Category: Uncategorized

July 9, 2019

Trading Your Purpose Work for No Purpose

So, I just found myself scrolling on Instagram instead of getting to my computer to journal and start my work for the day.

I have 1-2 precious quiet hours of work before the kids get up to get things done. And I usually have a pretty fresh head in the morning to do some really productive work. And also, it’s quiet.

Instead of working…I watched Insta-Stories. Just letting them be spoon-fed to me, one after the other, without having to do much of anything but sit there.

I thought, I’ll just do this for like 10 minutes to get caught up and then I’ll go journal.

Next thing, I look up, and an hour has passed. I missed my entire window of productivity!

If you’re thinking “yeah, so?” let me explain how tragic this is…

Imagine if I used that time to actually put 20 minutes into a book I’m writing, 20 minutes into connecting with people, 20 minutes into personal development, etc.

Imagine what I could create 30 days, 1 year from now.

I could have several books written. Several programs launched. Be a whole new person.

I keep promising myself I’ll do that…make space every day for the book, the program, the self-work. I know that after a month or two of doing that, the book could be done, the program could be launched, I could refine myself even more. I keep promising myself I’ll set aside the pointless time wasters for the important stuff.

But I somehow end up plunked down in front of tube-fed media.

Now, usually this isn’t a big deal. I may watch one show at night to wind down before bed. I may scroll while I’m waiting in the car to pick someone up. No biggie.

But this morning, I did so during my most productive working hours. Knowingly avoiding my purpose work. Knowingly avoiding progress.

So, I thought, you’re going to ditch your true purpose work for mindless …. with no purpose.

You’re trading your purpose for no purpose?

How wretchedly, painfully, heartbreakingly STUPID is that?

Let me ask you the same thing…

How often do you put aside your purpose work for no purpose?

It’s hard to really look stone-cold in the eye at habits like this. It hurts. It sucks.

But it’s completely necessary to prevent you from dying a slow death with so much sparkle bursting inside of you.

Our culture is so preconditioned to tolerate the “I don’t feel like it.”

We’re trained to not feel like it.

I don’t feel like getting on the floor and playing with my kids.

I don’t really feel like using a sacred quiet hour at night to work.

I don’t really feel like adding more responsibility to my job.

I don’t really feel like extending myself any further than I already do.

I don’t really feel like getting off Instagram.

But the part that hurts the worst is looking back at the last 3 years and realizing you haven’t come as far as you want. If you look 3 years into the future and it still looks like this …. will you be heartbroken with where you are?

Because this hour today, the same mindless hour tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next…

They could easily add up to a year, three years, a lifespan spent squandering your precious time away.

So that purpose of yours?

You NEED to feel like it.

You NEED to just rip yourself away and do it.

You NEED to dig in and find the energy inside of yourself that you need to move forward.

You NEED to nurture that beautiful gift that’s unfurling inside of you.

You NEED to share your gifts, not squander them.

Essentially, you need to figure out your true values and be true to them. Get really darn honest with yourself.

Here’s your homework: Sit down and journal (no, right now). On one side of the page, answer the question “what do you know is your true purpose in this world? What do you want to contribute?”

On the other side of the paper, write down the activities of “no purpose” you, in all honesty, waste a good portion of your day on. Honest honest honest. Whether it’s as embarrassing as stealing away to the bathroom for a 1/2 hour to play Candy Crush or as understandable as reading through news stories. Though you may find those activities stimulating, they’re not true to your purpose, are they?

My answer: My purpose work is the 5 f’s: Faith, Family, Fitness, Forest, and Freelance. I would put them all into another pretty F called full-bodied living. The work of “no purpose” I do is scroll on Instagram (watching other people achieve things) and puttering around the house to avoid my purpose work.

Now, it’s time to get really freaking honest and really crazy overwhelmed with yourself. How are you going to feel if you spend the next 365 days doing what you’re doing and get nowhere?

I’ve had enough!

Have you?

I’m really mad and ready to do this differently.

Are you with me?

Let’s DO something today.

Pop a comment and let me know what you accomplished today?

May 20, 2019

How to Create Your Own Opportunities

Do you ever feel like you’re looking for something, but can’t quite put your finger on it? Or you can put your finger on it, but you can never quite find what you’re looking for?

Those, my dear, hold secret opportunities for you.

Some of the most profound opportunities in your career and life.

You know the old worn-out saying “necessity is the mother of all invention?” Well, the reason that statement persists is because of its hard truth.

If you’re looking for something and can’t find it, invent it!

Now here’s the thing though. Most people wave that idea away with a dismissive laugh.

But if you let the idea take hold, there’s magic in it.

Let me show you what I’m talking about:

Shinrin-yoku. Forest bathing.

I read about this practice once and the idea struck me at a soul level.

I couldn’t forget about it.

I wanted to know more about it.

I scoured the internet.

I pored over any literature I could find.

The problem was, the content on forest bathing was scarce.

I found a few articles talking about its benefits and an organization that trains forest bathing guides.

That was it.

No “how to’s,” no personal essays, no material about how to practice it for the regular person.

Every few months I’d search again. Couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The idea of forest bathing stuck in my head and I felt like I couldn’t do anything with it!

Then it struck me: “if you can’t find what you’re looking for, create it yourself!”

And so…Forest Bathing Central was born. (Yep, I run that site too!)

I created the place where you could find actual forest bathing exercises.

I created the place where you could find tips and instructions.

I created the place where you could read about shinrin-yoku in depth.

I created a place where real people could discuss it.

I created a place for forest bathing to grow and develop.

I decided that I was going to be the person to provide the type of literature that I was looking for.

Another example…this blog itself.

It’s had quite a few transformations since its inception. It started as a personal blog under a different domain that I wasn’t trying to get anyone to read.

It transformed into a health and fitness space I started to want people to read.

More recently, it’s become a space to explore fitness, freelance writing, and full-bodied living.

But, it started to look like other freelance websites out there with similar articles and reiterated content.

And that just didn’t feel quite right to me.

When I read other freelance content, I feel like I want more of something.

Can’t quite put my finger on it.

Can’t quite find it…

Oh, I know what it is! I want content from real-life freelance writers that isn’t about the latest portfolio platform (yawn), but more about the real life behind the curtain, more about the unspoken tricks and techniques that really advance your career. Content more on the “real life purpose” side. A little strategy. A lot personal.

That’s the pull I’ve been feeling more lately.

That’s the type of content I want to read, so that’s the type of content I want to create.

So, my last few posts have been more like this.

I’m moving toward where I feel pulled.

A more genuine type of place.

The only caveat, now that I’ve started this “create what you’ve always wanted to see in the world,” I have a million and six ideas!

I have pages of “inventions” listed in a notebook.

And even more pages of books and programs I’m ready to make.

I’m always coming up with more.

I can’t quiet that part of my brain that comes up with new ideas now.

I see inventions everywhere.

I want to create all.the.things.

