What are /r/copywriting's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

D&AD's The Copy Book has just been reprinted a couple months ago and was released on Amazon. I highly, highly recommend that book. It’s my bible.

Also check out print campaigns from The Economist and Mt. Sinai hospital. Many of them can be found in that book or on google images.

The best route to take here is going to be an educational one.

Let them know why what they're doing is so detrimental to your work (assuming you're doing their SEO) and consider citing some reputable resources on the subject too.

For example, the first paragraph and initial bullet points in this Moz article point out in layman's terms why it's unwise - if you copy/paste from the supplier, you'll probably get ignored because search engines have already seen it on the other site.

Times change. So does language. There was a time where that book taught simplicity, clarity, and was the onset to plain language. It’s a classic. I mean, it’s sold more than Harry Potter and The Davinci Code combined and deserves to be looked at through the lens of time.

Read The Elements of Fucking Style . Why? Because it teaches you the same grammar rules, it’s hella modern, and it’s funny as hell.

The more you can do, the more irreplaceable you become to your current employer and the more attractive you are to prospective new employers. Plus, graphic design is endlessly fascinating and worth learning for its own sake.

But, what kind of design work are they asking you to do? A good agency shouldn't be asking a complete novice to do even layout work unsupervised.

That aside, you might find these useful:

• The Non-Designer's Design Book (3rd Edition) by Robin Williams
• Design Matters podcast by Debbie Millman

This link (https://www.notion.so) will lead you to Notion’s website with information on what you can do and how you can create a unique workspace that works for you. You will also find associated FAQ and community resources on this site. It’s a very popular option for managing content. Best part, it’s completely free for individual use (from May 2020 onwards). Your user case can definitely be implemented in Notion.

It requires some learning (which program doesn’t?), but I’d be willing to host a paid Zoom call to get you up to speed on the basics of Notion - which will definitely pay dividends beyond your initial investment. My productivity has skyrocketed since I started using it in July 2020. DM me and we can set it up! :))

Easiest answer:

Start writing on a Wordpress.com or Medium.com blog and publishing articles.

Try putting out 3 articles by next month.

You'll quickly see if you even LIKE writing in the first place!

I always tell all new copywriters to read three books. First, John Carlton's Kickass Copywriting. I read this book over again every single year. Pretty much the best foundational copywriting book IMO. You follow his instruction there and it's hard to go wrong. Second, is Made to Stick. That one has also helped me a ton. Finally, you have to read Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene M. Schwartz. That's another one I read every year.

Haha yeah, genuinely diagnosed. I'm not remotely joking when I say that Freedom saved my life:

https://freedom.to/

(Not an affiliate, I genuinely think that software is the best thing to ever happen to writers!)

I do my research in advance, gather everything I need and then turn the web off for 4 hours a day and lock my phone in a box. Can't get distracted if there's nothing to distract me haha. 4 hours with no web is enough to get a shedload done.

Pomodoro helps with ADHD too :)

And yeah PM away, if I can help I will.

The thing about job descriptions is that they can change, a lot, from employer to employer. It sounds like you do pretty minimal writing currently, so I wouldn't consider you a "copywriter" but that's different than being able to write copy, you know?

If you want to improve, you could try enrolling in a grammar course through a local college (online), or read books like Bird by Bird (Anne Lamott) or other writing handbooks to learn how to develop a thought clearly and interestingly.

I completely agree, and I particularly agree with "just make sure that you pick a mentor/ coach who understands that copywriting is a craft that needs to be honed and not some "get rich quick" remote job" - two of the best courses I've gone through have a mini modules on Kaizen.
If you're unaware Kaizen is a Japanese thing that focus on small incremental improvements over time. Fascinating subject in my opinion, here's a book about it if you're interested:
https://www.amazon.com/Kaizen-Japanese-Secret-Lasting-Change/dp/B07YCVRDLT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=392SBB0Z1QYVM&keywords=kaizen+sarah+harvey&qid=1661250514&sprefix=kaizen+by+sarah%2Caps%2C328&sr=8-1

PS: I'm seeing now there are other highly reviewed books on the subject if you search Kaizen on amazon, but that's the one I read.

I'm a software dev at a fully remote company. We do virtual happy hours to help build the team.

• https://really.boring.website/ - it's kind of like catch phrase.

• https://www.geoguessr.com/ - you get a picture of a location and have to figure out where it is on a map.

