Why are you selling yourself short as a copywriter?

by Mark Andrews Banned
33 replies
Why settle for less when you can have more?

Look don't get me wrong, the Warrior Forum isn't a bad training ground if you're just starting out as a copywriter.

Here you will find copywriting opportunities a plenty at the bottom end of the barrel. Loads of cheap ass products and services, many of which have been cobbled together by everyone and their grandmother before many times. Typically priced anywhere between $7 to a few hundred dollars at most.

Some are good products but the majority are, pardon my frankness, a load of crap. Regurgitated BS churned out as quickly as possible with the intention of making a quick buck or two.

Sure you might pick up a few orders here and there, you might even get a 'guru' to contact you with a view to helping them position their product in the marketplace more effectively but for the most part these type of inquiries will be few and far between here on the WF.

If this is the level you want to operate your copywriting business at, well, good luck to you. That's all I can say.

Nothing wrong with this of course but the question is... are you selling yourself short doing so by following this path?

Look! The WF is but one market out there and in the great big scheme of things, it is but just one very small part of a much bigger pie.

All over the world there are literally thousands upon thousands of opportunities for good copywriters.

If you've got the chops or you're heading in a direction where you want to start thinking about taking your copywriting business up to the next level and beyond, realize this...

Copywriting is nothing but persuasion in print. Writing words down to elicit an emotional response intended to get the reader to take a direct call to action. Nothing more, nothing less.

It matters not whether a product is priced at $7 or 7 million dollars, words are words and if you understand psychology in the slightest, you'll know the same emotional triggers can be tapped into to elicit an emotional response from your readers. Rich or poor, people are not so very different wherever you go.

People will always be looking for a bargain.

They'll always be driven by sex.

The need to feel young and beautiful, admired and respected.

They'll always be driven by greed, the chance to make quick easy money.

Rich or poor, it matters not sadness and tragedy will affect one and all pretty much the same way too.

Money is but a product itself. It has no great power over you to determine at which level or which part of the playing field you want to play your game in.

If fear is holding you back from taking your copywriting business up into the big league, it is but an emotion over which you have total control. Don't allow your fear to hold you back!

Holding yourself back from achieving the optimum greatness possible is tantamount to shooting yourself in the foot.

The point I'm driving at?

Look around you, go to Google and look for extremely high value items for sale.

Take this 'item' for example...

Kings Island - Denmark, Europe - Private Islands for Sale

On the market for the equivalent of $13.2 million dollars.

Did you read the copy?

Think you could do better? Do you think you could contact the vendor or their agent with a value based proposition positioning your copywriting and marketing skills to help them sell this property?

Guaranteed - they'd love to find a buyer. Can you help them do this?

If you really believe in your persuasion skills, if you really believe you've got the chops to help these people sell this property, why not contact them and demonstrate the unique skill you can bring to the table?

Or how about this?...

On the market for a cool $112 million: Benetti Boats for sale France, Benetti Used boat sales, Benetti Superyachts For Sale 2006 65m Benetti - Apollo Duck

Again, what do you think of the copy?

Think you could do better?

Do you think you could help this company sell more luxury super yachts?

If you believe you've got the chops, the experience, the written persuasion skills - why not contact them and offer your services to them?

What's the worst that can happen? They either don't bother to reply or reply to you in the negative, saying no, we're not interested at this time. Big deal. Plenty more fish in the sea.

How about this one?...

1974 Ferrari 246, The Woodlands, Texas, United States - JamesList

On the market for $490,000 (USD).

Look at the ad. Do you believe you could write a better ad than this one?

If so, why not contact them? Tell them your skills, tell them what you can do for them to help them sell more of their high end luxury cars for sale.

Ads are all around you. They are just that - advertisements. Detailing the product on offer which they want to find a buyer for.

Forget about the money being asked for, don't allow the high numbers to frighten you.

If you're very good at crafting adverts putting benefits into a target buyers mind, if you believe deep down inside yourself you definitely have the chops needed, nothing will hold you back from reaching your potential.

It's completely down to you where you position yourself in the marketplace.

If it floats your boat to continuously seek copywriting projects from here on the Warrior Forum - go for it. If this makes you happy, who is to say you're doing something wrong?

Not me. Far from it.

All I'm encouraging you to do is to look at the much bigger picture.

Ads are ads it's as simple as that. They're just words printed on a page designed to fetch inquiries or better still to enable a transaction, a sale to take place. Your words are the bridge between agent / seller and potential interested parties interested in making a purchase.

Can you cement or forge a stronger bond to the product in question? This is all you're being asked to do as a copywriter, master of persuasion in print.

There is no need to keep selling yourself short as a copywriter.

There are literally thousands of very high value items for sale all over the globe and perhaps, just perhaps, if you pull your finger out of your ass you might just strike up a good healthy working relationship with just one or two of these companies who like the rest of us in the marketplace, want to shift more product.

