Elizabeth Henson

203: Messaging vs. Copy: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know with Marisa Corcoran

9/03/2025

Date

Welcome back to The Messy Success Podcast! In this episode, Elizabeth chats with Marisa Corcoran—Harvard grad, copywriting expert, and creator of The Copy Chat and The Copy Confidence Society.

Marisa has helped coaches and creatives craft their uncopyable message, write landing pages that convert at 60% or higher, and infuse their copy with personality that actually connects. She’s also raised over $130K through her summit for organizations like Soul Fire Farm, The Headstrong Project, and Sage USA.

You’ll hear how Marisa went from auditioning for Winnie the Pooh to building a business that blends creativity, copy, and community. She shares why most entrepreneurs don’t have a copy problem—they have a messaging problem—and how her frameworks like the Word Closet, Accessories Closet, and Copy Star help you stand out in a crowded online space.

✨ Plus, don’t miss Marisa’s free masterclass: Leave Them Wanting More

SHOW NOTES:

01:11 – Why copy isn’t the icing on the cake—it is the cake

03:25 – From acting and student loan debt to online business

04:49 – The Winnie the Pooh audition that changed everything

06:54 – Fundraising through The Copy Chat (over $130K raised)

07:36 – Messaging vs. copy: what’s the real difference?

14:17 – Inside the Proton Pack Messaging Playbook

19:33 – What’s in your “Word Closet”?

22:14 – The “Accessories Closet”: adding personality without oversharing

24:12 – Vulnerability vs. virality: why drama isn’t good messaging

26:30 – Slice-of-life stories that connect with your audience