• Zoom scavenger hunt. This was really creative. Our lead designer identified a few different categories of items that we needed to find in our house and bring back to Zoom.

For anyone looking for "DotCom Secrets", they can check the book out on slideshare.

Russell also offers it on his website (printed version, you pay for shipping).

It is also available on Amazon.

Give them a link to a Typeform quiz that links to your Calendly.

I haven’t done it, but I assume you can set quizzes such that “if question X equals True, send user to link Y; else, display message Z.”

I used to use clcl: http://www.nakka.com/soft/clcl/index_eng.html

Dunno how I found it, but it was perfect. I'm on Mac now and haven't found one I'm super happy with. They all try to do more than I want them to do, or are absolutely basic. I want it to remember 20 or so recent items, along with saved presets (for things I don't want to memorize - CSS/HTML, hex codes, canned responses, etc).

The thing with copywriting is that you have to write and write and write and then do some more writing for it to have a flow. Than add simplicity to it. However, I think the most important thing is decide on a niche and then adjust your writing accordingly. Also, psychology and actually, the way people tick is of immense importance. I've recently posted an Medium article on that very same topic, hope it helps: https://ourstories.syskit.com/how-to-become-a-copywriter-definitive-guide-to-copywriting-a3f4debe8579

The book that really helped me understand people and then understand WHAT I needed to write is How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Check it out - if not for writing, it's surely gonna help you in everyday interaction.

I learned everything I know about marketing from reading blogs. Neil Patel, Copyblogger, and Smartblogger (formerly Boost Blog Traffic) were all instrumental in my early days. Lots of marketing company blogs (e.g., SaaS companies with blogs) are pretty helpful. It's also great to look up sales blogs like Hubspot.

As far as copywriting, I'd recommend picking up The Elements of Style. Absolute classic that every writer needs. A stylebook is also a good choice. AP is probably the best choice.

There aren't any exercises I can think of off the top of my head, but the best books have exercises. Read Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan, The Advertising Concept Book by Pete Barry, and On Writing Well by Williams Zinnsser.

BUT I did graduate from the VCU Brandcenter's Copywriting track. So I have some other advice:

I wish I could tell you how to crush the application, but it's changed pretty drastically since I applied. I can tell you that I had a portfolio with spec ads in addition to the writing exercises that the application required.

The best advice I was given for the application ( that still applies ) is that you just need to demonstrate your ability to concept (have an imagination) and think strategically (for example, the ads you write solve a business objective or problem). They can teach you how to write copy. That's what you're going to an ad school for. Also, if your app is full of puns, then you've just written your path to Reject land. Puns can be appropriate when used strategically, but anyone can do puns.

Next steps? Get a smart portfolio together. Find the ad club in your town and get to know people. Most ad clubs have a mentor ship program.

Lastly, and I might be biased here, but consider going to an ad school that will hand you a degree in addition to that portfolio. A lot of people say degrees don't matter in Adland, and they're mostly right, but what if you spend all that money and decide you hate advertising afterwards? A Masters degree at least gives you an advantage in other job avenues.

https://www.amazon.com/Benjara-Queen-Woven-Wooden-Frame/dp/B09FPR6S6J/ref=sr_1_45?crid=1QKBMFQB9WEWE&keywords=bed+frame&qid=1670430420&sprefix=bed+frame%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-45&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.17f26c18-b61b-4ce9-8a28-de351f4... Amazon does use commas...

Seems more like an assorted list of random consumer psychology tips than anything specifically related to the companies you mention.

Might not be what you're looking for since it's not online, but the copy book is by far the best source for copy inspiration I've found. It showcases some of best work by dozens of different copywriters from the 70s-00s

Beyond the guidelines, the best way to zero in on the best approach is to search for results from top selling products across a few categories and follow their lead. For example, many major brands format the product feature bullets as...

• 2-3 WORD BENEFIT/CAPABILILTY. Descriptive feature description that provides further context and detail.

