If you are a diligent reader of this newsletter, you will know I have been studying Spanish for the past few months.
So far, one of the best resources I’ve discovered is a YouTube channel, Español con Juan.
The Juan of “Español con Juan” is a Spanish teacher at University College London. He’s very likeable and funny. In his videos, he mostly makes stuff up and jokes around, but then he also sneaks in some actual Spanish language lessons when you’re not looking.
Juan usually only makes videos directed at language learners.
But once, he made a video of advice for Spanish teachers. It had five pieces of advice, including:
* Carry around a ruler (it’s a symbol of authority)
* Laugh at students (they will never make the same mistake twice)
* Line up the chairs correctly (students should not be facing each other but should be facing you — you are the star of the class)
Inspired by this video, I decided to do something equally helpful for beginner copywriters. Here goes:
1. Once you know “features vs. benefits” and AIDA, you’ve learned 99% of that’s worth learning from others. The rest is just practice. Copywriting is common sense, and inspiration comes from within.
2. If you really do want to learn something more, make sure you only look at courses and books that came out in the last ~2 years. Recent trainings like this have will have the newest secrets that haven’t been widely published yet. Everything older than ~2 years is too old hat, and the market has adapted to it.
3. The best thing you can do to attract new copywriting clients is to sharpen your copywriting skills.
4. The r/copywriting subreddit is a great place to learn copywriting and mingle with real, successful copywriters.
5. “Date around” as much as possible with different copywriting clients. A new client is always more exciting and potentially much more profitable than a past or present client.
6. The second-best way to attract copywriting clients is to go around asking, “How do you get copywriting clients?” And to keep asking it. Never stop asking.
7. Likewise, never stop studying. There’s always more to learn, and until you have learned it all, it’s best not to try anything in practice.
8. Do not start an email newsletter before you are ready! You could be inadvertently showing off your lack of skill and experience to clients who might hire you otherwise.
9. You are a copywriter. Industry rates start at $300/sales email, $10k/sales letter. Also, you are entitled to get paid royalties, because you’re the one bringing in the sales.
10. If you are unknown, particularly if you have no skills or experience, then make business owners a risk-free offer. For example, tell them you will charge them nothing upfront if they they test out your copy with paid traffic, or in place of a piece of copy which is currently making them money. The offer is, you only get paid if your copy converts, and if it doesn’t, it’s still a learning experience for you both. Win-win!
So that’s my advice. Follow it at your own risk.
But if you’re feeling a little suspicious, if you have some doubts I’m being genuine, if you wonder if this is really the best advice I can give you, then let me point you to a second set of 10 recommendations for copywriters. They apply equally whether you are a beginner or intermediate or advanced. You can find them here: