ill communication: copywriting tips & sales strategies for small businesses
As a small business owner, you know copywriting is one of the essential “skills to pay the bills.” But how often do you sit down at your laptop and struggle with knowing what and how to write? You’re not alone. It’s difficult to write your own copy (even for pro copywriters). Plus, when you’re juggling a family, clients, and a team... there just isn’t enough time in the day to do it all. It’s why sending an email to your list or updating your website never gets crossed off your to-do list.
Enter ill communication: copywriting tips and sales strategies for small businesses. Each bite-sized episode is designed to give you easy, actionable (and fun) writing tips to help you craft your sales copy faster, create more engagement, and generate more sales. Tune in weekly to hear expert copy coach and die-hard Beastie Boys fan, Kim Kiel, drop a juicy tip, writing prompt, or sales formula you can take action on immediately. You’ll never have to wonder WTF to write again.
New episodes drop every Wednesday. Ch-check it out. To find out more, visit kimkiel.com
Episodes
177 episodes
Share this powerful piece of authority content to attract premium clients in 2026
Want to position yourself as the go-to expert in 2026? I'm sharing the one writing prompt that'll make your ideal clients sit up and pay attention - and it's easier than you think. This content strategy builds authority,...
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6:38
Looking back and ahead - 11 reflective prompts to set achievable goals for business and life in 2026
It's that time of year when everything feels like a whirlwind - wrapping up business, closing final sales, and creating holiday magic for the whole family. If you're heading into 2026 feeling a little disheveled and disorganized, th...
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12:37
Top 6 marketing & copywriting trends for 2026
The marketing landscape is shifting fast, and 2026 is gonna reward business owners who prioritize clarity, humanity, and true community over viral trends and algorithm chasing. In this episode, I'm sharing the six marketing and copy...
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22:52
What’s saving my life right now - December 2025
In this episode, I'm taking a pause from the business hustle to share what's actually keeping me grounded and functioning during this busy season. Hear all about my new skincare obsession (complete with a quartz roller that resets m...
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18:14
You're invited to the Get'er Done Holiday Mixer
The holiday season hits different when you're a Gen X business owner juggling kids' recitals, aging parents, and trying to keep your business running. I'm sharing how to set up your marketing so you can actually step away and enjoy ...
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5:10
Using Skool to streamline business, build community, generate leads and scale revenue with Brenda Rigney
In this episode, I'm trying something totally new - my first real-time interview! I sit down with Brenda Rigney, a fellow Gen X entrepreneur who's cracked the code on using the platform Skool to generate leads, build community, and create remar...
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42:58
How to stop procrastinating and get into marketing motion
Self-proclaimed "world's biggest procrastinator" Kim Kiel gets real about how perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking can paralyze your marketing. After ghosting her own email list for six months (yes, a copywriter who ghosted her...
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18:41
How women are building the new economy
If you're tired of hearing from the same gurus shouting each other out and talking about the same things over and over again, this episode is for you. Kim shares why she's excited about
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9:05
Should businesses skip out on Black Friday promos? And what to do instead!
Black Friday and Cyber Monday don't have to be a frantic scramble for your business. In this replay episode from Empire Secrets, Kim shares four strategic alternatives to the traditional Black Friday hustle - from building swipe fil...
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25:18
Pull a tarot card or share other "witchy" content this week {Writing Prompt}
Halloween is just around the corner, and it's the perfect time to shake up your content strategy with something unexpected. In this sweet and short episode, Kim shares an out-of-the-box seasonal content idea that'll help you connect...
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8:05
Are you ready for a premium business? (spoiler: yes!)
Kim tackles the biggest roadblock keeping seasoned entrepreneurs stuck on the sidelines: the belief that they're "not ready" for premium clients and high-ticket offers. If you've been watching others with less experience get more at...
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16:23
Why I’m retiring my signature program (and what’s coming next)
After seven years in business and 165 episodes, I'm retiring my signature program, The Joy of Copy Club. This past year felt heavy. I lost my spark. I even applied for a job (spoiler: didn't get it). But the universe had other plans. New client...
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Episode 165
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14:24
How to attract and win premium clients
In this episode, Kim invites you to her brand-new live workshop, Master Your High-Ticket Message: How to Attract and Win Premium Clients. If you've been struggling to raise your rates, exhausting yourself with lower-ticket offers, o...
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9:31
7 beliefs that block women entrepreneurs from premium clients
High ticket buyers are still buying — even in a softer economy.In this episode of the Ill Communication Podcast, I’m busting 7 of the biggest myths I hear from Gen X business owners about premium offers. From “my niche can’t com...
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20:32
How high-ticket offers help entrepreneurs create revenue resilience in a recession
We’re not just in an economic recession — we’re also in a trust recession. Consumers and businesses are being more choosy than ever about where they spend their money.So how do you keep selling in shaky times? Spoiler: it’s not by slashi...
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14:11
The We Do Not Care Club - Business and Marketing Edition
Leading up to my milestone birthday, everyone kept asking: How are you going to celebrate? Big party? Big event? Honestly, I didn’t want to do any of that—and for the first time, I felt totally okay about it. I gave myself ...
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12:16
Sell more in Q4: 18 ideas for your year-end promos {Summer Remix}
In this episode, Kim shares 18 unconventional and totally doable ways to run year-end promotions that boost revenue without discounting your prices. You’ll learn how to think strategically, playfully, and profitably about Q4 sales.<...
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16:03
The Gen X playbook for writing copy that sells high-ticket offers {Summer Remix}
In this episode of ill communication: copywriting tips and sales strategies for small businesses, Kim Kiel dives into:Copywriting tips to simplify your sales message and attract more clientsHow to avoid jargon and wri...
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11:22
10 simple ways to share your values in your business and marketing (and why it’s important you do) {Summer Remix}
In today’s world, sharing your values online can feel risky. Speak up and you might face criticism. Stay silent and you risk feeling out of alignment. As recent events in the online marketing world have shown, navigating that line i...
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18:55
Mastering high-ticket sales - the psychology of premium buyers and what makes them say yes {Summer Remix}
Hot take: it’s actually easier to sell a $5K offer than a $100 one. (Especially if you’re not down for chasing thousands of likes and followers.)This week’s Summer Remix episode of Ill Communication is a listener pi...
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22:43
Dean Jackson’s 9-word email: dos, don’ts and why it still works in 2025 {Summer Remix}
This summer, I’m bringing back some of my most-loved podcast episodes, and today’s is a gem.You’ve likely heard of the 9-word email, a magical little formula created by marketing legend Dean Jackson. It’s short, punchy, and still incredi...
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12:13
20 Tiny habits that help me generate $1million as a Gen X business woman {Summer Remix}
Running a business doesn’t have to be all 5am wake-ups, endless social media posts, and high-pressure launches.Over the past 6 years, I’ve quietly built a chill, service-based business that has brought in over one million dollars in l...
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18:00
{Summer Remix} Niche down, profit up: 5 surprising benefits of picking a niche (and why your small business needs one in 2025)
Welcome back to the Ill Communication podcast! This summer, I’m remixing hand-picked episodes to help you refine your message and sharpen your sales strategy for the year ahead.Today’s episode is all about the power ...
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18:36
{Summer Remix} Write your elevator pitch or power statement to cut through the noise and call in your ideal buyer
If you tuned in to last week's episode, you know we discussed the importance of being bold and clear in your messaging and marketing. Right now, one of the biggest trends is having a clear point of view. Nothing helps yo...
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11:16