“Freelance copywriting changed my life. I went from making 30 grand a year to making 200 grand a year in a year and a half. That changed my life.”
I was talking today to a very successful copywriter who sells his own products. (Not the guy who said the quote above. We’ll get to him in a second.)
The copywriter I was talking to called me out on the fact that I seem indifferent about promoting myself and my list.
And it’s true. One reason is because I do client work. Client work makes me money, and so I don’t rely on my list for an income. But client work also takes up my time, so I don’t have as much drive to promote myself.
“When I was a copywriter making 20 grand a month, I was hustling every day for that 20 grand. I was trading time for money.”
Once my conversation with the very successful copywriter wound down, it was time to write this email. So I started shuffling through notes for an idea to share with you.
And it just so happened that after a handful of shuffling, I came across an interview I’d listened to last year. A second very successful copywriter, also selling his own products.
“My absolute best year as a freelance copywriter I made, I think, $350,000. My worst year as a product owner, which was a few years ago, when I could not work, when I was suicidally depressed, and I was so sick I could barely get out of bed and I was basically crippled, I made $400,000. But I didn’t do any work. I think I wrote one sales letter that year.”
Maybe you can guess from that quote who said it. It’s Chris Haddad.
Chris is who I quoted at the top and throughout today’s email. He’s also somebody I found myself subconsciously imitating on more than one occasion (hello horror advertorials).
So let me leave you today with a bit of advice from Chris. Or really, am I just telling for my own benefit? In any case, here’s what Chris says:
“The biggest piece of advice I give copywriters is start being a product owner instead. I only wish I had done that 3 years earlier. I would have made a lot more money. And it’s a lot more fun.”
And if you want to get on my list — or not, it’s still up to you, no pressure — here’s where you can sign up.