I want to become a pro at copywriting

Hi Maren,

Congratulations on getting your degree. That takes effort you were willing to expend. You did it, be proud.

As for copywriting, the absolute best thing you could to do learn to be a master is get to know people from the inside. Inside their mind, inside their hearts...because what goes on there is exactly what you'll need to know to write highly effective sales copy. I say this because there is a big difference in what people will "tell you" and what they really think and feel inside.

Having said this, I also recommend you go to The Gary Halbert Letter and read every single newsletter there - three times. Then read again. There's a world of copywriting instruction on that site. Devour it. You'll be glad you did.

Secondly, I recommend you get your hands on John Carlton's "Kick Ass Secrets of a Copywriting Rebel" (I think I have the title right). You'll surely be able to find it somewhere by following this link: John Carlton’s Big Damn Blog

Anyway, good luck with your endeavors and I hope you meet with much success.

Tina

Congrats on the degree... there's a guy at adcopywriting dot com that offers a BUNCH of free information for copywriting as well as tutorials.

Good luck in your quest!

DeShon

The main thing to learn when becoming a good marketing writer is that unlike creative writing, it's not about being clever or cute. It's much more of a science than an art - it's about getting a good foundation of proven strategies, and then building on it through testing.

Some MUST READ classics on copywriting:

The Robert Collier Letter Book - by Robert Collier
Scientific Advertising - Claude Hopkins
Breakthrough Advertising - Eugene Schwartz
Advertising Secrets of the Written Word AND Triggers - both by Joe Sugarman
Making Ads Pay - John Caples

There are a ton (a TON) of others, but these are the old-school classics that gave me what I think is the right MINDSET for being a better copywriter.

There ARE newer courses and materials that may help, but they really aren't going to have anything new to what these old classics had to say. Look to them first, and then follow a modern guy only if you like the way they write.

If you have any trouble tracking these down, PM me.

Hope that helps, and best of luck on your journey!

KK

Congrats on the degree, there are plenty of very good copywriters on the warrior forum.
Seek them out and learn their tricks, and styles. Check out their wso's John Ritz is one guy you should look at he has a wso going at the moment which is half price and contains loads of valuable info.
There are many others as well as other people have mentioned already.
Good luck

Robert

Hi

Check out Advanced Copywriting And Marketing Secrets By Ben Settle

John Carlton’s Big Damn Blog

Copywriting Tips for Online Marketing Success From Copyblogger ? Copyblogger

and of course the copywriting section here is always a good start.

Hi Warriors,
Thank You for the compliments on completing my degree.

First of all, I didn't realize that a copywriting board was created till after I made this post.
It makes sense that practice would be the key to getting good at copywriting, but I've been feeling like I'm missing something on the essence/soul level.

I think this might be it...
"As for copywriting, the absolute best thing you could to do learn to be a master is get to know people from the inside. Inside their mind, inside their hearts...because what goes on there is exactly what you'll need to know to write highly effective sales copy."

"it's not about being clever or cute. It's much more of a science than an art"

Is John Carlton a God?? Will definitely check him out. Everyone in the copywriting world talks about him.

Thanks for your ideas and recommendations guys, this helps.

Maren

Get on Clayton Makepeace's "Total Package" email list. You will learn plenty about the copywriting craft in the process.

Okay -- Just a few nitpicky things here and please do not take it personally as it really is meant to help point out a few things. You have a degree, so you should really pay attention to your writing ... especially if you want to get paid for it.

One: I've always been told by my teachers since high school that I'm a pretty good writer and yes, I do have a desire to be a writer...

This sentence implies that you have been told since high school ... meaning that your high school teachers are still telling you ... that leads me (in my 'editor' mode) to doubt the veracity of your claims. When you use the three periods for a pause ... you need to keep a space before and after them.

If you responded to one of my ads for a writer with even one typo I would summarily dismiss you as a prospective writer. I know there are many more people that are much more demanding than I am so that may be an issue for you.

Two: I want to be considered among the best at this skill of copy writing.

Ummm, simply incorrect! I would like to become one of the best copywriters. I would like to be known as one of the best in the field of copywriting. At the skill? Is the skill somewhere you can be at?

Granted, that may seem like it is nitpicking and I do hope that you will not take it personally as it really is to help you some. However, I would concentrate on my writing skills first. Additionally, some of the other members here have given you some very valuable resources as well.

Additionally, you will have to be careful when you are selling your services. Even if your copy is excellent, if the product owner is sending paid traffic (which is often bots designed to look like traffic) or is sending traffic that is not targeted or motivated, it would drastically decrease your conversion rates no matter how good your copy is. In the field of copywriting, your clients can also impact your copy as much as you can ... even unintentionally.

Just my two cents.

Some highly recommended books to check out would be, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, and Testing Advertising Methods by John Caples.

You can scoop both of them up together for around 20 bucks on Amazon.com

Can't beat that price for the amount of knowledge gained in these books!

Here's a review for Testing Advertising Methods

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Best book on advertising and copywriting ever!, July 26, 2002


I have read this book twice cover to cover and refer to it almost everyday. If I could have given this book 6 stars I would have done it without reservation.I have ordered and read at least 4 different books on copywriting and advertising in the last year. Most of the books have good ideas, but none of them describe the methods of writing headlines the way Caples does. He spends 4 chapters on it and let me tell you when he is finished you will know it cold! Personally that would have been enough to sell me on the book, but he doesn't stop there. He talks about scientific advertising to make sure you are writing ads that sell and not waste money. In addition, he talks through how to write the first paragraph and how to structure the copy. Finally, he spends time to talking about how to improve the selling power of copy.
Since I have read this book my ability to write copy has reached a whole new level. If you are in this field or responsible for writing copy I would advise you that this is a book you MUST own.

Read a whole bunch of books. Write a lot of copy. Don't give
you writing away. Rewrite clickbank salesletters if you must
and collect commissions on the products no other affiliates can
sell.

The best copywriters are also expert marketing tacticians and
learn how to work only with serious clients with a saleable
product. In this way they are able to consistently pen
profitable material. Everyone writes stinkers from time
to time.

If you are willing to re-locate you may can go under the wing
of some superstar copywriter. Clayton Makepeace is currently
hiring "copy-cubs".

If you want to work in an agency it could be a cool experience
for you. It's competitive to get hired.

As a freelancer you can do well if you learn how to sell your
services. Selling is a skill. Most people do not have it. You
can learn how if you want to. Get training.