Copywriting Is Dead Part One

[Harlan]

In the past year, copywriting as we knew it died.

I'm talking about multiple aspects of copywriting but for today, I'm talking about the business of copywriting.

Namely - the days of the super high paying jobs are OVER.

I'm talking about the days when you could quote a job from 25K-60K and have a wait list.

Those clients are gone.

There are a number of reasons why.

1. The buyers are out of credit. Their credit cards can't afford to pay for a copywriter. Similarly, they can't get home equity loans to fund new businesses.

2. The rise of video sales letters. People think there is an art to copywriting but think any shmuck can create a powerpoint video.

3. The gurus who spent a lot of money on copy are doing their own copy in the form of the videos.

4. The clients know the market for their products isn't as strong.

5. Google AdWords banning most copywriting sites as "make money" sites.

So if you're a copywriter just waiting for your ship to come in. It hit an iceberg.

There's a whole new world you are dealing with.

It's a world of hurt.

In the past few weeks, I've spoken to a lot of copywriters and they are all feeling the pain.

My students - who listened to me - have launched their own products and that's where there money is coming from.

But for people waiting to jump into the field, it's a new game.

All of the old advice out there is pretty much worthless.

And no one is teaching copywritingbusiness 2.0

I'm not one to be politically correct but the business has changed.

If you can adapt and carve out a new path, you'll make money.

Do things the old way?

You're in for a surprise.

Peace,

[max5ty]

Copywriting is the same as it's always been.

What's changed is all the internet "get rich quick" copywriters are feeling the pinch of the internet correcting itself - the days of writing some vodoo, hypnotic, magical letter that would put the reader into some kind of a trance are over, partly because the internet has grown up - beyond the wide eyed, green pea internet surfer.

Too many people have been burnt by false promises of some pie in the sky scheme.

The hot shot gurus who've sold the wanna be's a load of chit, have quietly sulked off to enjoy their riches - most of the guru's were never copywriters to begin with - they were just savvy marketers.

Some of us that have been in the business way before the internet...before the gurus...and before all the work at home copywriters...are still doing great.

Everyday I see the new "copywriters" on the forums - they pass on something that they've just read some big name guru say...most of these type of copywriters will never last in the business - they're looking for a way to supplement their income...or replace income from a job they've lost - they'll spend a couple years writing copy for a few hundred bucks...then fade off into the next big money making idea.

I still average well over a million dollars a year in the business - and I'm sure there are many others who do also.

If you're sitting around listening to only the names you've heard of in copywriting...you may have a gloomy outlook - most of them haven't written copy for anything other than their own product or mentoring program they're trying to sell - they're clueless when it comes to real life action - when you're out there dealing face to face with real clients who are depending on you.

Just because there's a rash of wealth seekers who aren't doing crap in the way of earning a living, is no reflection on the business as a whole.

If anything, I can't keep up with my clients lately - there's a load of opportunity out there with all the new technology.

These are great times for real copywriters.

[marciayudkin]

Hmm, if copywriting is dead, I wonder why I constantly have old clients coming back requesting additional work. Three just this week, in fact, when the media are talking about nothing other than gloom and doom.

Oh, it must be because I never bought into the business model Harlan is describing.

I'm sure much of what Harlan said is based in reality, but if so, what he wrote about affects only a limited segment of copywriters. It is not the whole truth. It is very far from the whole truth.

Marcia Yudkin

[SusanLandry]

I have to agree with max5ty and Marcia here. Maybe the days of the maniacal, "This Secret Will Fill Your Pockets and Change Your Life!" sales letter are coming to a close, but that doesn't mean copywriting as a profession is dead.

Personally speaking, although requests for direct response sales letters are down, I've never been busier with projects like case studies, white papers, blog writing, email marketing and the like. My clients are now focused on building relationships with their prospects and customers, versus going after the quick sale. As max5ty indicated, consumers and businesses are savvier and more skeptical now (and more reluctant to part with their cash). Competition for their attention is fierce, and the need for businesses to "step up their game" has never been more significant. Smart companies understand the benefit of using a professional copywriter to help them craft a powerful message. They know having their intern pen their marketing materials isn't going to get them too far in this kind of environment.

It all just boils down to how you define "copywriting." It's a very broad term.

[Ken_Caudill]

Copywriting isn't dead, but the carnival formula sales letter is on its last legs.

I'm glad to see it die.

[WillDL]

This made me laugh. You assume that most of the big money copywriting has anything to do with make money sites or gurus. It doesn't.

