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Certifications - What Do You Think?

by MatthewRHallEsq
5 replies
Copyblogger is re-opening their Authority certification for a week, and that's got me thinking: how many of you have certifications?

I've heard some copywriters say getting a few certs can be good validation of your skills when pitching to big clients. (Of course, results are always best, but certifications might be a good shortcut to validation for those starting out - assuming they actually convince potential clients of skill.)


Anyone have stories where they were particularly useful, or have you found them to be largely unnecessary?
#certifications
  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    Originally Posted by MatthewRHallEsq View Post

    Copyblogger is re-opening their Authority certification for a week, and that's got me thinking: how many of you have certifications?

    I've heard some copywriters say getting a few certs can be good validation of your skills when pitching to big clients. (Of course, results are always best, but certifications might be a good shortcut to validation for those starting out – assuming they actually convince potential clients of skill.)


    Anyone have stories where they were particularly useful, or have you found them to be largely unnecessary?
    Want a sweet passive income?

    Be the person doing the certification.

    I wrote about this almost 3 decades ago in How to Start a Cult for Fun and Profit. Wish I would have taken my own advice, at the time I had a 1000 dollar a day resume writing business, should have been the person to certify others.

    In case you are unsure, I think most certification programs are stupid, if not downright frauds or scams. That being said...

    If it comes from a "certified" agency, who actually inspects, rejects and/or offers training and indemnification perhaps...then it may help a few get a FEW corporate clients or people who like initialed authority.

    If you just pay money, get a certificate, then it is worthless and you should consider offering your own.

    A "real" certification program tests proficiency, has a code of conduct, term of use of the certification...but like so many "become an ordained minister programs" (or NLP dudes)... most IM or other certification you only have to pay for...pretty worthless.

    gjabiz

    PS. I DO offer a certification program and a nice certificate for your wall (frame only 19.95 extra) just let me know what you need it in and your budget, might even make a poster size available to you.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
    Originally Posted by MatthewRHallEsq View Post

    Copyblogger is re-opening their Authority certification for a week, and that's got me thinking: how many of you have certifications?
    That certification is a CONTENT Certification program designed for writers to understand the core strategies that make CONTENT marketing work for business.

    Is that the type of certification you feel would be useful to you?

    Marvin
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  • Profile picture of the author MatthewRHallEsq
    I know the Authority training is for content marketers. I'm a full-time content strategist at a law school and moonlight as an expensive article/content writer. So yes, this particular certification may be specifically relevant to me (although I already have high-paying clients without it, so I'm in no rush to pay for Copyblogger's training).

    What I was wondering was about NON-copyblogger certifications. How many Warrior copywriters have certifications of ANY kind, and how has that been useful?

    (Sorry, can see where the confusion would come from.)
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    • Profile picture of the author marciayudkin
      Certifications are 100% useless in the copywriting field, unless you are looking to be employed. They may impress employers. They do not impress clients, who are never looking for book learning. They want experience.

      Marcia Yudkin
      Signature
      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 sethczerepak
        Originally Posted by marciayudkin View Post

        Certifications are 100% useless in the copywriting field, unless you are looking to be employed. They may impress employers. They do not impress clients, who are never looking for book learning. They want experience.

        Marcia Yudkin
        Agreed. I don't even talk about my certifications anymore. Clients don't care. They want results.
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