And that part of my mind that’s attuned to “if you find a need, you can fill it” is very active.

As a freelance writer and business owner, it’s a really handy perspective to have.

It reveals opportunities.

It creates progress.

It builds momentum.

It gives you a means of expansion, beyond your wildest dreams.

I mean, you could invent an entire career out of it!

Wish there was a way to fulfill your dream of traveling and also writing? Well, that’s easy. Become a travel writer.

Wish there was a way to make a living writing in planners or Bible journaling? It’s possible. Let me introduce you to Kara and Shanna.

Wish there was a cool blog out there that allowed you to explore both Victorian literature and fitness? Create it! I mean, someone’s already built an empire around fitness and comic books, so, it’s certainly possible.

I always wished there was a way to connect my love of fitness and writing. Although it seems obvious now to be a fitness writer, at one time, I didn’t know what that looked like or how to make that happen.

But once I did, wow, an entire new world out there opened up.

An entire world not run by the dictation of factories and corporations.

A world where the inventors/creators have a place to explore their wild imaginative inklings.

That’s the place where I like to be.

That’s the place where opportunity lies.

Wanna join me?

My challenge to you is to switch on that side of your brain today. Pick up on all those instances when your mind says “this would be so much better if…” or “I wish I could find a …” Just start to notice these opportunities all around you.

Then, attune yourself to the ones that call you personally. How could you yourself actually bring them to fruition?

Makeup and snowboarding? Coffee and decorating? Marketing and children’s stories? If you love them dearly, there may be a way to turn them into your own unique opportunity.

Start a journal to work through your ideas and eventually, you’ll find THE opportunity that calls to you.

Or you might have an epiphany on a walk, like I did.

This process could take a matter of minutes, or years, to develop.

But the simple practice…the simple “thinking about it”…the practice of attuning your mind to possibilities…can spark an amazing creation that makes you giddy to be alive!

What’s on your mind?

What opportunities do you wish were available? What voids have you already noticed and filled?

February 25, 2019

Killer About Page Copy for Freelance Boss Babes: 6 Secrets From Top Copywriters

Great copy makes all the difference between a website that converts and one that doesn’t.

Okay, that’s the boring version.

The “let’s be real” version is:

Your copy could capture your readers’ hearts and attention…or not.

Your website copy can woo them…

Bore them…

Or scare them back into the Google underground.

You may have heard that your About Page is one of the top most-clicked pages on your site.

And you have mere seconds for it to do its thing.

So, how do you get your About Page copy right then?

Why, you turn to boss copywriters themselves, of course.

Today, we’re studying the About Pages of some kickass bossbabe copywriters to learn how to craft our own effective copy.

Shall we?

Introducing About Pages from some of my fave copy babes:

*Click any of the names below to see their About Pages. Then scroll down to get the down-low.

6 About Page Copy Lessons from Top Copywriters

#1 Nail your close-up

A picture is a legal requirement for an About Page.

I kid. But really…it should be.

No About Page is complete without a picture of who the page is about.

But not just any picture.

A friendly, professional picture.

Before posting, think about what your picture says about you.

If you’re slumping on the couch, the immediate impression is: Lazy.
If you’re cheering with a beer bottle, the immediate impression is: Unprofessional. Not serious.
If you’re smiling in a confident, flattering pose like Maggie Linders, the immediate impression is: Successful and approachable.

Although your picture doesn’t seem directly copy-related, it is.

Because all those nice words you used to described yourself?

Get attached to that pretty mug of yours.

And also?

Studies show people are more likely to trust you (and your words) if you show your face.

Lesson one: Include a nice, professional picture of yourself “above the fold.”

#2 Blunt is better than bantastical!

Huh?

Exactly.

We’re copywriters, we get to be creative with words.

But don’t get too creative. To the point where no one can follow what you’re talking about.

Be blunt.

Tell people what you do in simple language.

Hattie Brazely does a great job cutting straight to the point (i.e. the benefits of her work). No flowery embellishments.

“My words will make you money.”

That’s the most concise definition of a copywriter, right there.

Lesson two: who are you and what do you do, in the simplest words? Plaster that across the top of your About Page.

#3 Showcase your results

Your prospects don’t care that you’ve known you were a born writer since kindergarten.

They only care about what cold hard results you can get them.

Selfish, I know.

But #truth, nevertheless.

So, to meet that need, make sure you showcase the results your copy has delivered. You can even get as specific as:

How many pageviews or social shares your most-viral article generated.
Which high-profile publications you’ve been invited to write for.
How much income a long-form sales page generated for a client.
Awards and recognition you’ve received.
Number of subscriptions a landing page generated.

You don’t just fill pages with words. You write words in a certain way that drives results!

Check out how Jamie Jensen lays out her impressive results on her About Page (she also mentions serving over 700 entrepreneurs and helping them earn millions).

Andrea Emerson narrows in on results-focused outcomes on her About Page.

Clients can see their results written all over this: attract, convert, retain, trust, believe. Put money in your pocket.

Your audience wants more of that, no?

Lesson three: include the results customers can expect on your About Page.

#4 Brand strategy, activated!

Every one of the ladies on this list weaves their branding strategy through their About Pages.

If you look closely, you’ll see the same three or so fonts, colors, and design elements repeated throughout the pages.

Then, you see those same fonts, colors, and designs on their social media platforms and other places on the internet.

And the “voices” to match.

That’s what branding is all about! Creating a recognizable, set-apart look for yourself.

Erica Lee Strauss uses a lot of pinks, purples, and sparkly colors and words for her brand.

Maria Rana uses the same typeset fonts, bold reds, and old-school Polaroids and parchment paper on every page.

Elizabeth McKenzie is a no-frills, sassy gal, and that comes across in her minimalistic design, white T-shirt, and saucy humor.

Nikki Elledge Brown slays branding hardcore with her “communication stylist” theme and adorable quirkiness. Like her copy, she has the branding and design down like no one else!

Lesson four: include your brand fonts, colors, and designs on your About Page to make your online look cohesive.

#5 Humanize yo’self

Even though your About Page is more about what you can do for your audience, you still count.

I know, you’re welcome.

You’re human. Your heart beats. And no one believes copy is the only thing you care about.

So, put a little personality and pizzazz into your about page.

Many writers include a few interesting facts at the bottom of their About Page, like Elna Cain does here:

In a fun twist on that, Maria Rana includes a list of things she believes in. I’m totally stealing that!

Me too, sister!

Lesson five: make most of your About Page about your reader, but include a few interesting bits about (actual) you!

#6 Offer directions

With a scroll scroll here and a click click there….

We whip through the internet like the Tasmanian Devil on caffeine pills.

By the time your readers hit your about page,they’re ready to move onto the next thing.

Make sure that “next thing” they do is click around on your site or make contact with you.

Give your readers direction in the form of a very simple call-to-action.

Read more…
Choose your adventure.
Click here to get started. (by Erica Lee Strauss)

Another way to train your readers’ focus is to use bold and large type to highlight the important stuff.

