Dear Chase,
Today is edition 101 of this lil series we got going on.
And you know what 101 means?
It means unit 1, lesson 1.
The very beginning.
The first step to becoming successful.
Chase, not sure how many people are at the beginner level on this list, but I'm hoping this at least resonates with someone.
When I started copywriting, there were a few things I wanted to know.
I wanted to know what the work looked like, how people were able to bring business in for themselves, how you got good, and how you got rich with it.
I wanted as much context as I could possibly get.
And, looking back now, these are the resources I wish I had from a random, anonymous copywriter in the form of a 101 lesson.
For understanding what it is, and what the work looks like:
Copywriting is not a super common job.
Everyone knows what it's like to be a teacher, or a software engineer, or a firefighter.
Very few people know what the day-to-day of a copywriter looks like, and what they actually do when they sit at their computer.
They don't see how to write copy, why it's so important, etc.
This YouTube video here is very helpful for giving you a basic understanding of what copywriting actually looks like in the real world, as well as some basic formulas to help you start writing.
For the basics of marketing/psychology:
I've heard the name of this book thrown around a lot in the last 4-5 years.
There are dozens of reputable copywriting books that can turn you into a great writer, but in our 101 class, most are a little bit too advanced and unnecessary for anyone to be reading right now.
The #1 choice for a beginner is this book, Cashvertising. It's available online as a free PDF and it's extremely helpful for understanding how to get inside the brain of the customer and help them make a decision.
After I read this, I felt like my persuasion skills went from a 3 out of 10 (which most people are probably at) to a 7.5-8 out of 10. It changed everything for me.
For exploring the minds (and careers) of other copywriters:
I'm not sure if your audience is big into podcasts, Chase, but these were vital for me.
Not even sure if they're still active anymore, but back in 2020 when I started, these were super helpful for learning about other copywriters, how they worked, and how they made real money from their craft.
These are available on all streaming platforms (probably).
- Hot Copy Podcast to listen to two Australian vets talk about their experience mostly doing web copy projects. Not the type of freelance work I prefer doing (one-off stuff) but cool to hear a perspective like theirs.
- Geniuses of Copywriting is another one of my favorites. The host interviews all of the A-listers who have made millions with copywriting and they drop some serious game that you probably won't hear anywhere else. One of the best podcasts ever was between the host and Stefan Georgi, and he talks about how he was making $80k a month writing long-form sales letters for a 9 figure supplement company.
- The Copywriter's Club is great as well. They have more educational episodes, plus interviews with unique writers. Highly recommend.
Between all of these resources, you will be more prepared for the world of copywriting than anyone else.
Luck favors the prepared.
And luck creates millionaires.
Sì o no, Chase?
Yours truly,
Alex.
Sent from my JetX
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