Getting Started In Copywriting...When You Have Nothing To Start With...

Exactly!

I'm a young copywriter and this is how I got my first few clients. After that I went looking for Clickbank weaklings. Find a product that: (1) you're a solid prospect for; and (2) that has a sales page that doesn't sell you at all. Buy the product, study it, and re-write the sales page.

It's great practice and the product cost . . . is an investment in your copywriting experience. And if your page converts better - you'll make your "bones" and you'll be off to the races.

Also - this is my first post here - long time lurker. Great to finally post.

1. Build a portfolio of your work and send it to design agencies. That's how I started. Typically, designers just want to design but many of their clients expect them to provide the copy, too. Let the agency know that your skills could help them make more money as an additional service they can offer their clients.

2. Build a personal blog. Once a week, deconstruct and improve a piece of copy. Show people what you can do.

3. Emphasise the psychology behind great copy. It's not just pretty words strung together (which, in fact, often makes the worst copy). Show people the skill involved. One of the biggest frustrations about being a copywriter is that everyone assumes it's easy (most people can write, after all).

4. Promote yourself on Twitter.

I found these techniques successful. Ironically, I never wanted to be a copywriter but by doing the above, I was turning away work until I finally decided to quit and pursue something I was more passionate about.

Good luck.

Cheers, that's good advice

My problem is that I do not know how good I actually am at copy. I studied it for one semester - one module - so learnt a little bit, but I have not read any books on copywriting, and I have not really attempted it before I now want to offer it as a service.

I think I understand how to build the copy, but I do not know for sure, as I do not know the background to it, it's just little bits I remember and my own personal opinion of what works.

Cheers Marc.

Reading back, that post sounded very unimpressive! I know I can sell - I managed 60% more than my peer group when I worked in B2B - it's just translating this into something that works. But you will get to see some of my copy soon enough, maybe I'll ask for some opinions: everyone loves a little ego stroking

This is how I started in web copywriting as well -- by finding websites that didn't have compelling copy and offering up some solid copy. Works like a charm!

Erin

Hey, liked your post, but I didn't see what books you mentioned "in the stickys at the top." What would those be? I have a BA in English but have not had courses or experience in copywriting ( I did buy Copywriting for Dummies though). Any advice on material would be appreciated HUGELY, as I hate my current job and need to get out doing something that looks much more interesting and more lucrative.

You mean those books in the link at the top that says "Top Copywriting Books Ever"?

Hope this helps.

Excellent post!
Now even the newbies don't have any excuses not to get out there and do it!

I love this place...people helping each other.

Persuasive writing is persuasive writing is persuasive writing.

The same basic techniques apply to all of these media. You just have to pick the most impactful ones when faced with space constraints.

And don't be fooled. Short writing can be a lot ******* harder than long form.

That's how I got started, granted it was a WSO I bought which was a really good product but had terrible copy. After that the same guy hired me to write a 20 email auto responder sequence for him.