As a designer, you know that messaging that blends on-brand visuals with copy is a perfect pair. But as a designer, you’re probably also not doing that all the time for yourself. So if your visuals are vibing, but your words aren’t working, what happens?

Emails for your services don’t get sent.
Opportunities pass your door and knock on someone else’s.
You blend in instead of standing out.

And the clients who need you go somewhere else because that person was visible and stood out as a go-to leader in their field.

That’s where strategic copywriting comes in. And no, it doesn’t need to be a custom project or a $5,000 retainer. There’s a much simpler way to get the words your clients need without overcommitting your time or budget.

It’s called Scribe, a copywriting subscription for designers that keeps your business visible and attracts your dream clients without you having to write a word.

What Is Scribe?

Scribe is a monthly copywriting subscription for designers and other creative service providers.

You get credit each month to choose what you need from a focused menu, like a homepage, a services page, social media captions, or even email welcome sequences.

Here’s why it works:

• You get professional, strategy-backed copy every single month.
• You stay consistent without burning out.
• You can offer a better experience to your own clients because you’re not worried about finding the next one after that project wraps up.

Also, there’s the option to purchase additional credits at a discounted rate if you need more support during a busier season. The system is flexible-yet-focused, so you’re never overwhelmed with choices or having to manage a retainer team member (because you have enough to worry about)!

Why Designers Need Access to Professional Copywriting (Without Going All-In on a Retainer)

A lot of designers tell me the same thing… “I don’t have the time to market myself because client work takes up all the time.”

So, what ends up happening?

• You try to write something “good enough,” telling yourself you’ll really give it your all “when you have more time.”
• You never actually send those emails or post those messages promoting your services because they feel rushed (or just sit unfinished in your drafts folder).

Then, your beautifully designed work is undercut by messaging that doesn’t convert.

Scribe solves that problem by making high-quality copy accessible, affordable, and completely tailored to your workflow.

You don’t need to write it yourself.
You don’t need to chase down freelancers.
You don’t need to become a copywriter for your business on top of being a designer.

Just submit your request and receive clean, on-brand, conversion-ready copy that supports your creative vision. And if you need to chat with me to make sure you’re on track for using your copy so it does something for your business? That’s not a problem. I’m a collaborator and partner without being someone you have to manage day to day.

What’s Included in the Copywriting Subscription?

Each month, you get:

• One credit to exchange for a deliverable from the Scribe menu (take a peek here!)
• A clear process with a strategic intake form and set turnaround time
• The option to add on more credits if you have a bigger, more time-consuming project
• Consistent support from someone who understands creative businesses

Some of the most popular deliverables include:

• Brand messaging guides
• Website pages like…
  • Services pages
  • About pages
  • Home pages
• Sales pages
• Lead magnets
• Email sequences like…
  • Welcome email sequences
  • Re-engagement email sequences
  • Sales email sequences

Also, you’ll get first dibs to new deliverables on the menu.

This isn’t a random bundle of templates. This is real copy, written by a real person (hi, it’s me) who understands how to make your visuals even more effective through intentional messaging.

Who Is Scribe For?

Scribe is for a designer who…

• Is tired of DIYing copy and marketing
• Wants professional-level messaging without the full scope of a custom copy project
• Values consistency and quality over chaotic, last-minute edits
• Cares about voice, clarity, and making sure the message actually connects

This copywriting subscription is not going to be a fit if you want unlimited revisions, rush turnarounds, or “just write something quick” copy. Scribe focuses on thoughtful, focused, effective communication, not random word dumps.

The ROI of Good Copy In Real Terms

Let’s talk about the return on investment. Professional copywriting isn’t just a nice-to-have. It directly impacts how you’re perceived, how you show up to market your business, and how that convert leads into buyers.

Here’s what strong copy can do:

• Increase email sign-ups through a clearer opt-in page
• Shorten the sales cycle by making services easier to understand
• Boost client confidence when they see the care you put into your business so they know you’ll do the same for theirs
• Turn that beautifully designed site of yours into an actual sales tool

And when your design and the messaging are working together? That’s when you become the go-to designer who gets it.

