Welcome to the last episode in season two of the Tried It podcast, also known as the crunchiest episode of the season! Today, Sarah and Nicole step back and reflect on everything that’s happened since they started recording the season, approximately 10,000 years ago.

You’ll hear how season two’s books have impacted Nicole and Sarah’s businesses and how Sarah’s adapted her Homework For Life process to help her keep up the daily writing habit. Both hosts share big news from their businesses, including Nicole’s long-awaited launch of her brand-new website and newsletter! And since we’re all here for fun as well as for work, there are some fun life updates, from new pets to delicious breakfast recipes.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for following along with the Tried It team, the talented authors and the wonderful guests of season two. The podcast will be back for a third season and there will even be the opportunity to feature as a guest so fill out the form if you’re interested. Sarah and Nicole would love to hear from you! And if you can’t wait until season three to get more Tried It in your life, check out the podcast membership for ambitious copywriters looking to upskill and grow their businesses.

Timestamps

[0:30] Welcome to the wrap-up episode, y’all!

[1:20] How Nicole feels from 10,000 years ago to now: Important work updates

[3:45] Let’s celebrate Nicole’s new website and newsletter!

[6:10] And there’s another new newsletter in town! Sarah introduces her new concept

[13:15] How season two’s books helped Sarah and Nicole work on their businesses

[15:40] The “mental gymnastics” of beating AI and breaking out of comfort zones

[20:35] Nicole’s fun rat-shaped life updates

[21:20] The *crunchiest* part of the episode

[23:55] Sarah’s fun life update

[25:55] How Sarah’s updated Homework For Life to help keep her habit consistent

[27:40] What changes in your life when you start doing Homework For Life

[32:00] Big announcement: There will be a season three of the podcast!

[33:50] Lonely without the pod? Try out the Tried It membership!

[35:35] Thanks for hanging with the Tried It team!

Links and Resources Related To This Episode

Nicole’s granola recipe

The granola recipe that Sarah uses and hardly modifies at all, so full credit to Cookie and Kate for this one

The Tried It Storyworthy Discussion episode

The Tried It Storyworthy Implementation episode

Are you brave enough to guest on the podcast?

Stay In Touch With The Tried It Team

Join the Tried It Membership...

Every copywriter dreams of a business that markets itself. Where you, as the writer, spend your days elbow-deep in VOC research, wireframes or email sequences, with your ideal clients forming an orderly queue to be the next to benefit from your words and insights. But if you want to get to that point, you need to build your referral system first.

In this special implementation episode of the Tried It podcast, brand voice expert Justin Blackman returns to discuss The Referral Engine with regular hosts Sarah and Nicole. Each copywriter recaps the three goals they set themselves to experiment with from the book and shares the details of how they got on. Justin talks messaging clarity and Sarah shares how author of The Referral Engine John Jantsch helped her achieve one of her implementation goals. And Nicole’s finally launched her new website!

This is the last book in the second season of the Tried It podcast, but it’s not quite the end of the season yet. Stick around for next week’s end-of-season wrap-up and debrief, featuring Sarah and Nicole discussing how the season was for them and the changes they’ve seen in their businesses. And if you want more Tried It in your life after the season is over, check out the Tried It Membership!

Timestamps

[0:30] Welcome back to the Tried It Podcast, Justin!

[1:40] Nicole gives a quick summary of The Referral Engine, in case you missed the last episode

[3:30] “Some of the stuff just didn’t work the way I wanted it to”: Justin’s experience of applying lessons from The Referral Engine

[6:30] Justin recaps his three implementation points

[8:15] Sometimes, the implementation phase makes you realise what’s not working in your business

[10:15] Using referrals to grow inbound leads - as long as you’re happy to play the long game

[14:40] How to nail your copywriting talkable difference

[18:10] What AI’s missing when you use it to write your copy

[21:00] Is Justin going to use the principles of The Referral Engine going forward?

[23:25] Should you pay someone who refers you a new client?

[24:30] Whoop whoop! Nicole’s launched her new website!

[27:45] Integrating referrals into your client onboarding process

[28:25] “Not every referral is the right referral”: What happens when people don’t understand your business

[29:55] Sarah’s most successful implementation point, with a little help from John Jantsch

[34:05] Starting a new project and navigating the graphic design maze

[37:50] Sarah’s last implementation point: Asking for a referral out loud, from a human being

[41:00] What kind of copywriter would benefit from reading The Referral Engine?

[44:00] Looking for sustainable growth for your copywriting business? Try out the Tried It membership!

Links and Resources Related To This Episode

Buy your copy of The Referral Engine by John Jantsch

Check out Justin’s Brand Voice Academy

The Sixty-Second Sales Hook by Kenny Rogers

Stay In Touch With The Tried It Team

Join the Tried It Membership here

Picture this: a freelance copywriting business with an endless stream of good-fit clients queueing up to work with you. No obligation to be active on social media or to attend networking events. Just you and your profitable copywriting projects.

That’s the dream that John Jantsch sells in his book, The Referral Engine. Whilst most business owners welcome client referrals as an unexpected bonus, Jantsch tells you step-by-step how to turn your business into a machine that generates referrals, bringing your perfect clients to your virtual door. However, the book was published in 2010 and speaks to a wide audience of service- and product-based businesses, covering both ends of the price point spectrum. So can it help today’s freelancer copywriters?

In this episode of Tried It, hosts Nicole and Sarah are joined by special guest Justin Blackman of Brand Voice Academy as they analyse The Referral Engine. Listen along as they share major insights from the book, including the difference between how you see your business and how your clients see it, and how to turn your unique processes into your sales pitch. At the end of the episode, Justin, Sarah and Nicole share the three things they’ll each take from the book to apply to their copywriting businesses.

The Tried It Podcast is nearly at the end of its second season but the copywriting implementation goes on all year round in the Tried It Podcast Membership! If you’re ready to grow your copywriting skills with intention, check out the membership details via the link below.

Timestamps

[0:35] Welcome to the Tried It podcast, Justin Blackman!

[1:45] Introducing The Referral Engine, the book that Justin “highlighted the heck out of”

[4:15] What it means to put referrals at the heart of your copywriting business strategy

[7:10] The difference between a referral and a good referral

[9:05] How to adapt the strategies of The Referral Engine to your freelance copywriting business

[10:55] How you see your business vs. How your clients see your business

[13:05] Nicole breaks down the ‘buy’ stage of the seven-step referral system

[15:50] “One of the most awkward things to ask, ever”: Getting over the mental block of asking for a referral

[21:20] How Justin’s building a referrals process for his business

[24:30] Leveraging strategic partnerships to grow your business

[26:20] TIHWDIH: The acronym that breaks down your processes so your customers want to buy

[28:00] Can referrals replace your social media marketing efforts?

[31:55] “It’s not what you think”: Working out your business ‘talkable difference’

[36:35] “Not pivoting, just narrowing”: How Justin explains to his clients the value he brings to their team

[40:55] Justin’s three implementation points

[43:45] Sarah shares her implementation points

[49:15] Aaaaand Nicole gives her three implementation points

[51:15] How to get more Tried It in your life, even between seasons

Links and Resources Related To This Episode

Buy your copy of The Referral Engine by John Jantsch

Check out Justin’s Brand Voice Academy

Exactly What To Say by Phil M Jones

Stay In Touch With The Tried It Team

Join the Tried It Membership here

Check out our website

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