Copywriting in an office

If you REALLY think you're ready.

Do this now, not tomorrow, right now.

Hit up clickbank.com, find a really lousy sales letter that you know you could do a bang-up job on, try to pick something your familiar with.

Write the sales letter out and email the owner of the product and say:

I am a copywriter looking to garner some new clients, I wrote a new sales letter for your product that I know will increase your conversions and make you more money.

I will give you this letter to split test and when it does make you more money, I ask that you kindly refer me new work and invite me to work with you in the future. If you feel like I wasted your time and I didn't increase your conversions, I will quietly and promptly put $100 of my own money directly into your paypal account.

Best,

Your Name


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Just make sure you are 100% positive you've picked a product that you know will make sales and a letter that you know you can do a better job with.

Oh also, put $100 aside just in case.

All The best,

Ross

One more thing, this should create referrals for you and a lot of work and there is no better form of advertising than "word-of-mouth".

Best,

Ross

Hi Ken,

He doesn't have to take my advice, but he said he wanted to write where the money is. I can't change the direction of the wind for him, but I can certainly help him set his sails to where the money is.

Again, just trying to help.

Best,

Ross

Yes these jobs still exist. You can turn some them up on places like Craigslist or doing a basic Google search. Take your leads and contact them... have a resume and cover letter ready to go when you do.

But here's the root of the issue from your original post: You need to learn how to market yourself and market yourself with strong effectiveness.

Because once you really *know* marketing, then you won't have to ask where to find copywriting clients or jobs. You'll ask yourself *how* you want to find them and then go do it.

The other part is... becoming a strong marketer also allows you to command a higher fee as a copywriter (freelance or in-house) because you are much more valuble to your clients' business.

Best of luck,

Mike

Pitch yourself, for a start. Tell the ad agencies what you can do for them. A friend of mine regaled stories about a copywriter/designer who sent a roll of toilet paper to an agency's CD with the note "I know you need me" or something like that. Make them sit up and pay attention!

Sebastion,

If you have no copywriting experience or knowledge, this might interest you... or, at least it should:

The Gary Halbert Letter

In every specialized field we are in...we were green once...
we were inexperienced once.

We start right at the bottom of the ladder.

So freaking what?

If you have the passion in what you do...and have the burning desire
to succeed...and learn from the best...you will make it.

Just do it...dare to make mistakes...keep learning...keep testing
...keep doing...and keep doing some more....and opportunities
will knock on your door.

Seriously, as fellow professionals here, lets help each other.
Not knock each other.

Yes, keeping a reality check is important. But we don't have to
use it as an "excuse" to be mediocre.

Often, the most successful people you see are "unrealistic".

Do you think man can ever fly if they accepted the "reality"
because we don't have wings like birds do?

Do you think man can ever reach the moon had they accepted
"reality" because the moon is so damn far away?


Gary Bencivenga said it himself he wasn't good
at copywriting when he first started.

Like every people who has reached the top, he got great
at his craft through sheer hard work.

Did I mention how humble he is as well?

Many people here need to take a leaf out of Gary Bencivenga's book.

A man at the pinnacle of the game who is still so respectful
to everyone regardless of their status.


Also, we don't have to show we are superior to others by knocking them.

Even if you are right, what's the point?

What do you gain by temporary gratification of proving yourself...
when all you have succeeded at doing is creating resentment?

You will possibly lose a few good allies along the way.

You just bring negative vibes to yourself.

It's a classic case of winning the battle...but losing the war.


As Zig Ziglar will say, you will get all you want in life if you
help enough other people get what they want.

A "newbie" you have helped today could possibly
return you the favor in multiples in future.

Play nice. It's not so hard. Really.

- Jag

Sebastion, are you talking about direct response advertising, or mainstream branding-type advertising?

These two are *shockingly* different.

I should know. I work in a branding-type agency.

If you want to make it in direct response advertising (Doesn't seem to be the case), then this forum is the place to be. In fact, there's plenty of great advice here in this very thread.

But if you are looking for work in one of those creative branding-type places like Wieden+Kennedy, CP+B, O&M, Saatchis, etc, then you might want to look at sites like ihaveanidea [dot] org or lifeatthebottom [dot] com.

Direct response advertising is about results.

Mainstream advertising (or Madison Avenue advertising, brand advertising, creative advertising etc etc) however, is about this poorly-defined thing known as creativity.

The following tips only apply if you want to break into mainstream advertising, NOT direct response.

If you are looking to break into mainstream advertising as a copywriter as a complete newbie, then assemble a portfolio of work that includes:
- snappy, clever headlines (noticed how I didn't mention effective? Mainstream agencies hardly ever measure effectiveness)
- creative ideas
- ability to do integrated work (like the "Best job in the world" campaign or the Old Spice campaign by W+K)
- ability to think visually
- work that demonstrates you understand the type of ads favoured by award shows like Cannes, the One Show, D&AD, etc

Show 7 to 15 pieces of actual/speculative ads in your portfolio.

If you have award-winning work, show them.

If you have good/great real work, show them.

If you have real work that is mediocre/meh/pretty bad, then don't show them. Creative Directors judge you by your worst piece of work.

If you have great ideas that have not been produced, use a marker and draw a scamp, then include it. (Only if you want to be a copywriter. Aspiring Art Directors should comp it up!)

Once you have a portfolio, get it through to a Creative Director (or Executive CD, or Chief Creative Officer, or just a plain old Group Head).

Call them. Conveniently "bump" into them. Send a creative package. Do whatever it takes (legally) to get their attention.

Make them crit your work.

If they like you, they'll offer you a job. Or at least an unpaid internship.

Yes, unpaid. This is what agencies do.

Now, you have samples of articles, you can throw them in.

But to Creative Directors of mainstream agencies, such non-advertising work is only good for finding out if you can write.

Sadly, agencies don't usually look for writers who can write. They are more interested in writers who have "ideas". Especially the integrated kind that wins awards.

If you need more help, go read Luke Sullivan's 'Hey Whipple, Squeeze This', and Vonk and Kestin's 'Pick Me : Breaking Into Advertising and Staying There'.