So get out there, demonstrate some imagination, write those words so your target market connects with what you have to say and who knows...

You might just end up opening doors to your copywriting business which here to before had always been closed to you through lack of trying your luck.

Smoking hot,


Mark Andrews
#copywriter #copywriting #copywriting clients #high value copywriting #selling #short #top end copywriting
  • Profile picture of the author arfasaira
    I've always maintained for a very long time that you should look for LOCAL opportunities - in fact, I bet if you took your immediate 1 mile radius of where you live and looked at every single business you could possibly help, that would be a super place to start.

    Universities and colleges, estate agents, garages and Car dealerships, restaurants, Private medical, physiotherapists, chiropractors, salons, web companies, lawyers, accountants etc etc...

    You catch my drift!

    At least 70% of my work comes from offline sources and yes Mark, I have to agree with you that simply relying on the Warrior Forum is not casting your net far or wide enough. Competition here is stiff.

    I had someone from this forum hire me for a project, pay me for it, hire me for another and it's been 6 months since I heard from them. I asked for feedback and nothing. They owe me money and I caught them online late one night on Skype and then they went invisible when I skyped him.

    What's bothering me is that this person knows my situation and is probably using my copy to make money, but has not yet paid me. Disgusting. Yes, shame on me for not taking upfront payment, but when you get paid the once it lulls you into a false sense of security.

    This isn't the first time it's happened and I'd be happy to name and shame, but it's against the rules.

    Going forward into 2013, I'm cutting the strings of a LOT of smaller projects from the forum to completely focus on the big fish.

    I have 3 ongoing gigs from the forum which are providing a good income plus I have a partnership with a company and one other freelance gig which I'm in the middle of.

    Last few months I've been doing quite a bit of work in the charity sector and to be honest, it's probably the most rewarding work I've ever done. 90% of my clients are in the Health and wellness niche, but I'm considering shifting niches this coming year to focus on more charity stuff.

    We shall see. Right now, I'm booked out till April. I'm happy with that.

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  • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
    I see what you're saying.

    I guess i'll chime in on why I'm currently whoring myself out for cheap.

    I started off writing at Digital Point not knowing the difference between article writing and copywriting. .01c per word used to be the standard there but since I've left it seems the new standard is .50c. I came here and learned about this great ticket of opportunity and how people were earning $50/article and $2,000 or more per sales page.

    I upped the price a little bit and I did start getting a few clients coming in here and there. Then I noticed something.

    Either i'm desperate and that's why I keep my Gmail and Skype open 24/7 or people are incredibly lazy. I've had so many people contact me who needed work done and they either never contact me again or it takes them days/weeks (and sometimes even months) to get back to me.

    As far as I know, I've never had anyone who was unhappy with the work I've given them and it's not like they had no intention of hiring me, it's either just laziness or they give up on a project before it even begins.

    Just looking through my saved e-mails, let me count these real quick...

    I have one person with $1,500 worth of work who's been offline for 2 months (hasn't even signed into Skype and I'm not blocked)

    I have one person who owes me $90 for work done currently and hasn't signed into Skype for a week now (my messages to him are still pending)

    I have one person who needs $110 worth of work done that hasn't followed up with any e-mails for two weeks.

    I could keep this list going. There's plenty more people where that came from. Like I said.. it's not like they're unhappy with my work, no one ever requests a refund and usually I get complimented on the work done, but people take days or weeks to respond.

    It's just simply amazing to me how no one feels a sense of urgency in the internet marketing world and community. I would personally fire anyone who did that to their clients or their customers.

    So In Short: I'm selling myself short because I'm currently sitting on $0, I'm a great writer, but I currently don't have the funds to sit and setup a website like I want to and if things don't pick up real quick, I'll be over at Textbroker typing until my hands fall off just so I can finally get away from the typical clientele that I find here.

    I know exactly how I'm going to get out of this mess, but first I just need the funds available to do so. I have a badass $50 theme picked out that I'm going to customize, I already know how I'm going to lay the site out, what I'm going to include and I'm pretty knowledgeable in SEO so I know how I'm going to improve the rankings for targeted keywords I've already picked out as well. There are some good people here on the Warrior Forum but for the most part, relying on clients here will leave you starving because they promise you work and either come back months later or just never return.

    After everything is setup and done, I'll hike the prices by a lot and put my "Action Plan" file I have on my desktop to use. I already have everything mapped out, I've done the brainstorming process and I know exactly how I'm going to do it but when you had over several grand worth of promised work coming in for Christmas and then not a single client responds to you, it's a pretty huge crushing blow. I was left with $0 on Christmas and still have yet to hear from the two people that currently owe me money (this is after the person screwed me out of $175).
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    • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
      Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

      So In Short: I'm selling myself short because I'm currently sitting on $0, I'm a great writer, but I currently don't have the funds to sit and setup a website like I want to and if things don't pick up real quick, I'll be over at Textbroker typing until my hands fall off just so I can finally get away from the typical clientele that I find here.

