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"Prove you're Good at Writing Copy by Selling your Own Product"

by Tripleyeti
13 replies
This is advice I've seen on this forum a few times and another forum.

I think it's a great idea! Having great numbers to prove my copy sells in cold emails to potential clients would be...more than helpful.

Here's the problem: what can I sell?

It's winter, but I'm willing to hang flyers anywhere and put up door hangers, but I'm not interested in running a service business, or starting one with a business partner. I just want to sell through the written word.

I've helped around 15 businesses for free I found on Reddit and have been paid by three or four others. I'm even hungrier to write now than when I started.

Just wondering if anybody had any ideas on what I could sell. The biggest two problems I see are getting eyes on what I write, and the thing I'm selling.

Chime in with advice, experience, favorite order at Starbucks, etc...
  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    Drop shipping. White labeling Amazon products. Hitting up all the neighborhood garage sales and resale shops, picking up a box of crap on the cheap, and selling it at a markup.

    I disagree with the "prove you're good at writing copy by selling your own stuff" advice because it requires you to learn copy but take it a step beyond - understand how to start and operate a business. Some people make better "tell me what you want" creatives. Some can put on both biz owner hat AND copywriter hat and make magic happen.

    What you really need to do here is understanding that your task is two-fold - running a business, and selling things. It means you need to understand things like margin and costs (like shipping) as well as the channels where you'd reach an audience, who you're talking to, and how to appeal to them.

    You ready for that?

    If you are, get out there, fall on your face, and keep getting back up. It's really that simple and that hard.
    Signature

    Aspiring copywriters: if you need 1:1 advice from an experienced copy chief, head over to my Phone a Friend page.

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    • Profile picture of the author Tripleyeti
      Wise words that I've been pondering over. Thank you.
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      • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
        Originally Posted by Tripleyeti View Post

        Wise words that I've been pondering over. Thank you.
        *****************
        From Fiverr Your
        Description

        I'm a copywriter who loves expresses small businesses in a way customers understand. I also love browsing Reddit! My favorite subreddit is r/Entrepreneur.

        Read this aloud. Does it even make sense to you? And as for your love of Reddit,
        SO WHAT?

        I will create articulate and persuasive sales, ad, and website copywriting

        Sir, you are NOT a professional copywriter, maybe for a Fiverr???

        Suggest you start with your Fiverr offer and clean it up and make it an example of your writing, because if you leave it as it is, don't get your hopes up.

        GordonJ
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        • Profile picture of the author Tripleyeti
          Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

          *****************
          From Fiverr Your
          Description

          I'm a copywriter who loves expresses small businesses in a way customers understand. I also love browsing Reddit! My favorite subreddit is r/Entrepreneur.

          Read this aloud. Does it even make sense to you? And as for your love of Reddit,
          SO WHAT?

          I will create articulate and persuasive sales, ad, and website copywriting

          Sir, you are NOT a professional copywriter, maybe for a Fiverr???

          Suggest you start with your Fiverr offer and clean it up and make it an example of your writing, because if you leave it as it is, don't get your hopes up.

          GordonJ
          True. Thanks for the helpful critique.
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    • Profile picture of the author wrcato2
      Well if you are not interested in creating a business, I would find a niche that interests you. NO sense in going with something you won’t stick with, because, if it doesn’t interest you you will probably get bored with it and walk a way.
      Next I would find an affiliate product. One that you actually purchase and use. Then just start promoting the thing.
      But since you like to write and probably want to write sales copy, I would spend time creating an ebook, the sales copy, and about 7 emails in sequence. Attach an affiliate program to it, giving the affiliates 100% of the profits while you sit back and build a buyers list.
      By doing this you just took care of one of your weaknesses, getting traffic to your site.
      Hope this helps.
      Signature
      Bite Size Bets “How to Cash in Big Time Placing Small Bets - You're No-Cost Guide To Domain Investing."
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by Tripleyeti View Post

    Here's the problem: what can I sell?
    Create an info product and sell it.

    The topic could be on a subject you know a lot about. Or you could pick a topic, read a few books on it, and then create the info product.

    In 2007, I created a lead generation system for my business (it was brick and mortar). The first sales letter I ever wrote was to sell the system to local businesses in other cities.

    First copy sold at $595. The last at $1,495.

    Too bad Google changed the rules... I could have sold a bunch more copies.

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author Tripleyeti
      Thanks for the comment. I like this idea.

      The main problem I see for myself is where do I find eyes willing to read about my product?

