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How To Get Copywriting Practice

by thefsboking
5 replies
I am taking an awesome course by Kenster called The Internet Marketing System (TIMS). I reached the section of the course that goes over copywriting. I find this topic to be so exciting. Being one who wants to have he best chance of succeeding I took it upon myself to begin reading some additional books like The Adweek Copywriting Handbook, How To Write A Good Advertisement and Making Ads Pay: Timeless Tips for Successful Copywriting. I also purchased Words That Sell to use as a thesaurus.

After reading I plan to take Clickbank products, toothpaste, soup, Lysol wipes just whatever is in my sight and begin writing sales pages. I see that there are Warriors who are kind enough to critique but I would think that after submitting a half dozen or so ads I could wear out my welcome. Any suggestions as to whether I am on track with the learning of copy and where I could continuosly get my writings critiqued until I feel confident enough to then begin promoting my products or helping local business owners with landing pages?
#copywriting #practice
  • Profile picture of the author havplenty
    Do this: go to the Gary Halbert Letter. Then click through to the archives and do a search for "Hands On Experience."

    Thats a pretty good place to start learning copy.

    There are about 2 million copywriting gurus floating about the place. You can easily get lost jumping from one to the next. Stick with what l call the foundation builders.

    Gary Halbert is one of them. Several of the people he mentored have gone on to make millions. Joe Polish is one of those mentored.

    You'll find as you look into Gary Halbert's stuff that a few names keep popping up. One of those names is Claude Hopkins. Claude was so good he was being paid as much as $185,000 back in the early 1900s some say. He was really, really good. So good in fact that most of the top level guys and gals in the biz say unabashedly that they swiped his ideas. Get all his ads and two important books he wrote: my life in advertising and scientific advertising.

    Once you soak up the wisdom of the greats, do this:

    Instead of posting endless samples for people here to rip to shreds, put your efforts in front of real potential customers. If you are going to target say carpet cleaners, take the trouble to create a sample site. Then drive some traffic and see how your copy converts... you might test for lead generation say.

    Once you see an acceptable standard of conversions (whatever the critieria), you can start pitching your services to local businesses. It should be the easiest sale you'll have to make in your life. No small business owner whose already invested in advertising will say no to something that can give him/her more leads/sales etc.

    To handle objections just offer a trial: "Bob l am so confident that you will see a 30 - 50% bump in sales/leads that l am willing to send the first 10 leads/sales free."

    Because your copy will be so good, it will be easy to deliver on this promise. From there you just keep Bob happy and watch him evangelize on your behalf.

    Important note: consumers, business owners, pretty much anyone that has to listen to a pitch are tired. They are tired of BS; lies and over-inflated promises. If you want to build a solid reputation as a copywriter do it the Claude Hopkins way. Stick to the truth and give real value in your advertisements.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author thefsboking
    Thanks so much Havplenty. I was concerned that I had no response for a while but apparently good things certainly do come to those who wait. However, I won't be waiting to act on this advice as I have found the site and began my studies. I suspect I should see some financial rewards within 60 days. A little PPC knowledge coupled with a solid understanding of copywriting can go far especially working with local business owners.
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    Mike Williams

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    • Profile picture of the author perryny
      Hi Mike,

      I'm not at all familiar with Kenster's course, but based on the name of the program, I assume along with the copywriting section, there's also sections on what to sell, where to sell and how to drive traffic?

      If so, why write ads about toothpaste and wipes when you can be applying your efforts to the course you're taking?
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      • Profile picture of the author thefsboking
        perryny,

        You are correct in that I will learn by testing the sales page and some variations of it for my product. Besides writing the sales page for my product I am creating in Kensters course I want to get good enough to help local business owners, promote clickbank products and other doors which would open for me by getting strong copywriting skills.
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        Mike Williams

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        • Profile picture of the author perryny
          That's ambitious, Mike. Good luck.

          In Alex's 3 Questions thread, he ask's what we find exciting about copywriting - and what you describe is exactly what I find exciting about the prospect of being a copywriter.

          If you're good and have the discipline to do the work, the opportunities are limitless. Sell what you want, how you want, to whom you want, whenever you want, from wherever you want, for as long as you like - If you've got the discipline to do the work.

          I'd personally recommend focusing all your efforts in one specific direction at a time. It's tough enough to put one in the win column (actually sell something) when you're starting out - and getting a win will be tremendously helpful in keeping you going. Particularly if you're anything like me and lack the discipline to do the work (my answer to Alex's Question #2, What's my biggest frustration.)

          Selling to a local business owner, promoting a CB product, following Kenster's instructions and reaching the outcome you hope to reach by following his system are all significant undertakings on their own.

          I hope you accomplish all your goals, but I'd definitely suggest tackling one at a time, do everything you can to score that win, and then when you get good and bored with that project, move on to your next conquest.

          Best of luck however you decide to tackle it,
          -Rob Perry
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