How Do I Start? :(

13 years ago

This comes up a lot and I have a pat answer. Create your own product, write the sales page and carefully document the success. If it bombs, fix it and try again or go with a different project. Keep doing it until you have a winner. You'll learn a lot on the way.

I got lucky my first time out more by accident than design but it worked very well. Then you have success as someone who can write both content and copy.

Thanks

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kellyburdes

13 years ago

I'd tend to agree with traveling guy. The best client is yourself, create your own products and write your letters. As you start to make more money pay for mentoring, coaching etc to get better.

Another advantage of this approach is that you will also be learning to run a business, which gives you additional expertise (ie value) you can give your copy writing clients in the future.

Thanks
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Summertime Dress

13 years ago

Create your own product, write the sales page and carefully document the success. If it bombs, fix it and try again or go with a different project. Keep doing it until you have a winner. You'll learn a lot on the way.

If you had to choose bw testing your first product via WSO, ClickBank, or other venue such as direct mail, how would you suggest?

Thanks
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travlinguy 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Summertime Dress

If you had to choose bw testing your first product via WSO, ClickBank, or other venue such as direct mail, how would you suggest?

It depends. Of the three you mention, WSO would probably be the least expensive. I'm not really sure what you mean by testing. If you mean salability, that too depends. First, WSOs are no slam dunk. If you approach them right you can do well but most people don't.

First you have to be selling something people want. That's easy enough to figure out. Look at what's selling on the WSO board and pay attention to what people are asking for in the main forum and you should be able to come up with something of value if you can solve a problem.

Then you have to present it the way they want it. Look at what's selling in that section. Almost every headline makes wild claims. I've only bought a couple of WSOs in almost three years and they haven't come close to meeting their claims. Still, I've downloaded lots of former WSOs in the War Room that were outstanding. But back to marketing...

Then you have to have some sneezers endorsing your offer. Seth Godin coined the term sneezer years ago with his Idea Virus book. A sneezer is an influential person within a niche or community others will listen to. So now you've got your promotional bases covered: plenty of testimonials and an over the top claim.

Unfortunately, the product itself seems to come last in the equation but having something of real value does count unless you want TONS of returns and want to sleep at night. And last, but certainly not least, you need to present a WSO properly.

Long copy is OUT OF THE QUESTION 99% of the time. People here are a warm market for the right info so tell them what it is, tell them what it will do for them, create a compelling call to action and paste Belcher buttons all over the place.

BTW, I learned this the hard way. I did pretty well with my first WSO but could have done much better if I'd bothered to examine this market a bit closer. But there are no mistakes if we learn, really. I went a little long with the reply, and it really doesn't fit with the OP's question. I hope he's okay with that... Hope this helped.
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Stephen Dean

13 years ago

I agree with Traveling Guy. Watching results come in is the best teacher.

But you'll benefit from a strong foundation. You can't go wrong by following Gary Halbert's advice.

The Gary Halbert Letter

Cheers,
Stephen Dean

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Clients: Matt Bacak, Jim Edwards, Ryan Deiss and more.

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Jake Gray

13 years ago

You don't learn anything if you don't fail.

You don't learn anything if you don't take action.

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2 replies

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nlquyen 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Jake Gray

You don't learn anything if you don't fail.

You don't learn anything if you don't take action.

Yeb, i totally agree with you.
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DanteRomero

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Jake Gray

You don't learn anything if you don't fail.

You don't learn anything if you don't take action.

I agree, but I'll put it another way so that you see what we mean. When you learn to drive a car, you have to drive the car. You can read all the books you want, but once you get in the car, you still don't know how to do it right. Think of it this way.

If you get out there and just starting trying, you'll learn faster. Getting behind the wheel right away leads to knowing what you are doing sooner than only studying.

Here is the way I used to always say it when I was a hardcore gamer:

"The Faster You Start Losing, The Faster You Start Winning"

It was true of games and is true of copywriting.

Thanks
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"Perfection isn't important. Improvement is."

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MsConnie

13 years ago

Originally Posted by DanteRomero

I agree, but I'll put it another way so that you see what we mean. When you learn to drive a car, you have to drive the car. You can read all the books you want, but once you get in the car, you still don't know how to do it right. Think of it this way.

