Tom Hammaker’s life in copywriting took a radical turn last month when he was hired to become Rich Schefren’s copywriter.  Better yet, Tom won the gig in a six-week competitive search against dozens of other copywriters – some with more than 20 years in the game.  We called it “The Goods,” and clearly Tom has them.  In this episode you’ll hear directly from Tom how he approached “The Goods,” his strategy for the final copy test, and what it’s like to work with one of the best marketing teams in the world, led by a bonafide legend of Direct Response.  

In this episode of Copy Chief Radio, we explore the captivating world of perfume and its unexpected parallels with the storytelling engineer-turned-perfumer Helida Dodd. Helida shares insights into how creating a perfume is similar to crafting a narrative.   

I recently took 25 copywriters through the process of landing a six-figure copywriting gig.  The Grand Prize was becoming the primary copywriter for Rich Schefren and being Chiefed by Mark Ford! It was a one-of-kind experience (imagine Hunger Games for copywriters). Everyone survived, but no one is the same.  Here’s what we learned, and what you need to know if you want to land the best gigs in copywriting.   

How do you build a career or a team in the Era of Large Language Models and what happens to talent development when even the lowest intern needs full-stack CMO skills?   In this episode of Copy Chief Radio, we're going on a mind-bending ride with Aaron Winter, Founder of Dig.On, and creator of multiple nine-figure promos for Motley Fool and Agora Financial. Aaron is the hidden-hand mentor behind Dan Ferrari, Julie Hassett, Jen Adams, Ning Li, Mike Abramov, Austin Lee, Sam Woods (and even... David Deutsch?!?).   

In this episode,  we're going behind the curtain with Jason Friedman, CEO of CX Formula. Today, Jason reveals how any business can direct their customer experience to not just satisfy but to dazzle and delight.   

In this episode, Sara explains how she was able to position herself as the top choice for this contract, and how they responded to her “bombshell” after offering it to her.   

Today, we're discussing how freelance copywriters can forge profit partnerships with their clients, as emphasized by Chris Mason, to attain financial stability and success in their work.  

Today I’m sharing who’s behind the problem (yeah, I’m naming names), and how I hope to change it for copywriters who have “The Goods.”   

Donnie French, a skilled copywriter at Performance Golf, shares insights into his expertise and inspiring journey from prison to guiding inmates in entrepreneurship through copywriting.

My guest today, Stephen Hutson is an expert at building loyalty brands and has thought a lot about buyer beliefs.

Today, I’m going to reveal the Top 3 Copywriting Categories for Freelancers in 2024. And also, the one place where your services are no longer needed.   

In this podcast episode, Carlos and Brenda Citron, branding experts, advise businesses to intentionally create a simple, customer-focused brand to boost loyalty and success.

In the episode, I go deep into all three phases with celebrated author and television writer and producer, David Matthews.   

In this episode, you’ll pull up a chair next to me so I can walk you through my latest sales letter. This is the kind of “look over my shoulder” insight we rarely get to see in copywriting. 

Today's podcast episode is with Marie, a world-class marketer and passionate copywriter.

I’ve interviewed John close to 50 times over the years, this is certainly one of the best. A true must listen for anyone looking for an edge in sales, and in life.   

My guest today, Debbie Owen, is an Enneagram coach who has taken things to another level by incorporating neuro-science into the mix. 

It only takes a little awareness and some simple tactics to use your voice with confidence. You’ll leave this episode with both.

Today, my guest is Justin Blackman, who is THE GUY when it comes to brand voice, the expert who has defined the brand voice for people like… Amy Porterfield, Stu McLaren, and Todd Herman. 

For my money, there is no better, or more entertaining, email copywriter in the game right now than Daniel Throssell.

After listening to this quick episode, you’ll know exactly how to prepare yourself to turn what used to feel like a high-pressure “performance” into an easy-going “conversation.

Today I’m talking with Tania Yeo, a former language arts teacher on how she has excelled at growing her skills and her career as a copywriter, just ONE YEAR after leaving teaching. 

On today’s episode, I’m talking with Joshua Lee Henry, a rising star in the world of financial copywriting (recently promoted to copy chief at Banyan Hill Publishing)...  

In this raucous episode, Laura walks us through the process, exposing the thrilling (and often ridiculous), ride of creating her brilliant memoir, Tough Titties - from concept to release date.  

