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Daily Practices to rapidly increase copywriting skills?

by Vincent Sbarro
31 replies
This is a question for the well seasoned copywriters out there.

What are some of your favorite daily practices that have increased your skills the most?

I personally enjoy collecting compelling copy, handwriting it, dissecting it and coming up with a couple ideas to incorporate into my own copy.
#copywriting #daily #increase #practices #rapidly #skills
  • Profile picture of the author WF- Enzo
    Administrator
    I just read relevant topics and articles, and put them to practice on my personal blog. Constructive feedback from colleagues and friends help too.
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  • Profile picture of the author mariumoxygenbd
    this is very good ideas, i appreciate ...
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  • Profile picture of the author colmodwyer
    I guess this is more of a "hack", since it's a way to write better without improving your writing skillz...

    Wake up before everyone else and write first thing in the morning, when your brain is at its sharpest and there are no distractions. Don't check your phone, email, news, or anything else that's going to sidetrack you.

    Roll out of bed and just start writing (the only allowance is you may make a coffee first!).

    Cheers,
    Colm
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    • Profile picture of the author KJGinger
      Colm,
      I agree with you. I don't know if your experience it or not. If you are laying in bed and you start thinking about what needs to be done and really mull over in your mind what you want to say, what it should look like and all the information you want to include. The writing is excellent and it flows once you sit down to write.
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  • Profile picture of the author 1Bryan
    Originally Posted by Vincent Sbarro View Post

    This is a question for the well seasoned copywriters out there.

    What are some of your favorite daily practices that have increased your skills the most?

    I personally enjoy collecting compelling copy, handwriting it, dissecting it and coming up with a couple ideas to incorporate into my own copy.
    Talk to real live people every day. So many people try to do the whole thing inside their imagination. Go talk to real people. So you don't believe in "theory" you understand how real people really are.

    A lot of modern copywriting theory comes from someone's blogging imagination. And if it gets "liked" or "retweeted" enough?

    It's accepted as fact. But often is bullsh*t. So go talk to people. Every day.
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    1) Find out what people want.


    2) Write it out like they figured it out for themselves.
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  • Profile picture of the author sauliv
    According to Craig Clemens, a former copywriter for Eben Pagan and now an owner of Golden Hippo, you have to turn PRO. Which means writing 5000 words a day. Every day.
    Lorrie Morgan has a thing called "Flash Fiction" where she gives you writing prompts to write a story every day. Sign up on her list and you'll get these prompts. I do at least three of those prompts every morning. I also write on Quora, emails and a copy for myself. Stefan Georgi writes a long form sales letter in two days.
    Increase your output and you'll improve like crazy. Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author PlatinumPen
    Always look at what other (high performing) writers are doing.

    If you're writing for a certain niche, look at what the best of the best are doing. For example, if you're in MMO, read the sales pages of the best selling products on the affiliate networks to see what people are buying into. Look for any trends in the best selling products. Take notes.

    Reading is every bit as important as opening Microsoft Word.
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  • Profile picture of the author KJGinger
    Sauliv and Platinum Pen,

    I think both of you have good habits and great suggestions for improving your copy writing skills. I think it's pretty well accepted that the more someone practices a skill the better they will become at the skill.
    I really think everyone in this thread has very good methods for getting better at copywriting. I intend on putting these methods into practice for myself.
    Thank you all!
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  • Profile picture of the author max5ty
    The best way to increase your skills is to get a product and put it out there. Keep tweaking it until you've figured out how to sell it for a profit. Then once that's successful, find another product.

    There are a million products on a million different sites you can get wholesale and have them drop shipped.

    No better way to learn than with your own product.

    Once you've got your own product selling successfully, you have a portfolio.

