Lauren Jefferson

Lauren Jefferson is the Co-Founder and CEO of FocusCopy – a full-service copywriting agency. She loves everything copy, digital marketing, and coffee!

Prioritizing Marketing Tasks

Prioritizing Your Laundry List of Marketing To-Dos

As an entrepreneur, many things are pulling your attention – growing your team, serving your clients, keeping your books in order, and so on. 

But what about your marketing? 

You’re told to write a blog, send an email newsletter, create SEO content, post on social media, create video content, learn all the algorithms, paid advertising, speaking engagements, and the list doesn’t stop there.

But through the noise, do you feel like marketing experts think about you and your capacity (brainwidth) as a small business owner?

Here are some things you can do to start prioritizing marketing tasks.

Get Organized And Start Prioritizing Marketing Tasks

A great place to start is by making your dream list. Come on, let’s brainstorm together! 

Ask yourself, what is your all-the-bells-and-whistles checklist? You know, the whole laundry list of marketing ideas you’ve ever wanted to implement. If you’re stuck or need some suggestions, you can:

  • Review your website copy. Does it still fit you and your company’s vision? Find a copywriter who can spice it up.
  • Are you getting any traffic? Use a writer who knows SEO to help.
  • Do you have social media followers? Work on a social media strategy that can boost sales for your business.

Now look at your list and ask, what is your more sensible barebones checklist? 

This checklist is what you need to begin and get going on building your marketing strategy.

Whether you’re running the show or you have a team of helpful employees, there are some small things you can do to be productive and get organized. 

ClickUp is an online task management tool that you can use to plugin projects you need to get done, set deadlines, assign tasks to staff, and so much more. Because it’s such a user-friendly system, prioritizing your laundry list of marketing to-dos is that much easier.

A Breakdown Of Marketing Strategies

Let’s talk about several marketing strategies you may have seen over time. Let’s determine if it’s something that you want to focus on and use for your business.

Blogging

If you don’t have an SEO strategy or you don’t have a lot of website traffic, blogging could be a useful channel. With blogs, you can kick up your ranking through SEO best-practices. Doing so gives your prime audience helpful information and a sneak peek into your industry.

Lead Magnets

Your traffic rate is reasonable, but you don’t have a substantial email list of current and potential customers interested in your services. Lead magnets can get you into your customers’ minds to find out what their pain points are and what’s important to them in a solution.

Call-To-Action

It’s okay to put your customers on the spot. Ask them for their email or create other ways to encourage them to take an action on your page. Use phrases like:

  • Subscribe
  • Sign Up
  • Learn More
  • View Pricing
  • Order Now

Landing Page

A useful landing page is an engaging and easy-to-read snapshot of your business and its services. It helps to lead a viewer to click and take them to the next step. Whether the page leads them to a phone number, email address, or order form – you want your customer to take action here.

Cheat Sheet Or Guide

Post a simple cheat sheet or guide informing others of your business model or the way you produce a product. This is a quick way to get them to understand more of what you do. Again, you want them to take action and reach out to you.

Video Or Audio

Think of a video or audio bite as a more modern version of a cheat sheet. Not only can you show off a bit of your personality here, but you’re also giving your audience a way to interact. By doing so, they are more likely to make an action on your page and seek your services. 

Quiz 

There’s nothing like a fun quiz to get an audience engaged and interested in signing up for future emails (check out this fantastic example here). Quizzes are an interactive way to get your audience to question themselves and realize they may need your help. Whether you want to lead them to make a purchase or sign up for your emails to reveal their answers, you really can’t go wrong with a winning quiz.

Email Marketing

Some lively and informative email marketing can help you turn your traffic into leads and eventually into buyers. A good email marketing strategy keeps subscribers in-the-know and consistently aware of your brand.

Social Media

It’s okay to start small with social media. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself with the idea of posting on all outlets every day. It’s better to create a stable community of advocates and promoters for your business little by little.

Paid Advertising

Paid ads can kickstart awareness of your business. This can help grow your following, traffic, regular subscribers, etc. It pays to invest in yourself.  

What Are Your Marketing Priorities?

Keep in mind that you can do it without feeling like you need to do it all. 

For this upcoming quarter, make a list of 3 things you’re going to do well. It could even be cross-sections of a topic (i.e. send one newsletter a week instead of full email marketing campaigns). Then determine whether it genuinely looks doable to you.

If you know the direction you would like to go in, but you’re struggling with writer’s block, take a look at our blog 11 Tips on How To Overcome Your Writer’s Block.

Check Us Out & Check Off Your Marketing To-Do List

We’ve listed some insights into what you should really focus on between all of the agencies, consultants, and experts so you don’t skip the important stuff. Make reasonable requests for yourself. Can you put out one email a month? One blog a month? What about one social media post a week?

As a small business owner, it’s important to be true to yourself, your capabilities, and your budget.

Need some help with your prioritizing marketing tasks or creating content? Give us a shout, and we’ll get you where you want to be – operating in a timeframe that works for you.

When Was The Last Time You Updated Your Home Page?

Answer these 6 questions and spruce up your home page in 15 minutes (or less).

small business crisis communications plan

Why You Need A Small Business Crisis Communications Plan

You wouldn’t believe it now with blue skies and 70ºF weather, but just one week ago, Texas was covered with snow and ice.

Not only did this arctic blast cause everything to freeze, it resulted in catastrophic power outages, frozen (and burst) water pipes, and less than stellar cell service. 

All of our remote team either lost power for at least 24 hours and had very unreliable water. By Thursday, only 40% of our team had reliable Internet access – which is critical for our business. 

We don’t state this for pity, but this type of event happens all the time around the world. 

Now that we’ve defrosted, we’re here to share what we did (and wish we would have done) in regards to our small business crisis communications plan.  You too can be prepared for the next crisis – whatever that might be!

Why You Need A Small Business Crisis Communications Plan

You can’t control the crisis – whether it’s a natural disaster, local emergency, or personal crisis. It may happen completely unexpectedly or you’ll have a couple days heads up. In our case, we had a couple days to prepare. While we prepped by acquiring enough food and water for a couple days, we didn’t anticipate losing power or cell service for several days. 

Instead of thinking on the fly, read on to discover 4 reasons why you need a small business crisis communications plan. 

