Constructive critique [UPDATED] [THIRD ATTEMPT]

by zth91
36 replies
I'd like to say thank you to all of you for your help so far, it really does mean alot to me. Becoming a really good copywriter is a goal that I have set myself, whether it takes 6 months or many years I intend to stick with it and keep improving upon every copy (or atleast try to!). Once again thank you for all of your feedback.

Please find below my 3rd attempt.

Target audience: EFL teachers in UK/USA/AUS/NZ/CAN who want to make more money teaching EFL. They already have the experience and qualifications. Yet they are struggling to secure an EFL job in UAE / Currently unaware of the benefits of teaching EFL in UAE.


There’s an EFL Gold Rush going on right now – Don’t miss the boat!

Are you fed up getting paid peanuts to teach EFL? Want to be appreciated for your skill-set and experience? Is exploring the world whilst building up an impressive savings reserve something you’d be interested in? If you answered yes to all 3 of these questions, then I can help change your life.



My name is Alex Johnson, I’ve been an EFL instructor now for 4 years and currently am enjoying the riches of the EFL Gold Rush. I’m not an English language genius nor do I hold any qualifications higher than a bachelor’s degree, yet I’m earning over $5000 tax free every month teaching English. With the help of my then mentor I figured out how to crack the code and land a position in the EFL Gold Rush capital of Dubai , if you want to change your life and join me, I can teach you how.

My salary for September 2015 ($6300) TAX FREE.



A MONUMENTAL LIFESTYLE CHANGE, that’s the best way to describe this past year. But it wasn’t all plain sailing to get to this point. Quite honestly I was extremely close to giving up, but a mentor offered me a helping hand and now I’m here to do the same for you..

Here’s my story:

Back in the UK I was barely making enough money to pay for my accommodation, food and going out expenses. The mere thought of saving any of it for a rainy day was laughable. I thoroughly enjoyed my teaching position in the local language school, however I had dreams and aspirations to explore the world and make some “serious money” that some of the veteran teachers would often reminisce about in the staff room. When the opportunity arose for an interview in a language school based in Qatar, I jumped at the chance. This was it, my golden ticket out of the UK and into the ‘big leagues’! Off to London I went. Yet I left the interview with no more than a ‘sorry, I don’t think you’ll be suitable for the position’. I was heartbroken, stupidly I had assumed that they wouldn’t think twice about giving me the job. I had the prerequisite qualifications and experience they required, I just assumed that would be enough.

I had already given in notice to work as the advertisement for the position stated that ‘we will require you to be available to leave within a weeks’ notice if selected’. I was left with no job, no apartment and just enough money to tie me over for the month. To add insult to injury, as I got off the train from London and began walking out of the station I realized I had left my wallet on the train, at this realization my heart simultaneously sunk to a depth I had never thought possible. It was raining as so often is the case in England and the 20 minute walk in the pouring rain to my parents’ home, left my clothes soaked and my spirit crushed.

It took almost a week of feeling sorry for little ol’ me to pick myself up. I replayed the moments before the interview, seeing over 50 potential applicants waiting for their names to be called, all looking as nervous as I felt. Watching each candidate leave soon after they went in, no more than 5 minutes after and wondering how that was enough time for the language school to decide whether the person was appropriate or not. I clearly wasn’t what they wanted, but why? I tried to forget about it, but the thought kept nagging at me. I wanted the money, I wanted to travel, I wanted what the guys in the staff room used to talk about. Eventually I picked up the phone and called Paul, my ex-colleague who had worked for 10 years in Dubai back in the 00s. I told him the situation and without a moment’s hesitation he asked me to come round the following morning with a copy of my CV and a bottle of champagne. CV? Ok, but champagne? Why on earth would he want that? I arrived at Paul’s front door the follow morning with a crisp freshly printed version of my CV, which I thought was a sure winner, and the most expensive champagne I could afford.

Paul greeted me with a firm handshake and a warm smile, followed by a rather odd first question “Have you got the champagne?” I nodded and with that response he motioned me to follow him. He led me into his living room and just as we were about to sit down he turned round and held out his palm, I assumed he wanted the champagne, so I took it out of my bag and handed it to him. “We’ll have this later” he said with a confident smile. He then went to put the champagne away and came back soon after. Over the next 5 hours he poured all of his expert knowledge of the Gulf and the industry over there into my mind. He explained to me why I hadn’t got the position and what specifically recruiters who hire EFL teachers in Gulf countries were looking for. Furthermore he explained how to position myself in the best light possible to increase my probability of landing the job that I desired so badly.

By the time we had finished, we were both exhausted. “It’s time, you’re as ready as you ever will be” said Paul. We had constructed a new CV tailored for the Gulf EFL market, drilled specific interview skills that would put me head and shoulders above my competitors and many more things that were to be used solely to increase my probability of success. “Your life is going to change, you know that right?” Paul said . I nodded, unsure of exactly how to answer. I had no idea how much it would change.

It had been roughly a month since I had seen Paul when I received a message alerting me about a position that had become available in UAE.I knew this was my time to shine, a veteran in the field had poured all his wisdom into my mind and since I had seen him I continued to practice the interview skill drills and other techniques he had taught me to allow for almost guaranteed success. Ironically the interview was held in the same building as the previous one, yet this time whilst waiting for my name to be called in the waiting room, I looked around and while I saw many of the same faces it was clear that their nervous expression hadn’t changed all that much,however I felt calm, relaxed and focused. My name was called, I walked in with my head held high, a beaming smile on my face and the confidence that I would walk out of the interview with the job. Guess what? My interview lasted 2 minutes, I got the job and would be flying out to UAE the following weekend.

