This mornings daily reading from @bobgoff 📖 I see this message everywhere. And that’s a good thing because I fail a lot! Goff writes, “failure isn’t a one-time event, it’s an ongoing reality that will make us better if we let it.” Logically, it’s easy to wrap my mind around this, but failing still feels awful. I often want to blame something or someone else so I don’t have to feel the full weight of it. But as Goff reminded me this morning, I don’t have to. I can bring my failures to Jesus. None are too big, shocking, or embarrassing for Him. He is always there with grace and kindness, and will always make a way for me to grow through them. 🙌 #failure #lovefailure #bobgoffquotes #bobgoff #encouragement #happymonday #graceupongrace #grace #jesuschrist #dailydevotional #dailyreminder #failingforward #mondayfail

Fire?!?!? Oh, one of them just touched the other one’s stuff. #workfromhome #workfromhomemom #workfromhomelife #workfromhomeproblems #copywriter #copywriterlife #copywriterhouston #smallbusinesslife #womeninbusiness

PIVOT! Channeling my best Ross Geller voice for marketers tracking email engagement and list segmentation. 😜 Watch to learn how! #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #copywriting #digitalmarketing #smallbusiness #digitalmarketing #marketingtips #copywritingtips #conversioncopywriting #emailmarketing #emailmarketingtips

I mean, the voice of reason can’t always be right! ☕️☕️☕️ #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #copywriting #digitalmarketing #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #digitalmarketing #coffeelover #coffeeprops #coffeeallday

Your words matter, especially on your website! Our brains have a instinctual reaction to words and language. A single word can change how we feel, process, and react. With the right words, your website is so much more than a place for buyers to gather information. It’s a conversion tool that sells. Luckily for us, marketers and psychologists have been in the word-science game for years. Books, blog posts, podcasts, and articles on words that work (and how) are plentiful! The Art + Science of the Persuasive Word by William Oni is a great place to start; it’s 80 pages and $5.99 on Amazon. Little changes to your word selection can mean a big change for your website conversion rate! #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #copywriting #digitalmarketing #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #digitalmarketing #marketingtips #copywritingtips #conversioncopywriting #marketingpsychology #wordscience #websitecopy #websitecopywriting

Google’s made some changes to the way it values and ranks pages, and it’s good news for small businesses! The skinny version: It has improved its algorithm to search and value pages more like a human would. A few examples: 1. Page Experience: Humans don’t like waiting on pages to load, neither does Google. Humans like to be able to find what they’re looking for quickly and learn more, so does Google. User experience of a page now affects its rank. 2. Fresh Content: Google recognizes unique, fresh content and rewards it. And more content is better. Articles and posts with more than 1800 words rank better than shorter pages. 3. Natural Language Search: Voice search and typing in long-string searches exactly as you would phrase them in a conversation are increasingly the norm. Google has gotten better at reading pages more like a human would and providing search results that include keywords in the context of the search. Why is this good for small businesses? Because it takes the mystery out of SEO and levels the playing field. Old, expensive tactics of “tricking the algorithm” no longer work. Good content that serves your audience is rewarded. The better you understand your audience and what they search for, the better opportunity you have to rank in organic search results! For more on the latest in SEO and DIY tips for small businesses, head to link in my bio for my most recent blog post. . . . #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #copywriting #digitalmarketing #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #digitalmarketing #marketingtips #copywritingtips #seo #seotips #searchengineoptimization #websitecopy #websiteseo #websitecopywriting #webdesign #webdesigntips #googlesearch #seoforsmallbusiness

What’s new in SEO, and what can small business owners do to get a little more Google love? I know the expert that knows, and she is sharing her wisdom in my latest blog post. Lauren L’Amie is the SEO Content Strategist for The New York Times’ product publication Wirecutter. And though it may not have made her resume, she is also one of my favorite cousins!😉 Head to the blog (linked in my bio) for the latest trends in SEO and easy DIY tips for small business owners like you and me! #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #copywriting #digitalmarketing #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #digitalmarketing #marketingtips #copywritingtips #seo #seotips #searchengineoptimization #websitecopy #websiteseo #websitecopywriting #webdesign #webdesigntips #googlesearch #seoforsmallbusiness

Fashion + Football make for a fantastic “fall” (ha. It’s still 90.) weekend! The @shoptootsies fashion show @lakesidecchouston was so fun and for me, very helpful because this year… pandemic -> not going out -> not shopping -> no clue what’s in. 🤷‍♀️ And… You’ll have to pry the skinny jeans off my cold dead body, but I’m here for the mixed patterns, faux leather, and knit sweater vests! We headed to Austin on Saturday and watched the Horns grab a (big) W with some of our fave friends. And we threw it waaay back to our junior high past and went to a pre-game Salt N Pepa concert at Longhorn City Limits. I know the video looks like I climbed a tree to see the concert (I would’ve) but really we were just standing behind it because Trey would only agree to sing “Push It” from the shade. I made it through the Sunday Scaries, which included a mess of a house and a major grocery order fail, and am excited to start a busy week because at some point, it’s going to get below 80, and I’ll be able to cozy up in a new sweater vest! 🙌