      I know exactly how I'm going to get out of this mess, but first I just need the funds available to do so. I have a badass $50 theme picked out that I'm going to customize, I already know how I'm going to lay the site out, what I'm going to include and I'm pretty knowledgeable in SEO so I know how I'm going to improve the rankings for targeted keywords I've already picked out as well. There are some good people here on the Warrior Forum but for the most part, relying on clients here will leave you starving because they promise you work and either come back months later or just never return.

      After everything is setup and done, I'll hike the prices by a lot and put my "Action Plan" file I have on my desktop to use. I already have everything mapped out, I've done the brainstorming process and I know exactly how I'm going to do it but when you had over several grand worth of promised work coming in for Christmas and then not a single client responds to you, it's a pretty huge crushing blow. I was left with $0 on Christmas and still have yet to hear from the two people that currently owe me money (this is after the person screwed me out of $175).
      How does it cost you money to write to the people in the ads Mark listed? I think you're spending a lot of time focusing on your problems rather than trying to find solutions. We've all been broke, my friend. We've all had people take advantage of us. I have been homeless, and I have definitely had people screw me out of money for work already completed - I take them as hard lessons learned.

      The point Mark is trying to make is that you don't have to settle for these jerk-offs that are screwing you over. You can build a business around quality clients, and it starts by reaching out to anyone with an ad that could use improvement (everyone wants to make more money, right?), whether local or virtual.
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      • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
        Originally Posted by angiecolee View Post

        How does it cost you money to write to the people in the ads Mark listed? I think you're spending a lot of time focusing on your problems rather than trying to find solutions. We've all been broke, my friend. We've all had people take advantage of us. I have been homeless, and I have definitely had people screw me out of money for work already completed - I take them as hard lessons learned.

        The point Mark is trying to make is that you don't have to settle for these jerk-offs that are screwing you over. You can build a business around quality clients, and it starts by reaching out to anyone with an ad that could use improvement (everyone wants to make more money, right?), whether local or virtual.
        I know, was just sharing my response as to why I'm settling for less.

        I plan on doing so, but I still would like a website (which should actually be up as soon as January hits) so I can look a little more credible. I don't really want to send out e-mails to potential clientele from my Gmail.
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        • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
          Banned
          Pardon me for pointing out the obvious Corey...

          But at the moment you're not ready to take your business up to this level. You've only just entered the industry, you have no direct in the trenches experience.

          Your focus is entirely wrong. Your approach is skewed. A fact which is patently obvious to the much more experienced copywriters here.

          I've still yet to see coming from you anything which places the emphasis on the customer. All you ever talk about are your own problems.

          You're not asking the right questions to start with nor is it likely you know the right questions to even ask to receive the answers you need right now, such is your inexperience within this business. No slight intended.

          The second you start solving problems for other people, the second you put your clients interests first over and above your own interest to make money for yourself, maybe and it's a big maybe, maybe then you might start to make a little progress.

          Whoring yourself out for cheap is no benefit in itself to the consumer. Sure you might pick up an order here and there but nothing consistent. Nothing which will excite within you or create a burning desire deep down within your soul to become better in the art of salesmanship-in-print.

          Fret not though you're not alone. Many before you have fallen into the exact same trap. What you need to do to release yourself from the bonds which are holding yourself back is to pour your heart and soul into thinking up every which way imaginable to bring value to your potential clients businesses right across the board.

          If you don't start thinking about this very quickly, you business isn't going anywhere. It's a dead duck before you've even started.

          Let's see from you in the near future some better questions on this forum, more humility and acceptance for your place in the copywriting game at this present moment in time.

          For without this humility to research your chosen career path, without this burning desire to learn all you can about helping other people succeed in their own right, placing the emphasis on your needs only - you're severely missing the point completely.


          Mark Andrews
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    • Profile picture of the author MikeHumphreys
      Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

      Just looking through my saved e-mails, let me count these real quick...

      I have one person with $1,500 worth of work who's been offline for 2 months (hasn't even signed into Skype and I'm not blocked)

      I have one person who owes me $90 for work done currently and hasn't signed into Skype for a week now (my messages to him are still pending)

      I have one person who needs $110 worth of work done that hasn't followed up with any e-mails for two weeks.

      I could keep this list going. There's plenty more people where that came from. Like I said.. it's not like they're unhappy with my work, no one ever requests a refund and usually I get complimented on the work done, but people take days or weeks to respond.
      Corey, I think you're missing a big piece of being a successful copywriter: Making sure you get paid for the work you do.