I was unbelievably excited, my dream was coming true! But instead of going straight to my girlfriend or even my parents, I knew exactly who I owed all my success to. I caught the train back, got a taxi to Paul’s house and knocked excitedly at his door, I simply couldn’t hold myself back! He came to the door, opened it slowly and noticed the beaming smile on my face, “Are you ready to pop the champagne now?” Paul said with the proud and loving tone a father gives his son on a momentous occasion.

My time thus far in the UAE has been unforgettable; I’ve seen some of my favorite artists play live such as: David Guetta, Martin Garrix, Michael Buble, Ellie Goulding, Ed Sheeran & Calvin Harris. I’ve been up the Burj Khalifa twice, the tallest building in the world, and I’ve enjoyed the Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. Not to forget the countless beach trips, desert safaris, water parks, yacht clubs and other attractions that are always available to you.

The training that I will be providing to those who commit to the EFL Gold Rush mentorship will give you all the information Paul taught me and so so so much more!


Commit today and you will receive the following:

5 x 60 Minute SKYPE sessions
• 6 Month E-Mail Support
• A BESPOKE CV to give you the best chance!
‘Joining the EFL Gold Rush’ E-book
o The direct email addresses of specialist recruitment consultants who are at the top of their field and will set you up with solid opportunities.
o Soft skill drills that are specialized for the Gulf EFL job interviews.
o How to avoid the MISTAKES that 99.9% of expats make when they first arrive in UAE.
o Things you MUST do in your home country to make your life 100000x easier in UAE.
o The REAL DO'S and DON’TS of the UAE (It’s far more liberal than you may assume).
o Where in UAE is the smartest place to work, if you are provided with the choice.
o How to meet over 250,000 other expats who are also making crazy amounts of money in UAE.
o A comprehensive list of all the banks and their benefits, which ones to consider and which to AVOID at all costs.
o And many more bonuses

Testimonials:

Thomas Elderwood
“Being newly married and having a child on the way, I wasn’t sure how I would be able to make ends meet with my full-time wage as an EFL teacher in Spain. I was earning €1,200 ($1350) per month and living in a modern yet small one bedroom apartment. Whilst this was more than adequate when I lived a life of luxury as a bachelor, it simply wasn’t enough as the breadwinner of a growing family.

I researched the internet for opportunities elsewhere, however I wanted to continue teaching EFL as this was a passion of mine. Eventually I found a position available in UAE, but to my dismay the amount of applicants reached well over 100. I applied anyway but wasn’t entirely surprised when I received an automated message via email three days later saying that I hadn’t been successful. I continued to search the internet for positions and whilst there were positions in other countries, no salary came close to matching UAE.

While searching for positions specifically in UAE, I came across an advert for the ‘EFL Gold Rush Mentorship’, once I finished reading Alex’s story I felt an immense sense of relief that someone else had been in a similar position to me and ultimately that making $5000 a month teaching EFL wasn’t just a pipe dream!

I had saved roughly €10,000 ($11,000) over the 3 years I had worked in Spain. I felt confident that spending 10% of my savings on the mentorship program was the most sensible move I could make financially.

I went ahead and signed up for the program, over the following weeks Alex did his level best to turn me into the all-star potential employee that any Gulf based EFL language school would be more than happy to hire. He was right, within 2 months of starting the mentorship, I had secured a job that would offer me $5000 per month as well as an additional increase of $500 for being married. Alex, you changed my life. Thank you!”

Sarah Miller
“I sort of fell into teaching, my dream as a child was always to be a writer yet I lacked the confidence in myself that I could make a living from such work. My best friend whilst I was at university began teaching part-time at Berlitz and soon after I thought I would give it a try too. I fell in love with teaching almost instantaneously, meeting new people, watching your students develop and obviously a bit of extra money for nights out!
I continued teaching full-time for 3 years after university, however I always thought about the idea of doing my master’s degree in creative writing.

My lack of funds due to relatively low pay £1000($1500) and far from desirable savings plan led me to a grand total of £0.00 at the end of each month. I tried to forget about doing the master’s course, but the thought kept reappearing, firstly between lessons then just before I’d sleep. I decided something had to be done, so I began researching for a new position, yet within the country salaries weren’t all that different to what I was already on.

I began widening my search and stumbled upon an advertisement for a job in Saudi Arabia, now whilst I had heard complete horror stories about the culture, the pay looked phenomenal at $4500 tax free. I decided that it would probably be best not to go for a job in Saudi Arabia, however it did spark interest for me to investigate more about other Gulf countries. My research led me to deciding that UAE would be the best match for me, cosmopolitan, exciting and vibrant. By chance, while looking through EFL job listings in UAE, I stumbled across an advertisement for the ‘EFL Gold Rush Mentorship’.

While it sounded great, I didn’t have a penny to my name! But I truly believed that Alex could help me land a job in UAE, there was only one option for me, a loan from the bank.