Why I Created This Subscription for Designers

I’ve worked with creative business owners long enough to know what slows them down and copy is usually at the top of the list. I know you can whip out a pretty graphic for yourself in a second, but you overthink the copy. Then, you never post it, you half-ass it so it’s generic and doesn’t talk about your perspective at all, or it becomes a portfolio piece that literally any designer could have posted. It doesn’t call in your clients and you get passed by for someone else.

I’ve also spent enough time inside projects to understand that most designers already have a strong 20-page brand voice guide. You’ve got that. What comes next is using it to form your words. So you need one solid piece of copy. On time. Written with care. That you can repurpose into way more content (hello, copy and paste!). Every month.

That’s what Scribe delivers.

It fits into your process.
It supports your vision.
It helps you call in clients.

And it does it all without overwhelming you.

How to Join Scribe, a Copywriting Subscription

Enrollment for Scribe is in the beta phase so we can work out kinks and make this the smoothest program possible for you. Spots are limited so I can keep the quality high.

To sign up at a founder’s rate (the lowest it’ll ever be) and to see a preview of the full deliverables menu, take a look at the Scribe offer here!

As a founding member of this subscription, you get rockstar pricing, the chance to shape this program into exactly what you need it to be, and first dibs on new offers!

It gives you one reliable source of great writing delivered monthly, always strategic, and ready to support the work you’re already doing.

You don’t need to add more to your plate. You just need a smarter way to get the words right.

tl;dr…

Scribe is a monthly copywriting subscription for designers and creative service providers. It offers one high-impact deliverable per month, like sales assets, service pages, or weekly nurture emails, at an accessible price. Scribe helps creatives offer stronger client experiences, support their visual work with strategic messaging, and save time without sacrificing quality. Built by a professional copywriter and messaging strategist, Scribe is a flexible, done-for-you solution that helps you market your business so you can stay booked and busy.

The post How to Get Strategic Copy with a Copywriting Subscription appeared first on Angelica Ross.

I know a lot of people online are talking about blocking and batching, so this may not be like WOAH MIND BLOWING NEW ADVICE, but the concept deserves lots of kudos. Probably why so many people are now like, “OMG, check out this new thing I discovered!”

(No idea why, but I heard that in my head as a very exaggerated Valley Girl accent, so please go back and read it as such.)

Melissa is a screenwriter, a business strategist, a marketing whirlwhind, and generally fantastic resource of information (she has tons of guides that really do help you to write better and connect with your audience).

You can see why she needs to be able to GSD (that stands for “Get Shit Done,” bee tee dubs).

Hey, I’m liking the idea of getting more shit done in less time. I want a life, yo!

Case in point: my dog is my new best business tool. Why? He demands a lot of time and attention. (Good thing he’s cute and any post with him in it on Instagram gets traffic. That better start converting so he can earn his keep!)

Because I know he takes a certain amount of my time every day, I know that when I’m working, I have to BE. WORKING.

I gotta get shit done. And I’m thrilled that Melissa showed me the technique of batching years ago.

Think about it.

You don’t make each individual cookie from start to finish, you make a batch.

Instead of mixing up the minuscule amount of flour, sugar, and eggs it would take to make one cookie, bake it, cool it, and consume it, you make a batch of dough, then bake the whole pan of cookies, then cool them all, then consume them.

(What, a batch of cookies does not last long around me!)

When you’re done with one step, you move to the next. It saves time and energy, right? The same thing can be said for working.

So why are you trying to write a blog post from start to finish (draft, editing, optimizing, making graphics) and then starting over again on the next post? That’s like baking one cookie at a time.

Benefits of Batching

I love batching because I can get into a creative flow, which allows me to maximize my time and get more done in the same or less time than if I created one thing from start to finish.

In a given 8-hour work day, we experience about 60 interruptions. I assume that’s in an office environment.

I’d venture to say us entrepreneurial ladies experience that much more, especially when working on a remote team. We don’t have just email, we have Slack, Voxer, the dog, emails, texts…a LOT of distractions.

Add in the time you lose by switching from task to task and you are not getting a lot done. (It takes about 15 minutes to get back into an uninterrupted, productive state.)

