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If you had to pick 1 book...

by Emkayu
18 replies
...and only 1 book, to teach someone about copywriting, what would it be?
I need to write a fair amount of copy for some of my projects and as I did with my design career, I want to start with a book, what do you guys recommend?
#book #pick
  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
    Banned
    Look at the Sticky Threads at the top of the forum...

    http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ooks-ever.html
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve The Copywriter
      But if you could only choose one go for -

      How To Write A Good Advertisement - by Victor O. Schwab


      And the second choice is -

      The Ultimate Sales Letter - Dan Kennedy.

      Both on amazon under $15.00 a pop - brilliant investments.

      Hope this helps,

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Emkayu
        Originally Posted by Steve Copywriter View Post

        But if you could only choose one go for -

        How To Write A Good Advertisement - by Victor O. Schwab


        And the second choice is -

        The Ultimate Sales Letter - Dan Kennedy.

        Both on amazon under $15.00 a pop - brilliant investments.

        Hope this helps,

        Steve
        I've heard good things about the ultimate sales letter, might pick it up!
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  • Profile picture of the author maximus242
    The best advice I ever got on the subject was Reality In Advertising by Rosser Reeves
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  • Profile picture of the author belleinc
    Everyone has pretty much said all the books and the book I like (Tested Advertising Methods) but I also like reading The Gary Halbert Letter

    Lotsa a great free copywriting stuff on that site...
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Hill
    I don't know if this is technically considered a book, but Clayton Makepeace's Quickstart Copywriting System is over 1,000 pages (filling 2 big notebooks) of great information.

    If I could have just one book, I'd pick that one because of the width and depth. It's a mile wide AND a mile deep. It's not cheap, though.

    If it had to be a regular book one could get at Amazon and not break the bank, Bob Bly's "The Copywriter's Handbook" is a well-rounded education, as are many of the books on the "Top Copywriting Books...Ever" list in this forum.

    It really depends on what you need to know - whether it is a wide overview or a tightly focused study (like on sales letters in particular, in which case something like the Kennedy sales letter book will get you on your way).
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
    Vin will hate me for this (the first thing he does for students is tell them to read the Schwab book)...

    But I fell in love with the Adweek Copywriter's Handbook by Sugarman.

    I've heard great things about "Triggers" too, though I haven't read it yet - I've been told it's very similar to the Adweek book though.

    -Daniel
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    Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.

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    • Profile picture of the author Cataclysmic
      I'm not an expert copywriter, but few days ago I heard an affiliate network owner say that if you're going to read 10 books, read "Cashvertising" 10 times, and then move on to other books.

      I'm half way through Cashvertising now and loving it
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Sanchez
      Originally Posted by Daniel Scott View Post

      Vin will hate me for this (the first thing he does for students is tell them to read the Schwab book)...

      But I fell in love with the Adweek Copywriter's Handbook by Sugarman.

      I've heard great things about "Triggers" too, though I haven't read it yet - I've been told it's very similar to the Adweek book though.

      -Daniel

      AMEN brother! Pure, unadulterated persuasion principles earned after years of experience from the "school of hard knocks". Sugarman's insight, intuition and salesmanship amaze me more than UV rays bouncing off of Blu-Blocker sunglasses.
      My favorite copywriting book by far.

      (plus I don't think he ever really used a swipe file...never mentioned using it in his books)

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      • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
        Originally Posted by Daniel Sanchez View Post


        AMEN brother! Pure, unadulterated persuasion principles earned after years of experience from the "school of hard knocks". Sugarman's insight, intuition and salesmanship amaze me more than UV rays bouncing off of Blu-Blocker sunglasses.
        My favorite copywriting book by far.

        (plus I don't think he ever really used a swipe file...never mentioned using it in his books)

        I thought he mentioned it in the Adweek Copywriting Handbook - though IIRC he only mentioned it in passing.

        Or I could be completely wrong. First time for everything, right?

        -Daniel
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        Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.

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        • Profile picture of the author Grain
          Triggers - Joe sugarman or how to sell anything - harry browne.
          Technicalities-wise, it'll be better to go with sugarman. Great sales insights.

          Good luck.
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          Kind Regards,
          Grain.

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  • Profile picture of the author Ross Bowring
    "Cashvertising" is great for a beginner. Fun book, and on a personal level it includes some local to Philly marketing examples like the "Nifty Fifties" restaurant that I drive past on Grant Avenue.

    "How To Write A Good Ad" is worth it for the one chapter alone where the author puts you into the mind of a prospect.

    "What To Expect When You're Expecting" I found wasn't about copywriting at all.

    --- Ross
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  • Profile picture of the author ThomasOMalley
    Richard Hodgson's Greatest Direct Mail Sales Letter book. This is a great swipe file with excellent sections on letter opening, closes, P.S etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author ASCW
    Schwabs "How to write a good advertisement" book - is probably the most practical for a beginner who just needs to a book to act as a guide.

    Cashvertising if you just want a crash course on multiple advertising concepts.

    Scientific Advertising - is probably the most important book on advertising. But not exactly the most practical for someone who just needs a guide to run with.
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      The book I learned more from than any other book when I was learning copywriting was Cash Copy by Jeffrey Lant. I hate to say this because he's an obnoxious person, but he certainly did drive home the fundamental points of copywriting in a dramatic, effective and unforgettable way.

      Marcia Yudkin
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      Check out Marcia Yudkin's No-Hype Marketing Academy for courses on copywriting, publicity, infomarketing, marketing plans, naming, and branding - not to mention the popular "Marketing for Introverts" course.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kenneth L
    If I had to pick just one book it would be Dan Kennedy's 'Ultimate Sales Letter'. It crystallizes the process of writing copy into such an understandable step-by-step formula, that it is very hard to go wrong with it.

    If I had to have just one online resource it would be The Gary Halbert Letter followed very closely by Bencivenga Bullets.
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