The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page

Sebastion · 02-12-2011, 11:32 PM

Research, notes, research, notes, research, coffee...Joy!!! $$$

You write 4000 words in one day and go "Yes!" Rest for the night...peacefully.

You get up, read the first 400 words and go..."Ohhhh..."

You spend the next nine hours over four days editing in between reading copy writing books and watching Mad Men.

Finally you get something that resembles good, read it and go..."Oh god, this is horrible."

Back to research.

Your story sucks. Not enough hooks. Forgot the urgency! The price justification is not going to work. etc, etc, etc.

Despair.

Imagine getting a bus boy job...TERROR.

Two Americanos. Power through a copywriting ebook...HOPE!!!

Re-write! Re-write!

Looks good! Looks damn good! I'm gonna be rich!!!!!

Show to friends. They don't like it.

Despair. Depression. Anger and fury.

Back to editing. Changes, changes, changes.

A week later, something good.

Give draft to the client.

They like it!!! Except for a loooooooooong list of changes and alterations.

"A good start" they say. Just make it, "Magical."

And you never, ever, complain--because you are living the dream.

Woody C · 02-13-2011, 10:26 AM

At least you started and at least you got clients.

This is better than 99% of the people that get into this business.

The more you write the better you get, the more confident you get, and the more money you make.

You're right. It is a wonderful life.

tobyR · 02-13-2011, 10:46 AM

great post and just so true. We all question ourselvs, can we do it, should we be doing it etc ? its tricky but then when you get it right and it works wow that what keps us all going

Oxbloom · 02-13-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastion

Finally you get something that resembles good, read it and go..."Oh god, this is horrible."

I get this sensation every time I write anything.

What's important is that I've gotten to where I *know* that I know what I'm doing. So I trust myself and put it up anyway. When I invariably re-read it after some time away, it usually looks pretty good to me after all.

Belief in myself was one of my biggest stumbling blocks to becoming a writer. Luckily, I had that fear beaten out of me in the fiction world before I bothered with this one.

Nick Brighton · 02-13-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastion

Research, notes, research, notes, research, coffee...Joy!!! $$$

You had coffee too early that day

Quote:

Show to friends. They don't like it.

Whoops. There's your second mistake. Friends aren't prospects.

Quote:

They like it!!! Except for a loooooooooong list of changes and alterations.

"A good start" they say. Just make it, "Magical."

Tell them to go read a Harry Potter book, then ask them why they hired you if they're gonna change everything before testing. Retarded, backwards economy on their part.

Sebastion · 02-14-2011, 01:18 PM

I'm having fun with it.

Ross James · 02-14-2011, 01:40 PM

I read something by Josh Burns that was posted on here by TCN and it opened my eyes.

He said, perfect = procrastination done = dollars - I believe it was him that said this and you have to agree, I do

MissLizzie · 02-19-2011, 06:37 AM

Thanks guys for sharing - you've just reminded me that I've got a paid writing job that's due in tomorrow and I'm still hanging out here on the WF...

Better get back to the grindstone!

falco · 02-19-2011, 06:44 AM

If you can afford it, you can always hire a good copywriter and avoid all "pain". Talking about personal work, a nice method is to write a sales letter without stopping and editing separate words / sentences to the end, give yourself a break and then reading it with imagination that you are the buyer, if you are not convinced to buy product instantly - rewrite

AdmiralGloom · 02-24-2011, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sebastion

Research, notes, research, notes, research, coffee...Joy!!! $$$

Two Americanos. Power through a copywriting ebook...HOPE!!!

Sounds exactly like my regimen, down to the Americano's.

02-12-2011, 11:32 PM	#1
Sebastion HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 161 Thanks: 38 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page Research, notes, research, notes, research, coffee...Joy!!! $$$ You write 4000 words in one day and go "Yes!" Rest for the night...peacefully. You get up, read the first 400 words and go..."Ohhhh..." You spend the next nine hours over four days editing in between reading copy writing books and watching Mad Men. Finally you get something that resembles good, read it and go..."Oh god, this is horrible." Back to research. Your story sucks. Not enough hooks. Forgot the urgency! The price justification is not going to work. etc, etc, etc. Despair. Imagine getting a bus boy job...TERROR. Two Americanos. Power through a copywriting ebook...HOPE!!! Re-write! Re-write! Looks good! Looks damn good! I'm gonna be rich!!!!! Show to friends. They don't like it. Despair. Depression. Anger and fury. Back to editing. Changes, changes, changes. A week later, something good. Give draft to the client. They like it!!! Except for a loooooooooong list of changes and alterations. "A good start" they say. Just make it, "Magical." And you never, ever, complain--because you are living the dream.

02-13-2011, 10:26 AM	#2
Woody C Looking for Clarity War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: VA Posts: 600 Thanks: 57 Thanked 133 Times in 95 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page At least you started and at least you got clients. This is better than 99% of the people that get into this business. The more you write the better you get, the more confident you get, and the more money you make. You're right. It is a wonderful life.

02-13-2011, 10:46 AM	#3
tobyR HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: UK Posts: 218 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page great post and just so true. We all question ourselvs, can we do it, should we be doing it etc ? its tricky but then when you get it right and it works wow that what keps us all going

02-14-2011, 01:18 PM	#6
Sebastion HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 161 Thanks: 38 Thanked 8 Times in 5 Posts	Re: The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page I'm having fun with it.

02-14-2011, 01:40 PM	#7
Ross James Meta Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boston Suburbs, USA Posts: 487 Thanks: 96 Thanked 80 Times in 71 Posts Contact Info	Re: The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page I read something by Josh Burns that was posted on here by TCN and it opened my eyes. He said, perfect = procrastination done = dollars - I believe it was him that said this and you have to agree, I do

02-19-2011, 06:37 AM	#8
MissLizzie Lizzie Winchester War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Greenwich, London Posts: 117 Thanks: 25 Thanked 43 Times in 35 Posts	Re: The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page Thanks guys for sharing - you've just reminded me that I've got a paid writing job that's due in tomorrow and I'm still hanging out here on the WF... Better get back to the grindstone!

02-19-2011, 06:44 AM	#9
falco Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Europe Posts: 68 Thanks: 2 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: The terror of being new. What I've learned from my first sales page If you can afford it, you can always hire a good copywriter and avoid all "pain". Talking about personal work, a nice method is to write a sales letter without stopping and editing separate words / sentences to the end, give yourself a break and then reading it with imagination that you are the buyer, if you are not convinced to buy product instantly - rewrite