      If you give your clients complete access to the editable version of what you write for them before you're paid in full, then you give any unethical clients of yours the opportunity to opt out of paying you what you're owed while they use what you wrote for free.

      You're also giving clients the opportunity to use what you wrote to raise the funds to pay you -- in other words, an interest-free loan.

      Effective immediately, insist on getting paid at least 50% upfront before you spend a minute on a client's project. If they can't pay you 50% upfront, then they're probably not going be able to pay your full fee once you complete the project. 50% deposit (I make it a non-refundable deposit) is for booking the project on your schedule of paying client work.

      Best of luck,

      Mike
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      • Profile picture of the author Rezbi
        Originally Posted by MikeHumphreys View Post

        Corey, I think you're missing a big piece of being a successful copywriter: Making sure you get paid for the work you do.

        If you give your clients complete access to the editable version of what you write for them before you're paid in full, then you give any unethical clients of yours the opportunity to opt out of paying you what you're owed while they use what you wrote for free.

        You're also giving clients the opportunity to use what you wrote to raise the funds to pay you -- in other words, an interest-free loan.

        Effective immediately, insist on getting paid at least 50% upfront before you spend a minute on a client's project. If they can't pay you 50% upfront, then they're probably not going be able to pay your full fee once you complete the project. 50% deposit (I make it a non-refundable deposit) is for booking the project on your schedule of paying client work.

        Best of luck,

        Mike
        I go even further...

        By the time I'm ready to start I'll have had all the info I need. Including how long it may take. Keep in mind this is before I start any research.

        Usually the final question to me is when I'll get started.

        My answer?

        As soon as I get the funds in my accounts. 100%.

        That's all of it.

        If they're really serious it's not a problem.

        If it is, I don't take the job on.
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      • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
        Originally Posted by MikeHumphreys View Post

        Corey, I think you're missing a big piece of being a successful copywriter: Making sure you get paid for the work you do.

        If you give your clients complete access to the editable version of what you write for them before you're paid in full, then you give any unethical clients of yours the opportunity to opt out of paying you what you're owed while they use what you wrote for free.

        You're also giving clients the opportunity to use what you wrote to raise the funds to pay you -- in other words, an interest-free loan.

        Effective immediately, insist on getting paid at least 50% upfront before you spend a minute on a client's project. If they can't pay you 50% upfront, then they're probably not going be able to pay your full fee once you complete the project. 50% deposit (I make it a non-refundable deposit) is for booking the project on your schedule of paying client work.

        Best of luck,

        Mike
        I plan on it.

        I'm moving to a 100% upfront payment system, the prices are increasing and I'm picking my own clientele that I work with.

        The day I sell my first "copy" client, i'll get a War Room Membership just to see why everyone hypes it up so much.

        Whelp, back to chasing people down for the day and more than likely hitting up Textbroker so I can receive a payment by Friday, setup the site and start my aggressive campaign.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Pescetti
    I totally understand where you're coming from Mark.

    There are a lot of bottom feeders who don't grasp the value of making a REAL investment in their success.

    Likewise...

    There are WAY too many crap products floating around this forum.

    But what else is new?

    No matter where you go, whether it's here, Clickbank or your local main street, you're going to encounter loads of crap.

    That's life.

    There are also amazing people on this forum - both experts and sincere entrepreneurs looking for REAL help.

    It's all a matter of WHERE you focus your attention.

    Personally...

    I appreciate the people I've met from the WF.

    I'm also grateful for the financial abundance I've generated from clients and referrals from the WF.

    Is it my go to destination for clients?

    Hell no!

    And while I put far less energy into participating here than I was a year ago, it's a great resource to bounce some new ideas off of the peeps and get some energy flowing.

    Everything is perspective.

    And as always...

    I appreciate yours.

    I'm not discounting what you said.

    Just infusing some contrast.

    mark

    P.S. Arfa, sorry you still haven't gotten the financial appreciation you deserve from buddy boy (that you earned in multitudes.) Regardless... I predict this will be your most profitable year yet - both personally... and for the clients blessed to work with you.
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    Just put yourself out there, m'dear. You'd be amazed that some of the preconceived notions you're positively convinced others need to see in order to know you're a professional are complete and utter crap. Plenty of writers and creatives and people in a variety of industries get by just fine with no website or a crappy website. Those who judge on a website instead of quality work aren't clients you want anyway. You're a writer, not a website designer.

    It's analysis paralysis - the thought that you'll be able to do better once X, Y, and Z happen. Forget all that and just go out with some of your best work and try to make it happen now instead of after X, Y, and Z. Wish I'd done that when I started a few years ago, 'cause I would have made more progress faster.
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  • Profile picture of the author copyassassin
    Originally Posted by Mark Andrews View Post

    [B]

    Why are you selling yourself short as a copywriter?

