prospective copywriter - please help

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I Just got started not too long ago as well- I'd say it's definitely possible as long as you're serious about finding out as much as possible as you can about copywriting and the science behind persuasion/selling...

It shouldn't take too long to at least get to a decent level; so definitely possible to get supplement your income with copywriting (in my humble opinion)

I'd say a good starting point would be to read a couple of books first to do with advertising or copywriting. 'the classics'; I started off reading Scientific Advertising, and the Copywriters Handbook. Invaluable Info.

The Copyblogger Website is also a great place... lot's of free ebooks you could use to give you a headstart.

And not forgetting here of course; The stickies at the top should be a must for you. Check out the 1,000 post thread, as well as the Top Copywriting books ever.

Good luck.


Henry

Don't bother with ANY university course. Copywriting (at least, the sort that is talked about here) is about salesmanship, nothing more, nothing less. 'Creative' writing is a catch-all phrase for smart-arse writing that sells nothing.


You can get a FREE PhD-Level of education in salesmanship from the following.


The Gary Halbert Letter
Gary Bencivenga's 'Bullets'
Jay Abraham (lots of free stuff on his website)
Dan Kennedy (as above)
Clayton Makepeace (ditto)
John Carlton - currently offering a free course (with expert feedback) at his Simple Writing System Express


Plus all of the links on this forum.


Cheers

It’s perfect and you just don’t realize it yet.

I can imagine you someday writing for yourself, promoting a health supplement of some sort saying...

"Hi, I'm Mike, the Paramedic. No, I'm not some doctor with a God complex. I'm not a nurse who can't do the real shit that needs to be done.

I'm the guy they call when it's time to save someone's life.

And hopefully, I'm in time to save YOURS. Listen up, because the next few moments are critical.

If you've been feeling these symptoms..."

Good luck.

- Rick Duris

PS: Don't quit your day job. It's a source of endless material.

Mike, I'd say read a few basic books on copywriting (go here to see a list: http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ooks-ever.html) like Dan Kennedy's "The Ultimate Sales Letter."

Then find or create a product and write some copy. Yes, just write some copy. You won't know if you like it until you try it. You don't need permission.

The first sales letter I wrote I knew nothing. I just used this template and did the best I could:
Customer Behavior - 12-Step Foolproof Sales Letter Template : MarketingProfs Article

That letter is still selling today a few years later.

At that point, if you are like me, you'll get the bug. For me it's a combination of the rush of selling, the challenge of understanding people and the fun of solving a puzzle.

If you find you enjoy it, I'd suggest getting a mentor. There are a few listed in the stickies in the "1000th post" post. A mentor helps because you have a structured path, each stage building on the last. I didn't do it that way, mostly because I'm a curmudgeon and lousy student, choosing instead to read everything on copywriting and write a ton of copy. I'd go with a mentor.

Hy mikeffd,

Forget university courses, read books as the beginning "The Ultimate Sales Letter" to Dan Kennedy provides all the basics you need to discover what's approaching the world of copywriting, also on line you can find so much free stuff.

I'm assuming that by "freelance copywriter" you mean writing for clients... My take: If you already have a full-time income, why write for others?

Instead, take your time, learn all you can about copywriting then use your new-found knowledge to sell your own products. ...No deadlines. No crazy clients. No deflating rejection. No wrangling of your copy into ineffective jibberish. No taking on all these problems for cheap "beginner" compensation.

Teach yourself and then market your own stuff. If you find you're good at it, -then- work for others.

By that point, you just might have a nice chunk of "f-u" money to fall back on -- plus -- you'll have confidence enough to turn your nose up at "beginner" rates that are an insult to the hard work that goes into good copywriting.

It's also important to understand that there are many other aspects of marketing communications that are valuable to learn these days -- adwords, social marketing, search engine marketing, etc. ...Given all that, I think you're better off learning and "tinkering" on your own than working for clients.

You just might find yourself having built up a nice little "passive income" machine...

Mike,
Welcome to the forum. Like you, I'm new to the forum as well. Yet, I started out with copywriting early this year. If you're looking for a course, I highly recommend CopyHour. Hands down the best course I've taken. This course will challenge you, but it will definitely help you understand the in's and outs of copywriting.

As for books, I agree with whoever mentioned Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins. Also, Joe Sugarman has some awesome books he's written on copywriting as well.

Hope this helps.

Mike,

All the above advice is ace.

Read as much as you can - learn all the "basics" and then get more and more advanced.

Whenever you get a chance pick up a newspaper or magazine and look at the Ads. And websites, TV ads and radio spots and have a go at "deconstructing" them.

What was good about it?

What was bad?

What would have made it better?

Pop yourself into the target audiences shoes and ask - "Would I buy it"

If not why not?

And again in the prospects shoes - ask what should be in the Ad to compel and persuade them to buy.

Do this dozens of times and you'll develop and intrinsic ability to put together great promotions.


Steve

Anything's possible! Go for it.

copy is hard. I've put in thousands of hours and still get called a newbie sometimes. I guess if you get a few ads that produce ROI it's no problem. You probably have to read at least 20 or 30 books and buy some courses. I bought so many, it's hard to keep track.

you can't learn copywriting from 'those wealthy college professors'.

you have to learn from the gurus, but they usually charge a lot.

probably a wide variety of books and online courses is the way to go.