Fail: It takes you longer to format and publish your blog post than it did to write it. I’ve been there. I write blog posts in Google docs and a lot of blog platforms like to shoot me the 🐦 (that’s a bird) when I try to copy and paste from it. Fast fix: 1. Copy from Word or Google docs to Notepad (Windows) or Notes (Mac) 3. Copy and paste to your blog platform from there You keep most of your links and formatting and typically just have to fix some spacing. 🙌 It’s a little step that saves lots of time - but you probably don’t need any more of that! 😜 . . . #contentcreator #blogger #copywriter #contentmarketing #contentmarketingtips #digitalmarketing #digitalmarketer #bloggingtips #blogging #houstoncopywriter #smallbusiness #productivity #copywritingforcreatives #copywritingtips

Less than 15 seconds. That’s how long you have an average reader’s attention. In less than 15 seconds, your homepage should tell your reader: 1. What you do 2. Why it matters to them 3. What to do next Use your headers and calls-to-action to answer these questions. When it comes to website copy, clear is better than clever! 🙌 #copywriter #contentcreator #contentmarketing #websitecopywriting #webdesign #digitalmarketing #copywritingtips #copywriting #salescopy #contentstrategy #contentstrategytips #marketing #marketingtips #smallbusiness

Is there anything @brenebrown ‘s wisdom doesn’t apply to??? I doubt she was thinking of copywriting when she wrote this, but it applies perfectly (of course)! To write copy that connects with your ideal customers, you must first understand their experiences from their perspectives (as it relates to your brand). It’s easy to make assumptions, especially if you’re in the same demographic as your audience, but it’s a mistake. Take the time to gain a deep understanding of your ideal customer. When you use their words in your copy, you will see a dramatic improvement in engagement and conversion! 👉 Swipe for ideas on how to get words from your ideal customers. . . #copywriting #copywritingtips #copywriter #houstoncopywriter #contentmarketing #contentmarketingtips #contentmarketingstrategy #contentcreator #emailmarketing #salescopy #salescopywriter #salescopywriting #contentcreation #marketingtips

Don’t say it! Don’t say it! Content is about money. 💵 That’s ok! You should be leading your audience to a place where you can sell to them from that very first connection. You might have other goals, but your content should lead to a payday! When you’re planning your content, it’s helpful to flip the funnel and work backwards: Step 1: What do I want my audience to buy? Step 2: How will I sell it to them? Step 3: How will I prove its value? Step 4: What can I exchange for access to their inboxes? Step 5: How am I going to connect and gain their trust? 🔄 Flip it over. You’ve created a content strategy that leads to revenue. 👉 . . . #contentmarketing #contentmarketingtips #contentcreator #contentmarketingstrategy #contentcalendar #contentmarketingfunnel #marketingstrategy #marketingfunnel #digitalmarketing #emailmarketing #blogging #bloggingstrategy #bloggingtips #socialmediamarketing

Confession: I’ve been practicing selfies in carpool line. 🤦‍♀️ Being of the flip-phone generation, the selfie is solidly out of my skill set. But I want to improve because you need soooo many images to feed the content machine, and selfies are often the most practical choice. 📱 I sought selfie help and found that for me these 3 tips are the easiest and make a big difference: ✅ Tilt something: Angle your phone up or down or if you’re taking straight on, tilt your head. ✅ Use portrait mode: If you’re taking a pic of just your face, this gives you the studio lighting effect! ✅ Off center your face: this is a well-known photography trick to make your photo more interesting. . Photos with faces perform 40 percent better than those without on Instagram. Your audience wants to see your face! Without a compelling photo, they won’t slow their scroll enough to read your brilliant message. So don’t shy away from a selfie sesh! 😉 Photographers and selfie aficionados, please chime in with your expert tips! I need all the help. **Carpool selfie sessions only occur at the back of the line far, far away from the school. No lines were held up as a result.**😜 . . . . #selfie #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #selfietips #copywriting #digitalmarketing #socialmediatips #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #instagrammarketing #digitalmarketing #marketingtips

Vision Boards. Do you use them for goal setting? I created my first one today. It was super-easy (I used a template in Canva), and I loved doing it. My words-first brain has historically steered me towards list-making. But I see the benefit of creating visual goals you can look at every single day. I printed mine, framed it, and put it on my desk. As directed by vision board gurus, I’ll use the images on my vision board to drive my weekly, monthly, and quarterly goals. 🤓 Do you create vision boards for your business or life? I’d love to hear your experience. 🙌 . . . #visionboard #goalsetting #productivity #goals #entrepreneurlife #womeninbusiness #productivitytips

School season has commenced, and I couldn’t be more excited (and filled with gratitude for our teachers and school staff). 👏 My routines took a nose dive this summer as my kids and I opted for all the goodness of staying up late, waking up late, and being outside. 😬 At work, I made time for existing client projects and essentially nothing else. I ghosted my social platforms and all other marketing efforts. 😬 again. But I got to create priceless memories with my family and enjoy some down time after a stressful few months, and I wouldn’t trade it. That being said, I’m very ready to get busy and am working on a new free resource and an online course that I’ll be sharing in the next few weeks! In the meantime, swipe for some fun summer pics! Hope your back-to-school is off to a great start! 🙌 . . . #houstoncopywriter #copywriter #digitalmarketing #backtoschool #womeninbusiness #contentcreator #contentmarketing