It Shows You Are Proactive

Your clients want to know that you’re looking out for their best interests. That means seeing what is coming at them! They too may be stressed about the upcoming storm or emergency, or they may be oblivious to what’s going on in the world. 

Give them one variable they can control by controlling it for them. Send communications to display your proactive approach. They’ll not only appreciate that, but they’ll begin to associate proactiveness with your brand. 

It Communicates Why You’ve Ghosted Them

There’s nothing like losing power and not being able to get in contact with your clients or the people you were supposed to meet with that day. Instead of being in that position, give them an explanation ahead of time if you cannot attend the meeting. They are much more willing to be forgiving if they know what’s going on. 

Don’t be the person that stands them up! 

P.S. If you don’t have cell signal, you can say “no” on the calendar event and put a short note. That seemed to work when text or email wouldn’t. When you regain signal, then send them an email to reschedule and apologize for your absence. 

It Preps Them For The Worst Case Scenario 

Just in case your entire electrical grid shuts down, you’ve already done the work to prepare your clients on the worst case scenario – not being able to deliver or communicate with them. 

It Helps You Identify Who You Need To Contact

When you have a plan, you are less likely to forget anyone you need to contact. Those individuals may include:

  • Clients
  • Vendors
  • Employees
  • Community
  • Management

What You Need To Include In Your Small Business Crisis Communications Plan

So while there are some emergencies that you cannot anticipate (i.e. volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.), there are others that you absolutely know are coming. Days ahead of the winter storm Texas experienced last week, meteorologists tried their best to let everyone know it was coming. 

We stocked up on food and water, wrapped our pipes, and got all our blankets out. While we thought we had prepared, we didn’t anticipate widespread power outages. 

Client Alert

This is something that we personally failed to do with our clients before the storm rolled in (and something we’re mitigating for next time). But alert your clients of what to expect over the next couple of days. That may include what to expect, what you’re doing to be prepared, next steps, and well wishes. 

If we were to do it all over again, we would have sent out the email below between Friday and Sunday – before the storms rolled in Sunday evening. This allows them to expect that our company is going dark during the crisis. 

Dear Valued Clients,

Over the next few days, our remote team in Texas is hunkering down for the “winter storm of the century”. While we don’t know what that actually entails, we fully anticipate our response time will be delayed (due to us being frozen, of course). If the storm results in a worst case scenario – i.e. power outages – we will update you on your revised deliverable schedule.

If you do have an emergency or need to get in contact with me, please text me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Our connectivity may be limited with potential power outages. I will do my best to respond as I am able to.

Thank you for your understanding and patience during this storm.

Stay warm and safe out there!

If things aren’t as bad as the weather reports said it was going to be, then you can come in and surprise them!

AutoResponders To Personal Emails

The next thing you need to consider putting in your small business crisis communications plan is an autoresponder. Have your entire team set their out of office notifications to indicate the same message that was sent out to all of your client base. 

Here is what I sent out: 

Thank you so much for your email!

Due to the extreme weather in Houston and the rolling black-outs, our response time may be delayed. Thank you for your patience as we wait to get back online.

If you need immediate assistance, please text me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Otherwise, I will respond to your email as soon as possible.

Stay warm!

Client Warnings

After losing power and cell service for 22 hours, I got antsy. I knew we were fast approaching deadlines and I could do nothing about it. So the very next day when I got power back (at 3am), I rattled off several client emails warning them that this may happen again. 

Dear Valued Clients, 

You may have seen it on the news or be experiencing it for yourself, but the winter storm impacting Texas (and especially Houston) has greatly impacted our team’s ability to work on your deliverables and be in contact with you. Our entire team has either had no power or unreliable power over the last 48+ hours. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we navigate this unusual occurrence. 

Once we are out of this storm, I’ll provide an update on your deliverables.

If you do have an emergency or need to get in contact with me, please text me at (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Our connectivity is limited, so I will do my best to respond as I am able to. 

Stay warm and safe out there!

Start Preparing Your Small Business Communications Plan Today

While this is not an exhaustive list or may not address the crisis you anticipate undergoing, we do hope this was helpful to put into your communications arsenal. Send us a note if you have any questions or comments at info@focuscopy.com.

Until next time… Enjoy this beautiful weather!

b2b vs b2c marketing

Say Good-Bye to B2B vs B2C Marketing. Say Hello to a New Marketing Paradigm!

Recently, a student at the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship asked me… 

“How do you move a mechanical mentor relationship into a personal mentor relationship?” 

My answer was simple…. Be human. 

You see… People want to connect with other people. That’s how we were designed. We weren’t designed to be isolated and unconnected.

The same goes in our business environment. We look at our clients as businesses or consumers. But in the end, every client you deal with is human. 

That’s why I want to say good-bye to the terms B2B vs B2C marketing! 

It’s time to welcome in this new term H2H. 

Say Hello to H2H: The New Marketing Paradigm

In business writing, we’re often told to write from a business point of view to another business or a consumer. And while that’s dandy, it takes the personal touch out of the relationship. 

And copywriting is basically building a relationship between you (i.e. the writer) and your reader (i.e. your prospect)!

When I meet with entrepreneurs every day, their “why” and purpose for why their business exists isn’t to make money (although that’s part of the motivation). The purpose is so much deeper than that, and may include:

  • Creating full conversion campaigns so that you can take care of your sick family member
  • Designing jewelry that female entrepreneurs can feel confident wearing because you didn’t have that sense of confidence when you were younger
  • Documenting client’s processes because you know what’s it’s like when the founder of the company dies and left no documentation
  • Advising clients on their finances because you came from an impoverished country
  • Coaching spouses who co-own a business because you battled with your own spouse to get on the same page

This list goes on and on… And those are examples from just this past month!

B2B vs B2C Marketing

Business to business or B2B marketing is in the name itself. It’s businesses marketing their services to other businesses with the hope of solving their client’s problems, or at least making themselves appear more desirable. 

The marketing style that most people are familiar with is typically business to consumer. Ads sporting a B2C style look similar to catchy fast food billboards, quippy sparkling water ads, or even eye-catching electronic commercials. While they all may fall under different industries, they all have one thing in common in that they are designed for you – the likely consumer. 

