This week we’re kicking off a new series all focused on copywriting on the show. Because, let’s face it, writing copy is unavoidable in your business! I’ve got an all-star line up of copy pros to share the inside scoop on everything from B2B to launch copy and more. Today we’re kicking off by talking about content strategy - the #1 thing you need before you write a single word! Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode51.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

• Whether you hire a copywriter or not, whether you’re a good writer or not, every one of us has to deal with writing in our business
• I break down what content strategy is, and what it’s not
• The questions you should ask yourself to drive your content strategy to be useful to your audience
  The warning signs that say you need a content strategy
• No matter what, your content has to serve a purpose
  The 5 essential elements of a content strategy

The 5 Essential Elements of A Content Strategy:

1. You need to understand your customer and your customer’s journey. You need to know more than the basics, you need to understand how they get from finding your business all the way to the purchase.
2. Getting clear on your mission and values. Do you actually know what the master plan is for your business 5 or 10 years down the road?
3. How do you communicate? What is your tone and manner? Don’t rip off someone else’s tone, be yourself. How do you want your customers to feel when they’re interacting with your brand? Also think about your writing style.
4. Prioritization and presentation of information. People need to be told what to do when they get to your website. Too many options leads to the choice paradox. Get really clear on how you present information and get consistent with it.
5. What is the workflow and the schedule? How do you create content, what are the steps involved, and who is involved in each step? Think about your content schedule so you can be consistent and make your audience comfortable.

Links for this Episode:

The Why Behind the Buy Episode with Brittany Becher

Link to Free Marketing Moxie Facebook Group

This week is a milestone episode! We’ve hit the mark of 50 shows, so I’m sharing my favorite moments, shows, and lessons with you. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode50. 

Items Discussed in this Episode:

• My top lessons I’ve learned about myself from podcasting:
  - Who knew I would have an inner block for explicit language?
  - How being a writer translated to podcasting
  - Things that surprised me about audio, and the unique relationships you develop with your listeners
• My top lessons I’ve learned from guests on my show:
  - Natalie Eckdahl s lessons from 100 episodes
  - Val Geisler’s take on follow through with your customers
  - Makenna Johnstone and her solid advice for doing it your way and not following the ‘shoulds’
  - Zsofi Koller on everything you need to know about working with a web designer
  - Jessica Kupferman’s ridiculously fun interview about online dating and online business
• My top lessons I’ve learned about podcasting:
  - I’ve joined the secret club and I love it because it’s all kinds of geeky
  - How surprisingly low-tech podcasting has turned out to be, and how I use my ‘secret weapons’
  - I love interviewing, and I love being interviewed
• The absolute best thing about podcasting: the fans. You guys are awesome!
• What’s coming up next on the show and the new series that will follow

Links for this Episode:

Nathalie Eckdahl's Episode

Val Geisler's Episode

Makenna Johnston's Episode

Zsofi Koller's Episode

Jessica Kupferman's Episode

Link to Free Marketing Moxie Facebook Group

Branding may be a big old buzz word and so many people aren’t sure what it really means. Jeremy Miller, author of Sticky Branding joins the show to talk about what exactly sticky branding is and how to make it work for our business so we can stand out. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode49.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

• Jeremy defines what is a ‘sticky brand’ and lists some top brands that are considered ‘sticky brands’ and how they became that way
• What is ‘tilting the odds’ and how can you apply it to your business?
• Why being a ‘generalist’ can work against you
• How Jeremy and his family re-branded their business to a specific niche to make it more successful
• How to consistently show up in the discussion and being a part of the dialogue for your brand, but not become overwhelmed by trying to be everywhere at once
• Why ‘busy work’ will be the death of your business
• Jeremy’s favorite principle of his 12.5 and why it’s the foundation of building a brand

Top Takeaways for this Episode:

1. Do you have a ‘sticky brand’? Look at your brand critically and ask yourself these questions:
   Would people refer me again and again?
   Am I the top choice?
   Am I remarkable?
2. Learn how to ‘tilt the odds’. This means finding your competitive advantage. Avoid being a generalist. Find the niche or market that is your sweet spot where you can be the master to go to.
3. Work on having simple clarity. If you can’t explain in 10 words or less what you do and how you do it, there’s a big problem.This is one of the hardest things to do that I’m still working on too!

Links for this Episode:

Sticky Branding Book

Link to Free Marketing Moxie Facebook Group

Are you stuck in a rut when it comes to your marketing or does it feel like what you’re doing doesn’t connect? When we’re always ordering the same thing off the “menu” week in, week out, we’re missing prime opportunities to reach new people and holding ourselves back from growth.  Which is why I’ve created the #moxiechallenge for you - which I’ll run periodically in 2015 to help push you out of the comfort zone. And don’t worry, I’ll be playing right along with you. Show notes with key points, takeaways, and links for this episode available at www.maggiepatterson.com/episode48.

Items Discussed in this Episode:

• Why do we keep doing the same things if they don’t connect with our audience or work very well when it comes to marketing?
• Why I want to stop playing it safe, and what this has to do with turkey sandwiches
• Why trying new things and experimenting is necessary in 2015
• My ‘sandbox’ concept for my business this year
• My 5 ideas for my #moxiechallenge to you

Top 5 Ideas for your #moxiechallenge:

1. LinkedIn Publishing: Why not use the community you’ve already built on LinkedIn to share your content? (Resource blog post on LinkedIn publishing)
2. About Page: It shouldn’t be about you, it should be about your audience. About pages need TLC, they are probably one of the most visited pages on your site. (About page resource.)
3. Storytelling: Write 3 stories connected to your business. Storytelling is what humanizes us and makes us memorable. (Resource: Blog post on storytelling)
4. Guest Posting: Give guest posting a try. It may not generate mega traffic to your site, but putting yourself out there creates credibility for you. (Resource: Pitching Quick Start Guide)
5. Interview One of Your Clients: Talk to them about the work you did together and how it impacted their business. (Resource: Voice of Customer Blog Post)

So, what’s it going to be? How will you get your #moxie on for the #moxiechallenge? Share with me on Twitter (@magspatterson) or in the The Playground group on Facebook.

Links for this Episode:

The Cellar Club

Free Pitching Quick Start Guide

Slideshare

Link to Free Marketing Moxie Facebook Group