Thread
12 months ago, I thought "copywriting" was a legal term.
Now I’m convinced copywriting is *the* most powerful skill you can develop.
But when starting out, I was completely overwhelmed.
So here's the 3-step learning process I wish I had (that you can start using today):
Now I’m convinced copywriting is *the* most powerful skill you can develop.
But when starting out, I was completely overwhelmed.
So here's the 3-step learning process I wish I had (that you can start using today):
Looking back, 99% of the things I did were complete wastes of time.
But 3 of them were life-changing.
1. Immersion into 1 copywriter's worldview
2. Reading 3 foundational copywriting books
3. Practicing copywork (to see what writing great copy *feels like*)
Let's dive in:
But 3 of them were life-changing.
1. Immersion into 1 copywriter's worldview
2. Reading 3 foundational copywriting books
3. Practicing copywork (to see what writing great copy *feels like*)
Let's dive in:
In the beginning, I had no clue where to start.
So I tried to:
• Read every book
• Take every course
• Study every sales letter
• Research every technique
This was overwhelming and a huge mistake.
Instead, you should pick 1 copywriter and immerse yourself.
Here's how:
So I tried to:
• Read every book
• Take every course
• Study every sales letter
• Research every technique
This was overwhelming and a huge mistake.
Instead, you should pick 1 copywriter and immerse yourself.
Here's how:
I picked @craigclemens and dove in headfirst.
I downloaded:
• 10 podcasts he spoke on
• 10 sales letters he wrote
• 10 presentations he gave
And I inhaled all of them – trying to reverse engineer his techniques and distill them into a 1-pager.
Here's why that worked:
I downloaded:
• 10 podcasts he spoke on
• 10 sales letters he wrote
• 10 presentations he gave
And I inhaled all of them – trying to reverse engineer his techniques and distill them into a 1-pager.
Here's why that worked:
@craigclemens Total immersion into 1 copywriter's worldview led to a sturdy foundation.
I learned the jargon, the fundamentals, the psychology, and I got to *see* and *hear* what great copy looked like and sounded like.
Then I distilled everything I learned here:
I learned the jargon, the fundamentals, the psychology, and I got to *see* and *hear* what great copy looked like and sounded like.
Then I distilled everything I learned here:
@craigclemens So the first step is to pick 1 copywriter and totally immerse yourself in their work.
Some legends you could start with:
• Ann Handley
• David Ogilvy
• Gary Halbert
• Joe Sugarman
• Eugene Schwartz
Pick one of them and dive into their interviews & sales letters.
Some legends you could start with:
• Ann Handley
• David Ogilvy
• Gary Halbert
• Joe Sugarman
• Eugene Schwartz
Pick one of them and dive into their interviews & sales letters.
@craigclemens With that foundation set, it's time to read up on the craft.
For that, I recommend 3 books.
After reading 30 of them, here are the 3 worth your time:
• The Boron Letters
• Writing That Works
• The Adweek Advertising Handbook
Pick up all 3 and keep on your desk.
For that, I recommend 3 books.
After reading 30 of them, here are the 3 worth your time:
• The Boron Letters
• Writing That Works
• The Adweek Advertising Handbook
Pick up all 3 and keep on your desk.
@craigclemens The reason I recommend just 3 books is it's easy to feel like you're making progress by *reading* – but at a certain point, it's 100% procrastination.
Once you have the fundamentals down, the only way to learn is to write – A LOT.
And that's where the 3rd step comes in:
Once you have the fundamentals down, the only way to learn is to write – A LOT.
And that's where the 3rd step comes in:
@craigclemens Writing copy is like working out – it's all about reps.
But, there's a little-known technique that will accelerate your progress more than anything else – and it's called copywork.
Now, you'll have to trust me on this, because I was skeptical at first.
Here's how it works:
But, there's a little-known technique that will accelerate your progress more than anything else – and it's called copywork.
Now, you'll have to trust me on this, because I was skeptical at first.
Here's how it works:
@craigclemens Copywork is exactly what it sounds like.
You're going to take 10 legendary pieces of copy and write them out, by hand, word-for-word, start-to-finish.
"Seriously?"
Yes.
It's wild, I know. But it works!
Here's why:
You're going to take 10 legendary pieces of copy and write them out, by hand, word-for-word, start-to-finish.
"Seriously?"
Yes.
It's wild, I know. But it works!
Here's why:
@craigclemens As you translate the page, your brain starts to *feel* what good copy looks & sounds like.
And the best part?
The results are *instant*
After you do this a few times, your writing will improve. Fast.
Here are 3 of the letters I started with:
And the best part?
The results are *instant*
After you do this a few times, your writing will improve. Fast.
Here are 3 of the letters I started with:
@craigclemens Boom! Just like that you've:
1. Learned the jargon & built a foundation with immersion
2. Learned the fundamentals from 3 classic texts
3. Practiced and *felt* what it's like to write silky-smooth copy
This is the *exact* playbook I would follow if I started all over again.
1. Learned the jargon & built a foundation with immersion
2. Learned the fundamentals from 3 classic texts
3. Practiced and *felt* what it's like to write silky-smooth copy
This is the *exact* playbook I would follow if I started all over again.
@craigclemens But there is one important part I didn't mention.
And that's actually having a project that *forces* you to *write* copy – and analyze its effectiveness.
Nothing will teach you to learn faster than having a poorly-converting page and figuring out how to make it better.
And that's actually having a project that *forces* you to *write* copy – and analyze its effectiveness.
Nothing will teach you to learn faster than having a poorly-converting page and figuring out how to make it better.
@craigclemens So from here, it's time to stop reading and start writing.
But knowing how to get started there can be overwhelming too.
So here's a free, 13,000-word Ultimate Guide to help you (that will save you hundreds of hours of mistakes & headaches):
startwritingonline.com
But knowing how to get started there can be overwhelming too.
So here's a free, 13,000-word Ultimate Guide to help you (that will save you hundreds of hours of mistakes & headaches):
startwritingonline.com
@craigclemens The simple, 3-step copywriting learning process I wish I had when I was starting out:
1. Complete immersion into 1 copywriter's worldview
2. Reading 3 foundational copywriting books (and ignoring the rest)
3. Practicing copywork (to see what writing great copy *feels like*
1. Complete immersion into 1 copywriter's worldview
2. Reading 3 foundational copywriting books (and ignoring the rest)
3. Practicing copywork (to see what writing great copy *feels like*
Boom! Hope this thread helps you on your copywriting journey.
Now, here are 2 things you should do:
1. Follow me @dickiebush for more threads like this
2. Jump back to the top of this thread and smash the RT button to share it with others:
↓↓↓
Now, here are 2 things you should do:
1. Follow me @dickiebush for more threads like this
2. Jump back to the top of this thread and smash the RT button to share it with others:
↓↓↓
If you want to go further down the rabbit hole, start with this thread on Gary Halbert's writing process:
And one more copywriting thread for good measure (breaking down the absolute best book on the subject):