As I transferred the money to Alex, I felt my heart drop. However within minutes he had put my mind at ease, not only does he know about landing your ideal EFL job in UAE inside out, he also is a kind and caring character who always looks to put his client first. Needless to say, a few months after the mentorship I found a job working in Abu Dhabi. I’ve now saved up enough in 3 months to pay for my entire master’s course, I can’t wait to fulfil my dream of becoming a writer!”

If you’re still reading, you’re serious about making a change. Make the commitment today. Due to the nature of what I will be teaching you and the limited availability of my time, I will only be providing the specialized training course for a maximum of 20 people.

So how much will it cost to arm yourself with all the tools necessary to join the EFL Gold Rush?

The same amount as 20% of your first months’ salary.


$1,000

100% Money Back Guarantee if you do not secure a job in UAE teaching EFL within 12 months.
















OLD VERSION PLEASE SEE ABOVE FOR THE NEW VERSION.


Hey guys, you've been wonderful so far with your replies, I appreciate all of the advice that has been thrown my way so far! This is my second attempt, let me know what you think.

ZTH91


Demographic: Recent graduates, Career changers.

Sun, Sea & Sexy Salary
The blueprint to earning 5,000-7000 USD TAX FREE a month teaching English abroad, in one of the most desirable locations in the world, Dubai.

Are you tired of being under-appreciated where you currently work? Left with a lousy wage at the end of the month that barely allow ends to meet? Have you ever wondered to yourself, what it would be like to not just get by, but live a full and exciting life whilst being able to save for the future? Wouldn't mind being the envy of your friends?

Then Sun, Sea & Sexy Salary (SSSS) Blueprint E-book is for you.



What does the SSSS E-book provide you with?
• Specific information on how to land the position EASILY.
o Exactly what qualifications and experience you will require.
o What to say / wear to the interview to guarantee the job is yours.
o Which time of the year is the best to guarantee 99.9% success.
• Direct contact details of recruitment specialists that will fast-track your application and ensure you have the best chance possible of making the cut.
• The REAL Do’s and Dont’s about living in the UAE (It’s far more liberal than you may have imagined).
• The best spots to socialize and enjoy your evenings and weekends with like-minded ex-pats.
• Plus much much more!


There are a multitude of benefits that come from successfully implementing what is described in the SSSS Blueprint.These are my top 5:
• Salary that allows for stupendous saving, with no need to deny yourself many of life’s luxuries in the process.
• Enjoy beautiful beaches often only a stone’s throw away from your accommodation, perfect for relaxing after work.
• Ability to explore many countries in South East Asia over vacation periods with relative ease and low cost.
• Opportunities to watch your favorite artists perform, with often no more than an hours’ drive to the location.
• Frequenting Trendy bars and clubs, when you need to just let loose on the weekend.


But don’t just take our word for it, here is a testimonial by Simon, one of the first people to purchase and put into action the SSSS blueprint.

"Once I had graduated from University, I was at a bit of a loss as to where to take my life next. I knew that furthering my education was where my heart was, however I had already racked up over $50,000 of debt obtaining my bachelor’s degree and didn't want the dreaded feeling of debt hanging over me. I went through much the same process as many of my peers and went from job to job never really finding any satisfaction in the work that was required of me. Work wasn't all that hard to come by, but the pay was generally quite poor and mind numbingly dry tasks were soul destroying. I began searching the internet for “easy jobs that pay well” and other such search terms and by chance came across the “SSSS Blueprint”. Soon after reading the e-book, I fell in love with the idea of living the lifestyle that was described. I read it over the weekend, once Monday came around, I began applying for teaching positions in my local area to begin building up the prerequisite experience. Once I had gained enough experience, I used the “fast-track your application contacts list” that was provided in the E-book and had an interview soon after, for the position abroad. Needless to say, as I followed each and every instruction in the E-book as described, I was chosen straight away for the available position. I have now been working abroad for 2 years and have completely paid off my student loan debt, additionally I have begun saving for the master’s program I would like to attend and my first home. Life has been like nothing I could have ever imagined, of course there were up’s and down’s initially but the SSSS E-book had prepared me well. All my creature comforts are available to me and the endless summer season of beautiful clear skies and beach friendly temperature make this an ideal place for me to plan for my future goals whilst living a life of luxury." - Simon Bagwell

In all honesty, we would love to share the information provided inside the SSSS E-book with everyone, however due to the nature of the material inside, this will quite rapidly saturate the niche market. Therefore we have decided that ONLY 100 copies will be available for purchase, with 10 of the copies available at the early-bird edition special price of just $25 (Full price $50).

To purchase the E-book, simply click “I want the blueprint” button below, follow the on-screen prompts and you will have the blueprint delivered into your e-mail address inbox within minutes.

Join us on the journey, we are waiting for you!


P.S: Going by today's exchange rate you will make 217 times the price of the e-book by the end of your first month of employment, need I say more?













OLD VERSION, PLEASE SEE ABOVE FOR THE NEW VERSION.

Hi, I'm still new to copywriting. I've been studying some of the essential books that have been recommended and aim to keep educating myself and writing copy for practice. Let me know what you think, all the best. Zth91


Would you like to see your bank balance go through the roof, while you experience the time of your life?

Let me tell you how:

I’m going to send you an E-book that will give you the blueprint to doing just that, it’s probably not like anything you’ve ever read before because:

1. It provides a tried and tested step-by-step process to success.
2. It gives you a chance to bring into fruition your desires of having: wonderful achievement, of fortune, health and happiness.
3. It gives you a fighting chance to make what you thought were your most distant dreams a reality.

