ChatGPT is all the rage these days -- but how do you use it as a writer or entrepreneur to create compelling written content that helps you make more money online? In this episode, Melissa Tucker and I sat down to record our screens as we enter in prompts and show you exactly how to use ChatGPT step-by-step to write great blog posts. This is the first installment of a three-part series. - Check out episode 221 for more on how to use ChatGPT to write social media posts - And see episode 222 for how to use ChatGPT to write books Video of How to Use ChatGPT: Link Outs Mentioned: ChatGPT Hemingway Editor Guest Bio: Melissa Tucker is the CEO and Founder of Blue Butterfly Digital. She is aa full-time Facebook ad, sales funnel, and chatbot strategist. She started her company so she could help business owners grow their businesses, while getting to do what she loves to do! Today, she is helping businesses and entrepreneurs maximize their growth with the power of social media and online marketing. Her clientele is full of fun and exciting personalities, including wedding photographers, personal trainers, food bloggers, personal stylists, health coaches, business coaches, manufacturing companies, realtors, local businesses, and online marketing influencers. Learn more at Blue Butterfly Digital Melissa's Links: Blue Butterfly Digital (website) To access full show notes, please click here.

I have a confession to make. Even though I love listening to audiobooks and I’ve been in the podcasting world since 2015, I’ve never actually created an audiobook for myself or for a client! Did you know that: “In 2020, audiobook sales revenue in the United States reached 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, continuing the upward trend which began in 2018”? (according to Statista) So, in today’s episode, I thought it would be fun to take you along for a new journey into the world of audiobook creation. I have a client who has a series of 5 books for kids ages 8 to 12 and she just published them on Amazon as a Kindle boxset but wants to get the audiobook version up as well. I volunteered to jump in and help since I need to know the full process for myself too!   Here’s what we’ve done so far in the Audiobook making process: STEP 1:  We set up a free account at ACX.com  (Audiobook Creation Exchange) STEP 2:  On August 16, 2022, we uploaded a sample of the book and opened it up for voice actor auditions.  STEP 3:  As I prep for this podcast on September 1st, we have received a whooping 33 auditions! [Edit: now we have 37 as of Sept. 5, 2022]. Some are incredible. Others need to improve the sound quality around the set up they have. So, totally for free, we have received a range of what sounds like beginner voice actors to super professional. As a side note, you may be wondering how the voice actors get paid. You have two options: 1: You can pay upfront at a fixed price per finished audio hour (and no royalty sharing) 2: You can pay with a 50-50 royalty split on future sales (and no upfront cost for the work) STEP 4:  Review the auditions and pick someone to make an offer to. This is as far as we’ve gotten so far, and we need help choosing! We’ve starred 10 of our favorites, but that’s still too many to put forth when asking for feedback I think. So, I’m narrowing them down to our top 5 and will play a short sample of each coming up next in this episode!  It’d be so helpful if you’d share your favorite and feedback! Be a voice casting director with us! You can send your votes and feedback by: Emailing me Laura@CopyThatPops.com Pinging me on social media – I’m all over @ LaptopLaura And if you want to grab a copy of the full 5-book set of Kid Star Squad, check it out at CopyThatPops.com/KidStarSquad which will take you to it on Amazon (it’s free with Kindle Unlimited, by the way).   The 6 Auditions Okay, let’s take a listen to our top 6 auditions and then I’ll tell you what’s next on the list of to-do’s for audiobook creation. Audition 1 and 2 will be reading Chapter 1. Audition 3 and 4 will be reading Chapter 2. Audition 5 and 6 will be reading Chapter 3. Listen now to the 6 auditions above or go here for the audio file with only the auditions and the book sample to read along: CopyThatPops.com/auditions — Great voice actors, right? It’s so hard to pick! Part of me wants Emma to pick a female voice, but some of those male voiceover artists were fire. What should we do? Help! Email me Laura@CopyThatPops.com Ping me on social media – I’m all over @ LaptopLaura And I’ll collect and tabulate the feedback to help advise Emma on the final choice. Next up in the Audiobook process? After we pick our favorite voice actor, we’ll make an offer for payment – we are thinking about the upfront payment way. If he or she accepts, we have a deal and legally binding contract! Then, the voice actor, called “producer” in ACX will record and upload a 15-minute checkpoint of the audiobook for us to listen to, give feedback, and approve. Once that’s done, the productor will keep going and record the full project. We can ask for up to two rounds of corrections to the finished audiobook. Then, when we’re happy, we’ll approve it and pay the producer! From there, it’s time to make the book live to the world. ACX distributes it through Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.  More on these next steps in a future podcast episode. For now, we have to settle on a producer! No matter who we choose or if you want to share your vote, I hope this episode was helpful in inspiring and/or motivating you to take action by bringing your books to life in audiobook form! Talk to you next time. Keep finding ways to write copy that pops! :) Laura

