Curious about something?
Ask me anything in the comments below.
Sincerely,
Neville Medhora
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206 Comments
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Hey Neville, hope all is well…
You have a wonderful website that literally shows up everywhere throughout the internet. Would you mind sharing some tips or examples on how on how you do it?
Thank you,
Paul C.
P.S. I found you a while ago when I typed “flyers that actually work” into google.
-Stay safe out there
How can we use your “sandwich board” copy technique on Resume?
Hi Neville, I used to do copywriting for B2B through sites like Fiverr, etc. and have guest posted while also running my own blog where I made low rates in advertising revenue (Adsense, affiliate links, etc.) so I stopped putting that stuff on my blog and just continued writing. The Fiverr’s etc weren’t main gig Since I was working in retail/service industries and started an events business that’s in the red right now. Through sites similar to Upwork, etc, I’ve written articles for my big name brands and my events business has garnered some local press.
I don’t consider myself a newbie since I have previous writing experience where people have paid me to create content for their websites, and I have my own blog where I’ve written content.
Often I get emails from other bloggers and agencies asking me to post their articles and links on my blog for $100+ but these websites are oftentimes not related to the topics I write about.
How can I land a client that is a better fit but will also pay me $$$$$ to market their brand on my blog through native advertising or sponsored posts?
Hey Neville,
Any suggestions for creating mock-ups or making layout changes to webpages for copy purposes?
So far I’ve found sites.google for making websites and “edit current site”for changing words courtesy of you.
Jerome
Hey Jerome, lately I’ve just been using the LeadPages site builder to mockup pages. This way I can actually just make the whole working site instead of just a mockup.
I’ve long been a fan of the LeadPages page builder, my homepage and sales page both work off that, and now they’ve added a sweet full-site builder!
Hey Neville,
What advice would you give a newbie for reaching out to B2B Tech Companies for copywriting services?
1.) Maybe don’t ONLY reach out to B2B companies, if you’re a beginner I would not limit yourself at the moment.
2.) You should probably have some prior experience and success before a company lets you take over the reigns.
This is what I always recommend to newbies, it lets the world know you wanna write for them, and often times it pulls you into new interesting freelance markets besides writing!
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
Hi Neville
I hope you are doing good. I got a very important question. There is a guy teaching copywriting on YouTube etc…his name is Dan Lok and I watch alot of his videos, but I’m not sure if he is legit or not. I want to learn as much as possible…How would I be able to tell who gives good advice and who doesn’t?
The fact that you’re questioning the validity of a person probably sets off a few red flags. Generally you can tell if someone is legit by their actions, not what they say.
Dan Lok’s actions seem very legit to me and so does his content, it’s just that I saw a nother YouTube video saying that he is a fraud. I don’t know what to believe as I don’t know what good content from bad content is yet as I am only new to all of this being 17 years of age.
Well if someone resonates well with you, and you think they can teach you stuff that will help your future earning potential, then it all seems good!
Thank you so much for the clarity🙏
No problem Kyle, best of luck in your career! If that program doesn’t work out for you, consider joining our Kopywriting Kourse. Not only do we teach you principles of copywriting, but we’re in there literally modding people’s copy everyday (and as a member you get to be part of the convo and see the results)!
Thank you so much. I definitely will as I want as much help as I can get.
When did you know you could take copywriting seriously, before you ever made a dollar from it?
That story is right here! It was when I owned a rave company:
https://www.nevblog.com/the-house-of-rave-quick-sell-experiment/
Password: giggity
What are the fundumentals of copywriting?
I’d say the #1 thing is being interesting or an authority on your topic. Walk the walk, don’t just talk.
Imagine if Warren Buffet decided to sell his top 20 stock picks for 2020. I bet he could sell a small text file with a few hundred words for $1,000,000+ instantly.
But a not-wealthy-from-stocks person could give their analysis on the top stock picks for 2020, and no one would buy (or they’d have to try a lot harder).
Generally I think good copywriting is not so much about the text you write, but the context/experience of that text.
It’s why I’d rather do experiments than just commentary style articles. For example I could’ve done a simple article about street advertising, but instead decided to actually DO STREET ADVERTISING for a local business:
https://copywritingcourse.com/street-advertising-experiment/
….this experiment was inherently more interesting than just writing a lame article.
For financial promotions, we’ve seen it all.
Where are promos going video-wise? VSLs, webinars, cinematic, docuseries? What do you think is going to work form here going FWD?
