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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]

Positivity, Bestselling Books in 16+ Categories, Copy Tips, Writing Advice, and more with our special guest Kelsey Henry! At age 25 she wrote, self-published, and launched her book (hitting 16 categories in the US and 9 in Australia at the #1 spot) in about 2 months from start to finish. You can too!   Kelsey reveals how she did it, obstacles you faced but overcame, plus her favorite tools you can use...   A Few Highlights from This Podcast:   - Background of Kelsey...Pinterest manager...singer/songwriter, positivity coach - Bestselling 2x -- 16+ categories - Tips and tricks for fast writing of your book, even if you have no idea where to start - Things that went wrong with the books - Beyond the book...getting products into stores, selling books and merch at in-person events, speaking on stage - Adult coloring book creation   Kelsey's Books: - Book 1: Growing Up Roadschooled: Stories, Lyrics, & Lessons Learned From Full-Time RVing & Life After Roadschooling - Book 2: A Positively Delighted Coloring Book: Color Your Way to Happiness in 30 Days    Tools Mentioned: - PressBooks - Grammarly - Canva     Our Guest   Kelsey Henry from Positively Delighted is a best-selling author, singer/songwriter, positivity coach, coloring page designer, digital nomad, and host of The Positively Delighted Show podcast. Her passion for positivity and self-esteem began during her unique childhood growing up roadschooled in an RV from ages 11-17.   Kelsey is the author of two books on Amazon, Growing Up Roadschooled: Stories, Lyrics, & Lessons Learned from Full-time RVing & Life After Roadschooling and A Positively Delighted Coloring Book: Color Your Way to Happiness in 30 Days.   She is also a certified Canfield Success Trainer, Happy For No Reason Trainer, and Laughter Yoga Leader. She uses these programs to help others create a positive mindset and a life of delight, laughter, and fun! You can find her traveling the country and running her business on the road from her converted glamper car.     Great Quotes   “Giving your self a tight deadline forces you fo find a way and not come up with excuses.” - Laura Petersen “Stories are great ways to teach anything, so being able to tell a good story is incredibly useful.” - Kelsey Henry “I think having better expectations going into things because something can be really successful but if your expectations are really high than it will seem like a failure.”  - Kelsey Henry “What helped me the most with Grammarly was that it would identify if I use the same phrases over and over again, which I did a lot.”  - Kelsey Henry   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!  