What is intrapreneurship? What psychological and practical skills can I develop to help me with any business, whether I’m in it or I own it? What did our guest, Dr. Mack Chapman, learn from working personally with legends like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, and Jim Rohn? What are his best tips for writing and publishing your own book? All this and more is covered in our conversation today with the incredible Mack Chapman who grew up on the South Side of Chicago before working as an investment banker on Wall Street, promoting speakers like Jim Rohn (and others mentioned above), rising in the ranks of academia, and hitting #1 bestseller in eight categories on Amazon with his new book. Mack has done it all, is a lifelong learner, shares openly, and is one of my favorite humans on this planet. You don’t want to miss this convo!   Video of Our Talk: See at shownotes: CopyThatPops.com/218 A Few Conversation Highlights: What did you learn on Wall Street? What did you learn about human psychology working so closely with Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, and Jim Rohn? What is an intrapreneur? Why go the extra mile when you don’t own the company? What skills are needed to be successful? How did you write your book (even though you aren’t a writer and can’t type)? Best tips for becoming a new author? Link Outs Mentioned: ACX.com (for audiobook creation and publishing) KDP.Amazon.com (for Kindle, paperback, and hardcover book publishing) CopyThatPops.com/free (my full training course – 100% free) CopyThatPops.com/mack (Mack’s book on Amazon) mChapman@exsuitesolutions.com (Mack’s email) Guest Bio: Dr. Chapman is best known for his extensive work in personal development through intrapreneurship and its effects on attracting and retaining middle managers in the highly competitive American high-tech industry. His research included some of the world’s most recognized logos, such as Facebook, Microsoft, 3M, and IBM. Leveraging the discipline, tenacity, and resilience he learned as a United States Marine, Dr. Chapman has worked as an investment banker for a prestigious firm on Wall Street and presented to Fortune 500 companies on topics from coaching peak performance to effectively communicating your vision. He continues to further his formal and informal education as a passionate life-long learner. He attributes much of his success to his legendary late mentor, Jim Rohn, and the iconic cast of superstars he promoted two decades ago, including Tony Robbins, the late Zig Ziglar, and Brian Tracy. When not working in academia or conducting workshops on intrapreneurship, Dr. Chapman enjoys spending time with his family and friends and discussing germane topics of the day with a focus on solutions over finger-pointing. “Statues and monuments are erected for individuals who solve problems, not those who create them or pontificate about them.” -- Dr. Mack Chapman About the Book: Link: CopyThatPops.com/Mack NOTE: Mack's book hit #1 in 8 categories on launch What is intrapreneurship, and how do I become a successful intrapreneur? First, here are a few famous examples of innovative ideas that came from within: The personal computer was the derivative of an intrapreneurial idea from an IBM employee Frito-Lay's most successful product--Flamin' Hot Cheetos--was presented by a janitor at the company Amazon's "Prime membership," which generates over $19 billion in revenue each year, was an idea submitted to the employee suggestion box Fostering a culture of entrepreneurship from within is a growing priority for more and more of the world's leading companies. [Read more about the book on Amazon]   Mack's Links: CopyThatPops.com/mack (Mack’s book on Amazon) mChapman@exsuitesolutions.com (Mack’s email)   See more back on the podcast shownotes page! CopyThatPops.com/218

Want to be a fly on the wall as a word nerd crafts concise, compelling copy? Then this episode is for you! : )   Live, no prep, and fully recorded (video in shownotes here below too), I talk with Lauren Fritts about her podcast, personal brand, and business. Under the umbrella of the name “That Mental Shit with Lauren Fritts,” we brainstormed today on two main things:   A tagline. “Can you say what you do in 10 words or fewer?” The “how” she accomplishes her “why.”   Here are the notes showing what we came up with together:   That Mental Shit with Lauren Fritts   TAGLINE:I inspire women to embrace and work through their mental shit to cultivate the life they deserve.   HOW: Embrace your inner 5-year-old Be curious, ask why to keep digging deeper, and don’t accept the status quo Be like Mike! Example: Michael Jordan story. Work hard to overcome ‘no.’ Prove them wrong. Feelings aren’t facts and they’re not forever. There is light at the end of this struggle you are in now. Really examine and question the feelings and thoughts from your mind. Share everything. Openness leads to empathy. Example: Those with the brightest lights have the darkest shadows. Example: 8-mile rap at end of the movie. You are not alone. Your flaws are actually your fire. “Feel your feelings, then let them fuel your fire!” Example: David and Goliath It’s all perception…you can be the victim or the victor…it’s your choice. You have the power. Everything starts in your mind. It’s scary to think that you have the control to change your life, but it’s true. Jim Carrey: Wrote himself a check for $2 million Confidence begins with courage Be 100% yourself Purpose emerges through pain After the episode, Lauren will definitely take more time to revise, edit, condense, and/or expand on these items above, but they are a great jumping off point for her to keep as foundations to her brand and what’s she’s all about.   I hope by listening to our conversation that you not only pick up some tips and tricks for working through your own copywriting creative session, but that you feel inspired into more courageous action. Lauren is living her truth and helping others to dare to do the same.   Prefer to watch the conversation?   Here’s the video from our talk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oixLX7Y4gwY      Want to be on the show doing a copy consultation like this?   Email me at Laura@CopyThatPops.com and you could be on a future episode!   Lauren Links: https://www.thelaurenfritts.com/ https://www.thelaurenfritts.com/that-mental-shit-podcast https://www.instagram.com/thelaurenfritts/ https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenfritts1 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-mental-shit-with-lauren/id1601884745 More Shownotes and Podcast Episodes Here: CopyThatPops.com/217