Hey Robert, I’m not totally sure what you mean by “financial promotions.” If you can clarify I’m happy to answer :)
Like Agora type stuff (e.g. “The next hot stock to buy when Trump wins). Stuff like this, ad to VSL to high ticket/newsletter upsell.
Oh geez, that stuff is too on the shady side for me. This article might help 😂
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-scam-people-for-money/
I think I remember you doing a marketing email where you talk about a contractor doing the outdoor cleaning. Sort of before/after scenario on no prospects, liven it up and make it about the homeowner’s problems then he sells a bunch?
I couldn’t find in past emails. Would you post a link for it please or send it to me? Thanks very much Joe
Hey Joe, I think you’re referring to this?
https://copywritingcourse.com/powerwashing-flyers-copywriting-case-study/
Will you go on a blind date with my (smart, successful, cute) friend?
Hey Neville,
As a new copywriter, should I do some work for free or in exchange for a reference to add to my portfolio?
No, you should do it for money. Small money at first, but then grow it. Follow this!
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
Also make a very simple portfolio like this:
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-portfolio
Hi Neville!
Just saying hello on behalf of Rhia and myself from your old HoR days. Hope you’re well!
Oh snap, shoutout to the ePartyUnlimited warehouse crew!!
https://copywritingcourse.com/wp-content/uploads/epartyunlimited.jpg
Neville,
I’d say 8 out 10 copywriters I have read their blogs or watched their videos have ‘Influence’ by R. Cialdini on their lists of recommended reads, you’re not one of them.
What’s your take on the book?
Disclosure: It’s been a long time since I’ve read it.
But generally these “classic” books are classic books for a reason. So there’s principles in there that are timeless.
I thought the book was great, but when I recommend copywriting books you’re right, that’s not one I think you MUST read. My recommendations are still as follows:
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
How go i get clients for my freelance Copywriting through social media?
Literally follow this post….social media is by far the fastest way to get your first gigs using this method!
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
Has this year been great for yr projects
Yes?
If you elaborate I can tell you more :)
Hello Neville,
Just generally speaking, do you have tips on creating videos whether the equipment and/or content strategy/ideas?
You’re YouTube stuff for AppSumo, the NevBox stuff, the Kopywriting Kourse YouTube videos as well as the videos in the course are pretty fun while being informative!
Also, if I can cheat and ask 2 more questions:
Extra question 1: If Neville Medhora was starting out his career and/or business in 2020 and not in 2000 (or earlier) with Enwon, how would he start out? Go to bix company X, freelance, a mix of both?
Extra Question 2: Assuming you are a fan of football, did you ever get to meet or see Vince Young the NFL QB in person? I was too young and football is not big in my country but I have read and watched enough to appreciate how awesome he was for the Longhorns especially for the 2006 Rosebowl.
I cheated with 2 more questions hehe but thanks for what you do and thank you for your material, course and others have helped me. I am super grateful especially as I still slowly adjust from my days working in a tech startup over here to slowly stabilizing a freelancing side. I will eventually or hope to go back to a tech company when I move but hopefully, by then I have a bit more established freelancing side business with lessons from you that I will put into practice. Thank you and hope you and your team have a great day!
Hey Kian!
#1.) Tips on creating videos:
Drink caffeine before recording, lay out some bullet points to cover beforehand but DO NOT plan out the whole script as it sounds lame then.
I usually record all in one take, and repeat parts I screw up. Then I go back and edit out all the mess ups.
The real magic of a video is in the editing. The order you speak, the lighting, the audio, can ALL be edited later, and that’s the magic!
Don’t get sucked into buying super fancy stuff, the basic recording equipment today is awesome, even a phone video camera and some good lighting can go a long way.
Extra question 1: If Neville Medhora was starting out his career and/or business in 2020 and not in 2000 (or earlier) with Enwon, how would he start out? Go to bix company X, freelance, a mix of both?
If I was in high school or college again, I would probably try to build an audience of some sort first. I used to do NevBlog.com stuff before I ever thought of building an audience, and if I had social media at the time that could’ve been even better.
If I could go back in time I would tell Past Neville to start building an audience sooner (email list in particular). I only started very very late and that was a mistake.
I would also have accepted more work with bigger companies to get a quick boost. A friend high up at Google years ago kept telling me he could get me work there, and I had zero interest because I was already doing well with other projects. In retrospect working at Google for a year or two would’ve been good for me.
