Is Copy Dead Or Not?

http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...-part-one.html

Harry,

It really depends on how you get clients and "where you fish"

I've found that here on the WF, there's always someone willing
to write it for less... and there's an entire glut of "marketers"
who don't value copy... and will indeed shop for the lowest price.

However, the big clients, the ones making money... they still
value good copy and will pay for it. Yes, those jobs are much
harder to land... because the competition is so stiff.

But just like any field, if you become known as someone who
can produce winners, you'll get plenty of business.

One thing I've been doing a lot of the last few years is
working with local businesses... folks you can talk to,
meet in person, establish a relationship with, and then
work closely with... offering more value in the way of
overall business growth strategies and not just copy.

For example, I work with a lot of local realtors, spas, gyms,
and other businesses. But instead of just copy, I help them
with low cost marketing and advertising like display ads,
social media marketing, email marketing, etc...

So, instead of just copy, I help them in all areas of their
marketing... which increases my value. So instead of fighting
for a $500 copy job here on WF... I can make $3,000 to $5,000
working with local businesses, helping them in all areas of their
business growth.

Like with any market, I just think you have to adapt and change
with the times, and I've had good luck transitioning from straight
copywriter to overall business growth strategist... which then also
helps me share in the growth of the companies I work with.

You can probably find enough copywriting in a 50 mile radius of your house to last you 100 years.

Here's one example. Many businesses (most?) have a strange habit of forgetting about past customers that haven't bought in a while. I don't know if they get too busy or don't know how to get them back or what their deal is.

I do know you can write an ad with an irresistible offer (email or direct mail) to get these customers back. Arrange a percentage of every new dollar the "found" customers spend.

I'll bet if you visited 10 stores at the nearest strip mall you'd get one to take you up on your offer.

Writers complaining about rates are not marketing hard enough, or are not positioning themselves clearly enough to provide any differentiation. And if you show people you can make money for them, eventually the tide turns, and the business starts to find you.

Who do you think writes videos... plumbers???

Videos are written by copywriters and product owners who know how to write copy (persuade).

Any video not written persuasively does not make many sales... if any at all.

Alex

Copy writing is far, far from dead. You will still need a copy writer to write scripts for video sales letters. Write copy for commercials, for advertisements, ect.
It will never die.
I would like to see the ceo's write there own copy and then within 6 months they will be true believers of copy writers. But it will only be when their business is flat broke and they are borrowing from China or worse selling out Al Jazeera.

If you're focusing on copywriting that produces results...real
trackable sales...then the rules change.

When the person who hires you is keeping track of the conversion
of a sales letter he also knows how much more he can make if
your copy has a higher conversion.

And he's going to be highly aware of which copywriters are more
likely to produce a higher response.

If you're not talking about strategies that might increase response
with these kinds of prospects then you're not even in the game.


Bottom line: the clients who pay a lot of money for copy are looking
to get a big return from that copy.

So if you want high paying copywriting gigs you need to be focused
on getting real results for your clients.

It's not about finding someone who'll pay you more, it's about
helping your clients make more money. When they make more money
they'll have more money to invest with you.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

Dude, it's all relative. If you invest for value and hire a decent copywriter, you're going to spend money but you're also going to make it. Then you'll have more money to invest on a great writer, then you'll make your profits, then you'll have more money to invest...etc.

Works the other way too. There are companies winning and companies losing, then there are companies that are just squeaking by. It's always been this way, it always will. There are just more of us now.

Same deal with copywriters. Those who can write, but can't sell won't be able to charge premium fees. So they'll work with companies who have to hire cheap. Companies that have to hire cheap usually never make enough money to invest in a good copywriter. It's a tireless downward spiral (or a friggin' merry go round of a rat race).

Cheap attracts cheap, value attracts value.

Low copywriting rates aren't a bad thing either They separate the mere writers from the writers who can SELL. Maybe writing doesn't pay all that well anymore. But if you can sell with words, you'll never be without work....or money.

Unless of course, you have some life controlling habit that sucks up all your money, but that's another story.

hhhusted,

I think marketing is breaking into the "haves" and "have-nots".

Or, more simply put, the demand at the high end is higher, and everything else is becoming a commoditity.

This a great time to be excellent. And everybody else is S.O.L.

Better positioning, better credbility, better results, better professionalism will always be in demand.

The question is this:


Don't benchmark average. Don't benchmark above average. Don't benchmark good.

Go for excellent, or go home.

Adam