What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

...before that beacon of light led you into the wonderful world of copywriting?



Steve

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Sports Rehab...

I used to help athletes with their injuries. Afterwards I did a more business type rehabilitation service.


Howbout you sir steve?

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

I am not really a copywriter but I will still chime in as I am a writer and am teaching myself copywriting skills as I go.
I have been on a disability pension for 8 years but the last J.O.B. I had was one where I worked part time from home for a call centre. It wasn't good money but it suited me. However, I gave it up when they cut the commission even more and I decided to do my own thing. I have not regretted it because my health is even worse and I could not hold down a regular hours job now anyway.

I can write whenever I want to...midnight, mid day, whenever... and rest when necessary so it is ideal for me...and the income is slowly growing too.

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Steve,


I gave up every job where my boss makes more than I do, while doing something I hate. Came straight out of college (that's UK sixth form - pre-uni basically) and started this. It's ironic, since my job IS to make my clients a heck of a lot of money (more than I charge, anyhow).

World swings in roundabouts, I suppose... :p

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Ben,

Lol.

Yes, the irrefutable rule in copywriting is -

Make the clients lots of cash.


Steve

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

So that's where I've been going wrong....



:D

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

I had an illustrious career selling Poster advertising (of all the places inside buses, but there certainly was a captive audience).

And I had a blinding flash of inspiration. The better the copy - the higher the response.

So, I learned everything I could on the noble art of copywriting (apart from the design and any technical stuff which thankfully has always escaped me).

People saw the new improved "copy" and asked for more.

And fortunately they still do (it's been a while since I've written a poster, the inter web is all the rage. And in case I forget to mention it postcards and flyers are also great fun to do with super fast, fabulous results).


Steve

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

I'm doing a bit of painting and decorating to supplement my copywriting income until it really takes off.

It might not be such a good thing when I give up the painting though, as it's keeping the middle age spread at bay nicely!!

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

I used to work in transport & logistics. Everything from managing depots to compliance roles.

I think I've always been a copywriter of sorts though. I managed to sell my first sales letter via the AOL forums when I was just 16 and have been making money from it on and off ever since.

Only the last few years have I really taken it seriously as a viable career option :-)

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Steve,


you said postcards/flyers are great/fun/fantastic results?

This is the first I've heard of it from you! :D

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Ben, I know I rarely mention it (lol).

I try to keep it top secret. Because they really do work so incredibly well.


Steve

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

I was working in scripted television development in LA. I know first hand how much people enjoy a good story! I read The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman, which led to reading Bob Bly, and so on and so forth until I wound up here, doing this :)

And I love it!

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

I wonder how many people out there finally get the chance to do the job of their dreams when they suddenly realize they have nothing to lose? I found myself in that situation twice!

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to do two things: make music and own an advertising agency. Yeah, I was a strange bird.

Anyway, I ended up in a soul-sucking sales job for 10 years. I learned a lot. Developed a lot of great client relationships, and for a lot of people it would have been a real "set for life" situation...But every day for 10 years I'd drive around in my car and imagine I could just walk away from it and do what I REALLY wanted to do with my life, as I always felt like owning a small advertising company would tie in all of my interests (writing, design, music).

To give you an idea how stupid this was, I drove around for a couple of years with a sales letter for my (nonexistent) copywriting service. I figured if I ever had the opportunity to talk to someone in my business about it, I'd have the letter handy.

Of course I never had the balls to hand it out to anyone. I called on a few CEOs and entrepreneurs but I was pretty sure they'd think I was nuts if I tried to lay a copywriting spiel down on them after talking about freight density and claims ratios.

So after a brief music career, I finally found myself able to finally try my hand at copywriting. No more trucking companies for me. Too much mess on the internet about me to score a "respectable" corporate job anyway. So you could say copywriting came about by necessity. Even though it's always been what I've REALLY wanted to do with my life!

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Boring housework for which I was never paid. eg my own lol :D.

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

Daycare teacher. I was in college at the time. Don't let anyone tell you keeping two dozen seven-year-olds form destroying the building or each other isn't a marketing job.

My first "real job" was for singing telegram company where I wrote sales scripts, among other things. Everything I've done since has involved writing copy in one form or another.

Re: What Job Did You Say Cheerio To...
 

:D I taught English in an inner-city middle school for fifteen years, and I used to joke that I was working in sales. It often felt like I was trying to pitch the value of education to kids who just didn't see it.