Confused Copywriter Confesses

Read the classic books first. They'll educate
you and help you develop discernment
about recent copywriting courses.

Hello Barbara,

As Loren pointed out: read the books and literature. In other threads within this Copywriting forum, you'd find specific authors such as Bly, Vitale, Kennedy, Ogilvy being recommended. It would be great if you could read up on their insights.

Also in your arsenal, especially if budget is an issue, google up resources/articles/ebooks to help you in your journey.

YouTube is another useful website. While working in broadcasting, this is where our department turned to for ideas and direction. Study the adverts you can watch there. Notice how you react to the visual and audio elements.

Create a swipe file - on your hard drive or physically. Save samples of sales pages/letters and adverts as a guide. It's not meant to be your portfolio!

But to hammer it all in, Barbara, you need to practice. Perfection is not your aim. Rather, in the words of Tony Buzan, learn with every attempt. Practice. Practice. Practice. Encourage feedback from friends and your network.

Hope this helps you, Barbara.



Cheers!

Aldric

Loren has the right idea. Read some of the classic books...

Here is a good list of some copywriting books. Some recent publications and some classic. http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ooks-ever.html

Now, there are also some other great free resources out there. Take Copywriting and Content Marketing Strategies | Copyblogger for instance. Or, CopySnips.com - The Copywriting Blog With Tips For The Busy Copy Writer

There is another great site I stumbled on recently: Info Marketing Blog | Direct Response Marketing | Copywriting ... Lawrence actually has a crap load of classic copy samples (which you can swipe). These are great pieces of copy art which you can dissect all day long!

As for starting for an ad agency or going at it freelancing... I guess that really depends on the sort of work setting you wish to have. Do you want to drive into an office everyday OR do you want to work for yourself? Both have obvious advantages and disadvantages, however, it is all up to you on that regard.

Which ever path you choose you still cannot go wrong learning from all of these excellent books and free resources.

Hi Barbara,

The question I'd suggest you ask yourself is how do you best learn any topic?

Read it in a book? Watch a video? Trial and error?

Some people learn things faster by reading it (visual learning). Others, by hearing it (auditory learning).

Once you can get clear on that, it narrows the field down considerably on how you should be learning. Stick with the media type that helps you learn the easiest or quickest manner.

The second question I'd suggest you ask yourself is what do you feel you need to get better at (or learn) to elevate your copywriting business to the next level?

Is it writing stronger or tighter copy?

Is it getting better at marketing yourself?

Is it stronger sales skills so you get better at closing a sale -- in your copy or your own copywriting business?

Prioritize your list and that should help you come up with a game plan on what you should study first and what media or format it should be.

If you're doing self-study, then you will come up with a list of books/courses/audios/videos/etc. of what you want to study.

If you are going the mentoring route, your copywriting coach can personalize their training to meet your needs and address your areas of weaknesses quickly. That's one of the biggest reasons why many people say that mentoring is one of the best ways to get really good as copywriter quickly. The downside to mentoring is it's more expensive than going the self-study route.

If you decide on mentoring, then there's a few threads in this copywriting forum where recommended mentors are mentioned.

If you decide on self-study, then check out the threads on recommended copywriting books and recommended copywriting courses.

One last thing... no matter what route you go, pick someone that you connect with. Look at their sales copy for something other than their book/course/training programs... is it the same style and tone that you connect with? Is it a style that you feel your copywriting style will someday naturally resemble?

There are some great copywriters out there that I couldn't write in their style if I tried... so I don't. There are some great copywriters out there that I could write like them any day of the week because my natural writing style is very similar to theirs.

Play to your strengths.

Anyways, hope that helps answer your questions.

Take care,

Mike

I recommend you to use a personal coach to start learning because you will have to need someone who gives you the examples in real time not like a book that can bore you easily...

Check here:

http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...-6-months.html

Stunning copywriter - Stunning course

Jason's great for sure. He's comprehensive, super-smart, super-supportive, and will teach you the fastest, most effective route from A to B. There's a ton of information out there, and a million and a half different styles/views/ways to approach things.

My advice starting out is to be careful of information overload. Learn as much as you can about the fundamentals of writing copy itself and read the classics. Then check out different copywriters and find someone whose particular style you dig and model that person. That's gonna make your life a million times easier than trying to absorb and apply everything you see.

Good luck!

~Renee

Barbara,

The best book to read should be one of the best, if not the best, and it should be free.

It's also in my sig. link - Scientific advertising.

Hi Barbara - Congrat's on choosing to pursue copywriting. Other than proposing to my wife, it was the best decision I ever made.

Like several people have said, make sure you read the classics: David Ogilvy, Bob Stone, Victor Schwab, Gene Schwartz, Claude Hopkins, John Caples, John E. Kennedy, and Richard Bensen.

At the same time, get yourself on the mailing lists for the modern masters:

Bob Bly: Copywriter - Bob Bly - Copywriting Services

Clayton Makepeace: The Total Package

Drayton Byrd: Free direct marketing library and DM answers from Drayton Bird | draytonbird.com

John Forde: "Learn to Sell or Else..."

John Carlton: http://www.john-carlton.com/

and (the late, great) Gary Halbert: The Gary Halbert Letter

You may also find Brian Clark's blog (Copywriting and Content Marketing Strategies | Copyblogger) and AWAI's article archive (Article Archive :: AWAI) to be valuable resources as well.

IMPORTANT TIP: Don't just read the e-mails and current articles on these sites -- Check out their archives, too. Many of Clayton Makepeace's best tips, tricks, and techniques are given away free in his articles.

One last tip: If you're looking to write catalog copy, you'll want to add Herschell Gordon Lewis to your reading list, too.

Hope this helps!

Len

PS: I also strongly recommend you pick up a copy of Bob Bly's book, The Copywriter's Handbook.

I always stufy the structure of other peoples sales letters. There are always things you can pick out that is a common theme.

Im no expert, but I think I can write a damn good copy if I believe in my product. I also got a very good course in the WSO section (search through it) for free. The writer breaks down a whole sales letter and its very easy to follow.

Hope this helps

Hi Barbara,

Get a Client. Even if it's yourself.

It will challenge you, it will demand of you, the best that you've got in the moment, copywriting-wise.

- Rick Duris

PS: At your stage, do not be afraid to do things "on spec" (on speculation the endeavor you're involved with will be successful.) You'll learn so much and it will teach you the ways of the world. And you may hit it out of the park.

Best of success.

Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins, start by reading that one document (it's freely available on a number of websites in pdf format). That one document will give you a foundational primer on advertising copy if that's the style you are beginning to write, there are others like technical copy, corporate copy etc...

hi! i also have the same problem. i'm a newbie and there are so many resources available online that it is so hard learning who's really great and who's the poser. thanks barbara! and if there are any other great writers that you guys like please tell me. thanks!