Today, I’m talking to Ben McLellan, co-author of the book, Customer Success Manifesto, about how to make your clients swoon with delight over working with you.

How short can you write a great story? Sue and I sat down to discuss her new book, Tiny Thunder (I couldn’t put it down).

In this episode, I’m sharing a talk I gave a couple of weeks ago at Brian Kurtz’s Titans Mastermind. 

This episode will shed fresh light on how to make practical use of Eugene’s genius.

Kelly and the team are looking to bring on 5 new copywriters through a bootcamp they’re hosting. This could be the moment that changes everything. 

Get ahead of the trend and claim your space in today’s interview with Brenna. 

If you’re ever wondering what qualifies someone as a mysterious “A-list” copywriter – that’s Henry.  

In this episode, I grilled Alex about the process he followed to vetting and hiring the perfect copywriter for his team, and the “little things” Beau did that made the CEO say, “Hire him!”

If you’re an entrepreneur or freelancer, this episode will be a major shift in mindset for blasting past mental hurdles and getting more done. 

Ryan and I dove deep into often hilarious tales of his unique creative journey and the magic of trusting your instincts as an artist. This was a great conversation with a truly cool and intelligent purveyor of the craft.    

Carolynn and I go deep on her adventures as a “Path 2” copywriter, before she fall in love with financial copywriting and landed her current “Dream Job” at Stansberry Research.  

Sam is opening up his files and sharing his process with smart copywriters who are ready to put fear aside and start using OpenAI to our advantage. 

If you’ve been feeling stuck and can’t figure out why this episode is a must-listen. 

How do you define a “dream client”? If you said, “someone willing to pay me”, we need to talk. Better pay with better clients is a CHOICE. 

This episode is for freelancers who struggle with pricing their services, Patty is amazing at unpacking this and giving great tips on how to move past it.

When she discovered copywriting, she saw a way out. In today’s episode, Tania and I go deep on her freelancing journey. 

If you’ve been wondering how to make the work you do match the way you think and live, this episode is a good place to start.

Learn as Brandon tell his painful childhood experience, published a book, and is now a respected and highly-paid copywriter specializing in brand psychology.

Find out what Kyle Jordan wrote to me and if you’re feeling lost about finding “your thing”, this one is for you.

If you’re a freelance copywriter looking for your edge, this one is a perfect blueprint to follow.

Listen to this conversation I had with Gary about the process of discovering and then telling - through both written and visual components - great brand stories.

Dive in to how Justin, one of the most successful and revered copywriters and marketers in the industry today, considers himself a slow learner.

In this “Cocktails with Kev” episode (it was evening, after all), I get loose and reveal what I’ve been seeing behind the scenes at GCE. 

Learn Daniel's creative process, how he manages to compile tricky story elements without confusing the reader, and his “mean Daniel” alter-ego that flares up when someone dares to wrong him.

If you’ve ever felt like “there’s just no time” to do it all, and been stymied by choosing a specialty, today’s episode with Brenna will be very inspiring for you. 

AJ spent ten grueling years ghostwriting for authors, over 500 of them, and now, she has released her own book, "How To Write A Must-Read" that reveals, in a personable and compelling style. 

Listen to what Rob Dube (DOO-Bay) is doing with his “10 Disciplines” program that he developed with Gino Wickman (Traction, Rocket Fuel)...

Money is how we measure success. Today I’ll tell you how I actually did once double my income as a copywriter, and why I would never promise that you can do the same. 

If you thought there was no market for direct response copywriters in the tech space, Karl Hughes will shed some new light. 

Let's hear Kevin as he shares some big lessons in good and bad examples of dynamic customer experience.

Be inspired by Chris Farrell as he talks about positive perspectives on life as we are all going through something.

Peter Hoppenfeld shares what he’s seeing on the front lines of compliance with digital marketing… and the phrases every copywriter needs to stop using immediately.

Let's hear a refreshing shift in persuasive thinking from Michael Fishman the most trusted health brands trust to guide their messaging.

Learn how Yara Golden, took what she learned from helping people navigate their love lives and use it to create email strategies that connect and convert far better than most. 

Together with Rachel Mazza and Jessica Mae Stafford, we will talk about the “big boy stuff” that comes with building and running a legacy business.

Gary Goldstein became the producer of Pretty Woman and other Hollywood blockbusters and he has never stopped being a champion for creatives. Learn his philosophies on success and best advice for creatives fighting for the balance of art and commerce. 