Take a look at this chart below to compare key differences between both marketing strategies:

B2BB2C
Targets Other BusinessesTargets Consumers
Has Fewer CustomersHas a Larger Number of Customers
Effort is Often Put into Speaking to a Smaller Group(s)Effort is Put into Speaking to a Wide Variety of People
Have High-Value OrdersHave Lower-Value Orders
Decisions to Buy Take LongerDecisions to Buy Can Be Immediate
Produce Longer Lasting RelationshipsProduce Shorter Term Relationships

While this chart may not apply to every single business out there, it’s the typical pattern that we see when comparing B2B vs B2C marketing.

Why There’s Room for Change to H2H

The problem companies are running into with these two channels of marketing is that at the end of it all, there is a human behind the curtain making the important decisions. And unless you have robots for employees, there is a natural desire for copywriters to want to connect on a human-to-human basis with their audience.

Let’s put it this way… Customers can only hear the same auto reply responses and receive the same corporate-structured interactions so many times before they start to become frustrated with your intentions. And you may not even know it! 

Consider if you were your own customer… 

Do you think your business would be tackling the true pain points of your buyer in a meaningful way?

If not, there are a few things you can do to shake up the copy so that it relays a more relatable message.

Changing Your B2B Copy

The idea behind bringing up your potential customers’ pain points is to offer them a tangible solution. For businesses, pain points may look like this:

“I’m tired of using the management software I have because I feel it takes away from everyone’s productivity.”

Instead of responding or advertising something that immediately talks about your own business, think about why their problem may be frustrating to them. The reasons could include they:

  • Want their employees to feel productive and valuable
  • Would like to reduce the stress their employees feel using a malfunctioning software system
  • Would like to use a software that offers real-time human interaction when there are problems
  • Want to buy from a company they can trust because they’ve been burned before

If you truly feel that your business can give them what they’re looking for based on their pain points, feel free to tell them that rather than burying your value in the copy.

Changing Your B2C Copy

For consumers, pain points may look like this:

“I’m bored of my morning beverage, and I’m looking for new coffee blends to try that aren’t Starbucks.”

Again instead of diving into your own business right away, reflect on the customer’s feelings and attempt to get to the root of the issue. 

  • They’re bored! Maybe their morning cup of coffee gives them the jolt they need to get through the day, no matter what that looks like
  • Deep down, they may feel guilty by not supporting local brands
  • They might also want to buy from a supplier who they can connect with
  • They may want to consider eco-friendly and ethical businesses to buy from 

It’s important to connect to the human who is having these problems, acknowledge their concerns, and then offer solutions if you have them. 

Be honest. Nobody enjoys being swindled.

Let’s Chat About Your Copy

As a business owner, do me a favor, take a step back and ask yourself these 2 questions.

“How am I connecting with my clients? Is it working?”

If the answer you came up with is unclear or you’ve come to realize it isn’t working for you, then it may be time to turn to the experts. There’s nothing wrong with needing help writing for your business. In fact, we’re happy to do it! Contact us, and we’ll work together at connecting with your clients in the new way to write — the H2H way.

Focus Your Copy On Conversation & Conversion

Let’s Grab A Virtual Coffee With Us To Discover How To Boost Your Words
Benefits for Writing Business Blog Posts

5 Benefits for Writing Business Blog Posts (And How To Start Publishing)

Blogging is certainly not dead – especially when it comes to B2B blogging. Some 700 million blog posts are published each month on WordPress alone. 

Today’s web users can hop online and find a blog on pretty much any topic you can imagine. 

Searching for a step-by-step guide on how to perform an oil change? There’s a blog for that. 

What about finding the perfect chocolate cake recipe? Yep, there’s a blog for that, too. 

More often than not, the blogs with sufficient information may eventually lead you to an expert within the field of what you’re searching for. 

This is excellent news for businesses – boasting numerous benefits for writing business blog posts.

5 Benefits for Writing Business Blog Posts

We could go on for hours listing the benefits for writing business blog posts, but we picked these 5 benefits because they directly impact your bottom line. At FocusCopy, we would never recommend anything that doesn’t produce sales or makes your company more efficient (and thereby more profitable).

1. Blog Posts Provide Social Media and Email Content

You want to keep your audience engaged, right? If you’re like us, you’ve been subject to opening a marketing email only to hit close as soon as you scan it (even if you get that far). One way to positively use the blogs you’ve written is to include them in your marketing emails paired with a catchy headline or phrase to draw your audience in. By doing so, you keep readers engaged with relevant content to your business, boost your click rate, and improve website traffic…. Ultimately generating more qualified leads for your business (paired with a few other things).

Plus, with so many tools available like MailChimp, Campaign Monitor, and so on, you can use these platforms to help monitor your email marketing performance, making it easy to see which emails featuring your blogs tend to outshine one another. You can then plan and strategize additional content to work better for you and your business in the future.

In line with sharing blogs to your email efforts, you can pad your social media calendar with shareable posts featuring your blog. All it takes is a simple graphic, engaging copy, and a link to your blog to quickly get better engagement on your social media platforms. With almost half of the world’s population using social media, you really can’t go wrong by creating some buzz around your blog posts using Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social-sharing software.

2. Blog Posts Boost Search Engine Optimization

According to OptinMonster, “Companies who blog get 97% more links to their websites.” That statistic alone should be convincing enough to start blogging. 

The bottom line is that more traffic to your website means more potential sales. Writing a blog and sharing its content any way you can help build the number of visitors who end up on your site. As you consistently continue producing relevant content written with SEO in mind, you’ll see your SEO performance build and improve over time.

Chances are, someone who conducts a search on Google looking for a how-to on best business practices during COVID will likely run into a few high-ranking blogs covering this topic. As a result, the business blogs that appear on the first or second page are likely to see improved engagement and viewers on their website.

As long as you have an individual or team member regularly creating, publishing content, and monitoring your results, there is no reason your SEO and, in turn, your business shouldn’t see some improved engagement.

Case Study: Publish Consistently Now

As a new business, we consistently published weekly blogs from August 2019 to April 2020. This was a critical step to start building the SEO snowball. 

Then between April 2020 and September 2020, our blogging became a little more inconsistent because… Well, we were too busy writing for our clients. Yet, our traffic was still growing. 

In October 2020, our blogging became non-existent through the remainder of 2020. We were simply too busy to even schedule posts on social media! All our focus was on our client’s copy and their marketing. 

