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Hello all from Newbie

by Steelshep
2 replies
Hello Everyone,

Just joined the Warrior Forum. Alot of great info on here. Just wanted to jump on to ask advice from some veterans for an aspiring copywriter. I was contemplating taking a course such as AWAI Six Figure Copywiting. I know there have been tons of posts about the best courses, books on copywriting, etc. I started out reading alot of Dan Kennedy and also have copies of some of the reccomended reading

-Influence by Cialdini
-Advertising Secrets of the Written Word
-Tested Advertising Methods
-Scientific Advertising
-Robert Collier Letter Book

There seem to be two camps as to what people reccomend. Alot of people will reccomend certain courses and others say you will learn more spending the money on the best books and just winging it yourself.
My dilema is this-If I get all of the great books study, practice, study, practice I might become a good copywriter, but then comes the part of securing business (clients). So if I'm not a established and recognized copywriter and I can't get good clients to get the experience and build a portfolio of work to become recognized and credible it's kind of a catch 22. I was thinking of approaching small local businesses in my area and maybe doing some pro-bono work to start out so I can get some experience and reputation. Anyway, I know some of you veterans are probably tired of answering the same old questions from newbies but I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
#newbie
  • Profile picture of the author ReferralCandy
    I'd suggest just starting. Have a blog, and write as well as you possibly can. Approaching small businesses in your area is a wonderful thing to do, and you should probably do that.

    Don't overcomplicate things for yourself. Do whatever work you can get, and do it as well as you possibly can.

    -v
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  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Originally Posted by Steelshep View Post

    I was thinking of approaching small local businesses in my area and maybe doing some pro-bono work to start out so I can get some experience and reputation.
    That is a great idea provided your target market are small local businesses in your area.

    If your target market is something else: nice that you do pro bono work but it would probably not help you much.

    A small local business is very unlikely to have needs for a copywriter. Sure it would be great if the pizza parlor would have some nice flyers but they will most likely not do any kind of high volume mailings that you can use to show off results.

    You might want to do some work where you can later use the companies as reference or testimonial and where you can show measurable results. Like for example "my copy beat the in-house copy of ABC company and gave a 10% increase in response or sales" or whatever you achieve.

    If your target future customers are mail order houses then you should look there. If your target future customers are internet sites that sell high priced financial newsletter: go and approach a financial newsletter.

    Now, instead of offering pro bono work I suggest that you leave the option of getting paid: "I write you a new copy that will blow your existing thing out of the water. Here is the deal: I write it and if you do not like it you will not pay a dime. If you like it you may even run a test for free. Only if you are completely convinced that my copy is awesome you pay my introductory rate of $2,500".

    If you have read at least a couple books and have practiced a little you should be able to come up with something.

    If you are completely new: Go find your target market and take their sales copy off their web site and write something better just for yourself.

    After writing 10, 20, 50 or maybe even more sales letters there will be a point where you either "get it" or walk away for good. Once you "got it" there is no reason that you should write for free. But before you "got it" there is no reason why you should wreck other people's business with "tests" or "pro-bono" work.
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