    Mark Andrews
    Mark,

    You're over looking perhaps the most important ingredients to securing high paying gigs:

    CONFIDENCE
    SELF-WORTH
    SELF-RESPECT

    It's easy to ask $7 for a writing gig. Kinda easy at $700. Kinda hard at $7,000. And hard at $70,000 a gig (for a bit of time).

    I find it takes a certain level of courage to tell a multi-millionaire they are full of shit; and you have a better alternative.

    It's take some hairy balls.

    And you've got to be positioned as an authority figure for a successful person to a) listen to you, b) implement your advice.

    And the only way to convince a person you are "the shit" is if you actually believe, know, you're "the shit".

    And I find that as you climb the latter of gigs, you meet business owners who can discern b.s. at increasingly better levels.

    Trust me, get the balls to present your business model to a venture capitalist. They'll eat you alive. And charge for it (in advance)!

    I believe to get to $7,000 gig level, you just have to be "good".

    To get to the $70,000 level, that requires more than being "good".

    WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, PRACTICALLY FOR NEWBIE WRITERS?

    Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to produce results than build your confidence. Work on self-worth issues. Work on self-respect.

    Learn to say the most powerful words in professional langague:

    NO!

    Just my thoughts.

    Adam

    p.s. Note to self: reread this!
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    • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
      The book Pitch Anything comes to mind
      for taking a A+ game to market.

      Money is a commodity.

      The world is awash with it.

      It's looking for a home where it can multiply.

      A bit like the basic instinct animals have to reproduce.

      Go get the book and you'll see what I mean.

      Best,
      Ewen


      Originally Posted by copyassassin View Post

      Mark,

      You're over looking perhaps the most important ingredients to securing high paying gigs:

      CONFIDENCE
      SELF-WORTH
      SELF-RESPECT

      It's easy to ask $7 for a writing gig. Kinda easy at $700. Kinda hard at $7,000. And hard at $70,000 a gig (for a bit of time).

      I find it takes a certain level of courage to tell a multi-millionaire they are full of shit; and you have a better alternative.

      It's take some hairy balls.

      And you've got to be positioned as an authority figure for a successful person to a) listen to you, b) implement your advice.

      And the only way to convince a person you are "the shit" is if you actually believe, know, you're "the shit".

      And I find that as you climb the latter of gigs, you meet business owners who can discern b.s. at increasingly better levels.

      Trust me, get the balls to present your business model to a venture capitalist. They'll eat you alive. And charge for it (in advance)!

      I believe to get to $7,000 gig level, you just have to be "good".

      To get to the $70,000 level, that requires more than being "good".

      WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, PRACTICALLY FOR NEWBIE WRITERS?

      Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to produce results than build your confidence. Work on self-worth issues. Work on self-respect.

      Learn to say the most powerful words in professional langague:

      NO!

      Just my thoughts.

      Adam

      p.s. Note to self: reread this!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Andrews
    Banned
    Another area some of you might find worth looking at is...

    Proposal writing.

    In most western countries for example, if you want to build something you need planning permission.

    Now, I'm not referring to the guy next door who wants to build a conservatory on the back of his existing home, rather I'm referring to people with somewhat bigger more ambitious plans.

    One or two here might recall a while ago how I said I grew up with a lad in my childhood, we were very close friends for many years. His father and my father were until recently best mates, extremely close friends.

    Now this guy who I grew up with, when he left school he had no qualifications and was completely illiterate, couldn't read or write to save his life. I tell a lie, the only qualification he had in his possession was an 'o' level in art.

    Upon leaving school he started up his own gardening business. Not before long however, he made a leap into property development, an industry within which he went on to make a considerable fortune.

    He now lives with his family at his baronial mansion in Scotland. (Click on the BBC link below to see it).

    Cutting a long story short, he recently put in planning permission for a super luxury resort for the worlds wealthiest individuals.

    Cost of the project a cool $2.2 billion (yes billion) dollars. Each house he was selling on his estate was for sale for $160 million. We are talking super super luxury here amid Fort Knox style security.

    The plans he put forward were extraordinary to say the very least. They made newspaper headlines throughout the country not to mention causing a storm of controversy locally with many opponents dead against his ambitious plans.

    In my opinion, what let him down most of all was the way he communicated his vision to the community and his local council whose planning permission he needed to bring his plans into fruition.

    Certainly if he had been given the go ahead, he would by now be making an incredible fortune with what he had in mind to develop the site at his mansion.

    Described as a braggart by many the only thing he talked about was himself and his own perceived ideas of grandeur. Now, don't get me wrong, I could see where he was coming from and this guy, well, he's always been a little bit boastful which in the end was to become part of his undoing.

    What he needed more than anything was a bloody good publicist, someone to help manage all of his external communications on his behalf. Someone to help not only position his vision but help to bring the local community onside to support him in bringing his huge vision into reality.