How many brands send you emails you delete without opening? I delete a lot! Especially email newsletters. But I consistently open emails from a select few brands that pop into my inbox because I know the content will be worth it! On today’s blog post, I’ve listed what those emails have in common. There’s no question that consistently emailing your audience with branded content, such as an email newsletter, drives business, but only if your audience reads it! Check out the link in my bio for how to create an email newsletter that gets more opens, reads, click-throughs, and business. #emailmarketing #emailnewsletter #email #emailnewsletters #contentmarketing #contentstrategy #contentcreator #contentstrategytips #contentstrategytips #copywritingtips #copywriting #copywriter #emaildesign

We’re settling into a new decade, and while skinny jeans and side parts might be in question (thanks Gen Z TikToker), email marketing is not. . Marketers have long speculated whether or not email will fall out of favor, but it certainly hasn’t yet. Email outperforms social media in every way you think of - engagements, click throughs, conversions, and ROI. . If you’re a stranger to your audiences’ inboxes, here are a few tips for getting in and getting noticed. . 📧 Build your email list by giving your audience a reason to opt-in. Think exclusive discounts or free, valuable content. . 📧 Choose an email marketing platform that makes designing and sending emails REALLY easy. There’s nothing more frustrating than not being able to get your bullet points to align or a video to embed correctly! Sign up for free trials on a few platforms, and play with them to see which one you like. . 📧 Mind your deliverability. Only send emails to opt-in recipients and avoid spammy subject line words like FREE, SECRET, CONTEST, BUY NOW, DON’T DELETE. . 📧 Don’t disappoint! You achieved the difficult task of getting recipients to trust you with their email addresses, you’ve gotten into their inboxes, and they’ve opened your email. Make your content worth it. You can do that by understanding what your audience wants and giving them something that will help them achieve it. . While email might be as old as the side part, it’s not going out any time soon. Numbers don’t lie, and they say the inbox is in! . Double tap if you’re rocking a side part, skinny jeans and email marketing because they work!! . . . . #emailmarketing #millennialsidepart #digitalmarketing #contentmarketing #contentcreator #blogger #copywriting #houstoncopywriter #houstondigitalmarketer #brandmessaging #contentstrategy #emailmarketingstrategy #businesscopywriter

Happy almost-weekend. Had to snap a pic because Thursday is my hair-down-makeup-on-no-sweats day. I try and schedule all pitch and kick-off calls for Thursday, which helps me: 👉 Keep meetings efficient and on point. 👉 Stay focused on business development and outcomes. 👉 Take a break from word docs and project boards to look at some (beautiful) faces. 👉 Go messy-bun-workout-clothes-no-makeup the rest of the week, which saves me an hour a day. The skim: batching your days increases your efficiency. I didn’t make this up. I took advice from boss ladies like @ashlynscarter and @katschmoyer. If you’re usually client facing but want to post content more consistently, block off a messy-hair-don’t-care-no-meetings day once a week or two to batch write your content. It’ll be a fun little break from getting ready, zooming, and being “on”. And you’ll save an hour that you can put towards writing! The other days, you won’t have to think about or schedule time to write or post. 🙌 #productivityhacks #batchwriting #contentcreator #contentmarketing #houstoncopywriter #smallbusinesstips #digitalmarketing #copywriting #productivity #smallbusinessmarketing #mompreneur #emailmarketing #blogger #blogwriting #socialmediamarketing #websitecopywriting #brandmessaging

Happy New Year and 👋 see ya 2020. We celebrated NYE with a snow storm (in the middle of TX!) and are enjoying a beautiful sunny New Year’s Day! ❄️🌞 Has there ever been a more welcome new year? I know Jan 1 doesn’t magically change our reality, but I’m so grateful for a reset and hopeful for a better year.💃 Twenty twenty had its share of joyful moments, but overall, it was tough! I struggled to stay motivated as projects were put on hold and contracts were paused or canceled. I felt guilty working with my kids home and guilty about not giving work my full attention. Everything felt hard, and I just wanted to stop. 🤯 I took some time to reflect why I chose this path and if it’s still what I want. I concluded that I chose it because I want to create and contribute and grow. The hard is what makes that possible. I had to learn to work more efficiently, set up scalable processes, and create a more results-driven approach to stay in business. This year rocked my boat. It forced me to change, and for that, I’m grateful. 🙌 I know the hard isn’t over (and it really never will be), but I’m excited for a new beginning! 🌱 Happy 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣1️⃣! #copywriter #houstoncopywriter #branding #brandmessaging #contentcreator #contentstrategy #digitalmarketing #smallbusinessowner #entrepreneur #mompreneur #emailmarketing #businesswriting

I’ve so loved helping client Amy Pottenger with @refresh__design create a plan for her blog and social media content. I can’t wait to see her put it into action! 👩‍💻 . . Amy is an interior designer, specializing in creating beautiful, multi-functional spaces for mompreneurs. Amy’s based in Michigan and booked through 2020 for full-service design, BUT she offers virtual services, in which she’ll help you design, decorate and shop for your space! So ideal for clients who know what they like, but need (serious) help executing it, like me! 🙋‍♀️ . . Amy is super organized and so fun to work with! Plus, I’ve spent weeks scrolling through her project photos, and they are gorgeous! Keep your insta eye on @refresh__design for all the good interior design ideas! . . . #contentmarketing #contentplanning #digitalmarketing #contentcreator #contentstrategy #contentmarketing #socialmediamarketing #blogger #blogging #momlife #mompreneur #womeninbusiness #workfromhome #interiordesign #interiordesigner #interiordecorating

