Ever read a company’s mission statement and felt… nothing? Or core values that just fall flat? Us too. That’s why this week, Abby and Ciara are here to help you come up with core values, mission, and vision statements that actually mean something – both to you and the people reading them.
What we yapped about:
Mission, vision, core values – what they are and why you need them.
How to write them, so they don't sound like corporate BS.
The best brand statements we’ve seen – and the absolute worst.
What to do with your values, mission & vision once they’re written.
Abby & Ciara’s personal mission statements
Honourable mentions:
Book recommendations: I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke
Ever thought about what it takes to create engaging content every day? Meet Laura Hand – a lover of puns and silly jokes with a passion for writing compelling copy. This week, Abby and Laura sit down to chat about how she went from working for a non-profit to jumping headfirst into the world of copywriting.
What we yapped about:
How she finds creativity when the inspiration well runs dry.
What a copywriter’s typical day looks like.
The books that sparked a lifelong love of reading and writing.
Life and work advice that we all need a reminder of.
Always dreamed of turning your passion for writing into a full-time gig? Or maybe you just want to get to know one of our amazing writers a little better? Either way, this episode is for you!
Honourable mentions:
Book recommendations: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard OsmanRoald Dahl collection
Want to know what it’s like to create awesome, engaging content every day? Get ready to meet Simone Smith – a certified word nerd with a serious talent for taking tricky topics and breaking them down so anyone can understand. In this episode, Abby chats with Simone about her journey from being a court reporter covering murder trials (yes, really!) to becoming a pro at turning complex ideas into compelling content.
What we yapped about:
What she loves about her day-to-day as a copywriter.
Her best tips for overcoming writer’s block (which may or may not involve dog cuddles).
Her favourite projects (which also may or may not involve dogs).
Some words of wisdom that everyone needs to hear.
Curious about how you can get into copywriting or just want to get to know another of our lovely writers? Then you won’t want to miss this episode!
Honourable mentions:
Book recommendations: Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola EstésFranny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
Want to get a behind-the-scenes look at the life of an international copywriter? Meet Kelli Cleary—a Texas native with a knack for persuasive copywriting (and an impressive green thumb). In this episode, Abby and Kelli sit down to discuss how Kelli went from working in the non-profit world to crafting beautiful blogs and compelling copy.
What we yapped about:
Her creative tips to overcome writer's block.
Why children’s books should be on every adult’s reading list.
What an average day looks like, plus some of her fave projects so far.
Some solid life advice that we all need to hear.
Dreaming of how you can turn your passion for writing into a full-time career? Or maybe you just want to get to know one of our lovely writers? Then this episode’s for you!
Honourable mentions:
Book recommendations: Botany for Gardeners by Brian CaponCharlotte’s Web by E.B. WhiteEast of Eden by John Steinbeck
How do you take an okay first draft and turn it into a polished, compelling piece of content? That’s the magic of a talented editor and proofreader at work. This week, Abby sits down with Mia Vance, our very own in-house eagle-eyed editor, to talk about what brought her to our lovely little country, and how she got into editing and general word wizardry.
What we yapped about:
The subtle—but important—differences between proofreading and editing.
Mia’s top 3 self-editing tips if you don’t have an editor handy.
How she finds her creative groove again when inspiration runs dry.
Answers to rapid fire questions with some stellar book recommendations.
If you’ve thought about turning your sharp eye for typos into a fulfilling career, or you just want to meet our lovely editor, you won’t want to miss this episode!
Honourable mentions:
Stephen King’s “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” book.
https://academy.hubspot.com/courses
Book recommendations: The Scorpio Races by Maggie StiefvaterDearly: Poems by Margaret AtwoodHagstone by Sinéad Gleeson
Want to know what it’s really like to work as a project manager at a content agency? Get ready to meet Riley Barry—project manager, professional writer, and the person who keeps this content show on the road. This week, Abby chats with Riley about how they got into the wonderful world of copywriting and project management and what they love about working with a team of certified word nerds.
What we yapped about:
Riley’s beautiful beginnings at The Content Lab as Abby’s first full-time hire.
What a day as a busy project manager looks like. (It may or may not involve copious amounts of caffeine.)
Riley’s top tips for project managing like a pro.
Their favourite books and priceless words of wisdom.
If you’re looking for a different angle on getting into content writing, this episode’s for you!
Honourable mentions:
Should your content charm readers or suck up to Google? Trick question—it should do both. Abby and Ciara tackle one of the most common (and confusing) questions in the content world: how to balance writing for humans and algorithms.
What we yapped about:
Why people-first content beats keyword stuffing every time.
How to write for real humans while optimising for SEO.
Why authenticity—and leaning into your brand voice—are the ultimate SEO hacks.
What’s changing in SEO that writers need to know about.
If you’re tired of wondering whether you’re doing content “right”—this one's for you! Hit play, and let’s make SEO-friendly content feel human again.
Honourable mentions:
https://storybrand.com/downloads/your-brand-is-not-the-hero.pdf