So basically, you’re giving yourself an assist. Instead of switching from task to task, you focus and get everything done.

This is especially helpful for creative work when you’re feeling the flow. Social media posts, blog posts, newsletters…that all takes creativity and it can be hard to just turn that energy source on.

When you’re in the flow…be in the flow.

How to Get Shit Done (AKA: Set Up What Batching Looks Like for You)

Batching, along with setting “office hours” on my phone that silences notifications and asks me if I really want to open that app, is a god-send.

When I batch tasks, I get more done in my “working” time than in a typical work day.

Seriously, I can deeply focus and work from about 9-1, then get all my life shit done.

You can set up your batching schedule however you want. I find that I’m most productive and creative in the morning, either after a good workout or good cup of coffee (sometimes both). But I have to shower first.

Step 1 | Set the scene.

Trigger a bio-feedback loop that signals “It’s time to do this shit!” to help you get into a productive state. For me, that’s a shower and using a certain mug for my coffee.

Additionally, I’ll go to a far-away coffee shop if I really need to focus. I tend only to visit there when I work so a) it triggers that feedback that “I’m at Caffe D’Amore. Gotta get to work!” and b) I know I have to get down to it since I drove all the way there.

(Two things you should know about me: I hate to pay for parking and I absolutely loathe traffic. If I go somewhere, I’m squeezing out every drop of benefits I can!)

Get yourself set up with something you use only when you’re batching.

They key is to make it something you enjoy, like a special pen, or a place you visit, like an out-of-the-way coffee shop you adore and don’t often get to visit.

Not only will your body know it’s go time, but you’ll be in a positive mindset.

And, hey, if you haven’t heard about batching…. I’m about to blow your mind when I tell you that mindset is key.

Instead of thinking, “Ugh, how am I going to write five posts in four hours??” you’ll be thinking, “This is great, I get to drink my favorite cappuccino today!”

Step 2 | Have one specific goal in mind.

Notice I said one goal. Batching operates on the idea that you do one thing at a time, so if you want to work towards five goals in two hours….you’re gonna fail. And you aren’t batching.

This technique works great when you have a work + reward system, too.

Write down your goal. Now, give yourself a time limit to hit that goal.

Yeah, it’s basically the Pomodoro Method, but on crack.

The Pomodoro Method says work for 25 minutes and take a 5 minute break.

That’s great, and sometimes it’s all I need to light a fire under my ass to get started, but having a stretch goal that pushes you a little is great for productivity.

You’ll be amazed that little distractions disappear (or you don’t allow them to crop up) when you say you want to write five blog posts by the time you leave the coffee shop and takeout from your favorite restaurant on the way home is riding on it.

Speaking of…

Step 3 | Give yourself a reward.

Need a reward at the end? Me too. You met your goal, go ahead, treat yo’self!

A Few Things you Can Batch Task

You can batch just about anything in your work day (and beyond) to get amazing productivity results so you can accomplish insane amounts in your day. Here’s a starter list to get you going.

Writing

DUH, no surprise here. Like I mentioned in the benefits section, following a block and batch tasking system allows you to get into a creative flow state. When you’re in that state…..oh, how you can whip through some words!

Do all of your writing when you’re in your optimal zone for it. Then move on to other tasks that don’t require as much creativity for you when you aren’t.

(Assuming you aren’t outsourcing your writing to a copywriter…ahem!)

Client Work

I know, this is very much like DUH again. But why would you not optimize your client work, AKA the genius stuff you do, and try to do it all when you’re in the best possible mindset for it?

You’ll do better work, hit your targets quickly and easily, and reap massive amounts of love from your clients.

Research

Keyword research, looking a Google Analytics to find trends, and scrolling through Pinterest to find ideas of what you want to write all count!

Social Media Scheduling

Instead of scheduling your social posts per day, schedule per network and in a quantity of time. Bang out all of Instagram for two weeks, then move to Twitter, then into your Pinterest scheduler of choice, and so on.

You are scheduling your posts, right?

Blog Graphics

After you have a bunch of posts written, move on to making your graphics. It’s easier to make five graphics in a row than to start and stop five different times.

(That is, if you don’t outsource it, too.)

I’d love to know: when are you scheduling your next batching day? What will you be working on?

Pop over to Instagram and let me know or share in the comments here!

Original post published January 24, 2017, has been updated with: better copy (I wrote it so I can say that), new techniques, and new graphics.

The post How to Use Batching to be Productive and Do More (In Less Time) appeared first on Angelica Ross.

And that so doesn’t mesh with the desire to have everything right now at this very moment. (Also me.)

I find that creating content for business is no different. I would hold off blogging until my editorial calendar was airtight, my Asana workflows were so solid, they basically ran themselves, and I had updated every single graphic I’ve ever used in any blog post to reflect my new branding.

Same with sending emails.

Same with Instagram.

Instagram posts had to be perfect to make it in the feed, so I’d just throw anything and everything in my Story (which is fine, but there would be weeks without a post and I mean, no one cares but me, although it doesn’t look great for a writer not to write…yknow?)

I felt that fear of being perfect and having to have everything planned out and updated and juuuust right before doing anything at all. Which got me…..nowhere. Instead of moving forward with something in it’s MVP-est version, I didn’t do anything.

(And I don’t mean Most Valuable Player. I mean Minimal Viable Product.)

So when you want everything instantly to be perfect, but you have to get everything perfect to start….you’re in a Bermuda Triangle of doing nothing. And it doesn’t feel good. Any of this ringing a bell?

Please tell me and my head-in-the-sand aren’t hanging out alone here.

A lot of people wait to feel motivated before making progress.

That is so not going to do shit for you.

I just read in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, “Action isn’t just the effect of motivation; it’s also the cause.”

In other words, you can’t wait around for inspiration to strike for your writing practice to start. You have to start your writing practice and inspiration will come as you’re in motion.

So what do you do when you know you have to do something, but can’t do anything?

My favorite “Just Get Started” / “Perfection Fake Out” trick is setting a timer and just starting. I use the Tomato One app and focus in for 25 minutes. No distractions, just write as much as I can get done in a short burst. Usually once I get started like that, the momentum builds and I keep going.

It’s similar to the Pomodoro Method which has you work for 25 minutes and then break for five. I find that, personally, I want to keep going, so I don’t take the break after 25 minutes. I’ll either reset the timer and keep going or move to another task. Then I’ll take a break after I’ve strung together about three timed sections.

Why not just set the timer for 75 minutes?

Our time expands or contracts to fill the container it’s given. If you only have 25 minutes to do something, it’ll get done in 25. If you give yourself 75 minutes, it’ll take 75. I get more done by zeroing in on just this section of time than having a wide expanse before me.

So if you don’t set a limit on when you’ll order that vacuum from Amazon, you’ll end up with 20 tabs open, price comparing each vacuum against other Amazon sellers, Target, and Consumer Reports.

Just me again? Damn, I’m giving away all my dirty secrets.

Seriously, though, I really have set a timer for 10 minutes and said, “I have 10 minutes and only 10 minutes to buy this vacuum.” It was helpful to have a solid container to remove the feeling of, “OMG This is the most important decision ever right now and I have to choose correctly!!!” feeling.

Ditto writing for clients. Or organizing receipts.

Setting a timer both helps to remove perfection and over-analyzing to the point of being paralyzed by decisions and fear of making the wrong one.

Set a timer and just write. You can edit later. The main point is just getting started with what you’re doing and generate momentum and quick, achievable wins.

From there, you can batch your work and run tasks together to make real, meaningful progress on your projects. Bit by bit, it’ll add up to a great result.

How do you manage your time and set aside fear of doing it “right” so you’re able to just get started on the damn thing?

The post My #1 Tip for Just Getting Started appeared first on Angelica Ross.

This year, I set a goal to read two books every month. I recently finished Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu* and wow, was it eye opening. The premise is that by dropping the ball in work and in life, we’re able to find time to do what matters most to us. Seems a little counter-intuitive: by not doing some things, we can do other things better.

With everyone hitting the wall on their new year resolutions and letting that list of goals and accomplishments become coffee-stained and forgotten, this concept comes at a great time. Drop the ball. Do less. Achieve more.