I took a minute to answer the question, “Who am I?” this morning after reading this statement in Goff’s book Love Does. I wondered how accurately the details of my life would reflect what I wrote down. I like how he uses the word *think*. It matters who you THINK you are. It dictates what you do, how you act, and where you spend your time. You get to decide, no one else! Isn’t that empowering? 🙌 . The same logic applies to your business. Who is your brand? Who do you want it to be? The details of your business will flow from that identity. This is the first step in finding your brand voice! 🎤 . . #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #copywriting #copywriter #digitalmarketing #organiccontent #contentcreator #contentmarketing #blogging #contentcreation #marketingstrategy #contentmarketingstrategy #branding #brandvoice #branddesign #brandmessaging #brandidentity

Happy Fri-YAY! I thought I’d kick off the weekend with #Fridayintroductions! . I’m Emily, owner, writer, content strategist, and janitor at Pen and Purpose! 👋 College professor Rachel Brenner opens her classes by asking her students to introduce themselves along with one boring fact. She gets some great answers, which she has been kind enough to share on Twitter. One of her students eats a pound of turkey every day. Another puts on sock, sock, shoe, shoe. Ha! I love it. Who needs the pressure of coming up with an interesting fact? So, in honor of her ingenuity, I’m going to share a few of my most boring facts! . 👉 I hold my pencil wrong. Writing for long periods of time makes my hand cramp. Without a computer, I’d likely be in a different profession. . 👉 I’m really trying to stop this, but when I want to end a call, I say, “ok, well... that all sounds good.” . 👉 I like to order what my husband calls “menu fillers” at restaurants. Weird stuff that no one else orders. It works out about 50 percent of the time, so, ya know, worth the risk! . 👉 I have a recurring dream that I can’t finish college because I’m short a math credit. Cheers to mundane facts! Now it’s your turn. Share something boring about yourself! . . #contentmarketer #contentcreation #digitalmarketing #copywriter #copywriting #blogwriter #contentmarketing #contentstrategy #smallbusinessmarketing #womeninbusiness #emailmarketing #smallbusinessmarketing #creativeentrepreneur #entrepreneur #mompreneur #worklife

Is blogging really necessary anymore? As a blog writer and content strategist, I’ve definitely questioned it. There are so many easier ways to freely publish content now, and plenty of marketers argue blogs are out or at least going out. I disagree. Yes, blogging has evolved, but it’s still critical to your content marketing strategy for three reasons. Follow the link in my bio to read the full post. I’m excited to hear your thoughts! ✍️ . . #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #copywriting #copywriter #digitalmarketing #organiccontent #contentcreator #contentmarketing #blogging #contentcreation #marketingstrategy #contentmarketingstrategy

I’m listening to “The 5 Second Rule” on Audible. I downloaded it months ago on a whim and just got around to listening. Y’all, it’s exactly what I didn’t know I needed! If you struggle with procrastination (🙋‍♀️), feelings of doubt (🙋‍♀️), making changes (🙋‍♀️), it is so worth a read (or listen). 📖 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Within the first few minutes of the book, author @MelRobbins says, “Honor your instincts with action.” I love her choice of words! So much more eloquent than get off your 🍑and do it, but same message. And it's exactly the one I needed this week, so I thought I would share. Happy Monday friends!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #mondaymotivation #mompreneur #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #womeninbusiness #5secondrule #worklife #workfromhome #copywriting #copywriter #digitalmarketing #organiccontent #contentcreator #productivity #contentmarketing #workingmom

Y’all, my brilliant friend @gbplaw launched a new podcast today, and I’m so excited to share it with you! . Check out Law Chat with Girija, a new video podcast that celebrates the amazing journey of entrepreneurship --- with a little splash of legal tips and business inspo, too! Industry leaders dive into their challenges and victories as they chat with Girija, a lawyer and creative entrepreneur. You’ll get a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship, a celebration of diverse narrative, and the encouragement you need to keep pushing forward in your entrepreneurial journey! . Listen and subscribe to Law Chat with Girija on iTunes (or wherever you listen to podcasts!) And watch the video episode on YouTube. You’ll be so glad you did! . . #entrepreneurlife #entrepreneur #womeninbusiness #creativeentrepreneur #lawyerforcreatives #legaltips #mompreneur #womenownedbusiness #smallbusiness #smallbusinesssupport

Enjoying the big view from my little patio this morning! I haven’t posted in a while because I’ve been shamelessly playing in the great outdoors for a few weeks (👉see pics). BUT I’m so excited to be back on my screen, working on a couple of client projects + developing some new products for P&P. . . I’m brainstorming what will best serve customers and would love your opinion! As a small business owner, what are your biggest content hurdles? 1. Content Strategy and Planning 2. Messaging 3. Writing 4. Social media copy 5. Ad copy . . Please comment or DM me your choice! Also, I’d love to hear any other contentesque issues you’d like resources for! . . #copywriter #houstoncopywriter #contentcreation #contentcreator #digitalmarketing #contentplanning #smallbusinesslife #entrepeneur #entrepreneurlife #emailmarketing #brandstory #brandmessaging