4 examples to convince you once-and-for-all that the Oxford comma is non-negotiable.   Today, let’s talk about a nerdy debate that continues to rage. But, my dear listeners...there is only ONE CORRECT answer to question… “Oxford comma or not?”   ----- PRODUCT SHOUT OUT -----   I use the Owlet Sock to keep track of my 3-month-year-old's heart rate and oxygen level as he naps and sleeps. It's a game-changer as a new parent! Lifehack. :)     ----------------------------------------     What is the Oxford Comma anyway? Another name for it is the serial comma. It’s when you put a comma before the and in a list of 3 or more things.   For example, “I love the movies Die Hard [comma] Just Go With It [comma] and Independence Day.”     Should I use it?   Yes. Always.     Why?   The short answer is because it’s more clear. Some argue it’s a stylistic choice and to ‘just be consistent in your usage.’ Okay, fair enough. But, there is no denying that writing with the extra comma is more clear!     Here are 4 examples to convince you.   1. How many seats at the table do we need? • Without the Oxford Comma: “I ate lunch with my grandparents, Liz and Kyle.”• With the Oxford Comma: “I ate lunch with my grandparents, Liz, and Kyle.” When you hear this statement, how many seats at the table do you think we need? Well, WITHOUT the Oxford Comma, we could need 3 seats or 5!  What do I mean?    Without the extra comma, I COULD be naming my grandparents as Liz and Kyle. Therefore, we’d need 3 seats...one for me, and two for my grandparents (whose names are Liz and Kyle. Or, I COULD be naming my grandparents and two additional people named Liz and Kyle (who happen to be the names of my favorite cousin and his wife). Therefore, we’d need seats for my grandparents, Liz, Kyle, and me...that’s 5.   Therefore, if -- as in this case -- Liz and Kyle are not the names of my grandparents an Oxford comma is essential to make that clear.      2. Are JFK and Stalin stripping again?     There’s a funny meme image that goes around that reads, “We invited the strippers, JFK, and Stalin to the party.”   And it is accompanied by two images...one with the Oxford comma showing 2 female strippers, JFK, and Stalin (so 4 people) and another without the comma showing JFK and Stalin as strippers (2 people).     3. Can you even talk to toast?     I’ll include it and the stripper image in the shownotes!...is “I had eggs, toast, and OJ.” With the serial comma, it shows you are naming 3 things you had for breakfast. Without the serial comma, it is as if you are saying “I had eggs” TO toast and orange juice...like toast and orange juice are a person you are talking to about your breakfast.  Long story short, there is no denying that the Oxford comma makes your writing more clear. And isn’t that an element of what makes our copy pop? What makes it compelling?    We want to be clear and understood!    I can tell you that when I read lists without the Oxford comma I spend too much time trying to figure out the intended meaning and get annoyed by the author.   If I do that, I am not alone. (There are lots of writing nerds out there -- let’s start a club...we’ll meet on Thursdays ;)). So, don’t annoy your nerdy audience...use the Oxford comma and be crystal clear.   Okay, I think there are still some folks unconvinced...who cares about being crrryyyystal clear if it requires extra punctuation!?      4. The $5 million dollar comma   One final example for you... Not using the Oxford comma could cost you $5 million! Take Oakhurst Dairy and their shipping department — there was an overtime dispute between the company and its drivers. And the whole thing hinged on the lack of an Oxford comma! According to a History 101.com article entitled “30 of the most expensive mistakes in history”... “Lawyers representing the drivers argued that a sentence in a contract the employees all signed needed the oxford comma to clarify that overtime pay was forfeited in a specific situation. “That comma would have sunk our ship,” the drivers’ attorney David G. Webbert told the New York Times. The company settled the lawsuit by paying the drivers a total of $5 million. That’s one expensive comma!”     ---------- Noooowwww are you convinced?? That’s it my nerdy copy compadres! Remember that the Oxford comma is more clear and cost-effective! :-P   Talk again next time when we’ll find more ways together 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 shownotes.

What is hypnosis? What is "a practical psychic"? How about spiritual coaching? We cover all of these parapsychological topics plus book writing, bestseller launching, and more with our guest Priscilla Keresey.   A Few Highlights from This Podcast:   - Journey to where Priscilla is now - What is hypnosis? - What is spiritual coaching and how can it help you? - Best tips for writing and publishing your book - Priscilla's first bestselling book of 2019: Self-Esteem Solution: The Breakthrough Plan To Overcome Obstacles, Determine Your Destiny, and Pursue Your Extraordinary Life - Priscilla's second bestselling book of 2019: RISE & Shine: Your Day-By-Day Guidebook To Healthy Self-Esteem   Our Guest Priscilla A. Keresey is a trained professional in hypnosis, spiritual coaching and psychic mediumship readings with clients all over the country and the world including Israel, Russia, and Canada. Since 2002 when she was certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists, Priscilla has been working with her clients as the “practical psychic” who understands that people are seeking guidance from someone who speaks in terms that are relevant, treats readings like the important business they are, and understands that her clients expect something of measurable value for the money they're spending.   In January 2003, Priscilla began studying at the Seminary of Spiritual Peacemaking as well as opened her first office where she offered free and low-cost workshops on Spring Cleaning for Mind, Body and Spirit, Creating Prosperity, The Power of the Inner Mind, How to Set Intentions for Success, Meditation, How To Pray, and her most popular: Developing and Using Your Own Psychic Abilities. In 2004 she began lecturing at New Age conferences, health clubs, fraternal organizations, women's groups, libraries, schools and at workplaces on a variety of topics related to the power of the mind, and then graduated from the Seminary with an M.A. in Divinity and was ordained in Israel in November 2005.   Over the next four years, she not only kept up with her various industry endeavors but also created and taught a highly-effective six-week empowerment program for female inmates in the NYS Correctional System – a course that has been offered eight times since its inception.   Priscilla has continuously strived to diversify her professional efforts, functioning as a guest minister at the Albertson Memorial Spiritualist Church in Old Greenwich, CT while teaching workshops on self-esteem, hypnosis, psychic development, and mediumship skills. She has published multiple books including “It Will All Make Sense When You’re Dead, Messages from Our Loved Ones in the Spirit World”, “Nobody Gets Out of this Alive, More Messages from Our Loved Ones in the Spirit World”, “The Self-Esteem Solution”, and a series of self-help e-books and audio files that she authored and produced called, “Live & Learn Guides™.” She also co-created Putnam After Dark, a series of monthly events at the PV Grange highlighting the paranormal with speakers including S.P.I.R.I.T.S. of Hudson Valley Paranormal Investigators and author and UFO investigator, Linda Zimmerman.   Currently, Priscilla is President of the Putnam Valley Free Library Board of Trustees, and a member of the Putnam County Historical Cemetery Committee. She founded, and for the last 10 consecutive years has run, the very successful Putnam Valley Psychic Fair and is also teaching an ongoing mediumship development circle by teleclass. For additional information or to contact Priscilla, visit her Facebook page at facebook.com/APracticalPsychic, her website at apracticalpsychic.com and liveandlearnguides.com or via email at priscilla@apracticalpsychic.com.   PERSONAL BIO:   • Raised in West Hartford, CT and Rindge, NH. • Graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1984. • Served as Art Director at Cornell University before beginning a long freelance career as a graphic designer, working for various Madison Avenue advertising agencies and Hunter College in New York City.   Priscilla has traveled the world as a high altitude mountaineer, enjoying technical rock and ice climbs on mountains in the US, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Africa, and the French and Swiss Alps.   Her favorite things to do are writing, studying and striving to grow closer to Spirit, traveling, and spending time with her animals outside in nature.     Great Quotes “All of our memories...are contained within our spirit, our soul, our subconscious mind, whatever you might wanna call it, the part of us that never dies.” - Priscilla Keresey “Nothing is written in stone.” - Priscilla Keresey   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]   See More! For full shownotes click here!

