How do you break into serious copywriting?
- Thread starter TextBoss
- Start date
Duffers5000
Elite Member
- Apr 1, 2012
- 2,477
- 7,772
Serious copywriting ? well you should be writing all the time and fine tuning your portfolio. If you can go to college great, if not at least try to team up with an art director who can visualise your ideas.
seranking
Junior Member
- Oct 22, 2013
- 182
- 23
yes you should have a good command of English, read some articles and books about copywriting and within some certain period of time you will get some experience. I guess a good copywriter you can become in a certain field like seo, web design or etc. it is the same like to be a specialst in different fields as it is not possible. My advice is to learn more about interested field and start being a professional copywriter!
- Mar 28, 2008
- 4,476
- 57,707
Study the great copywriters - people like:
- Gary Halbert
- Bob Bly
- Gary Bencivenga
- Joe Sugarman
- Eugene Schwartz
- Dr. Robert Cialdini
If you want to be a good copywriter, then my suggestion is
to read some books on the subject and start offering your
service locally for free or at a very low price. Get some
experience under your belt, then maybe you could start
inquiring about working for an ad agency. Or, you could
hang your own shingle out on the internet and drum up
some projects and eventually establish yourself.
Best of Luck!
"Wiz"
- Gary Halbert
- Bob Bly
- Gary Bencivenga
- Joe Sugarman
- Eugene Schwartz
- Dr. Robert Cialdini
If you want to be a good copywriter, then my suggestion is
to read some books on the subject and start offering your
service locally for free or at a very low price. Get some
experience under your belt, then maybe you could start
inquiring about working for an ad agency. Or, you could
hang your own shingle out on the internet and drum up
some projects and eventually establish yourself.
Best of Luck!
"Wiz"
I must say appreciated your thread because i m also newbies and i learn from the other user comment and copyrighting is not a difficult job but you just confident on your self and words will be in your mind..
johngray32
Junior Member
- Sep 11, 2013
- 181
- 43
Copywriting is very very hard for the average Joe...but like most things can be learned
As well as studying the work of the great copywriters build a swipe file of your own. When you are reading a sales letter or webpage write down the things that move you to do an action or engage your curiosity
There are also some good courses out there - Dan Kennedy has a few or take a look at Mixergy.com
There's also some on Udemy which is great for learning anything as you can ask for feedback from the tutors
As well as studying the work of the great copywriters build a swipe file of your own. When you are reading a sales letter or webpage write down the things that move you to do an action or engage your curiosity
There are also some good courses out there - Dan Kennedy has a few or take a look at Mixergy.com
There's also some on Udemy which is great for learning anything as you can ask for feedback from the tutors
Kuz32
Power Member
- Nov 7, 2013
- 702
- 148
Great copywriter? What is that... You mean advertiser?
Dunno, a friend of mine is trying to get into the "creative" side of advertising and he said you need to apply for jobs in pairs. He's a graphic designer and his friend is a "copywriter" - they work in tandem. He creates pictures and he creates the words for the ad.
Dunno, a friend of mine is trying to get into the "creative" side of advertising and he said you need to apply for jobs in pairs. He's a graphic designer and his friend is a "copywriter" - they work in tandem. He creates pictures and he creates the words for the ad.
Thefisherman
Newbie
- Mar 25, 2011
- 42
- 9
wanna be a copywriter, stArt by coping out in your own hand writing Gary Halbert's sales letters, do it for 6 months - BEST THING YOU CAN DO...bar none!
ipodtouchhackerisher
Senior Member
- May 6, 2009
- 811
- 669
Am I the only one who skips by everyones postings and doesnt read them but as soon as I see Wiz I feel obligated to see his opinion on the subject in hand lolStudy the great copywriters - people like:
- Gary Halbert
- Bob Bly
- Gary Bencivenga
- Joe Sugarman
- Eugene Schwartz
- Dr. Robert Cialdini
If you want to be a good copywriter, then my suggestion is
to read some books on the subject and start offering your
service locally for free or at a very low price. Get some
experience under your belt, then maybe you could start
inquiring about working for an ad agency. Or, you could
hang your own shingle out on the internet and drum up
some projects and eventually establish yourself.
Best of Luck!
"Wiz"
steelballs
BANNED
- Dec 5, 2008
- 1,831
- 4,585
Well said by someone who has not got a clue what he is talking about...
Far too many experts here on BHW who know it all...