(See what I did there?)

If When your readers are scrolling, tell them exactly what to pay attention to.

Maria Rana demonstrates this perfectly by offsetting her main messages with header tags, colors and boldface.

Lesson six: Include at least one call-to-action on your About Page. Also, emphasize what you want your reader to remember with bigger, bolder, more colorful type.

Want more?

I hope this study gives you some perspective on how to write an About Page like a pro.

I even did some tweaking on my own About Page while writing this article to make it more effective.

I also put together an in-depth mini course to help you write your own admiration-amassing About Page.

(Find all the mini courses here. Home and Services pages coming soon!)

Follow these step-by-step instructions to churn out an effective freelance writer About Page. Guess what? You can use this same system to write your clients’ About Pages too!

Show me some other amazing About Pages in the comments. I’d love to keep the discussion going!

February 13, 2019

Change Your Life on Your lunch Break: 5 Practical Ways

Today, I just wanted to pop on here to let you know, I had the honor of sharing an article about changing your life on your lunch break over on Steve Aitchison’s site.

If you’re ready to make a change in your life, your lunch hour is the perfect time slot to make it happen in digestible increments.

Check out these 5 Practical Ways to Change Your Life on Your Lunch Break.

You can also check out the past entries in the Change Your Life on Your Lunch Break series:

Grownup Journaling
The 30-Day Push
Read a Children’s Book (Yes, really. You’ll like this one.)

You can also learn how I built my freelance business in just an hour a day (including client calls on my lunch break) while still working a full-time job in my free Freelance Freedom from Corporate Series.

Pop in the comments and let me know what you think you could change in just an hour a day!

January 23, 2019

The ONE thing you need in place (aside from samples) before pitching freelance clients

Your Freelance Onboarding Process

Not many freelance instructors talk about it…

But you need to have more than just a love for writing and a few samples to entice new freelance clients.

You need to have a freelance onboarding process in place.

An onboarding process is just the steps you take to bring aboard a new client to your business.

Although it sounds complicated, it doesn’t have to be.

It can be as simple as a few emails…

Or as complicated as a full-fledged proposal, contract, multiple phone conferences, and more.

It depends on you, your niche, your clients, and the complexity of the project.

But no matter what, you should have an onboarding system in place to:

Keep you organized
Make your business run more smoothly
Allow your clients to trust you

Think about it: you hear back from a client who’s interested in working with you.

What you do next could mean the difference between a sweet gig and a thank u, next.

So, let’s just role play this for a second. You’re on the phone and your prospect expresses interest in content from you. They ask about your work and are thinking about moving forward.

Your reply?

Why don’t you email me and tell me what you want me to do. Don’t nervously try to get off the phone and wait for them to tell you what they want. You tell them what you can do for them! They’re assuming you are the expert. If you leave the ball in their court, you risk losing them to disinterest or someone who’s more confident. They want you to take work off their hands, not make more work for themselves.
I’m not sure. I think I can probably write a few blog posts a month, and I’ll have to throw some numbers together for you. If you’re confused what to do next, don’t even know your rates or availability, your prospect may lose confidence in you.
Tell me more about your content needs and I’ll put together a proposal for you by this afternoon. After you accept the proposal, I’ll send over a contract and I require a 50% down payment. If you outline your process with them, they trust you know what you’re doing and will happily hand over the reins. You’re making the job easy on them!

See how much of a difference that last option makes? It makes you sound super professional, trustworthy, and serious.

It also helps you take on client calls with much more confidence and a much better sense of purpose.

{Ready to design your boss onboarding process today? Check out this freelance onboarding mini course}

Your freelance onboarding process also helps you stay on track, so you always know what comes next.

If you’re anything like me, then you appreciate a good ole organized process.

Checklists, strategies, and processes help you sleep better at night.

So make sure you have a strategy in place for your freelance onboarding process.

What does a freelance onboarding process actually look like?

Think about the steps you need to take to land a client, from the initial contact to the beginning of a project. Sit down and actually map them out. It might go something like this:

Initial contact, reply within 24 hours
Set up a phone consultation
Write up a proposal
Send/sign contract
Invoice for deposit
Send client questionnaire
Begin project

This process is usually much less involved for blogging clients than for website copywriting clients, but you get the gist.

Once you have an idea of what your oboarding process will look like, then you need to sit down and create the actual checklist and all the documents that are required during the process.

Save a copy of the checklist on your computer and make a copy for each new client that you can check off as you go.

You should also have copies of the questions you like to ask during your phone consultations, a proposal form, an invoicing system, and a client questionnaire in place.

Now, before you go thinking all of this is too complicated and over-your-head:

A proposal can be as simple as a Google document outlining the project details. Nothing fancy.
You can find pre-made freelance contracts online on sites like Freelancer’s Union (although a lawyer is always best) and make adjustments for each client
Paypal has a very simple invoicing system
Client questionnaires include all the questions you need to know before starting a piece of content

Simple.

Having all the documents written out and in place makes your entire process go seamless.

And really, it makes you feel more competent. And seem more competent to clients.

My challenge for you today is to write out your onboarding process and gather all the necessary files in a folder on your computer.

If you’re ready to design a really boss onboarding process, I’ve got you! Check out my detailed onboarding mini course!

Then, come on back here and tell me in the comments how much better your onboarding process goes with all of this in place.

January 15, 2019

3 Reasons Why You Need a Freelance Writer Resume

You’ve put together a killer portfolio and writer’s website.

Then, you head over to the Problogger or other job board to apply for a freelance writing gig.

And they ask for your resume.

You roll your eyes.

You’ve got two options:

Put together a freelance writer resume right then and there.
Skip applying for the gig because you shouldn’t have to send a resume for a freelance writing gig.

You can cross your arms and refuse to go anywhere near employers that require resumes, or you can create a killer resume that impresses.

Your call.

But I would take the blue pill (aka the second option).

And here’s why…

3 Reasons to Create a Freelance Writer Resume

#1 Most employers still want/prefer them

If you apply for any position directly from the Problogger site, for example, there’s a spot to upload a document. Presumably, this is for your resume.

That document uploader is another way to showcase your skills. You might as well use it to your advantage.

If you apply for a freelance position on Indeed or Ziprecruiter, you’ll inevitably be asked to upload your resume. Hiring sites and recruiters need to see your resume, so you need to have one.

Actually I’ve only come across very few employers who don’t outright ask for your resume. Many just aren’t aware that freelance writers consider their portfolio their resume. Their HR departments are used to vetting traditional resumes, not freelance portfolios.

If you’re applying for job postings online, a freelance writer resume is a must.

#2 You get to show off your impressive skills

Do you know all the messages your writer’s resume conveys (aside from the obvious job history and credentials)?

It showcases your writing, spelling, and grammatical skills.
It shows your ability to refine your skills to the fewest words possible.
It expresses the burning passion behind your work.
It tells prospects whether you’re a confident, assertive business partner or a timid underling.
It offers you an additional medium to build your brand image.

