Do you sometimes HATE your copy after a while?

by Adam K

Posted: 11 years ago 13 replies

COPY WRITING

Recently I wrote copies for my own business.

I read and changed each copy about 10 times and now all of a sudden...

I can't read my copies any more!
They seem stupid and NOT convincing at all....
They don't even make sense to me any more.

Does this happen to you??

It seemed fine at first but now I think it's terrible, how is this possible?

What do I do now?
Should I start from scratch?
Should I drink a ton of beer and just leave it for a few days?

#copy #hate

Don Grace 11 years ago

It doesn't matter what you think of your copy, it either converts, or it doesn't. You need to run traffic to test, then tweak as needed.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207935].message }}
- shawnlebrun 11 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Don Grace
  
  It doesn't matter what you think of your copy, it either converts, or it doesn't. You need to run traffic to test, then tweak as needed.
  
  I'm with Don....
  
  I've never written something for my businesses that I hated. Sure, I've written stuff that I just put up, to get the ball in motion... and then go back to it over time to make it better.
  
  but in all honesty, it only matters if it's working. Is it returning sales, producing a positive ROI.
  
  I've written things in the past for some of my "make money online" businesses where every time I see it, I'd think "hmmm... that makes it sound kinda hypey or over the top," yet when I change it, conversions go down.
  
  Most copywriters probably don't "hate" their copy...nor have they fallen in love with it. They're most concerned with numbers and conversions... does it work or not.
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  MILLION Dollar Copywriter Offering Written Sales Letter or VSL Script Worth $5,000 - Just $500!
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207993].message }}
Curtis2011 11 years ago

On the contrary, the copy I use to sell my ebook... I haven't changed it in years.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8207956].message }}
The Copy Nazi Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Adam K

Recently I wrote copies for my own business.

Get it right. It's "copy", period. It's only "copies" when you're talking about photocopies or something. The plural of (advertising sales) "copy" is... "copy".

So it's "Recently I wrote copy for my own business".

In this game it is NEVER, EVER "copies". You are talking about sales copy.

Do you copy? Out.
- [ 2 ] Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8208163].message }}
Benjamin Farthing 11 years ago

Yes. While I'm writing and when I finish, I often hate the copy.

But after I let it sit for a day or two, I usually find it's decent, and just needs the usual editing.

Of course, as folks have already said, what really matters is whether it's converting. Love or hate it all you want - if it's making sales, it's doing it job.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8208274].message }}
- Adam K 11 years ago
  
  Thanks everyone.
  
  I won't read it for a day or two.
  After that I'll edit it one more time and start driving traffic to see how it works.
  
  Thanks
  
  {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8208671].message }}
WalterW 11 years ago

Ye, but not that much, i basically check it and reedit and when i think its perfect, then i stick with it. Good things is to ask friends about it and see if they like it
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8208817].message }}
ReferralCandy 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Adam K

I can't read my copies any more!
They seem stupid and NOT convincing at all....
They don't even make sense to me any more.

Does this happen to you?

Yes, absolutely. And that's fantastic. It means you're growing and learning as a writer. Keep your original copy, and then do a "victory lap" and rewrite everything from scratch. Then A/B test it and see which has superior conversions.

Almost anybody who's amazingly successful at anything seems to be very quick to get sick of their own incompetence. People who are satisfied with their work tend to plateau.

Keep at it.
- Thanks
Signature

Measure, manage and incentivize customer referrals with ReferralCandy.

PS: Looking to get more repeat customers for a physical store? Check out CandyBar's digital loyalty cards!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8209685].message }}
TimothyTorrents 11 years ago

I noticed the same thing. It is difficult to resist rewriting a sales pitch. Take my thread in the Warriors for Hire section for example, I have rewritten it about 5 times now. I just changed it last week but I already want to change it again.

I agree with what Don Grace said. Just leave the copy alone if it converts, no matter how much you dislike it. I'm not going to tamper with my thread anymore unless I have to.
- Thanks
Signature
Looking for a Copywriter? Try Me!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8211627].message }}
Raydal 11 years ago

Copy is like food. No cook enjoys her food right after cooking it.
But let it sit for a while then come back and all the flavors just knock
her taste buds over.

-Ray Edwards
- Thanks
Signature

The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8212041].message }}
vinness 11 years ago

It happens. You just get wiser through time. Rejoice.
- Thanks
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8235378].message }}
AndrewCavanagh 11 years ago

Often I go back and read something I wrote years ago
and I think...hey that's really good. I really wrote that!

Generally speaking if you can't understand your copy
you need to rewrite it so you can.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh
- Thanks
Signature
Old School Copy Like This Is BACK & Converting Like Crazy!
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8242453].message }}
johndetlefs 11 years ago

It's not usually that quick for me.. I've certainly gone back over old copy that I've written though, and literally blushed at what I'd produced.

I guess it's a good thing though, and the assumption is that you're improving if you no longer like what you've previously written.
- Thanks
Signature

You only get one shot at life - make it awesome.

Everyone else also gets just one crack at it - help make theirs awesome too... or, politely step out of their way.
{{ DiscussionBoard.errors[8264148].message }}