[TracyNeedham]

Anyone who just "waits for their ship to come in" is in trouble. You should always be analyzing and looking for opportunities and shifts to make. That's just smart business.

Sure, people are using video sales letters more. But they're idiots if they think any old video will do the job of a good sales letter. The copy in the script has to be just as good if not better to hold people's attention to the end--there's only so long viewers will put up with not having a fast forward option.

Hell, I don't even watch sales videos. Granted, maybe that's unusual. But it's a total waste of time for me to spend 10 minutes (or more) just to find out what they're trying to sell is not what I need. If you can't give me something to scan, I'm out of there.

Product creation isn't the end-all solution either. Sales are down for products, events, etc. The same people who don't have credit to pay copywriters don't have credit to pay for big ticket items either.

Yes, you have to carve your own path. But you really should be doing that anyway or else you'll constantly find yourself behind the 8 ball.

[The Copy Nazi]

I don't very often agree with you Harlan...but on this you're dead right. Racking my brain trying to think of an old adage...something about when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Like you say - If you can adapt and carve out a new path, you'll make money.

Meanwhile the sheep will be rolling out their copywriting salespage templates and wondering why they don't convert. Baa

Oh yeah - great thread title (as usual from you).

[Steadyon]

Harlan,

What a pile of feeling sorry for yourself horse dung.

The whole world is having a bit of a tough time right now.

People are much more cautious about what they spend money on and most are beginning to recognize the smell of dung. Too many have learnt the lesson "once bitten, twice shy".

I guess "Copywriting is Dead Part Two" is about how "someone" just happens to have discovered a magic solution that is only available for a limited time, and for a limited number of people, that surprisingly costs just $497, $997 or $1,997 depending upon how the market reacts to the spiel.

If I am wrong then tell me.

Sam

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Harlan

1. The buyers are out of credit. Their credit cards can't afford to pay for a copywriter. Similarly, they can't get home equity loans to fund new businesses.

Quality copywriting is an investment. When businesses can no longer afford to pay for copywriters, then they likely weren't getting a good return on their investments, possibly because their copywriters sucked.

[tpw]

Originally Posted by marciayudkin

Hmm, if copywriting is dead, I wonder why I constantly have old clients coming back requesting additional work. Three just this week, in fact, when the media are talking about nothing other than gloom and doom.

Oh, it must be because I never bought into the business model Harlan is describing.

I'm sure much of what Harlan said is based in reality, but if so, what he wrote about affects only a limited segment of copywriters. It is not the whole truth. It is very far from the whole truth.

Marcia Yudkin

Marcia: It could be that only Harlan and his friends are suffering in this downturn...

Negative thinking attracts negative results....

Positive thinking attracts positive results....

[The Copy Nazi]

Originally Posted by max5ty

I still average well over a million dollars a year in the business - and I'm sure there are many others who do also.

Gee Dude - You're right up there with Vin and Kevin and John and Harlan and all the other top I.M. writers. And yet we've never heard of you.

I call B.S.

But you gave us all a good laugh.

[tpw]

Originally Posted by The Copy Nazi

Gee Dude - You're right up there with Vin and Kevin and John and Harlan and all the other top I.M. writers. And yet we've never heard of you.

I call B.S.

But you gave us all a good laugh.

Why do you call it B.S.?

Do you feel that if you cannot do it, no one else can either?

Do you think all of the "great copy writers" have egos that won't let them stay hidden from the Warriors of the world?

[max5ty]

Originally Posted by The Copy Nazi

Gee Dude - You're right up there with Vin and Kevin and John and Harlan and all the other top I.M. writers. And yet we've never heard of you.

I call B.S.

But you gave us all a good laugh.

Funny you should say that. I've been in the business 25 years and had never heard of you outside of this forum.

As far as your laugh - I couldn't care less how hard you laugh - couldn't even care less whether you've heard of me or not.

You must be one of those who needs idols...and if you haven't heard of them, you don't believe.

There's lots of wealthy people in the business that I'm quite sure you've never heard of - odd how in your mind they must not be real because you haven't heard of them in your little circle.

[Harlan]

First, FWIW, I've largely pulled out of the copywriting biz 2 years ago.

Wound down my coaching business as I said and have not re-opened it.

I do maybe 2 or 3 letters a year now for previous clients.

I have a business to run and sell my own products.

And I wasn't speaking about my own copywriting business at all.