Could you tell your life story in ten minutes?  It took me about 45 minutes, but the good folks over at Mirasee edited it down to ten minutes for an episode of their cool new podcast called Making It.  Listen to Copy Chief radio #253 - Coffee With Kev - On "Making It"

Colin Chung admits he is “terrible at small talk”, yet he cites “connecting with people and networking” as the #1 asset a freelancer can have in succeeding in business.  In this deep diving Freelancer’s Journey episode, Colin reflects on the work, and the network, that has led to his Phase 5 success. 

Want to know how to stay relevant all year long? Selena Soo talks about her newly released free publicity calendar and shares her publicity tactics.

Jen Gottlieb, a former actress, gives some really fun and actionable tips on how to make that cold little camera lens your new best friend. 

Carline, a true veteran of the craft, talks about a few life lessons, what she expects from “a real writer”, and why copywriters need to quit cursing all the time!

Kev Kaye shares the big lessons that have led to his dreamlike success, all the way from “typical C-student” to running his high-level business from his cool-ass studio loft overlooking his hometown of Rochester, NY.

April Dykman lists out the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous things to embrace and avoid when applying for any copywriting job. 

Terri Trespicio, a sharp-witted comedian, eloquent writer, trusted brand advisor, and world-renowned speaker with 7 million views on her TEDx talk. Terri and I discuss her new book and how she learned to let go of limiting beliefs.

Brenna and I talk about the psychology of launch strategy, she shares some key strategies for planning your pre-launch, and how social media and email copy play a major role in today’s campaign models. 

As an entrepreneur or service provider, your reputation is (by far) the most valuable asset you have. A good one will catapult you into the highest levels of opportunity, and a bad one will cost you dearly. So, how do you establish and protect your reputation?

Copywriter Craig Dave talks about a thing he likes to call a “laughertorial” - an essentially funny, somewhat satirical, advertorial. There are some really important lessons for effective copywriting in this conversation, so start listening!

My guest today Arthur Lih, is the inventor of LifeVac, a device that has saved 160+ lives (70 of them children) since he invented it. His “reason why” story will break your heart. 

If you’ve had your fill of empty, overnight “influencers”, and want to shed the imposter syndrome that stems from seeing their highlight reels… then you’re gonna love this very real conversation with Ryan Lee. 

Copy Chief Live guest expert Laura Belgray has made a career of creating wildly popular offers, then yanking them the minute they stop being fun. Laura talks about her criteria for deciding to start, or quickly stop, offering a service... 

How does Cole Schafer get big companies to grant him full artistic freedom and trust their brand to his envelope-pushing approach? Let’s get his take…

Dean Edelson, a senior copywriter at ClickFunnels, chats about his own super successful product he just launched. Needless to say we have a lot to learn from Dean, and he gets into all the important stuff in this episode. 

The 3 things I would want my teenagers to know about how to work with great clients, from anywhere, on their own terms. 

Best-selling author Mike Michalowicz chats about how to stand out in the deafening world of marketing noise. Dive in and enjoy this quick, “ah-ha” packed episode.

Kevin shares a way to take an ordinary review (or critique) and easily turn it into a piece of content that will instantly position you as a respected expert in your field. 

Get tactics and inspiration for deciding when and how to jump ship and go all-in on freelancing… from someone whos been there and has done just that.

Copywriter and prolific Instagrammer, Sammy Musgrave is back to explain how she’s using proven copy strategies for turning scrollers into subscribers.

Want to know how you can position yourself as an indispensable problem solver, instead of a generalist freelancer…Casey Stanton immediately shows you how to reframe your thinking and potentially open up a whole new world of possibilities for how to grow your business.

One of the fastest ways to build a strong reputation for yourself as a freelancer is to create Authority Content by simply teaching what you’re learning. Csaba Borzasi has done an amazing job of this recently and he is here to share his idea.

Laura Lopuch and I share notes on the cold outreach tactics that work best - and never work (and can actually damage your reputation).

Kevin sits down with long-time member and coach of the Copy Chief community, Angie Colee, to explore the “big leaps” and what it really means to stare down some of the tough choices freelancers face.

In this episode, Adam teaches us about the simple research breakthrough that instantly demystifies the process of landing jokes with your audience - and growing it fast as a result. 

Chris Haddad discusses his journey through his physical and mental agony, his copywriting process, and what’s next for “Mr. Moneyfingers”. Pop in the earbuds for this extra spicy conversation.

