VINDICATION - Six Months Copywriting Boot Camp Paid Off

11 replies
First off... thank you, thank you, thank you guys for your critiques.

Over the past six months I have written - and tested - over 55 sales letters.

As you can imagine, most of them bombed.

But... after all these disasters... I've finally 'absorbed' the skills needed to write copy that creates a six figure revenue for a business. Because I have.

Here's what I've learned:

Copy must be emotional. You must emotionally engage prospects early and often. Here's a spreadsheet I put together loaded with emotional words:

Zoho Sheet - Online Spreadsheets

Build a belief 'bridge' from your prospect to your product. Each paragraph should get the prospect agree with what you've said. All these little agreements lead up to a sale.

Video and graphics are crucial. I can't wait for the 'top guns' to read this... and I expect a lot of flak for it. But in my experience taking the time to communicate your sales message in as many formats as possible will only drive sales.

Some people read, others watch TV. Why not appeal to both?

Read a handful of copywriting books. Just a few. I read everything I could get my hands on... but only two really mattered: Tested Advertising Methods and Breakthrough Advertising (one of the best books I've ever read).

Copy a sales letter a day. This is the hard part. But it really, really works. The little nuances work their way into your fingers.

Copy anything on this site:

Info Marketing Blog | Direct Response Marketing | Copywriting

You get a feel for the rhythm and pace, as well as the transitions.

And speaking of transitions, you better master those as well:

101 Mind-Grabbing Bucket Brigade That Will Keep Your Prospects Eyes Glued To Your Sales Pitch!

You see, copywriting is just like playing a guitar. At first, you gotta master the mechanics... and then you start making beautiful music.

Believe me, I'm by no means a 'top gun' copywriter. But I'm learning and growing each and every day... and you can too!

To your success,

Coz
#boot #camp #copywriting #months #paid #vindication
  • Profile picture of the author Scott Murdaugh
    Congratz!

    And I agree with most everything you've said.

    Regarding video, I'm going to say 75% of the time over the last few months I've been going with a video in combination with copy and clients have seen some serious conversion boosts as a result. Just like the copy though, you need to get the video right.

    I'm sure the books and training helped...

    But my guess is this is why you've found success...

    Over the past six months I have written - and tested - over 55 sales letters.
    And this...

    Copy a sales letter a day.
    Books and training are great.

    But the best way to learn it is to just do it. And writing/testing 55 sales letters is definitely one way of getting out there and doing it!

    Glad to hear the good news. Maybe it'll inspire some of the people stuck in "learning mode" to get out there and start doing it.

    Again, congratz!

    -Scott
    Signature

    Over $30 Million In Marketing Data And A Decade Of Consistently Generating Breakthrough Results - Ask How My Unique Approach To Copy Typically Outsells Traditional Ads By Up To 29x Or More...

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  • Profile picture of the author ericthered
    Coz ,

    thanks for one of the most useful and practical posts I've seen on here in a while!

    What I got from it - a little learning ,and LOT of practice!

    Even Doctors and Lawyers go to school for years, then start PRACTICING law and medicine.

    Simple, but not easy.

    Eric
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    • Profile picture of the author cozandeffect
      Yep. It's amazing how you can bang your head against the wall for so long... then suddenly... it makes a giant, heaping, steaming pile of sense.

      This is the best day of my YEAR.

      Here's another goodie for you guys:

      cozandeffect1981's Bookmarks on Delicious

      This is the list of (mostly) copywriting resources I've amassed the past six months. It's pretty awesome.

      Enjoy!

      Coz
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Copy must be emotional. You must emotionally engage prospects early and often. Here's a spreadsheet I put together loaded with emotional words:
    Emotional copy is written by using the words rolling around in your prospect's head and by using words that trigger the appropriate emotion in your prospect.

    Don't fall into the trap of thinking if you use certain words from a list, you'll automatically have emotional copy.

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author cozandeffect
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post

      Emotional copy is written by using the words rolling around in your prospect's head and by using words that trigger the appropriate emotion in your prospect.

      Don't fall into the trap of thinking if you use certain words from a list, you'll automatically have emotional copy.

      Alex
      Of course not. The prospect's mind is the only real place where copy
      takes place.

      However, some words carry more punch than others.

      Instead of saying "This program can make you money" I can pull a few
      words from the list and say "This breakthrough program reveals never-before-seen secrets on how successful people quickly and easily make a small fortune online."

      The meaning is the same, but the second packs more punch.

      I find when I'm scanning a webpage many of the words on that list
      are the ones that catch my eye and force me to slow down.

      All in all, it's just a means to an end: promoting ACTION.

      Best,

      Coz
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  • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
    Originally Posted by cozandeffect View Post

    Build a belief 'bridge' from your prospect to your product. Each paragraph should get the prospect agree with what you've said. All these little agreements lead up to a sale.

    Coz
    Congrats Coz!

    Love hearing success stories and feeding back to us what you learnt.

    As I was going through your post I was verbally saying
    yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

    I can tell you are well on the way because you talk
    about the nuances.

    The quote above reminds me that is a great way to check
    your and others work to see if it passes that test.

    All the best,
    Ewen
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  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    Sweet, so you went from no copywriting to 6-figure copywriting in 6 months?

    If so sounds to me like you have a WSO on your hands

    Best of Luck,

    Justin
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    • Profile picture of the author cozandeffect
      Originally Posted by Justin Mandel View Post

      Sweet, so you went from no copywriting to 6-figure copywriting in 6 months?

      If so sounds to me like you have a WSO on your hands

      Best of Luck,

      Justin

      Ugh... no way dude. I'm still somewhere between a copy cub and top gun.

      But thanks for the idea.

      Cheers,

      Coz
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      • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
        Coz, props on your 6 months of stick-to-it-ness. Don't lose the hunger.

        --- Ross
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Newman
    Coz,

    It is always a heart-warming experience to read stories that validate the role of tenacity as a key ingredient in our quest for success.It seems success is not for the faint-hearted.Your story is inspiring.Thank you for sharing.
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