resources
WINNER, WINNER CHICKEN DINNER
All the Creative Business and Copywriting Resources You’re Craving
Over here, you’ll find a healthy helping of everything from the tools I use every freaking day to run my creative business to freebies worth signing up for, and so much more.
It’s kind of like an all-you-can-eat buffet, but business style.
(Oh, and, yes, there are def some affiliate links, but don’t worry—I only promote products and businesses that pay me the most… KIDDING. In all seriousness, everything here is something I personally adore. And if you’ve ever got questions, don’t hesitate to ask.)
How to Infuse Your Website Copy with Personality
If you’re looking to DIY your website copy and need some help figuring out who the frick your ideal client is, what the hell to include in your website copy, and how to avoid sounding like a dry and boring biz, these blog posts are a great place to start.
The 6 Ingredients for Writing Delicious Website Copy
How to Figure out Who Your Ideal Client is
flodesk
An email marketing platform that won’t make you cry. Send stunning emails, segment your list, and track your analytics all in one user-friendly place. And you can save 50% when you use my link. You’re welcome, boo.
DUBSADO
My business and I owe our lives to Dubsado—a CRM that handles everything from invoices and scheduling to questionnaires and inquiry forms. Plus, unlike HoneyBook (yes, I’m throwing a lil shade), you can personalize everything.
Showit
The best damn website platform for service providers and there’s not a chance you could change my mind. It’s insanely easy to use, pairs with WordPress for blogging, and it makes for gorgeous websites.
(It’s also the platform my website is built on.)
milanote
A tool that’s kinda like a giant board with sticky notes, except more sophisticated. I use it to to keep all of my clients organized so that I know who is going through which phase and can access all of their call notes and recordings in one place.
Google workspace
This one’s a little boring, but there’s no way I could run my business without Google Workspace. From Google Docs and survey forms to a custom email address, it’s an awesome resource.
notion
Think Google Drive but on steroids. You can create checklists, embed pages in other pages, and store content like screenshots, links, and videos. I use it for taking notes, planning out social media content, and for organizing all of the info for my mentees!
CANVA PRO
A graphic design tool for dummies (and btw, I’m definitely a dummy when it comes to design). And my favorite part is that you can use it for biz cards, social media posts, presentations, and so much more.
I pay for pro, but the free version is great, too.
Loom
A gift of a video and screen recording platform. If you’re making course content, want to include a walkthrough presentation when you deliver your client’s goods, or would rather record a video and share your thoughts than hop on a call, you’ll love Loom as much as I do.
It’s free… as long as you keep your videos under 5 minutes, so do with that what you will.
BRAIN FM
Turns out there’s music that’s scientifically-proven to help you focus. And I can testify that it actually works. All you do is select your mode (focus, sleep, or relaxation) set a timer for how long you want to work and how long of a break you want to take, and hit play. And before you know it, you’ve gotten more done than you ever imagined possible.
It helps you keep track of time, stay focused, and it’s dirt cheap. What’s not to love?
The Best Financial Tools for Making All of Your Money Moves
BOOKKEEPING SPREADSHEET
MARCUS
For personal, business, and tax savings. (With a Marcus savings account you earn 4.3% in interest which is a bajillion times more than the average savings account rate of .05-.5%)
novo
For main biz banking and a debit card. (Get $40 after you add your first $100+ to your account!)
amex
For a great biz credit card (get a $200 credit after you spend your first $2,000!)
For tracking every single dollar you spend and make.
Course and Resources For Biz Owners and Copywriters
THAT ARE WORTH THE CASH
Dubsado Form Templates
While I absolutely adore Dubsado (see: tools I use for my biz), designing forms can be a serious pain in the ass. Like, make-you-cry-with-frustration pain in the ass. And that’s why these Dubsado Form Templates designed by Fran from Passions Collective are an actual god-send.
Not only can you add the four beautifully designed forms (proposal, contract, questionnaire, and lead capture) to your Dubsado account with one click, but there’s an entire mini-course that walks you through the setup and customization for each.
Someone told me that based on my proposal they would have thought I had been in business for 10 years so I’d say it’s worth the money, 1000% percent.
use code SPICY TO SAVE $50
Tonic Site Shop Templates
If you spend enough time in the web design world (or just the online, small business world), you’ve likely heard people rave about TONIC… and for damn good reason. Everything TONIC designs is stunning.
Whether you’re looking for a premium Showit website template, social media graphics that don’t look DIYed, or some boujee presentation slides, TONIC’s got you covered.
(I dream of one day growing up and becoming as luxurious and editorial as the Lillet Blanc website template. Not my website, me.)
