Kim Krause Schwalm is one of my copywriting heroes, and true to the final line in this episode, talking to her gets me all kinds of fired up and feisty in the BEST possible way. Today we’re talking about some big mistakes many freelancers make when landing their first clients, and how it robs you of your power, leading to frustration and burnout.
Look, if you’ve struggled to communicate with clients, it’s not your fault… there’s not exactly a “How to People: Entrepreneur Edition” manual out there to guide you through building successful client relationships. That’s why I love everything about this episode… Kim’s gonna take you by the hand and show you the difference between bending over backwards (and giving away all your power) and becoming your clients’ ally and trusted expert.
Can’t-Miss Moments From This Episode:
- How I simultaneously nailed and flubbed my first big project (hint: I did a great job but didn’t sleep much while getting it done)
- The end of life as we know it: what I learned from letting my anxiety play out to the worst case scenario (nuclear winter, FYI)… and how it led to the creation of this podcast
- A simple script Kim uses that will help you slam the door down on uncomfortable advances and people who push your boundaries… solidifying their respect for you in the process
- What to say when the conversation turns to money: Kim’s strategy for confidently taking control without being forced into on-the-spot panic pricing
- Why it pays to NOT start working on a project right away, even if you’re wide open and available (this one’s counter-intuitive but powerful)
You don’t want to miss this one. Listen now!
Kim’s Bio:
KIM KRAUSE SCHWALM was always a marketer who could write copy. She spent more than 13 years in the corporate world in various marketing positions—from Brand Manager to Publisher to launching and running the Healthy Directions supplement business and growing it to more than $23 million in sales within 3 years—before she started her freelance copywriting career in 1998.
Now more than two decades later, Kim has built a reputation as one of the top direct response copywriters in the country. She’s racked up dozens of successful direct mail and online controls, beating legendary copywriters like Jim Rutz and Parris Lampropoulos and becoming the first female copywriter to get a Boardroom control.
Kim writes winning copy for leading companies such as Soundview, Bottom Line (Boardroom), Green Valley Natural Solutions, National Geographic, and many others both in the United States and from England to Germany to Singapore.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from Miami University in Ohio, and earned her MBA in Marketing from Loyola University Maryland. Kim credits her creative and analytical mind and marketing know-how for giving her a must-needed edge in today’s increasingly competitive copywriting world—and wants to help others gain the same “marketing-savvy” advantage.
She’s one of the few top-level copywriting veterans who’s still writing copy for clients…while being willing to share her success secrets to help up-and-coming copywriters go from “good” to “great”.
You can learn more about Kim’s copywriting training programs and read her blog at www.KimSchwalm.com. Get on Kim’s list and you’ll get future issues of Copy Insiders, “What’s in Kim’s Mailbox”, and other “dripping with gold” content and updates from Kim.
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