On August 27th, 2021 at 5pm EST (that’s 1pm my time in Cali), Gary Vaynerchuk went live on YouTube and Instagram (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlcsdCsBR3U) to announce a 24-hour only opportunity to his millions of fans and followers...involving NFTs in exchange for book purchases.   By the following day, his new book Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success was the #1 bestselling book across all of Amazon around the world (while on presale). It sold so many that Barnes & Noble broke for a lot of us trying to buy.   As I record this in mid-September, the book is no longer #1 in all of Amazon, that’s how the rankings work -- they change almost hourly -- but there is a lot we authors can learn from what Gary did to write and promote his book.   But let me backup and define a few things for you…   Who is Gary Vee? Gary Vaynerchuk is a Belarusian-American entrepreneur, author, speaker, and Internet personality. He is a co-founder of the restaurant reservation software company Resy and Empathy Wines. First known as a wine critic who expanded his family's wine business, Vaynerchuk is now more known for his work in digital marketing and social media as the chairman of New York-based communications company VaynerX, and as CEO of VaynerX subsidiary VaynerMedia. NFT: Non-fungible token You may have heard this term floated around a lot lately. It’s all the rage in the cryptosphere. Skeptics call it “buying jpegs. My in-laws call it a ponzi scheme.   But what it really is is a digital collectible tied to a smart contract that cannot be destroyed.   Who created it?Who bought it first (called minting)?Who sold it and when?What price did the 3rd owner pay?   All this and more is recorded on the blockchain, which is a digital ledger of transactions recorded on multiple computers around the world so that no one person or entity can alter the records.   Oh, and non-fungible is just a confusing way of saying unique. If you trade 1 US dollar for another 1 US dollar, you have not changed anything. Dollars are fungible. If you trade 1 cryptopunk for 1 curiocard, you have very much changed things. These are non-fungible...they are unique.   It’s all a big deal. It’s the wave of the future, if you ask me.   If this is your first time hearing about it, I really think you should put in some hours to research and learn more.   It will (and already is) affecting everything we do in life. Don’t be an old fuddy duddy and say it’s all just a silly trend kids these days are into. It’s not.   NFT examples To help, for this convo, to make what an NFT is more clear, let’s look at a few examples.    Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC):  Are pieces of digital art of apes with different facial expressions, backgrounds, and accessories. The cheapest one as I record this is 33.5 ETH, or about $117,000.   There is no utility -- or ability to use the token -- that I am aware of. However, owners of BAYC tokens get ‘airdropped’ (aka rewarded with) additional tokens that also have value because they are in demand by the market. NFT.NYC The leading conference on the topic of NFTs is held each year in New York City, and, as we would expect, the ticket to get in is an NFT. Using NFTs as tickets into an event in real life is an easy example to wrap our heads around potential ‘utility’ of a token.   Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, recently said on a podcast interview that tickets to all games would soon be tokenized.  VeeFriends Gary Vee jumped into the NFT space in May as well. His project is called VeeFriends and it comes with access to his new VeeCon conference in 2022, 2023, and 2024, which gives it real utility. Some tokens also have direct access to him in groups or in one-on-one sessions like courtside Nicks games.   But where the big promise from Gary lies is in the I.P. of the characters. He plans to turn the drawings for the tokens into the next “disney.”Imagine if you owned the original drawing of Mickey Mouse...think that would be worth something today? -------   So, back to our story about Gary selling over 1 million books in 24 hours.    Starting in early 2021, Gary told his followers to buy up ETH when it was about $1400 to $1800. Then, for months before launch, Gary educated his audience on NFTs, the blockchain, what wallets like MetaMask were and how to set them up to be ready to buy NFTs, and more.   Then Gary launched his VeeFriends in May of 2021. For the majority of the 10,255 tokens that he sold, you could buy them for 0.5 to 3 ETH (that’s about $1750 to $10,500 in today’s value with ETH around $3500).   As I record this 4 months later, the cheapest VeeFriend is 18ETH (or about $63,000).   That’s a 36x return...and Gary swears he’s just getting started…   Flash forward to the book offer. Gary went live on a Friday afternoon in the summer to say that for ever 12 books someone purchased in the following 24 hours, she or he would receive 1 surprise NFT after the books ship in November.The exact details are unknown.However, after seeing what he did with VeeFriends in just 4 months, true fans jumped at the chance to buy up lots of books and be eligible for multiple surprises in November.   Hence, selling over 1 million copies in 24 hours.   ------- TAKEAWAYS   I personally don’t have as big an audience as Gary. Likely you listening don’t either.    So maybe selling 1 million books in 24 hours is something unattainable for us right now.   Nevertheless, we can employ his tactics to a scale that works for us.   Give true value to your audience (not just sales promos)...Gary taught people all about the crypto and NFT world....Gary shared tips on other projects he thought looked solid like World of Women and Curio Cards...his fans made tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars off his tips in just weeks or months   Let true fans in on things before the general public ...Gary created a Discord (like a giant chat room) where he shared these special tips and info completely for free, but only with true fans who took the time to join it   Follow through on what you promise you will do ...Gary went out of his way to make sure true fans got first crack at his NFT drop (before whales with big bank accounts could swoop in and buy everything up) ...And he’s been working to make VF grow in value already    Stay connected real-time ...Gary doesn’t just promote and ghost, he stays actively involved...this builds that know, like, and trust factor   Build reputation and know it takes time ...Gary has been building rapport and trust for yearrrsssss...he didn’t just emerge out of nowhere and expect people to trust him. ...You have to have patience and build.    Use cutting edge technology and trends ...Gary is jumping on the wave of crypto and NFTs early.   How can we make our books themselves NFTs?    Could someone buy our book as an NFT and be able to sell it later?Could you offer “gold ticket” NFTs with special access to you...say a yearly coffee meeting or bowling trip?    ----   There is so much to be learned by watching Gary and following in his footsteps when it comes to books, business, and NFTs.   If you want to learn and see more, I’m attaching links to all that I mentioned in here about Gary’s incredible book frenzy.   And if you're wondering...I will have a crap ton of books in my garage come November.When Gary speaks, I believe.   When you speak, I hope your audience believes too.   Share with me your thoughts on this episode or any probek you are working on! I’m at LaptopLaura on the socials. Or shoot me an email at Laura@CopyThatPops.com!Also, I’ll be speaking at ShePodcasts Live next month in Scottsdale, Arizona!   My talk is called:How to Easily Turn Your Podcast Into a Bestselling Book [And Truly Position Yourself As a Leader]   Hope to see you there, if you are a fellow podcaster! :)In the meantime, keep finding ways to write copy that pops!