USE CODE SPICY15 TO SAVE 15% ON ANYTHING
Duo Collective’s SEO Group Coaching Program
You probably already know that getting found on Google—or helping your clients get found on Google—is damn important… But trying to learn SEO on your own can feel as confusing and overwhelming as assembling Ikea furniture.
(Sorry Ikea, I love you, but seriously what is the deal with your instructions?!)
The good news is, that will finally change after you enroll in Duo Collective’s SEO Group Coaching Program that’s made for copywriters and website designers.
This 6-week course will demystify the world of SEO, teach you everything you want to know about designing and writing copy that Google actually sees, and show you how to package up your newfound SEO skills so you can up your prices.
Ubersuggest
Google
Analytics
Yoast
3 of the Best SEO Tools for Small Businesses
My go-to tool for keyword research, seeing which keywords different websites rank for (including my clients’ competitors), and for getting inspiration for writing SEO-friendly blog posts.
Use it for free or pay one lifetime fee.
The best platform ever for tracking how much traffic your website is getting, where that traffic is coming from, and which web pages your traffic likes.
A must for all biz owners.
A WordPress plugin that helps with writing SEO-optimized blog posts by providing a list of the exact things you need to do to have the best chance at ranking on Google.
An essential tool for all WordPress bloggers.
must read books
Building a
StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message so Customers Will Listen
BY DONALD MILLER
You’re a Badass at Making Money
BY JEN SINCERO
Obsessed: Building a Brand People Love from Day One
EMILY HEYWARD
The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level
BY GAY HENDRICKS
Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
BY ANN HANDLEY
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions
BY DAN ARIELY
(Also, if you’re like me and don’t want to support Amazon or spend millions of dollars of paper books, you’ll love Thrift Books—the largest online, independent seller of used books!)
9 Ridiculously Good Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read
WANT TO READ THE FULL REVIEWS AND GET MORE BOOK RECS?
Manifestation & Spirituality
Chit Chat
Unleash the Full Power of
Your Brand
Traveling While Owning a Business & the Importance of Copywriting
Podcast and Publication Features Hot off the Press
ON THE UPPER LIMIT PODCAST WITH JERICHA SZLO
PUBLISHED BY GOSOLO BY SUBKIT
ON THE PATH OF RESISTANCE PODCAST WITH KARLEY WELTY
And if you’re looking for a new business podcast to listen to…
CHECK OUT UNFILTERED
A podcast that’s all about the good, the bad, and the ugly of entrepreneurship. Hosted by three fabulous hosts (Han, Fran, and yours truly—me!). We're dishing on everything we're currently battling in biz, the icks we’ve encountered, and the advice we wish we had when we were just getting started.
It’s casual. It’s conversational. And a new episode drops every other week. Sound like your kinda thing?
Freebies from Other Cool Biz Owners That You Should Download
A Free Blog Post Checklist for SEO
FROM THE SM COLLECTIVE
If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide that tells you how to write blog posts that will rank on Google, you’ll dig this 38-page freebie. From where to put keywords to the five phases of writing a really good blog post, Stepfanie’s resource has got it all.
And when you download it, you’ll be signed up for her newsletter, The Friday Five, which is packed with SEO tips and examples—and it’s a newsletter I’ve fallen head over heels for.
Notion Template for the To-Done List
MADE BY SARAH KLEIST
You’ve heard of to-do lists and goal-setting, but have you heard of the to-done list? Because it will change. Your. Life. At the end of the day (or the beginning), you write down everything you’ve accomplished so you can look back at your weeks, months, and quarters see just how much you got done.
Plus, it’s super easy to use the template because it’s entirely free, all you have to do is create a Notion account!
Quarterly Tax Checklist
MADE BY DORY DIMES
Did the words “quarterly tax” scare you cuz… same. Until I found this gem of a freebie while working on Kirsti’s website copy (which is def the coolest bookkeeping copy you’ve ever read so check it out).
Her checklist walks you through everything you need to know about quarterly taxes, the deadlines to keep in mind, and where to actually submit your payments. It’s the next best thing to just hiring her to stay on top of everything for you.
Those are all of the helpful copywriting and business tools and resources I could think of, but if you’re craving more from me…
HOW ABOUT WE MOVE THIS THING OVER TO MY SERVICES? ;)
Whether you’re ready to hire a copywriter to cook up Michelin star copy for your website, packaging, or email list… I’m so down to help. So why don’t you pop over and see if my services are just the thing you’ve had a hankering for.
My Big Daddy Dining package (brand messaging plus website copy) comes with a fun, choose your-own-bonus of:
A) An entire welcome sequence fo' free (something I usually charge $1,500 for)
Or B) $1,000 off
To celebrate this launch, I'm offering a bangin' deal to 3 product-based bizzes