Example from a top-selling Cuisineart coffee grinder:

• ENJOY OPTIMUM FLAVOR: Burr grinding provides a uniform grind to your fresh coffee beans with its 18-position grind selector – move the slide-dial from ultra-fine to extra-coarse to ensure your coffee grounds are exactly the way you prefer
• ONE-TOUCH GRIND: The one-touch power bar is separate from the unit and complemented by an electric timer that automatically shuts off the unit when your grind cycle is complete
• [x 3 additional bullets]

The product description summarizes the key benefits and a couple of top features in a brief narrative format:

Discover the difference that freshly ground beans make to your coffee with the Supreme Grind Automatic Burr Mill! The elegant brushed stainless steel Cuisinart burr mill boasts 18 levels to grind your coffee beans, from ultra-fine to extra-coarse. With an automatic stop, your beans are guaranteed to be consistently ground to the right grade, maximizing the oils, aromas, and flavors for a better cup of coffee. Grind enough coffee to make 4-18 cups, and store any remaining grounds in the chamber. Do not place this appliance on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated oven.

If you're looking for advertising copy and you're only getting one book, this is it. It's the D&AD Copy Book.

Has examples of work from the best in the business as well intros from the writers themselves about how they write.

You could read a textbook about English grammar and composition. Warriner's is good.

https://www.amazon.com/Warriners-English-Grammar-Composition-Complete/dp/0153118857

Here, it's $18 on Amazon. Read it and you won't make simple mistakes anymore.

https://airtable.com/invite/l?inviteId=invbffZWhd7Ak4JMn&inviteToken=7099dc577de033218d982014cbae40b33d98223a6a99cc6e3402696a8b59f13b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=product_team&utm_content=transactional-alerts

https://airtable.com/invite/l?inviteId=invbffZWhd7Ak4JMn&inviteToken=7099dc577de033218d982014cbae40b33d98223a6a99cc6e3402696a8b59f13b&utm_medium=email&utm_source=product_team&utm_content=transactional-alerts

Finding the Right Message by Jennifer Havice. Obviously Awesome by April Dunford. Both are popular books for B2B copywriters, particularly in the tech world.

Hi everyone,

We've just released a new chrome extension that we think will make your Twitter outreach a breeze. It's called [name of extension], and it's designed to help you quickly find the right people to follow, the most influential users in your network, and the best time to tweet.

We'd love to get your feedback on the extension, so if you're interested, please try it out and let us know what you think. You can find it at [URL].

Thanks,

[Your name]

This copy is generated(in seconds) using the app i have developed. It generates content using AI. It is very helpful in generating cold emails, ad copies, blogs etc.

Download the app from playstore. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.content.InstApp

Grammarly is a crutch that's not nearly as good as people think it is. It's not going to help you with clunky syntax.

That said, I think they own the Grammar Girl site now, which is jam packed with writing tips.

The Elements of Style is a crusty old classic that's worth owning.

I don't traffic much in a lot hippy mumbo jumbo, but I've made major career and writing leaps when I'm practicing The Artist's Way.

For my money, it's as close to magic for writers as it gets.

After years of hearing the great David Lynch talk about Transcendental Meditation, I finally broke down and took the course. I've been doing it the prescribed 2x a day for about 8 months.

The jury is still out on if it's making me a better writer, but it is relaxing.

As far as food goes, nothing is better for my writing than fasting. Days that I eat once a day, or not at all, are some of my sharpest. I pound coffee, though.

If I'm having a creative block or get stuck on something, I'll smoke weed and get as high as the moon and watch horror movies or listen to music all night. Works for me.

Super fun topic.

Some tips:

Listen to top sales people on calls. They'll often have an ear for what people are most interested in and be able to handle objections in conversation. High-level sales orgs will record calls; take advantage of them.

Learn the product inside and out. If you know how it works, what's cool about it, and what sucks about it, your writing will be way more effective.

Be as clear as possible in your writing. Your customers are usually busy professionals who can detect bullshit--what works for selling diet pills to morons won't work in B2B.

Examine customer testimonials. If an enterprise client says "I love that this SaaS saves me time doing X" then you should have content that says "this product saves time doing X."

Study your customer. B2B SaaS orgs often have the advantage of knowing which roles in an org make buying decisions. Sometimes they know the exact person.

Check out SaaS sales funnels from other companies. Sign up for emails. Book yourself spots in seminars. Read white papers.

Check out the book <strong>They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan</strong>. It's not a copywriting book exactly, but it will really help orient you into what you're doing.

Hey, I recently built a prototype of a product I'm looking to validate and would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.
If that sounds like something you may be interested in, you can get in touch HERE and I thank you for your help!

Advertising Concept &amp; Copy

Spend two hours reading it and eighteen hours doing exercises and examples of everything that's in the Writer's Toolbox chapter.

