It’s been almost a week since the Content Byte Summit and I finally feel like I’ve (almost) recovered from the two days of back-to-back presentations, panels and intense morning and afternoon tea chats. As someone who spends most of her working days sitting alone in her little office, it felt like I crammed a year’s worth of chatting into a two day period!
And what an amazing two days it was. Now that the dust has settled, I’ve started going through my notes. The experience began with VIP drinks at the top of Sydney Tower in Bar 83. While the view was spectacular, what excited me most was being in the same room with old copywriting friends, meeting new ones, and getting ready for the busy days ahead.
Early the next morning, we gathered at the Maritime Museum, eager for the first keynote. Across the two days, there were 13 presentations and panels, each engaging and relevant to my career. Since I can’t cover them all, here are my top seven takeaways and how I plan to apply them to my business.
1.Pricing for Life with Austin Church
American Austin Church’s keynote was about pricing for life. Working out what you want to achieve in your life and pricing your rates accordingly. He gave several examples of old and new ways of thinking and how we can overcome our previous beliefs so we can charge what we’re worth.
Austin really got you thinking about what you want to achieve in your business and life and I think all of us came out of there with our goals front and centre. He told us to get clear on what we want, as clarity brings confidence.
Takeaway: Thanks to Austin’s pricing spreadsheet, I’ve looked at my expenses and worked out a rate that will achieve my goals and keep me competitive in the market.
2. How to create a new income stream with digital products with Lindy Alexander
As someone with limited working hours, the idea of passive income has always intrigued me, but I’d never seriously considered it—until Lindy Alexander’s presentation. She showed us that everyone has a unique skill or resource they can turn into a product. It’s about finding that one thing only you can offer.
She asked:
‘What do people come to you for?’
‘What do you love to talk about or do?’
‘What have you already created for your own personal life that you could sell?’
It opened my eyes to opportunities beyond my typical work.
Takeaway: I’m brainstorming processes, templates, and interests that could generate passive income.
3.The Website Glow up with Susan Reoch
Some brave freelancers submitted their websites for review by UX copywriting expert Susan Reoch. She emphasized the importance of focusing on the client and understanding their mission. She challenged us to think about what our clients really want, and then give them what they need.
She also discussed simplifying navigation, creating a clear user journey, and focusing on the user—a practice I strive to maintain with my own clients.
Takeaway: What does your website want users to find or do? When writing a website, make sure your copy leads to that goal.
4. How to find high paying clients in your niche – Bernadette Schwerdt
The keynote for the second day was all about mindset. How can we play to our strengths to create our best copywriting business? She asked us to look at what we do that self-sabotages our success with examples such as leaving things to the last minute, not chasing invoices and not following up on leads.
Bernadette asked us to think about the worst that can happen then think about the best that can happen.
Takeaway: Sometimes it’s ok to think speak the unspoken, like someone has to be the most expensive and I am not for everyone.
5. How to write a kick arse sales page with Ash Chow
Ash’s presentation was all action. She went through the process she takes when writing a sales page and how she writes them. She explained how she does customer research, how she maps out the page and then the structure she uses for her pages. She went through a few examples so we were crystal clear with how it works and felt confident to go and do it ourselves.
Takeaway: When writing a sales page, address what might happen if the reader doesn’t buy the product or service, and contrast it with the positive outcome if they do. This can help overcome objections and lead to more sales.
6. Building a marketing plan that you’ll actually stick to with Brook McCarthy
Brook reminded us that to be professional is self censorship. In order to stand out, you need to be unforgettable and you need to commit to your marketing.
She gave us a plan to help us commit to our marketing and inspired us to use our marketing as a way to test ideas and have a bit of fun. She said enthusiasm is critical, no one wants to buy from someone who is boring and unenthused. You don’t have to be the best, you just have to be the one they want.
Takeaway: Effective marketing doesn’t have to be complicated—you just have to commit to doing it consistently.
7. Panel: When and how to grow beyond a solo business with Sara Howard and Brooke Hill
We learned the stories of these two fabulous women who have built agencies from solo businesses and how they’ve made it work over the years. They spoke about some catalysts for going from solopreneur to agency and when and why it might be right for you.
Takeaway: I don’t see agency model in my near future but I love the idea of building an A-team collective of like-minded consultants to work with on bigger projects. Team work makes the dream work!
Before the conference even finished, I had a page of to dos that I’ve been solidly ticking off all week. Now that I’ve gone through my notes, I’ve now got about another two pages that should take me until the next content summit to complete!
Overall, what I got most out of these two days are the importance of mindset for success and how great it is to meet and connect with like-minded people.
Thank you Lynne Testoni and Rachel Smith for putting together another epic event.
All photos by Francesco Solfrini, other than the very obvious selfie which was taken by me!