Friend, this one's for you if you’re an aspiring writer (or a writer who feels stuck)…Papa Kev is taking his cuppa joe and you on a zany and informative road trip, and we’ve got a hell of a playlist to look forward to!

Addison Rice is on one hell of an adventure. His journey into copywriting started with a question… and a Negroni. Here, he shares his recipe for using your freelance skills to achieve digital nomad freedom.

There is only ONE email copywriter I trust to give me a PROVEN email strategy for selling what I’m selling without leaning on hype tactics or hearsay…That’s Chris Orzechowski. Today, we discuss how to “write yourself better” and why “shipping the work” is the fastest way to get better as a copywriter.

Marcella Allison is a copywriter of the highest calibre. Today she talks of a great passion for her: Women in Business. More specifically, the pandemic’s disproportionate effect on women in business. In typical Marcella fashion, she manages to make the conversation entertaining and accessible.

Anna is no stranger to the exhilaration and intense anxiety that comes with beginning a new freelance career. In this episode, she goes deep on the start of her career and her first few harrowing client experiences...

Johnny is as transparent as ever in sharing what has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs for him and Cope Notes. Hop aboard and buckle in… this one has many jolting surprises.

Laura Belgray went from a TV Land promo writer, pumping out clever callbacks to Andy Griffith episodes… to running a seven-figure business from her couch. All with her words. This episode reveals more about how to tap into what Laura does to make her writing so addictive than any other we’ve done with her. 

Kevin and his co-coach Rachel Mazza get giddy about the upcoming 11th session of Real Free Life and dive deep into what it means to be your own best client.

Productivity expert Adrienne Dorison drops in to talk about “Decision fatigue” and the changes that came from a worldwide pandemic and working a year in lockdown.  

Sammy discovered her love for copywriting before she even knew it was a thing - during a sales presentation workshop… Now she’s in Phase 3 of the Freelancer’s Journey… she’s gone full-time, filling her calendar and discovering her favorite ways to use her unique “Copywriting DNA” to specialize.

I speak to John Lee Dumas, founder and host of Entrepreneurs on Fire and now the author of the book The Common Path To Uncommon Success, which captures all he’s learned and knows to be true about succeeding in business.

Like so many freelancers, Ross O’Lochlainn was waiting for “just the right time” to quit his job and strike out on his own full time. Then “fate stepped in” and forced his hand….Listen to this in-depth review of how Ross has gone from nervous newbie (Phase 1) freelancer, to a confident marketing consultant and respected leader.

Frank McKinney is one of the most fascinating and inspiring people I’ve ever met. His presence remained with me for days after this interview… He’s done so much, yet he’s incredibly open about his shortcomings and how he overcame them to achieve all he has (so far).  

A raw and rarely shared “in the moment” recording of Kevin with his private coaching group of freelance copywriters. One member asked: “When was the moment that freelancing “clicked” for you?”. I couldn’t resist sharing 3 key moments…

Selena has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, freelancers, and copywriters learn how to get featured in major publications. And as she says in the interview, everything you need to do well to pitch stories is what copywriters are the best at…

Freelance copywriting changed in some significant ways in 2020, and if you’re prepared, those changes play perfectly into your hands. Today, in an intimate “Coffee with Kev” episode, I’m detailing how businesses are working differently with freelancers in 2021. 

Kelly Felix is not only one of the best non-copywriter copywriters in the industry, he’s also the ultimate anti-hero character... In this unfiltered Wisdom Tree discussion, Kelly talks openly about his battles with mental health, his business failures (and successes), and how adversity led to him launching his most successful offer of his career.

Peep Laja has been a leader in conversion optimization for nearly a decade. Now, Peep is solving the “human copy puzzle” by creating a tech tool that makes it easy to get real humans reading and reacting to copy. He reveals all in this fresh New Breed episode.

This is my second interview with Damian because he’s “one of the best I know” in multiple categories, including; Scaling cold traffic funnels, Personal productivity, Business operations and Team Leadership. In this episode he explains why he just can’t live a life where he doesn’t wake up excited about what he’s doing that day.

Taking the big leap into starting your own business is freakin scary. But, it actually doesn’t have to be. In this episode, over a cuppa Joe, I’ll share my advice for taking small steps toward the big leap. Making it both a lot more doable and far less frightening.