Within the past few weeks, I've spoken with some of the most recognizable gurus in the niche.

They all agree with my assessment.

Yes, there will always be a low end to the market.

It doesn't interest me.

I'm not planning on jumping back in any time.

Someone on the forum recently offered me a pile of money to write a letter.

I turned them down.

Because I can make more money with less effort doing what I love.

[Harlan]

Originally Posted by The Copy Nazi

I don't very often agree with you Harlan...but on this you're dead right. Racking my brain trying to think of an old adage...something about when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Like you say - If you can adapt and carve out a new path, you'll make money.

Meanwhile the sheep will be rolling out their copywriting salespage templates and wondering why they don't convert. Baa

Oh yeah - great thread title (as usual from you).

As Coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her.
And she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead.

[tpw]

Originally Posted by Harlan

Within the past few weeks, I've spoken with some of the most recognizable gurus in the niche.

They all agree with my assessment.

All I have to say to that is that you must live in a small circle of people, whom likely only you will call gurus.

My interpretation of your assessment and the "guru's agreement with it" is that, for the most part, you are only talking to people who let their negative thinking get in the way of positive results.

[Harlan]

Originally Posted by tpw

All I have to say to that is that you must live in a small circle of people, whom likely only you will call gurus.

My interpretation of your assessment and the "guru's agreement with it" is that, for the most part, you are only talking to people who let their negative thinking get in the way of positive results.

I have no intention in entering into a pissing contest with you.

If you have an endless supply of clients paying you tens of thousands of dollars for your sales copy, well more power to you.

Best of luck in your flourishing business.

[max5ty]

I believe I've figured out part of the problem...

Some of you base your whole career off the internet -

- it's all you've ever known - it's where you got your training and some of your clients. Everyone else you know in the business is also on the internet.

Here's something you probably didn't realize - there's a whole world of professionals who do their daily business in the real world. By that I mean they actually deal with real clients in brick and mortar offices. If you're narrowing your focus down to only the internet - your business probably has suffered.

I can guarantee you...without a doubt...I could name some names of very successful people in the business that you've never heard of - simply because you've only focused on the internet. For example, there are some very good copywriters who do work for the boardroom, etc. that write some killer copy...and yet they're an unknown on the internet.

If you've started as a copywriter since the internet age, I can understand how your world is all narrowed down to the online community .

All I'm saying is that there's a whole other world out there.

[Steve The Copywriter]

....I've heard it all before... (during the last recession and the one before that...).

Although I don't chase clients who (supposedly) spend $60,000 on a sales pitch.

I do charge a reasonable amount - and it always gets busier during an economic downturn.

Because that's when clients really need the skills that an experienced copywriter brings.

[MikeHumphreys]

Originally Posted by The Copy Nazi

Gee Dude - You're right up there with Vin and Kevin and John and Harlan and all the other top I.M. writers. And yet we've never heard of you.

I call B.S.

But you gave us all a good laugh.

There are a lot of top copywriters who don't seek out the spotlight. They'd rather make a ton of money for their clients and themselves... then spend the rest of their free time hanging out with friends and family.

[Ross Bowring]

Originally Posted by max5ty

I believe I've figured out part of the problem...

Some of you base your whole career off the internet -

- it's all you've ever known - it's where you got your training and some of your clients. Everyone else you know in the business is also on the internet.

Here's something you probably didn't realize - there's a whole world of professionals who do their daily business in the real world. By that I mean they actually deal with real clients in brick and mortar offices. If you're narrowing your focus down to only the internet - you're business probably has suffered.

I can guarantee you...without a doubt...I could name some names of very successful people in the business that you've never heard of - simply because you've only focused on the internet. For example, there are some very good copywriters who do work for the boardroom, etc. that write some killer copy...and yet they're an unknown on the internet.

If you've started as a copywriter since the internet age, I can understand how your world is all narrowed down to the online community .

All I'm saying is that there's a whole other world out there.

Very much correct.

But to address this thread topic...

Our offline leads are less of our business... but the ones that come to us are strong.

To speak to the Internet side of the business...

Judging from our bookings in place and the frequency and quality of marketers who regularly approach us...

...entrepreneurial spirits are undiminished... and a willingness to invest in the tens of thousands of dollars for sales copy is alive 'n' well.

--- Ross

[The Copy Nazi]

Originally Posted by MikeHumphreys

There are a lot of top copywriters who don't seek out the spotlight. They'd rather make a ton of money for their clients and themselves... then spend the rest of their free time hanging out with friends and family.