Join this Discord server- https://discord.gg/sq3fneGK. You'll get most of your questions answered along with all the necessary resources to start from zero.

Also, here is a free walk-through video compilation you might find helpful- https://screencast-o-matic.com/channels/cqV02N5Mh

Congrats on your first paying gig!

In the beginning, just use Paypal.

• Get the client's email address they use with PayPal.

• Follow these instructions: How do I create and send an invoice?

When you start getting gigs more steadily, you can invest in setting up more infrastructure. Disclaimer: this is not legal advice.

• Limited liability corporation (LLC) or other legal entity.

• Tax ID number for your business.

• Business checking account.

• Stripe or other payment processing.

• Get an invoice program that works with Stripe or whatever payment processing you go with.

Get that copywriting gig done and book your next gig. Best of luck.

You don't need luxury to have a website. WordPress.com is free.

You can create a professional WordPress portfolio, and then buy a 12$ domain name with your first gig. If you can't make 12$ with your copywriting, you're doing something wrong.

It's not that hard to be professional and make a good first impression. Not to mention the search engine traffic you get.

Google Docs is for amateurs. Don't get fooled by these guys that tell you otherwise while they have a ton of websites and content out there.

For organization I use ClickUp

Basically a "free" trello.

As a full-time copywriter that has dealt with extreme mental fatigue and burnout, here's what's helped me...

First, I consider exercise/personal time critical. If you're not physically active and taking time to care for your mental health (meditation, taking time off, relaxing) then you're setting yourself up for failure.

These things are non-negotiable and you absolutely need to find a way to fit them into your day.

It's like brushing your teeth. It's a habit because your teeth will rot if you don't.

If you don't stay physically active and do activities that calm your mind, you will burn out - period.

It's pretty well-established that the human body and mind isn't equipped to sit for 8 hours and not be physically active.

Second...eating healthy makes a world of a difference. If your macro and micronutrient intake are jacked up, then you're going to fatigue quicker. I like cronometer (free)because you can key in what you ate and see what you're deficient in...

https://cronometer.com/

Lastly...pay. Hopefully you're making a solid income as a head copywriter with 5+ years experience. Great pay tends to lower those feelings of fatigue.

In many cases, it's a matter of a concentration to get more done in less time. Rid out all distractions and prepare everything that you need to get a job done (including drinks and snacks).

I always start my work from taking a glass of water with lemon, mint, and ice and opening all of the necessary materials. Then I turn on the white noise (I use mynoise.net personally), wear the headphones and start writing. ;) From the moment when I developed this habit I'm getting definitely more done.

You need to work on your site, both technically and visually.

1. Check your speed, https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/, it's too slow currently.
2. Change those dynamic backgrounds to something static. I'd go for something clean and minimalistic—can't go wrong with it.
3. Try a more professional photo.
4. You're a copywriter, write something on your site. Tell your visitors why they should work with you, what you can provide them, why you're passionate about writing. Don't be shy!

Overall I think your approach makes sense. Look for relevant businesses, check what are their needs, write personalized messages and offer your service. Have the site in your email signature.
I think someone posted their results from cold prospecting in this sub a few days ago. Look for it.

Good luck to you, I hope you'll succeed!

I feel it's my duty to point out ProWritingAid since no one else has. It's similar to Grammarly, but you store your work locally, which gives me some comfort since some of my clients info have sensitive info. The user interface isn't as nice as Grammarly, but the power goes deeper. It checks EVERYTHING. Grammar, readability, word repetition, stickiness, style, etc. so it's several of the other tools mentioned (like Hemingway) built-in. It also has a word explorer that integrates a thesaurus, rhymer, alliteration, cliches, etc. It's my go to checker.

You can check - Periodix . It aggregates freelancejobs from different websites like ZipRecruiter, Upwork, GreenHouse. And the service matches projects for your skills and background. Pretty useful.

I'd like to recommend research for clients carefully. Because sometimes you can bid for spam clients who never reply to you.

Don't use templates. Make unique every message.

Differentiate by being short.

Start the discussion. Ask questions about a project.

You can read this artlicle by my friend. And search for clients here.

I like how you keep downvoting me. I'm just giving you the textbook definitions of both. I appreciate that there's a lot of overlap, but I didn't see anything about copy in your original post (hence me clarifying the difference).