I’m offering you a chance to change your life -- at a hugely discounted rate! With a money-back guarantee. You’ll need to order today, for I’m only releasing the exact amount of 100 copies of this e-book. This is to make sure that the market is not saturated, giving the 100 focused go-getters the best chance of success!

But how much would you expect to pay for such an E-book, if everything that I have said about it so far is true (ofcourse you would be the sole judge)?

$500? No!, $300? No!, $100? No! That would be the price you’d generally be asked to pay for such information. Certainly if this e-book will do half of what I’ve promised you, it will be worth all of that – and more!

If you decide that this e-book is for you, there is no need to send me $85 or $70, not even the regular price I aim to sell the e-book for at $49.99 – but my special introductory price to you, only on this advance edition, of $24.99.


#attempt #constructive #copy #critique #wanted
  • Profile picture of the author nmwf
    Originally Posted by zth91 View Post

    Would you like to see your bank balance go through the roof while experiencing the time of your life?
    That's the first thing that I noticed... It reads as if the bank balance will experience the time of your life. There are a couple more spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors too.

    I don't know if your customers would care about that, though.
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    • Profile picture of the author zth91
      Okay, will have a look at those grammatical errors now. Any critiques about the copy itself?
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  • Profile picture of the author nmwf
    Well, honestly, I'm not convinced. $24.99 certainly isn't a lot of money, but that's at least four packs of cigs for me. If you want me to give those up, you're going to have to be a lot more convincing.

    Maybe if you added a little of your financial background to the copy?

    Definitely needs more specifics. That is, specifics about everything. The copy above is pretty much boiler text these days.

    Sorry.
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    • Profile picture of the author zth91
      thank you nmwf, there is no need to apologise. I know I'm far off being any sort of copywriting genius ! I have plenty of information to expand on this copy as I'm currently experiencing the end product of the Ebook so I know each and every step inside out.

      Thank you for your feedback, I will aim to update my copy this evening.
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    • Profile picture of the author mytraffic
      Originally Posted by nmwf View Post

      Well, honestly, I'm not convinced. $24.99 certainly isn't a lot of money, but that's at least four packs of cigs for me. If you want me to give those up, you're going to have to be a lot more convincing.

      Maybe if you added a little of your financial background to the copy?

      Definitely needs more specifics. That is, specifics about everything. The copy above is pretty much boiler text these days.

      Sorry.
      As I passed by, I just noticed your comment about the $24.99 price of the eBook. I don't really know what the eBook is about, other than, it is likely advertising a new life in Dubai, which many I am sure would relish! But your preference of 4 packs of cigs. in my mind would be ludicrous, as they will (1) ruin your health and (2) shorten your life in the process! Do you know that each cig you smoke deducts one hour off your life! (I am not a doctor, but this is what their studies have revealed)
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      • Profile picture of the author zth91
        Thank you RayDal, I'm just waiting for a few more pieces of feedback to come through then I will work on the 3rd revision, you are correct. I have been through every one of the steps that I have mentioned in the e-book, so I will be able to do as you mentioned, just need to re-work my personal story into the copy.

        Again thanks for your feedback.
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        • Your biggest problem is that you're offerin' a 2nd hand solution.

          Look at what's 2nd in the list of benefits the book offers to provide:

          Info about "Exactly what qualifications and experience you will require."

          I'm kinda stoopid, but even I can see the problem here.

          Ain't you supposed to be providin' what people are requirin'?

          That's normally how it works.

          Anyone can fly to the moon long as they got a rocket.

          Personally, I don't buy into the 'Sexy Salary'deal, and all those S's make me think of the frickin' Nazis, but it's your book, so call it watcha like.

          So I'd start out with

          Book Your Place In The Sun & Earn Big Bucks While You Tan

          and whatever you roll out to talk up this unbeatable offah, check each line for ways of punchin' up your nouns and verbs and editin' out the lame phrasin'.

          Also, next time your testimonial guy utters a word, gag him and make somethin' up.

          Main thing is, version 2 is better than version 1, and breachin' the gap took less than 72 hours.
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          Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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          • Profile picture of the author zth91
            Thank you for your response Princess Balestra.

            What I'm providing fundamentally is the map to get from where they current are to where they want to be.

            I'm not sure exactly about a work-around for the 2nd point. If they do not have a teaching qualification (which could take as little as 1 month) then they won''t have the minimum requirement available to apply and also 3 years teaching experience. A potential workaround would be to have the copy directed only towards people who already have the pre-requisite requirements. Although this goes against what I'm aiming for.

            I will try working in the rest of your feedback into the copy, thank you
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    Are you intentionally structuring this as a blind offer?

    What are you selling? I know it's an e-book but what's it actually about?

    Who's your market? Where are they going to see this? Where are they coming from when they land on this message?

    How much do they know about this topic? Is this their first exposure or are they rabid fans?

    Is this their first interaction with you? Or do you already have a list/relationship with buyers?

    There are a lot more pieces to the puzzle. Without more info, there's not really an effective way to critique this.
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      You lost me at
      Let me tell you how.

      In other words, I need an introduction... If the letter came from Trump or Buffet, your first paragraph would work great. If it's coming from you, I need a very compelling introduction first.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChadHaynes
    Unfortunately my good man, this is a very flawed bit of copy.

    It's okay--you're just starting out.