Perhaps. It was the "I still average well over a million dollars a year in the business" that got up my nose.

Yeah and I've got a big one too.

Anyway...good luck to him.

[Steve The Copywriter]

And what is an ideal business for all economies...

I would say copywriting.

Because you have...

Unlimited clients in every sector.

A desperate need for good, excellent, outstanding copywriting (you can do well in any of the three categories).

In good times clients want to capitalize on the money flow.

And in bad times they urgently want an increase in business.

[SusanLandry]

In good times clients want to capitalize on the money flow.

And in bad times they urgently want an increase in business.

Precisely.

[RefundHost]

Originally Posted by Harlan

In the past year, copywriting as we knew it died.

I'm talking about multiple aspects of copywriting but for today, I'm talking about the business of copywriting.

Namely - the days of the super high paying jobs are OVER.

I'm talking about the days when you could quote a job from 25K-60K and have a wait list.

Those clients are gone.

There are a number of reasons why. 1. The buyers are out of credit. Their credit cards can't afford to pay for a copywriter.

Long-Copy writing was wounded when
another media form other than newspaper ( radio ) came to be
and people had something to do other than sit and read the paper.

But if you used to charge $25K - $60K and your clients are now broke ...

this will explain exactly and precisely why that is so:

wiki Dunning Kruger Effect

[Alex Cohen]

Originally Posted by max5ty

I believe I've figured out part of the problem...

Some of you base your whole career off the internet -

- it's all you've ever known - it's where you got your training and some of your clients. Everyone else you know in the business is also on the internet.

And it's very incestuous. Many of them are so busy ingratiating themselves with each other, it's a wonder they get any work done.

Sometimes the flattery and hero worship is downright stomach retching.

Alex

[RickDuris]

Hi Harlan,

It's always nice to see you Harlan, slaughtering some sacred cows.

By the way, I agree with you 1000%. The copywriting business has changed. But I think it's for reasons different than the ones you offer.

- Rick Duris

[ThomasOMalley]

As long as human beings are selling stuff (which I don't see ending anytime soon), copywriters will have work to do.

No matter what new technology comes around the corner, copy that sells will always have a role for marketing and selling stuff.

So don't worry, my fellow copywriters.

[arfasaira]

Some of my best clients are offline. In fact, three of my best clients are offline and have me on retainer. I don't charge megabucks, probably because I've never plucked up the courage to do so, but I definitely don't put all my eggs in one basket.

I think copywriters who rely on just the Internet will plod along and perhaps suffer when things go bad, but it's those who have several projects in place that should hopefully do better. I'm currently working on another product, two websites, a blog, I have a book in the pipeline and have several offline clients who I work regularly for. And I still get lots of business through the Internet. I wish I could say I was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, but perhaps I may save that dream for the following year.

Having copy chops definitely helps and those who have built a reputation for themselves will usually shine through. It is hard though and I'm not well-known by any standard, but I do ok - I get booked out months in advance and I'm thankful for that. It's what's enabling me to move in a few weeks with my two kids.

The secret is how well you market yourself which will determine how well you do and whether or not you survive. At the beginning of the year, I made my first $4000 in one month - at a time when most of my friends and family were struggling to make half of that. To some of you here, it's no big deal. But it's a big deal to someone who has found copywriting as a way to live, as a way to flourish and as a way to do something worthwhile with their life.

My situation was pretty dim, so I knew I had to get good at marketing or die with all the other copywriting wannabes out there. And that's when I discovered the secret of how to keep the money rolling in.

Copywriting isn't dead. It's simply going through a state of flux as it always has - you just got to know how to ride with the changes and adapt your marketing accordingly. I'm not worried about my business because I know how to market myself when the going gets tough. Those who know me know that whenever things are a little slow, I market that bit harder - and see big results.

Truthfully speaking, if you can't market yourself and thrive rather than survive, you should be ashamed to call yourself a copywriter.

[tpw]

Originally Posted by Harlan

I have no intention in entering into a pissing contest with you.

If you have an endless supply of clients paying you tens of thousands of dollars for your sales copy, well more power to you.

Best of luck in your flourishing business.

Pissing contest? Is that best you can do in your attempt to keep your audience crooning over you and your perfect insight? Figures...

The fact is that I don't need "an endless supply of clients paying tens of thousands of dollars for sales copy" for my point of view to be right and yours to be wrong...