Life-saving book out now! My biz bestie shares her story of losing both her parents to cancer and how that pushed her into a life of pursuing how to heal naturally.   Food Heals: Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Stories to Nourish Your Soul and Transform Your Health is available now on Amazon!   Plus, this book includes 39 additional stories of overcoming chronic and degenerative diseases by influencers in the health and wellness space plus everyday people just like you and me.   Listen to this episode to hear: - more about the Food Heals book and why everyone should check it out (and the new documentary Game Changers produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, and Jackie Chan) - a few sounds of baby Evren ;) - 5 important lessons learned and insights around writing and self-publishing a bestselling book on Amazon   5 Lessons Learned / Insights:   Here are some good lessons learned about writing a book and self-publishing it with Amazon that I learned (or added to my knowledge data bank!) by working with my biz buddy and client Allison Melody on her incredible book!   I hope these help you too on your journey. Listen to the episode above to hear more about each:   Customers cannot buy the Kindle book from the Kindle or Amazon app...you have to purchase it from Amazon.com directly and then you can open and read it inside the app afterward (why? because Apple collects a percentage of the money spent on digital purchases within apps on its devices, and Amazon is not okay with that) Amazon has changed, yet again, how to reach out to tech support -- my hack that I teach my students in the Accelerator [copythatpops.com/accelerator] for how to get up to 10 categories they can rank well in. Now you put in your phone number for tech support to call you back. Book design contests for your artwork is a fun process and great way to do "A" Attraction-Based Marketing. I use 99 Designs [copythatpops.com/99designs] and have a contest going now for a Book That Pops book! Allison used it too and her book is striking! Get quotes in advance for your book from influencers to use on the cover and on the book's product description for instant social proof from the moment you publish! Scrivener [copythatpops.com/smac or copythatpops.com/spc] tech support is 50-50...I love them, but they haven't been 100% helpful/professional     Ping me with questions so I can make tutorials to share with you and help futher!   Plus, copythatpops.com/free is where you can get more book writing and self-publishing resources!   Talk again soon where we will work together to write copy that pops!   xo   Laura     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 shownotes click here!

3 examples of how to instantly improve your writing that are as helpful as Wolfgang Puck and Rachel Ray in the kitchen! This quick copy tip will have your copy popping in under 90 seconds! Full shownotes here.