Anyway, you should charge more than you think. Start with $150 per article, and break down everything you'll include for the client + throw in some (low-effort on your part) freebies. Also, remind the client of the value of your work and what it'll potentially do for their business.

Might make sense to lay all of this out in a nice, visual proposal (check out Canva.com for nice templates). This has a big impact on their perception of your quote (if you include a project description, milestones, deadlines, prices, what's included, project goals, etc).

We recently released a Figma plugin (specifically designed for copywriters) called CopyDoc, which allows you to easily manage all of the text in your design via an instant CSV export/import. You can work on editing the text outside of Figma, then automatically re-import it back into the Figma designs when you're ready.

If you're working with a team in Figma, we recently released a plugin (specifically designed for copywriters) called CopyDoc, which allows you to easily manage all of the text in your design via an instant CSV export/import. You can work on editing the text outside of Figma, then automatically re-import it back into the Figma designs when you're ready.

A direct-response copywriter made these copywriting course for his sister. She had lost her job and he was helping her transition into a new career as a copywriter.

Copywriting lessons for Joy

Hope this helps.

https://screencast-o-matic.com/channels/cqV02N5Mh

Don't know the username, but this is by a fellow Reddit user. posted on r entrepreneur.

he did it for his sister, and choose to share it with everyone here

Yep. Don't break an arm jerking yourself off. FWIW: I googled TJ and all that's come up is "The Blue Jeans Millionaire," so I'm getting the vibe that he has a habit of overselling services.

Don't get me wrong—I appreciate when folks recognize the power of effective copy. It's a nice change from the "but ANYONE can write a blog/email/landing page/ad" mindset that we writers usually face.

But acting like copy alone is the silver bullet to effective marketing? That ain't it.

If anyone cares, this is the quote I've carried with me as a writer. It's not focused on copywriting or marketing...but I've found that the simple act of reading and deconstructing absolutely everything keeps me sharp.

Regarding plain text emails, I’ve seen frank kern use plain text, Dan Kennedy, Gary Bencivenga often writes super plain text docs, take a look at jay abrahams swipe — long form plain copy, One company I write for exclusively uses plain text and we get very high open and conversion rates on them. This post details more examples of plain text vs designed HTML EMAILS . https://databox.com/html-vs-plain-text-emails

And the idea behind ugly websites converting better is the less distraction, the more likely to take action. designers often over design for beauty sake or they include things like slider bars that are proven ineffective. They add distraction. The ugly pages that convert well tend to be very simple. That isn’t to say good design can’t convert but it’s just not always necessary (if you’re comfortable with ugly lol) Here‘s a post on the topic:

https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/ugly-website-design/

Thank you for this question, because it has made me realize that my post wasn't exactly clear on that point.

Direct response marketing is about two things. Capturing leads, and contacting those leads with a sales message.

For a copywriter, I think the best way to do it is build an email list. I'm using social media posts to drive traffic to an email capture page (aka squeeze page) with a lead magnet (aka an "ethical bribe" to get people to give you their email address). Then I email the list to offer a free consultation.

Here's a great blog post (not mine) that goes into the concept in more detail: https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/killer-email-list/

You need to buy the domain. Go to namecheap.com and see what's available. It might be $1.99 or it might be $10,000. If it's $10,000, find something that is still $1.99, lol. You really should take the time to create a website if you're trying to begin a career selling creative services on the internet. I've switched everything over to Leadpages and would highly, highly recommend them if you want to DIY with the design. But I don't think they have a free plan, so you can use Wordpress, Wix, Squarespace, whatever to make something for free. I'm an idiot with that stuff and both Wordpress and Squarespace have made me cry, but YMMV.

This is basic sh*t. Clients aren't just going to fall into your lap and trust you out of nowhere. You need to have something to show them that you're legit and trustworthy. I get wanting to dip your toes in the water, but you're trying to break into what's becoming a saturated market full of people half-assing this job. I honestly wish the best for everyone and hope you succeed, but you're not going to make it if you don't commit to simple stuff like establishing a web presence that shows you're serious.

Looks minimalistic, loads fast.

*really good articles though.

But as far as I am a web developer, here is my tech-feedback:
- don`t really like the idea of text on photos on "Portfolio" page. As far as you have some articles in the same magazine/blog, you may get rid of it on photos, write it in the heading. The titles are okay.
- you can also check some copywriting portfolio examples here and think about making a one-pager portfolio website (it just saves some time, wasted on clicking).

