Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marisa Corcoran, a copywriter based in Atlanta, GA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Your business has three basic needs: sell in a way that feels good, call in the right people for those sales, and know what to say and how to say it so the other two can happen. Inside our signature program, The Copy Confidence Society, we support online coaches and creatives to create their uncopyable message and the copy that supports it, so they magnetically attract their dream clients.

Tell us about yourself

I'll never forget standing in the kitchen after getting the call: "We no longer need you to come in for the audition today. Thank you." Booking a role at one of the most well-known regional theaters in America was a foot in the door for bigger projects. After getting my MFA in Acting from Harvard, I was writing copy for private clients on the side as I auditioned for acting roles, especially as I had a $178K student loan to pay off. (Also, my ideas for Rabbit were genius: a sassy cross between comedian Sebastian Maniscalco and Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny.)

Something changed in me that day. At that moment, I decided to never again put my worth (or fate) in the hands of someone else. Leaving acting behind, I went full-time in my copywriting business and created my own stage with my signature summit called The Copy Chat, which showcased the "actors guide" to copy I'd been doing for my private writing clients. In 3 years, I went from $50K to $1M, and today, we've supported 400+ business owners. Not only did I transform the financial paradigm for myself and my family, but I've also been able to support business owners to truly stand out in their niche and call in their dream clients with personality-filled copy that dazzles.

Most of my actor friends that went on to "make it" created their own stage first and brought people to them. (Think Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Issa Rae, the It's Always Sunny gang and likely any stand-up comic you love) I swiped everything I learned as an actor from Harvard (all $178K worth!) and created my own stage = The Copy Chat. To date, The Copy Chat has featured over 100 business owners, filled ALL of my programs (without spending a dime on paid ads), and given over $85K to charity.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The Copy Chat community has raised over $100K for organizations like Sage USA, which provides services and advocacy for LGBTQ+ elders, Soul Fire Farm, which gives land back to Black and Brown growers, and The Headstrong Project, which provides military vets with the mental healthcare they need and deserve.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

There's a misconception that if you own your own business and do what you love, then everything should feel light and easy. That's a lie. Release the need to feel like everything you do in your business should feel easy or fun. Sometimes, it just has to get done. Having each day of the week mapped out with a different focus for the business has helped tremendously.

For example, Mondays, I don't take calls. That day is solely for content creation. Tuesday is for team meetings and outside calls. Wednesday and Thursday are for coaching. Fridays are great days for me to be on podcasts, do outreach, and host VIP Days if applicable.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Become a specialist in a sea of generalists. People buy when the solution and what they'll get are crystal clear. For example, if you're a health coach, what's your specialty? Is it supporting women after cancer? Is it weight loss? Or maybe it's hormones? This will help you call in more quality clients. Plus, your copy will be simple to create, and it makes it easy for people to remember, rave about, and refer to you.
  2. Create your own stage. When you create your signature platform and bring people to you, you're not waiting around for opportunities. You get to create them for yourself, and it fosters connection and collaboration. Think of a signature summit or your own podcast. My recent summit client brought in 1300 new leads, and this was the gateway to her $87K launch that followed.
  3. Hire before you're ready. This doesn't mean you need full-time employees, but having support as soon as possible fosters more time for you to create and focus on revenue-generating activities.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://marisacorcoran.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecopychat
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtoni/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-fratto-corcoran-423567150/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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