#blackouttuesday

My mom tops my list of women in my life, who inspire me personally and professionally. 💗 . . After experiencing being a mom, I wish I could go back in time and adjust my level of appreciation for the effort, patience, and love she (and my dad) put into raising us. 👏 . . My mom is my first phone call when I want to cry, laugh, vent, get advice, share an idea, or be encouraged. She always answers and always listens. I feel like her number one priority now, and I felt like that growing up. My mom has a special way of making people feel valued and important. If superpowers are a thing, that’s hers! 💪 . . Growing up, because she was always so fully engaged and involved, I never paid much attention to her other roles in life. Moms aren’t just moms? What???? 🤫 . . My mom has worked for The Women’s Center of Tarrant County for over 30 years. TWC provides services and resources for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors. She’s worked as a counselor, an educator, a fundraiser, and event planner for them. She also got her Master’s Degree in counseling, while working when we were in elementary school. Seriously?!?!? How did she have time for this? 🤷‍♀️ . . I don’t ever remember her seeming distracted or stressed. I’m sure she was at times, but it didn’t show because she played and listened and cheered and hugged. 🤪 . . I hope I’m lucky enough to be even a little bit like my mother. ☘️ . . Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, who take on this important role, along with their many other roles! 🤱 . . Thank you @dianelucille54 for always giving me your best!

Had to repost these questions from @reesewitherspoon (via @mollyrstern) today. I printed this and put it on my mirror because it gives my day goals that have nothing to do with completing tasks. I need that right now. 🙌 As a business owner, I’m treading water, barely keeping my head up. It’s exhausting. I think these questions might help me swim a little better in this choppy, unfamiliar water (metaphor out). 🏊🏻‍♀️ . . The last question especially hit home for me because if I think about my job in that way, rather than thinking of it as a list of tasks I have to complete, I can find the time and emotional capacity to get it done. How can I serve and encourage my audience, who are facing the same or much greater challenges than I am? ✍️. . I’m reading Bob Goff’s daily devotional Live in Grace, Walk in Love (a rec from @cstyleblog), which for me, presented a similar question to #4. This morning’s read was about making your goals about people rather than accomplishments. I’m on page 2, so he was actually referring to New Year’s resolutions, but it was perfect for me at this time. If I can keep my focus on who I’m loving, helping, serving, encouraging or supporting today and forget about what needs to get a ✅ , I can do today and tomorrow and the next day! ☀️. . . . #covid #goals #peoplefirst #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #digitalmarketing #contentcreator #contentmarketing #contentstrategy #copywriting #momlife #mompreneurlife #mompreneur

Had the best lunch meeting with @kirbymack today. We talked graphic design, content, branding, and couponing! .. 🙌 Kirby owns Kirby Mack Design Co. and does graphic, brand, and web design. She is also an avid couponer, and I can’t wait to hit CVS with some of her tips! Her design work is amazing, and she is so fun to be with. So excited for more coffee dates and collaborations with this lady! .. ☕️ 👩‍💻 .. #copywriting #houstoncopywriter #womensupportingwomen #entrepreneurlife #womeninbusiness #womeninmarketing #digitalmarketing #contentmarketing #branddesign #graphicdesign #webdesign

Let’s talk Lead Magnets - that piece of content where you share your valuable expertise with your prospects for free! 📃 . My clients ask me all the time: Should I require an email address (and other information) to access my Lead Magnet? There are two camps on this. 👇 . 1️⃣ No. Customer experience is the most important thing. No one likes giving their email address to receive information. Give, give, give, and they will come (and bring others). . 2️⃣ Yes! I want to build my email list so I can reach more people and build stronger connections. An email address is a small ask for access to my expertise. 📧 . I’m firmly in camp 2️⃣, but I understand camp 1️⃣ because many brands make giving an email address an icky experience for customers. But it doesn’t have to be. You can use Lead Magnets to build your email list and feel good about it with a few not-so-common courtesies: . . 👉 request as little information as possible. Email address is enough and maybe first name, last name. . . 👉 tell them what you’re going to send them and how often. This can be in a follow-up message. Pro tip: attach or provide a link to your lead magnet in your follow-up email. . . 👉 express your appreciation for trusting you with their email address. A little gratitude makes a big impact. . 👉 give them the option to opt in or out on your form. This is required by law in some markets but is a good idea everywhere. . 👉 don’t ask for information you already have. For your website, this requires tracking cookies, and you may not be there yet. But don’t email your contacts a new asset and ask them to put in their email address to access it. 🤦‍♀️ . 👉 make sure your lead magnet is over-the-top-they-can’t-believe-this-is-free helpful. You can’t give away too much. People don’t mind hearing from you when you’re adding value. 💌 . Email marketing is the most effective online medium for gaining customers. It outperforms social media, search, and paid ads by far. You can use Lead Magnets to collect email addresses without the ick factor! #copywriting #emailmarketing #copywriting #leadgeneration #contentmarketing #digitalmarketing #leadmagnet

Lunch with these talented, creative, smart #bossladies makes my Tuesday feel like Fri-yay! #bossladylife #entrepreneur #girlboss #creative #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #brandmessaging #marketing #smallbusiness #entrepeneurlife

I mean 🥳. I love reflecting back on what happened in a year because it’s so much, right?!?!? Throughout the year, I often feel like I’m not moving, changing, growing, hustling fast enough. 🤦‍♀️. . . It’s hard to see what’s happening when I’m in it, but when I look back at the year behind me, it was kinda big! Pen and Purpose completely rebranded, added services, changed business models, hired writers, and served 15 new clients. Two new schools for my kids, family trips, grown-up getaways, and building our home managed to fit in 2019, too! 🤪 . . In the day-to-day, we sometimes miss all the growth, new beginnings, answered prayers, and life that is happening right in front of us! 🌈 . Happy New Year to you, and congrats on completing what I know was a big year! 🥂 . . #copywriter #nye #2019 #marketing #digitalmarketing #contentmarketing #contentcreation #smallbusinesslife #entrepreneur #branding #branddesign #brandmessaging

Merry, happy, thankful, and of course... a little late. Hope your holidays were filled with joy!