I've had the same problem with Squarespace (their templates just don't work well for me) :/ I find that WordPress is much easier to handle, or perhaps Wix. If you're looking for a way to showcase just your portfolio, I've tried carrd.co and it's awesome if you use it as a temporary site until you figure out all the details about your Squarespace, for example.

As for royalty free images, you can use Pixabay or Unsplash. Or create a design of your own with Canva or PS.

Style will come with time. But for quick improvements, I'd advise running your text through http://www.hemingwayapp.com/. You'll see all the overlong sentences and adverb overuse that you missed while caught up in writing. Also, too many 'actually's!

Once you've written it, read it out aloud or use text-to-speech.

It helps to hear it outside your head. It gives you a better idea of which bits sound clunky and fussy.

You can also paste the text into something like Hemmingway Editor to help tidy sentences up.

And then just start snipping and tightening.

But it depends what you're writing and its purpose.

Sometimes you can lose some of the colour when you're too strict.

I also hate writing in the WordPress WYSIWYG. I start every project in nvALT and write in Markdown, then export to HTML and paste into WP.

If you find this workflow less tedious, here is a way to use nvALT + plaintext + Dropbox that I use daily.

Thanks for sharing an excellent example. I would like to add some more points.

• We should personalize the sales email, it increases the open rates and reply rates.
• A little bit of flattering can boost the conversation.
• Try to add value in every cold email that is relevant to your prospects.

Recently I found a quick article on How to write a sales email, which helped in learning the most about sales emails. I suggest everyone check this article for getting step by step help on writing emails.

So for the Otter.ai one...

I see that "Where your conversations live" headline on their homepage all the time and don't really like it.

However, I think the rewritten copy is missing one key point, which is that Otter uses AI to deliver automated transcriptions. It's implied in the headline, but it's never fully detailed, and then the CTA is "Start transcribing," which still doesn't make it clear that AI does the work.

I feel like you could even push harder on the idea that you have real gems of insight buried in your meetings, but they'll stay buried without transcriptions.

I really like the Airtable example, though. I don't write for SaaS or DTC, but so many onboarding sequences are just wasted. I've done a bunch of fitness subscriptions over the years, and it's so rare for any of them to do an onboarding that leverages any of the data they get from me in the signup process.

I only do it on request which so far has been… twice.

I use Balsamiq to do it. Call me old school, but I prefer tools I can pay once and own. Balsamiq offers that.

There isn't, really. Traditionally, many editors learned on the job, just like copywriters did. But everything's being shaken up as we go through a digital revolution and things haven't caught up yet.

The only real certifications on writing right now are college degrees--English, Creative Writing and Communication degrees all help improve writing skills, but none of them will make you an expert unless you get an MFA in something.

The only way I know of to measure/quantify writing skills is to work at getting better, then go back and read old writing.

There are a few suggestions I can offer, however.

One is a Udemy course called Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer. It was designed by a Wall Street Journal editor and teaches how editors at top newspapers and other media do their work. The course comes with an entire workbook for doing exercises he has designed, and the course is rigorous and highly regarded. You can get a completion certificate once you've been through the course.

Another one is a book called Spellbinding Sentences: A Writer's Guide To Achieving Excellence And Captivating Readers. It was written by a Creative Writing Professor as a skill-building program based on what she teaches. It's again, full of practice exercises that will hone your skill. This one is more focused on creative writing than journalism, but it's still valuable.

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I hope these help you.

You're kind of asking the question that led to the advent of golden era advertising: What is "the big idea?" What is the hook, the story, the concept that draws people in to begin with?

Check out some of the broader histories of advertising. Stuff like the classic "Hey Whipple" book, or the works of Ogilvy. There are many approaches, because if there was some single sure-fire thing, everyone would be doing it... and then it would stop working.

https://www.amazon.com/Copywriting-Secrets-Everyone-Clicks-Profits-ebook/dp/B082L4R78V/ref=sr\_1\_1?crid=2Z3ACJOWBR8WF&amp;dchild=1&amp;keywords=copywriting+secrets&amp;qid=1625502260&amp;sprefix=copywriting+secrets%2Caps%2C213&amp;sr=8-1

I recommend reading The Little White Book of SEO: An Intro To Search Engine Optimization https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1796783749/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_C31VEB1TP6MSJ9ZPVVYC it’ll give you the high level of everything you need to know about seo including all the key terms. Plus it’s $1 on kindle. Can’t go wrong

Hey it’s me again 😅

I was scrolling through Facebook and this popped up, look how long it is.

