The HeyCreator Show

The Past, Present, and Future of Online Learning

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Brian Clark and Darrell Vesterfelt talk about the past, present, and future of online education. Brian shares about his most recent p...

How to Get More of the Right Things Done

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Productivity coach Charlie Gilkey talks about going from ideas to completed projects — and how to take a more balanced approach to getting it all do...

Why the Future Is Still Email

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Brian Clark and Darrell Vesterfelt dive deep into the topic of email. Think email is an outdated tool? Think again. After learning som...

What’s Next for Copyblogger Media?

03 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Brian Clark hosts the Copyblogger FM podcast for the first time, and reveals — among other things — why he’s returning to Copyb...

How Smart, Nimble Companies Are Using Webinars Today

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Copywriter and webinar strategist Beth Hayden talks about some of the most effective ways companies are using webinars. Some people feel that webinars...

The Clarity Method: A Conversation with Tim Brownson

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Brownson talks about how we can use our values to design our businesses and make wiser decisions. Tim Brownson has been coaching (and teaching coa...

Digital Business Trends and the Latest on the Rainmaker Platform

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Challenges and opportunities for content-driven business in 2019 and beyond … and a new look at a content marketing platform. Ed Bardwell, president...

4 ‘Naive’ Business Principles for Enduring Success

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ever been told you’re “too nice” to run a business? Yeah, I’m gonna call BS on that. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told I lack...

How to Write an Epic Blog Post, Part 3: Polishing and Promotion

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part three of our series: How to polish and promote an epic blog post or other piece of remarkable content. You’ve got your first draft of a solid, ...

How to Write an Epic Blog Post, Part 2: Getting It Written

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Part two of our series: How to write an epic blog post or other piece of remarkable content. OK, you’ve assembled a pile of research and done some c...

How to Write an Epic Blog Post, Part 1: Thinking and Research

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

New series! Part one: How to prepare to write an epic blog post or other piece of remarkable content. What’s the best antidote to the glut of conten...

3 Almost Magical Headline Ingredients for More Traffic, Engagement, and Shares

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Want to do a little bit of work and see really good results with your content? Make some time to learn about crafting great headlines. Copyblogger has...

Lessons Any Business Can Learn from an Impressive Influencer Marketing Fail

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Has the “influencer bubble” really burst? Maybe, but … probably not This week I’m talking about some real-life lessons any business owner or m...

13 Ways of Looking at a Headline

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Having a hard time coming up with headline ideas? Here are 13 tweaks, prompts, and hacks to keep you moving. We’re working on headlines this month f...

The 7 ‘Bad’ Habits of Incredibly Successful People

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It turns out those successful people you admire aren’t always so perfect. We love to give advice about all of the good habits you should be cultivat...

Writers: How to Move from Making a Living to Driving Revenue

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Are you writing for a paycheck … or to create revenue for your organization? Professional writers make a living. Conversion writers generate revenue...

Choose the Right Frame to Boost the Power of Your Content

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to create a much greater impact with your content? Start by understanding how it’s framed. It’s a little early for a Book Club episode, bu...

How Copywriting Teacher Belinda Weaver Reenergized Her Email List for Massive Engagement

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some advice from Rainmaker Digital Services spun copywriter and teacher Belinda Weaver into a surprising new direction with her content. When our coll...

3 Reasons Why Really Good Writers Sometimes Can’t Find Great Clients

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Three ways that good writers can find the great clients they deserve. It really does break my heart to see a terrific writer who can’t find those wo...

3 Slightly Embarrassing Emotions that Drive Effective Copywriting

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Speaking to your prospects’ emotional brains isn’t manipulative — it’s just good communication. Copywriters have known it for many decades, an...

Get 10 Content Marketing Boosters in 20 Minutes

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“Document your content marketing strategy” can sound about as exciting as “buy new socks.” Improving your content marketing strategy might not...

Becoming the ‘Chief Empathy Officer’ of Your Copy and Content

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The lines between content and copywriting, and why you want to make yourself the “Chief Empathy Officer” for your audience. Today I wanted to talk...

One of the Most Important Marketing Decisions You’ll Ever Make

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

While no single tactic is a “magic bullet” for your content marketing, this one comes pretty close. Rainmaker Digital’s Robert Bruce comes back ...

What Nobody Wants to Hear about Content Marketing

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The key to marketing success isn’t the latest shiny tactic. It’s making sure that your tactics are resting on solid strategy. Everyone wants “th...

Getting Your Big, Scary Projects Finished: A Conversation about Growing Gills

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A look into why it’s so hard to move forward with creative work This week I was so pleased to be able to connect with Jessica Abel, author of Growin...