If your resume is bland and rife with errors, your credibility as a professional writer may be questioned.

On the other hand, if your resume appears modern, concise, and professional, it bolsters your credibility.

Your resume gives off all these impressions within the first few seconds.

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Every company style guide I’ve seen emphasizes the importance of trimming and tightening your words. They all say something along the lines of: “ruthlessly eliminate any word or phrase that isn’t necessary.”

Your one-page resume (and yes, the consensus still indicates a preference for one page) provides inescapable evidence that you can do just that.

It’s good practice.

#3 Your resume affords you another opportunity to rise above every other candidate

Think about this: you’re an employer who has just posted a position for a freelance writer and the applications come pouring in.

Most of them look pretty traditional.

One is way too “out there” for you. A purple perfumed resume tucked inside a copy of The Freelancer’s Bible.

(Okay, that might be a bit of an over-exaggeration, but you get my drift. Some resumes are too boring and some are over-the-top.)

Then, a distinctive resume with impressive credentials and a modern, eye-catching design comes across your desk.

It piques your interest just looking at it.

You put the resume at the top of your stack. You can’t wait to share this buried treasure with your colleagues.

So, what’s in that resume that makes it so impressive?

You!

Okay, let me be just a little less vague.

The design of your resume looks very modern and chic (find some cool designs on Canva) but still sticks to your traditional white-background, one-page expectations.

It’s modern. You can tell the applicant knows their way around the digital world. Thank goodness, because you might rip your eyes out if you see another dated “to whom it may concern” resume.

Your applicant treats their business like a business. They have a logo and a website and they own their freelance company.

Their skills descriptions don’t sound like they’ve been copied and pasted from a middle school career textbook. Instead, they suggest a creative soul who loves their job, because who else would list “knitting the right words together to express the soul of your business” as a qualification?

Straight to the top of the stack.

A hidden treasure.

Do you see what I’m getting at here?

If you want to land at the top of the stack, you need a writer’s resume. You need an impressive writer’s resume.

If you’re ready to start applying for freelance work, create your resume today!

If you haven’t put a resume together for awhile and you want to be sure you’re doing it right, I’ve got you, babe. I put together a simple guide, including a copy of my own personal resume, to help you design your own. Grab the guide here!

Drop me some thoughts in the comments below. I love hearing from you!

January 14, 2019

I don’t believe in writer’s block

Oh my goodness, did that title just make you writhe in your seat a little?

If so, I didn’t mean to cause you any physical or emotional angst…

… But to show you there’s a better way.

You see, writer’s block doesn’t even have to be a thing for you.

It isn’t for me.

Because I realized it didn’t need to be a thing for me.

Writer’s block is just a self-inflicted limitation.

I’m not sure when exactly I decided this.

Probably over the years of building this blog, I know for CERTAIN that I’ll never ever ever ever ever run out of ideas!

Same with clients. I know I’ll never ever ever run out of ideas for them either.

Because I know I can be an idea-generating machine,

I just decided writer’s block wasn’t going to be a “thing” for me anymore.

Yes, you can just decide that.

Don’t get me wrong, I do have days where I procrastinate hardcore.

I do have days where the words don’t flow as easily as others.

But I just never worry that I’m going to be struck by writer’s block.

You don’t have to worry if you don’t want either.

You just have to make this whole “I don’t get writer’s block” a daily practice…and a belief.

Let me show you some of the tricks I use to keep writer’s block from ever becoming a thing for me.

How to Decide Against Writer’s Block

Learn how to be an idea generating machine.
Practice coming up with ideas daily. Write down a list of 20 headline ideas for your next post just to give your idea muscle some training. Write down a list of 10 things you’re grateful for every night before bed. Write down 50 of your family’s favorite dinners so you always have a list to pull from when you’re stuck. Think of 100 new info products you could sell on your website, even if they’re crappy.This practice gets you into idea generating mode. You get better at generating ideas with practice, so you know for sure you’ll never run out.

I’ve gotten to the point where I just trust I can come up with ideas on a whim. If I do this idea-generating practice too much, my mind because way too aflutter with all the fun things I could do, create, or make. I just know the ideas are always available.
Know where to look for ideas.Going along with trick #1, write out a list of places to get ideas. If you ever really feel like you’re running dry, you can refer to this list to get your mind spinning again.
For example, I know I could pop over to Reddit or Buzzsumo and get enough ideas for hundreds of new blog posts. I could open a magazine and come up with dozens of spin-off article ideas. I could click on Pinterest and get my mind whirring again. Song lyrics often trip my idea wire too, so if I’m in a funk, I just put on my headphones and wait for a breakthrough.

If I couldn’t come up with a headline, I’d just look up “headline hacks.” If I needed a fun hook for an intro paragraph, I could just look up a quote from a current television show to get my gears going.
Trust what’s available to you.Just knowing that all these ideas are floating out there for me to find gives me confidence that I’ll never run out of words and concepts to express.
I know from just those first two points that I’m much more likely to have trouble taming all my rampant ideas than coming up with them or the words for them.

Between the thesaurus, my daily reading material, and the grand ole internets, I trust that I won’t ever have writer’s block again.
Practice the “writer’s block isn’t real” mindset.You should see by now that writer’s block is just a mindset. It’s just a belief, in the moment, that you can’t find anything to say. If you know there are endless ideas out there, ready for you, and that you can easily find more than you can fit inside your brain, then you can shove the idea of writer’s block right out of your mind.
I hope I’ve shown you that you can always find things to say.

You can either choose to believe writer’s block is real for you or choose not to believe it. It’s as simple as that.
Write every day.I notice that my words fly a lot more freely when I’m in the practice of writing (and reading) every day. I’m much less likely to be at a loss for words when I’m in the practice of crafting them.
As a freelance writer, I just write every day anyway. If you’re not in the habit of writing every day, make it happen. Just journal or write in your blog. You don’t have to write fully-cited research papers or anything, just words on a page.

If you wanted to be a well-known ballet dancer, you’d have to practice dancing for hours every day. If you want to be a well-known writer, you need to do the same. You refine your technique, express yourself better, and pick up the right words with practice.
Busy yourself with an entirely different task.If you’re really stuck on the content you’re writing, get out of your desk and do something else. Cook a meal, take a walk, meditate, sleep. Nature, in particular, has a restorative effect. Do something relaxing but productive. People have been using this tactic for decades to solve problems.
When you give your mind a rest and focus on something else, the solution to your problem often just pops right into your head. Even if it doesn’t (and it should), the mind break itself is usually enough to allow your creative juiced to flow freely again.
Daily personal development.Personal development helps with everything. It helps you become a better, more well-adjusted human in so many ways. A lot of mlm companies have started including personal development as a necessary daily activity for this very reason, and you often notice a change in people’s character when they start doing it. You can use personal development to clear your blocks, learn how to take responsibility, and find happiness.
Personal development definitely helps you recognize and destroy your limitations like a samurai. You can slice right through writer’s block just like you would any other limitation.