    Riling up people left, right and centre his plan was pretty much doomed from the start and all because his style of communication, selling his big idea and the benefits it would bring to the community locally were so massively amiss. (Huge disconnect).

    A superb copywriter could have made a veritable killing working for this chap. Just in planning the resort he had already pumped many, many millions of pounds into the project, in his own words, "Money is no object to me."

    In fact, he was hoping to put Donald Trump's golf course in Scotland out of business by creating not one but two world class golf courses on his own property, created by one of the leading experts in golf course design in the world.

    Btw you can read more about the story here...

    £14,000-per-night luxury resort planned for world's richest people - Telegraph

    BBC News - Council rejects £1.3bn Dall Estate resort bid

    All around the world there are plans and bids being put forward for some incredible developments. Is this an area where you could bring your unique skills to the fore?

    If you consider yourself to be a first rate written communicator able to translate big visions into reality or an easily understood format, into a form which helps to sell the big idea to the intended audience needed to grant permission for the project in question for it to be given the go ahead... who knows you might just be the key to opening doors which are the kingpin upon which said plans come alive.

    Of course, this isn't an area for the fainthearted. It's not an area for any fledgling copywriter to participate in. But if you've got the chops, the business experience, if you've got the skills to bring alive through your words the big vision, just perhaps this is a further area you might want to consider looking at in the future?

    In this business dare to dream big. Only one who risks is free to be. There's a whole world of opportunity out there for all ambitious copywriters.

    If you're positioning yourself constantly just in the Internet marketing industry alone, you could be leaving some serious money on the table not exploring your full range of options.

    Right across the scale, everywhere you look, every single day there are some very serious players out there looking to sell their next big idea. Whether this is in the construction industry, the travel industry or any one of a number of other big industry sectors, people are always looking for individuals just like you and I who can use words to great effect to sell their vision to the people who matter.

    If you can help other people to sell their big idea, bring their vision alive, see the entire range of hidden benefits, who knows, you might just end up fairly wealthy yourself. Don't try, you won't get anywhere.

    For the sake of something as simple as getting a little conversation flowing with the right people, with the right connections, who knows where this could lead you.

    Something maybe to think about, another arrow to your bow if you like. Another option perhaps worth exploring.

    "What have you got to lose?"

    Smoking hot,


    Mark Andrews
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  • Profile picture of the author wordwizard
    Wow, what a cool thread. Just what I needed to read right now, on the verge of the new year...

    Thanks for the new perspectives and encouragement!
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  • Profile picture of the author max5ty
    Corey...

    Do you have some type of handicap that prevents you from going out and getting a job?

    Or are you just sitting around expecting to become the next internet sensation?

    I'm being serious.
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    • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
      Originally Posted by max5ty View Post

      Corey...

      Do you have some type of handicap that prevents you from going out and getting a job?

      Or are you just sitting around expecting to become the next internet sensation?

      I'm being serious.
      I'm waiting on you to hand me all of your money.

      I'm being serious.

      No, I don't have a handicap that prevents me from getting a job. Don't sit there and assume that I'm lazy or unmotivated, because that's exactly what you're implying.

      Where the hell did I ever imply I was just sitting around waiting for money to fall in? I've expressed concerns over the following: Trying to get clients to keep in touch with me on a timely basis, and finding those high quality clients. I work hard on the tasks I do get and I have never once been one of those people who just expects everything handed to him, and that comment kind of pisses me off.
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      • Profile picture of the author max5ty
        Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

        I'm waiting on you to hand me all of your money.

        I'm being serious.

        No, I don't have a handicap that prevents me from getting a job. Don't sit there and assume that I'm lazy or unmotivated, because that's exactly what you're implying.

        Where the hell did I ever imply I was just sitting around waiting for money to fall in? I've expressed concerns over the following: Trying to get clients to keep in touch with me on a timely basis, and finding those high quality clients. I work hard on the tasks I do get and I have never once been one of those people who just expects everything handed to him, and that comment kind of pisses me off.
        I'm glad you were pissed off...meant it was a good post.

        Like a great copywriter from way back when said, "If everyone tells you they liked your sales letter, you've done something wrong". He went on to say what they should be doing is rushing in wanting to know how to fix the problem you described.

        I didn't want to come down on you too hard if you had a handicap.

        I read some of your other posts where you were complaining about not having any money for Christmas, needing to pay a ticket, wanting to start a website, needing a template...basically just crying about how broke you were.

        Which got me to thinking you probably had a handicap that prevented you from getting a job.

        Well hey, that's great you're healthy...you can go out and get a job until you hit it big with your other goals.
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        • Profile picture of the author Marvin Johnston
          Originally Posted by max5ty View Post

          Well hey, that's great you're healthy...you can go out and get a job until you hit it big with your other goals.
          Jim Rohn said something similar to that in one of his talks. He was talking to his mentor early on (can't remember his name.) The advice was to work full time on making a living and part time on making him wealthy.