When Is It Time to Bring in a Professional Copywriter?

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to do all of your own copywriting and content marketing, or to bring in a pro? We teach so much copywriting technique and strategy at Cop...

Using Content to Systematically Move Prospects Toward a Purchase

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Prospects need to be at the right stage of awareness before they can move forward with a purchase. And content marketing is a superb way to get them t...

Understanding the Lifecycles of Your Website, with Pamela Wilson

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a huge volume of content marketing advice out there — but most of it only applies to certain sites. Pamela Wilson joins us to talk about “...

5 Ways to Manage a Stress-Induced Creative Slump

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stressed out? Anxious? Just out of sorts? Stress can wreck havoc with your creative productivity. Here are some thoughts on how to manage it. These ar...

3 Ways Strategic Content Can Drive Measurable Business Outcomes

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Creating excellent content is expensive — in time, money, or both. Make sure your content marketing strategy is driving real business results. Too m...

The Social Media Platform Every Content Creator Should Be Using in 2019 (Nope, It’s Not Facebook)

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Think you know what LinkedIn is all about? Today’s conversation with Amber Naslund may get you seeing the platform in a new way. Amber Naslund is a ...

Real Talk about Generating High-Quality Content

21 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Thoughts on how to create really good content … without a huge team or an unlimited budget Content strategist Ronell Smith joins us this week to tal...

A Conversation with Paul Jarvis about Staying a ‘Company of One’

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We often take it as a given that businesses should always grow — but is that really true? Writer, designer, podcaster, and software creator Paul Jar...

The 3 Plus 1 Foundational Elements of Effective Persuasion

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The foundation you choose for your persuasive copy can make all the difference. I’m sometimes asked — do I think that high-priced copywriting cour...

5 Essential Copywriting Techniques from Copyblogger

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If marketing or content strategy plays any role in your professional life, you need to understand copywriting. Here are five of our most important bit...

5 Ways to Recover Your Professional and Creative Confidence

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“The big distinction here is to see confidence as an ability that you keep getting better at.” – Dan Sullivan Ever have a wobble in confidence? ...

5 Stinky Sardine Secrets to Make Your Content More Fascinating

08 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How to stand out in a sea of boring content? It might be time to get stinky … Content marketing only works if your content is interesting enough to ...

The Mindset ‘Hack’ that Frees Your Creativity and Makes You Happier

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the difference between success and frustrating failure is just a question of mindset. Carol Dweck’s book Mindset hit me like a brain-bomb ...

How to Kill Your Sales and Mess up Your Business: Lessons from a Used Car Salesman

18 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When does traditional sales advice actually push prospects further away? We’re returning this week to selling … the effective kind, and the other ...

The 7 Things Writers Need to Make a (Good) Living

04 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ever been frustrated by the daunting task of making a (really good) living as a writer? I have some thoughts on what it takes … Your friends and fam...

Are You Making These Social Media Marketing Mistakes?

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Busting social media marketing myths with Social Media Lab’s Scott Ayres. Social media marketing is one of those topics that invites a lot of lore: ...

Fix These 7 About Page Mistakes for More Traffic and (Possibly) Better SEO

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“You’re so vain … you probably think your About page is about you …” A recent Google update has a lot of sites looking to improve their Abou...

7 Ways to Boost Your Creativity

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There’s so much content marketing out there that’s perfectly ok … but it lacks creative spark. Here are some ways you can get more vitality into...

A 10-Step ‘Checklist’ for Your Content Marketing Site

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Have a new content site, or an existing site that needs more focus? Here’s a “checklist” of 10 things to keep in mind. Whether you’re starting...

The 3 Keys to Publishing Strong Content … Even If You Aren’t a ‘Great’ Writer (Yet)

30 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How can we find the confidence to publish regularly — when we’re not completely confident in our writing ability yet? “Publish regularly!” is ...

Fix These 3 Points of Failure to Get Better Results for Your Content

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A quick three-step check to make any piece of content more interesting and more effective. While doing critiques for our private community of content ...

Big Changes at ConvertKit: A Discussion with Founder Nathan Barry

16 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

ConvertKit founder Nathan Barry dropped by to talk about their platform, their evolution, and why they’ve taken a leap into a brand-new name and ide...

3 Skills to Master to Become a Marketing Badass this Year

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Most of us won’t make a living making “pure art” that only serves our creative expression. But you won’t make a reasonable living writing cyni...

The Quiet Power of Conversational Copy

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of us feel a tension between effective copywriting and content that fully respects our audiences. “Conversational Copywriter” Nick Usborne j...