Extra Question 2: Assuming you are a fan of football, did you ever get to meet or see Vince Young the NFL QB in person?
So funny you asked this, at my last apartment Vince Young was literally my next door neighbor!! I would get his packages all the time because he was apartment 1001 and I was 1007 (and somehow they would mix up those numbers).
I’m ZERO PERCENT interested in football, but I’d see him all the time in the elevator and hallway. He had an apartment at that building because it was across the street from his steakhouse.
That was like 5-ish years ago though, but it was cool bumping into him, seemed like a cool dude from my small chitchat with him.
Best of luck with all your adventures Kian, you seem like you’re well on your way :)
Hello Neville,
Sorry, I just saw this and got to reply but thanks a lot for all these tips and the advice. I was scared I needed the high-end equipment from the start and I appreciate the perspective and strategy on how you would start out again. Case studies and examples really do help! Also, apologies, it is biz company x’ that’s an unfortunate typo on my part.
And thanks for sharing about Vince Young! I just assumed with your time and his time in college that there might have been at least one time you’d run into him haha but that’s pretty cool to hear, neighbors and had no idea he has a steakhouse! :)
Thank you and I hope you, your team and everyone else on this thread are doing okay, especially with whatever else is happening in the world.
We are building a SAAS product for restaurants. While the product is in development, we want to invite potential client to register their interest.
Any suggestions for CTA to invite for registration before launch.
For your first test audience I would physically call them…..you should be in close contact with your beta users.
What are the ways that copywriting could be useful in the Voice world? I’m talking about more than mere wording of the sentence.
Sorry I don’t understand that question :-/
If you can add some detail I’d be happy to answer!
Hello Neville.
I have 2 questions.
1. I want to make viral content, To get more eyeballs reading my content to build and increase my list. Do you have any ideas of what I can do? I share and teach mums on healthy DIY baby recipes.
2. What product can I offer outside a recipe book or one on one coaching. I have built some followership now working on building my email list.
By the way, thanks for the valuable and actionable advice you put out. I have seen a decent improvement in my content and engagement.
Hey Rachelle!
#1.) Lol can’t totally answer this, I don’t think anyone has a 100% success rate for this. Generally virality comes to people who make a lot of content, and then 1 out of 10 or 100 pieces somehow “pops.”
I WILL say though: People who write copycat same-ole content rarely go viral. It’s people who do funky experiments, try cool things, and are generally really interested in their topic who go viral.
#2.) Affiliate products, make your own recipe books, do product reviews and have affiliate links, coaching, build a product that helps moms, sponsorships, Patreon. Once you have a large audience, monetization is easy. With a small audience monetization is harder. Start building that email list, and implement an autoresponder on it with your best content….that is a PRIME way to start growing your audience over time!
Hey Neville. I’m running a weekly newsletter for curious minds. Any recommendations for awesome courses, conferences or books? Thank you!
Hey Juris!
Email lists to follow:
TheHustle
Kopywriting Kourse (duh 😏)
Benedict Evans
Books and courses to follow:
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
Conferences:
I used to loooovveee conferences, but honestly there’s so many goddamn amazing YouTube videos and podcasts out there, I get more value from those (although conferences you network and stuff more).
Three best books to read about copywriting. Thanks!
Some of the best resources technically aren’t books!
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
Copywriting Books Re-Cap (if you were too lazy to read above):
Beginner Copywriting Books:
–The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert.
–The AdWeek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman.
–This Book Will Teach You to Write Better by Neville Medhora.
–Ogilvy On Advertising by David Ogilvy.
–How To Make Maximum Money In Minimum Time by Gary Halbert.
–A Whack on the Side of the Head by Roger Von Oech.
Intermediate Copywriting Books:
–Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got by Jay Abraham.
–Save The Cat by Blake Snyder.
Advanced Copywriting Books:
–Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz.
–Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins.
Copywriting Book Recommendations Video:
Do you have any advice / an updated article on specializing in “About Us” pages as a copywriter? How exactly would you market yourself? As of last Friday, I’ve read your post about Marian Schembari at least 9 times and I am genuinely committed to become the Male version of her. I just do not know where to begin. It is genuinely what I want to do; it’s either that or specializing in either landing pages and/or emails.