Yet, our traffic grew and grew. This is the power of publishing business blog posts. This is what we refer to as the SEO snowball effect.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

Chinese Proverb
Benefits for Writing Business Blog Posts

3. Blog Posts Educate Your Target Audience

There is a ton of information out there online. But you’re the one who knows your business best, so who better to talk about it than yourself? People want to know accurate and readable information that will help them. Don’t be afraid to give your blogs everything you’ve got and go into as much detail as you can in an organized format that flows with ease.

A simple benefit you can add to your blogs includes graphics, videos, and photography to help users visualize the discussion topic. It’s not entirely necessary, but for businesses who offer intricate services or products, these elements can break down some more technical content in a digestible way.  

(P.S. We’re experts in capturing your brand voice, learning your story, and communicating it with SEO and your target audience in mind. Want to learn how we make your blog production easier? Schedule a call with co-founder Lauren Jefferson today.

4. Blogs Posts Position You As a Brand Authority

As the expert, you want to let others know that they can turn to you for the information they need now or might need in the future. With each blog post, you build brand authority for yourself and become a reliable resource for your audience to turn to.

One way of serving as a brand authority lies in sharing information backed by reliable resources, data, or reports. You can also rely on the professionals around you to get the latest industry updates and material to improve your content. Finally, you can answer some FAQs in depth through blogs that are both requested and informative. Each of these factors sets the tone for your blog and provides a safe space for others to turn to when they need trustworthy information.

5. Blog Posts Create More Opportunities to Sell

If you have your sales process down, blog writing may be the solution you need to pour more leads into your funnel. You see, the more content you produce backed by appropriate facts and figures, the more people will be geared towards your website and brand. As users get to know your brand better and become more familiar with who you are, the more likely they are to use your product or service.  

According to Hubspot, “Marketers who prioritized blogging received 13X more ROI than companies that did not in 2019.” Hubspot’s findings make blogging one of the most useful marketing tools out there on top of creating other inviting digital content. 

How to Start Writing Blog Posts for Business

If you’re tired of being left behind in a digital world, get started today on setting up a blog for your business with just a few quick steps.

Figure Out What You’re Going To Write About

Where do you start? Understandably, you may have a lot to say but don’t know where to begin. Whether you use your smartphone, laptop, or pen and paper, you should kick off your blogging venture by jotting down your best blog ideas. Some components to think about include:

  • Timeliness. Is what you want to write about pertinent to right now?
  • Substance. Is there enough to talk about when discussing a specific topic?
  • Benefits. Will your blog be able to highlight something that your business has to offer to help its readers?
  • Content. Is the content being discussed relevant to your business?

If you’ve answered “No,” to any of these questions, it may be time to discuss more openly with your team about what would work when it comes to blogging for your business.

(Need help thinking of potential topics? FocusCopy is here to help! Contact us today to learn how we make this process easier for you.)

Decide How Frequently You’re Going to Write Blog Posts

Some websites will tell you you should blog twice a week, once a week, or once a month. Depending on your business, you may want to post more or less. If you don’t have the bandwidth to start posting numerous times a day, work on getting your posts written and provide yourself with a bank of blogs you can rely on when you’re ready to start publishing.

“Blogging frequency has a direct and significant impact on lead generation.”

SEO.co

We take a little different approach when it comes to choosing frequency. At FocusCopy, we want to see consistency in your marketing. If that’s every week, go for it! But if you can only manage one blog a month, that’s great. Start building that rhythm so you can produce more content down the line. 

Determine Who Is Writing Your Blog Posts

I you are considering starting a blog, think no more. Get your blog up and running with a content writer who knows the ins and outs of blogging, wordplay, and adapting to your company’s work model, style, voice, tone, and attitude.

We get it! You may not have the time for blogging. Lucky for you, we’re the experts you need in that department. FocusCopy offers content writing for your business – bringing your brand to center stage for the audience you crave.

Benefits for Writing Business Blog Posts
Creating Swipe Files

The Beginner’s Guide To Creating Swipe Files For Copywriting

Who said writing high-converting copy has to be hard? 

Probably someone without a swipe file! 

If you’re stuck in a creative block trying to write compelling and high-converting copy for your business, it’s time to learn about the shortcut you’ve been missing. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel and stand on the shoulders of giants instead. 

Here’s the secret… The most successful copywriters get on-demand inspiration from the best that’s already out there by creating swipe files for their business.

What is a Swipe File? 

A swipe file is a folder full of examples of copy that:

  • You love
  • Made you buy
  • You want to emulate in your business’s copy

The purpose of having a swipe file is to have examples to refer to when your creativity well is dry. For instance, many visual artists use an inspiration or mood board to help guide their creative process. It’s a collage of visual ideas to help guide them along as they work. Referring to a mood board can help creatives:

  • Plan more clearly
  • Save time and energy
  • Keep inspiration high
  • Remind them of the end-goal

Swipe files are the mood boards of copywriting, and they come with similar benefits.

The Most Important Rule of Swipe Files

The first and most important thing to know about using swipe files is that they are a collection of examples to work from – NOT copied. You should never plagiarize what someone else has created. Not only is plagiarism unethical, but your website could potentially be flagged for its unoriginal content.

Swipe files are a resource to learn from and to improve your skills. Many of the best artists, athletes, and business leaders learned from previous ‘greats’ to improve themselves and their chance to surpass them. Simply trying to pass others’ work off as their own wouldn’t have helped them at all. The concept is the same when it comes to swipe files.

Why Businesses Need Swipe Files

If your business isn’t using swipe files, you may be at a disadvantage. Not only will it take you more time to write, but your writing probably won’t reach its full potential for conversion and engagement.

Keeping regularly updated swipe files helps businesses:

  • Stay in the loop about the latest copywriting strategies
  • Bypass testing by using copywriting that is already proven to work
  • Produce copy that is attention-catching rather than stale and dated

The Beginner’s Guide To Creating Swipe Files For Copywriting

If you’re ready to start refilling your creative well and get to writing better copy more quickly, here is what you need to know about establishing and maintaining creative swipe files.

Understand What Types of Copy You Need

If you’re trying to build a car, looking up cake recipes won’t do you any good. In writing, if you’re trying to create copy for your website homepage, looking up examples of email newsletters can only get you so far — no matter how amazing the copy might be. In this case, if you are unsure where to start, it may help to understand that there are two kinds of copy, each trying to accomplish a different goal.

