Attention copywriting Newbs...

11 replies
the art of copywriting is fairly straight forward. unlike most forms of sales that require a fast thinking brain, and quick lips to match - copy writing actually works better if you take your time. ( not to say if that you have to go slowly just that thinking out your approach often works more often then not.

to become a passable or dare I say great copy writer requires only a few simple to say but hard to do tasks. these tasks are:

1) read great copy everyday
2) rewrite the great copy you just read.

all great copy share the same qualities:

  1. benefits over features
  2. what is the problem
  3. how to fix the problem
  4. the cost of the product
  5. a strong close and call to action
  6. a P.S.
the order isn't always the same but these elements can always be found.


taking the time to study and rewrite great copy, will hard wire these elements into you. after awhile writing your own copy will get easier and easier, you will find it flowing from your consciousness. copy that used to take you days now only takes you hours.



also here is a link to a site that has some great copy that you can start studying today.


Gary Halbert



have a good day,


Jonathan
#attention #copywriting #newbs
  • Profile picture of the author Daedalus15
    Well said and a great link.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonwebb
    Thank you for the kind words.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matt011
    I just read the Gary Halbert letter for the first time last week. One of the problems I was having was where to find the ads he mentioned. I'm not having that problem anymore. Thank you so much for your post!
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonwebb
      Originally Posted by Matt011 View Post

      I just read the Gary Halbert letter for the first time last week. One of the problems I was having was where to find the ads he mentioned. I'm not having that problem anymore. Thank you so much for your post!
      anytime matt, glad I could help
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  • Profile picture of the author Tenzho
    Thanks a lot for this great tips!

    Just one question, the "rewrite the great copy you just read."
    Does that means you rewrite the copy word by word, or rewrite
    it in your own words promoting the same product?
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonwebb
      Originally Posted by Tenzho View Post

      Thanks a lot for this great tips!

      Just one question, the "rewrite the great copy you just read."
      Does that means you rewrite the copy word by word, or rewrite
      it in your own words promoting the same product?
      No, I mean word for word copying, with this exercise you aren't trying to resell the product your trying to initialize the format, the picture the way they phrased the USP. No matter what your learning we all imulate the greats.
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  • Profile picture of the author ColeWriting
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  • Profile picture of the author LexiB
    Great post and great link but a written sales message is the lowest converting sales medium regardless of how good someone is or how fast someones brain works.

    A half way decent salesperson in a face to face situation will have a higher closing ratio than the best copywriter in the world. Just like a good salesperson will have a higher closing ratio than a great telemarketer.

    1. face to face
    2. telephone
    3. written

    The reach of the medium is backwards though. Written has the most reach followed by the phone then face to face. So in a perfect world, the best way to sell would be to write prospects, call to qualify and see to pitch and close.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonwebb
      Originally Posted by LexiB View Post

      Great post and great link but a written sales message is the lowest converting sales medium regardless of how good someone is or how fast someones brain works.

      A half way decent salesperson in a face to face situation will have a higher closing ratio than the best copywriter in the world. Just like a good salesperson will have a higher closing ratio than a great telemarketer.

      1. face to face
      2. telephone
      3. written

      The reach of the medium is backwards though. Written has the most reach followed by the phone then face to face. So in a perfect world, the best way to sell would be to write prospects, call to qualify and see to pitch and close.

      A true but random statement, I don't think i implied that copy was a more effective then face to face sales. Only that sales copy didnt require a quick as a fox brain to be effective.
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  • Profile picture of the author LexiB
    Originally Posted by thugpoet View Post

    unlike most forms of sales that require a fast thinking brain, and quick lips to match - copy writing actually works better if you take your time.
    That's what I was pointing out.

    The rest of what you said I think is great advice though. And you really can't beat Halbert when it comes to copywriting. My grandfather has an old set of VHS tapes from a Hurricane Andrew seminar he did with a bunch of other people and the info in there is priceless.
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    • Profile picture of the author Jonwebb
      Originally Posted by LexiB View Post

      That's what I was pointing out.

      The rest of what you said I think is great advice though. And you really can't beat Halbert when it comes to copywriting. My grandfather has an old set of VHS tapes from a Hurricane Andrew seminar he did with a bunch of other people and the info in there is priceless.

      Ahh you miss understand, I meant unlike other salesmanship methods, sales copy works better if you take your time and formulate what ur trying to say, I didnt mean to imply it being better then to more direct tactics.

      Ahh old VHS?? Lucky lucky I wish I had access to such timeless material
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