Point Of The Story

Welcome to season two of Point of the Story! We’re coming in HOT with an all-guest lineup — starting with none other than my brilliant, hilarious, famous, cottage-cheese-obsessed bestie, Xanthe Appleyard.If you don’t already follow Xanthe, you’re missing out on the kind of social media strategy that actually makes sense, one that is based on real connections that turn into real sales. She’s the type of person who could launch anything, and people would buy it just because she made it. And in this episode, she’s spilling all the tea on how to make that kind of magic happen in your own business.We recorded this episode curled up on her couch in LA, where I was deeply considering squatting indefinitely. Meanwhile, I’m now back in Massachusetts, staring out at the ice and snow, wondering why I ever left.TOPICS & TANGENTS— Why social media is a relationship and not just a numbers game— How to create content that actually connects (instead of just screaming into the void)— The myth of “niching down” and what to do instead— What it actually means to be a thought leader — even if you don’t think you are one— The art of never shutting the hell up about your offer— The very serious topic of Xanthe’s deep love for cottage cheesePOINT OF THE STORYSocial media works best when it’s human. Lead by showing up, starting real conversations, and making your audience feel seen.GIVEAWAYWant a free order of bean water on me? Tag me @btlcopy and @xanthe.appleyard on your Instagram story while you’re listening, and one lucky winner will get TWO caffeine fixes on me!AND — count how many times we drop the F-bomb in this episode. DM me the number, and you could win a free Millionaire Moment subscription.Love you, mean it. 🖤XANTHE LINKS— Follow Xanthe on Instagram— Check out Oh Sierra’s website— Listen to Love You to the Core on Apple or Spotify— Listen to the episode “Love Folliculating All Over Town (Guest Episode with Sara Noel)” on Apple or Spotify— Listen to the Millionaire Moment private podcast episode with Xanthe on Substack— Life of the Party - Xanthe’s content strategy program— Xanthe’s favorite yogurt and cottage cheese— Xanthe’s walkout songBTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Caitie Cupples Creative - my amazing student!— Green Chair Stories- copywriting for photographersThis episode was edited by ⁠Adrienne Cruz⁠.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Welcome to Season 2!00:42 Meet the Famous Xanthe Appleyard05:10 Rapid-Fire Squirrel Brain Questions15:44 Social Media is a Relationship19:52 How to Actually Understand Your Audience23:14 How to Create Content that Leads to Sales29:48 “I’m Not a Leader” & Other Lies We Tell Ourselves38:49 Simple Tweaks That Will Transform Your Content41:48 Do You Really Need to Niche Down?47:51 A Life-Changing Tip About Cottage Cheese49:27 Time is Relevancy51:00 The Power of Never Shutting the Fuck Up52:55 Our Content Themes56:45 Closing Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

Welcome back, squirrels! Season 2 of Point of the Story is here, and this time, we’re switching things up. Instead of solo episodes, this season is all about guest interviews — 20 of them, to be exact. I’m talking to experts, entrepreneurs, and industry insiders to uncover what they wish everyone knew about their field (plus plenty of tangents, obviously).If you’re nosy and love learning how things actually work, you’re in for a treat.WHAT TO EXPECT IN SEASON 2— Guest interviews only (but don’t worry, a surprise solo episode may be coming)— Six rapid-fire squirrel brain questions to start every episode— Deep dives into what people get wrong about different industries— A Spotify playlist featuring every guest’s walkout song (because of course)THE RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONSI want you to answer these, too! Head to my Instagram and drop your answers in the comments of my latest post, where I will be answering them myself!1. What’s your nut? (What do you hoard like squirrels hoard nuts?)2. If your brain had a pop-up ad, what would it be selling you right now?3. If your life had a warning label, what would it say?4. What’s something you’d win an Olympic gold medal in?5.5. What’s something you thought you’d have figured out by now, but absolutely don’t?6. What’s your walkout song?Love you, mean it. 🖤

So listen, I’m your mommy now. Yeah, you heard me. Today, I am mothering YOU because no one else is mothering you, and you are out here doing all the mothering yourself.Yes, you might have cringed at the title “productivity hacks.” I know you don’t need Karen from Pilates telling you to “wake up earlier” when you don’t even have a backup parent to help. So this is real-life, actually-doable advice from someone who’s living what you are living.So if your mental load is heavier than a Costco-sized box of literally anything, grab your AirPods and hit play.TOPICS & TANGENTS— My real-life hacks for making life easier as a single mom (that actually work, because I live this every day)— The one thing that finally made me stop being angry about doing it all alone— Why your kid should absolutely be bored sometimes (and why I’m “purposely frustrating” mine)— How I went from working 60 hours a week to 24 and still made more money than ever— The morning bin strategy that stops me from losing my mind before 8 AM— The magic of Siri reminders and why I set them for literally everything— Why you need to unfollow certain moms on Instagram immediately— How to stop feeling guilty about screen time (and exactly how much my kid actually gets)— What the “reward jar” method is and why my kid just earned himself a Build-A-BearPOINT OF THE STORYA child is only as happy as their mom — so take care of you, too. Drop the guilt, stop comparing yourself to people who don’t live your life, and do what actually works for you and your kid.GIVEAWAYSSingle moms, this one’s for you: DM me a pic of you and your little one, and your next bean water is on me.And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize.Love you, mean it. 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Follow Dr. Becky!— This is THE ikea cabinet— Reward jar options— Brain Quest— LingokidsThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro14:25 The Morning Bin17:21 Screen Time is OK20:39 Make Everything a Thing23:27 Always Outline the Plan24:20 Stick to a Routine25:21 Siri Reminders26:17 Have a Place for Everything28:36 Don't Put it Down, Put it Away29:09 Ten-Minute Tidy30:32 Don't Follow Moms with Partners37:31 Get Creative With Work Times and Places38:45 Purposefully Frustrate Your Child40:43 Reward Jar42:35 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