I hope this article has helped you identify writer’s block as a construct of your own mind and encouraged you to rip it apart.

I’d love to hear your aha moments or your thoughts on writer’s block in the comments.

Peace out, writer’s block!

What are your best tips and tricks for writer’s block?

September 11, 2018

The Four Best Ways to Attract Freelance Clients {And Make Them Come to You}

Before we discuss the best ways to attract freelance clients, let me just jump in here to help you adjust a few expectations.

Firstly, clients won’t come to you right away. It takes awhile to build your following, reputation, and website SEO. The effects of these strategies aren’t immediate and so many other factors come into play too (such as your writing talent and discipline).
That being said, you should always be actively working on these strategies to improve your visibility from the very beginning of your freelance career and for happily ever thereafter, amen.

Look, you always need to be proactively looking for clients, until your client load is full or overflowing. All I’m saying is, you can’t whip up a website and sit back and wait for work to fall into your lap.

Clients won’t magically appear, even if you wholeheartedly believe your morning affirmations that “I have an abundance of profitable freelance writing work. Clients come to me out of nowhere.”

Now, you may very well get some clients out of the blue.

But you can’t count on it. You still need to do your own proactive legwork.

So, without further ado…

The Four Best Ways to Attract Freelance Clients

Here are the best ways I’ve discovered to get clients to come to you.

Create a well-ranked website
Set up a referral system
Guest post on high-profile websites
Optimize your profiles on LinkedIn and other social media

Create a well-ranked website

Yes, we’re talking about SEO here. And while I know SEO isn’t always a freelance writer’s favorite subject, it doesn’t have to be difficult.

{If you still haven’t created a website, create one in five minutes}

If you put a few smart strategies in place, you can get your website ranked well on Google. You need to make sure your site gets verified by Google, you install the Yoast SEO plugin, and you find and use the right keywords in the right places.

{If you want to know exactly how I got this site ranked in the top 3 Google searches so you can too, check out this mini freelance SEO course}

To figure out your keywords, think about the process your prospects might use to find a writer.

Many of them head straight to Master Google and type in “financial copywriter” or “freelance hospitality writer” to see what comes up.

First, you want to make sure your website shows up on Page 1 of those exact Google results. Most people click on one of the first few entries and never make it past the first page, so if your site doesn’t show up at the top, it’s as good as invisible.

Two, you want to make sure the webpage your prospect lands on when they click compels them to contact you. Take time to hone your Home, About Me, and Work With Me pages until you feel like you want to hire yourself!

Make sure you make it easy for your prospects to contact you too, no matter which page they land on. If they can’t figure out your contact information, they’ll move on quicker than you can say “Wait just a sec!”

Action step: use Google’s Keyword Planner to do a little keyword research. Decide what the number one keyword is you want to rank for. It should be something along the lines of “your niche + freelance writer.” Then, choose a few sub-keywords, which could include your geographic location or the type of content your write (i.e. Dallas blog writer).

Include your main keyword in your site’s meta title, headings, subheadings, urls, and copy.

Make an effort to rank for your chosen keyword. I can teach you how with my mini freelance SEO course. It’s way too in-depth to discuss here;)

Next, peruse your website’s main pages and make sure you include your contact information or a contact form on each.

Set up a referral system

Referrals are one of the BEST ways to get new clients.

Think again about the process your ideal prospects might use to find a writer for some content marketing they want to implement.

Some of them will ask around their network for a good freelance writer. Make sure your name gets mentioned by current and past clients. How?

Do excellent work so your client can’t help but sing your praises.
Ask for referrals. Simply ask. You can either ask your clients directly for referrals or offer a monetary incentive for referrals like $25-$250 off their next project.

Another effective way to propel the referral train is to offer free work for a well-known entrepreneur who runs in circles you want to be part of. In exchange, you can ask them for referrals and a testimonial when you’re done.

Now, I only recommend free work when you’re just starting out, and only if the benefits of that free work far outweigh the lack of compensation. Doing free writing work for a millionaire entrepreneur will pay off in exponential dividends because of their reach and the value of their referral network.

If they refer you to their friends and network, you’re golden!

Action step: Make sure all your friends and family know about your business. Post occasionally about your business on Facebook so your name comes to mind first for referrals within your social network.

Next, write out your referral strategy going forward, if you don’t already have one. You can add a sentence or two to your business plan or open a new Google Doc to jot a few notes like this about your business strategy. Your referral strategy should be as simple as asking all clients for referrals upon project completion, with or without a referral bonus.

Guest post on high-profile websites

Guest posting is one of the best business strategies a freelancer can use. You should make guest posting one of your primary marketing tools, especially when you’re just getting started or hit a lag.

The advantages of guest posting are two-fold:

The published piece makes your portfolio all the more impressive.
Guest posts may entice your prospects to reach out to you directly.

That second point there is how you get potential clients to come to you.

If you write a piece that’s so well-written and received, your reader might think “Aha! This is the writer I want working for me.”

Prospects may reach out to you after seeing that stellar piece you wrote.

You need to be strategic about this move though, because you can’t just write any old content and expect clients to rush to you. You need to write content that applies and appeals to your particular ideal client.

If you want to work with plant-based pet companies, you likely won’t get any hits from a Huff Post article about financial freedom, or even a local dog show. Those types of articles aren’t of personal interest for their business endgame. You could get their attention however, with a thoughtful piece about content marketing specifically for the plant-based pet industry.

See how that works?

Action step: brainstorm a few well-known publications that your ideal client likely reads and come up with some article ideas that would be of value to them. Then, pitch those article ideas to the publications.

{Use my step-by-step process to pitch and land opportunities with big-name publications. It’s not as hard as you might think!}

Bonus tip: Make sure your byline rocks and includes your contact information so your prospects can easily reach you.

Optimize your profile on LinkedIn and other social media platforms

Prospects reach out to freelance writers on LinkedIn and other platforms all the time. I know because I read about it all the time and it’s happened to me. It’s one of the best places to be “seen” by prospects because it’s one of the most popular places for them to actively look for freelance writers.

How do you get prospects to reach out to you on LinkedIn?

Make your profile prolific and searchable. Fill in all possible sections and upload profile and header images to start. Then, go back and hone your profile. Include keywords about your niche and profession in your tagline and profile so you show up in searches. Don’t use fancy words like “wordsmith” or “copy engineer.” No one is searching for those. They’re searching for “freelance writer,” “copywriter,” or “content marketer.” Put a little bit of personality into your profile to distinguish it from others too. Let your ideal client know exactly what kind of results they can expect from you.
Offer your ideal prospect something free of value. Write an article with valuable advice for your ideal client and publish it on LinkedIn. An article like this gives your ideal client a snapshot of your writing style, lets them know you have expertise on the subject, and shows them your skills align perfectly with what they need. ‘Nuff said.
Stay active on the platform. Make regular updates to your profile and pop into industry-relevant groups every so often to keep your profile active. You never know, the excellent advice you offer in a LinkedIn group may trigger a prospect to reach out to you.
Tell them to! Never underestimate the value of a call-to-action. Straight up tell your prospects to reach out. Make your contact information easy to find and give them more options than just InMail. Make your CTA low-pressure too. Rather than “Tell me what content you want written and we’ll discuss which of your kids I get in return,” say “Email me at {your email address} to chat about copy. It’s my favorite subject!”