If only one copy writer is not hindered by your world view, in his/her prospects and income levels, then I am right and you are wrong. A few of those folks have poked their heads up in this thread to contradict your world view and your followers have tried to discredit their opinions so that you don't have to do so yourself.

Especially when you create stories using the paint brush of an "absolute", it only really takes one person to prove you wrong.

Originally Posted by Harlan

In the past year, copywriting as we knew it died.

I'm talking about multiple aspects of copywriting but for today, I'm talking about the business of copywriting.

Namely - the days of the super high paying jobs are OVER.

I'm talking about the days when you could quote a job from 25K-60K and have a wait list.

Those clients are gone.

In the past few weeks, I've spoken to a lot of copywriters and they are all feeling the pain.

My students - who listened to me - have launched their own products and that's where there money is coming from.

Originally Posted by Harlan

Within the past few weeks, I've spoken with some of the most recognizable gurus in the niche.

They all agree with my assessment.

Are the "recognizable experts" with whom you have been talking mostly your students and others who share your dismal and short-sighted outlook on the world around you?

Copywriting Business 2.0? Writing copy for videos? Nice. LOL

[JakeDaly]

As long as something is sold somewhere, good copywriters will find work.

[Mark Andrews]

The only thing that is dead about copywriting Harlan is perhaps copywriters like yourself who cannot or will not adapt to changes in the marketplace.

I've never been busier. Orders are pouring in. And I'm pretty much sure they are for other copywriters and savvy marketers too who can spot new trends and opportunities on the open market.

You might be right that the old 'gooroo' style sales letter is pretty a much a done and dusted product but with the advent of the Internet this was pretty much a given anyway. People will only believe that crap for so long before they begin to smell a rat. Hellooo... wake up and smell the roses.

If you've buried your head in the sand... no wonder you believe copywriting is dead. I'll tell you now, it's not dead, far from it. It's still there very much alive and kicking IF you know how to position yourself in the current marketplace. And if you understand what business owners are demanding from this profession today.

Copywriting dead? Don't be daft, it's just in flux. The market is changing. Either accept this fact or your copywriting business dies. If you don't adapt reflexively to the changes happening in the market - you're a goner.

Stories will always be around whilst humans are on the planet. And whilst we're here... people will always want and demand more goods, products, and services. And whether it's by the spoken word, visuals or plain print the demand for excellent copywriters won't go away any time soon!

NLP copywriting - I mean come on Harlan! Embedded subconscious commands deftly inserted into a sales message - what a load of baloney. That's like saying to the market, "We write in English but it's not English as we/you know it. It might look like English, you might even think you understand what we're selling but everything isn't as it appears." What a load of bumkum.

Look into my eyes. Look into my eyes. Trust in meeeee, trusttt in meeeee. Piffle. What an absolute load of baloney and hogwash.

It's a gimmick, a fad nothing more which worked for a time. But people today? They've wised up. They're not going to fall for such tactical positioning in the future. Yeah, yeah sure - some clients might still be fascinated with the pitch, think it's something 'hip' or 'cool' to try out but the wider business market and the buying public? No way.

People today don't want flowery English talking gobbledegook - they want the facts, plain and simple.

Which is why storytelling in copywriting will last forever. Why? Because unlike NLP, storytelling is embedded right into our subconscious mind after thousands of years of stories and real life experiences being handed down and shared from one generation to the next.

If your words sell a product, or goods, or services, that is copywriting pure and simple.

And believe you me with how many billion people arec on the planet today the demand for very good copywriters will continue to be around for some time to come.

Best,


Pete Walker

[om4457]

I don't think that copywriting is dead, I think it's just people got smarter with their spending habits in general. When I lived in California around 2000, I worked at Pontiac dealership and very often, someone would buy brand new Bonneville, drive it for about 4 - 6 months and come back for an "upgrade" despite $7000 - $10,000 depreciation loss. And it was happening left and right.

Right now stuff like that gets rare and paying $60K for a copy is not something people will jump on.

I'm sure people who were ordering copies in the past were making more money themselves.

I think copywriting is not dying. I think it's transforming.

[travlinguy]

I'll add my two cents here. The MMO market as we know it is about to be buried and I say good riddance. And with it many writers who know nothing else will wither as well. But copywriting overall is strong. And I also agree wholeheartedly with Harlan about creating your own products and writing for them. That’s a really smart thing.

[Joe Ditzel]

I like rummaging around in the archives with a magnifying glass and a meerschaum pipe, dusting off threads with a riding crop. Here are a couple of related threads:

Video Sales Pages = Drop in Demand for Copywriters?

