Copywriting path help

All of the above 10X.

You don't know what will hit paydirt.

So do it all. Give best efforts on everything.

- Rick Duris

You're off to a good start and if you use any track that would
need that you wait on someone else to give you a writing
assignment, then you could be waiting a long time.

Your best bet is to try and write at least one sales letter to sell
you OWN product, in that way you know how well you are doing
from your sales. Do not wait for anyone to affirm you, you can
prove what you can do to yourself.

My very first online sales letter was for my own ebook product
and it did over 15% conversion from Traffic Exchange traffic
back then. I didn't need for anyone to tell me that I could
write copy--I proved that to myself. I still sell the lessons
from that first sales letter as a model to teach copywriting
from up to today, 12 years afterwards.

At least you can get a critique right here in the forum for
your letter to get further guidance with our letter.

-Ray Edwards

thanks RickDuris & Raydal,

10X reminds me of Grant Cardone, lol

"I didn't need for anyone to tell me that I could
write copy--I proved that to myself." - that's a powerful thing to be able to say

btw what is Traffic Exchange?

- Khan

Split your work time into chunks. Spend one or two chunks finding a gig... one chunk writing copy for your own stuff... one chunk for affiliate marketing.

The number of chunks you spend on each business goal is flexible but I'd spend the bulk of your time on what is your most important goal for that given day. Just spend time on each one everyday.

And another chunk just spent on honing your skills.

The only way to stand out from all the rest of the copywriters... and get people approaching you all the time is to get results.

Proven results and figures you can actually show as proof.

Because most of the clients you'll want to work with KNOW the value of good copy... you're not going to need to educate them on that. NEVER try to sell someone on why they need good copy.

But you DO have to sell them on why they need you and not the 10,000 other copywriters out there.

Best way to do that is with proof of past results... because it clearly shows you know how to sell.

No one gives a shit who you studied under, how many ads you've written by hands, none of that.

They care about what you've DONE.

So, you gotta get in a position where you can show that.

I started in 2001 writing copy for my own products... and as the years went by
and I got better and better, and my stuff started getting noticed, I had people contacting
me all the time for copy jobs... and I wasn't even advertising my services as a copywriter.

It all had to do with the sales pages circulating and the results I was getting.

Then in 2009 when I went freelance for others, the one thing that I'd show to
land almost every client that came my way was... past results of my own
projects and those of clients.

Again, all because of past results and proof of my results.

So, my advice?

Either start writing copy for your own stuff, or just find some clients
who will actually USE your stuff... and just get your stuff out there
and circulating, getting results and feedback.

You want to get your stuff out there, circulating, collecting
sales figures and results... so that you can then use that
to land future clients.

So whether you write copy for your own projects or you
write for clients... just try to get facts and figures on how
well your stuff does.

You want to get proven results and sales figures you can
then use in future bids, to help you land clients.

Heck, in the past when I was coaching copy students,
I'd have them create a quick and easy WSO to launch
here on the forum, JUST to get some conversion results and
numbers... so they can use that in future jobs.

Take it for what it's worth... but if you create a WSO and
write a sales letter for it... and it goes on to convert
at 11%.. at least that gives you a starting point and
some numbers to flaunt.

But again, that's just one idea.

Like Rick said above... you gotta treat this like fishing.

Instead of putting one line in the water, you'll probably
increase your odds of catching more fish if you put 10
lines in the water.

I always thought of this like multiple streams of income.

Any business I run has 10 different income streams coming
in, 10 different traffic sources, etc...

That way, if one dries up, you have others still working.

Same with the copy biz... write your own stuff, sell your
own products, write articles and blog posts, write for clients,
write emails, squeeze copy, written letters. VSLS, etc...

Send out direct mail to those you know hire copywriters.

There's really no set "number" of things you can do"

Because you can do 100 different things to land clients,
and yet the 101 may be the one that hits it big.

And while you're trying to land clients... work on building
a platform in which people start to know who you are,
what you do, etc... and how they can contact you.

As you keep building your platform and create your
own unique angle/USP... people will start to resonate
with you and this platform can fill your funnel with clients.

This is a much easier way to get a steady flow of clients
than trying to constantly seek for them.

Building your own platform, over time, will leverage your results
because more people will find you, read your stuff, and possibly
want to hire you.

But bottom line... like Rick said, there's no set number of things
you can and should do. Just keep doing as much as you can,
work hard to get some traction, and if you do it well enough,
you should start to get a steady flow of clients the more lines
you put out in the water to fish with.

I agree that posting REAL numbers from past campaigns can definitely attract clients.

But I disagree that's the best way to go.

Part of the challenge is getting the work, yes... absolutely.

Another part of the challenge is developing a relationship and setting realistic expectations.

Reality is...

You aren't going to hit the ball outta the park every time. You might be lightening in a bottle, but nobody hits 100 out of 100 times at the plate.

You'd be surprised by how many shady characters there are out there. And what simply answering the phone or responding with some depth will get you these days. Real people want to work with real people.

In other words...

Just being a human being will get you far. No kidding.

Now, there's another extremely viable way to not only get clients, but go way beyond that.

And it's all about giving. Just give the relationship a try. Maybe take less upfront and negotiate a backend that would be worth your time... if the campaign succeeds.

The caveat is...

You need to make sure your potential client has the infrastructure in-place to produce your copy in a way that's testable (i.e. powerpoint or doodle person, a web designer that understands how to frame your copy and a marketer who knows the best ways to drive relevant traffic.)

Without those things in-place, the whole conversation is an act in futility; two people pretending they can GSD (get stuff done.)

However...

If your prospect does have infrastructure (or understands what it'll take to get it,) then I encourage you to go beyond the copywriter/client relationship. Because when you're on the same page and working together, you're partners.

Of course...

To get the phone ringing, you DO have to position yourself for the type of clientele/relationships you want.

And again...

You could use proof and testimonials to get there.

And/Or...

You could demonstrate your copywriting abilities by beginning the relationship-building in your letter or video.

I've achieved kick ass results in just the last couple months. And I haven't put any of those numbers/campaigns on my website, yet my phone rings often with exciting new potentials. Yes, some are referrals. But lots of people cold call me simply because they connected with my copy and message. That's it.

So you can show your portfolio and results... or you can focus on positioning and relationship-building.

Or a combination of both.

Just depends on how you want to connect with your ideal partners/clients.

Mark

Nothing wrong in writing for the interweb.

Obviously avoid the shams, scams and shenanigans.

Find clients with a good product/sevice and create an epic masterpiece.

Launch it into cyberspace.

Knowing it is certain to bring favourable to exceptional results.

And with confident and eager anticipation check with the client to hear about the stratospheric response.

And you may be horrified to hear only 2 people had the good sense to send their money through.

Now, before grief, despair and despondence kick in...

Ask one vital question (hint this is the FIRST question you should always ask).

How many people (visit) visited the website.

Client can often say… (remarkably with great pride).

"Well, lets look at the stats, tell you what they really are bounding up and up - Monday it was 9, Tuesday 11, Wednesday 17 and Thursday an incredible 25!"

A massive "circulation" of 62 good people trawling the web looking for answers. You need several zero's after the 2.

So, make absolutely, positively sure that web clients have the ability,knowledge and money to drive big numbers of targeted traffic to the site.

It's a lot more difficult than it sounds.

But it is crucial.

Or nothing worthwhile happens.


Steve