☝️I bought that shirt in 2007. Y’all, it’s been tied, tucked, rolled, accessorized, and paired for 12 years. 🔄 . If it’s not (noticeably) stained and it still fits, why take it out of the rotation, right? 🤷‍♀️ . Same goes for your content. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce a valuable piece of content. Don’t use it once and discard it. ♻️ . . Restyle, repurpose, and reuse it until it no longer works for you. You can stretch one piece of content a looonnnnggggg way if you’re smart about how you use it. 📝 . On the blog today: How to Repurpose Your Content and Use It ‘Til It Tatters. 🗓 . . . Head to the link in my bio for tips and examples on how to get multiple uses out of one piece of content without being repetitive. Save all that time and money you’d spend producing new content, and use it to go shopping! 😉 . . . #copywriter #houstoncopywriter #contentcreation #contentcreator #digitalmarketing #contentplanning #smallbusinesslife #entrepeneur #entrepreneurlife #emailmarketing #brandstory #brandmessaging

Photographers: *how am I going to keep my subjects from doing something weird with their hands?* 🤔 . School Photos: “hold this tiny turtle.” 🐢 .👉 Branding Photos: “hold this empty to-go cup.” 🥤 . 😂 . . #schoolpicturesforthewin #godblessphotographers #brandingphotos #brandphotoshoot #contentmarketing #branding

I am not an avocado! This popped up in my feed from @keri_henry this morning and was just what I needed. . . #thanksfriend #repost #avocado #digitalmarketing #copywriter #marketing #contentcreation

Y’all, it’s Friday and 67 degrees in Houston, which means... it’s the perfect time to post a fall-ish pic of me for #fridayintroductions 😉 . Read on for some facts about the lady in the t-neck! 🐢 . 👉 I love doing a little of a lot of activities. I used to think it prevented me from being good at any one thing, but now I believe my desire to learn about and experience different things is what makes me good at my job. People ask me, “how can you write about a subject you’re not an expert on?” It’s a great question and precisely the point. Your customers aren’t experts either. When you live and breathe your business, it can be hard to determine what’s most relevant to them. A non-expert, who understands your audience, can help you highlight the best of your brand to other non-experts. . . 👉I’m an Enneagram 9. If you’re an Enneagrammer, you know I could go on about this all day, but I’ll refrain. Nines, we have our flaws, right? But one thing we do really well is empathize and make others feel comfortable and connected. That’s one of my better traits and something I hope comes through in my business and life! . 👉I love to travel. Our travel as of late has been more Disneyland, less foreign lands, but when we have time and money, this is where we invest! I think experiencing different cultures lasts much longer than the short time you’re there. We have our bucket list of destinations and try and dust off the passports whenever we can. Next up, San Miguel de Allende! Send me your recs! . 👉One of my favorite parts of my job is hearing my clients talk about why they started their brands. Every brand, every story is SO different. I love helping clients use their stories to connect with customers. . . Thanks for reading friends! Happy Fri-YAY! . . photo cred: @paigemcphoto . . #copywriting #houstoncopywriter #contentcreation #contentmarketing #digitalmarketing #contentservices #socialmediamarketing #blogger #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #girlboss #womeninbusiness

Reposting this beautiful pic taken by the talented @bmariephoto of client @irenichtx 📸 . Irenic helps small businesses identify and solve people problems, build strong teams, and create smart HR policies for future growth. 💪 . Owner Laila and I had so much fun working together! She is confident, poised, and makes you feel immediately at ease. Her clients say she allows them to breath again. I say when P&P is ready to grow, I’m calling Laila! ☎️ . Photo cred: @bmariephoto . . #careers #employeeengagement #worklife #boss #entrepreneur #entrepeneurlife #people #staffing #leadershipcoaching #leadershipdevelopment #hr #humanresources

Happy Monday, friends! I’m giving up the fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants strategy I seem to have adopted in Sep and am doing some content planning today! 🙌 . . Would love to hear from you guys! Any burning content, messaging, copywriting questions I can address for you? Comment below or DM me, and I’ll include your topic in my content calendar! So excited about what I have planned for October and would love add your topics to it! 👯‍♀️ . . #copywriting #houstoncopywriter #contentmarketing #socialmediamarketing #contentplanning #contentcreator #entrepreneur #brandmessaging #brandstory #storytelling