Hello copy poppers! Long time no talk...but we are back today with a quick writing tip for you inspired by two often-heard quotes: French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal famously wrote: I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time Mark Twain once said, “I didn't have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one.” When I first heard these sayings, I thought they were wrong. In school, the hardest assignments seemed to be the long term papers 15 or more pages long. But as a former teacher, professional copywriter, ghostwriter, and all around writing nerd for internet copy, I’ve come to learn they are profoundly true. I admittedly have the habit of ‘over communicating in writing.’ I tend to add too many details in emails -- and try to keep in mind that if something can be said with fewer words, it should be. Let me give some concrete examples for you… COPY EDITING EXAMPLES Bio Say you are writing about yourself for an author bio, for an about page on your website, or for an email in a marketing campaign so that new subscribers can get to know you. You may write something like this: “I did my undergraduate studies at UCLA and majored in Psychology, earning a bachelor’s degree with a minor in German in 2003.” (true story for yours truly!) This is a perfectly good sentence with 22 words. But can we tighten it up without losing any meaning or important information? How about… “I graduated in 2003 from UCLA with a degree in Psychology and a minor in German.” That’s shorter! With 16 words now. We shaved off 6 words...or 27%. Not bad and no meaning was lost. Business Description Say you are writing up some information about your company for your website or short social media bio. You could write something like this: “At XYZ Media Company, we know the importance of leveraging social media to grow your business in this increasingly online and global economy. This is the reason why we love helping businesses create and execute strategies that help them grow their businesses through attracting new leads, converting sales, and building brand loyalty.” This is a lovely description from a company who gets it! But at about 52 words, it looks like a big paragraph that most people may say ‘ain’t nobody got time for that’ and skip over reading it. How about… “Leveraging social media is essential to grow your business. We help you create and execute strategies to grow by attracting new leads, converting more sales, and building brand loyalty.” This version is 29 words, so 44% shorter. Plus, we changed 3rd person words like “their” and “them” to 1st person words like “you” and “your.” I also cut out things like “At XYZ Media Company” under the assumption that if someone is reading it on your website, they know what you are called -- you don’t have to restate it. And also “in this increasingly online and global economy” because if your audience doesn’t already know this is happening, I’d be shocked.   Example 3 Send me a piece of copy you’d like cleaned up to be shorter and more punchy. I may feature a quick edit of yours in a future episode! --- Hope these copy editing examples helped inspire you to look for words you could cut to improve your writing online.  It takes more time to trim the fat, but it’s worth it!Until the next episode, keep finding ways to write copy that pops! xo Laura PS: To access full show notes, please click here.

Researching for ways to improve my writing, I came across a "Masterclass" on the Narrative Story Arc. In this episode, I share an overview of what the Masterclass goes over with the hopes of inspiring you to apply it to your writing for... ...books ...emails ...social media posts ..."about me" pages even! The human brain is drawn into stories. But sometimes it's hard to know how to 'craft' them. Follow this breakdown written below and shared in audio in this podcast episode. Even though it is for fiction, we can learn a lot from it and apply it to our nonfiction writing as well. Can't wait to hear what stories you cook up! Source for this episode and to learn even more on the topic: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-are-the-elements-of-a-narrative-arc-and-how-do-you-create-one-in-writing#what-is-the-difference-between-a-narrative-arc-and-a-character-arc   See full details at copythatpops.com/214   Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book! TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] ACCELERATOR: Write a great book & hit bestseller! [not free ;)]

Success, obstacles, goals, strategy, advice, imposter syndrome, writing tips, and more -- this episode is all about having the guts to become an author and ways to use your book to help grow your brand and business while also truly helping others out there in the world. Podcasting Business School's founder Adam Schaeuble takes the lead role asking questions of Laura as well as 3 of her recent success story clients participating in the Bestselling Book Mastermind program (a new round starts Monday, August 24th! -- use the code "CTP" to save $50 and claim your spot at CopyThatPops.com/10weeks now). A Few Highlights from This Podcast: 4 bestselling authors answer the following questions: - "What held you back from writing your book in the past?"- "What strategy blew your mind that you learned working with Laura in the Bestselling Book Mastermind group?" - "How have you and/or how are you planning to leverage your book?" - "Advice for others doing a book launch? Or what would you do differently for your next book launch?" Ready to be the next author success story? - Laura's 10-Week Bestselling Book Mastermind...now enrolling for August 2020 start! Use code "CTP" for $50 off for podcast listeners! Prefer to watch instead? Our Guests Guest Host: Adam Schaeuble of Podcasting Business School  Bestselling Author Panelists: • Aimee Carlson, #1 Bestselling Author of The Toxin Terminator: Finding Focus, Energy and Renewed Health by Removing Hidden Toxins • Kelsey Henry, #1 Bestselling Author of Positively Delighted: Create a Positive Mindset & a Life of Delight, Laughter, & Fun! • Tamar Medford, #1 Bestselling Author of Hope Elevated: How to accept your past, gain clarity, and develop a healthy mindset Take Action Now! 10-Week Bestselling Book Mastermind, co-run with Allison Melody [starting August 24, 2020 - use code "CTP" to save $50] Please click here to access full show notes.

Writing about a boring or complicated topic (at least as seen by others)? Well, our guest today shows how to make even things like taxes and avoiding an IRS tax audit interesting, easy-to-understand, and immediately applicable to his audience.   Listen in to see how Jonathan Maki went from driving tanks in the Army to helping businesses be prepared for an IRS audit, whether it happens or not. His #1 Amazon bestselling book will help you understand what the IRS will want to see and how they want to see it -- in simple, clear, plain English. Our conversation also covers... A Few Highlights from This Podcast: - A story about driving tanks in the Army- What did the Army teach Jonathan about business?- Why did Jonathan go into helping small businesses with taxes?- What are his best quick tips around taxes for entrepreneurs and business owners?- The $1,000,000 tax bill story. Eek!- Story about a guy who hid from IRS for 20 years - Audit Armor Basic Training Manual: Protect Your Growing Business from the IRS (grab Jonathan's book!)- Why did Jonathan want to write a book?- Did Jonathan ever feel the imposter syndrome monster breathing down his neck? How did he combat it?- Honest thoughts working with Lulu for publishing? [Hint: Neither of us loved the experience and we tell why]- Best tips for sitting down to write?- Why and how to use 99 Designs for an incredible book cover contest (and how it's a secret weapon for marketing your book even before it's live!)- Best tips for writing with “less is more” in mind - Laura's 10-Week Bestselling Book Mastermind...now enrolling for August 2020 start!   Our Guest Jonathan Maki drove tanks in the United States Army. Then, shortly after receiving an MBA from the University of Notre Dame in 2008, he started helping other small business owners understand their own finances and navigate the complicated US tax system. He is a dedicated husband and father of two young girls, and he loves surfing with his wife in his free time. Learn More: - Depository Analysis - IRS Audit letter redacted - 7 Practices to Help Protect Your Growing Business from an IRS Audit   Great Quotes "I wanted to write a book that was to outline sequential, cohesive steps of action so that it would make it easier for my clients and for me too." - Jonathan Maki "I’m so glad that I worked with you because I had the content but it’s the same as comparing the steak vs the sizzle." - Jonathan Maki "My waves of inspiration don’t come in the form of an outline." - Jonathan Maki Take Action Now! Amazon Bestselling Book Workshop + Resources [free] 10-Week Bestselling Book Mastermind, co-run with Allison Melody [starting August 2020] To access full show notes, click here.