    Here are the overarching errors I noticed, but the most important thing for you is to just keep practicing, reading good sales material and reading books.

    Would you like to see your bank balance go through the roof, while you experience the time of your life?
    This headline is not urgent, unique or specific.

    Is your ideal prospect saying to themselves on a daily basis: "I want my bank balance to go through the roof while I experience the time of my life"? I doubt it. Enter the conversation already taking place in their minds. Find out what they ARE saying, and then meet them there.

    This headline is applicable to many things. Are you offering a job or a lottery ticket? You have a small window of opportunity to seize my attention, I need to know what you're offering and why I should want it. Right now, it's just leaving me with questions--and not the kind of questions that get me to read on, the kind of questions that make me want to pass on reading your letter.

    Is this letter about a retreat or a seminar? Will I be making more money, or reducing my current spendings? Does this involve ME doing work, or is it a coaching offer? Are you an accountant? What do you mean by "through the roof"? Are we talking hundreds, thousands or millions? If so, how? What do you mean by "experience the time of your life"? Experiences are subjective, so how can you KNOW that what you're offering will give me the experience of my life? Does it involve heights? I'm scared of heights. I don't want to walk across hot coals.

    I have no idea what this letter is about. I don't have a picture in my head of something specific that's going to solve my most pressing problem. You've lost me.

    Let me tell you how:

    I'm going to send you an E-book that will give you the blueprint to doing just that, it's probably not like anything you've ever read before because:

    1. It provides a tried and tested step-by-step process to success.
    2. It gives you a chance to bring into fruition your desires of having: wonderful achievement, of fortune, health and happiness.
    3. It gives you a fighting chance to make what you thought were your most distant dreams a reality.
    Get rid of probably. Words like probably, might, basically etc. just rob your copy of its power.

    As for the bullet points, a great number of books literally do all three. Making the points general only means they could apply to even more books. Why is your product different? Why should I choose this one above all others?

    Why do I need it NOW?

    Get specific. Define success for me. HOW does it give me a chance to blah blah fruition my blah achieve dreams yadda yadda?

    Why am I interested in a fighting chance? I want a GUARANTEE, sucka.

    Let's recap: this book is PROBABLY different from others, because it gives me a FIGHTING CHANCE at a vague notion of SUCCESS and DREAMS.

    Do you see why I'm not reaching into my pocket for my wallet?

    I'm offering you a chance to change your life -- at a hugely discounted rate! With a money-back guarantee. You'll need to order today, for I'm only releasing the exact amount of 100 copies of this e-book. This is to make sure that the market is not saturated, giving the 100 focused go-getters the best chance of success!

    But how much would you expect to pay for such an E-book, if everything that I have said about it so far is true (ofcourse you would be the sole judge)?
    Problem is, you haven't actually said anything about it.

    Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now" is $9.22 on Kindle.
    Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is $8.38.
    Jeff Olson's "The Slight Edge" is $4.96.

    So if the vague statements you've made so far are true, I'd expect to pay like five bucks for it.

    But, you haven't told me why YOUR book is better for me than those mentioned, so I'm probably ditching your letter now and buying Stephen Covey's book instead.

    I like that you had the awareness to incorporate a sense of urgency and time sensitivity into your offer, but unfortunately, your explanation is just bad. I don't have better feedback there.

    $500? No!, $300? No!, $100? No! That would be the price you'd generally be asked to pay for such information. Certainly if this e-book will do half of what I've promised you, it will be worth all of that - and more!

    If you decide that this e-book is for you, there is no need to send me $85 or $70, not even the regular price I aim to sell the e-book for at $49.99 - but my special introductory price to you, only on this advance edition, of $24.99.

    So if you're serious about making a positive change in your life and want to enjoy life while saving significant amounts of money for the future order your E-book today.
    Nobody's assuming that it's going to cost $500. If you want your reader to assume that, you better do a damn good job of explaining the immense value within. Would we REALLY be generally asked to pay that much for such information? WHAT information? The books I mentioned earlier match the description of what you've offered so far, and none of them are more than ten bucks. Why would I jump to the assumption that what you've got is worth 50 times as much? You haven't given me any reasons to do that.

    Glad you're trying to use contrast here, but it just isn't working.

    Again, what are "significant amounts"? To some people, 20 bucks is significant. To others, anything less than $10,000 means nothing.

    Saving money for the future? Why should I pay for an expensive ebook that's going to tell me to spend less money so that on some undisclosed date in the future, I can enjoy my savings?

    On top of all that, your ad failed to include the following (some overlap a bit):
    • testimonials
    • social proof
    • evidence
    • a visceral description or story of me or a prospect enjoying the benefits this ebook provides

    So that was pretty brutal, but when you ask for feedback you get it.

    Next time, use the critique checklist in the sticky thread section. It's a great tool whether you're planning to submit copy for feedback or not.

    All the best,

    - Chad
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    Thank you all for your comments, I'm going to sit down and read through each one carefully and come back with a revised copy. Very helpful community
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  • Profile picture of the author jazbo
    You obviously know it's not good enough. Stuff like this:

    " It provides a tried and tested step-by-step process to success."

    Well, it's just poor.

    My question is which is cheaper for you:

    1. Wasting hours trying to become a copywriter
    2. Hiring a copywriter

    You're falling into the "must not spend money in IM" trap.