If you get out there and just starting trying, you'll learn faster. Getting behind the wheel right away leads to knowing what you are doing sooner than only studying.

Here is the way I used to always say it when I was a hardcore gamer:

"The Faster You Start Losing, The Faster You Start Winning"

It was true of games and is true of copywriting.

So how should a newbie who has actually written her own copy in the form of flyers and ads for her MLM and direct sales business go about getting a new client? I'm tempted to bid on some of the lower paying Elance copywriting jobs just to get my feet wet then move up to higher paying gigs when I become better at it, but I'm not sure if that's a good move right now.

Thanks
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Alex Cohen

13 years ago

Originally Posted by MsConnie

So how should a newbie who has actually written her own copy in the form of flyers and ads for her MLM and direct sales business go about getting a new client? I'm tempted to bid on some of the lower paying Elance copywriting jobs just to get my feet wet then move up to higher paying gigs when I become better at it, but I'm not sure if that's a good move right now.

Connie,

Just like a product or service should be positioned properly, so should a copywriter.

It's something every new copywriter should think very seriously about before starting his or her career.

Alex

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ecoverbox

13 years ago

Originally Posted by MsConnie

So how should a newbie who has actually written her own copy in the form of flyers and ads for her MLM and direct sales business go about getting a new client? I'm tempted to bid on some of the lower paying Elance copywriting jobs just to get my feet wet then move up to higher paying gigs when I become better at it, but I'm not sure if that's a good move right now.

I don't see anything wrong with bidding on small, albeit low-paying copywriting jobs. Once you get your feet wet, as you said, you can work your way up and build enough copywriting experience so you can sell your own products later on. ODesk's a great start. Hope that helps.

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DanteRomero

13 years ago

I recommend the copywriting course at simpleology.com. It costs $1,200 but you can get access to it with a premium subscription for $47 / month. ( I'm not the owner of the company )

Get yourself some good materials. Then apply what you learn as you learn it.

I recommend the following books:

Triggers by Joe Sugarman
Mind Control Marketing by Mark Joyner
Advertising secrets of the written word by Joe Sugarman
Billion Dollar Marketing Secrets by Ted Nicholas

Also, get yourself some swipe files of "classic" sales letters by those such as gary halbert and clayton makepace. ( the simpleology course comes with this if you go that route )

Rewrite these sales letters by hand and study them. Look for what you learned in your books and how they use it.

Above all, Always apply what you learn as you learn it. Study daily and write copy just as much as you are studying. Or even more than you are studying.

The best learning method I've found is to speed read one of the books I mentioned, then read a second time and apply each technique over and over again until it is a habit. Only then move to the next technique. ( for more information on proper learning and study methods see the book "how to maximize your memory" by Ramon Campayo )

Let me know if you have any questions.

-Dante

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"Perfection isn't important. Improvement is."

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Lilwarrior

13 years ago

Thanks Dante Romero, I think your suggestions are helpful to all marketers

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oxxxeee

13 years ago

Find copywriting you like and bury yourself in it to feel the tempo, style and flow. Try to write like it then bring in your own style.

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aprilhomer

Banned 13 years ago

[DELETED]

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MsConnie 13 years ago

Originally Posted by aprilhomer

If you want to have an online job at home, try odesk.com

I'm already signed up with Odesk.
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- staceythewriter 13 years ago
  
  Hi Ms. Connie:
  
  On my website, there are some free reports and audios designed to help new freelance copywriters get started. You can check them out on my "Resources" page at "staceythewriter.com."
  
  Best of luck to you with this endeavor. It's challenging, but freelance copywriting is fun and worth it. You must also remember to network offline and online.
  
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  Signature
  
  Stacey Mathis
  Stacey Mathis Copywriting
  The Copywriter's Highway to Success
  http://www.staceythewriter.com
  Twitter: @staceythewriter
  
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staceythewriter

13 years ago

Hey Samaurile:

I have some free reports, articles and audios designed to help newbies get started. You can check them out on my "Resources" page at "staceythewriter.com."

Good luck in your endeavor. Freelance copywriting is really a fun and challenging ride. Also, remember to network . . . a lot.

Thanks

Signature

Stacey Mathis
Stacey Mathis Copywriting
The Copywriter's Highway to Success
http://www.staceythewriter.com
Twitter: @staceythewriter

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