Marian wrote a great piece for us here:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-write-an-about-us-page/
….but clearly you’ve seen that :)
I think your goal as a beginner should NOT be to specialize, but rather follow this advice and try to get gigs as a freelancer in any field you have expertise or interest in:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
….then the market will often dictate what you are good at, and people will throw money in your face for those skills.
Nobody in history has paid me to play basketball or sports….which gives me some indication that might not be my strong suite.
However LOTS of people have sent me money to help them with writing stuff after seeing my own writing. That tells me MAYYYBBBEEE that’s something to focus on.
So I would start freelancing in general for you first, then specialize as the market tells you!
i remember you offering copy writing for a set fee. so i can use it for my website or literature. are you still offering it and where can i find it?
Hey Daniel, I offer private consulting here:
https://copywritingcourse.com/work/
And our Members Area is similar but not fully private:
https://members.copywritingcourse.com/subscriptions
I’m in Nigeria and interested in selling on Amazon FBA and promoting product on Clickbank but my country Nigeria is not supported by Amazon and Clickbank. Also payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe doesn’t work in Nigeria.My dream of going into online business is having a hitch by these roadblocks.
How can I get around these roadblocks
Good question Eduvie. It’s definitely a roadblock to get around, and I’m not sure I know any really good ways besides using VPN’s in the US, and something like BitCoin as a currency.
Yeah I have a question, do B2B copywriters write sales pages? I ask because I’ve looked on several B2B copywriter websites and have found none that write them.
Which makes sense since B2B companies aren’t impulse buyers, so a sales page shouldn’t work with them.
Well yes they will write a sales page, but their goal is generally to get info so they can setup a call/demo.
Generally B2B business is done in a more real-relationship fashion than through checking out a product on a website.
So they DO write types of sales pages, but the goal for them is to schedule an appointment, not make an immediate sale!
Do you do your own illustrations? If not who is the artist?
It’s a combination of iPad Pencil + Tayasui Sketches + Photoshop :-)
Neville first off, you are one cool guy…LOVE YOUR STUFF!
I wanted to ask is how you do those pictures on your email?!
Sometime ago I saw you do them but lost my notes.
Thank you Artie :)
The images are lots of work! It’s a combination of iPad Pencil + Tayasui Sketches + Photoshop.
Besides your training and subscription, what would you say is the best way to get success offering copywriting services?
By getting your first gigs! Even making a measly $100 will get you far more credibility and experience than endless study:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
AMA question—–> Where can I go to copy by hand modern sales letters/landing pages that are working well?
Background: I read Boron Letters, Advertising Secrets of the Written Word, your book(super good stuff and to the point), Breakthrough copywriting and How to write copy that sells along with written notes from them all. I also hand copy classic top 100 ads, about 1 per 3 days.
Thanks for your help and emails.
Hey Marc!
This Copywork post has some goodies:
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywork/
You can also access my free swipe file of sales pages here:
https://swipefile.com/sales-pages/
https://swipefile.com/saas-pages/
https://swipefile.com/home-pages/
Awesome, thanks Neville!
I have been going through a lot of copywriting material and learning the essence of concise short copy.
But the thing is, where or how can one get to put into practice the knowledge of copywriting?
Perhaps you could share some websites that offer copywriting opportunities?
GET PAID TO WRITE, that will get you the best practice, follow this method:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
It’s pretty awesome that you’re willing to answer our questions.
What’s the best way to find your first paid copywriting jobs to build up your portfolio?
Upwork? Job boards? Cold email? Or, …?
Very welcome Brittany!
Honestly it’s straight up this:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
By making your first $100 and putting yourself out there to the world, you can gain some good momentum in freelancing and quickly figure out what work you do like, and don’t like.
Follow that process first before trying Upwork!
Some more articles you might like on getting started:
https://copywritingcourse.com/freelance-writing-jobs-for-beginners/
https://copywritingcourse.com/consulting-as-a-side-job/
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-become-a-copywriter/
Are you doing affiliate marketing? If yes, can you show me some posts that got you at least one sale?
Not really, but I do make some affiliate income from random referrals from email services like Aweber.
Anything worthwhile takes time and commitment. After reading all the greats in copy writing, what was your Aha! moment? “… finally, I really get this!”
As you get better at anything, you start noticing nuances that amateurs don’t. Can you point to any?
Since I re-write copy all day for clients and in the Members Area, I can go through pretty damn fast and spot corrections or improvements.