    I'd suggest you look at how much time you've spent on this, what you could have done/earned in that time, look at the copy you've created, then think "I thould have hired a copywriter".
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  • Profile picture of the author IMWarlock
    I'm no expert of copywriting by any means, but from consumer point of view... well it's just poor in every aspect of it.

    Apart from the fact that you say it's an e-book, I have no clue of what exactly you are offering... some sort of life changing material? But what is it about? Who on Gods green earth are you that I should believe anything at all you say?

    There is no introduction of who you and you've done and no basis of why I should listen to you or buy your product for that matter. And for me, the bad spelling doesn't give credibility either. I assume English is not your first language and that's fine, but I think checking spelling mistakes and grammar in general would give it a little more credibility. And that being said even if $25 is not a lot of money, it seems a lot after reading your copy ^^

    This is just my humble opinion
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    Hi everyone, I am bumping this thread. I would really love for you guys to get back to me with feedback for my new version of the copy.

    Wishing you all a great day,

    Zth91
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim R
    Are you trying to sell the book to people who want to go teach in Dubai? Or are you trying to sell people on the idea of why they should go teach in Dubai?

    It seems like you're trying to do both, and not doing either effectively.

    How well do you know your prospect? Saying your market is graduates and people changing careers is very broad... do you know specifically who you are writing to?

    You've got a lot of work to do to make this effective (such as writing a hell of a lot more copy), so you might want to consider hiring a pro.

    At any rate, at least get rid of that awful testimonial and look into how to properly construct testimonials.
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    My target audience would be people who are unsure what to do after university or are sick of their current job andare unaware of the benefits of teaching English as a foreign language in Dubai (financially and also in regards to lifestyle).

    I'm not really bothered about when my product gets released, more interested in improving as an aspiring copywriter, however long that may take. I expect to write thousands of pieces of copy before I reach my desired target.

    I will look into how to structure a better testimonial, thank you for your feedback.
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    • Profile picture of the author Tim R
      Originally Posted by zth91 View Post

      My target audience would be people who are unsure what to do after university or are sick of their current job andare unaware of the benefits of teaching English as a foreign language in Dubai
      This would be about 90% of the population.

      You need to get really specific about who you are targeting here, and the key to doing this is extensive research.

      If you can, interview people who have been through this process and really get to the heart of their fears, desires, frustrations etc. so you can build up a clear picture in your mind of who your prospect is and what is keeping him up at night.

      Once you know his problems as well as he knows them himself, then you can show him how your product is the solution.
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    I've written with much success for this same market and I can tell you
    that you must write from a place of AUTHORITY and EXPERIENCE.
    I don't see any evidence here that you have done what you are selling
    and this is very important. You cannot just be offering information but
    you must tell your STORY of how you did it and the obstacles you
    overcame and how you will help the reader make this move a success.

    This attempt is just a far way from home, so even though you have received
    some great help so far, you'll basically need to start over again.

    -Ray Edwards
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  • K, now we're drillin' down on the specifics.

    Unless you target only the people with the pre-requisites to make use of your offer then this really is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME TRIP TO THE MOON pitch to people without a rocket.

    It goes against what you're aiming for so you gotta fix your aim on this one.
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    Thank you Princess Balestra, you are right. I will re-focus my aim and make that clear in my 3rd revision of the copy.

    I would greatly appreciate your feedback once again when I have completed the next revision.

    ZTH91
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    1) Kudos are in order. You did the work. You posted the work. You accepted the shredding phase. You came back AGAIN and tried to incorporate the learnings. Bravo to you - this is the hard work everyone thinks they can skip or somehow bypass on the way to copywriting glory and a six-figure income. You're learning first-hand there is no skipping this part.

    2) As previous commenters mention, you're skimping on the research and it shows. Spend some time digging into their mindsets, narrowing the target market, and even going through some funnels yourself. You'll start to see what the others here see - mixed messaging, nothing new and fresh and attention-getting.

    3) Lose $5 words like multitude. Simple is sexy.

    4) I'm not reading that big ass block of testimonial copy. Edit it down and/or prompt your testimonial givers so they get to the point.

    5) Keep it up. You only get better with practice, and part of practice is missing the mark, figuring out why, and correcting your aim.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Grahhh!

    The testimonial gives you all the language and pain points!

    The SITUATION the target audience is in.

    The WORRIES they're feeling.

    The CONFLICTING DIRECTIONS they could head in.

    The REASON they looked for a solution.

    The EXACT PROCESS by which they searched for that solution.

    The REACTION they had to finding that solution.

    The ACTION they took upon finding that solution.

    You have been handed the "conversation already going on inside your target market's head" on a silver platter... recognize and USE it!

    Also, I think SSSS Blueprint is a terrible name. It looks like a snake's hiss or a typo. How about 4S or S4?
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    • Profile picture of the author aidacopy
      Your target audience is still not completely defined.

      A thing to keep in mind if you're writing for women, is to include info about safety considering the location. That's the first thought I had when I read Dubai, and I've travelled extensively. How safe is it really for a Western woman to live there on her own?
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  • Profile picture of the author EzraWinter
    It's a neat concept.

    Here's the angle I would take if it was my promo. Let me know what you think:

    Members of this "secret club" earn 5,000-7000 USD a month. And they do it TAX-FREE in sunny and sexy cities around the world

    The best part? Club members join by being experts on something YOU ALREADY KNOW WELL. Membership IS OPEN - but it's only for a limited time....

