Episodes

It's almost that time of year... Time to declare big changes for 2024! And then abandon those declarations in a few short weeks. I'm not trying to be negative, but the reality is: It's hard to make significant changes in ourselves. Only 3% of people stick to their big resolutions. But why? That's what we'll take a look at in this week's episode. Change is possible...and it can be much easier than you think. Key Insights ​ Change happens when the pain of not changing is greater than the diff...

The P.A.S.T.O.R. Framework® is the formula I use to craft every piece of sales copy I write. It is also the most "borrowed" piece of knowledge that I've ever taught. I've seen it shared in countless blog posts, videos, and forums around the net (often without proper attribution, but that's okay...I guess). The thing is, to really use this formula effectively, you need to learn a little more than just what each letter of the acronym stands for. This week, I'm diving deeper into each step of the ...

I have previously claimed that Writer's Block does not exist. That was true for me at least...until recently. What happened? How could my seemingly endless well of ideas and words suddenly run dry? This week I'm sharing the cause, and the cure. Key Insights ​Expressing my gratitude for you in this season of thanks ​Suddenly self-conscious ​Age is NOT a handicap in this arena. There is value in your wisdom ​Accept who you are and embrace your imperfections ​Be a source of positivity online ...

Building your business and your brand requires a particular set of skills. I want to talk about those skills (one in particular), but also issue a reminder about your other brand...the one built by others. Your shadow brand. What is it, and how do you manage it? Key Insights ​ What's the best, must-have skill for creating cash flow and building wealth? ​AI has made it easier to build a business with less human help, but at a certain level you must start hiring people. ​The harder you work, th...

"People Pleasing" is NOT the way to build a brand. You might build a BIG list that way, but you won't build a QUALITY one. Your list, your followers, your subscribers...They need to know the real you if you want to build a meaningful connection. (You know, the kind that brings in revenue for your business.) Your message must align with your brand. My guest this week is known as "the People Displeaser" (a.k.a. Nick Pollard), and he has done exactly that. Nick and I will discuss his journey, an...

Check out this incredible conversation I had with my fellow word-nerd, Molly Rouse-DiCioccio. Molly has an amazing insight as to (as she puts it) "why people do stuff". Once you understand the psychology of your audience, the right words become obvious. And, of course, if you're a copywriter that can "connect", you can charge appropriately (6-figures in the case of the project we discussed), and are free to work from wherever. ​Molly's fascination with human behavior and psychology drives her...

Amanda Foust is a shining example of someone who turned their passion into a profitable business. Her love of writing inspired her to learn a skill that she's used to build TWO successful businesses — Copywriting. She'll explain how important copywriting has been in BOTH of her businesses (including the one that has nothing to do with writing). Because, as she puts it, "I just don't know how you sell otherwise." Key Insights ​Thank God for teachers ​Understanding the importance of framing and...

Many entrepreneurs start their journey out of necessity. An unforeseen set of circumstances gives them the push, and then it's sink or swim. My guest this week was facing some major family and financial challenges. She fought through the fear and built a successful, 6-figure business in less than a year...That's a story worth paying attention to. Listen and learn from my conversation with Anita Anello. Key Insights Anita's career success and achievements left her feeling unfulfilled, question...

Ever have that dream of waking up and finding that your most recent video got hundreds of thousands of views while you were sleeping? I have. I have yet to experience this personally, but that's exactly what happened to my guest, Matt Wolfe. In this conversation with Matt, we'll talk about his sudden boom (9 years after launching his channel) - What caused it? How have things changed? What opportunities has it made possible? Matt is a passionate student of A.I. and it shows in his videos. We'l...

I can think of no more valuable skill than the one that conveys the importance, uniqueness, value, and necessity of everything else you have to offer - Copywriting. Feel free to try and convince me otherwise...but guess what skill you'll need to do that? Copywriting is fundamental to any business because it's how you communicate who you are and why people need you. Any transaction begins with communication, and the quality of that communication dictates everything that comes after. This week'...

This week we review the fundamental differences between marketing and selling, and how to properly execute both. Plus, I introduce you to two of my students, Jason and Melanie Crane. We'll talk about their entrepreneurial journey as a husband and wife team, they're challenges, and how you can achieve success without sacrificing your marriage. I'll also tell you how you can learn the same fundamental sales system that we use for each and every product and service we sell (Product Launch Formula...

A lot of people are asking this question when it comes to "Content Marketing": How much is too much? At what point do you saturate your readers, listeners and viewers with so much knowledge that they are no longer interested in buying what you're selling? In this week's episode, I'll give you a solid answer to that question...free of charge. Key Insights ​Giving away valuable content for free in content marketing can help build trust with potential customers and lead to future sales. ​The s...