🥳 Big news!!! 🥳 Have you ever wished for an app that would help you keep track of your dog’s training?

I’m so excited to announce that Pupford has just launched a FREE app that goes along with my 30 Day Perfect Pup digital training course!! 🙌 Download it here:

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These two should be on everyone's list:

- Advertising Concept &amp; Copy

- The Copy Book: How some of the best advertising writers in the world write their advertising

Oops lol it's John but he goes by Jack in his personal life.

he co-wrote the book with Michael Masterson aka Mark Ford. you may be able to find it in places other than amazon too.

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Leads-Easiest-Start-Message-ebook/dp/B007I6MEUI

Ah, now I get it.

Indeed, in the science of naming this is the best thing you can do. Naming things is a rare skill.

The only thing I've successfully named is a simple game in the app store for 4 and 5 years lol. Here it is: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.imayi.dinodrivefree&amp;hl=en_US

The client was Chinese, and I was like, well I'm a gamer and you don't speak much English, so this is the best you'll get lol.

I'm not sure if copywriters are the best people to name products. It's a totally different skill from copywriting. I consider myself a persuasion scientist. Naming stuff is like, naming science. (Or is it a sub-category of brand marketing?)

I am surprised Herschel Gordon- Lewis Direct Mail Copy that Sells isn't on this list. I think every copywriter should learn in the ways of direct response. Even Claude Hopkins talks about this in Scientific Advertising. Personally, I think creative should be second to the response of your advertising.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1088742785/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_IzjPDbGGC36K8

This book is written by a guy who is not even a native English speaker. However, he is literally Agora's BEST copywriter. He made them so much much money that they required ALL new hires to read his book.

Just published Double Your Website Traffic: A Complete Guide Using Content, SEO, PPC, and Social Media and I think it's right up your alley. Plus, it's just $.99 on Kindle today: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07YF3V2J1

If you are interested in writing well with SEO in mind, there's a ton of great information about how to do the SEO research to write well-optimized, yet still human-centric copy.

Have you read Strunk & White's Elements of Style? It's a classic in writing English well. It's a short and interesting read.

The only book you need to read to understand how to write an engaging sales letter (an ad with the intent to convert a customer) is read joseph sugarman's adweek copywriting handbook. Heres the link: https://www.amazon.com/Adweek-Copywriting-Handbook-Advertising-Copywriters/dp/0470051248/ref=mp_s_a_1_1

This book is fire. I’ve bought it twice. I gave one copy to a friend, was worth buying again.

https://www.amazon.com/Landing-Page-Optimization-Definitive-Conversions/dp/0470610123/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1544760182&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&amp;keywords=landing+page+optimization&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=51vcD-zslfL&amp;ref=pl...

Sounds like it. I certainly didn't invent the method and have used it for years.

Drinking coffee is my downfall, as I live a stone's throw from Java and enjoy amazing locally grown and roasted beans, with my own espresso machine and French press ;) By the time I've finished fiddling with coffee I find myself cleaning the kitchen, preparing lunch, tidying shelves...

So yeah, the sit still and do nothing else thing.

This is handy:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.cwiesner.android.visualtimer

APC

This Book Will Teach You How to Write Better, by Neville Medhora is a fantastic little book!

A book I'd recommend for B2B copywriting is called "The B2B Marketer's Journey." This is a bit self-serving since I wrote it, but people keep telling me it's a great book on copywriting - and it covers, marketing, branding and copy decks like you asked.

Here's the link for it on Amazon.

The B2B Marketer's Journey: How to Generate More Leads with High-Performance B2B Copywriting

>The only concept that makes sense to me is, will this make the client more money? I think the whole idea of "creative awards" is the exact opposite of the job.

I was listening to a marketer give a presentation once, and he talked about the importance of "congruent curiosity."

You have to strike that balance of coming up with a big idea that attracts attention, yet still relevant enough so it ties in to your product or service.

Something too relevant might be too on-the-nose and boring. Whereas something too attention-grabbing might get unqualified prospects, i.e. you get lots of views and clicks but no sales.

For example, I was reading a sales letter selling an investment newsletter. It was promoting a "story stock" of a company that makes EMV chips for credit cards (good analysis here).