    The first rule of International Wealth Builder's Club is..

    Well I already broke it.

    You see, due to immigration and customs laws, only a limited number of people will ever be able to join...

    So us charter members try not to talk about it too much..

    But when you see the HUGE benefits it offers, you'll understand why I can't keep my trap shut:

    -Make $5,000 - $7,000 a month working overseas WITHOUT paying big US taxes...

    -Spend a lot of time on the beach, a lot of time with locals - and almost NO time in an office

    -Be an influencer in a young, yet wealthy economy

    -Spend time abroad, meeting (even dating...) young, ambitious people who LOVE expatriates

    -Enjoy a luxury lifestyle with a rock-bottom cost-of-living (It's like living in the best part of New York City while paying Idaho prices...)

    -Stay and build a career or RETURN with a set of job skills that put you WAY ABOVE other workers your age

    If any of that sounds good to you - I have good news - and even better news.

    The good news: I guarantee that the International Wealth Builders club is right for you.

    (More on that guarantee in a minute...)

    The really good news: As of RIGHT NOW there are 100 "charter member" slots open and you're invited...

    (Also, as of right now all charter members receive a copy of the famous Sun, Sea and Sexy Salary eBook - normally $49.95 - ABSOLUTELY FREE)
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    • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
      Originally Posted by EzraWinter View Post

      It's a neat concept.

      Here's the angle I would take if it was my promo. Let me know what you think:

      Members of this "secret club" earn 5,000-7000 USD a month. And they do it TAX-FREE in sunny and sexy cities around the world

      The best part? Club members join by being experts on something YOU ALREADY KNOW WELL. Membership IS OPEN - but it's only for a limited time....

      The first rule of International Wealth Builder's Club is..

      Well I already broke it.

      You see, due to immigration and customs laws, only a limited number of people will ever be able to join...

      So us charter members try not to talk about it too much..

      But when you see the HUGE benefits it offers, you'll understand why I can't keep my trap shut:

      -Make $5,000 - $7,000 a month working overseas WITHOUT paying big US taxes...

      -Spend a lot of time on the beach, a lot of time with locals - and almost NO time in an office

      -Be an influencer in a young, yet wealthy economy

      -Spend time abroad, meeting (even dating...) young, ambitious people who LOVE expatriates

      -Enjoy a luxury lifestyle with a rock-bottom cost-of-living (It's like living in the best part of New York City while paying Idaho prices...)

      -Stay and build a career or RETURN with a set of job skills that put you WAY ABOVE other workers your age

      If any of that sounds good to you - I have good news - and even better news.

      The good news: I guarantee that the International Wealth Builders club is right for you.

      (More on that guarantee in a minute...)

      The really good news: As of RIGHT NOW there are 100 "charter member" slots open and you're invited...

      (Also, as of right now all charter members receive a copy of the famous Sun, Sea and Sexy Salary eBook - normally $49.95 - ABSOLUTELY FREE)
      This isn't bad writing, but you're selling to confused recent college grads as if they are internet marketers. It's going to scare the target audience off.
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      • Profile picture of the author EzraWinter
        Originally Posted by Jason Kanigan View Post

        This isn't bad writing, but you're selling to confused recent college grads as if they are internet marketers. It's going to scare the target audience off.
        Hah - I'm currently working on a pretty "hard sale" package, for a very different demo. So it must be bleeding over.

        I will say that Tai Lopez (personal improvement niche) is making a KILLING on that millenial demo with some old-school hard sell copy...
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        • Profile picture of the author splitTest
          Your second version isn't horrible. Excellent header, in fact!

          Originally Posted by zth91 View Post

          Sun, Sea & Sexy Salary
          The blueprint to earning 5,000-7000 USD TAX FREE a month teaching English abroad, in one of the most desirable locations in the world, Dubai.


          Raydal makes a good point about story and authority. Angie makes a good point about breaking up that huge block of text in the testimonial.

          Here are my thoughts:

          ...I'm presuming you'll use enticing images that perfectly reinforce your message. Images will help this pitch a lot.

          ...Personally, I'd see about getting more testimonials, speaking to different benefits of the book...

          ...& where's your "risk reversal" -- money-back guarantee?

          ...Howsabout some real-life stats about teaching english in Dubai? Perhaps you can get some from the same source you've gotten your salary stats. Such stats might make good "proof" elements.

          ...I think the "In all honesty" paragraph is weak. Its improbable premise does the rest of the copy a disservice. Find some other more credible way of creating "scarcity."

          ...Is this a letter -- or an ad? If it's a letter (ie. you have all the space you need), no need to keep the copy short. Your prospects know nothing of your product, and aren't looking for anything like it -- perfect case for throwing everything but the kitchen sink in your copy. Long copy sells better than short when your customers are at that point in the buying process. Work in everything you think might make your case -- then cut back from there.

          But other than those points, your second version is a vaaast improvement over the first and worth a test.

          Much of the effectiveness of a piece of copy has to do with how well you target your audience. If you reach the right audience with that second version (and the audience is big enough), I wouldn't be surprised if it sells a few copies (that is, if such a product can sell at all, in an age where anyone can do their own research on the subject).
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    Hi everyone, I am bumping this thread. I would really love for you guys to get back to me with feedback for my new version of the copy.

