Leaving Academia: Becoming a Freelance Editor25 Jun

$10k Months as an Editor? The Exact Homepage Structure I Used to Hit This Major Revenue Goal

Your website is losing you clients before they even scroll down.

If your editing or coaching website leads with your credentials, your degree, your publications—you're doing it backwards. And it's probably costing you inquiries you don't even know you're missing.

In this episode, I'm breaking down the StoryBrand framework—one of the most effective marketing approaches in the world—and showing you exactly how to apply it to your homepage so it converts visitors into paying clients.

Here's what I cover:

📖 Why your website is not about you (and what it IS about)

📖 The 7 sections every academic editor or coach needs on their homepage

📖 What goes in the "hero section"—and why you have 3 seconds to get it right

📖 How to write to make your ideal client feel like you're inside their head

📖 The formula that builds trust without humble-bragging

📖 Why you should never list your services before you've done this one thing first

📖 Testimonials, bios, and contact forms—done right

This is the exact framework I used to build my editing website when I was ready to stop editing for agencies and start working with private clients. It took me to my first $10K month—and it's what I teach every student in BAE.

📄 Download the free website wireframe: https://acadiaediting.com/homepage

📌 Resources Mentioned:

Marketing Made Simple, by Dr. JJ Peterson and Donald Miller: https://amzn.to/4vvIk1W

Building a StoryBrand, by Donald Miller: https://amzn.to/3QYq8yQ

Free website wireframe PDF: https://acadiaediting.com/homepage

WordPress (affiliate link): https://automattic.pxf.io/c/5804942/1919834/22744

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0:35 – Welcome & episode overview: What we're covering today

2:00 – Free resource: The website wireframe (acadiaediting.com/homepage)

3:30 – The provocative truth: Your homepage is not about you

6:30 – What is StoryBrand? Donald Miller's framework explained

10:00 – The core premise: Your client is the hero, you are the guide

13:30 – Yoda, Gandalf, and the 7 steps of the hero's journey

17:00 – Section 1: The Hero Section (above the fold)

20:30 – Writing your one-liner and subheading

24:00 – Your photo and CTA button: Why both matter more than you think

28:30 – Section 2: Pain Points—copy that makes clients feel seen

33:00 – Section 3: Empathy & Authority—"I get it, and I know how to help"

37:30 – Section 4: The 3-Step Process (removing friction)

41:30 – Why you should NOT list your services here

45:00 – Section 5: Testimonials (even before you have paying clients)

49:00 – Section 6: Your Bio—short, human, and not a CV

52:30 – Section 7: The Contact Form (and why "how did you hear about me?" matters)

56:00 – Practical writing advice: Google Doc first, platform second

58:30 – Choosing your website platform + domain name reality check

60:30 – Recap, action step, and BAE enrollment details

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