Reality Copywriting: How to Hasten the Grim Reaper

Ecolumn - Friday, January 19, 2007

How to Hasten the Grim Reaper

I received this email the other day from a subscriber named Lana...

Lana: "Before you took the plunge & gave copywriting a shot, did you take any copywriting courses?

"I ask because I've been looking at 2 different ones but considering the costs (...$ I don't currently have...), I guess I'm still questioning if copywriting is right for me. I'm pretty sure I'm not interested in the direct mail aspect.

"I am interested in learning more about B2B letter/correspondence writing. I'm still in the early stages of my writing career but I do have one published magazine article (Faces, May 2006).

Back to me: To answer you first question, Lana... of course! :-) I would not have considered getting involved in this industry without at least one course under my brown leather belt. Direct-response copywriting is all based on results, so you need

to know how to get them.

If you're just starting out I recommend Advertising Magic...

www.realitycopywriting.com/ad_magic

If that's going to blow your budget... great! It shows you need it more than ever -- and will encourage you to get through the course fast and start making money.

Now as far as whether this is for you or not, I can't answer that question. I can say I had the same doubts when I started out. There are many TYPES of copy and things that go on in the copywriting world that I do not like.

That said, there's a lot of things in any industry that I don't like.

You are not required to be a part of anything you don't want to be involved in.

Copywriting is such a wide open field, covering so many different mediums and niches, that it's hard not to find somewhere you are not only comfortable, but very passionate about.

The main question is... do you like to write? If so, copywriting is the easiest way to make a living as a writer.

Doesn't mean you can't branch out into writing fiction books or poetry. But copywriting can create a secure income that gives you freedom for more creative ventures.

You mentioned B2B correspondence. That's not copywriting but business writing. I've never done it. Sounds awfully boring to me. Actually, it could easily hasten a visit from the Grim Reaper.

I do know people who average $50-$75 an hour for business writing. So it's not a bad living. Granted, when you hear $50-$75, that's BEFORE business expenses, taxes and of course, you'll be paying for all your own "benefits" (insurance, etc.)

Also, many people I know in the field are getting paid FAR LESS.

You end up writing letters for CEOs only to have them rewrite it for you. Or, if you write anything conversational they are in there editing it out for you (after a 2 hour meeting, of course).

Doesn't sound like a fun time to me.

What I suggest is you pick a niche that you enjoy. Whether it be bonsai trees or hunting with a bow and arrow or knitting or karate. Picture yourself writing promotional material for those industries and getting paid $60-$120K a year.

If that's sounds good, then I'd recommend you invest in Ad Magic and learn the basics. Most businesses are starving for good copywriters. It doesn't take much to beat the norm. If you went through this course and wrote a few pieces of long and short copy, you'd be more qualified than most "commercial" writers out there...

www.realitycopywriting.com/ad_magic

Hope that helps Lana -- and you too!

Capture, captivate, convert,

John A. Manley

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