    Wishing you all a great day,

    Zth91
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  • Profile picture of the author Complex
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author zth91
      Thanks for your reply complex. Concept definitely isn't flawed, all of the information is authentic. The September salary is my salary coming in earlier this month. Whether you don't think that's enough to call it a Gold Rush is another point.

      You make an interesting point about the video.

      Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
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      • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
        Originally Posted by zth91 View Post

        Thanks for your reply complex. Concept definitely isn't flawed, all of the information is authentic. The September salary is my salary coming in earlier this month. Whether you don't think that's enough to call it a Gold Rush is another point.

        You make an interesting point about the video.

        Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
        You =/= the market.

        You are a PIECE of the market. Research will tell you how LARGE a piece you are, or if you're a random outlier.

        Do not assume that your experience is valid for all people.

        RESEARCH.
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    Ahh, I see your point now. I spoke in quite alot of depth with the recruitment department of the organization I work for, they employ roughly 1000-2000 teachers across the UAE. The issue is that what they look for in a candidate IS different to what most other countries look for in a candidate, they're paying alot more and there is a REASON for that. Therefore if you go in for a job in UAE with the same approach as a job in Spain for example, the likeliness that you'll get the job is drastically reduced.

    I'd really appreciate some feedback on the copy itself as I did my best to incorporate as much of the feedback that was given to me, yet this seems to have been overlooked.

    All the best,

    ZTH91
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    • Profile picture of the author Tim R
      Originally Posted by zth91 View Post

      I'd really appreciate some feedback on the copy itself as I did my best to incorporate as much of the feedback that was given to me, yet this seems to have been overlooked.
      You seem overly focused on the copy, while people are trying to get you to look at this holistically. The copy is just one element, which by itself won't make this a success.

      For example, you've gone from a $25 e-book to a $1000 package. That's a pretty drastic leap.

      How did you make this decision? Was it based on research of what the market wants, or did you just decide to change it?

      Is there anybody else successfully selling a similar offer to the same market? Or are you just assuming there is a demand for a high-priced coaching service?

      Do you have a relationship built up with the people you're trying to sell to? This is the reason people use sales funnels, as it's unlikely you'll get people dropping 1K if they have no idea who you are. Why should they trust you with their money?

      I'm not in this target market at all, so maybe there really is demand for this. But I can't help wondering what I'd be getting that I couldn't work out for myself. A quick Google search shows plenty of places that are accepting applications. It doesn't sound overly difficult. If it is, you need to offer credible proof of why that's the case.

      I really don't know what I would be getting with your package. I don't care about 5xSkype sessions. I care about what I'm going to learn that is going to get me the job and save me a world of time and effort. I want to know why this isn't just the best option, but the only option.

      The bullets you have are poor. They're largely focused on features and not benefits. It's really not clear what I'd be getting, or why I even need it.

      All of your drafts so far feature a minimal amount of copy. For a 1K program there isn't nearly enough sales copy here. Take a look at some successful long form sales letters. There's just so many elements that are missing here.

      Like people keep pointing out to you, it all starts with research. You can't afford to bypass this stage. It's the #1 most important thing you can do right now.

      I'm guessing you're going to go ahead and put up a 4th revision, which will demonstrate that you're completely missing the point of the advice you're getting here.

      In any event, good luck with it.
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    • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
      Originally Posted by zth91 View Post


      I'd really appreciate some feedback on the copy itself as I did my best to incorporate as much of the feedback that was given to me, yet this seems to have been overlooked.

      ZTH91
      You want acknowledgment of the fact that you're working hard to incorporate the ideas. Consider it acknowledged.

      But like Tim said - the whole foundation is flawed. I'm not buyin' this house, dude.

      I'm not going to waste time deconstructing the copy to help you "make it better" when the whole thought process behind it is misinformed.

      I'm glad that you'll be back and that you'll keep practicing.

      It ALWAYS starts with research. You'll answer a lot of the questions you had here with your own research. And check the sticky for the checklist before the next round of posts.
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  • Profile picture of the author zth91
    Thank you all your replies guys, you're all right. I'm clearly looking at the wrong thing and not putting in enough research. Haha, no revision 4 Tim, back to studying the art and then doing some proper in-depth research before considering another write-up.

    Have a nice day everyone , you'll be seeing me in the near future.

    ZTH91
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  • Profile picture of the author joe golfer
    Imo, you are way over thinking it. Don't try so hard.

    Simplify.

    Pick one (1) person to write to -- an avatar.

    Talk to that one person, not a market.

    As others have said, join the conversation that one (1) person is having in their head, and build on that.

    Make it clear as glass. Simple. Clean. Easy to read. Fun. Make it crackle.

    Get them down the page. Let if flow. Break up long sentences and impenetrable paragraphs.

    Show, don't tell.

    Put me in the action.

    Instead of the clinical "proud and loving tone a father gives his son," try "he yelled so loud the dog started barking," or "he shouted with joy so loud the neighbor upstairs started yelling, 'Hey, keep it quiet down there.'"

    There are a lot of good elements, but overall I don't feel the connection to a specific person -- a single person you are trying to tell some really great news. Information that will change their life from here on!

    What do you do when you have GREAT NEWS you want to share with someone? You say it simply, directly, with enthusiasm, emotion and gusto.

    Like Brian McLeod said, we cut our wrists and bleed on the page.

    You've put in effort, and kudos to that, but I don't feel any bloodletting yet.
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