Do y'all ever do that "stare into space and think" thing when you're right in the middle of something? 🤔 . So, I was doing that this morning. 💡 I was thinking about who my first client was and how I got them. People ask me that all the time, and I reply with a generic (but true) answer of "I used my network". 🤝 . My very first client was my boss from 12 years ago. I reached out to him to get coffee one week I was visiting Austin. I hadn't kept up with him (rookie mistake), so I didn't have a clue what he was doing. 🤷‍♀️ . He had very recently started his own marketing agency and needed a copywriter to help with email nurtures. That was five years ago, his business is thriving, and I still do content projects for him. 👍 . After he left the company I worked for 12 years ago, I had no idea our paths would cross again. To be honest, I didn't even think he liked me that much. At the time, I didn't love my job, I wasn't great at it, and the company was struggling. 🌧 . Fast forward seven years, we reconnect, and he is the client responsible for the very first dollar earned at Pen and Purpose. He's also introduced me to numerous other clients. 👥 . If you're feeling stuck in a job or season right now, hang in there and show up! You might be there for a reason you have yet to even contemplate. So much of the knowledge and skills I use today were developed in my first marketing job, working for the man who would later become my first client! 🙌

Today on the blog: What Movie Lines Teach Us About Messaging. 🎥 . . Y’all, I love quoting movie lines! Perfectly timed and with the right person, it’s an instant winner in your convo. 🙌 . But as it turns out, movie lines do more than improve our conversational jujitsu. 💪 . We can actually learn from them and apply the same writing techniques to our messaging! ✍️ . Grab some 🍿 and follow the link in my bio to learn what movie lines teach us about messaging. . . Also, just for fun... if you know a movie line from the movies in my photo scroll, write it in the comments, or write your favorite line and I’ll see if I can guess the movie. Nerdy but fun, right?? 🤝 #copywriting #brandmessaging #storytelling #marketing #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #contentmarketing #contentcreation #brandstory

After a trip to North Carolina, a short week last week, and a weekend in Austin for Longhorn football 🤘, Monday was a tough bridge to cross, y’all! . But I’m on the downslope and ready for the rest of the week! So excited about a branding workshop tomorrow, Tuesdays Together tomorrow night, a writing workshop Wed, lunch with a client on Thurs, and a Friday benefit luncheon for SBISD. 🙌 . What are you guys excited about this week? . . Also, see ya Monday! 👋 . . #houstoncopywriter #copywriter #contentstrategy #contentcreator #digitalmarketing #contentmarketing #emailmarketing #brandstrategy #messaging #brandstory

Imposter Syndrome: feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt despite your success. . . Anyone have this? I know I do. I play the comparison game, minimize my accomplishments, and have a hard time accepting praise. Why do I do that? 🤷‍♀️ . . That’s a therapy session for another day, but I know a lot of other (ehem, women) entrepreneurs know the feeling. . . Meanwhile, our customers want to know why they should do business with us. . . There’s no room for Imposter Syndrome in your copy! You may not even be aware it’s creepin’ in, but here are a few tips for finding and ✂️ it out. . ✅ Cut out qualifiers like, “basically, typically, usually, probably, perhaps, actually, essentially.” They weaken your message. . ✅ Write down who you are and what value you provide your customers. Shorten your explanation into one sentence. Bonus points if you can make it 10 words or less. . . ✅ Keep your content about your customers. When you write with others in mind, there’s no need to offer explanations or qualifiers about yourself. It’s not about you. . . We all have insecurities, but don’t let them stop you from sharing your talent and communicating with your customers effectively. . . . #copywriter #impostersyndrome #marketing #contentcreation #smallbusiness #digitalmarketing #contentcreation #contentmarketing

Happy Monday friends! Did y’all know I moonlight as a fitness instructor? . . One of the wonderful parts about being an entrepreneur is being able to set your own schedule and create the time and space for activities that bring you joy. . . I love to write, but I’m also an extrovert. 🤷‍♀️ . Being around others gives me energy and inspiration, so I create time for it every day. 🙌 . Never feel guilty about stepping away from your desk to create the right daily experience for yourself. When I’m happy, inspired, and energized, my work product is better! . . What do y’all do to bring balance to your work life? . #copywriter #entrepreneurlife #houstoncopywriter #worklifebalance #fitness #marketing #contentcreator #contentmarketing

Big day, y’all! It’s National Prosecco Day and International Left Hander’s Day.🥂 . . So, if you need a reason to drink a glass of (Italian) bubbly tonight, you’ve got it! Lefties get two! 🙋‍♀️😉 #lefty #prosecco #marketing #copywriter #digitalmarketing #contentcreation #contentmarketing

☝️One of my favorite summer pics! At this moment, she is waving her hands, singing “this little light of mine”, like she is the only person on the beach. 💡 . . I loved seeing her delight in God’s creation. 💖 . . God gives us moments of pure joy in our messy lives, doesn’t He? This was one for me. It was only for a few seconds, and I’m so glad I didn’t miss it. . . Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in our activities, we forget to stop and enjoy them. . . I hope she will always take her moments! . . BTW, shortly after this pic, her brother let go of her kite, she pushed him in the sand, melt downs ensued, and we hauled 2 crying kids and a wagon of beach gear what felt like miles through the sand. So, moments... don’t miss ‘em, y’all! 😂

I don’t always work at coffee shops, but when I do, I take a picture of my latte and post it on Instagram. 🙌 . . This summer, with my kids home, I’ve done the coffee-shop-office thing much more frequently. ☕️ . . @dishsociety is super convenient and has a honey-lavender latte that is 💯! During off-peak hours, it’s a great place to park myself with my laptop for a couple hours of uninterrupted work. 👩‍💻 . . What are your favorite haunts for hitting the keys? . . . #remotework #instapic #latteart #coffeeshop #workfromhome #entrepreneur #mompreneur #copywriting #instafood #houstoncopywriter #contentmarketing

Your About page - it’s the second most visited page on your site and your chance to emotionally connect with your buyers. You need to nail it, and today’s post is all about how to do it! Click on the link in my bio and head to the blog to get started! . . #copywriting #smallbusinessmarketing #webdesign #websitecontent #brandstory #branding #entrepreneur #contentcreator #contentmarketing #contentmarketingstrategy #contentmarketingtips

I’m so excited about my next project, working on website content for @tbarmcampstx ! 🙌 I’ll be collaborating with @randibeth14 , who is as talented as she is hilarious. As an added bonus, we can communicate almost entirely in Romy and Michele memes! 👉 Can’t wait to get started!

