTER working with you. How will they be changed? Will they be closer to their ideal lifestyle?
// Include the answers to above questions on your sales page. Paint a picture with words about how amazing, fabulous & transformed your clients will be after they work with you. (Because, obvs, they will be.)
Your Who.
(and I don’t mean the band, although they kinda rock, too.)
What it means:
♥ Knowing YOUR IDEAL CLIENT. Here’s a quick way to nail down your target market. You really only need to ask yourself two questions:
Sunday afternoon: Is she sipping chai tea lazily at the kitchen table? Is she out carpeing her diem hiking a mountain somewhere? Is she making PB&J sandwiches (and cutting off the crusts) for two kids, in between fixing herself a delicious (mostly) organic salad?
And what about Monday morning? Is she curling her hair while checking her e-mail on her iPhone, prepping to hop in her silver BMW and drive across town? Is she doing yoga to the sunrise? Is she dead asleep until at least noon?
It’s crazy how much this stuff tells us about people, right?
ACTION STEP: If you’ve never done this exercise before – DO IT. Seriously. In a notebook. NOW. 🙂
and finally…Your Why.
What it means:
♥ Knowing YOURSELF & WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO DO WHAT YOU DO. This should actually probably be first, because without a “why” – you really don’t have a business.
Your why is simply the big reason – the true motivation – behind all that you do in your business. If you’re not 100% on your why, it’s likely nothing in your business feels right.
A QUICK GUIDE TO DISCOVERING YOUR WHY:
// Ask yourself what LIGHTS YOU UP about the work you do.
// Ask yourself what your TRUE MISSION is.
// Make your “remember this shit when I wanna quit list” (I got so much clarity from this!)
// Ask yourself what you want people to say about you at your funeral. (Morbid, but useful.)
// Put it all together & voila!
BUT PLEASE. IF YOU READ ONE THING OFF THIS LIST & ACTUALLY TAKE IT TO HEART, REMEMBER THIS ::
Clarity does NOT come from a drawing board. It comes from experience.
Clarity comes from just going out there & doin’ the damn thing.
Over & over & over.
You can start at the drawing board and you should. But your path to clarity should NOT stop there. And believe it or not, this is good news! It frees you up to just DO things, and not worry about whether they’re perfect.
So if you’re hung up on the one of the above areas? The best advice I can give you is to put down the MacBook, switch off the iPhone & just DO SOMETHING.
Launch the program. Publish the e-book. Shoot off the pitch letter.
Taking consistent action – even when you feel like you have no fucking clue what you’re doing – is the only way you’ll ever reach that beautiful place known as…CLARITY. (Cue angels singing.)
Check back next week to find out about the next “C” of Crushworthy Copy! And in the meantime, why not sign up for my list over there to the right (and grab my NEW, FREE MANIFESTO!) so you never miss a beat? (Or, you know, a blog post.)
by Erica | Sep 12, 2013 | Business Design, Inspiration
Many of you know I’m a total pop culture junkie. I worked as a celebrity gossip reporter for almost two years, and in that time, I learned more about celebrities than most will in a lifetime. (I’m also a master Twitter stalker, if you ever need a hookup.)
Even though I no longer spend my days penning pieces about Khloe Kardashian’s latest wardrobe malfunction (you wouldn’t believe how many times that girl’s accidentally flashed a nipple) or Ian Somerhalder’s attempts to save the planet, I’m still obsessed with all things pop.
That said…I HAVE to talk about Miley Cyrus.
I’d honestly been avoiding the conversation for weeks. But given that it’s been weeks and people are STILL talking about her, I feel Miley deserves a little (more) limelight right on this here blog.
But not because I want to make fun of her.
Because I want to praise her.
Hear me out.
People are still shaken up about Miley Cyrus’ shocking VMA performance (which really, wasn’t much more outrageous than Gaga’s infamous meat dress or Kanye stealing the mic from a sweet little Tay Tay Swift, but who am I to judge?)
And now, one thing’s for sure: People love to hate Miley Cyrus.
But there’s a catch. It’s working for her. BIG TIME.
Miley’s new song “Wrecking Ball” is number one on iTunes, and her earlier-released track “We Can’t Stop” is holding steady at number ten.
And did I mention her VMA performance brought in 300k tweets per minute?
Now that’s attention.