Use these same strategies to optimize your Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook business profiles too. A few hours after optimizing my Twitter profile, a prospect reached out to me and is still one of my most profitable clients to this day. {Read about how I landed this client on Twitter here.}

To be a successful freelance writer (as opposed to a struggling one), you need to continuously, actively market your business. You can amplify your reach and let your website and social media profiles do some of the work for you with these four strategic steps to attract freelance clients.

If you can’t wait for the day when clients seek you out specifically, this is the way to do it.

For more in-depth, step-by-step instructions on SEO and guest posting, check out my mini freelance courses:

How to Get Published on High-Profile Publications

SEO for Your Freelance Writer Website

I’d love to hear about your successes with attracting freelance clients in the comments below!

June 4, 2018

7 of the Most Impressive Freelance Writer Portfolio Examples on the Internet

So, right now, I’m putting together a module for my freelance writing course about how to put together your freelance writer portfolio. [Edit to update, the freelance portfolio building mini course is now available here]

So, naturally I was digging around legit everywhere on the internet for some cool freelance writer portfolio examples, and I found some I needed to share with you.

These were the stand-outs.

The ones that didn’t look like everyone else’s.

The ones that clearly stated by their design “I’m not like everyone else, and there’s no doubt I’m good at what I do.”

These are the kind of portfolios that make me want to virtually high-five their creators!

It took awhile, but I found a few gems that will help you rethink your standard portfolio.

Hold up…if you think a “standard portfolio” is a typewritten, tangible portfolio inside a leather case a la Mad Men, you need to flash forward about a half a century.

Your writing portfolio must be digital.

Now that we have that squared away…

These examples I’m about to show you demonstrate the amazing possibilities you have with your online portfolio.

If you’ve ever wondered what “be unique” or “find a unique selling proposition” mean, these are it. They all have very unique approaches. (So, don’t copy them, be your own unique self!)

While you may not have the tech skills to make your website look as good (I sure don’t), these examples should give you a moment’s pause to consider how you can un-vanilla-fy and personalize your own portfolio.

Cuz, c’mon, how vanilla is your portfolio right now, really?

And invest in a website designer to make it look good. Trust me on this one.

Let me just say, before I show them to you, how long it took me to put this chock-full-of-information post together.

Hours upon hours, I tell you.

Because I had to wade through dozens of vanilla portfolios to find the rare impressive ones.

So, pay attention;)

Without further ado, the best freelance writer portfolios I’ve come across!

The Visual Writer’s Portfolio

As a visual person, I just love and appreciate Jaime Endick’s visual portfolio. Her Visualize.Me portfolio gives her prospects a quick view of her best features at a glance. As we become more and more a culture of scanners, this type of portfolio becomes more and more relevant.

The only thing I’d be cautious with here is that her timeline may betray her age. And although age discrimination is against the law, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. It doesn’t mean your age isn’t being judged.

Also, this visual doesn’t really have a clickable portfolio, which you definitely need. But it has a lot of amazing visuals to consider for your portfolio.

Next, her visual skills section beats a plain old A4 resume any day. We could all make a chart like this to emphasize the extent of our skills rather than the boring old resume way.

I love how the colors, words, font size, and size of the rectangles in the next section demonstrate her personality and skill levels all the more!

Steal-it tips:

Add a few visuals to your portfolio page aside from the logos of all the kick-butt places you’ve been published. Add a graph or a little comic to show your expertise, something to interest your visual readers and create visual relief on the white page.

The Funny Guy’s Writing Portfolio

I just knew I could count on a humor writer to have a good portfolio. Hank Herman’s writing portfolio did not disappoint when I Google searched for “comedy writer portfolio.”

Just the top of the page makes me like him already.

This whole thing says: “approachable, likeable, funny, and professional.”

He obviously hired a great graphic designer to make this page look spectacular.

Then, he has his portfolio section, with filters and clickable links to make it really user-friendly. Prospects that are looking for a good speaker can peruse just the “speaking” portfolio examples without wading through the rest.

This looks so cool, doesn’t it?

Steal-it tips:

Make your portfolio page more of a dynamic story than a static page on your website.
Make your portfolio a reflection of who you are, whether it’s a funny guy in a convertible with his dog or a momma bear writing in bare feet at her kitchen table.
And did I already mention…hire a website designer?

The action-oriented freelance portfolio

What I like about Alex Sayers’ writing portfolio is that it has strong CTAs built into every corner of it. Starting at the very beginning.

If you’ve ever wondered what to put at the very top of your portfolio page? This is a great example. Your name, what you do, and a clickable call to action above the fold.

Then, he introduces himself and what he can do for his clients. Always remember, it’s about your clients, not about you. Your clients don’t really care that you’ve been writing since before kindergarten. They want to know what kinds of results you can get for them. Alex does a nice job of this.

Also, we see another call to action here: “scroll down, keep reading, and get in touch.”

Then, he adds his portfolio as a separate clickable link beneath a very descriptive explanation of his copywriting services. By doing so, his portfolio becomes less of the main focus. The main focus is what his writing does for his client. Much more compelling than just spewing all of your published articles over a page, no?

The bottom of the page contains a bunch more calls to action. Maybe you don’t need to give your prospects that many options to pussy-foot around, but you do want to nudge them in the right direction and make it super easy for them to contact you.

Steal-it tips:

Before you jump right in with your portfolio, let your audience know what you can do for them. You need to “tell” them and let your portfolio do the “showing.”
Take a look at your portfolio and make note of all the places where you talk about yourself. Rewrite the copy to focus on how your talents help your client.
Again, the running theme here is to use visuals, such as icons and pictures, to break up the text, and use calls to action with clickable links.

The Built-in Portfolio

Jay Crisp Crow’s portfolio is built into her about page and media kit. I love this approach. I also love how approachable she seems.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last year as a self-employed businesswoman is that “fun” and “professional” aren’t mutually exclusive. You should definitely showcase your personality, but also, you know, make your dang deadlines too.

Jay’s personality and writing flavor shine through bright on this page. You can feel her excitement emanating from it. I tell ya, if I wasn’t already a copywriter and needed one? I’d be looking for Jay.

There’s a story woven all throughout this page about singing, singing your praises, singing on stage, belting your brand voice, etc. This thread makes the whole page flow together.