      With a local service I could just go out and hang flyers, and the like. With a product that's only online the only thing I can think of is buying FB ads and the like.

      The info-product could be aimed at small businesses, I suppose. Then I could just send the small business owners emails, direct mail, etc.

      I think I'm kind of rambling. Any other wisdom you'd like to add? I'd gladly read it!
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      • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
        Originally Posted by Tripleyeti View Post

        Thanks for the comment. I like this idea.

        The main problem I see for myself is where do I find eyes willing to read about my product?

        With a local service I could just go out and hang flyers, and the like. With a product that's only online the only thing I can think of is buying FB ads and the like.

        The info-product could be aimed at small businesses, I suppose. Then I could just send the small business owners emails, direct mail, etc.

        I think I'm kind of rambling. Any other wisdom you'd like to add? I'd gladly read it!
        I posted this up 2 days ago:

        http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...thing-all.html

        Post #69. Thrice, I have shown new warriors how to use their SIG files to get initial eyeballs on their promotion.

        I haven't yet found a simpler template to get started, if anyone has one, I'd appreciate the share.

        This template has the following requirements:

        A Dropbox account FREE
        Open Office FREE (or Word or doc creator)
        PayPal ( or other payment processor)

        Here is a ONE page promotion for a one page product: I used Open Office and Exported as a pdf (lots of free doc to pdf free converters online)

        https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...otcheetwad.pdf

        This is the PRODUCT they rec'd:
        https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...cheatsheet.pdf

        The first eyeballs (and for the most part, the only ones needed) came from my signature file here at WF, usually keep them about a month.

        ONE page promotion
        ONE page product.
        FREE hosting (dropbox)
        FREE ad (sig file)

        IF there is an easier way or cheaper way to get started, do tell.

        Also this product shows you how to create and/or acquire a FREE product you can turn into a one page hotsheet you can sell.

        Any questions?

        GordonJ
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        • Profile picture of the author Tripleyeti
          Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

          I posted this up 2 days ago:

          http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...thing-all.html

          Post #69. Thrice, I have shown new warriors how to use their SIG files to get initial eyeballs on their promotion.

          I haven't yet found a simpler template to get started, if anyone has one, I'd appreciate the share.

          This template has the following requirements:

          A Dropbox account FREE
          Open Office FREE (or Word or doc creator)
          PayPal ( or other payment processor)

          Here is a ONE page promotion for a one page product: I used Open Office and Exported as a pdf (lots of free doc to pdf free converters online)

          https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...otcheetwad.pdf

          This is the PRODUCT they rec'd:
          https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...cheatsheet.pdf

          The first eyeballs (and for the most part, the only ones needed) came from my signature file here at WF, usually keep them about a month.

          ONE page promotion
          ONE page product.
          FREE hosting (dropbox)
          FREE ad (sig file)

          IF there is an easier way or cheaper way to get started, do tell.

          Also this product shows you how to create and/or acquire a FREE product you can turn into a one page hotsheet you can sell.

          Any questions?

          GordonJ
          Hey, this is good stuff. Thanks for quoting yourself from another thread. I'll be digesting this more tonight and tomorrow.
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        • Profile picture of the author Tripleyeti
          Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post



          The first eyeballs (and for the most part, the only ones needed) came from my signature file here at WF, usually keep them about a month.

          Any questions?

          GordonJ
          I do have a question: is this really enough traffic to get some sales? Roughly how many did you get from only your signature on here?

          I love this idea and it really helps out my situation. Many thanks.
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          • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
            Originally Posted by Tripleyeti View Post

            I do have a question: is this really enough traffic to get some sales? Roughly how many did you get from only your signature on here?

            I love this idea and it really helps out my situation. Many thanks.
            They allege a million subscribers here. Let's cut that in half, then look at daily stats, at any given time you could have 2-3K members signed in.

            Whether people click on your sig file depends on how it is written, and then, where it goes. The message to audience match is important.

            In the last 32 years of online I've never given out sales figures, see no reason to start now. But more importantly is an understanding of things...which most lack.

            A BUYER, is by a billion dollars worth of data proof, 10x move valuable than a tire kicker looky-loo, even if it is only 1, 2 or 3 dollars...that act of buying separates them into customers and not just prospects.

            You could pay to run a WSO, but the sig file is free.

            Let me give you the possible, say out of the thousands on line, only 10 clicked on my sig file. Maybe only 2 or 3 will send the three bux, probably because they know me or like my answers and it is a no brainer amount of money.