Sword fighting, Peace Corp serving, apple pie with cheddar cheese-loving business owner Ray Blakney stops by to share with us how he’s grown the largest language learning online school in the world that hasn’t raised venture capital.  Whatever content you have -- a blog, a book, a podcast, a website, a YouTube channel, or a combination of them -- Ray’s 4 proven steps will get you from crickets to consistent growth of your brand, business relationships, and revenue.   A Few Highlights from This Podcast: - Starts first business as a language school in Mexico with wife (who used to be his Spanish teacher)...but then swine flu hits…and it forces them to go online, which leads to huge growth (got over 4 million visits in 2019) - Shares a lot of personal information on your site and podcast questions...why? Psychologically what is the reason? - Tips for coming up with a name for your business - 4 steps (plus a bonus 5th step!) for his proven content amplification process 1) Research 2) Create great content 3) Amplify on social media 4) Ranking and linkbacks - Resources named: UberSuggest and Ahrefs.com - Advice on writing emails that get people to agree to link back to your content - What’s a realistic timeframe for all this to work and snowball? Answer may surprise you. - And be sure to book a free, no pressure call or jump on a live training to get help implementing what you learned. This is so valuable!   Our Guest Ray Blakney is an award-winning Filipino-American entrepreneur who has over a decade of experience building (bootstrapping) and operating 6 and 7-figure online businesses. He and his businesses have been featured in magazines such as Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Boston Globe, and other top publications. In his free time, Ray is a part-time sword fighter. Learn More: LiveLingua.com InfiniteUpcycle.com Anomalous Educator Podcast   Great Quotes “The advantage of us not needing to grow is one that a lot of people overlook. They look at it as a business. You grow, grow, grow, just for the sake of growth, and sometimes if you're happy where you are, I don't know if you're making a hundred thousand dollars a year, were you really that much happier making 120.” -Ray Blakney “Bookstores are making a comeback in the United States. Those like little niche corner shops where you used to go and read books, Barnes and Nobles, you know the big ones are going bankrupt, people want that personalized thing where you can go in and you know the seller or the seller knows you. It's like: -You know, a new book just came in that I know you would love because you, this is the kind of book that you read.” -Ray Blakney “I think a lot about names and people ask me a lot about names cause it was all about like copywriting and words and it can be really tough, but it's great to know, one you can change it, two its kind of like no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care that sort of phrase, it's like no one cares about the name of your business, they care about the results they're going to get for them or how you're going to make them feel in doing the interaction. So focusing more on that and less on the names.” Laura Petersen “So you really need to know yourself first and then write some content that is around that, we find that that's the base for creating any great piece of content is that there is a point to it, your personality is included and you know what you're trying to say in that content.” -Ray Blakney “Even if you sell 20 copies to 20 people who really need it, you did something good and you never know where those relationships could go, it can just completely snowball in a way you can't anticipate. But let's not worry about trying to please everyone and be this massive overnight success.” - Laura Petersen Take Action Now! Amazon Bestselling Book Workshop + Resources [free] Bestselling Book Accelerator [best option to get your book done, live, and #1!] Speaker's Secret Gig List [get more speaking gigs]   Click here to access full show notes.

Do you struggle with imposter syndrome and overwhelm on what book topic to pick to write about? You are not alone! This is a replay of a really terrific group Zoom call that my biz bestie Allison Melody of the Food Heals empire did last Saturday. Six entrepreneurs joined us to ask questions, brainstorm, and work through mental blocks. I hope this helps you wherever you are in your journey! And jump into our 14-week Bestselling Book Group Program starting on May 25th, if you catch this in time!   A Few Highlights from This Podcast: [05:45] - [5:00] : Alli kicks off call + Laura intro and why books matter   [12:22] : Tamar intro about the book she's work on …vulnerable stories …4 chapters so far …afraid bc of ego to dig into …wants the word “hope” in there Finding Hope Acceptance   [15:54] : Larry Roberts …1+1=Podcast …wrote it in 20 days …got emotional …Scrivener …bringing wife on the journey …how to start a VA business …Readily Random podcast …recovered alcoholic   ]23:47] : Nancy Foote…¾ done about classroom management (33 years teaching)…how to get kids on your side …struggling bc had another book calling at her! …started on second book too …works at literary conferences part-time …"when I teach, I tell stories about my life" …Coca-Cola Hot Pants …Paul Harvey …Zero G with Mark Kelly astronaut …Parkinson’s, two kinds of breast cancer, …"how can you be so positive and upbeat?" …baseball with Nolan Ryan …Writing 6-word sentences…loving writing it…like poetry …shoulder surgery …Imposter Syndrome Monster   [37:06] : Christopher Centri…astronomy and space science …struggling with things online …in another part of New York state …Mars + search for extraterrestrial life …Lunar Mysteries …Thinkific, Teachable, …wants courses …near Lake Erie + wine + science presentations   [48:37] : Hazel Englander…loves wine too …listens to CTP! …model all over the world …famous boyfriend…backstage rock and roll parties …not sure about sharing bc of kids, husband, and haters …Queen, Sir Elton John, etc — should I name names? …should I have a publisher or self-publish? ...Tim Ferriss and Nick Kokonas podcast: https://tim.blog/2018/10/18/nick-kokonas They compare notes about the somewhat slimy similarities between the music and publishing industries. [timestamp: 2:26:02] On the Hembergers and The Alinea Project, and the upcoming Aviary Book being released independently. [timestamp: 2:41:23]   Free Facebook Group for Authors CopyThatPops.com/facebook   More Info On the 14-Week Group Program starting on Monday, May 25th CopyThatPops.com/14weeks *Past clients of Laura’s, ping her for super discount if you want to join us too (Laura@CopyThatPops.com)     Take Action Now! 14 Week Group Bestselling Book Program with LaptopLaura and Allison Melody To access full show notes click here.