Jay also has a crystal-clear picture of exactly who her audience is. She even spells it out:

Only after she has used her words to capture your attention, captivate your imagination, and made you love her does she show off her portfolio. It’s just sort of another example of her writing after a clear demonstration of her quick-witted wordsmithing skillz.

Steal-it tip:

Write out a crisp, clear description of your ideal client. Then, write your portfolio page as though you’re talking only to him or her. Don’t worry about excluding anyone. The people who are “just right” for you will be drawn to your page.
Take a look at how your portfolio page flows. Is there a way you can make it flow better with a story or an analogy woven through? Is there a way to make it a little more fun and flavorful? Put a pinch of a spice-named-after-you into it.

The Everything Portfolio

The next portfolio is everything you’d expect from the kreator of the kopywriting kourse. It’s full of big names and a “metric shit-ton” (his words) of examples of his writing.

The first thing I noticed?

This portfolio is in a Google Document.

If you think a portfolio has to be some sort of extravagant digital production, think again. If you know how to use Google Docs, you can make a helluva portfolio.

This portfolio is very easy to navigate and has very clear sections to separate his podcasts from his sales pages and such.

He starts with an introduction of his services and tells you exactly what he does and doesn’t do.

Ninja tip: Notice how he only works with people who generate over $50,000 in sales per year? That’s one way to ensure you make good money as a freelance writer. Work with people who have the capital to pay a copywriter.

The next few pages are screenshots of praise he’s gotten for his work. All really excellent social proof. Then, he has this really nice, organized chart with a bunch of articles listed. If I were you, I’d read some of these!

He lists some of the results his work has gotten his clients, products, and companies he’s worked with, and all the big-name sites (basically all of them) he’s been published on.

Then, at the end, he gives clear instructions on how to work with him.

This is definitely one of the most impressive portfolios I’ve ever seen. The depth and breadth covered, the major publications he’s published in, and the demonstration of skill here is phenomenal. And it’s all formatted really nicely too.

There’s no doubt people seek him out for his exceptional skills.

The only thing I would say about this portfolio is that it might not be the kind of portfolio you want to send to every client because it could be a bit overwhelming. You may want to keep a complete list of all the copy you’ve ever written for yourself and a few more condensed versions of your portfolio for each niche you serve.

Steal-it tips:

Create a new Google Doc and add links to every article you’ve ever written. Try to create sections for different types of content such as blog posts, product copy, etc to keep it organized. Add to it each time new content gets published.
Copy that same Google Doc and make a more concise document for each of your freelance writing niches. Put only your top 3-6 examples of relevant niche-specific copy in that document. Add a few visuals, statistics, and testimonials like we mentioned earlier to send to the appropriate prospects.
Take screenshots of some of your best work and copy it into a Google Doc too, so if the copy disappears off the interwebs, you still have proof. (Believe me! This has happened to me numerous times already).

The Pinterest Writer Portfolio

I’ve heard of people creating freelance writer portfolios on Pinterest, but hadn’t really seen any notable examples until I searched for them. Charlane Oliver does a nice job with her visually-enticing portfolio (although Pinterest kinda makes it pretty for you).

She also uses the description box to tell her prospects what she created such as “I created this 12-page Host Media Guide for participating organizations during Mobility Week.”

If, like Charlane, your skills extend beyond writing and into social media and graphic design, Pinterest is a great way to showcase all your work.

Steal-it tips:

Pinterest is a great way to improve your searchability. Even if you don’t make Pinterest your main portfolio, it doesn’t hurt to create one there anyway since Pinterest is fast becoming one of the highest ranked search engines.
Use the description box to your advantage. Include a brief description of the piece, your name, and your business name to bulk up your SEO reach.
Use the board description to your advantage too. Include a link to your website, what you do, and who you serve. Don’t forget to include keywords.

Stat-Supported, Client-Oriented Portfolio

I’ve been following John Espirian on Twitter forever, so I decided to peek at his portfolio and I’m glad I did! I love it! It tells you exactly why and how to work with him. Basically, this page takes all the work out of working with him. His clients don’t have to search for his contact information or wonder whether or not he’s competent enough. It’s clear right away.

John’s portfolio page convinces you to work with him without having to “try to convince” you.

John’s obviously got a firm grasp on SEO and demonstrates it on this page. The phrase at the top of the page “hire a technical copywriter” is definitely a keyword-rich phrase that people are searching for on Google. And obviously he knows his SEO if he’s “Google’s #1 ranked provider of technical writing services in the UK.” (See how he slips that “technical writing” keyword in there again?)

At the same time, his “hire a technical writer” statement is also a call to action.

Actually, John has calls to action all over his portfolio page.

“Brief me here”
“Hire me”
“Get a free quote”

You have to tell your client exactly what they need to do to work with you, and your directions need to be simple. If you don’t tell them, if you don’t make it easy for them to contact you, then you may never hear from them.

Next, John uses cold hard facts to demonstrate the benefits of working with him, and they’re not even stats about his own personal results. He uses updated statistics about B2B behavior in 2018 to tell his prospects why they need content. Then, he uses testimonials to show how he’s the right person for the job.

Somewhere on the page, he provides actual content examples he’s written. But do you see how his portfolio is only a small part of this overall picture? He’s got statistics, testimonials, articles, and all kinds of other information to back up his work before he ever gets to his own clips.

Steal-it tips:

Add a few calls to action to your portfolio page. They can be as simple as “contact me at…” or “fill out this quick questionnaire” or “DM me here.” I love John’s idea of offering a free quote. You probably do that all the time anyway, so offer that as a service to your prospects.
Up your SEO game. This is another post in itself, but make sure your portfolio page ranks for your niche and your area. For example, make sure to include keywords like “freelance fitness copywriter” and “Milwaukee copywriter” in your meta title, titles, and subtitles so you show up in search results.
Include testimonials and statistics. Don’t copy John’s, but find some interesting statistics about content and add them to your page. Ask your past clients or coworkers for a few words about your talent and add those testimonials too.

The Portfolio Sales Page

I love how Lucy makes a sales page out of her portfolio. Her samples are really only one of a handful of criteria she meets. Let’s take a look.

The very top of the page is a really compelling visual, a simple question, and an introduction to her unique selling proposition. Lucy helps you and clients speak the same language.

Although this idea seems to be key since it’s at the top of the page, it’s not really woven into the rest of the page. I would probably make more references to speaking the same language.

Like any sales page, this one is broken up with icons, brief descriptions, pictures, and other visuals.

Further down the page, she has this helpful FAQ section. How many people do you think visit your page and wonder these same things? You can help them out by spelling it out. Keep it really simple!

Finally, we come to her portfolio. She says “ask for more,” so her prospects know there’s more where that came from. Her samples are laid out in a nice, organized way with visuals. She only includes 8 of her best examples. No need to overwhelm.

Finally, she includes some of her credentials, a testimonial section, and a simple contact form. The whole page follows a natural process from an introduction of services to examples of services to a contact form.