So, what lessons can we glean from the former Disney darling?
1. Timing is everything.
Miley released her video for “Wrecking Ball” the same day she got all kinds of cozy with Robin Thicke on stage. And “Wrecking Ball” isn’t just any video – it’s a vid that features the 20-year-old stark nekkid. Not exactly child’s play!
In addition, Miley’s MTV documentary will debut in early October & it’s said to give her fans an “inside look” at life as Smiley. AND the sassy starlet is (conveniently) cooking up a new album “Bangerz” & just released a track list via Twitter.
Now, imagine if she would have waited two or three months to release the doc or promote her album? People may have forgotten. We’re a culture that moves on quickly, to the next “shocking” or “crazy” fad. Miley’s team clearly knows how important it is to strike while the iron’s hot.
2. Know your target audience – and SCREW the rest.
She knows who her music is for, and she’s not worried about what people who WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT HER ALBUM ANYWAY think about her. Easy peasy.
I mean, Miley surely got oodles of attention after her VMA fiasco – and not all of it was positive. Suburban moms ’round the country couldn’t believe that the former Disney star had traded in her country roots and long brown locks for a spiked short cut and, um, twerking.
Here’s the thing, though: Miley doesn’t give a f*ck – and the people her music is made for ALSO don’t give a f*ck. She was clearly trying to show the world she’s no longer a Disney princess, and do you think she cares if she’s pissing off some 40-year-old woman from Nebraska? Nope. Not at all. Said 40-year-old woman is NOT Miley’s target audience.
And while she may have lost a few younger fans (thanks to their mothers banning Miley from their households), the truth is, the people who LIKED Miley’s performance (and they are out there) are HER people. And even people who were appalled by the VMA performance? You best believe they’ll still check out her new album, just to see if they can find anything else to hate on.
3. Create a revolution.
In Miley’s new MTV doc ad, she asks her fans to join her “movement.” She’s not only creating an ideal audience (by vetting out all the peeps who don’t get her new look and act), she’s also asking them to rally around her as she spreads her message of – well, I’m not exactly sure but I think it’s something about NOT GIVING A F*CK – ’round the world.
This isn’t just about Miley. This is about everybody owning who they are and NOT GIVING A F*CK. She’s made it clear this “movement” is for everyone. And any movement rallied around self acceptance is A-OKAY in my book.
Every brand needs a revolution. Every brand needs a foundation on which to stand. The “new” Miley has created her foundation – and it looks pretty darn solid from here.
4. Don’t apologize for who you are.
When questioned about her performance, Miley told reporters she’s just “really f*cked up”. Not exactly the most flattering thing to say about yourself, but she’s OWNING who she is in a huge way. And therefore, she’s attracting other people who own their innate craziness, too. (And let’s be honest: Who isn’t a little cray cray nowadays?)
In other interviews, Miley has openly admitted that while she “wants people to love her music,” she really DOESN’T CARE what they think of her. She just loves music and believes that because she puts so much good energy into it, she’s not doing a damn thing wrong. Intention is everything!
5. Haters beget lovers.
If you don’t have at least a couple people who can’t stand you, you’re not putting yourself out there enough. Miley is a prime example: Her antics have garnered her haters abound.
The catch? Her song sales have only escalated as a result.
You Turn!
What do you think of Miley Cyrus? Is she a marketing genius or just a crazy 20-something? Spill in the comments!
P.S. I now have a few “Quickie” options – easy ways for you to work with me at a lower price point. I’ve noticed a lot of people just need a little help here or there – a tagline idea, or a second pair of eyes to spot GSP (grammar, spelling, punctuation) errors. Well, ask and you shall receive, ladyloves! Here you can peep my two new “one-off” services, Namestorm and the Money Makin’ Makeover.
by Erica | Sep 10, 2013 | Business Design, Copylicious, MoneyMoneyMoney
1. CLEAR trumps CLEVER. Always & forever, amen.
2. SHOW, don’t TELL.
Painting a picture with words (and specifics) is far more compelling. But only do it if you can do it in a way that’s CLEAR. (See #1)
3. VERBS are where it’s at.
If a sentence is boring your pants off, change the verb. (Example: If a sentence is boring your pants off, DITCH the verb. Case closed.)
4. Idioms.
There’s an entire online dictionary dedicated to them. Use ’em.