Homepage copy will be short and sweet above the fold (i.e., it speaks to either new or existing clients and will probably direct visitors to your primary services). In contrast, newsletter copy can be longer and is often used to speak to existing clients. It typically encourages your audience to engage with your latest content. Now that you know how to pinpoint your business’s goals and decipher what types of copy you need, it’s easier to get going.

Here are a few types of swipe files you might need:

To get the most out of your swipe files, include examples that: 

  • Are within a similar industry. You’ll learn about what pain points are identified for your particular audience to use in your writing.
  • Have a similar goal. Are you trying to get email newsletter sign-ups? Find some copy that made you eager to enroll in a newsletter recently!

Identify and Read Copy That You Love

Once you determine what type of copy you need and find some examples you love, the next step is to dig in and read! 

While you’re reading, keep an eye out for things like:

  • Catchy or attention-grabbing copy
  • Callouts to a problem and solution
  • How the audience is addressed
  • Placement and value of call-to-action buttons
  • Ways the copy focuses on the client
  • How it describes benefits and features
  • Word count, sentence structure, and reading ease
  • Style, format, and fonts

And these are just a few!

Pinpoint Why You Love That Copy

After you’ve given it a critical read, pinpoint what it is about the copy that you love. Ask yourself, what stood out? 

Create some notes below a screenshot of the copy in your swipe file so that you can refer back to it later or share it with your copywriting team. You can also make notes about what you would change or improve. Many businesses even use swipe files when developing their brand voice. This way, they have tangible examples and inspiration to guide them.

Organize It and Tag It

Creating swipe files works best for your business when you can quickly pull up examples when you need them. The purpose is to save you time, not waste it frustratingly searching through files trying to find that one example you love. 

The key here is to make sure your files are organized. Put all of your swipe files in one storage location. Then, use tags on each file to indicate what that file contains. You can tag each file with the type of copy and the industry. By following this method, you can easily pull up the swipe file examples you need according to your current goal.

Here are some organization platforms that have tagging features:

Experiment With Your Swipe File

Creating swipe files will help you get creative with your copy, and we all know that getting creative means being open to experimenting! 

You might not be used to writing in a specific style or using a particular copywriting technique. But there’s no better time than the present to try it out and see where it takes you and your writing.

After all, your audience is bombarded with so much content each day. You’ll have to do something new and creative to capture their attention. Don’t be afraid to get outside of your comfort zone and discover a new approach to your writing.

If you’re ready to start thinking outside of the box, subscribe to our weekly email newsletter where you’ll find plenty of refreshing, catchy, and creative copy to keep you inspired!

Creating Swipe Files
Swipe files are a resource to learn from and to improve your skills; however, you should know that they are a collection of examples to work from – NOT copied.
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Tackle The Lies Imposter Syndrome Tells You

Why don’t you write more value-added content for your audience?

It’s not because you don’t know how to write in a specific format. 

And it’s definitely not because you don’t have the knowledge. After all, there are plenty of resources out there for you to use and learn from – including a bunch from FocusCopy!

The reason why many people – maybe you – tend to get stuck when writing content is because they are battling a little thing called… Imposter syndrome. 

Imposter syndrome is when a person doubts their accomplishments and skills, and as a result, becomes afraid that they aren’t good enough.

This is one of the most common roadblocks that prevents entrepreneurs from being consistent (especially in their content production). They fall into thinking they are not smart enough to be an expert in their story and become frozen with fear of being inadequate or being called out as a fake.

I’m a young copywriter, have only been in the business for just over a year, and are working with 30+ year old businesses. By all means, it would be easy for me to see myself as an imposter – except that I know my skills and what results my skills they can provide my clients. 

We all experience imposter syndrome at one point or another in our careers. But if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, face it head on and defeat it before it defeats you!

Practical Methods to Defeat Imposter Syndrome 

Here are some practical methods to defeat imposter syndrome, so you can start regaining your confidence to write more content consistently.

1. Identify What the Lie is

The first step to overcoming imposter syndrome is to identify what the lie is. What is the lie circling your thoughts that is holding you back and making you feel like an imposter? 

These can be thoughts like…

  • “I’m not the best [insert your profession].”
  • “Who am I to say I’m an expert? I’m not an expert.”

Figure out what you’re telling yourself, and write it down. 

2. Figure Out If That’s Truth

Once you’ve identified those imposter thoughts, interrogate them! Figure out if there is any truth in them.

For example, my lie could be… “I am not really a copywriting expert.”

Yes, there are thousands of copywriters around the world. However, I’ve been studying copywriting for 5 years, digital marketing for 6 years, business for 7 years, and have loved writing since I was in elementary school. I also know that my clients are pleased with my work and my team’s work. In client meetings, I’m able to give advice without struggling to find words to say. 

There will always be people in your field that are “better” than you; however, your experience is yours. No other person can buy your experience and use it as theirs – it’s yours and yours alone. That’s what makes you an expert.

Ask yourself: 

  • Do you have clients that are paying you right now? 
  • Are you working hard to improve your skills?
  • What does your client expect from you, and are you meeting those expectations?

The truth is, most of the time, your clients don’t need you to know everything. They just need someone to listen and give them a solution. 

Look for examples of how you have done that in the past and how you continue to put in the work to improve those skills for the future. Then you’ll have the evidence you need to know that you’re not an imposter. 

3. Preach To Yourself The Truth

Now that you’ve unveiled the truth behind those pesky imposter syndrome lies, you’ll have to make sure that you don’t forget it. 

Write it down on a post-in note, and stick it to your computer monitor. 

Recite it to yourself every morning and every time those lies sneak into your mind. 

Ask your colleagues, friends, or family to remind you of the truth. 

Over time, you won’t need that post-it note; your success will reinforce that you are not an imposter. You are the real deal.

Tackle The Lies Imposter Syndrome Tells You

So now that you practically know how to defeat imposter syndrome, it’s time to tackle the lies imposter syndrome tells you. 

Other People Have Had More Success. 

Yes, other people may have had more success than you. But you don’t know the number of failures they worked through to get their success. You cannot compare your story to another person’s story. 

Instead of comparing successes, compare your personal and professional growth. Where were you a year, 5 years, 10 years ago? Have you grown? 

Truth: Our success comes from our ability to overcome our failures.

