Many copywriters find themselves busy with tasks that never end… Writing emails. Creating landing pages. Tweaking headlines. Researching industries.
Yet, despite all this activity, a successful, thriving business is elusive.
What if you could identify just five actions that would make your dream business a reality?
This idea comes from the concept Brendon Burchard teaches in his book, High Performance Habits.
The idea — 5 Major Moves — is simple, but it’s a game changer. Here’s the basic premise…
Look at people who’ve achieved what you want. Study their paths. Identify the five biggest actions that led to their success. Then, focus relentlessly on those moves.
Brendon developed this concept from his own experience.
When his first book received little attention, he set his sights on making his second a New York Times bestseller.
Instead of guessing what might work, he studied successful authors who had already achieved this goal.
He identified five key moves these bestselling authors consistently made:
- They finished the book.
- They picked a publishing method — either traditional or self-publishing.
- They built an email list.
- They created a sales page for the book and offered bonuses to those who ordered it.
- They networked with others and got those people to promote their book.
After identifying these 5 Major Moves, Brendon had a clear plan for launching his next book. He focused all his efforts on implementing it.
The result? His book became a bestseller.
So how can this concept benefit you as a copywriter? Let’s take a look…
The Power of Strategic Focus
Most people don’t reach their goals because they are too busy trying to do everything. They lack clear priorities.
The 5 Major Moves concept cuts through this noise. It forces you to identify the actions that create results.
The key is distinguishing between essential moves and everything else.
“Major Moves” create dramatic shifts in your business. They open doors to new client relationships. They position you in the market. They build valuable skills or relationships.
Compare these efforts to “tiny moves” — the day-to-day tasks that keep your business running but don’t change your trajectory.
For example, you might tweak your website copy, redesign your logo, or spend hours on LinkedIn. These activities feel productive, but they rarely bring you new clients.
Another benefit of following Brendon’s method is that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Success leaves clues — you just need to spot the patterns.
How to Identify Your 5 Major Moves
To determine how you should move forward, Brendon suggests asking, “If there were only 5 Major Moves to make that goal happen, what would they be?”
Each Major Move isn’t a single task — it’s “a big bucket of activities or a project” that will significantly impact your career.
Start by researching successful people in your field.
Who are the top B2B copywriters you admire? What specific actions do they take that make them successful?
For example, imagine you’ve noticed that several successful B2B SaaS copywriters all seemed to gain significant traction in their careers after they did three things:
- created specialized content audits for software companies,
- started a newsletter focused on SaaS conversion tactics,
- and developed relationships with specific SaaS marketing directors through industry events.
These patterns might indicate that specialization, demonstrating expertise through publishing, and strategic networking are potential Major Moves in that space.
Or perhaps you want to write for healthcare technology companies.
You might discover that the top earners in this niche all invested time in understanding HIPAA compliance, partnered with designers specializing in healthcare UX, and regularly contributed to industry publications like Healthcare IT News or HIMSS Media.
Look for patterns across multiple success stories. What behaviors do you notice? Which actions created the biggest results?
5 Major Moves for a B2B Copywriter
Let’s look at what the 5 Major Moves might be for a B2B copywriter:
- Specialize in one industry or niche. Rather than being a generalist, successful B2B copywriters often pursue a specific sector. They understand the unique language, frustrations, and desires of a particular audience.
- Build a portfolio of case studies with measurable results. Top copywriters don’t just show samples. They document the impact of their work with numbers. A 34% increase in conversion rates speaks louder than pretty words.
- Develop direct relationships with decision-makers. The most successful copywriters build relationships with marketing directors, editors, and business owners. These relationships lead to better projects, higher rates, and consistent work.
- Create a signature framework or process. Leading copywriters offer a reliable method clients can understand and trust, elevating them from just another writer to a trusted advisor.
- Consistently publish insights about their specialty. Whether through LinkedIn posts, a newsletter, and/or guest articles, top copywriters share valuable thoughts that position them as experts.
Notice that none of these moves involve tweaking sentence structure or mastering grammar rules. While those skills matter, they don’t create the dramatic shifts these 5 Major Moves do.
Implementation Strategy
Knowing the key moves is just the beginning. Executing them is what counts.
1. Prioritize Your First Move
Start by prioritizing which move to tackle first. You don’t need to do all five simultaneously. Choose the one that feels most achievable or necessary right now.
For copywriters, your first move often depends on your current situation:
- If you’re starting out, creating samples in a specific niche might be your priority.
- If you have experience but inconsistent work, building relationships with decision-makers could come first.
- If you have steady clients but low rates, developing case studies that demonstrate ROI might be your initial focus.
Pick your move. Then, commit to completing it before you move on to the next thing.
2. Create a 90-Day Action Plan
Break your first Major Move into concrete weekly actions. What exactly will you do in the next 90 days to make meaningful progress?
For example, if “specializing in one industry” is your first move, your 90-day plan might include:
- Weeks 1-2: Research three to five potential industries and select one.
- Weeks 3-4: Interview five professionals in that industry to understand their language.
- Weeks 5-8: Create three sample pieces tailored to that industry.
- Weeks 9-12: Reach out to 20 potential clients in that space.
Having clear steps eliminates decision fatigue and analysis paralysis.
3. Build in Accountability
Create accountability around your moves. Tell someone what you’re doing. Set specific deadlines.
Consider finding an accountability buddy. Schedule weekly check-ins to share your progress.
Join a mastermind group where you declare your intentions and report back regularly. These commitments often provide the extra push you need on difficult days.
4. Track Progress Weekly
Track your progress weekly. What actions have you taken toward your Major Moves? What results are you seeing? Where are you getting stuck?
Use a simple system — even a notebook or spreadsheet will work. Each week, record:
- Actions completed toward your Major Move
- Obstacles encountered
- Insights gained
- Plan for next week
This regular review keeps you on track and helps you spot patterns in what’s working and where you’re getting stuck.
5. Allocate Sufficient Time
Brendon suggests you dedicate at least 60% of your workweek to your 5 Major Moves.
Most people try to fit their important work into whatever time remains after emails, calls, and daily tasks. This approach almost guarantees you never gain momentum on your Major Moves.
Instead, block out dedicated time for your Major Moves. Protect these blocks as if they were meetings with your most important client — because they are.
For a typical 40-hour workweek, this means allocating at least 24 hours to activities related to your Major Moves. You can use the remaining 16 hours for maintenance tasks, client service, and administration.
6. Avoid Distractions and Busywork
Watch out for distractions. It’s easy to fall back into busy work. Keep asking: “Is this advancing one of my Major Moves, or is it just activity?”
Create triggers that remind you of your Major Moves. This could be a Post-it® note on your monitor, a daily calendar reminder, or a weekly review process.
When new opportunities come up, filter them through your Major Moves. Does this potential client align with your specialization move? Will this project generate a case study for your portfolio? If not, consider declining it so you can protect your focus.
Remember that saying no to distractions is saying yes to your most important work.
Conclusion
The 5 Major Moves Strategy isn’t about working harder. It’s about working smarter by focusing your limited time and energy on the actions that truly matter.
What will your 5 Major Moves be? Which actions, if taken consistently, would transform your copywriting career in the next year?
Identify them. Focus on them. Execute them consistently. And watch as your career gains the momentum you’ve been seeking.