But that's not how the copywriter described it. Instead, he told a story of a secret factory making "gold chip supercomputers" being sent to every consumer nationwide in the biggeset tech giveaway of all time. Whose stock was going to skyrocket.

Look at how the copywriter turned the ordinary into extraordinary. Those are the kinds of big ideas you want.

Some books that might help:

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

The Tall Lady With the Iceberg: The Power of Metaphor to Sell, Persuade & Explain Anything to Anyone by Anne Miller. I thought the earlier title of this book was better, Metaphorically Selling.

I wrote more about this here:

New to advertising - big idea

I forgot to include N. Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. I’ve had a strange relationship with that one, I sat on it for over a decade before finally reading it,

There’s something about that book puts me off...and I don’t know why.

I always struggle to get through it, it might be that its writing style feels dated (understandably).

But it’s always presented as this monumental book that everyone must read...and I guess I find it hard to see why it’s so revered.

Bob Proctor talks about (at 09:25) reading and re-reading that book for years...and the influence it had on him.

Any thoughts on what I might be missing would be appreciated. I’m really curious to know why it’s so impactful for many.

That being said...I’d also include that in my list of resources.

I have Collier’s book as well as Breakthrough Advertising and Cashvertising but haven’t read them.

Thanks for reminding me.

Hey Whipple is like the modernized version of Ogilvy. Both still very strong. Also recommend Ca$hvertising. These books look at the core of what works - the psychology behind the essential tics that cause humans to react. That's why they're timeless. And look at The Art of War, being used thousands of years later in completely different contexts... some lessons are based on inherent truths. It's just a matter of adapting them to suit your situation.

tldr: another vote for "yes, still relevant"

I just signed up for a copywriting post grad, began blogging and read Sin and Sintax, The Elements of Style and The Copywriters Handbook.

I'm about to dive into this list. Are there any books I should not waste my time with?

I was getting a creative writing degree and a marketing minor, but had no idea what I was going to do with it. During a wicked hangover after a new years party I made a resolution to start a website. It ended up being a fiction magazine. I worked on it as a hobby for a year until I made my first cent. After that it really took off. Now I'm producing 7 magazines in all major genres plus Steampunk.

The key to starting an internet business is to acquire the best information you can, but to not get stuck in the information acquisition phase. You've got to act and wing it, no matter how embarassing your mistakes. Fake it until you make it. For further reading on this idea, I suggest The Lean Startup.

Sure!

Adding to the disclaimer, I've only been studying E-mail marketing for about a month, specifically, but here are the two that I've read so far.

Email Persuasion: https://www.amazon.com/Email-Persuasion-Captivate-Authority-Marketing-ebook/dp/B00GR77K1M#nav-subnav

Rebel's Guide to Email Marketing: https://www.amazon.com/Rebels-Guide-Email-Marketing-Biz-Tech/dp/0789749696

They both seem to be fundamental books, yet despite this have totally different feels in terms of style and material. One really dissects the body while another might talk more about philosophical approach.

Cheers!

Pick up a copy of The Challenger Sale. Start figuring out your industry's pain points. Once you determine what the pain points are, you can start telling stories about how your company's products solve those pain points.

ETA: I'm not a Challenger Sale shill, I just think it provides great insights into ways to add creativity and flair to writing for an industry that can be dry and unsexy.

^ This.

AWAI, for example, touts their job board that offers "members only" access to copywriting gigs. However, based on what I've seen (and experienced firsthand with the organization), I'm not sure it's the best way for 97% of copywriters to get started.

Even though there's the temptation to see traditional client-seeking strategies as dated, the fact is they still work, and they work well. When you seek clients only online, you're inherently positioning yourself based on price, since it's so easy to contact a dozen copywriters and then choose the cheapest if you're doing it through a job site.

However, if you go offline (which is the only way I've ever found clients worth my time), you'll easily be paid what you're worth. By following this advice, I went from struggling as a copywriter ($600-$1k/month) to earning more than my day job ($4-7k/month) through part-time copywriting gigs.

If you're completely stuck and don't know where to begin, start with Bob Bly's <em>The Copywriter's Handbook</em>. His training materials are great for new copywriters and teaching them how to manage the business side of copywriting.

Good luck.

Online tutorials are ok but, like you said, are very specific. Books are tedious and long but, in the absence of formal training are a great way to learn from the basics up. The best ones i know of are the "Classroom in a book" series.

http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-CS6-Classroom-Book/dp/0321827333