So you’re stuck in a slowwwww AF season? You check your inbox — crickets. You refresh your DMs — nothing. You start wondering if it’s time to start selling essential oils. And unless you’re passionate about lavender, my response is ABSOLUTELY NOT.Slow seasons happen, but that doesn’t mean you have to just sit around waiting for clients to magically appear. In this episode, I’m walking you through six things you can do when business feels slow — things that actually work, things that I’ve done myself, things I tell my clients to do all the time, and things that make you feel like you're taking control instead of waiting for the universe to drop money in your lap.So if you're side-eyeing your Stripe dashboard like it owes you an explanation, grab your notebook and hit play.TOPICS & TANGENTS— The six strategies I swear by for getting more business, even in a slow season— What to do when your dream clients are too busy lounging on the beach, eating watermelon salsa, and devouring smutty romance novels to think about hiring you— Why people are still spending money (even when the world is crashing down, and it feels like they aren’t)— The sneaky Facebook group strategy that’s landed me so many clients— What the “lipstick effect” has to do with your offers— The number one reason your marketing might not be working (and how to fix it)POINT OF THE STORYStop waiting, start selling. You can either sit around and stress about a slow season, or you can take action and bring in business!GIVEAWAYSTag @btlcopy in your stories for a chance to win your next bean water on me!If you leave a review on Apple Podcasts, take a screenshot, and sent it to me via DMs for a present.And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize.Love you, mean it. 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— My 28 Days Sales Challenge and its related Instagram post— Pinterest blogging masterclass with Sarah Burk— Book a website copy audit with me— Sales Series - my mini sales page course— Blog post: “How To Write A Minimal Services Page”— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Join Vix Meldrew’s new membership VOLUME— Sarah Kleist- Showit website designer— Lindsay Clarke - Mariko Studio— Tori Sprankel - Eldest Daughter Studio— Katie Campbell - Social media strategist— The Curious Collective - Therapists with ADHD— Rachael Shepard-Ohta - Hey Sleepy Baby— Facebook groups: Create and Cultivate + Women in MarketingThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro04:07 Rekindle an Old Collaboration Flame07:10 Recreate Your Last ‘Ideal Client’ Project12:31 Put Your Name Out There!18:08 Blog More, Pinterest More20:11 Tell Your Biz Friends You’re Open for Work21:10 Make Sure Your Services Page is Ready for New Leads25:23 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

A rebuild blueprint for starting a brand from zero, focusing on foundations over follower counts. Steps include buying a domain, launching a website, and DIY keyword research. Blogging, Pinterest, and email freebies are highlighted as long-term growth tools. Practical design and launch choices are laid out with a clear eight-step roadmap.

Surprise! It’s the first-ever Point of the Story minisode! That means a quick episode packed with value — and zero fluff. (Except for the part where I lovingly call you out, of course. And an occasional tangent because if not, would it even be my podcast?)In this gem of a tiny episode, we're talking about four common phrases that are quietly sabotaging your confidence. These sneaky little fillers make you sound less credible, less powerful, and frankly, less like the badass business owner you are. So, I’m here to help you ditch them. (And yes, “if that makes sense” is on the list — sorry, but not sorry.)POINT OF THE STORYThe words you use influence how others perceive you. When you cut out these weak phrases, you instantly sound more confident, capable, and self-assured. And isn’t that exactly what we want?I hope you loved this minisode! I’ll be dropping more short and snappy episodes like this at random, so stay tuned. And in the meantime — don’t you dare apologize for a damn thing you didn’t do.Love you, if that makes sense. Bye! 🖤BTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course,Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community onSlack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in ourSuggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow onInstagram andSubstack.— Follow me onInstagram,Threads, andSubstack.— Subscribe to my newslettersTuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week andMillionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my websitebetweenthelinescopy.com.This episode was edited byAdrienne Cruz.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro + a Rant on Filler Words01:11 "This Might Be a Dumb Question, But..."03:47 "Just"04:36 "If That Makes Sense"06:37 "Sorry"08:01 Point of the Story