            So 2 sales. Hardly worth my time? Chances are 1 of those is going to buy my Automatic Product Vending course right there, the other buyer will be on a list of offers which are in synch. Since my list has a lifetime value of over 1,000 dollars, albeit it, over a 3 year period...is it worth my time to spend a couple of hours, create a product I can sell forever, set it up on autopilot...

            give it away as an example
            offer more details for other products
            get to talk to 2 new people (buyers)
            get referrals, possibly do a joint venture

            For me, the answer is absolutely,

            and in many cases, I don't even spend an hour on a HOTSHEET. And when you consider over the last 31 years, I've had scores of offers, and just from the WF sig file alone, I have a list of over 900 buyers. Many have become customers over the years.

            So, if you take a long term look at, from the perspective:

            You need to get started selling something ASAP
            It is the easiest, by far, model to get started.

            IF, you have any clue about how valuable a lifetime customer is, and go out of your way to over deliver, and make sure SATISFACTION is their experience.

            The answer is:

            IF you can't make a sale from the minimum traffic your sig file generates, no need to scale it up, is there? Hard to go from zero to retirement without making sales.

            It is a perfect way to test your copywriting skills, without any cost.

            Can you sell or not?

            That is the question. A single sale, gives a foundation to scale, and we know why Warriors are here, right?

            GordonJ
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            • Profile picture of the author Tripleyeti
              Originally Posted by GordonJ View Post

              They allege a million subscribers here. Let's cut that in half, then look at daily stats, at any given time you could have 2-3K members signed in.

              Whether people click on your sig file depends on how it is written, and then, where it goes. The message to audience match is important.

              In the last 32 years of online I've never given out sales figures, see no reason to start now. But more importantly is an understanding of things...which most lack.

              A BUYER, is by a billion dollars worth of data proof, 10x move valuable than a tire kicker looky-loo, even if it is only 1, 2 or 3 dollars...that act of buying separates them into customers and not just prospects.

              You could pay to run a WSO, but the sig file is free.

              Let me give you the possible, say out of the thousands on line, only 10 clicked on my sig file. Maybe only 2 or 3 will send the three bux, probably because they know me or like my answers and it is a no brainer amount of money.

              So 2 sales. Hardly worth my time? Chances are 1 of those is going to buy my Automatic Product Vending course right there, the other buyer will be on a list of offers which are in synch. Since my list has a lifetime value of over 1,000 dollars, albeit it, over a 3 year period...is it worth my time to spend a couple of hours, create a product I can sell forever, set it up on autopilot...

              give it away as an example
              offer more details for other products
              get to talk to 2 new people (buyers)
              get referrals, possibly do a joint venture

              For me, the answer is absolutely,

              and in many cases, I don't even spend an hour on a HOTSHEET. And when you consider over the last 31 years, I've had scores of offers, and just from the WF sig file alone, I have a list of over 900 buyers. Many have become customers over the years.

              So, if you take a long term look at, from the perspective:

              You need to get started selling something ASAP
              It is the easiest, by far, model to get started.

              IF, you have any clue about how valuable a lifetime customer is, and go out of your way to over deliver, and make sure SATISFACTION is their experience.

              The answer is:

              IF you can't make a sale from the minimum traffic your sig file generates, no need to scale it up, is there? Hard to go from zero to retirement without making sales.

              It is a perfect way to test your copywriting skills, without any cost.

              Can you sell or not?

              That is the question. A single sale, gives a foundation to scale, and we know why Warriors are here, right?

              GordonJ
              Are you an angel? Thank you. My mind is being filled with great information!

              Your hotsheet cheatsheet is wonderful.

              I like your idea of starting out with the signature and testing it there. What if the audience isn't on this site? My thoughts would be to pay the $25 for Google adwords and get the $75 free as a tester.

              That seems like a decent way to see if an idea is there or not. If no sales, cut it. If I do get a few, ramp it up.
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              • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
                Originally Posted by Tripleyeti View Post

                Are you an angel? Thank you. My mind is being filled with great information!

                Your hotsheet cheatsheet is wonderful.

                I like your idea of starting out with the signature and testing it there. What if the audience isn't on this site? My thoughts would be to pay the $25 for Google adwords and get the $75 free as a tester.

                That seems like a decent way to see if an idea is there or not. If no sales, cut it. If I do get a few, ramp it up.
                Both are affordable to throw some traffic at your promotion. Add statcounter or other tracking. If you have the right targeted traffic, then it comes down to your copy...and whether or not you should call yourself a copywriter.

                Good luck.

                GordonJ
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