As a web designer one might think that my biggest challenge is visualizing the customer’s website design. But actually the design side generally progresses along pretty smoothly.
The more vexing side I struggle with is having clients produce the content for their website.The owners I talk to can easily tell me in person all about their products or services. But as they start putting their thoughts to paper they grapple with trying to find the right words and tend to get stiff and formal in their writing.
Part of creating websites for small businesses owners for me at-least is to help them root out the words that best describe their services while maintaining a natural flow ensuring they benefit for SEO purposes.
I’ve been told I do a good job and I truly appreciate that but the truth is I’m really no different than they are, I prefer saying what I need to say face to face. Problem is that when your selling your services or products online with a website you don’t get that face-to-face luxury.
You have to write something and unless you have a degree in linguistics or studied psychographics knowing what to say and how to say it is not easy.
As much as I enjoy helping clients develop their content I knew I needed to get some help. So looked into a few courses and finally decided to go with a online training program called Brandgasm 101.
I chose Brandgasm 101 because it’s “wallet-friendly” and a “two-fer”. You get two training programs in one package. There is a full course on copywriting to help people like you & I find the right words to say on our websites. Plus it has another full course on website design that teaches you how to make your site look good. As a web designer I really like that.
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I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised when I signed up. The material they cover is everything I could possibly think of plus a bunch more. Inside I found ready to use templates, how-to screen casts, and amazing content that describes in detail how you should approach developing your home page, about page, and sales pages
Brandgasm 101 has 7 different sections following two tracks, a copy-writing track & and a design track. The tracks run tandem complimenting each other generously covering every element that you’ll need to bring your website to life.
Here is the table of contents they have: (my favorites are the sales pages & bonus sections)
| Copy-Writing | Design |
| Prep | Prep |
| The essentials of Copywriting a) Foundations & Principles b) What is Copywriting c) Getting Started d) Psychographics e) What your target is thinking f) Closing |
The essentials of Design a) Foundations & Principles b) Color c) Typography 101 |
| The essentials of Copywriting – Part 2 a) Introduction to copywriting b) What does it mean to have attention |
The essentials of Design – Part 2 a) Balance b) Clean Lines c) Natural Edges d) White Space |
| How to make an Amazing First Impression a) How to name your stuff – introduction b) How to name your stuff – part 1 c) How to name your stuff – part 2 d) Name brainstorming |
How to make an amazing first impression a) Designing Headers – Introduction b) Thought Process c) Taglines d) Text Effects e) Textures f) Custom Shapes g) Ribbons h) Templates & Extras |
| How to create a sales page that sells a) Intro to sales pages b) The art of allure c) Sales page writing – step one d) Sales page writing – step two e) Sales page writing – step three f) Sales page writing – step four g) Sales page writing – step five h) Sales page writing – step six i) Sales page writing – step seven j) Sales page writing – step eight k) Sales page writing – step nine l) Sales page writing – step ten |
How to create a sales page that sells a) Introduction b) Headline structure c) Thought process d) Designing buttons e) Designing testimonials f) Photoshop button templates |
| How to build a cohesive brand a) Introduction to teaser copy b) Step Two – List Assumptions c) Step Two – Writing the opt-in |
How to build a cohesive brand a) Introduction b) Business cards c) Ebook covers d) Headers – Word e) Product badges f) Templates |
| How to leverage social media a) Prolific social media & getting followers b) Affection in 140 characters or less – Twitter c) Making Facebook your Bitch |
How to leverage social media a) Branding for Facebook b) Branding for Twitter c) Creating social icons d) Templates |
| Bonus Round – Adding BANG a) Make them fall in love with your homepage b) Make them fall in love with your about page c) Make them fall in love with your services page |
Bonus Round – Adding BANG a) Introduction b) Adding color filters to images c) Creating favicons d) Pinterest style quotes |
As I said each section is filled with examples, screen casts, with lots of templates that can be used immediately. Plus at the end of each section is an audio of the question & answer sessions they had when the program was delivered live.I downloaded and listen to them on my old zune (yep I still have one of those) while I was on the road. In total its over 5 hours of listening content, which to me at times was better than some of the written material.
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You get to hear not only the personality of the creators Ash Ambirge & Jamie Varon who are entertaining, and sometimes borderline crazy. But you get to hear their logic during the process of developing content or design.
Another nice feature I was happy to learn about was a private facebook group you could join. I’ve been in there nearly every day since I joined. I don’t know about you but when I working at home on websites at home it’s rare that I have someone to bounce idea’s off of and who can provide helpful feedback
The group consists of people who are also struggling with their content & design so they understand what you’re going through. I think the best part of being in this private group is the honest feedback. If your doubting something that you’ve written, or seem hesitant about using a certain tag-line then post it in the group. They’ll let you know what they think which is very very helpful
Another unexpected bonus was that they have an affiliate program. That means that if you decide to buy the Brandgasm 101 program then at no additional cost to you, Ash & Jamie are willing to pay me a commission.
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I’m not saying I’m suddenly turned into a literary genius because of Brandgasm 101 but I can say that it help me more than I expected. After going through the program I feel way more confident in my writing and was able to pick up some design tips along the way.
It help me peel back some of the layers of my existing content and really push myself to understand how to write for my customers. The process was and is still challenging but it is also just what I needed to help me re-write my home page, my about page, and my service page.
Plus I can add more value to my customers now by providing improved ghost writing services or providing more helpful tips on what they should be considering when writing their own pages.
I know I’ve still got a few layers to peel back but I have to say Brandgasm 101 was worth every penny and then some. I’d happily recommend Brandgasm 101 to any of my clients or anyone else who is struggling to find the words that will propel their business forward.
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