5 Rules of Thumb to Relieve SEO-Induced Stress

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Does search engine optimization seem depressingly hard to stay on top of? Things do move quickly, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it drive you...

How to Use the GDPR to Make Your Business Stronger than Ever

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Lots of businesses and marketers are scrambling over the new data protection law, GDPR. But Tara Gentile is here to talk about some of the real-world ...

‘Good Karma’ Selling that Works: A Conversation with Tim Paige

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tim Paige is that rarest of creatures: A really good salesperson who understands the people who aren’t (yet). This week, I was pleased to be able to...

How to Get More Comfortable (and Effective) at Selling

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Selling is a skill, not an innate talent. But that doesn’t mean it’s always comfortable to learn. Too many content creators have amazing audiences...

Privacy and Permission in the Wake of Cambridge Analytica

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Legislators, citizens, and advertisers are all concerned about the trends in privacy and permission on social platforms — but they’re concerned fo...

Seth Godin and How to Create Change

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation about what matters in marketing and business. I was delighted to be able to catch up with our friend and one of my favorite teachers, S...

Email? Chatbots? Social? How Are We Supposed to Reach People?

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Given everyone’s crowded inboxes and fragmented attention spans — what’s the best way to reach people? Content and permission marketing have bee...

The Double-Edged Sword that Can Make (or Break) Your Content

26 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There’s an incredibly useful tool that can actually sabotage your content … if you don’t use it correctly. Note: If you want to know more about ...

Make More Progress by Getting (Gently) Out of Your Comfort Zone

19 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the best way to handle overwhelm, especially when it comes with a side of procrastination? Note: If you want to know more about the upcoming ...

Are You Doing Content Marketing Wrong?

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for the latest round of “Content Marketing doesn’t work any more” stories. Can you tell these make me a little cranky? It’s offici...

Storytelling for Modern Content Marketing (Part 2 of 2)

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tech and tactics come and go — but storytelling lasts forever. In this episode, Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas of Contently share their favorite techn...

Storytelling for Modern Content Marketing (Part 1 of 2)

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tech and tactics come and go — but storytelling lasts forever. In this episode, Shane Snow and Joe Lazauskas of Contently share their favorite techn...

10 Quality Factors Search Engines Need to See on Your Site

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What do the search engines mean by a “high quality site”? While technical SEO still exists, a huge chunk of modern search engine optimization cons...

A Simple Content Strategy to Make Your Site Massively More Useful

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Here’s a simple way to make the best use of your time when you’re creating new content, improve your SEO, and create a great user experience on yo...

How to Avoid a Heartbreaking Business Failure

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I see and hear the horror stories on Facebook, on LinkedIn, at conferences. Folks who spend months or sometimes years on a big, bold business idea …...

Hey Writers: Let’s Get You Paid What You’re Worth

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The web needs talented writers. So why is it (sometimes) so hard for the best writers to get paid what they’re worth? There are so many really good ...

5 Keys to Making Your Content More Shareable

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Content sharing is the great “free ride” of 2018. You get more people looking at your stuff, and you don’t have to pay a dime for it. But you do...

3 Observations on Trends (but not Predictions) for 2018

18 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I don’t believe in predictions. The future isn’t a mystery novel, with carefully selected clues left for us to decipher. But there’s something I...

3 Tips Now to Build a Strong Foundation in 2018

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

January is the traditional month to work on goals for the new year, but there’s a lot to be said for starting in December. Today, in the middle of a...

The 3 Success Factors that Help Writers Earn a Great Living

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why do some of the most talented people see the least success? Sometimes they’re held back by misconceptions about marketing and sales. Some of the ...

How to Recognize a Great Content Idea

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It’s hard enough to come up with ideas — but when we do, how do we know they’re any good? How can we evaluate our ideas and make sure we’re ch...

How to Cultivate a More Meaningful Gratitude Practice

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do the usual “gratitude practices” ever feel formulaic or simplistic to you? Here are some that I’ve found can go a little deeper. This week as ...

Advice for Poets, Advice for Killers

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

William Maynard of the Bates agency once wrote that “… most good copywriters fall into two categories. Poets. And killers. Poets see an ad as an e...

Face Your Business Fears on Halloween Week

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Halloween week! Today we’re talking with Rebecca Tracey about entrepreneurial fear — how it holds us back and what we can do about it. I’v...

How to Make Smarter Decisions about Your Website

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Neuroscience tells us that making decisions for our content strategy or our websites is “cognitively expensive.” In simpler terms — it’s exhau...

A Series of Unfortunate Content Events

02 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

5 painful mistakes I’ve seen writers, marketers, and business owners make … and how you can avoid them We all make mistakes — but it sucks a lot...

