Where do I start?

by 25 replies
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I know i been making quite a few threads around here for a while, but i seriously need your opinion on this...So, Kindly bear with me.:p

Here is the situation:

So, I've been studying the whole science/art of writing copy for a few months now. There is so much that goes into it that I begin to think I know everything there is to copywriting...Only to discover there's more to it. It takes a solid week to absorb everything I read, write and listen to... Since some of you guy's pointed out that my grammar and punctuation was "atrocious" I actually called up my high school english teacher and got her to come over and help me brush up my writing. (Yea she's HOT as hell, sadly she's engaged)

Anyways, I have been working my @$$ off and honestly I am simply tired of writing "mock" copies and wasting hours...Whereas I could actually be spending the same amount of time writing a copy for my next client. I really feel like the longer I wait, the harder it's going to get.

Here Is What I Think I Should Do:

I believe that the only way I can be confident about my copywriting skills is by actually getting myself out there and work for actual clients. I know that I can write a good copy and I know my first one wont be the "greatest" but I know that it will SELL. I can later provide the client with more improvements that she/he can make to the copy and work with them to make the copy stronger and convert better.

So how do I get a client even if i don't have a portfolio yet??:confused:

Should I offer my services for free/cheap and get a few testimonials first or should I just put myself out there in hopes that someone picks me up for their next project and pays me the kinda fee many good copywriters get paid? What would you do?

I know what my time is worth - It will easily take me 5 days to a week to write a good copy. From interviewing the product owner, going through the product and finding out it's best features, coming up with a USP, Getting my hook, learning about my potential prospects and then writing the actual copy and then refurbishing it. Then following up with some headlines and some other elements to split test with and then making tweaks to enhance the copy's performance. Its insanely hard work and I don't wanna cut any corners.

Your advise/opinions are needed.

Thank you guys.

Cheers,
Kunal
#copywriting #start
  • Hi Kunal,

    If I were in your situation, I would be writing samples in the wealth, health and relationship niches. I understand you wanting to get out there and make some money, but you need to be prepared. The samples you write will be the beginnings of your portfolio.

    You need to get yourself a website, I have no hesitation in telling you to grab a copy of "Ghostwriting Cash" a brilliant course by Tiffany Dow and Craig Desorcy, it will give you all the information you need to be making money with your writing skills in no time. I am not an affiliate of this product

    I myself have used this resource and found it extremely helpful, if you want to have a look at my site, to see what I'm talking about, please follow the link in my signature.

    You can always extend your portfolio into different niches as different opportunities arise.

    Good luck in whatever you decide.

    John
    • [1] reply
    • Money is secondary to me ... I make more than enough offline and I only have to work for about 6 days a month and I get to party at work. Copywriting is something I am just passionate about and I find it insanely interesting. That is the main reason why I even started learning it.

      But yea, I definitely will prepare some writing samples and maybe even write an ebook on my favorite subject. I think it's a great idea and will definitely give my clients some confidence and see if my kind of writing suits their needs.

      Thank you.

      Cheers,
      kunal
      • [1] reply
  • I tried looking at such ads. Someone had given the same suggestion in a thread.

    Where I live... People just aren't that into it. I tried a local gym and a real estate company they said they have people managing their advertising. Maybe it works well in the US but offline doesn't work here.

    Thanks for the suggestion though.

    Cheers,
    kunal
    • [1] reply
    • Kunal, this is working here in New Zealand where people don't like doing things the way
      they do in the USA.

      Oh well, looks like your short experience has stopped you cold from speaking to other business types and using a different approach to them.

      On a forum which has 7,00 paid members, from around the world, there is a 4 line script that goes on postcards.

      It is common to get 50% of receivers to phone back.

      That script I gave isn't verbatim, however it is the gist of that proven winner.

      So how many business owners have you spoken to before you gave up?

      Best,
      Ewen
      • [1] reply
  • This is what I did. I wrote an ebook on self hypnosis. It gave general informantion. I was too dumb to know that content writers didn't write sales copy so I wrote the copy for the book. I'd worked for a couple years selling from the poduim so I knew many of the emotional triggers people respond to and managed to get them into the copy. I sold not a single book.

    Then someone told me that the book was too general and that people need to deal with specific issues and want info that will help them do that. So I changed the book around and made it a guide to help people stop smoking. I rewrote the sales page and the thing started converting very well right away. This was quite a while back before the Web was supersaturated with offers.

    The point? Create a product and write the copy for it. That adds a couple of items to your portfolio, resume, etc. But if you do a good job and the thing actually sells, then you can go out there and seek out clients as a proven writer. This is pretty much what I did. It was more by accident than design, but hell, who cares, it worked. Good luck.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Hey,

      I am actually in the midst of finishing my first ebook in the IM niche. Amazon affiliate marketing to be specific. I was thinking about selling it simply as a WSO but now I think I'll make it a full fledged course with videos and advanced training and stuff. I think it'll be a good start. But finishing it may take a while. Lets see, I'm still keeping my options open.

      Thanks man...

      Cheers,
      kunal

  • Banned
    Mate, do us all a favour and just give up. You can't write to save your life. And your attitude is WRONG. You've had some good advice here from people who know what they're talking about...and yet there you are whining and giving us all the reasons why it won't work. The problem is YOU. Start from there. Or start from proofreading EVERYTHING you write. If you can't do that - bugger off back to telemarketing - those annoying *******s that somehow get my unlisted number and ring me on almost a daily basis.

    As Daniel says - go "write a good copy" - then hang yourself with it.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • I'm not saying that their advice is wrong, I was just stating that I live in a small town and people aren't interested in what I have to offer.

      And I know you hate telemarketers, It's one of the reasons I left my job. I am not complaining. Please understand that people here DON'T need my services. It's just as simple as that.

      I'm sorry if I came off as offensive, I was only stating the situation here, NOT questioning their advice. I was only asking for help dude, Don't take it the wrong way.

      Kunal
  • Edit: doesn't matter
    • [1] reply
    • Well if you have an interest in gardening and decide to throw your hat in and become a full time landscape gardener but live in a small village where no one has a garden then you should move.

      Because that is what you are saying is it not?

      Dan
      • [1] reply
  • Banned
    You already have your hook staring you in the face. As my learned colleague above says - it doesn't matter where you live. It's the internets baby. So go target the biggest market out there - the U.S. Start with a "Missive from the Maldives". Buy a mailing list of scuba-divers or something. Or dive-shop owners. Or travel agents.

    Read some of Halbert's stuff or just get into it. Talk one on one to them. Go sell them. By saying "I'm Kunal. I live and work from my boat. Right now I'm anchored off a tiny tropical island in The Maldives. "Where the hell is The Maldives?" I hear you say. If you have a globe. Locate India. Run your finger down South West to The Indian Ocean. See us? between Sri Lanka and India. Yeah - it's tiny. Best-kept secret and all that. The Maldives are famous for lobster and copywriters. Yeah...I'm kidding. But look....

    And here's a FREE 6-part series from Clayton Makepeace - A Conversation With the Legendary Copywriter GARY BENCIVENGA Part 1 of 6 | MakepeaceTotalPackage.com

    à bientôt
    M
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply

    • Wow..that is what I call CLASSY!
      Simply amazing sir..I think you have inborn talent..
      When did you start to learn this art?
      I really loved it!
      • [1] reply
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    Where do I start?

    I know i been making quite a few threads around here for a while, but i seriously need your opinion on this...So, Kindly bear with me.:p Here is the situation: