How to Get a Job As A Copywriter

[MikeHumphreys]

Originally Posted by mavischan

offer free copy writing first then the order will come.

so you will know

The problem with offering free copywriting is everyone can afford it. Once you put a price tag on your services, the line of people willing (and able) to pay gets a lot shorter. If you start charging $10K and up, then the line gets even shorter.

Never work for free. Your mortgage company or landlord doesn't accept free work as payment. They don't take IOUs either. Get paid something for your efforts even if it's a nominal amount.

Good luck,

Mike

[MikeMarin]

Thanks for the Advice. Everyone has been helpful on this forum

Here is my plan. Tell me what you think

1.Follow Halbert's Advice here Hands on Experience
2.Start Freelance Article Writing - to become a better writer and gain experience freelancing.
3.Write my own sales letter for a product as an affiliate using affiliate cloner.
4.Take results and letter in portfolio and try to get a job.

What I have done so Far:

I have Read:
1.Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins
2.Robert Collier Letter Book
3.How to write good Advertisment by Vic Schwab
4.The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
5.The Lazy Man's Way to Riches by Joe Karbo
6.Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz

I have copied by hand:
Do you make these mistakes in English
Coat of Arms Lettery by Gary Halbert
How to Burn off Body Fat, Hour by Hour by Gary Halbert
At 60 miles an hour the loudest noise in the rolls royce ad by David Ogilivy
Why Men Crack
How to Collect From Social Security at any age by Gary Halbert
The Admiral Bryd Transpolar Expedition by Gary Halbert

I have also began to freelance as a article writer. This is my site articlewritingmike.com. And I have two clients.

What I still have to do:
1.Read 7 Steps to Freedom by Ben Suarez
2.Copy by Hand The Lazy Man's Way to Riches ad by Joe Karbo
3.Copy by Hand What Everybody should know about this stock and bond
4.Write my own sales letter

My Question is am I on the right path? If not, What changes should I make to my plan?

[MikeHumphreys]

Mike,

Looks like you're heading the right direction. I've heard good things about Vic Schwab's book although it's one of the few classics I haven't read yet.

I would definitely suggest reading John Caples' Tested Advertising Methods as it will help you strengthen your headline writing skills. Joe Sugarman's Adweek Copywriting Handbook would be another good one to study.

Start putting together a marketing plan on where you want to find clients and how you're going to get their attention.

Hope that helps,

Mike

[ronakshah]

This thread is amazing.

I did not know that you could land up a sales copywriting gig without a portfolio as well.

However, everyone starts at 0. So, my biggest question "how to get started off without a portfolio?"

Is it necessary to read the above books?

It's a newbie sales copywriters question.

[Paul McQuillan]

I think a lot of the problem is people want to know what to
buy next. If you have five great copywriting books and you
have not started to write, how many more books do you need?

Usually a kick out of the nest will get you to fly. Stop reading and
start writing.

No book was able to bring me into the light like actually doing the
work.

If you want to build a portfolio, start with a WSO. I had no online
sales letter experience and got 6 jobs. Once they are done I have
6 letters for my files.

Start small and most importantly, start now.

[Ross Bowring]

Back in yonder day, I read all the books, but at the same time, I was writing a ton of practice letters. Taking the sometimes grinding time to figure out how to apply the book lessons is where you get good.