How Long Did It Take You?

[scrofford]

Hey everyone,

I am in the process of learning how to copywrite. I absolutely love what I am learning and really want to become good at it.

I am just wondering, how long did it take for some of you to actually make a full time income with copywriting and how much did you practice? Did you constantly write, and if so what did you write? Did you create sales letters for "fake" products so that you could improve your skills? Did you write for someone who had a product and offer them a free sales letter? What did you do to get your name out?

[hilhilginger]

I have started with writing articles of various niches and submitted them to free directory listing. It made me to have an online portfolio of my writing work. Now I am able to advertise my portfolio and get accepted for copywriting job as freelance. I write mostly on pet issues.

[alcymart]

I learned on the streets if I can say it that way. Reading book after book on copywriting at my local library almost every day until closing time for at least 10 years. That was when I was a teen when the Internet didn't exist. I am now 47.

I still learn copywriting online. I bought many e-books but ended up not agreeing with what was written so I basically did things my own way. I also learned Color Psychology.. Yes, on the streets too!

I only copywrite for myself and students who follow my courses. I teach copywriting and color psychology. Things that will stick to them for a lifetime.

Yes, I constantly wrote almost every day and testing out my Ad copies at first in shopping mall billboards and then online much later.

Copywriting is very personal. I could critique any ad copy as much as a Pro copywriter could critique mine.

"Create for fake products"! No, No...Products I sold were all very real!

Take care,

Bernard St-Pierre
Marketing Consultant
Copywriter/Teacher

[scrofford]

Thanks for the input! I am thinking that writing as much as possible and creating sales letters for products...even if they aren't mine will give me good practice. Although I am getting ready to create a couple of new products that I am going to write the sales letter myself...that will be interesting lol!

[HenryLatourrette]

I wish you success with that my friend. It's always a learning process anyway... you won't do it perfect by the 1st time. it would be great if you share it when its done

[tobyR]

Its sounds like you have a developing skill if you love it. I too started out writing niche articles, blogs and auto responder messages - Im not sure how good I am, and I dont love it but I get by

Wish you every success

[scrofford]

I actually do love to write! I know I'm getting better all the time and I used to be a salesperson with all sorts of products when I was working a job. I also love to sell! I guess that those two things help...so I've been told!

[Zachmo]

Reading a lot works for me. Since I started reading books or any stuff about anything as one of my most favorite hobbies, I noticed it became a lot easier for me to write about different topics! An exercise to my brain, really. It's as if I saved them in a computer and print them through my writing, but better than computer since my own writing gives out a lot about my insights.

[scrofford]

Originally Posted by Zachmo

Reading a lot works for me. Since I started reading books or any stuff about anything as one of my most favorite hobbies, I noticed it became a lot easier for me to write about different topics! An exercise to my brain, really. It's as if I saved them in a computer and print them through my writing, but better than computer since my own writing gives out a lot about my insights.

I am a hardcore reader! I love to read! LOL! Yeah I think reading expands your mind and will help me a lot with copywriting. When I do my first letter I will share it here...although I'm sure it will have it's mistakes, I would like people's opinions before I actually put it online!

[Bill Jenkins]

I now primarily write my own copy but in the beginning I had good luck selling copy on craigslist to various business owners. My first job was writing IRS penalty abatement a CPA was offering.

He paid me $215 for about a page of copy! Pretty good.

A tip... find great sales letters by guys like john carlton, dan kennedy, etc and copy them out by hand word for word. It instills their thought processes into your brain and helps more than you can imagine.

Bill

[Dean Dune]

I have about 12000 hours of writing under my belt.

It does help to read. A lot.

But only writing will make you write better.

[Greg Wildermuth]

My 2 cents (kinda a recap but...):

Read a lot, read everything.

Write a lot, publish as much as possible.

Read the best copywriters, best-ranked articles, best-whatever and figure out why they're the best.

Good luck to you!

[Globy]

I am not en expert. Not even a newbie.
But i would think that reading combined with practice and testing is the best method.

Kind regards

[Apollo-Articles]

Originally Posted by Dean Dune

I have about 12000 hours of writing under my belt.

It does help to read. A lot.

But only writing will make you write better.

Well according to the 10,000 hours rule, you've certainly surpassed the master level. Well done for so much dedication.

Sam

[sethczerepak]

It took me about a month....but having real world sales experience made all the difference....writing is distant second to selling.