Many young guys and gals are rising through the copywriting ranks and the last thing they want to see or hear is your crap...
spmcnerd
Regular Member
- Dec 20, 2010
- 326
- 119
Read some http://www.chillingeffects.org/
Words and graphics pretty much have two books of rules.
BUT you make it ground up you own the rights.
My own conspiracy is wait till G buys up most the fonts and b*tt f**ks everybody for a fee or let them own you...
Words and graphics pretty much have two books of rules.
BUT you make it ground up you own the rights.
My own conspiracy is wait till G buys up most the fonts and b*tt f**ks everybody for a fee or let them own you...
Kuz32
Power Member
- Nov 7, 2013
- 702
- 148
Well said by someone who has not got a clue what he is talking about...
Far too many experts here on BHW who know it all...
Many young guys and gals are rising through the copywriting ranks and the last thing they want to see or hear is your ...
Well maybe not - i come from a journalism/feature writing background, spent 10 years in that game and then thankfully left a dying industry.
I did "dabble" in the sales copy side of thing, and found it to be generally lamer. I'm good at it, but I would never pursue it as a profession trying to "rise up"
Unless you want to open a copywriting BUSINESS... which is different, being the boss. Like if you woz a journalist and you got into opening your own magazine and hiring a bunch of saps to put you publication together - and pray to god the lack the ambition to do anything else than just be reporters.
I guess that's wot i was saying furreal thanks xx
shindereki
Newbie
- Jan 4, 2012
- 43
- 5
Read and practice everyday this is the step to become a serious copywriter.
johngray32
Junior Member
- Sep 11, 2013
- 181
- 43
It's not an easy game - I know people who can sell fridges to eskimos when in a face to face situation but could never do the same putting words on paper. But if you do have a flair for it, really the sky is the limit as far as earnings go..Would be interested to know if there are any members here making bank through copywriting - It's not something I would be good at but have a pal who is learning so quite interested
uglyquant1001
Newbie
- Nov 19, 2013
- 19
- 2
Why the hell would you want to be a copywriter? All half-decent copywriters are direct marketers. I mean it. Just for kicks, go to google and try to find a 'professional'. Half those people are the same clowns that populate warrior forum. Try to find a decent one -- you can't -- they don't advertise. At best you'll see hacks slaving away writing smack for ad agencies for pennies. If you're after income, either learn it better than the average business owner and consult them a la Dan Kennedy or Jay Abraham, or go into business for yourself, selling affiliate product online OR offline. This way, you control your life, not your client.
JessePinkman
Junior Member
- Jul 23, 2013
- 114
- 15
That's not entirely true. I have an incredible education, but am pursuing a career in the arts. I'm more than qualified to write copy. In fact, I turned down a job with a top ad agency because there aren't enough hours in a day to balance two full-time careers. Rent in NYC is about as expensive as it gets, so I write web content for extra income.
In the era of the internet, everyone is an 'expert', so I understand your fundamental distrust of the writers that populate these forums. That being said, it's usually pretty easy to spot a bad egg. The problem is that these unqualified writers work for next to nothing and drive the price of content down with them. As a result, the average buyer assumes the price for good copy is minimal, when in reality, you get what you pay for. If you need good copy, look around. We're out there.
As for OP, if you want to pursue a career as copywriter, I would suggest getting started on your portfolio as soon as possible and understand that it is never set in stone, but rather a constantly evolving alongside your skillset. Never stop working on it. You also need to be willing to intern/apprentice/work for free until you get your feet wet. It's become a competitive field, especially with the rise of 'Mad Men'. If you're talented and have ambition, you can go far. (I'm assuming that you're referring to advertising.)
Best of luck,
Jesse
In the era of the internet, everyone is an 'expert', so I understand your fundamental distrust of the writers that populate these forums. That being said, it's usually pretty easy to spot a bad egg. The problem is that these unqualified writers work for next to nothing and drive the price of content down with them. As a result, the average buyer assumes the price for good copy is minimal, when in reality, you get what you pay for. If you need good copy, look around. We're out there.
As for OP, if you want to pursue a career as copywriter, I would suggest getting started on your portfolio as soon as possible and understand that it is never set in stone, but rather a constantly evolving alongside your skillset. Never stop working on it. You also need to be willing to intern/apprentice/work for free until you get your feet wet. It's become a competitive field, especially with the rise of 'Mad Men'. If you're talented and have ambition, you can go far. (I'm assuming that you're referring to advertising.)
Best of luck,
Jesse
Last edited:
D
Deleted member 738834
Guest
Thanks for the suggestions, bookmarked all these guys!