    "Hey Bob, I sold this pooper scooper and made $82,000.00. It didn't start out good...actually was slow going at first...but I figured out what needed to be changed and after several trials and errors I hit gold. I then went on and did it for a pooper scooper deluxe model and a pooper scooper platinum that we couldn't keep on the shelves. If you have a product that's sitting around collecting dust, why not let me give it a go?"
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  • Profile picture of the author KJGinger
    I agree with you.
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  • Profile picture of the author KJGinger
    I think you have come up with a valid point. Looking into more than one product make you that much better at catering to the audience you are trying to reach.
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  • Profile picture of the author SARubin
    Originally Posted by Vincent Sbarro View Post

    What are some of your favorite daily practices that have increased your skills the most?
    Maybe not a "daily" practice but...

    I'm constantly looking for new ways to increase response rates by testing and tweaking different elements of an offer. (Then measuring and analyzing results to see what works).

    Over the years few things have kept me more excited about my work than seeing major results come from minor changes.

    I still find it fascinating how a simple change, like changing one or two words in a headline or changing the call to action, can have such a dramatic impact on response rates.

    If you're interested I can share a recent case study from one of my clients showing how we got an impressive increase without changing a single word of the copy, just rearranging the order of the offer.


    Other than that, collaborating with other smart people. Especially those who know more than me, or those who are clever enough to see things from a different point of view usually motivates me to level up my game.


    Also, I read a lot of books and listen to audiobooks. That's something I do almost every day.
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    • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
      Originally Posted by SARubin View Post

      I still find it fascinating how a simple change, like changing one or two words in a headline or changing the call to action, can have such a dramatic impact on response rates.
      One of the most harrowin' experiences of Covid ... one which shook me to my very core ... was watchin' the sychronized dive guys throwin' 'emselves into the air togehtah at the Tokyo Olympics in swimwear sleek enough to fold into a variety of Origami shapes with ease.

      Get it in sync, the dual dive is magnificent.

      Evry othah shape of flow bombs to some clearly observable degree.

      Words are way more stoccato than the immediacy of sport or dance, but they gotta evoke flow much the same way.

      We wanna sync sweet with all we invite into our lives.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Jonas Phil VA
      Originally Posted by SARubin View Post

      Also, I read a lot of books and listen to audiobooks. That's something I do almost every day.
      Are there any books you can recommend that can help improve my copywriting AND entertaining to read?

      I read a lot for work. But when my workday is over, I want to read for fun (mainly fiction). If there's a book that can hit two birds with one stone, I think that might make me more productive.
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      • Profile picture of the author SARubin
        Originally Posted by John Jonas Phil VA View Post

        Are there any books you can recommend that can help improve my copywriting AND entertaining to read?

        I read a lot for work. But when my workday is over, I want to read for fun (mainly fiction). If there's a book that can hit two birds with one stone, I think that might make me more productive.
        That's a tough question, John.

        Mostly because what I find entertaining, might be a complete snore fest to you.


        I'm a firm believer that perceptions and bias allows us to see what we want to see, and most of the time we see what we focus on.

        I see marketing lessons everywhere because that's what I think about a lot.


        When it comes to the fiction books you enjoy...

        The title of the book is akin to the headline. The headline got your attention and made you take a look.

        Just like sales copy.


        Or, if you buy a book because you enjoyed previous works by the same author... "Brand recognition".

        Bought it because a friend recommended it? Sounds like "word of mouth" marketing to me.


        As for copywriting or marketing lessons in story books?

        Off the top of my head I can think of a couple old classics you might find entertaining.They're both short stories, and anyone who grasps the underlying message can feel good about their sales acumen...

        The first one is from the 1980's and it's titled The Greatest Salesman In the World by Og Mandino.

        I liked it.

        There's probably no lessons in the book you haven't heard before, but it's still a fun story with a solid sales message.

        Going further back in time (so we can see further into the future) another classic is OBVIOUS ADAMS - author unknown

        It's a really quick read about a master advertising guy in the early 1900s, and it was first published as a short story in a U.S. newspaper around 100 years ago.

        It's a cute tale and a great reminder for us all to "keep it simple" and pay attention to the obvious things that move people to buy stuff.



        Other than that, John,
        Like many other members here I read a lot of books on human behavior, sales, marketing...

        Because it's what I'm interested in.

        I also like creative writing, short stories, and all kinds of books.

        In fact, a few weeks ago I finally got around to listening to a book titled "1984" by George Orwell.

        I've heard people reference it across the spectrum for years and I finally picked up a copy. (can anyone say "word of mouth marketing"?) .

        The brilliant writing pulled me into the story, and I felt like I had an intimate relationship with the main character.

        I think there's a huge copywriting lesson write there. (yes, I punned that on purpose)



        Again, I believe we see what we focus our attention on.

        So here's something you can try... the next time you sit down to read a fiction book, give yourself a second or two and think about 1 copywriting or marketing lesson you can take away from the book you're about to read. You can even start by just asking yourself what made you buy this particular book.

        After you've done that you can enjoy your book knowing you've just hit 2 birds with 1 stone.
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  • Profile picture of the author Diego Aguirre
    I'd love for some seasoned copywriter to comment about how the ability to type fast have impacted their copywriting as a whole...

    Ever since I learned touch typing (typing without looking at the keyboard and with all my 10 fingers) I can say that putting my thoughts in words is so much smoother.
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  • Profile picture of the author drthz57
    Hello everyone...

    One habit A-List Copywriters does in commum is writing at least 3 hours/day without interruption.

    My doubt is if they write in some framework or if they write some piece of copy, like VSL,emails, product launches, offer creations...

    What stuff should they write?
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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      How do you know that? The 3-hour part?



      I mean, there are many a-list copywriters...


      Originally Posted by drthz57 View Post

      Hello everyone...

      One habit A-List Copywriters does in commum is writing at least 3 hours/day without interruption.

      My doubt is if they write in some framework or if they write some piece of copy, like VSL,emails, product launches, offer creations...

      What stuff should they write?
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      • Profile picture of the author drthz57
        In one podcast Craig Clemens said he write for 4 hours, in other Evaldo Albuquerque affirms he write 3h...

        I had already listen Roy Furr said in one Episode of Breakthroug Marketing Secrets that Gary Bencivenga write 5000 words day, what means between 3h and 4h...

        Both them beats controls and have a huge success in his careers, so i imagine this is a habit that every great Copywriter need to put in action.

        But i dont know what specically they write...

        If are pieces of Sales Copy, or if is a framework...
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        • Profile picture of the author WF- Enzo
          Administrator
          What about you? How did you practice your copywriting skills?

          Originally Posted by drthz57 View Post

          In one podcast Craig Clemens said he write for 4 hours, in other Evaldo Albuquerque affirms he write 3h...

          I had already listen Roy Furr said in one Episode of Breakthroug Marketing Secrets that Gary Bencivenga write 5000 words day, what means between 3h and 4h...

          Both them beats controls and have a huge success in his careers, so i imagine this is a habit that every great Copywriter need to put in action.

          But i dont know what specically they write...

          If are pieces of Sales Copy, or if is a framework...
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          • Profile picture of the author drthz57
            i write in market demand to make money, but i think the only thing that could make me rich is scale my stuff.

            I look for this A-List Copywriters and sometimes i think that probably could be something that i don't know
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  • Profile picture of the author IM2Pat
    Banned
    if you create a really cool template that you want to easily reference over and over again I highly recommend saving to tp Outlook Quick Parts! If you use Outlook, just highlight the material, right click, and you will see a save in Quick Parts as an option. Works wonders for me for my email sales templates! Thanks and Good Luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author IM2Pat
    Banned
    Write, write, write!! Whether is a paragraph for a cool FB post, an email to a customer in your day job, or a text conversation that goes on and on with a friend or family (instead of a phone call) The point is to WRITE everyday, multiple times a day, so that it becomes automatic, without much effort, and definitely without fear or intimidation!! Good Luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Courage
    In the past I used to write out adverts, but I haven't done that for years now. What I would recommend is collecting sales letters and reading through one per day. You should also spend X amount of time reading copywriting and marketing books. Another good way to practice is simply by starting a list and then writing a daily email (I don't necessarily send out emails every day, but I try to write one every day - this is fantastic practice for improving your skills.)
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    SELL YOUR GRANMA TO SATAN
    You Don't Gotta Do It For Reals
    But If You Prime Your Creative Chops
    To Go The Distance With THE ONE GUY
    Prolly You Got Sumthin' To Say To THE CHUMPS.