My weekly podcast has been my #1 source for new clients since the beginning of my business. Why? Because it has helped me to build a connection with the right people. Listeners get a dose of my knowledge and personality and then decide whether they should move on, or stay for more. Those who aren't a fit for my style get naturally filtered out. So, the podcast doesn't just get me more clients - It gets me better clients...My right-fit clients. This week, we're talking about the golden opportun...

In this economic reality, you must bring your A-Game when it comes to marketing. No more outdated websites...No more ignoring your "Shadow Brand", or your reputation on social media. You must strive to be Iconic in your market. This week, we're talking about how my son and I are marketing the local coffee shop we co-own together, Revel 77. Key Insights ​​ The importance of stepping up your marketing game in the current economic reality and moving away from ugly marketing strategies. ​Ugly we...

This week, I'm laying some groundwork for an upcoming series about building your own 1-person business. A 1-person business isn't new territory for me - I ran a successful one for many years before I started building my team... BUT - The tools that are available now (specifically the AI-Powered ones) have made doing this on-your-own incredibly easy. You can now build your business by yourself, without neglecting every other aspect of your life...And it's AMAZING. Let's talk about what's possib...

In this episode of The Ray Edwards Show, we ponder on the balance between niching down and maintaining personal authenticity in a brand. While specialized services and products offer a greater focus, personal charisma gives your brand its unique charm. But which one should prevail? Let's find out. Key Points ​Defining your personal brand does not mean you have to stick to one specific niche. ​While services should be hyper-focused on a niche, personalities should be diverse. ​Ambition and p...

This week is another Q&A with Ray episode where I offer my answers to these questions: How do I get more people to open my emails? ​Can I use copywriting on social media without seeming sleazy? ​Are old-school sales pages dead? Those are some great questions, to which I believe I have some helpful answers. If you would like to win a free, signed copy of my new book, Read This Or Die: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life, check out the link below to get the code I mention in the podcast. I'll ...

In case you're not familiar with Lee Cockerell, here's a quick snippet from his bio: Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of Operations for the Walt Disney World® Resort. "As the Senior Operating Executive for ten years Lee led a team of 40,000 Cast Members and was responsible for the operations of 20 resort hotels, 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping & entertainment village and the ESPN sports and recreation complex in addition to the ancillary operations which supported t...

In this Episode of the Ray Edwards Show, I'm going to show you exactly how I'm using AI every week in my workflow. How I am using AI in my business to make more money with less work, and produce better copy (meaning copy that converts better). And how you can do the same thing. This episode is specifically made for business owners who want to write copy for their own business. Even if your business is a copywriting business – there is plenty of opportunity for all of us. These are the days of l...

I was recently interviewed for the Marketer of the Day Podcast, hosted by Robert Plank. In this episode, we dig into some core marketing principles that I use and teach, and discuss how they relate to the system covered in my new book, Read This Or Die. 00:00 Intro 00:43 Nerves 01:48 Ray's Unique Selling Position 03:15 What's something unique that you've written copy for? 04:58 Where do people fall short in the copywriting process? 07:23 The importance of storytelling 09:38 "Well, you've got i...

This week, my friend and coauthor of Read This Or Die, Jeff Goins, joins me on the show for an in-depth conversation about the book, the collaboration, and the writing process. [00:00] Intro - A Face For Radio [03:50] Getting familiar with your own book [07:15] Where is your Vulnerability-Meter? [10:59] Describe our working relationship? [12:08] Am I your first? [14:56] What do you want the reader to get from this book? [15:43] Wakeup call from my wife... [17:00] How real change happens [19:34]...

I was recently interviewed on The Cliff Ravenscraft Show about my new book, Read This or Die. Since this book is, by necessity, so deeply personal, this interview was equally personal and somewhat challenging to get through. However, I felt that it encapsulated the message of the book so well, I asked for Cliff's permission to use the audio on my own show. My sincere thanks to Cliff Ravenscraft (a.k.a. The Mindset Answer Man) for making this episode possible. If you're not familiar with Cliff'...

This episode is definitely "off the cuff", but does have a clear inspiration. I've been listening to more intimate, less polished podcasts and started kicking around the idea of doing a secondary, more intimate, less polished podcast of my own. I hope to gauge my audience's interest in such a thing based on feedback from this episode...then proceed as planned regardless of the results. Have a comment to share about this idea? See the contact info near the bottom of this post. Links Train With...

This week, I have a potentially unpopular answer to a very popular question: How do I upgrade my clients? The serial-refunders, the constant complainers, the manipulators...and of course, people who are downright rude to you and your team. How do you avoid them? Even more to the point: How do you get the kind of clients you actually want? [00:00] How do I upgrade my clients? [00:46] You're not going to like this answer, but... [01:48] My $5,000 problem [03:08] What your company avatar should lo...