5. The people on the other side of your sales pages are ACTUAL PEOPLE.
6. …But that doesn’t make them immune to basic marketing & sales psychology.
(See: Influence – the only book I actually read in grad school)
7. The P.S. is the most read part of any sales letter/page.
8. People want TANGIBLES.
Even if your service involves something people can’t SEE (like a chakra cleanse or a coaching session that teaches how to amp up your libido), you’ve gotta somehow tell your readers EXACTLY what they’re getting – both logistically (a 90-minute coaching session) and as a result (a higher sex drive, more energy in the bedroom, and a bonus pair of peek-a-boo panties [or whatever])
9. Your brand voice and your voice voice DON’T have to be the same.
But they should be similar. I’m pretty much an open book (see: my previous post) but I also have a slightly different style depending on who I’m writing for and in which medium.
10. It’s NOT that serious.
In fact, most people like to laugh. I absolutely agree that your sales page’s main purpose is TO SELL, not ENTERTAIN. But I also know that I am FAR MORE LIKELY to remember a FUNNY person than a SERIOUS one. Chew on that.
by Erica | Sep 7, 2013 | Business Design, Copylicious
Truth: I’m an adult child of an alcoholic.
A grandchild of an alcoholic.
I’m also an ex-girlfriend, ex-fiance & ex-BFF of alcoholics.
Needless to say, I know a lot about codependency. Clearly it runs pretty deep in my blood. I spent a lot of years just thinking I was a bat shit crazy, overly emotional lunatic (and well, part of that may still be true). Honestly, I had no clue that my life & family were dysfunctional. But when I started to learn about codependency, wow. It was like all my issues finally made sense.
I wasn’t crazy. I was codependent.
Since codependents grow up in dysfunction, they (like all good, adaptable humans) develop habits that allow them to survive (read: stay sane) in an otherwise insane environment. It becomes a style of relating to oneself, and to others.
Codependents become caretakers; people who get a buzz from helping others – to the point of detriment to themselves.
Codependents find it hard to have real, true intimate relationships. Truth be told, we’re terrified of intimacy, but we’ll do anything we can to stay in relationships, even if they’re terrible for us. (Case in point: I once stayed the night with a semi-boyfriend after he told me I had a face only a mother could love, and suggested I wear a paper bag over my head next time we did it. I kid you not. In retrospect it both makes me laugh hysterically & want to puke at the same time.)
Codependents get their sense of self worth from the outside. From praise. From being “needed.” From helping. From being the one who is always there, always available. The one who will do anything for you at the drop of a fedora.
That stuff makes us feel important. Treasured. Alive.
Sadly though, outside of others, most codependents have no clue who they are. And we know it, too. We feel it at our core. When you’re deep in the throes of codependency, there’s an air of emptiness in your heart that nobody who hasn’t experienced it can truly fathom.
Codependents literally feel worthless & invisible if we don’t have someone to be codependent on, or the person we are codependent on moves on. I’d equate the feeling to losing a limb, or maybe worse. (I wouldn’t know. At the time of this post, I still currently have all of my appendages.)
By now you’re probably wondering WTF this has to do with business.
Well, my theory is that it’s not only possible to be codependent in our personal lives. Codependency can easily creep into our work as well.
….Especially if the work we do involves helping others (and whose work doesn’t?)
It’s not just crazy codependents like me who can find themselves tied up in codependent business relationships, or behaving in codependent ways.
For example:
+ Do you ever feel like you’re working IN your business ALL THE TIME, neglecting working ON your business? (Translation: You’re spending more time on clients projects – making their dreams come true – than on your own)
+ Are you addicted to praise? Do you feel high-as-a-kite if your blog post is well-received, and down in the dumps if you’re criticized (even if it’s constructive)?
+ Do you get a rush when you’re helping clients, but quickly forget as soon as the moment passes, searching listlessly for someone else who you can help? Like, can you seriously NOT HANDLE BEING WITHOUT CLIENTS for a day, or a week? Does it make you freak out if there’s not a constant stream of prospects flowing through your inbox?
+ And perhaps most importantly: Are you pouring way more love (not to mention time & money) into your mutual projects than your clients are? And is it making you resentful?
While it’s important to always strive to do your best – it is NOT your responsibility to help people who don’t truly want help. (Thank you for that one, Al-Anon.)
