Want to become a ghostwriter? Awesome! There's some stuff you need to know... let's talk about it. Ready to go all-in on ghostwriting? Head over to ashleygainer.com/ghostwriterschool and get on the waitlist. You won't regret it! (psst that's a

Do your business YOUR way

Apr 13th, 2022 14m 39s

I’ve been learning a lot lately about the importance of running your business your own way instead of just following everyone else’s advice. Their advice might work for them, but it might not work for you. This is your reminder to make your own

Why I love offering copywriting audits

Apr 4th, 2022 22m 24s

Ever heard of an audit? Some of you are going to love this. Audits are a type of copywriting service that are less about the writing and more about you leveraging your knowledge and expertise. This is not for beginners, but it's definitely some

Copywriter Rate Sheet

Mar 29th, 2022 17m 28s

The dreaded question... What do you charge for that? I have lots of workarounds for NOT answering that question when I'm on the spot and not totally sure what to say, but I also know it's important to give a real number in some contexts. ---

The importance of downtime

Sep 6th, 2021 28m 14s

Knitting, baking, walking around my woodsy neighborhood. What do these three things have in common? They keep me from burning out. When you're running a freelance writing business, especially if it's a significant source of your family's incom

3 things you can do to make your business official

Aug 23rd, 2021 12m 7s

Whether you're just getting started or you've been at it for a little while and you want to feel more legit... these are 3 things I recommend you do ASAP to set your business up and make it feel official and happy. The IRS form mentioned in th

The importance of making time to read

Aug 9th, 2021 21m 25s

As a writer, one of the most important things you can do to sharpen and refine your writing skills... is read. Read good books. Read good samples. Prioritize it. Make time for it. Reading is fuel for your writing engine. Don't limp along, runni

Freelancer terminology and what to call stuff

Aug 2nd, 2021 16m 23s

So what exactly are you? What am I? Who are they? What are we even doing here? This short episode clarifies some of the most frequently used (and commonly misunderstood) terms referring to what our roles are. ----------------------------------

What to do when you miss a deadline

Jul 12th, 2021 14m 15s

Nobody wants to miss deadlines, but what do you do if you're facing that particular reality? I don't have a ton of experience, but I did miss a deadline or two over the past 12 years... and I've had a lot of deadlines missed on me, as well. Wit

5 things to do when a crisis hits

Jul 5th, 2021 19m 58s

Nobody wants to be in crisis mode, but sooner or later we all find ourselves there anyway. Today's episode goes into my best 5 tips for weathering a crisis, no matter where you are in the timeline. -----------------------------------------If

Let's talk about niche skill course

Jun 29th, 2021 14m 13s

Should you get that course? It's kinda expensive. I dunno... maybe? Ooorrrrrr... maybe not. This episode gives you some things to think about when you're considering a niche skills training, and what some of the alternatives are. -------------

How to compete with sites like Upwork and Fiverr

Jun 21st, 2021 13m 5s

There's no love lost between Upwork and me, and one of my goals is to get every struggling writer off those bidding sites. Today's episode should help you begin to get your head around the whole "why would anyone work with me when there's a bun

5 Things to keep in mind when on a client call

Jun 14th, 2021 21m 16s

Client calls don't have to be so scary! As long as you keep these 5 things in mind, you can go in confidently and end the call confidently as well. One of the perks of this gig is getting to meet interesting people doing interesting things insi

Do you need a CRM

Jun 7th, 2021 21m 56s

Do you need a CRM? Do you even know what a CRM is? Is it worth paying for? I'm spilling all my personal CRM beans so you can make the right decision for you.-------------------------------------If you haven't joined the Facebook group yet, cl

Do you need group coaching or a mastermind?

May 17th, 2021 21m 14s

Once you enter the world of freelance service providers, it's easy to get swept away in all the different types of offers out there. Group coaching programs and masterminds are two of the biggies that are supposed to help you grow your business

Do you need an email list?

May 10th, 2021 27m 4s

Once you get up and running, looking for marketing strategies for your freelance writing business, it's easy to fall down the rabbit hole of email lists. Do you need one? How frequently should you write? What do you even say? I remember getting

Freelance writing websites and their alternatives

May 4th, 2021 28m 35s

Do you need a website to be a freelance writer? Short answer, no. Longer answer: no, but you need something. You can't just have nothing. This episode goes into some alternatives to the website, most of which are ideal for the non-techies and s

Is it time to offer a course?

Apr 27th, 2021 19m 39s

Lots of people talk about the benefits of offering your own course. This is something I get a lot of super-secret questions about... it seems like many of us are afraid to say it out loud. Today I'm giving my one woman's hot take on whether or

How to take a vacation as a freelance writer

Apr 19th, 2021 24m 30s

Whether you're trotting the globe or plotting a staycation, a break from work is on the docket for you (I hope!). But how does the whole vacation thing work when you're a service provider and not a salaried employee with paid time off and all t

Mindset issues keeping you STUCK

Apr 13th, 2021 24m 6s

The biggest obstacle to your freelance writing success is that wrinkly grey blob between your ears. Today I'm busting 4 myths we writers tell ourselves, so next time you hear one of these ricochet around your head you'll know how to deflect it.

Tips for writing with SEO keywords

Apr 6th, 2021 12m 36s

Everyone's favorite mystery: SEO! Sometimes it can be awkward to work with SEO keywords. This episode goes over 3 of my best tips for making it work. -------------------------------------If you haven't joined the Facebook group yet, click her

Internal and external links... plus a rant

Mar 29th, 2021 17m 25s

Internal, external, no-follow, do-follow... we're talking all about links today. What you need to know, what you need to avoid, and what you need to consider when it comes to the where, when, and why of links in your copy.---------------------

When and how to branch out your services

Mar 22nd, 2021 13m 27s

How do you know when it's time to start offering that new writing service you've been thinking about? Or what do you do when a client or prospect asks you if you can do this other thing you've never done before? This episode lays out a step-by-

Interview Tips

Mar 22nd, 2021 21m 24s

If the idea of interviewing sources makes you quake in your boots, today's show is for you. I'm giving you my best journalist tips for interviewing so you can get great quotes and information from your sources. A good interview can add a lot of

How to conduct research

Mar 9th, 2021 25m 40s

This one's a listener request! How do you do the research you need when it's time to sit down and write? I'm laying out my process, drawn from 9th grade English class (thank you, Mrs. Hagler), and giving specific examples of how to conduct and