Think about Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb… Few people consider Thomas Edison to be a failure. But when asked how he felt about his lightbulb tests failing 1000 times, he simply retorted “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The lightbulb was simply an invention with 1,000 steps”. He didn’t consider test failures as a reflection on him and his work, simply as steps to the final solution that worked.

Do People Really Want To Hear What I’m Saying?

One of our clients built an incredible digital course in the health and wellness arena this year. There are many other courses in her specific arena, yes. But I kept reminding her that her background is so unique and she has a message she needs to share with the world.

Truth: Someone wants and needs to hear your story; no one else can copy your stories. 

There are 7 billion people in this world!! Not everyone is gonna click, but SOMEONE will. YOUR approach to it and the knowledge you bring is completely different and unique!

What If Something Bad Happens?

Something bad will happen. Already in 2020, we’ve experienced (and are still experiencing) a pandemic, a social revolution, and a hurricane season that’s ravaged many communities. 

In all these “bad things”, you may also respond wrongly. You’re going to respond poorly at something. No one is perfect. And as long as you release those perfectionist tendencies, you’re going to break free of your imposter syndrome. 

When those moments happen, are you willing to own up to your mistakes and right your path forward? 

Truth: Bad things are gonna happen, but it’s how you respond that’s going to make an impact. 

People don’t necessarily want to see people who have it all put together. They are tired of the put-togetherness social media paints for them. They want to see the carpal tunnel from writing too much, bags under eyes, owning to up mistakes, and messy buns. That stuff is inevitable and REAL. For even more tips, check out my blog post on how to ease anxiety during content production.

Above the Fold Website Copy

How to Make a BIG Impact on Your Conversion Rates By Including These 4 Requirements for Above the Fold Website Copy

Is your website leaving the right first impression with your audience? 

First impressions are the key to sparking interest in your brand. When potential customers stumble upon your webpage, their decision to stay or leave will happen in seconds… And it all relies on your above the fold website copy. 

In this blog, I’ll go over what needs to be above the fold on your site to grab your audience’s attention, make a great first impression, and increase your engagement and conversion rates.

Above the Fold vs Below the Fold

The concept of above the fold website copy stems from the pre-digital era of communication – back in the days when everyone bought newspapers. Since newspapers were folded in half and put out for sale, passerbys would only see whatever was above the fold. The content above the fold had to entice people to buy the paper, without even picking it up. It had to convince people to buy with just a quick glance.

Above the Fold Definition

So what is considered “above the fold” when it comes to your web content? Above the fold website copy is any content that appears on the top half of your website when someone first arrives at the URL, without any scrolling or clicking. 

Here is an example of what our website looks like above the fold:

Above the Fold Website Copy

As you might imagine, what content falls above the fold depends on screen size. Not everyone has the same sized computer monitors. Plus, people are accessing the Web through tablets and smartphones now too. 

Here is what website visitors see above the fold when they are viewing on mobile:

So how can you figure out what falls above the fold on your website?

Above the Fold Website Copy

You can get a good estimate by using your website’s analytics program to find out what the most common screen dimensions are for your visitors. Then, you can use the average screen height as a guide for where the website “fold” is.

Below the Fold Definition

The majority of your website is below the fold. This is anything that is not initially visible when someone first arrives at your site. Visitors will only get to see it once they start to scroll down the webpage. 

For instance, everything that is below the red line here wouldn’t be seen unless the visitor was curious enough to keep exploring the webpage.

Above the Fold Website Copy

Since a majority of your content may be below the fold, you want to lead your customers there! Let’s talk about how you can take full advantage of your above the fold website copy to do just that.

4 Requirements for Above the Fold Website Copy

To capture your audience’s attention, the above the fold copy on your website needs to: 

  1. Target the customer
  2. Identify the problem
  3. Introduce the major benefit
  4. Call to action

1. Target the Customer

When it comes to making a powerful first impression in the real world, eye contact and addressing the person by name play a huge role. To achieve the same effect virtually on your webpage, make sure your above the fold copy targets the customer.

So what does copywriting that targets the customer actually look like?

Call them out. The most straightforward way to target the customer is to acknowledge them by name in your copy. For example, Scalable opens with “Attention all Founders & CEOs”. 

Speak their language. Use words and phrases that your target audience is familiar with. Don’t be afraid to use jargon or slang if your target customer knows the terms. It shows that you’re speaking directly to them in their own language. For example, Wilson Murphy Law’s about page perfectly addresses what her audience knows – that they don’t want copycats or poachers. This isn’t language that you would see leaving an attorney’s mouth. And that’s okay. Speak your audience’s language. 

Focus on them. Make sure your above the fold website copy is focused on the customer rather than your business. To check how well your copy does this, see if you use “You” about twice as often as you use “We”. Notice how Elementor doesn’t talk about themselves – they talk about “you”. 

2. Identify the Problem

Targeting the customer will grab their attention. After that, you’ll only have a few seconds to engage their curiosity by identifying a problem they are experiencing. 

Sometimes, your customer won’t even realize they are experiencing a problem until you bring it to their attention. Once the customer realizes the problem (and if the problem is important enough to them), they’ll continue to scroll down your website to find your solution.

What kinds of problems is your target customer experiencing?

According to Harvard Business Review, customers have 4 main kinds of problems they need solutions for. Let’s talk about the two major problems most businesses should address in their above the fold website copy: functional and emotional problems. 

Functional Problems

Functional problems are the most common type of challenge your customers will experience. These are problems that have an impact on their practical day-to-day functioning.

This can include things like:

  • Not having enough time to accomplish a certain task
  • Not making enough money
  • Something is too complicated or unorganized
  • A product or service they currently use lacks quality or variety

Emotional Problems

At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that your customer is human! It may seem obvious, but so many businesses overlook this crucial fact. Because you’re writing for humans, you can also address emotional problems that they might be experiencing, like:

  • Experiencing heightened anxiety
  • Missing the past or feeling nostalgic
  • Feeling exhausted or burnt out

Now, your above the fold copy doesn’t have to include every problem that your target customer is facing. In fact, it shouldn’t! You only have a limited amount of space and a short amount of time when it comes to above the fold content. Instead, your above the fold website copy should highlight the main problem that is most disruptive for your target customer. Then discuss the solution your company offers. 

