I've been in the office since 6am (got up at 4am). Nearly completed a four-page newsletter project, plus the second draft of an email for one of my websites, finishing touches on a tear sheet (came out real nice) and some work on my next fiction novelette.
The afternoon involved a meeting with a client and some bookkeeping. It's almost 3pm now, time for some exercise, sunbathing with Jonah, and an early dinner with Nicole.
But before I take off... I received an awful lot of mail in reply to the post I made on Tuesday.
I appreciate all the positive comments very much. Slowly replying to it all. Reprinting a few comments below, that'd I thought readers would find helpful...
James (Jethro) Brown from Canada wrote...
Hey John,
Glad you're back putting out your views. I could care less about the typos, the content is great.
As for the negative people who write to you, personally I wouldn't bother answering them. If they had any sense, they would do what I did. When I first hooked up to you, I went back and read all your archives. At that point, I knew exactly what I would be getting.
From you, I got the best coach in the world, Shaune Clarke. His coaching course has given me the confidence to quit my day job (july/05) and go full time as a copywriter. I do my first postcard mail-out next week. Shaune states that he over delivers on his coaching program and he speaks the truth. I will not state how he over delivered for me personally, just take my word for it.
I bought from you, Jimmy Brown's course and I did read it completely. However I will not be able to put it into action until late summer due to time issues getting myself up and running full time copywriting. When it does go into action, I am 100% sure, that I will have a second stream of income based on Jimmy's program.
Gotta run, I am still putting together a huge mailing list and poor me, I have to go to the "job" at 4pm.
Keep up the great work and look forward to more nuggets of gold from you.
Regards,
James (Jethro)" |
Thanks James for the encouragement and the confirmation. It a big step breaking free from the J.O.B. As Ryan said on his blog you're trading "security" for freedom. Yet, with the money you can make as a copywriter, it's easy enough to save 10%, get a good insurance plan, and not have to rely on the government in your old age. That's sound more secure to me.
Michael D. of Fort Worth, TX wrote...
"I appreciate the good products you are recommending. I plan on purchasing Clayton's package at some point.
"Currently, I bought AWAI's course a year ago and was planning on starting it. But I decided to not start something else until I self-published a couple of books that I had been working on first. I am very close to getting those irons out of the fire.
"Most people are bad about starting things and never finishing them." |
That's a good point, Michael. I think what happens next is they complain that the course or book or program they took wasn't any good. Yet they haven't completed or applied what it offers. I'm guilty of this myself. Following through, giving something your 100% is probably the biggest secret to success. Evident, as there only a few successful people, and only a few people who follow through.
Lastly, Lee wrote...
" Hey John,
"I think your eLetter is great. One of the few I actually read.
"I too agree with you about Makepeace's club I've been a member since day 1 and loved each issue.
"I'm going through Shaune's coaching program now. I've heard you on a few of the calls. Impressive wisdom you have for not doing this for a great length of time.
"Do you have any advice for me about Shaune's program? My goal is to just make a measly $50,000 a year." |
My advice would be to really put time into the program. I noticed that the people who took Shaune's program (or any coaching program for that matter) and say they didn't get much out of it did one, if not all of the following:
1) Didn't do the exercises.
2) Missed calls (hard to believe).
3) Showed up late for calls.
4) Didn't do the main assignment -- or only a last minute attempt.
I spent over an hour or two each day working on the assignment and exercises Shaune gives as part of the course. That's on top of the "90 minute" coaching call each week. I say 90 minute, because as many of you know Shaune's famous for making it more like 900 minutes. Not great for early birds like me, but worth it none the less.
So my advice is, just keep on asking Shaune questions even when the time is up. He'll probably answer them. Then ask him another before he has a chance to look at the clock. Keep him talking until he can't keep his eyes open.
Joe Lennon, Manchester, Georgia, wrote...
| "Yours was the first site which told me what I already knew in my heart. One does not simply take a course and make 'a doctor's salary.' I still want to learn copywriting. I am willing to put in the time and work to learn to do it well." |
Truth is, Joe, one probably could make a doctor's salary if they did just the basic AWAI course. If they copied by hand every single letter in the Hall of Fame book. Did all the exercises twice. Wrote, wrote and wrote copy. Spend years of trial and error trying to land high-paying clients.
Quite possible. But not the fastest route. Not the overnight affair the original sales presentation makes it appear.
Joe continued...
"I don't mind at all that you use your blogs/email/website to sell stuff. I thought that was the entire point of being in business.
"Do these same people who object your sales pitches also object that the stores have stuff on the shelves in hopes that someone will buy something?
"Do they not know they could also put together information packages and sell them?
"Do they not understand that they do not have to buy anything? Do they not understand that if they were connected to a product that would enhance their skills, it would be well worth every dollar spent?
"Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the good info." |
Amen! I do not understand why people expect people to do things for them for free. It's not good for them, really. First, you'll get second best. Second, you'll never build your own muscles.
More so, look at a magazine! You might pay $5-$15 for one. 60% of it's filled with advertisements. Do you pay for cable? 25% of the time people sit in front of that box, they are watching commercials. And they're paying for it! This ecolumn comes to everybody free.
Anyway, I won't waste another word on this subject, and encourage the complainers to unsubscribe ASAP before I make another sales pitch.
More mail and replies tomorrow, enough for today.
Capture, captivate convert,
John C. A. Manely
P.S. If you haven't already, I'd head over here and read this page.
One of the best ways to quickly succeed at copywriting is by staying in the company of other copywriters. Impossible for most of us physically, easy enough via a club like the Clayton Makepeace's EasyWriters Marketing Club.
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