Steal-it tips:

Think about what your clients need to know about you to work with you, beyond just a handful of samples. Include your credentials, testimonials, unique approach. Also clue your audience in to the process of working with you so they know how it works.
Try the sales page approach and see if it works for you. You can find a bunch of sales page templates online. Choose one that suits you or pick bits and pieces from several of them. Just make sure your page follows a natural progression and flows together.

[Are you itching to put your own portfolio together? Check out the freelance portfolio building mini course with step-by-step instructions for creating your portfolio online]

As you’ve seen by these examples, there are plenty of ways to make your portfolio more enticing and memorable.

If you’ve scrolled all the way down here, here’s a recap:

How to make your freelance writer portfolio stand out

Make your portfolio visually compelling. Add visuals like graphs, icons, and pictures. Don’t bore people with blocks of text. Break it up with color and images.
Include more than just your writing samples on your portfolio. Add other compelling pieces to your portfolio page such as testimonials, statistics, FAQs, results, and other helpful information.
Get clear on your exact audience and make your portfolio more about your specific audience and less about you.
Allow your personality to shine through on your portfolio page. Professional doesn’t mean sterile.
Make your portfolio “different” than everything else out there.
Name drop like a son of a gun! If you’ve been printed in Washington Post, claim it! Add one of those “Featured In” strips across the bottom of your website. Those strips say, “I’m competent AF.”
Oh, and hire a website designer already!

***The next installment of my freelance writing course is about how to set up a freelance writer portfolio in one of four places. It has screenshots and a detailed breakdown of exactly how to put your portfolio together. Check it out here!

If you’re not sure where to start, grab my free 7-day Freelance Freedom from Corporate series!

What about you?

What do you think of these portfolio pages? Any other stellar freelance writing portfolio examples you’ve seen lately?

May 15, 2018

The Fascinating Science Behind the Tone It Up Bombshell Spell

I’ve always wondered about the Tone It Up Bombshell Spell and Meta D since they first came out a few years ago. They were and continue to be a huge hit. If you search the #TIUNutritionPlan, you’ll probably see that characteristic hazy orange sprinkled all over Instagram.

Once I bought the nutrition plan and looked at the ingredients of the Spell, I wondered what such a little 4-oz drink could do. Was it really worth it, or should I just skip it?

K&K said the drink was based on science, without much explanation.

Now, cutesy little vinegar juice shots are everywhere.

But why?

You hear constant warnings not to drink fruit juice, because it’s basically sugar water empty calories.

You also hear about how bogus apple cider vinegar is.

And honey? Basically just more added sugar. And you know how bad extra sugar is for your body.

And don’t you wonder if the minute benefits you might get from a little shot are even worth it?

So, why drink those little drinks then?

But, then I started drinking the Bombshell Spell. Every year during and after the Bikini Series. Whenever I’m ready to get my body back in gear.

What happens amazes me every time.

Whenever I drink it, the weight budges again.

Whenever I stop drinking it, the weight loss halts.

Not to mention the giddy feeling I get when I drink it. Since the drink has become a staple during the Bikini Series, I now equate that sweet tropical taste with summer! It’s a psychological trigger now.

But I wasn’t satisfied with “not knowing” how this drink works.

Because I love the science behind stuff like this, I did a little digging, and here’s what I found.

The incredible benefits of pineapple juice

This article from Healthline on the benefits of pineapple juice had some really great insights into the potent properties of pineapple juice.

Bromelain, the medicinal enzyme in pineapple juice:

Reduces inflammation, especially post-exercise soreness
Suppresses cancer growth
Speeds up digestion
Improves fat loss

Beta carotene in the juice:

Protects your eyes
Protects against free radicals (that lead to cancer and heart disease)
Helps keep your brain sharp
Protects your lungs

The Vitamin C boost you get:

Bolsters your immune system, especially your defenses against the common cold
Helps prevent cancer
Protects your eyes
Protects against heart disease
Reduces the effects of stress by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels

You also get a bunch of additional benefits from the calcium, magnesium, and manganese content of pineapple juice, like better bones and increased metabolism. The benefits are too long to list!

Then, there’s the apple cider vinegar in the Bombshell Spell…

The fabulous side effects of apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar, though a highly controversial dietary aid, does carry antioxidants and acetic acid which have been shown to:

Improve blood sugar and insulin levels, fighting diabetes
Help with weight loss by increasing satiety and reducing belly fat
Reduce heart disease risk

The fermentation makes ACV a great prebiotic, which:

Aids in digestion
Promotes healthy gut flora, which has a whole bunch of other benefits

I found this version, which has the cinnamon, honey, and lemon in it already,
so all I have to do is add it to the pineapple juice.

The Unmistakable Benefits of Raw Honey

If you pour raw honey into your concoction, you get the following benefits:

Powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals
Antibacterial and anti-fungal properties
Phytonutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Cough suppressant

The powerful medicinal properties of cinnamon

If you add a dash of cinnamon to your spell, like I do, you get a bunch of extra benefits:

Improves metabolism
Super source of antioxidants to attack cancer-causing free radicals
Potent anti-inflammatory
Reduces heart disease risk (lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure)
Improves sensitivity to insulin and lowers blood sugar, fighting diabetes
Powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal

Lime has some unmistakable benefits too, especially in the vitamin department with its potassium, vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium content, not to mention the antioxidants. Lime juice is also really great at kick-starting digestion and boosting metabolism.

Pretty wild, eh? Who knew you could get so much out of a tiny tropical drink?

You can see how pineapple juice is a heckuva lot more than just glorified sugar water and that apple cider vinegar actually does have some research-backed health benefits.

Plus, the Bombshell Spell uses only 4 ounces of pineapple juice, so it’s not like you’re overloading your system with sugar. And the sweetness helps counteract the strong vinegar taste.

If you were thinking about skipping the Bombshell Spell, I hope this information inspires you to reconsider.

To help you swallow that bitter vinegar taste, consider these helpful tips.

Tone it Up Bombshell Spell Tips

The contents of your Bombshell Spell make a big difference in how it tastes and how beneficial it is. To help you get the most out of your Bombshell Spell, remember to:

Drink the Spell in the morning while you’re fasted to ignite your metabolism
Wash your Spell down with water to protect your teeth from the acidity
Use pure pineapple juice, not from concentrate, to get the most benefits
Use organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, like Braggs or White House
Use raw honey, if available, to keep all the benefits intact
If your ingredients are available in an organic version, choose that

Do I think the Bombshell Spell is a miracle drink and the cure for cancer? Pfffff. Heck no!

But I do feel more…powered up, I guess you could say…when I drink it every day.

I do think it’s a great complement to a lean, clean and green diet and active lifestyle.

And it evokes positive summer vibes for me, so why not?

***Like the Bombshell Spell? You might also like this simple Green Tea Elixir. It has some of the same incredible benefits and more!

How about you?

Do you drink the Bombshell Spell every day? Do you notice a difference when you drink it versus when you don’t? Does the smell and taste remind you of summer too now?