3. Introduce the Major Benefit

Once you’ve targeted the customer and identified their problem, you can’t stop there! The next piece you have to include is an introduction to the major benefit your company offers to solve the customer’s problem.

Here are some strategic ways to introduce the major benefit to your customer:

  • Stand out among competition. Introduce a benefit that is unique to your company by creating a unique selling proposition. What does your company offer that others don’t? 
  • Use your brand voice. When you’re introducing customers to the major benefit, you’re also introducing them to your brand. Make sure your above the fold copy reflects your brand’s personality by creating a brand voice.
  • Show the stats. Quantify just how much time and money they’ll save, or how much variety/quality they will gain. Try using infographics that are eye-catching and easy to read at a glance.
  • Tap into emotions. Think about how you want your customer to feel after they have access to your product and reflect that in your writing.

4. Call to Action

Finally, your above the fold website copy won’t be complete without a call to action.

If you’ve structured your above the fold content with everything we’ve discussed so far, your target customer will be ready to (at the very least) learn more about your products and services. 

Make it as easy as possible to do that – without any scrolling or navigating by adding a call to action button above the fold.

Here are some call to action ideas to include above the fold:

  • Free offer. Offer free content, sample products, free trials, or consultations in exchange for an email sign-up.
  • Learn more. Link to a page where customers can learn more about your products or see a demo of your services. 
  • Get started. Lead your customers directly to your product/service description page where they can sign-up, enroll, or make a purchase.
  • Let’s talk. Take your customers to your contact page or a place where they can schedule an appointment with someone from your team.

Feel free to get creative with the words you use in your buttons/links/call to actions.

When choosing a call to action, keep your website visitors’ familiarity with your brand in mind. If you’re a new company and visitors might not be familiar with your brand, opt for a free offer or a link to learn more. 

On the other hand, your call to action should look different if you’re a well-established company and a majority of your website visitors are already familiar with your brand. In this case, you’ll do better to have a call to action that gets customers started or puts them in touch with your team.

Start Writing Your Above The Fold Copy

With all of these guidelines in mind, remember that the space above the fold on your website is limited. Many companies struggle to fit in all of the key elements without overcrowding the space. If you want help writing clean and effective above the fold website copy that reflects your brand, FocusCopy can help with that! We help businesses increase their conversion rates just by adjusting their copy. For more copywriting tips, subscribe to our Insider’s List here.

When Was The Last Time You Updated Your Home Page?

Answer these 6 questions and spruce up your home page in 15 minutes (or less).

Lessons We Learned In Our First Year in Business

FocusCopy Turns 1 Years Old (6 Lessons We Learned In Our First Year in Business)

Over the weekend, FocusCopy celebrated its 1 year in business (August 15, 2020). 

And it’s been one heck of a year! 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that approximately 20% of entrepreneurs fail in their first year of business. If it’s a first-time entrepreneur or a woman-owned business, then the success rate dwindles even further. Additionally, COVID-19 has put many companies out of business (over 60,000).

Theoretically, it should have put us out too.

But with the odds stacked against us and with our incredible clients and partners, we’re standing here today – stronger than when we started and looking to grow further. 

If you’re a first-time business owner or a serial entrepreneur, don’t be bound by those statistics.

6 Lessons We Learned In Our First Year in Business

Here are a few lessons that we learned in our first year of business that are too good not to share with you. 

1. Surround Yourself With Other Entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurial loneliness is a real thing, and I’m so thankful that I learned that lesson during my time in the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. Very quickly after launching FocusCopy, I surrounded myself with clients and partners that were truly invested in my and FocusCopy’s success. It made all the difference in the world. 

When I had a question about anything, they had answers. 

They found opportunities for us that we didn’t know existed. 

When I needed emotional support, they encouraged me. 

They wanted to see me and FocusCopy grow and succeed. 

2. Celebrate Every Win.

At every milestone (even the most seemingly insignificant ones), we celebrated. Because I acknowledged and celebrated every “win”, I woke up more energized to surpass my client’s expectations. It made working 12-16 hour days a walk in the park. Celebrating every win allowed me to be grateful and sustain ourselves in this marathon that is being an entrepreneur. 

What were some of our wins? 

  • Signing the first client
  • Seeing that first check hit the bank account (even if it was only $50)
  • Closing our first out-of-state client
  • Having to order more business cards because I ran out of the first 1,000
  • Seeing one of clients have their 2 best months ever in business after their worst month ever due to COVID
  • Hiring our first employee

Find it. Mark it. Celebrate it. 

3. Say “Yes” Then Figure It Out Later.

From the very foundation, this was one of our company values, and it still rings true today. When a client asks for something, always always say “yes”. You never know what it’s going to lead to – a bigger deal, a lesson learned, a new business partnership. 

Create a willingness to just say “yes”. Yes, it will be scary. Yes, you may be in uncharted waters. 

But if you never say “yes”, then you’ll never know what could have been. 

4. Hire a Bookkeeper.

Thanks to one of my favorite “bosses” and mentors Jim Wilkinson, I learned the importance of accounting early on in my career. Our bookkeeper has been the biggest blessing to FocusCopy’s growth (and to my sanity). Find a bookkeeper – no matter what your size – they can help you keep your books clean, help you celebrate your growth, and find your opportunities to optimize your financials. 

If you aren’t an expert in a particular area, outsource it. Just like a bookkeeper isn’t an expert in copywriting, a copywriter doesn’t need to be an expert in or do their own bookkeeping. In the same way, a copywriter doesn’t need to be a graphic artist or vice versa.

5. Work With Clients Who Want To See You Succeed.

We have the best clients! I say it all the time. One thing that I didn’t expect starting my own business is that my clients would be as invested in my business as I was in theirs. 

Every meeting, my clients would ask (and want to know) how business was going. 

They would even refer business to us because they knew the value we bring and they wanted both their colleagues and us to succeed. 

To my clients, thank you for your unending support and love! It means the world to me and my team! 

6. Listen Closely.

Keep your ear to the ground and listen for what’s happening – in the world, with your clients, and with your client’s clients. 

A mentor once told me to look in the most unlikely places to find what you need to be a great entrepreneur. 

This advice is what I attribute our ability to pivot so quickly after the quarantine to hit. As a result, we were able to not only grow ourselves, but help clients come back from their worst month ever in business or come back from what should have looked like bankruptcy. Every single one of our clients are not only surviving, but truly thriving! 