Delegating is hard (trust me, I know.) It’s necessary, though, so we don’t burn ourselves out and become even more fatigued than we already are.

Right after reading this book, I was faced with a situation in which I could drop the ball and have a much better time and (here’s the kicker) no one really cared that I didn’t do the thing I said I would do.

We were out with my boyfriend’s sister and brother-in-law right before they moved. We ordered a cannoli cake for dessert that missed the mark — and for a table made up mostly of Italians, you best believe we noticed. Me, in my ever-present thinking of I could make that and I could do it better! said, “I’ll make cannoli when we come see you this week before you leave. It’ll be great!”

And then the week started and I was swamped. To top it off, I got word that a relative was in the hospital (she’s fine now) and I wanted to visit her as soon as I could, which happened to be on the day we were supposed to see my boyfriend’s sister before she left. So that day, I had my meetings and went to the store to procure cannoli supplies and visited the hospital. Everything was going great until I went to another grocery store to buy cannoli shells.

I know, I was buying cannoli shells instead of making them myself. I thought that was the answer to dropping the ball (and also not buying cannoli forms. What else would I use them for??)

Of course, that store didn’t have cannoli shells. I could have (and probably should have) gone to a specialty Italian store, but I was running out of time.

So I made the choice to drop the ball. Let me tell you, it stung not to be able to do it all. My time was better spent creating an email for a client, though, instead of driving to another part of town in a wild goose chase for these magical Italian treats.

Guess what? No one cared I didn’t deliver fresh cannoli. No one even remembered I said I was going to make cannoli. What really mattered is that I showed up and was present for a visit. And the mini Oreo cheesecakes that I did bring with me were just as good. (Pro tip: keep cookies in the freezer that you can grab-and-go when you need a quick hostess gift.)

How dropping the ball lets you focus on what matters (and have a better quality of life so you can show up for the big things).

The first thing to do is get really clear on the big things that matter most to you.

In Drop the Ball, Tiffany said she wanted to help girls become leaders and raise conscientious children. Does stressing about Valentine’s Day cards help with any of that? No. She let it go. She embraced the idea that done is better than perfect and had her kids make Valentine cards for their class. In my example, spending meaningful time with those I care about is more important than being perceived as the next coming of Betty Crocker.

The next, and I’ll argue harder, step is letting go.

Being a martyr will help no one. Your quality of life is so poor from the stress of trying to please everyone while not doing anything to please yourself. The work you do is probably riddled with errors and mistakes and missed assignments anyway. And if you like playing the martyr role, you should probably move on from this post right now because I’m giving off all kinds of anti-martyr spirit.

When you let go of the things that you think you should do and stop worrying about how people will look at you if you car isn’t always perfectly detailed, it allows you to make time for what’s really important. You’ll also experience a better caliber of work delivered since you’ll be able to focus on one task at a time and do it extremely well.

You have to let go of those things AND the idea that you can do everything. We’ve all heard someone say, “I don’t know how she does it all.” I’m willing to bet a) she’s incredible frazzled at all times, b) has a team helping her do it all, or c) doesn’t really do it all.

So, when opportunities come along that don’t contribute to your big dreams, let them go. It’s perfectly okay to say, “This won’t work for me, but here’s someone who can help.” It’s a gentle way of saying no and preserving your time and sanity while still being helpful.

It’ll also show the world that you’re serious about what you do. You’re the expert and you don’t let anything derail you from getting that big shiny object you want. I’d rather work with someone who knows exactly what they do and who they help instead of someone who kinda sorta almost can get the results I want.

The key here is to hold firm to your convictions. It takes practice! I’m a recovering do-it-all-yourselfer and there are still times when I overload my schedule and fool myself into thinking I can accomplish everything.

When we drop the things that won’t help us move the mountains that we want to move, we’re able to give our full attention to the projects that will.

What balls have you dropped or are planning to drop? And what’s the big thing you want to make happen?

Leave your answer in the comments. I’d love to cheer you on!