Is copywritting dying??

[Alex Cohen]

In 2006, Michel Fortin published a document titled, "The Death of The Salesletter". And it got him a lot of attention.

Four years later Michel writing about the document said, "(it) became one of the most downloaded, most controversial, and most talked about documents in the history of my career."

The title, "Copywriting is Dead" reminds me of the above.

Alex

[BlairBarnes]

I do not think copywriting can die because it is a form of sales, just through the written word. Businesses will always need sales...its the only way to make money. Saying copywriting is dead is like saying there is no need for salesman anymore. I find that in a recession people are more likely to want a rockstar copywriter or salesman that can bring them sales. I believe a good salesman will be successful no matter what and that applies to copywriters too.

[Ashley Gable]

Your post, Harlan, kind of reminds me of an old man I once knew.

To him, something was either the best thing in the world, or its worthless.

Its either dead as a door nail, or the life of the party.

People were either nasty horrible people, or he thought they were a gift from god.

You seem to be doing the same with this. Cant if just be, like others have said, that the market is changing.

Cant both employees (copywriters) and employers (those who hire) just be thinking a little different then they were a few years or months ago?


I think that just like in high school when I changed my lawn mowing business pitch from fast and reliable to eco and earth friendly, that the market is changing and if one is too ignorant to notice and adapt with it, then it just comes down to plain ole' survival of the fittest. Whoever they may be.

Ashley

And btw, I gotta admit your addition of the phrase "copywritingbusiness 2.0" seems a little fishy to me.

You wouldnt be introducing a new program would you??

[Cam Connor]

Nobody wants to buy any copy anymore... Sales Letters are dead... Offline marketing is dead... Online marketing is too competitive... No one's willing to spend money on a decent copywriter anymore and the world is going to hell... {sigh} Who is John Galt?



Seriously tho, there will always be great Copywriters out there who will capitalize on opportunities for success in any market.

[Matt James]

And no one is teaching copywritingbusiness 2.0

Anybody else think Harlan might have a new course coming out?

[Steve The Copywriter]

...I wonder if it'll be called "Rapport"? (lol)

[TiffLee]

Copywriting is dead?

... man, I'd better tell all those people who are helping to explode my bank account that their money and orders are no longer needed.

Because, 'ya know, copywriting is dead.

[Harlan]

Originally Posted by TiffLee

Copywriting is dead?

... man, I'd better tell all those people who are helping to explode my bank account that their money and orders are no longer needed.

Because, 'ya know, copywriting is dead.

I'm so happy your bank account is exploding.

Remember not to keep more than $100,000 in any one account to be covered by the FDIC.

Commercial accounts may not be covered so make sure to consult with your account about transferring money to a covered account.

I've never heard of a bank account exploding so you must be doing something right.

[marciayudkin]

Remember not to keep more than $100,000 in any one account to be covered by the FDIC.

Presented as a public service...

Actually, the limit for FDIC coverage is currently $250,000. Here is the exact reference:

FDIC: Your Insured Deposits

Marcia Yudkin

[om4457]

Originally Posted by Matt James

Anybody else think Harlan might have a new course coming out?

I think he absolutely should!!!

[Harlan]

Originally Posted by marciayudkin

Presented as a public service...

Actually, the limit for FDIC coverage is currently $250,000. Here is the exact reference:

FDIC: Your Insured Deposits

Marcia Yudkin

Thanks. I didn't know it had gone up.

I think the part about commercial accounts is correct though. I know someone who went through identity theft and they were not covered.

[SusanLandry]

This forum offers great tips on copywriting and banking! Who knew?

[marciayudkin]

I know someone who went through identity theft and they were not covered.

FDIC insurance protects bank depositors against bank failure, not against identity theft.

Marcia Yudkin

[Mark Pescetti]

Copywriting isn't dead.

It's more valuable and consequential now than ever.

What's dead are people who don't have the guts and audacity to exhibit original thought and go against the grain of what the supposed gurus say is crucial to massively convert.

If the cheesy, "I gotta persuade you to want something you don't need" kind of nonsense is dying...

...if more entrepreneurs with fan-bloody-tastic solutions are revealing the courage to give their prospects REAL information and INSPIRE sales...

...well...

...Good riddance to the old, over-used, prostituted copywriting...

Hello genuine copy that doesn't need fluff and cheese to sell.

...And yes, good story telling is ageless...