I’m in the middle of taking a free writing course from John Carlton, and I urge you to jump in with me.
Click here to check it out. No cost.
It’s a cool little series of free lessons called the Simple Writing System Express. No cost. It’s quick and easy. But super instructive. You’ll see what I mean.
Full disclosure: John Carlton is a master copywriter who is about to open up his Simple Writing System. He only runs it a couple time a year because it’s very interactive. You work with a mentor who drills you and critiques you. It’s a great way to learn copywriting. I’m an affiliate of his because I believe in what he teaches. Be warned: His no-BS confidence in himself might put you off, but I’d rather tie in with a smart shark than a polite minnow.
What does this have to do with you?
Well, the demand is HUGE for good copywriting. Since I’m all about making money as a freelance writer, I’d be doing you a disservice not to call to your attention people like John Carlton.
Copywriting, of course, means stuff like Internet marketing sales letters, or sales copy of any sort. Print ads. Branding materials. Slogans. Taglines. What business or Web entrepreneur doesn’t need good sales or promo copy? They all do. Just poke around the Web a bit. To put it politely, most sales messages suck. If you can write, why not hone your skills and learn a lucrative corner of the craft?
Back to that free writing course. I just did the first lesson myself. I bet you can spot my homework on the lesson website, even though it’s anonymous. Hint: I’m #50.
The gist of the first lesson, called The Bar Conversation, is getting inside the head of your “prospect.” Identifying his needs, his hurt points. You’ll notice a few things as you look through the homework assignments posted in the comments section, and the mentors’ responses.
One, a lot of the writers didn’t follow instructions. They missed the point.
Two, a lot them couldn’t articulate their prospects’ hurt points.
Even if you don’t intend to try copywriting, all this is extremely valuable to all of us freelance writers. Our mission is really the same. First, we have to follow a few instructions. That means targeting the right publications and websites, striking the right voice, fulfilling all the terms of our assignments.
And, like copywriters, we have to be able to get into the heads of our readers or would-be readers. (Our editors, too, sometimes!) That’s how we attract them, engage them, and leave them wanting to hear from us again. We don’t write for ourselves. We write for them. Readers are our clients.
Try the free course. Let me know how you do. And tell me how I did. The head I’m trying to get into, after all, is yours.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi Bob
Just wanted to say that after 20yrs in education I finally quit my job in December and have been subscribing to your emails since then.
I want to be a writer – copy, non-fiction, radio – hell, I don’t care but believing I can make a living out of it is tough!. Breaking that inertia, finding out if I have the ability, the skill…it’s tough.
I’m reading you from over here in Somerset, England with a big dose of anglo-saxon scepticism, but damn, the more I read your stuff the better I feel about the future.
I’ve just finished watching the John Carlton video you linked to about copywriting and storytelling. It’s all true. The heart of ANY good writing is that connection – self and client, self and editor, self and self.
So, I’m going to keep trying, give it a go and keep reading your posts.
Thanks and keep the fire burning.
Cheerio and toodle pip from blighty!
Smoods.