First Copywriting Gigs Sold

[Joe Ditzel]

I wanted to give out a general thanks to the forum because I just completed my first two sales letters for clients.

Up to now I've been ghostwriting everything on the planet except sales letters.

Recently two separate clients asked me if I could write a sales letter. They both found me from the Warriors for Hire gig in my sig.

I explained that I was on my own self-study program for copywriting (mostly for my own future projects), but did not have any sales letter experience. They said they needed creativity over experience.

They are small projects. Still, I treated them as major league and leveraged whatever knowledge I've built up by lurking here and reading everything I could for months.

I think they turned out well for a total rookie. The clients are happy--sadly I can't share anything about them or the sites.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, my concentration would start to fade. Then I remembered a Clayton Makepeace article where he was struggling. He fought and fought to wring the best copy he could out of himself. It helped me keep going at 4am.

Whoever thinks copywriting is easy is truly misguided. The first thing you learn is how much you need to learn.

Here are some of the things I was able to use directly on these two projects (or my WFH):

- the idea of contrasting the "yawning dude" photo and the "partying kids" in my Warrior for Hire came from a control in a swipe file from Carline Anglade-Cole.

- John Carlton videos about the Big Promise.

- Vin Montello on headlines and story selling.

- Maria Veloso on emotional involvement.

- Michel Fortin on features and benefits.

- Yanik Silver on the P.S.

- the Gary Halbert Letters on testimonials.

- Harlan Kilstein on nested loops.

- Dan Kennedy on disassociating price.

- Paul Hancox on pre-selling.

- Eugene Schwartz on research.

- posters here on the forum (Bruce Wedding, Copy Nazi, Mike Humphreys, Rick Duris, Daniel Scott, tons more) and related threads in the War Room.

That's about it. Just wanted to thank people I've learned a lot from so far as a rookie.

So much more to go haha.

[Ken_Caudill]

Congratulations. Feels good, doesn't it?

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by Ken_Caudill

Congratulations. Feels good, doesn't it?

Thanks, I have to say I loved it. One minute I was laughing at some of the crap I was coming up with, and the next minute I was crying I couldn't make something work right.

Like being married.

[Rigmonkey]

Very well done!

I'm primarily a content writer and am still in the very early stages of learning about copywriting. I'm not absolutely sure it's for me yet but seeing others succeed is nothing but inspirational. I hope this gives you the confidence to go from strength to strength.

I've made a note of the guides and support material you have used. I'm a huge advocate of anything Paul Hancox has to offer and have already improved my own skills (and increased my potential sales value) through the products I've purchased from him.

Good luck for the future!

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by Rigmonkey

I'm a huge advocate of anything Paul Hancox has to offer and have already improved my own skills (and increased my potential sales value) through the products I've purchased from him.

Good luck for the future!

Thanks, yeah I'm sure you have Paul's Presell Mastery which is the best thing I've found on the topic. If not check it out the WSO here at WF.

[Dexx]

Be sure to follow-up and see how well they convert later!

Good work on getting started and landing some paid writing work!

~Dexx

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by Dexx

Be sure to follow-up and see how well they convert later!

Good work on getting started and landing some paid writing work!

~Dexx

Thanks, Dexx. Hey, I used to live in Edmonton but I'm sure that was before you were born.

[Dexx]

Really? Heh, that's awesome, I hope to move to somewhere warm like L.A. eventually -- how long have you been there? Enjoy it vs the ol' Canadian lifestyle?

~Dexx

[travlinguy]

Hey, Joe. Nice going. With every piece you write you'll get better. And every time the light bube goes off over your head allowing you to clearly see conventional wisdom actually work in the real world, it becomes more fun. If it's to be, you'll start to be able to use experiences in your life to help make your points. Congratulations on the milestone. Keep it up.

[Chris Sorrell]

Hey Joe, have you read 'Writing Riches' by Ray Edwards? That's a life changing book right there.

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by Dexx

Really? Heh, that's awesome, I hope to move to somewhere warm like L.A. eventually -- how long have you been there? Enjoy it vs the ol' Canadian lifestyle?

~Dexx

I've been in LA around 20 years. I'll say that once you get away from the Midwest and/or Canadian cold it would be hard to go back. But LA is no picnic. Pricey and congested.

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by travlinguy

Hey, Joe. Nice going. With every piece you write you'll get better.

Thanks, it really is an adventure (vets eyes roll). Getting it right wipes you out!

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by sorrellaff

Hey Joe, have you read 'Writing Riches' by Ray Edwards? That's a life changing book right there.

Just bought it based on your recommendation. How's that for taking action?

[micromike]

congrats, joe.... hey, can I swap a couple of articles for one of those t-shirts? (grin)

[backendbuddy]

Good job Joe! Keep it up. And thanks for sharing the experience. Those sales pages are pretty interesting, i even do not outsource them. I write my own sales pages. They are doing 'horrible', yea, you got it write, 'horrible' - as long it does not convert - it really does not matter. Any tip Joe?

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by micromike

congrats, joe.... hey, can I swap a couple of articles for one of those t-shirts? (grin)

haha good eye!

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by backendbuddy

They are doing 'horrible', yea, you got it write, 'horrible' - as long it does not convert - it really does not matter. Any tip Joe?

Conversion is a tough nut. Could be a number of factors. The product, the presell, etc.

In terms of the letter itself, if you can't hire a real copywriter (a professional--not me), I would just continue to improve my copywriting skills and then test different letters to see if they do better. Change the headline, bullets, etc.

[WebRank1]

Great job Joe, there is no better feeling then to deliver work and get paid for it is there?
How long did it take for you to write them and how many words each?

Regards,
Mark

[Joe Ditzel]

Originally Posted by WebRank1

How long did it take for you to write them and how many words each?

Thanks, Mark! It took me about 40 hours each and they were around 8-12 pages each without graphics--most of that time was research--learning the products and the customer.

Then I wrote them all out. After that, I probably made 5 entire rewrites. It felt like it was taking longer than it should because I kept checking the format against established letters to make sure I had the right sequence. I'm sure my speed will pick up over time.

At one point I couldn't get a story to work quite right and then I re-read Vin Montello's Seven Story Secrets where he talks about "the reader as hero" story. In 5 minutes I changed it around and it kicked ass.

At least, it kicked ass to me. We'll see if it sells....

[WebRank1]

Great job, your workflow looks a lot like mine ha! I rewrite a copy at least twice all the time.
Keep us updated on the results Joe, I am really curious how it sells!

Congrats again,
Mark