          BTW, I'm not sure that having a physical handicap is anything other than an excuse. Jonathon Morrow (copyblogger) has a pretty impressive history. He has MS with very limited mobility and uses Dragon Naturally Speaking for his writing.

          Marvin
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          • Profile picture of the author Jeremey
            Happy New Year everyone,

            Mark, I've posted this before, but your post reminds me of a lot of the goals I have for the coming year.

            Since I started my copywriting business here on the Warrior Forum a mere 3 months ago, it's pretty much changed everything about where I thought my life would be at this time last year.

            It hasn't been easy. I like to think I've been taking 9 months of copywriting training and building a business and had to compress it into 3 months of learning everything and reinvesting money and time back into my work on a daily basis.

            I've said it before, that Warrior Forum isn't the end-game of my business plan. But it's helped me establish a client base, get my first 4 figure copywriting job, and so far I am booked until January 25th, almost exclusively through existing clients and referrals I made during my first 3 months of business.

            It can happen. It's not pretty. You have to be willing to risk everything to make it happen. I wasn't in a position where I had much choice, and I had a background that made a lot of things easier for me than the average guy who drops in on the WF and decides to make a go of things.

            I had to be flexible enough to realize on short notice that certain things weren't working, and when they didn't work, immediately change and be prepared with another plan of attack within hours. And I've made full use of all the resources, talent, and advice I've seen on this board, either given directly or indirectly through so many great minds that post here on a regular basis.

            Now I'm preparing my next "3 month plan" which will include expanding my business offline and into other online avenues as well.

            To get back to your post Mark, I don't worry myself with the bottom feeders or trivialize my work with junk projects just to keep busy...And it does take a good bit of risk to rise above that...and a bit of that fearlessness you alluded to.

            And you're right, this is but one very small pond in the vast world that is copywriting, but it's been and will continue to be a great resource for beginners and seasoned pros alike. It's a healthy mix of both that keeps things interesting and useful.
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          • Profile picture of the author max5ty
            Originally Posted by Marvin Johnston View Post

            Jim Rohn said something similar to that in one of his talks. He was talking to his mentor early on (can't remember his name.) The advice was to work full time on making a living and part time on making him wealthy.

            BTW, I'm not sure that having a physical handicap is anything other than an excuse. Jonathon Morrow (copyblogger) has a pretty impressive history. He has MS with very limited mobility and uses Dragon Naturally Speaking for his writing.

            Marvin
            There really are no excuses...I was just waiting for him to give me one.

            My step sister has MS...but she started a fashion line. She's a millionaire many times over.

            I have a son and daughter that are probably not a whole lot older than him. They've both become successful...and I taught them both to work for their own goals.

            My son just bought another new Maserati 4 months ago. My daughter drives a Mercedes CLS (not sure why, but she likes it).

            They both worked minimum wage jobs...and both went to college.

            Best of all, they like me...they respect me for making them work for their own success...

            They like me for me,
            not because i look like tyson bedford,
            with the charm of robert redford,
            they like me for me...

            LOL
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      • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
        Originally Posted by Corey Geer View Post

        I'm waiting on you to hand me all of your money.

        I'm being serious.

        No, I don't have a handicap that prevents me from getting a job. Don't sit there and assume that I'm lazy or unmotivated, because that's exactly what you're implying.

        Where the hell did I ever imply I was just sitting around waiting for money to fall in? I've expressed concerns over the following: Trying to get clients to keep in touch with me on a timely basis, and finding those high quality clients. I work hard on the tasks I do get and I have never once been one of those people who just expects everything handed to him, and that comment kind of pisses me off.
        Good, get pissed off. Sometimes that's the motivator you need to get out of the rut you're in and start working toward a better situation. I can tell you're in a rut, because as a few other posters mentioned, your posts lately have all been in the same vein of struggling and having more problems than you know how to solve. The solution? Take a deep breath, and move forward one step at a time.

        A side note - if you're serious about copywriting, most of us don't sell our services at $0.03 per word. That is definitely more of an article writing thing, which is a world apart from what copywriters do.
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  • Corey,

    The easiest way on earth to get clients for copywriting or for any other business is...

    Send out flyers or preferably postcards (the quality is a lot higher). The initial cost should be well under $75.00. Chances are you can do it for under $50.00.

    Just make an irresistible offer. With a time limit. To get a fast response.

    Send or deliver them to your target audience (you can do what Arfa mentioned and concentrate around a mile from home) and wait for the phone to go ding a ling.

    If it doesn't - improve the copy and send some more.


    Steve


    P.S. Some will say "and follow up them up with a phone call." I would say "Yes, if you want to."

