Oh the irony of Copywriting WSOs...

Would you like to rephrase your problem?

More simply and clearly?

I'd like to *believe* that if a copywriter is putting together a "how to write copy" type info-product, and he's selling it as a WSO for seven bucks, he's doing so with an agenda.

Like, to throw together a first draft and use the feedback to see what the *actual buying market* has in the way of objections that they want to see the copy overcome.

I'm with Hemingway. There is no good writing. Only good re-writing.

I kind of see the WSO as the test mailing before the big rollout.


But like I said -- I'd just like to believe that. The truth is probably closer to the pathetic scenario you painted in the OP.

Alas.

I see the irony. I agree with you.

We are not stupid. When you see a copywriter running a low-ball WSO, trying to tell you how he's written for this and that guru; commanded $5,000 a letter but for some bull$hit reason he's going to write you a letter for $1000 or $499 or whatever, one thing is crystal clear…

He's broke.

This is not the exclusive domain of copywriters. We see it all the time amongst the newbies and gurus alike. Here are some recent examples:

1. A guy considered a "guru" (only on the WF, not in the real world) posts screenshots of his Clickbank account. He's made like $35 in 2 weeks.

2. Guys want critiques of "make money" pages claiming outrageous incomes yet don't have the cash for a copywriter.

3. Here's a big one... There's a well known marketer with full guru status who is starving right now. This is a guy that lived in a million dollar home and was banking $80,000+/month. He got complacent, neglected his partnerships and continuity program until it died, along with the vast majority of his income. Now he's over here TRYING to sell coaching WSOs and can't get any takers. He used to email me 6X a year, now its daily. He's pimping any Clickbank product he can find. Its desperate and sad.

We all see behind the curtain.

So what?

@3. I think I know who you are talking about judging by my inbox recently. His newsletter basically introduced me to the IM "game." Too bad.

Ha, that's pretty crazy Bruce. I bet there are a lot of situations like that.

As I'm sure you'll agree, as a copywriter, you get to see behind the curtain a lot more than many folks do... and it's not always a bed of roses is it?

I don't really think I have a point or conclusion, just got bored and wanted to rant.

This is sad.

I've seen it on numerous occasions too...

Guys that really where cleaning up with $100k+ months and really making it... Then it goes to their head, they live like rock stars for a few months, and realize that once the income dries up they've blown it as fast as they can earn it.

This doesn't just apply to guru's. Lots of people...

The lesson here is to live frugally, even when you don't need to. The house of cards can come tumbling down, you can hit a rough patch, whatever...

And pretty soon you'll be thinking those penthouse suites, luxury vacations, fancy restaurants, booze, drugs... Whatever the culprit may be just wasn't worth it.

Being poor is no fun. And it can still happen to people long after they've "made it".

It's like lottery winners or people born into money. Not anyone can make a lot of money. But anyone can blow a lot of money FAST.

I'll end on that note too.

-Scott

Irony?

I'm a child of the '80s, a time when we used a massive arms buildup to prevent war, when guys wore lipstick and eyeliner to get girls, when pop stars adopted Catholic iconography to express their sexuality. So you will have to excuse me if I just don't get irony.

Doesn't being broke make him good? So confused...

You know what the real irony about most copywriting WSO's is? Their sales copy is usually sheisenhausen.

Nick, you're talking about a wso about 'decoding' something?