*This is an affiliate link from Amazon. If you should you purchase via this link, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Coffee isn’t cheap and this helps keep me caffeinated and sane! Thanks!

The post How Dropping the Ball Allows you to Focus on What Matters appeared first on Angelica Ross.

I bet you’re also the person who’d rather break her arms off carrying 15 grocery bags into the house at one time instead of making a second trip.

Yup. I thought so. (I’ll tell you a secret: I’m the same way.)

It’s hard to hand off anything, let alone an aspect of your business. But with practice, you can be a master delegater.

I feel like there needs to be a joke about not having to lock yourself in the bathroom and do it alone.

It will all come in time. Ah ha! There it is.

But seriously, the more comfortable you get with delegating, the easier it will become. I had to learn that the hard way.

Here are 3 steps that will take you from cowering-in-the-corner, I-will-bite-you-if-you-make-me-hand-anything-over to delegating dreamboat, ready to fling tasks out left and right.

Let It Go

The first step, as with most things, is admitting you need help. You cannot expect to add more to your ever-growing plate and continue to operate at the same pace and quality.

So get comfortable asking for help. Practice it. Ask for help.

Say it with me, “I need help.”

I bet you felt silly. But it will get easier. Trust me, I know.

Release small things that don’t really make a difference in the long run.

Yes, I know, you’re the only person who knows how to load the dishwasher correctly. And if you’re anything like Sookie, you also have a diagram in the pantry so don’t stress over having your boyfriend do the dishes for once.

The more you ask for help, the easier it will be to ask for it when you really need it in your business.

Realize that it doesn’t mean you’re admitting defeat.

Personally, I used to hate asking for help because I equated it with not being able to do everything which equals admitting defeat and failure.

Dude. This is not even close to being true. Not being able to do everything (or even knowing how to do everything) is a sign of being a human.

You’re human, so you fail? Nope. Didn’t think so.

Start Small

Okay, so now that you’re comfortable asking for help and releasing the urge to do it all yourself, start off with little projects in your business.

After all, how do you eat an entire buffalo? Same way you learn to delegate: small bites.

Think about things in your business that need to get done but realistically keep getting shuffled to each new to-do list every week. Maybe you need a form to be created or a style guide to be branded with your colors and a watermark of your logo on each page.

Use a website like Fivrr to find someone willing to do this for a small amount of money. Ask a friend who’s learning how to use Adobe Illustrator. See if there’s anyone in your network willing to help you one night a week.

Delegating small tasks like this will free up your mind from those nagging little projects that suck your energy. Seriously, it isn’t the big projects that feel draining, it’s the mundane details.

And in the long run, done is better than perfect, right? So give your aspiring graphic designer friend some practice and cross off “Update Style Guide” from your list.

Evaluate Areas that Drain Your Energy

Now that you’ve delegated some small tasks with success (you delegated, that’s the success I’m taking about!!) it’s time to open yourself up to more.

Are there areas in your life or business where you feel resistance? Y’know, you sit down to do something and it feels like torture and you’d rather be doing anything but that.

Make a list of your most-resisted items. Chances are, you’re ignoring these areas and they’re probably making you feel guilty, upset, drained, or you’re plain missing out on sales because when was the last time you sent an email to your list?

Identify one or two items that are dragging you down and would make a difference in your business if you gave ownership of those tasks to someone else.

Say you aren’t updating your website copy because you can’t find the right words to use. This would make a huge impact in your business because you’d be able to speak to your target audience with authority and effectiveness that will lead to sales.

Now, same as before, hire someone else to do it for you. Except here’s the catch: it must be someone capable and skilled in that area. This is a big job, you want to make sure it’s going to someone who knows what they’re doing.

But since you’ve already practiced letting go and trusting someone else with small tasks, you’re primed to delegate this more important area of your work.

You’ll release an even bigger stressor and give it to another professional who specializes in it.

Put It Into Practice

-Ask someone to help you today.
-Make a list of the things you can do with the extra time and energy you’d save by delegating.
-Identify areas in which you feel resistance and brainstorm items you can trust to another professional to hand.

What are you asking for help with today?

The post How to Delegate when You’re a DIY Professional appeared first on Angelica Ross.