It’s been a day, y’all. Let’s talk productivity hacks. 😰 . When life keeps you moving, how do you squeeze in production? ✍️ . I put all my writing assignments on Google Drive at the beginning of each week, so I can access them on 📱 . If I’m on the go all day, I take any spare minute to research and write notes for each piece.👌 . When I do get back to my desk, I at least have a head start! 👩‍💻 . Would love to hear your favorite on-the-go work tips! . #copywriter #creatives #digitalmarketing #contentmarketing #brandstrategy #smallbusinesstips #workfromhome #mompreneur #momlife #workingmom

Happy Wedding Day to my client and friend @christinagreenejewelry ! . . Christina designs classic jewelry with modern details that is chic, timeless, and so unique! I get sooo many compliments every time I wear one her pieces. 🤩. . Congrats to this beautiful bride! Enjoy your day! 🥂 #wedding #weddingjewelry #accessories #bride #jewelrydesigner #entrepreneur #jewelrydesignerlife

“Look natural,” she said. Anyone else afflicted with RBF? 🤷‍♀️. . . #photoouttakes #rbf #brandphotos #branddesign #contentmarketing #copywriting

Congratulations @bmariephoto ! You are the winner of 2 hours of free copy editing or consulting! . . Thank y’all so much for entering! For transparency, I’ve documented the complex selection process in the next pic. 😜 . . There’s still time to earn a free ☕️! Visit the link in my bio for details.

So if I run into you at lunch, I’m probably going to hand you a business card because ☝️. So pretty right?!?! . . . Loving the patterns and bright colors from @kindlybykelsea. Last pic is my old branding if you want to see the contrast! . . Alright, giveaway alert: 2 free hours of copy editing or consulting! . . Tag 2 friends you think might enjoy this feed, and you’re entered! Enter before midnight, winner will be randomly selected and announced tomorrow! . . . #copywriting #contentmarketing #brandmessaging #storytelling #marketingstrategy #contentstrategy #branddesign

It’s here! Cheers to P&P Brand Launch Day. 🥂 Follow the link☝️in my profile to find out what inspired the rebrand, view our new design, and get a free gift! 🎁 Can’t wait to hear what you think! More giveaways and brand design to come so stay tuned! #copywriting #copywriter #branddesign #contentmarketing #entrepreneurlife #messaging

Brand reveal is happening tomorrow, and you better believe I’m a few lattes deep! ☕️ Confession time: I hadn’t updated my own website copy in a year, and it needed a serious makeover! It’s amazing how much what you offer, how you work, and what you want to say about it changes in just one year! Even copywriters get behind the 🎱 sometimes. Excited to share new words and a new design with you tomorrow! #contentmarketing #copywriting #branding #branddesign #brandphotography

☝️When someone says the Oxford comma is dead. Who’s with me? #copywriter #grammarpolice #contentmarketing #copywritingtips

Hi! Thanks for following. If you don’t know Pen and Purpose, here’s the scoop... . I’m a copywriter and content strategist who helps my clients engage and win customers with content. Struggling with creating a digital lead magnet, consistently posting on your blog, or developing clear messages for your website? 🙋‍♀️ I can help! . I’m also a wife, mother of two, friend, aunt, daughter, fitness instructor, and carb eater struggling to balance it all. . This feed is about that struggle + joy + life + (nerd alert) content and copywriting tips and resources. I love what I do and am so excited to share it with you. . Pen and Purpose turns 5️⃣ this year and has gotten a birthday makeover. I’m launching my new brand next Tuesday, July 23rd! There will be giveaways, reflections, and virtual toasts throughout the day, so be sure to check in! 🥂 . If we haven’t met, DM me. I would love to connect one-on-one! . . . #houstoncopywriter #copywriter #digitalmarketing #entrepreneur #entrepreneurlife #branding #messaging #contentmarketing #contentcreator #content #contentstrategy #emailmarketing

Inspiration for the new P&P! Love these color combos and am so excited to see (and share) the final brand. Makeovers are so fun! #branding #marketing #copywriter #messaging

Insta work from home. 👉 Real-life work from home. #amiright #remotework #copywriter #entrepreneurlife #contentstrategy #instapic #branding #brandphotography Photo cred: 1️⃣ @paigemcphoto 2️⃣ my 5 yo 👏🏻

Little sneak peek at my branding photo session today with the lovely @paigemcphoto. So glad @kindlybykelsea convinced me I needed more yellow in my life/brand! 😍 Can’t wait to show you guys more! #branding #marketing #entrepeneur #copywriter #brandphotography

Coffee + Think Sesh with @digitalemonade. Perfect way to start the morning!