EDITOR’S NOTE:

Daniel Murray co-hosts the Marketing Millennial Podcast with Emily Ferguson.

I joined them last week to talk about copywriting. 

We touched on a lot of persuasion topics, including the power of simplicity. 

“I try that in my copy all the time,” said Daniel. “I try to be as simple as possible. I write so simple.”

“Yeh,” I said. “And I think you nail it on LinkedIn, Dan. Because your posts are saying something true and they’re saying it in an extremely accessible way, where 9 out of 10 people can understand it.”

If you’ve been following Dan, you know he’s tapped into a proven 3-step formula for engagement: 

1) Say something true.
2) Say it clearly, simply. 
3) Ask for action. 

And now there are more simple truths from Dan in this week’s Micro-Interview. :)

In only 220 words, he shares: 

  • What you should (ideally) be chasing at work…

  • His no-fail, night-before trick to having a successful morning... 

  • What marketing is really all about — and the discipline at the center of it all…

And more…

Enjoy!

Instantly get 6 “micro” courses and series about copywriting when you subscribe to the VeryGoodCopy newsletter for free. Plus...enjoy new content every week. Learn more → 

Thank you, Daniel.

Let’s get started: 

1) “What’s your work routine?”

My routine starts with a post on Linkedin at 6 am.

Then I do a 45-minute workout at 7 am.

Then start work.

The night before, I create a “Top-3” list: basically the most important things I want to accomplish that day — and I block off some time on my calendar to make sure it gets done. It almost always does. 

2) “What do you know about your work now that you wish you’d known when you first started?”

I wish I knew marketing was all about learning what drives and motivates people. I wish I’d started studying human psychology earlier. 

I also wish I’d learned how to write copy. It’s one of the most important marketing skills, in my opinion. A true differentiator.

3) “What did your biggest professional failure teach you?”

My biggest failure taught me to focus on the things that make me happy. 

Don't chase money and clout. Chase happiness. 

4) “What’s the #1 thing that has helped you shorten your craft’s learning curve?”

The #1 thing? Surrounding myself with better marketers than me, learning from them, and executing — actually doing the things. 

5) “What book has helped you the most over your career?”

Influence by Robert Cialdini. 

6) “And your parting piece of advice?”

Commit to forging relationships and building your personal brand. You’ll go far if you do.