How to practice, practice, practice

7 replies
I've finished reading a lot of the copywriting material suggested here, devoured the forum, and am wanting to practice.

I was wondering what techniques you would recommend for practicing copy writing that would provide useful feedback without having to ask for constant critiques?

I was thinking of maybe finding a few good products on Amazon and then writing sales pages for them, creating a domain around them, and running a few (low cost) PPC campaigns to get traffic and see which ones worked best. I could have the page throw up different sales letters for each visitor to split test the results.

I considered Clickbank stuff too, but I am not a big fan of a lot of the stuff that get's marketed there.

Any input would be appreciated.
#practice
  • Profile picture of the author gjabiz
    First, this isn't theory, I've done it. So, it requires a brief backstory.

    My friend Rick Smith (The Net Guerrilla) and I wanted to test a product and promotion.

    So we found a book and created a 3 ring binder "course" around the book. Here's a link to the book we chose;

    Melvin Powers Wilshire Book Company – 10 Days to a Great New Life

    It is a great book, one I discovered decades ago. Anyhow, Melvin offers his distributors substantial discounts, and you can buy the books at half price, so we paid, I think, a buck fifty per book plus S & H.

    We created OUR course around the 10 days. Updating and adding information. THEN, we had to sell it.

    This is where YOU come in. We wrote several promotions for the new product and tested to see what, if any response it would get.

    SO, what you can do is:

    Google some BOOK wholesalers. Book closeouts. Book remnants. Find a book which interests you and buy a copy. Choose a book with either backstock or limited amounts.

    You want a book that is not in bookstores or available anywhere else, something like this one:

    Clearance*|*Books and Calendars*|*Houses to Go: How to Buy a Good Home Cheap Book - Lehmans.com

    Now, there is a limited market for people wanting to move houses, BUT, it is a challenge for you to write copy which gets attention and interest.

    I'd buy several copies of House Moving Secrets and write an eBay promotion. Use both Buy It Now and also an auction. You can test different "promotions" there for pennies, and if you can sell them, you are ahead of the game.

    For less than 30 bux, you'd have a supply of products and you get to test your chops at writing. You can find limited quantities of some books, which have been "retired" from the market and you can ADD a bonus to it, so as to compete against Alibri, Amazon, et al, and the bonus could be Public Domain Info or a little HOTSHEET you put together yourself.

    This is ONE way you can learn, and you don't have the competition you get with a ClickBank or Amazon "readily available" type product. YOU can almost secure a guaranteed "exclusive" on the product. And if you can create DEMAND for it on eBay, then you have gained valuable feedback on your writing, far more value than the opinion of other "copywriters".

    If you can't sell squat this way, you go back and redo your copy, again and again and again until someone buys. Then try to replicate this.

    SELLING something, is in my opinion, the best way to develop your copywriting skills. OR, trying to sell something. YOU don't really know how good (or bad) you are until the people with the money have their say.

    gjabiz

    PS. A similar strategy worked for Ted Nicholas who was able to take "worn out" books and retitle and write COPY which turned them into Swiss Mountains of Profits.

    Here's another for idea stimulation:

    http://www.bookcloseouts.com/Store/D...9780061241758B
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  • Profile picture of the author rbates
    Sounds like a plan. I have spoken with several copywriters and writing is tricky at best.
    You really need to know what you are doing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gary Pettit
    Get a copy of E.B. White's "The Elements of Style." It remains the quintessential guide for writing well in English. Should be available online or at any library, for free. Ask the librarian. He/She will be happy to locate it.
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    • Profile picture of the author BrianMcLeod
      Originally Posted by sparkie2260 View Post

      Get a copy of E.B. White's "The Elements of Style." It remains the quintessential guide for writing well in English. Should be available online or at any library, for free. Ask the librarian. He/She will be happy to locate it.
      DUDE...

      ENOUGH with the Elements of Style.

      Seriously. Enough...

      You're gonna get bounced if you're not careful.
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Newman
    gjabiz,

    Thanks for your insightful input.I sold for the first time at 13,and I still do.I love this especially:

    "SELLING something, is in my opinion, the best way to develop your copywriting skills. OR, trying to sell something. YOU don't really know how good (or bad) you are until the people with the money have their say."

    Best way to measure one's proficiency.

    Best wishes,

    Michael Newman
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Scott
    GameVoid,

    The problem with your idea is you'll have to get targeted traffic as well... which may be harder than you think.

    On the plus side, you'll learn both - which is great.

    But then you don't know if it's a traffic or copy problem.

    I'd also network with proven, established copywriters - most of us are nice guys willing to help you out every now and then if we have time.

    If you have the cash - sign up with a mentor. Someone good, who knows how to write. They can critique your work and help you fast-track your success.

    -Dan
    Signature

    Always looking for badass direct-response copywriters. PM me if we don't know each other and you're looking for work.

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