Help With Landing A Job At Agora

Abraham,

I think you're going to have a hard time finding a person willing to recommend you to their Agora contact -- unless you already know them.

Your best bet is to connect with Agora editors and other copywriters on LinkedIn and build up your network.

I also think you'll have a hard time getting hired if you've never written copy which has gone to market. It's not impossible -- but why not set up a Warrior For Hire post here and get some experience under your belt first?

But yes, you're right about Agora... it's a goliath of direct response. Though Claude Hopkins passed long before Agora was created.

Good luck!

Chris

P.S. It's never "copies"... but we all made that mistake.

One of the members here (can't remember which one) targeted a big ad agency and by enthusiasm landed his job (willingness to do anything?).

If I were to target Agora, first thing I'd do is become an Agora expert and sign up for as many programs as I could. Get on their lists, collect the ads, I think someone here once posted a link to hundreds of Agora ads, so see exactly what they use.

I have approached companies in the past, and I brought a fully fleshed out idea, a product and a promotion targeted toward a list of their buyers. Backends may be an easier way to break in. I think, but don't know, they work with AWAI, so that may present another avenue.

So ask yourself, which universe of Agora buyers would you like to write for, what would that product be, what would the promotion be, as fully and as completely as you can at this time and they might see a diamond in the rough and offer to polish you up a little.

The more you know about their customers, and segments, the higher your chances of connecting.

gjabiz

Real talk: if I don't know you and can't vouch for your skills, I won't put my name/reputation on the line for you with my contacts.

That said, if you want Agora, go get it! You got great advice here for getting in. Try every channel until something works. If you fail at one attempt, try to figure out why and improve with every pitch. Eventually they'll accept you or you'll find another place to try.

Just take a step forward and figure out where to go from there - one step at a time.

Hey Abraham,

Don't take this the wrong way... but unless you have any solid controls under
your belt... it may be tough to get in their doors.

But hey, I am not one to sh*t on someone's dreams... I'd much rather
hire a new writer with a can-do personality than a good writer with a less
than desirable attitude.

But again, usually they want to see what you've done.

Let me check through my old emails... there was a test task YEARS
ago that I sent in for, and it led to an interview.

I'll see if I can find out how I got the test task... it was based on writing
a short financial ad and if they liked it, they called you back to set up
an interview.

I'll see if I can backtrack and see how it came about.

But in all honesty, once you get good... they'll find you, a lot of the
times, because they're always looking for good writers.

So, if you have no idea how to "get in the door"... that's a good
chance you're not ready yet.

But again, I am someone who believes in going after what you
want, so I would never stop you from trying.

By the way, did you happen to go on the AWAI job board...
I think it's through directresponsejobs.com

Anywho, they have job postings for Agora all the time, there's
one in there right now... and it gives a contact name/email.

If it were me, I would take some time and create a kick ass
direct mail piece SELLING myself to them, on why they
should give you a chance.

Or, find one of their financial newsletters and write an ad
trying to sell it.

Just write something that shows your chops... and then
FedEx it to the name you have... even the name on the
job board could work.

By sending them a direct mail piece by Fed Ex, it at least
shows your level of commitment and motivation.

I did that YEARS ago when I first started... sent out hundreds
of letters Fed Ex... led to immediate work.

but then again, I did have some winning pieces.

so, I'm not sure if sending them a direct mail piece
will get you a paid position... but it may get you in the door
where you can learn about any internships, or maybe even
a copy cub scenario where you can find someone who will
mentor you.

But either way, best of luck... while you're working on getting
something over to them, try to start on getting something circulating
out there, in the real world, so you can get results and feedback.

that way if you do happen to get a call, you can say "well, I wrote
this letter and it produced X conversion rate, and this letter did this"

Good luck my friend.

Thank you guys for your help. I really appreciate it. Will definitely create an action plan around these suggestion and keep trying.