Be a #1 Bestselling Published Author with your book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble...before quarantine is over! On Saturday, May 15th at 12pm PST, Allison Melody and I will meet you online for a fun mimosa brunch (BYOBB = Bring Your Own Booze & Brunch) to discuss how YOU can become a bestselling author in as little as 14 weeks! Join us to get support, accountability, and step-by-step direction from brainstorming...to writing...to editing...to formatting...to book cover design...to pre-marketing...to launching...to hitting #1 on Amazon...and more! You deserve to be an author. Let's do this together. If you are ready to say goodbye to overwhelming analysis paralysis and achieve your authorship goals with a fun, small group of like-minded entrepreneurs...this is your shot. So join us for a FREE brunch to hear ALL THE DETAILS! More info and zoom link in this Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/720142385464799

UNPOPULAR OPINION: Hanging out with ACHIEVERS is actually HURTING you {psychologically}! Facebook Post where you can write and share your thoughts: We all know the whole 'you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with' saying -- I retell it all the time, myself! But, I realized recently how doing this can actually hurt us too. Now, before anyone jumps to write a scathing comment in rebuttal, hear me out... HOW IT HURTS You see your hardworking, successful business buddies start podcasts, write books, and speak on stage. So, you think and feel like "everyone is doing it." You then think and feel "it's too late for me," "I missed the boat," or "I'll never be as good as they are, plus they got such a head start, so I won't do it." SO, YOUR PERCEPTION IS SKEWED The truth actually is that you are just hanging out with go-getters. Most people do NOT start podcasts, write books, or speak on stage. Most people consume but do not create. Most people overthink but do not take action. And, more and more -- did I mention MORE? -- people are coming online every single day looking for the solutions you offer. Looking for YOUR style of speaking or writing. YOUR examples and lessons learned. YOUR wacky humor or calm speaking voice. HOW TO FIX So, I would never advise hanging out with losers to combat this misperception and get you back to reality. The side effects would be too negative. The recipe simply is to recognize where you are. You are in a GREAT place if this post resonates with you. You have a great crew around you. Keep it up. Just because your buds are rockin' it does NOT mean there isn't space and a huge -- and increasing -- demand for your unique twist and style. Audit your thoughts, audit your feelings...and reframe. Do the thing. You know what it is. Do it.   FEEDBACK Agree with me? Disagree? Did this help at all? Let's dialogue!   Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book! TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] ACCELERATOR: Write a great book & hit bestseller! [not free ;)]  Click here to access full show notes.

No matter how much you practice at writing copy, you will never get as fast, efficient, and effective as if you use the Funnel Scripts tool from Russell Brunson (Founder of Click Funnels) and Jay Edwards (professional Copywriter).   It's like mad libs on crack. For business.   You just plug in key information about your business, product, webinar topic, etc. (with lots of examples to help guide you) and then click the "Build" button.   Then, it spits out scripts, full pages of copy, ad copy, video sales letters to read off a teleprompter. Like, anything you need for business. It's pretty ridiculous...in a good way.   I'm currently testing out a script for this $19 Offer Page for My [Secret] Amazon Bestselling Categories Formula. Hopefully, it will slay and help a lot of people too.   Try it out for free with a Headline Script Generator here:   PODCAST EPISODE BONUS: Listen until the end for a heartwarming, hilarious surprise. You are guaranteed to laugh and smile. ??   Then, check out Funnel Scripts...they have a free training on the landing page...and let me know if you try it out!   Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book! TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] ACCELERATOR: Write a great book & hit bestseller! [not free ;)]   Click here to access full show notes.

Do you want to earn income working from home? (Whether you have a child or not...whether you are a mom or not).   This episode may also be SO TIMELY for millions of people social distancing at home because of COVID-19.   Then tune into this episode! Our guest today shares her story of how she replaced a full-time income in the financial industry (living in the expensive LA area) as a single mom...and how you can do it too.   A Few Highlights from This Podcast:   - Blog Outpost Group - Single Mommy Tribe Group - How MarketMuse Content Optimization Software Helped Neil Patel Double His Traffic and Rankings - Book: Stay at Home Single Mom: Writing Your Way to Your Happy Ending  - How Kimberlee went from the financial industry to writing screenplays, business plans, blogs, ghostwritten books, and more (and how you can too) - What is the rate you can charge for your writing (and should you do it by hour, by word, by project?) - Tips to get your priorities and strategy clear - The biggest mistake to avoid as a freelance writer - Kimberlee answers the question many have, "Should I do work for free or reduced price in the beginning as I build my writing samples, network, and client base?"   Our Guest     Kimberlee Leonard is the author of Stay At Home Single Mom: Writing Your Way to Your Happy Ending which takes readers on her journey behind establishing herself as a freelance writer so she could stay home with her toddler when faced with a divorce.    She is the founder of The Single Mommy Tribe where she helps mentor and support other moms faced with the decision of staying home with the kids or going back to the workforce and The Blog Out Post where she coaches bloggers and writers on how to create a second income to replace their first.   Great Quotes “It’s about setting your priorities so you meet your goals, otherwise you’re always struggling with mom guilt.” - Kimberlee Leonard “Don’t be afraid to have a little bit of an edge of who you are.” - Kimberlee Leonard “'I don’t know what we’re gonna write if I’m a plumber?' And I said, 'Well then you write about all the DIY things somebody in their house is gonna do because I guarantee they’re still gonna need a plumber after they do that.” - Kimberlee Leonard   Take Action Now!   Amazon Bestselling Book Workshop + Resources [free] Bestselling Book Accelerator [best option to get your book done, live, and #1!] Speaker's Secret Gig List [get more speaking gigs]     To access full show notes on making money as a writer from home, please click here.