Some business experts just seem too smart, too experienced, too connected to fail. Perry Marshall is one of those experts. He’s endlessly intelligent and interesting and surprising in how he redefines himself and his business. Not long ago his business was FAILING - fast. We discuss how he turned it all around, the new chapter in his success and his uniquely presented new book.

Just like business makeover shows like Restaurant Impossible or (my new favorite find) Hotel Impossible… this episode is an unfiltered look behind the curtain of the intense rebuilding project to completely overhaul Copy Chief. Call it “Copy Chief Impossible”...

David is the perfect person to add some branches of knowledge in this wisdom tree episode. He is an A-List Copywriter in the truest sense… he started at Ogilvy and Mather, pioneered the “magalog” style of direct mail sales letters, and has written for or consulted just about every major player in the industry for the over three decades. Many great moments in this one…

Dominic Hodgson took an unconventional route to building an internet marketing empire - dog walking. In this loose and insightful conversation, Dom explains how he gained an immediate advantage by niching down into the “luxury pet care” market. This one will heat up your entrepreneurial fire in all kinds of cool ways.  

In the six years I’ve been coaching freelance copywriters, no one has blasted through the first 6 (of 7) Phases of the Freelancer’s Journey faster than Chris Orzechoski. He’s gone from teaching high school and coaching wrestling, to now running his own agency. We chatted about how the heck he’s getting all this done.

Carline’s new book, My Life As A 50+ Year-Old White Male is a rollicking ride through her life as a Haitian immigrant in the U.S. We talked about how she became an A-List copywriter known as “queen of the control” and raising children, two of whom are also now thriving as copywriters.

It’s our 200th episode and we’re celebrating with a total show makeover! New music, New intro, and lots of exciting new guests. Plus we’re categorizing the episodes into four different styles. Listen now to hear the new and improved Copy Chief Radio!

What do you imagine is more difficult, making money while you sleep or making people laugh? Adam Hunt is out to do both - and succeeding. He recently joined Copy Chief and began devouring the training and applying what he learned into his active sales funnels. I spoke with Adam about how he and his team help make brands funny without tarnishing their reputations, and the changes he made to his ads and funnel to start making sales while he “was fast asleep”.

Looking back to when I first started out as a copywriter, there are a few things I wish I’d figured out earlier. So, in this episode, I’m sharing five things I wish I’d known as a beginner that would have saved me a lot of needless frustration, boosted my confidence and made the actual work a lot more fun. 

Watch Kevin Rogers from Copy Chief Break Down The The New Banyan Hill Profits Unlimited Ad From The Harmon Brothers and interview Aaron DeHoog and Jonny Vance together.

The world’s coolest marketing lawyer, Peter Hoppenfeld, is back to discuss California’s AB 5 statute that is wreaking havoc for the “gig economy” out there. Some in the freelancing community are fretting about how this could affect the nature of how Independent Contractors do business. Should you be scared?

A frequent guest on CCR, Mike Rinard has his business running smooth on all cylinders right now. In this episode, Mike tells “the other side of the story”. The hustle and grind of those early days (all of 5 years ago!) when he was doing a ton of cold outreach, getting kicked out of Reddit forums for being “too spammy”, and even more gruesome tales.

In this episode, Jay Jackson talks about his rise to marketing expert status legit old-school hustle style. A hilarious and intriguing conversation full of actionable advice.

As copywriters, mastering the one-sided conversation is a major part of our job. This 5-minute coffee break episode is all about the art of writing to the invisible friend.

Have you lost your Moxie? In this episode, Lorrie tells us how she stumbled into direct response copywriting and overcame her confidence issues in the process.

On today's episode, Ashlee Berghoff gives you actionable tactics for identifying your biggest productivity roadblocks and shares the way to win back hours every week and double your productivity.

On today’s episode I’m sharing all the different ways I’ve used critiques to land clients, stand out from the crowd, and raise my fees.

Scripting a YouTube ad can be challenging. Csaba is here to share how to use YT to generate new leads, which offers work best, the anatomy of a good ad funnel, common roadblocks, and a framework you can use to get started today.

How do freelancers become experts in their specialty? In this episode, Mike Lukas and I dive into the different ways every freelancer can confidently tap into their own well of originality.

Max Hamm, a comedian turned copywriter, will teach you how to blend the two artforms (Comedy and Copy) to make your copy pop off the screen, win attention, build trust, and get the sale. His newest book called Funny Money, can make you more sales, while pleasing the Facebook gods and can actually lower your ad costs.