It’s been an absolute blessing to be part of that. 

Year 2

We’re so excited for what the next year holds for FocusCopy. Plans are in place; now we need to execute them!


Be In The Know.

Starting August 24, 2020, FocusCopy will be sending out a bimonthly newsletter with what we’ve learned, what we’re seeing in the marketplace, and copywriting tips that will be a game changer for your sales growth. 

Ease Anxiety During Content Production

7 Strategies to Ease Anxiety During Content Production

Putting your name out there can be scary. 

Whenever you publish content, you’re putting your name on the line. And there’s no guarantee that your audience will love it. 

For your business to thrive, you must improve your visibility and audience engagement through content creation and publication. Digital marketing is more effective now than ever, and there are many, many types of content you can create and use.

But how can you ease your anxiety during content production so you’ll be excited to create more? 

Let’s start by facing the fears head-on. 

Why Content Production Can Increase Anxiety

Has this ever happened to you? You’re talking with a business associate or friend, on your morning jog, or in the shower, when suddenly inspiration strikes. You arrive at the perfect idea for a new piece of content. You’re excited! You keep the idea swirling in your thoughts, but soon… weeks pass, and you still haven’t published yet. 

If this sounds familiar, you might be grappling with content production anxiety. 

Producing content is really exciting. But on the other hand, it can also be anxiety-inducing (maybe even a little frightening) – making it difficult to hit “publish”.

When producing content, anxiety can increase for any of the following reasons:

  • Getting started. For some, there is nothing more intimidating than staring at a blank page. When our content ideas are big, just getting started can be daunting. 
  • Finding the time. If you’re like most business leaders and entrepreneurs, your schedule is packed to the brim with meetings and urgent tasks. It can feel overwhelming to have another huge item added onto your list.
  • Making mistakes. What if you say something in your content by mistake? It can be scary to make a mistake that will be online for everyone to see.
  • Judgement or criticism. After you put all the work into finally putting your content out there, what if nobody likes it? 

If you’ve had any of these anxious feelings around content production, you’re not alone. So many content creators struggle with these things all the time. 

7 Ways to Ease Anxiety During Content Production

The good news is, there are ways you can ease anxiety during content production. Here are 7 different strategies to try out:

  1. Exercise your content production muscle
  2. Voice record your stream of thoughts
  3. Break up your content production in smaller subtasks
  4. Hire an editor
  5. Schedule the content to auto-publish
  6. Focus on the end goal
  7. Celebrate your wins

1. Exercise Your Content Production Muscle

Getting started on something new can feel daunting. When you start a hard workout or a new sport, your body needs to get used to that exercise. Writing is the same. You need to train your brain to produce content every single day. 

Here are some training exercises that you can implement in your daily routine:

  • Write for 30 minutes a day – everyday
  • Read blogs (or whatever type of content you are producing) for 20 minutes a day
  • Carry a notebook with you to jot down any ideas, sentences, or phrases that come to you spontaneously

If you feel like you’re running into writer’s block, try one of these 11 tips to break through

2. If You Can’t Type It, Talk It

Most people can talk faster than they can type. If you want to make even more use of your 30 minutes of content creation a day, speak your ideas instead of typing them. You can record your thoughts on a voice memo or brainstorm about them with someone on your team. 

In an hour, I can crank out content for about five full blogs when I’m talking about my ideas instead of typing them. And then, it’s time to finally put thoughts on paper, you’ll be able to listen back on every detail. 

3. Break Up Your Content Into Subtasks

If you’re anxious about finding time to create content, you don’t have to stress any further. It can be easy for an entrepreneur, business owner, or marketer to keep up with a weekly content creation schedule! 

Break up the content production into subtasks. For example, here are subtasks we use to create our blogs: 

  1. Outline blog
  2. Draft blog
  3. Edit blog
  4. Check SEO 
  5. Finalize blog
  6. Schedule blog

These 6 simple subtasks can even be done on different days. This allows the content production process to happen in bite-sized pieces, not overwhelming the writer at any point in time. 

(We’ve created this process to catch all the potential risks, ranging from not sounding professional to releasing something that isn’t valuable. When approaching your subtasks, make sure you avoid these 8 major oversights too.)    

4. Hire an Editor

The next way to ease your anxiety during content production is to hire an editor – whether that’s someone on your team or someone like us that you outsource. 

An editor can take on 3 of the 6 subtasks listed in the previous strategy. That way you can create your content quicker with less stress. 

If you can, have not just one, but two other people review your content before publishing. They can check for the overall quality and value of your content. You’ll be able to avoid anxiety around errors or audience scrutiny when your content has already faced constructive feedback from an editorial team.

5. Schedule The Content to Auto-Publish

Once you have the content written and edited, it’s time to press “publish”. This is where we commonly see authority leaders pause. They begin to question if it’s valuable enough, clear enough, fill in the blank enough. That’s why we schedule our content and our client’s content out. It takes the anxiety out of seeing it go live immediately. If you use WordPress, learn how to schedule a post on WordPress here. 

6. Focus On The End Goal

If you don’t know where you’re going to end up, it’s difficult to know when you’ve got there and how to tie a bow on the content. You need to define an end goal before  you start to write the content. 

For this blog in particular, we know that our clients experience anxiety when producing content. Some of our clients have told us that they spend over 8 hours on a single blog (and are still not pleased with the content). So, it never gets published. 

We help our clients skip through that by ensuring that every piece of content we write for our clients is valuable, and we both know the end goal before we start writing. 

7. Celebrate Your Wins

Finally, you need to celebrate your wins! A mentor told me when I started FocusCopy that I needed to celebrate every win – somehow. The first dollar, the first hundred dollars, and so on. We even celebrated the first blog, the first comment, and the traffic that we’ve gotten from our most popular blogs. You, too, need to celebrate your wins – including publishing content. Instead of it being a fearful task, it becomes an exciting task that you want to complete. 

Ease Your Content Production Anxiety About Outsourcing

Like we previewed in strategy #6, we encounter a lot of stress when we talk with prospective clients. Producing content can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. FocusCopy partners with entrepreneurial companies, just like yours, to produce your content and save your time. This allows you to stay on top of your content schedule while managing a more-balanced workload. Learn more about our copywriting services here.

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments section. We are here to make content production a more joyful and beneficial process.