    But if the copy and the offer is great - they'll phone you.
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    • Profile picture of the author max5ty
      Originally Posted by Steve The Copywriter View Post

      ...the easiest way on earth to get clients for copywriting or for any other business is...

      Send out flyers or preferable postcards (the quality is a lot higher).

      Just make an irresistible offer.

      Send or deliver them to your target audience and wait for the phone to go ding a ling.

      If it doesn't - improve the copy and send some more.


      Steve


      P.S. Some will say "and follow up them up with a phone call." I would say "Yes, if you want to."

      But if the copy and the offer is great - they'll phone you.
      I agree with you Steve.

      But no one wants to use their dime to help you get experience.

      I like your suggestion, but only after you've proven yourself.

      It's easy to prove yourself...sell your own product. When you've sold a product that brings the house down you've got something to show.

      I could sit here in the next hour and come up with an ebook to sell...write a killer sales letter and start selling it.

      It's not that difficult.

      I'm so tired of listening to people whine and moan about not getting customers. Dang it, you don't deserve any customers until you've proven yourself.

      Sorry if I sound like I'm in a bad mood. I'm really not, just frustrated sometimes.
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  • Max,

    Yes, having your own product is great.

    But for some it will take weeks, even months to create. Then they'll usually build an inter web site and have all the costs and hassles in driving the traffic to it.

    As thousands of local people already have products or services.

    And desperately need help to advertise and sell them.

    By offering that help - it can build up the income much faster.


    Steve


    P.S. Then when they have some money, they could concentrate on their own stuff.
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    • Profile picture of the author max5ty
      Originally Posted by Steve The Copywriter View Post

      Max,

      Yes, having your own product is great.

      But for some it will take weeks, even months to create.

      As 100's of thousands of people already have their product or service.

      And desperately need the help to advertise and sell them.

      It can build up the income much faster.


      Steve
      You're probably right Steve. I apologize if I sounded like I was going off on a tantrum.

      My daughter was just telling me yesterday I could be so hard headed. Of course I don't think so. But I told her I'd include a note to try and be more open to other ideas in my long list of New Year's Resolutions.
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  • Corey,

    Don't take this the wrong way...

    Others have suggested this.

    And it's the only thing that works.

    You have to become part of the solution NOT the problem.

    The more of the solution you become the less the problem will be.

    We've all helped you do this - so now it's up to you to help yourself.


    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author angiecolee
    Jeremey -

    You've been a great motivator to me. I work as a copywriter for a local company, and that steady paycheck has definitely allowed me to develop a certain comfort zone (read: laziness) regarding my own freelancing. Thanks to you and a few of the guys, I'm starting the new year with an aggressive local marketing push. Just know your hard work hasn't gone unnoticed
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    • Profile picture of the author Jeremey
      Originally Posted by angiecolee View Post

      Jeremey -

      You've been a great motivator to me. I work as a copywriter for a local company, and that steady paycheck has definitely allowed me to develop a certain comfort zone (read: laziness) regarding my own freelancing. Thanks to you and a few of the guys, I'm starting the new year with an aggressive local marketing push. Just know your hard work hasn't gone unnoticed
      Thanks so much, Angie, that's a great inspiration to me. It is tough to get out of the comfort zone, and often there's no better motivator than having no other options but success...

      I'm looking at a book on my bookshelf right now called "Start & Run A Copywriting Business" by Steve Slaunwhite. I purchased this book in 2006, when I was a full time sales rep in the trucking industry and desperately wanted to get back into writing and make a go at the copywriting business. I read it a couple times...wrote some sales letters and some of my own promo stuff....

      But I was always afraid to go after anything with it. Afraid my bosses might find out...Afraid if I neglected my job my work would suffer and ultimately I'd fail at everything...After all, I had a job paying high five figures, a 401k and company car, and I was doing "okay" for myself.

      Little did I know how trapped I was by that mentality!

      It's been sitting on my desk here for the past couple of months...Not only as a resource, but as a reminder of where my mind was back in 2006...How "easy" I thought I had it...and how life sometimes has a way of kicking down your sandcastles when you least expect it!

      Good luck in the coming year Angie, and you guys have all been an incredible motivation to me as well!
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  • Profile picture of the author sethczerepak
    There definitely is a lot of cybersludge to wade through in the WSO section and in other pockets of WF. On the other hand, I've found some very good opportunities here with customers who have been with me for years...and I don't work with cheapskates.

    I still say it's about how you position yourself. You can attract decent clientele in some unsuspecting places if you know how to sort through the BS, if you know when to say no and if you have high value communication skills. Elance, WF, hell, I've even found some good clients on Facebook. The diamonds are always out there, for those who know how to mine them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Corey Geer
    Ive got an idea and my own method ive thought up to implement. Well see how that goes.

    Still getting used to the new phone and keyboard

    If this works out, i wont need to worry about the people i complain about
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