I’d say my very first “ah ha” moment with copywriting was reading the free Boron Letters:
The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert:
Price: Free online or$22 on Amazon
What I love about it:
This was originally a set of free letters published by the famous copywriter Gary Halbert. I stayed up till 6am every night going through these letters. Unbelievable beginners guide to copywriting and business.
What skills you’ll learn:
Writing. Keeping someone’s attention. Creative ways to make money. First 3 chapters are about “Life” in general. Direct mail. I would HIGHLY suggest you physically print these out on a printer to read.
Tone of voice:
Super hilarious and a bit vulgar. You may wake your spouse up with laughter whilst reading.
Good for: Total copywriting beginners.
All chapters linked: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25
Is there a space in Kopycourse to post jobs?
Also, what is a good budget for an email copywriter to create a weekly email with images for a fashion company and management email list?
I have seen a huge range.
Yup! Saw your post inside :)
How to become better at writing without spending single penny?
Here’s a free copywriting course for you:
https://copywritingcourse.com/free-copywriting-course/
Here’s some books/courses, some are free:
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
My YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/kopywriting
Do these free Copywriting Exercises:
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-exercises/
Hope that helps Omkar :)
Is it necessary to write about copywriting itself in a blog or just write what I want to write?
Someone told me writing about copy increases the chances of getting potential clients.
Great question Rahat!
I think if you want to specifically get copywriting clients you probably should write something about copy, BUT a lot of times people just wanna see that you can write well in general.
I would do both :)
I write about random stuff all the time outside of copywriting!
Whats Your favorite way to convert cold traffic who’s never heard of you?
You can either:
▶ Scam them.
▶ Send them a really tasty offer.
▶ Use one of Joe Sugarman’s triggers:
List of Psychological Triggers To Convert People To Buyers:
#1.) Feeling of Involvement or Ownership
#2.) Honesty
#3.) Integrity
#4.) Credibility
#5.) Value and Proof of Value
#6.) Justify the Purchase
#7.) Greed
#8.) Establish Authority
#9.) Satisfaction Conviction
#10.) Nature of Product
#11.) Current Fads
#12.) Timing
#13.) Desire to Belong
#14.) Desire to Collect
#15.) Curiosity
#16.) Sense of Urgency
#17.) Instant Gratification
#18.) Exclusivity, Rarity or Uniqueness
#19.) Simplicity
#20.) Human Relationships
#21.) Guilt
#22.) Specificity
#23.) Familiarity
#24.) Hope
How do you get people to care about your website?
Make stuff that’s unique or awesome or better.
A lot of people will simply make “copy cat” content like “10 Best Email Services To Use.”
Instead, to stand out you could do experiments where you start a small email list with each and every service.
Or make a piece of software that guides people through which service to use.
Question: Would YOU care about your website if you didn’t own it??
Making good content is tough, only a few top percent of people do it really well!
What are the ingredients in a good product launch by emails?
Please.
Have a great day and thanks for your emails
Jean-Philippe
Hmmm kinda vague question, but I think this sales page experiment will show you what goes into a good launch:
https://copywritingcourse.com/sales-page
I always read your emails
Always look out for it every time
My question is
Can you be my mentor?
For free, no :)
For money, yes!
https://members.copywritingcourse.com/subscriptions
You get full access to myself and other professional copywriters in there, and also live video calls with me in the Office Hours!
Is it okay to use the same sales procedure for instance AIDA in all your sales letters?
Regards,
Michael
Well….you kind of follow the AIDA format overall in a sales page, but there’s a lot more “items” inside a sales page.
You can follow along what these are here in this experiment:
https://copywritingcourse.com/sales-page/
Parts of a sales page could include:
Hello Neville, i am a beginner in copy writing and am still reading stuff online on copy writing. i dont know where i should start. would you be kind enough to help me out on where i can begin and the strategy or criteria i should use in copy writing. i’ll appreciate it very much
These articles might help (many of them have videos too):
https://copywritingcourse.com/freelance-writing-jobs-for-beginners/
https://copywritingcourse.com/consulting-as-a-side-job/
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-become-a-copywriter/
I personally would go for the gold and just try to make your first $100 freelancing on anything. Use this method:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
Hi!
What do you think about cold emailing as a way of getting clients?
Not great.. You’d have far more success posting on social media where people already know and trust you:
The best strategy is to get small clients, then move to bigger clients. For example I tell all newbies to try this method first: JUST MAKE $100:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
….then once you get experience freelancing, you can get more clients from that momentum.
