1Bryan's written some good posts about getting started.

And make sure you've checked out this post.

If you do want to invest in a course, I recommend Clayton Makepeace's "Quick-Start Copywriting System".

Then when you've got some experience, and hopefully made some money, Gary Bencivenga's "100 Seminar".

You're welcome to, Mike.

Thanks Rick,

As someone who spent tens of thousands of dollars over the years on education; marketing, copywriting and advertising...ongoing learning is, in my opinion, the best investment most can make.

Set aside 10% a year to invest in yourself.

But. you need GROUNDWORK. Or a FOUNDATION to build on, which is what these choices are. Now most don't have the budget or funds to buy everything they want...

which is actually good, because

there is a hidden belief some newbs hold, which is; they can buy their way into writing copy IF ONLY, if only they had Carlton, or Makepeace or Halbert or Joe Blow's latest and greatest secrets of copy. It is good for the people selling stuff...maybe not so good for those who want to

ACCELERATE their copywriting success, and that is done by writing copy which sells something.

So, build a foundation, get some groundwork...but that should include an equal amount of time learning WHO you are writing for.

I see very shallow thinking when it comes to prospect
avatar, or prospect profile...very superficial knowledge and a lot of lumping a group of people into a pot to sell too.

The ONE element you will find in all those copy courses is the idea of SALESMANSHIP, the concept of selling
the idea of getting someone to buy
the foundation of what copy writing is: a stimulus EVOKING a response.

It can be just that basic and I've seen several newbs get to a 6 figure income in less than two years, some even faster, a few right here at WF, by focusing on understanding a market,
a niche within it
a person within the niche and

then selling that person on ONE thing. Amazing results when you know exactly WHO you are trying to influence and working from within their bubbles of preoccupation.

So, newb, plan on studying for the rest of your life, plan on investing time and MONEY and learning all you can, BUT

BEGIN selling something at the start. Right now, if you you've been a copywriter wannabee for at least 30 days, you should be trying to sell something to someone somewhere.

Do that and UNDERSTAND what you are doing, is the fastest way to APPLY all that wonderful experience the gurus offer.

GordonJ

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking." - Albert Einstein

First off, I don't want to self promote. So there are other models to see, and one of them is fellow Warrior Barb Ling, who has done a great job with her "cheatsheets" (what I call a Hotsheet), and has had dime sales to offer these for sale. In one instance, sales plus backends gave her a quick 4k bux for a single sheet of paper. The sales alone were over a grand.

So, what I'm suggesting is

CREATE (or acquire via PLR) a short report or Hotsheet and set up an Automtic Product Vending site. These are simple one page static sites which just sit there with an offer, something for sale. In many cases, a PDF file.

Now, you can create a PayPal button and put stats tracking on your site and have all the data you need to learn how your promotion is doing. TRAFFIC can be driven through any and all the sources you can afford, maybe Facebook, or SEO, sig files, JV to lists, groups...

it will also give you experience in what I consider the most important part of the copy writing process:

Clearly writing for a person (avatar if you prefer or demographic) with an interest in what you are offering.

So, create or acquire a simple little report, put up a one page sales message, drive traffic, track and tweak. It isn't new or spectacular, but it's worked for me for over 30 years of online selling.

Tons of plr available right here or search for it, pick a subject you have interest in, for example, if you play golf, maybe target a niche in that market.

GordonJ

Mike, you can measure 1) how many people visit your webpage and 2) how many click through to the order page.

Statcounter.com gives you the ability to insert code in the sales page and in a redirect page.

If you can't figure out how to do it, just let me know. I'll shoot a short video showing you how.

Alex

Thanks and apologies to Richard Condon, whom I'm about to paraphrase (from his book, Any God Will Do):

Writing is the key to copy
Writing is the clue
Writing is what gets you paid and
ANY guru will do.

As long as he/she has you writing quickly with the intent to create a stimulus which produces action.

If your copy god isn't helping you build a foundation of understanding, coupled with active writing assignments placed in front of targeted eyeballs...then go back to Mt. Olympus and get a different one.

CHOOSE!! Then write. As we see in the thread, EXPERIENCE is anecdotal, what works for him, didn't work for her. Pick one you most resonate with, then start WRITING.

GordonJ

PS. Getting opinions about gurus, courses or mentors is fine, a good starting point. It helps to identify or eliminate some potential speed bumps,
But, if you have chosen to learn copywriting, why delay yourself with other people's opinions for YOUR career path...every dawdle has a price (lost time).