Hidden Gems: Meet Marisa Corcoran

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Corcoran.

Hi Marisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I help coaches and creatives discover what to say and how to say it create personality-filled copy that dazzles. Think about your website, emails, and social media – that’s what I help “pop” so you can call in more dream clients with total ease.

But I can’t introduce myself without talking about Winnie The Pooh. You could say that little bear was both my lowest point and my awakening.

I was trained as an actor with an MFA in Acting from The American Repertory Theater at Harvard University. Getting to be part of a children’s show at any big regional theater is a gateway to more opportunities. I prepped hard for the character of Rabbit with the idea Rabbit would be like Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. But the day of the audition they told me they didn’t need me to come in anymore and that was it for me. Something changed. I’ll never forget taking off my overalls (Rabbit would wear overalls, right?) in our kitchen crying to my husband. I think the thing was I didn’t want my fate to be dictated by someone else anymore.

That day I quit acting. Luckily, I had been writing copy for small businesses as a side gig for a few years and had picked up since our move to Atlanta. Writing websites, emails, blogs, social media, etc. became my daily work (mostly working out of Taproom coffee shop in Kirkwood).

Soon after, I realized I still had the creative spirit and that need to be in the limelight. At the same time, my writing clients were getting incredible results with my copy. Things like 60% conversion on landing pages and emails that contributed to 6-figure launches.

That’s when I realized that everything that makes an actor compelling onstage could be applied to business. I created my own framework around it taking everything I’d learned as an actor.

That same year, I created my summit called The Copy Chat and my group program The Copy Confidence Society. In just 3 years, I’ve helped 293 online coaches, creatives, and small business owners create their uncopyable message and the copy that supports it. The Copy Chat summit has raised over $60K for charity during its 6 seasons, and I’ve built a community close to 10K, and growing my own business from $50K to $500K+.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’d say the biggest challenge was building The Copy Chat when no one knew who I was. I didn’t have “big name” clients but I knew I had a unique idea that needed to be out in the world. That’s when I applied what I’d learned about auditioning and how to connect as an actor to pitching experts for The Copy Chat. At the same time, there hadn’t been a summit specifically devoted to copy. I remember another copywriter said to me, “Oh, a summit about copy? Don’t you think that will be boring?” But I kept on believing in it and the first Copy Chat was successful.

It was an incredible feeling but soon there was dread. How would I keep repeating this success and investing in myself? That was absolutely terrifying considering I had $178K in student loan debt. But I invested smartly and took the steps to make sure the investment paid off. It didn’t always in direct sales but I’ve learned something powerful from every investment.

Along with that, I’ve had to manage my mind. I try to be honest and transparent with my community about my struggle with, what I call, the “worry loop.” To combat this, I take a daily walk with my husband (who is now part of the company) and share all my worries of the day.

Together, we decide which “worries” need attention and which ones I can let go of.

It’s important for people to know that running your own business is hard. A lot of gurus want you to believe that it’s “easy” or “here’s the 5-step roadmap to a million dollars in your sweatpants”. It’s false and harmful. Growing your business is a journey and it’s different for everyone considering we’ve all had different lived experiences.

So, the answer is that the challenges don’t stop. This is why you need to surround yourself with incredible colleagues, mentors, and people in your personal life that raise you up and move you forward.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I help coaches and creatives craft their uncopyable message and the personality-filled copy that supports it inside my signature program, The Copy Confidence Society.

Members of CCS have filled their 1:1 roster with the copy they’ve created, increased their open rates and responses, and cut their writing time in half. Additionally, we receive rave reviews that people finally know how to unleash their voice, tell more compelling stories, and write with more creativity and chutzpah.

This is critical considering copy is woven into every aspect of your business and one of the most important skills to learn as a business owner.

Additionally, I work with an intimate group of business owners in my mastermind, Limelight, where we help you take that uncopyable message and create your own stage so you can go from the middle of the pack to the front of the line with total conviction. My clients have created stages like their own successful summit, podcast, group program, or expanded their 1:1 roster.

I’m also the creator of the wildly popular online summit, The Copy Chat, which brings together leading copywriters, business coaches, and online strategists to help craft copy that attracts clients, makes money, and – even – creates a massive movement online. The Copy Chat has also raised $60K+ for charities like Soul Fire Farm, The Headstrong Project, Sage USA, and Hope for Heather.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
There are so many nuggets of advice I’d give but the biggest? Don’t try and grow your business alone. Find a mentor and community you trust. This isn’t to say you do every single thing they tell you. It’s important to trust your intuition as a business owner because you’re making decisions all day, every day. But what’s beautiful about having a mentor and community is a place to show up, ask questions, follow a roadmap, and reach your goals with more support. I like a group experience because this way, in addition to your mentor or coach, you also have a small group of people who will remember you, rave about you, and refer you which is the best way to grow your business when you’re starting out.

Contact Info:

• Website: MarisaCorcoran.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtoni/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecopychat

Image Credits
Braddon Murphy
Dave Thomas Brown