    BCS, hey -- ain't your granma so sweet?

    She was the one who looked out for you when the world was against you.

    She made you feel special ... an' had such cool wisdom to share.

    Whatevah shit you had gowin' down, you knew you could always turn to Granma to find safe harbor.

    Anyways, prahblem you gaht is ...
    Satan don't give no kinda wahooly 'bout alla that schwango.

    FACT: the more your granma behaved like a depraved harlot, the more likely she is to figure in Satan's dream team.

    So you know deep down from your childhood days he don't want nuthin' to do with her bcs she could BAKE an' MEND CLOTHES an' ALWAYS SMILED WHEN OTHERS WOULD BE SUMMONED TO WRATH.

    Plus, birds would settle on her fingertips whenevah she had a moral story 'bout GROWIN' UP she wanted you to hear.

    Aw, but see -- you gotta sell her ass.

    You ran outta magic beans, an' The Arch Fiend From Outta All Eternity is the only buyer.

    So how you gonna transform the hearsty saccharine sweetness of Mama Dotin' into a plus point for an intrinsically corrupted evildoer don't merely involve bitin' her frickin' head off an' savorin' her spoiled kindness till it drips offa your third nipple?

    This might constitoot a reliable thought exercise in this genrl 'increase copywritin' skills' areah.

    If'n you can mastah the implausible, you can mebbe handle the impossible.
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  • Profile picture of the author tlavonlawrence
    Nice! I actually learned something from that.
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  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Emotion.

    Triggers sales. Emotion triggers action. We talk about using it in our writing, but how?

    What do you say? Does a single word make a difference? I think so. The great Elmer Wheeler used to go into stores to TEST his sentences to find one which made the sale. And his books are classics on the selling process.

    If copywriting is salesmanship in print, then what words get them to pull the trigger.

    For example, beautiful vs attractiveness. Know when one works and the other works even better? You should as a copywriter selling beauty products or cosmetics...the one word difference could make your year.

    So I like playing Elmer in the real world, and TEST words on people to see what kind of a reaction they get. In general, people are pricklish, sensitive and even if you don't intend it, they will take exception to what you say feel slighted.

    Test your emotional words, use the right one for the audience, see remarkable results.

    GordonJ


    Originally Posted by Vincent Sbarro View Post

    This is a question for the well seasoned copywriters out there.

    What are some of your favorite daily practices that have increased your skills the most?

    I personally enjoy collecting compelling copy, handwriting it, dissecting it and coming up with a couple ideas to incorporate into my own copy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Princess Balestra
    The mood
    you are in
    as you read
    these words
    determines
    how you feel
    about 'em.


    Messages
    rise up
    from evryplace --
    but do you
    believe 'em
    or doubt 'em?
    Signature

    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

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    • Profile picture of the author DABK
      Also, the words you read can change your mood too.


      Better yet, they can make you feel differently about words that are yet to come.


      Originally Posted by Princess Balestra View Post

      The mood
      you are in
      as you read
      these words
      determines
      how you feel
      about 'em.


      Messages
      rise up
      from evryplace --
      but do you
      believe 'em
      or doubt 'em?
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  • Profile picture of the author Klara Pelhe
    What I aim to do each day, or at least when I have more time, is to read blog from some of my favourite authors and try to catch some of their tricks and methods and to adjust them for my personal needs. I try to figure out basically what they did to make their content be engaging and catch attention of readers, and try to repeat it in my own articles. Sometimes it's successful, and sometimes not so much, but I still find this tactic useful.
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