Looking for feedback on AWAI's Bootcamp

Hmmm... Is this an indication that some may think it's a rip-off?

I'd find that surprising since it does have solid presenters: Clayton Makepeace, Bob Bly, Steve Slaunwhite, Nick Usbourne, Lorrie Morgan Ferraro, etc. Sounds like a good mix of direct response, B2B, and web copywriters.

So you want to go to a gathering exclusively for copywriters with the idea of finding copy clients?

Hmmm... as a copywriter, you should know how to target your prospects better.

I've been three times. Each time we've had a booth at the job fair too. There's plenty of opportunity to get hired, if you can write copy...

Colm

First of all, let me preface this by saying that I have a product with AWAI and I'm one of their annual speakers at their Web Writing Intensive. So take what you will from this.

To me, the Bootcamp Job Fair is a tremendous opportunity. Never in your career will you find more companies looking for people who do what you do--all one room at the same time. Yes, you'll most likely be asked to do a small spec assignment for them so they can gauge your talent level and knowledge of the niche. And I know some more experienced copywriters feel they're above this. But the fact is, a lot of the copywriters (and I mean a LOT) who take these specs never actually turn them in. So your chances of getting hired go up exponentially just by doing what you were asked to do by your potential employer. If I were a beginner looking to score a gig with a big-time direct response company, I'd take those odds in a heartbeat.

Here's a list of a few of the companies on the roster last year:

AcuHub
Agora Financial
Al Sears, MD
AWAI
Best Life Herbals
Boardroom, Inc.
CAH, Inc.
Call Loop
Contour Beds
Don for You Solutions
Full Potential Healthcare
Glazier-Kennedy
Golf Institute
Healthy Wealthy Wise
Home Positions
ICreatives
Idea Incubator
Institute for Individual Investors
Inversor Global
International Living
James Direct, Inc.
KJM Publications
League of Power
Leeb Group
LPG Gem LTD
Market Authority
Meritas
Money Map Press
Money Week
Natural Health Dossier
Nightingale Conant
Opportunity Travel
Parker Marketing
Premier Direct
Premier Quality Systems
Stansberry & Associates Investment Research
Step Into the Spotlight
Strategic Profits
The Palm Beach Letter
The Sovereign Society
The Oxford Club
AWAI’s Travel Writing Division
Wealthy Web Writer
Weiss Inc.

A lot of niches represented, with Health/Wellness and Financial leading the way.

So I would certainly think about it. There's a lot of money to be made from these companies. And you could be one of the writer's in line for a niche chunk.

One final thought--when I first started out in direct response as a freelancer, I made it a point to attend the biggest live internet marketing functions of the day. I'm talking your Big Seminars and the like. Why? Because as a copywriter, that was my chance to market myself to 400 or 500 potential clients all in one place. And I never left one of these events without a gig (or gigs) that more than paid for the investment I made getting there.

So again, I would certainly think about it. Plus, there's worse places to be than south Florida (about 100 yards from the beach) in late Fall.

Jay, thanks for your response. It was truly helpful.

I'm fairly certain I'll attend although I still like to hear about the experiences of past attendees.

I'm a huge Clayton Makepeace fan. I also have Bob Bly's book on copywriting and recently purchased the case study program by Ed Gandia. I've even spoken to the AWAI office and always received a courteous and helpful reply.

Web copy, eh? Would love to hear your presentation. Part of my day job responsibilities include web content for our website, blog, and email campaigns.

And yes, Florida would be a great place in the fall! I've never met a beach I didn't like.

ETA:

Jay, I liked what you had to say about attending IM functions. However, what I've run into is this: many IMers and even small start-ups, do not understand the value of a good copywriter. I recently met a start-up guy who was really excited about "meeting a copywriter" and said, "You're the first one we've met!" Yeah. Red flag.

After I sent my fees for web content (and they were very reasonable. I had a few professional copywriters review them), I sensed the guy was surprised. This isn't the first time it's happened.

To be honest, I steer away from them. I'm approaching mid-size companies and am looking for prospects that already "get it." I'm sure others have a different perspective, but I don't want to spend valuable time explaining why paying for good copy will eventually lead to more conversions, more sales, and more profit.

That's exactly what you get with the Job Fair--companies that totally get it when it comes to copywriters. This means you may be able to jump right to a gig with one of the big players as opposed to working your way up through small and mid sized businesses who you may have to educate on the value of good copy. To me, this is a tremendous advantage--especially if you're just getting started.

And on a different note: As far as my stuff goes, I specialize in email and autoresponder copy and teach others through the links in my sig. But if you want some free stuff, I've got 7 videos in the Youtube link on the left that may be helpful.

Be careful! They try to lure you in with a few success stories of people who landed clients there. But look at the numbers. If 500 people attend...how many of those are copywriters? And how many are hiring companies?

If you are looking for clients, far better to go to a seminar where the numbers are in your favor. Go to a marketing event/seminar where the majority of the people attending are potential clients, not primarily competition as at the AWAI event.

I think even if you asked AWAI that they would admit the focus of the event is largely on learning. The job fair was added on a few years ago as an added value.

Also, you should not be going as a beginner hoping to get clients. These are high-level direct marketing companies. There is a lot of competition. Unless you've got a little bit of experience and know that your copy is at least at a certain level...better to wait.

I am considering attending this year. (Only because I get free admission because I signed up for their masters program many years ago) I don't know that I would pay $2,000, especially if I was a beginner, hoping to get clients.

Last thing. You can approach any of these companies yourself over the telephone. Tell them you are AWAI trained and you'd like to write a spec assignment for them. Save your $2K to put toward marketing your services, or toward a marketing seminar with hundreds of potential prospects for your services.

Ken nailed it. Go to something like Big Seminar which will be packed with Internet marketers, all needing some form of copy.

It's not like you're going to walk up to someone from Agora or Boardroom and land a gig.