What's a short-form way to both gain insights on your audience (to improve your copywriting) AND clarify your offers to psychologically attract more clients? A quiz! Brand Impact Strategist Annmarie Rose stops by to break it all down so you can quickly start using quizzes to improve your business and copy. A Few Highlights from This Podcast: - how to attract, engage, and provide incredible value for your ideal audience members using quizzes  - how making a quiz is way easier than writing a book or other long-form content, but provides valuable insights for you while also helping your audience clarify what they want and need - the psychology behind using a quiz to build your brand and grow your business  - how you can use your audience’s quiz results to craft more impactful copy - platforms to use to make a quiz (Annmarie uses TypeForm and Interact) - where in the customer journey to use a quiz and why   Our Guest AnnMarie Rose is a Brand Impact Strategist who has spent more than 5 years helping hundreds of coaches, consultants, and course creators clarify their visions, align their online brands and take their businesses to the next level while experiencing freedom and fulfillment in the process.  Through her supportive 1-on-1 consulting experiences and actionable online training programs, AnnMarie empowers purpose-driven entrepreneurs to achieve sustainable business success with a clear, compelling message, a streamlined brand strategy, and engaging marketing efforts.  AnnMarie is also the creator of Quizness, a framework, and training program that makes it easy for purpose-driving business owners to build their online brands with compelling quizzes that attract, engage and truly serve their ideal audience members. Learn More: AnnmarieRose.comBrandMessageQuiz.com   Video of our Interview Look at cute Baby E. So naughty sometimes!   Great Quotes “From a psychological standpoint from the business owner in terms of creating something that is going to build your brand, there is a lower barrier to entry with quizzes if you have the steps to set up one correctly.” -  Annmarie Rose “[…] people say: how long should my book be? And my answer that I want say is:  -As long and you want it to be. But people don’t want that, they want just like: -Tell me the pages numbers.[…]” - Laura Petersen “[..]  I have a specific question that says: “-Which one do you tend to struggle more on your brand building journey, shiny object syndrome or perfectionism?”, and then based on that answer I am able to identify which type brand that you have.” - Annmarie Rose Take Action Now! Amazon Bestselling Book Workshop + Resources [free] Bestselling Book Accelerator [best option to get your book done, live, and #1!] Speaker's Secret Gig List [get more speaking gigs] To access full show notes, please click here.

This show is all about applying psychology and improving our writing for online business success, so let’s look at TikTok with that lense.   In this solo episode with just me -- no interview today -- we’ll cover: 1. What is TikTok and just how crazy big is it already?2. My personal experience with it and how I got a video to over 47,000 views at the time of recording this (about 3 weeks...nearly 25,000 views within 48 hours)3. 5 TikTok Tips ...plus 1 bonus advanced tip if you stick until the end! ...and a bonus custom resource to help in your video planning!     So...   1. WHAT IS TIKTOK?   According to TikTok’s website:“TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.”   What do they mean by “short-form video”?60 seconds or less (often just 12 to 15 seconds). How do they “inspire creativity and bring joy”? Here are just a few of the things you can do, at the time of this writing, inside the TikTok app: - overlay a huge selection of songs - add visual effects before or after shooting - save a draft (to finish and post later)- turn on a countdown before filming starts- create a “duet” with or “reaction” to another user (play your videos side-by-side)- select a video cover (so you decide the short preview that others see)- upload images to play as a slideshow- and more!   A few stats:• TikTok has over 500 million active users, behind only Whatsapp, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, and Instagram (according to Datareportal, 2019)• TikTok is 2nd most downloaded app in the world (as of early 2020)     2. MY EXPERIENCE WITH IT + MINI-VIRAL VIDEO I first downloaded the app, then called Musically, sometime in 2019 and posted my first video on November 1, 2019 -- it’s a video of 6-week-old Baby Evren in a Superman onesie that we had gotten for Halloween with the Wonder Woman theme song playing in the background. I played with some special effects like slow motion and adding some hears on the screen, even black and white video change up for a few seconds.   I had no idea what I was doing but just wanted to play with the tools a bit and see. As I record this, that first video has 100 views. Definitely not going viral.   Flash forward to January of 2020 and I started to play with the app more, but this time not only as a creator but also as a consumer. I wanted to see what was working and what caught my attention.   I put in some hours while the baby napped or I was waiting for the coffee to brew and took notice of the videos I wanted to scroll and see more of.   That's when I made a video on January 28th, 2020 based on a "Get to Know Me" video trend. It's only aout 12 seconds long. You put up three things on the screen that are false, slap them off, and reveal the truth. I did this with the theme of what it costs to publish your book on Amazon, revealing that it costs $0 and Amazon only makes money when you make money. This video has over 47,000 views as I publish this podcast just 3 weeks later.   3. BEST 5 TIKTOK TIPS 1. Hashtags matter but don’t bother with the #foryoupage or #fyp hashtag...everyone is using that and it doesn’t give the algorithm more info about what your video is and who will love to watch it. 2. Jump on a trend with your own take using music and ‘theme’ of video   3. Write in just a few words what video is about, add it as text on the video, and make that bit of the video with text as the ‘preview’ so people can see what the video is about just from seeing the video thumbnail as they scroll   4. People are on it to be entertained in a happy, light-hearted way -- fast. Get right to the point. Don’t introduce yourself, re-say things you already typed in the description, or share unnecessary details. People will scroll past you if you don’t hook them in the first 3 seconds.   5. Add subtitles on video or even some text context so people can follow along even if their audio is off or really low     BONUS PRO TIP   - Take a well-performing video on TikTok and run it as an ad on Facebook, Instagram, or other spots. I'm doing this now and it's working well so far!   BONUS RESOURCE   - I created this TikTok Video Planning Notebook to help you keep track of trending themes, hashtags, and ideas for your content creation on TikTok! It’s 8.5”x11” and large print for plenty of space to journal out your video ideas! Check it out and let me know feedback if it works for you. : )     ------------   What else is working for you on TikTok? Let me know. And connect with me on TikTok at LaptopLaura!     Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book!   TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] ACCELERATOR: Write a great book & hit bestseller! [not free ;)] To access full show notes click here.

This show is geared toward entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and other business owners who want to do better online with their business by harnessing the power of the written word...and applying psychology while they’re at it!...   But many people ask me how to make money as a freelance writer...how to get started....or how to make some money on the side with their writing as they grow other businesses...   And I actually have a great interview with an expert on that coming up in episode 207 with Kimberlee Leonard.   But today for a quick copy tip -- recording as Baby Evren takes a power nap -- I wanted to share what I just learned about recently… How to get paid to write blog articles   ...a great spot that aggregates places willing to pay per blog article or per word in an article that looks really promising.   Step 1: go to https://moneypantry.com   Step 2: in the search bar, type in “Get Paid to Write”   Step 3: When you do that, a few blog articles will show up, but the one that caught my eye is titled: “Get Paid to Write: 101 Sites That Pay You $50-$3000 per Blog Post” - click on that one   Step 4: Scroll through the industries and content types that places are looking for and dive deeper into the ones that work for you.   A few topics:- vacation and travel- inspirational true stories- short stories- politics, news, entertainment- jokes!- education- religion- parenting- lifestyle- business & money     Step 5:Write and earn money!   And/or hire someone for a low price on Upwork.com and make money in splitting the difference. For example, say you pay someone $100 to write an article that you make $350 for. You keep $250 for project managing and reviewing the article. Not bad!   Ping me on social media @LaptopLaura (that’s my handle on FB, TW, IG, and TT) if you try this or find this episode helpful!   Make sure you’re subscribed to this show on your podcast player so you never miss a way to write copy that pops!     Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book! TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] ACCELERATOR: How to write a great book & hit bestseller! [not free ;)]   Click here to access full show notes.

Quick copy tip for you today about the uber fun punctuation mark called...the semicolon.   What does it look like? It’s like a colon on the top but a comma on the bottom.    Often misused, here are the three main ways to use it correctly when a colon, comma, or period just won’t do!     WAY #1   To combine two independent clauses (aka sentences that could stand on their own as complete sentences) when their topics are highly related and you want them to sit a bit closer than if separated by periods.   For example…   Sentence 1:  Writing books is fun and effective. Sentence 2:  I plan to write and publish more this year.   Because these two sentences stand on their own and are highly related, I can combine them with a semicolon!   Writing books is fun and effective; I plan to write and publish more this year.   A comma wouldn’t work because they are independent clauses and a period would make them feel too separate.     WAY #2   Use in a list of things that already contain commas for extra clarity. For example, say that you are listing off places you have lived. Naturally, we must separate cities and states with commas. So, we need to separate each city and state combo from each other with semicolons.   i.e.    I have lived in Orange County, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Rome, Italy; and Regensburg, Germany.      WAY #3   Use a semicolon before words or phrases like “however,” “for example,” and “therefore” when they begin a complete sentence (aka are before an independent clause).   Here’s an example:   “I published a book; however, it was a simple journal and was fast to create.”   [same as way #1 but those words/phrases may help you remember]   ---     There you have it: a fun refresher on the usage of semicolons.   If you want a silly video that may make you laugh about semicolons, search on youtube for “lonely island semicolons” (or watch below).   Watch until the end though…   Then let me know if you had a chuckle on social media. I’m @laptoplaura   Signing off until next time when we’ll find more ways to write copy that pops!       Take Action Now on Your Bestselling Book! TRAINING on hitting Amazon bestseller [free] COMMUNITY of new and growing nonfiction authors! [free] ACCELERATOR: How to write a great book & hit bestseller! [not free ;)] To access full show notes, please click here.

From suicidal thoughts to thriving with intention, Dan Mangena shares a childhood and early adulthood struggling with undiagnosed Asperger's and how he used his gifts to find smart workarounds to help better function socially.   Dan used his strength in pattern recognition and a few fascinating books (like The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists) to unlock the psychological code for how to engage effectively with others in social situations (after sometimes having to diffuse sexual tension to keep it platonic) and business relationships.   Now, Dan coaches others, leads intensive retreats in exotic locations, and is a regular host on a radio program!   A Few Highlights from This Podcast:   - Aspergers + trauma + suicidal thoughts - Beyond intention paradigm- Book writing journey- Best tips for writing books - The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists- Dan's 2019 bestselling book: Stepping Beyond Intention - How to make today a better day     Our Guest   After receiving a late diagnosis of Asperger’s and experiencing what can only be described as life-shattering trauma at the age of just 20, Daniel spent the next seven years struggling to keep these revelations and events from spilling into every area of his life. As a result of his struggles, Daniel built a simple, four-step system called the Beyond Intention Paradigm.   Initially built as a lifeline grappling with suicidal thoughts, Beyond Intention was born, transforming Daniel’s life from misery to celebration. Through his own struggles, Daniel found a path to lasting joy and purpose and he wants nothing more than to share the tools that saved his life. To that end, he lives by this mission statement:   “Spearhead an evolutionary uplift in universal consciousness by awakening people to the importance of their unique role. This that is already encoded in them by way of a deep and often ignored or undervalued passion defined as their Dream.”   Through motivational speech, Daniel shares his vision of empowerment and joy, as well as via books he has authored, his “Do it With Dan” podcast series (which is available on all major platforms), frequent blogging, articles, and a series of worldwide workshops. Daniel also offers coaching and consultations in groups and in one-on-one sessions. Each of these sessions honors his mission and helps his clients find meaning and joy in their lives.   Daniel is also a voracious reader, publicly documenting his challenge to read a book every week. He loves to travel, write and perform as a singer-songwriter, and practice Kundalini yoga, meditation, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. He is also an outspoken promoter of entrepreneurial philanthropy, as well as an ambassador for the Mangena Foundation (in addition to working with several charities across the globe).   To contact Daniel, go to www.dreamwithdan.com. He can also be found on most major social media platforms with the handle @dreamerCEO.     Great Quotes   “A big part of my work is stripping away the excuses that people have that they can’t have an abundant joyful purpose in their life.” - Dan Mangena “I was just kind of juggling the fallout of being autistic versus now because I understand what my gift is, I refer to it as a gift rather than a disability.”    “Sometimes now  when something goes wrong, I am almost excited because now it’s another really funny story to tell people.” - Laura Petersen “What the law of relativity says is that everything it just is, something becomes positive or negative agreeable or disagreeable based on the story that we attached to it.” - Dan Mangena   Take Action Now!   Amazon Bestselling Book Workshop + Resources [free] Bestselling Book Accelerator [best option to get your book done, live, and #1!] Speaker's Secret Gig List [get more speaking gigs]