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked for my origin story, I could retire. Okay, maybe not retire, but at least empty the shelves of an entire chocolate shop (my dream). So here it is — the full story of how I went from having a degree in everything but business to running Between the Lines Copy. And, because I can’t tell this story without mentioning it, how my divorce and my business are forever intertwined. (Spoiler alert: one survived, the other did not. And honestly, zero regrets.) If you’ve ever wondered how I became Website Girl, Newsletter Girl, Business Mentor Girl, and Squirrel Girl, press play! TOPICS & TANGENTS — The pancake theory of first marriages — The absolute randomness of how I landed on copywritin — Cold-pitching my way into my first paying clients — Why my first website was a disaster (RIP GoDaddy era) — My philosophy degree, which is essentially a degree in reading between the lines — That one website project that traumatized me for life — The full-circle moment of working with Showit, Tonic, and Squarespace after resisting them for so long — How I went from just writing websites to teaching literally everything — And, of course, what I’d do differently if I were starting over today POINT OF THE STORY Your origin story may or may not matter, and that’s up to you. Don’t feel pressured to share yours if it’s not relevant, or not something you want to revisit. But I DO want you to know that, no matter what your story holds, I DO think you should embrace it — even if you had a proverbial pancake flop. GIVEAWAY Remember to follow the pod on Instagram @pointofthestorypod and Sara @btlcopy and tag me in your stories for a chance to win your next bean water on me! Bonus entries if you rate the podcast or leave me a review. And remember, if you're the first to DM me how many times I said the F-word in this episode, you win a special prize! Love you, mean it. 🖤 BTL LINKS — Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint. — Join the Point of the Story community on Slack. — Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box. — To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack. — Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack. — Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday. — Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com. OTHER LINKS — The only podcast I’ve been a guest on that didn’t ask about my origin story: “You’re Watering Down Your Message & it’s Hurting Your Business, with Sara Noel, Website Copywriter” from the Curiously Guided podcast by Mariah Magazine — Read the OG origin story newsletter: “TOC #185: The first pancake's always a flop” — Tonic Site Shop (code: "BTLCOPY" for 15% off everything always) — Showit — The blog post that pays my Showit bill: “Showit vs Squarespace: Which Should You Choose in 2024?” — The Millionaire Moment newsletter where I talk about my money privilege: “Whatever the opposite of gatekeeping is, THIS is that” — The blog post where I talk about not buying the Tonic template: “Are Tonic Site Shop’s Showit Website Templates Really Worth It In 2024?” — Check out my copywriting collection on Tiktok This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro + The Pancake Theory 03:07 The Origin Story 08:36 Why I Didn't Spend $1,000 on a Tonic Template 14:15 Where I Got The Idea for Between the Lines Copy 17:48 The First Website I Ever Wrote 21:26 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

A lively dive into managing ADHD while running a business, with practical habits and playful metaphors about a squirrel brain. Short tactics like Tiny Tasks 'Til 10, phone-in-a-ditch, and night-before prep get spotlighted. Organizational tricks include sticky-note walls, color-coded calendars, tab management, and tiny starts to beat procrastination. The tone is candid, chaotic, and full of relatable routines.

A deep dive into what Substack actually is and what it is not. Quick comparisons of Substack, blogs, and email platforms to help you choose where to publish. Practical takes on paid Substacks, how to grow when no one is listening, and whether Substack counts as social media. Tips on using Substack alongside your website without turning your marketing into chaos.

Today, I’m sharing my ambitious, audacious, slightly terrifying goal for 2025: I’m making $1 million in course sales this year. No "hope to," no "maybe" — I WILL. And no, I haven’t joined a pyramid scheme. I’m just a girl, standing in front of a podcast mic, refusing to gatekeep her millionaire dreams. Let’s get into it. TOPICS & TANGENTS — Why talking about money is so damn difficult, but we should do it anyway — A rant on MLM girl bosses — My Millionaire Moment Substack: real revenue breakdowns + behind-the-scenes tea — Why passive income is the biggest Internet scam on Planet Earth — My 2025 goal: 1,334 website copywriting course sales and how I plan to get there — What I learned from affiliate marketing (and how I made over $10K from a single blog post) — Why I’m obsessed with workshops — and what’s coming next POINT OF THE STORY I'm becoming a millionaire this year. I invite you to do the same. GIVEAWAY How many times did I say the F-word in this episode? First person to DM me the correct number on Instagram wins a prize! Love you, mean it. 🖤 BTL LINKS — Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint. And listen all the way to the end for a special bonus offer! — Join the Point of the Story community on Slack. — Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box. — To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack (All of the offers mentioned in the episode will be linked there!) — Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack. — Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday. — Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com. OTHER LINKS — Tonic Site Shop (code: "BTLCOPY" for 15% off everything always) — Dubsado — Flodesk (code: “BTLCOPY” for 50% off your first year) — Showit — Thrivecart — Tori Sprankel’s Showit Templates at Eldest Daughter (code: “btlcopy”) — Fran’s Dubsado Templates — The Boutique Lawyer — Lethal Legal This episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz. --- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 01:20 Some Disclaimers 04:52 Millionaire Moment Newsletter 05:28 How I'm Going To Make $1 Million 10:04 All The Ways I Make Money Right Now 21:46 Initial Strategies 26:34 Point of the Story Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription