Copywriter or Copywriter Plus?

I advise my students to become knowledgeable in at least one of these areas:

• Traffic generation
• Testing and tracking
• Back-end strategies

Not so they can do the grunt work, but so they can guide and advise their clients. Makes a nice value-added service.

Alex

I think that in this day and age, where everything is rapidly changing, one has to be as flexible as possible. Just pure copywriting might not be enough anymore, one has to at least be aware of how this works in the bigger picture for a client.

So a working knowledge of promotional programs or whatever else it is you can offer should be the norm. I am constantly reading or watching stuff about tech and things I am not expert in, not only to expand my knowledge, but to be aware what is out there so I can suggest ideas etc to my clients. I think you have to constantly add value, because if you don't, someone else will come along and offer it for you.

Having said that, you don't want to fall into the 'Jack of all trades, master of none' category. So I think yes, Copywriter Plus is the way forward, but have a niche and don't overstretch yourself....under promise and over deliver is my motto

When I first started online marketing I devoured everything that
was related to the subject. So I studied HTML, website design,
graphics, traffic generation, PPC, copywriting, blogging, article
writing, Adsense, email marketing, press release writing, SEO,
website conversion, video editing etc practically anything that had
to do with internet marketing.

When I created my first online product, an ebook, I did the
sales letter, the graphics for the website and book, website ...
set up the payment through Paypal --everything.

Eventually you realize that you have to specialize as the
market expanded and other types of promotions became
popular. I couldn't keep up with SEO because it changes
so quickly, and I ignored social marketing for too long
so I'm just sharpening those skills right now.

I decided to specialize in copywriting and invested
most of my time and education in that area, but
you'll find that clients need more than just a sales letter,
they need advice in other areas so I don't limit myself to
just copywriting. In fact, for my consultation clients I end
up doing a lot more than just copywriting--marketing
strategy, set up funnels, traffic generation etc. Some skills
have to come in groups, so it's definitely copywriting plus.

-Ray Edwards

P.S. Hopefully Apple hasn't copyrighted "______ plus"

95% of what I do is copywriting.

I also do video editing and powerpoint presentations for VSLs.

And I VERY occasionally do web design. I don't advertise this service at all, but occasionally I'll find a client who REALLY wants a website and I have the skills to accommodate if need be. I kind of hate web design though, it ends up being less pay per hour worked than copywriting is because requested revisions are often so drastic and very hard to change.

I do it all for a price It works out great for clients especially if they just have a product but no clue on the whole picture. One stop shopping.

It's also very handy when you do your own stuff.

I like to think of myself as a direct marketing resource for clients; a creative problem solver.

Seems like most clients I am dealing with these days already have dedicated resources to many functions in a marketing department.

Copy is where my conversations usually start but more often I am finding clients looking for strategic problem solving and campaign planning/management skills.