We can’t blame other people if WE’RE showing up more than they are. Sometimes other people think they’re ready to make changes, or get clear on things, or move forward…but when push comes to shove, they’re just NOT.
YOU can’t do anything about it.
The only thing you CAN – and SHOULD – do, is TAKE CARE OF YOUR BUSINESS FIRST.
(And I mean that on both a personal and profesh level.)
Now.
I only share because I don’t think you have to be a tried-and-true, life long codependent like me to have some of these issues crop up.
What works in real relationships AND IN BUSINESS is INTERDEPENDENT relationships. Interdependence is, simply, reciprocity. It means there’s a natural flow and balance to the relationship in question. It means everybody holds up their end of the bargain. It means both partners keep their side of the street clean – deal with their own ish, on their own time – so they can come together & create beautiful things together.
Or, in relation to business, healthy interdependence means you’re NOT lavishing on everybody else and neglecting yourself.
I know better than most that if you keep tending to everybody else’s garden & ignore your own, you’ll NEVER feel like you’re “doing it right,” no matter HOW many others you’re helping on the daily.
You need to feed, water & occasionally send your biz to the beauty shop BEFORE you can even think about supporting someone else. Putting your own biz at the bottom of your To-Do list is a recipe for disaster. (And word on the street is, that ish is NOT very palatable.)
You know how airline stewardesses tell you you MUST (in very serious voices) secure your own oxygen mask BEFORE helping others? Yes. It’s like that. You’re NOT gonna function at your best in your biz if you’re gasping for air all the time.
Next time you’re feeling burnt out, realize you haven’t showered in three days or simply feel like something is “BLAH” – I encourage you to take a step back & examine your OWN business.
Be honest.
Have you been tending to it?
If not, no biggie.
“Recovering” from relationship codependency is just a matter of learning to love & accept ourselves, no matter what. It also means investigating our dark spots & illuminating ’em.
….And usually it includes lots of mani-pedis, Swedish massages & totally frivolous trips to Forever 21.
Believe it or not, recovery from business codependency can be fun. (And it’s definitely cathartic.) Because it’s all about returning your attention to yourself.
Here are a few things you can do to “recover” from business codependency:
1. Take a freakin’ break.
Sometimes that’s all we really need. Codependency in business is surely linked to at least a little bit of codependency/self-care issues IRL. So please. Stop. Get up. Back away from the Internet. Go climb a mountain or see a friend or do absolutely nothing but watch trashy reality TV. Do whatever it is that makes you feel good, and replenishes your soul.
2. Update your website & social media to keep your branding cohesive across all channels.
Believe it or not, I’ve learned it’s not the big things that make us feel awesome. It’s the details that make us feel polished & put-together. I know you’ve been planning to link your Twitter & Facebook updates for weeks, so DO IT. Seriously. Now.
3. Post some of your own, unique content to your blog or Facebook page.
Your content is important. Just as important as the stuff you create for clients.
4. Clean up your systems.
Take 15 minutes to do the pesky back-ends things have been piling up all week/month/year. Getting them off your plate will feel amazing, and free up lots of space in your already cramped brain.
I’ll review a page of your copy for FREE. You know, the one you’ve been afraid to look at or really dig into because you know it’s just all over the freakin’ place.
6. Re-evaluate how you spend your time – and who you spend it with.
A huge part of recovering from codependency is learning to squeeze in time for ourselves. Actually, it’s more about making time for ourselves the non-negotiable, and “time for other people” worked in AROUND that. We’re also encouraged to weed out the negative, energy-suckers – both activities AND people. In biz terms, this means taking a SERIOUS look at how you spend your days, and structuring them around YOUR BUSINESS first. Not client work. Not tinkering away on Facebook. NOPE. Work on the stuff that’s gonna bring in the bacon first – your OWN business.
7. Create boundaries.
Boundaries are another MAJOR area most codependents struggle with. You need ’em in your business, too. Decide exactly what you will and won’t tolerate. Decide exactly when you will and won’t respond to client emails. Then, let people know – and stick to them. That last part is key. Boundaries aren’t real unless they’re enforced.
Can you think of any other ways to quit the codependency habit in your business? Share them in the comments!
Here’s to taking care of business (better)!
copywriter for lady rebelles, trendy tastemakers + spiritual sellers.