The Evolution of a Successful Copywriter

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

How one freelance copywriter found his groove, and how you can find yours, too. Lots of our listeners are freelance copywriters — and many more woul...

7 Ways to Improve Your Marketing by Harnessing the Power of Evil

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Think marketing is evil? Only if you’re doing it right … Every once in awhile, I run across someone who hates me, my job, my website, and my compa...

Smart Questions from our Brilliant Audience

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A collection of great questions from our smart audience! I love audience questions! Thanks to four thoughtful folks this week for asking questions (or...

Does the Web Have Enough Patience for Your In-Depth Content?

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A comment from one of our blog readers sparked some thoughts… A reader left a great question as a blog post comment, and the answer took us to some ...

How to Write (Much Better) Blog Comments

31 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Seems simple enough, right? Then how come so many people are terrible at it? In principle, leaving a comment on someone’s blog, podcast, or social m...

Which Works Better: Positive or Negative Content?

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Which works better in content marketing — positive messages or negative ones? Well … it depends. On the one hand, as content marketers, we want to...

How to Attract the Exact Customers You Want

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Being able to visualize a specific and vivid “who” is one of the most important things you’ll ever figure out in your marketing or your business...

How to Create Stability and Success as an Artist

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We all know the cliche of the starving artist — but how about the thriving artist? Jeff Goins has some advice on how to “build a bridge in the dir...

Two Powerful Resources for Life-Changing Growth

19 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Can we change who we are? Are we stuck with the aptitudes and habits we have today, or can we make fundamental changes? And if change is possible … ...

How to Turn All that Marketing Advice into Action

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a “training addict”? Wondering how to handle all of the marketing and business information you’re taking in? Allow me to suggest a plan....

How to Develop a Compelling Marketing Idea in 4 Steps

05 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Want to be more persuasive? You need to start with a great idea. Here’s how to develop one. We think of ideas as coming in a flash of inspiration …...

Getting Over the Fear of Selling

30 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Is your fear of selling keeping you from where you want to go? Selling is part of business — but it makes a lot of us nervous (especially writers, I...

Talking Community and Digital Business with Tara Gentile

22 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A business community for the new economy I had a lot of fun talking with Tara Gentile about her new community for digital business owners. In our 28-m...

Plagiarism, Self-Deception, Bad Sandwiches, and Other Interesting Disasters

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Perception is not reality. Reality is still reality. The great thing about the Internet is, when people do really dumb stuff, we all get to find out a...

Professional Writers: Find Out How to Get Certified by Copyblogger

01 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our certification program for content marketers will be opening up again soon. If you’re a professional writer, particularly a freelancer, you’d p...

The Painful Core Lesson Taught by 3 Astonishing Big-Brand Fails

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Has the entire business world lost its mind? Some thoughts on interesting disasters … and on how to do your homework for better results. Today’s a...

5 Mindset Habits that Actually Work

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

There’s so much mindset advice out there to make you more successful … but is it doing you more harm than good? A lot of advice about business and...

On Grammar, Usage, and Not Being a Great Big Jerk

27 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In memory of Washington Post copyeditor, Bill Walsh, and the finer points of grammar and usage peeves. When you write about writing, there are few top...

Creative Strategies for Content Writers

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I talk with copywriter and content creator Kaleigh Moore about her tips for staying productive and creative. Content marketing isn’t an e...

A New Ultra-Easy Resource for Creating Excellent WordPress Sites

13 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A conversation with Brian Gardner about the evolution of WordPress and new things happening at StudioPress Self-hosted WordPress is a wonderful thing ...

Thriving Freelancers and Clients from Hell

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

What’s a freelancer’s biggest nightmare? Clients from hell! Guest Bryce Bladon shares his experience on how to cope — and how to avoid problems ...

Politics, Content Marketing, and the 2017 Super Bowl Ads

13 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Is it wise to get political with our content marketing? We’ve all seen this year’s Super Bowl ads hashed, rehashed, and re-rehashed. The big theme...

Copyblogger Book Club: Winning the Story Wars

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We love books at Copyblogger! Today, we’re digging into Jonah Sachs’ Winning the Story Wars. Stepping into the world of meaning-making means stepp...

3 Content Marketing Strategy Fails (and How to Fix Them)

23 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

No, content marketing strategy is not “make a whole bunch of spaghetti and see what sticks to the wall.” “How come my content marketing isn’t ...

The 2017 Content Excellence Challenge: Your January Assignments

09 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

New Year, New You? Or Nah? Woot! This is our first “official” pair of prompts for the 2017 Content Excellence Challenge. (In December we were just...