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
163 episodes
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
{Summer Remix} Boost Sales in 2025 with These 7 Marketing Trends
Welcome to the Summer Remix series on the Ill Communication Podcast! ☀️Every summer, I take a short break from recording new content and re-air some of the most popular episodes (fan favourites, most downloads!)This week,...
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24:48
The 3 marketing essentials your small business needs to boost sales this year
The marketing landscape has changed big time, and today’s buyers are more cautious, more skeptical, and taking way longer to say yes.In this episode of Ill Communication, I’m breaking down the three essentials ...
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Episode 151
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19:27
How to use the FAB formula to write copy that generates sales
Tired of writing sales copy that just seems to list out features and specs, but leaves your readers yawning? In this special 150th episode of Ill Communication, I’m diving into the secret sauce that transforms dull, lifeless sales copy into a m...
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Episode 150
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10:36
The Neuroscience of Success: why entrepreneurs need to celebrate more
How often do you stop to truly celebrate your wins—big and small? In this episode, I dive deep into why celebrating successes matters more than you think, both in your business and in your personal life. From sharing personal stories of family ...
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Episode 149
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12:26
The Summer of Ease Workshop is back! Why small business owners should join!
What would it take for you to truly unplug this summer—without your business missing a beat? I’m sharing all the juicy details about my most popular workshop of the year: The Summer of Ease. I walk you through why planning now can give...
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Episode 148
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7:48
How to handle the emotional and mental health challenges of entrepreneurship with Rebecca Vigelius
This episode is different—and deeply personal. I'm stepping away from the usual copywriting tips to talk about something many of us avoid: mental health, burnout, and the hidden toll of holding it all together. The past year left me mentally an...
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Episode 147
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29:35
Why seasonal content is smart for your business {Writing Prompt}
How do you turn what's happening in your life right now into compelling content your audience actually wants to read? I’m sharing a powerful seasonal writing prompt that will help you show up consistently and with purpose—whether it’s ...
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Episode 146
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8:29
What happens when you FAFO on LinkedIn
What if “f*cking around and finding out” was exactly the mindset you needed to gain new traction in your business?In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on my new FAFO (F*ck Around and Find Out) era—what sparked it, how it reshape...
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Episode 145
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16:23
1-Minute Messaging Magic - 6 often-overlooked ways to promote your offers
How many people are missing out on your offer just because it’s hard to find or share? I’m giving you six dead-simple, free, and often overlooked ways to promote your offers that you can implement today. These strategies are designe...
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Episode 144
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11:14
1 Minute Messaging Magic: Boost your email engagement with these 3 quick tips
Have you ever wondered why your emails aren’t getting opened—or worse, landing in the trash? I’m sharing three often-overlooked email tweaks that can instantly improve your open rates and get more eyeballs on your offers. This episode is all ab...
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Episode 143
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8:05
1 Minute Messaging Magic - 5 website tweaks to get more leads
Are you unknowingly turning potential clients away the moment they land on your website? In this quick-hit episode, I’m sharing five super simple—but wildly effective—tweaks you can make to your website today to capture more leads and ...
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Episode 142
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8:37
1 Minute Messaging Magic: let your words breathe
What if the key to writing better copy wasn’t writing more—but writing less? In this episode, I’m kicking off a new mini-series called 1 Minute Messaging Magic, where I’ll share fast, actionable tips you can apply right away t...
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Episode 141
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5:53
A writing prompt to inspire and connect with your audience
We make thousands of decisions every day—some are small, some are life-changing. But have you ever shared one of your biggest decisions with your audience? In this episode, I break down how opening up about your own decision-making process can ...
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Episode 140
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7:01
How to use the stages of awareness to craft copy and messaging that drives more sales
What if the reason you're struggling to attract high-ticket clients isn't your offer—but your messaging?In this episode, we're diving into the five stages of awareness and how they shape your marketing success. If you're frustrated by at...
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Episode 139
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16:40
Why your marketing isn’t working - and how to fix it with voice of customer research
Why isn’t your marketing working? You’re putting in the effort, crafting your message, and showing up consistently—but something isn’t clicking. In this episode, I’m sharing the one foundational piece that most small business owners overlook wh...
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Episode 138
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7:24