Cold emailing random people as a beginner rarely works (I wish it did, but I’ve just seen so many people fail at it). Social media gets FAR BETTER RESULTS!
Easy ways to make $1000 in a month?
Borrow a dollar from a thousand people…
Borrow two dollars from five hundred people…
Borrow five dollars from two hundred people… The possibilities are endless!
Lol….nice Ponzi scheme Big Richard 😂
I actually have a whole series on that here Otutu!
Thank you for your great content! Your cartoons add the perfect touch.
Do you know of any good resources for learning more serious/tech copywriting?
Thank you in advance!
Hey Tzir, I’m not sure what you mean by “more serious tech copywriting?”
You might mean something like Software Documentation which we just did a post on.
Hello,
I was wondering whether cold/warm emailing is an effective strategy. Do you find applying for jobs in social media groups on Facebook or finding clients on Instagram more effective?
-Tiffany
Not really.
The best strategy is to get small clients, then move to bigger clients. For example I tell all newbies to try this method first: JUST MAKE $100:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
….then once you get experience freelancing, you can get more clients from that momentum.
You definitely can get jobs from social media groups, but just like any open and free groups: There will be lots of crap to filter! You just have to find the diamond.
Hi Neville,
So, my question is could you give me some advice which could help me to do a good market research ? I am a beginner.
I subscribed for your monthly Course in January. I discovered that your course is great.
However, i don’t really find where i can have some advice to understand the market.
When i read the popular books about Copywriting (Boron Letters and others, etc…)
I understood that a good copywrtiter has to be a Student of the Market. I have to understand why people buy and how to make a great offer.
So, that is why i decided to stop the course in February to take it later when i was ready to learn the technical stuff about Copywriting.
Thank you for your time and your content.
Bertrand.
Bertrand, post what market research you need in the forum, we can help you there!
I might need more info to go on:
– What are you trying to sell?
– Do you already have experience in that area?
Hi Neville,
Thanks for your answer.
I’m a beginner in Copywriting. I want to write for Businesses, not mine.
But i think that, first of all, i have to choose a field where it’s the best to start, because my goal is just to earn 100$ to start, in order to gain confidence. I don’t want to do any writing job, i really want to do copywriting work. I need to work on a pratical work in order to know exactly how the job of a Copywriter looks like.
Could you recommand me a field to start ? field (business in finance, education, construction, etc…
Or Do you think that i have to try everything as i am a beginner ?
Thanks for your time.
Bertrand.
Hey Bertrand, trying to specialize in the VERY BEGINNING is not a great idea because it’s so limiting. I would suggest you follow this method to get your first gigs and see where it takes you!
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
I can write ok copy I have an understanding of some of the basics. But really, I need to improve my English writing skills.
I am a native English speaker, but I didn’t pay much attention in school. So I end up using a lot of run-on sentences … ellipsis … I use too many commas.
I find that there are a ton of videos on learning this but never really get down to the 80/20
What can you suggest to help someone with nailing the basics?
To be honest I’ve NEVER given a crap about proper grammar.
Spellcheck and grammar check do most of that for you………and if you use long ellipses like that, WHO CARES?
Commas,,,,,periods……whatever—–use them!
The point of Kopywriting is to get information from one brain to the other, not to focus on “proper grammar.”
So to conclude…
…………………
…………………….
………………………..
….your English is good enough :)
Hey Neville! Huge fan of your work. Any advice for getting started in copywriting as a teen?
Probably the exact same advice as copywriting for an adult!
These articles might help (many of them have videos too):
I personally would go for the gold and just try to make your first $100 freelancing on anything. Use this method:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
Getting started this way that early will give you a HUGE head start over most people, and often times freelancing leads to serendipitous cool things along the way like interesting business opportunities :)
You mentioned somewhere that one might be better off working for a business permanently(such as one operated by a family member) rather than being a freelancer. Why might this be the case?
I wrote my thoughts about that here:
https://copywritingcourse.com/get-a-job-vs-start-a-business/
A GOOD JOB can be a great stepping stone in teaching you how business works, getting to know a bunch of smart people, and give you a badge of honor that you worked at a cool company.
I’m all for people getting good jobs! However if your only options are crappy jobs, then I might suggest freelancing instead to get ahead faster.
Ever heard about this Behavioral Economist named Rory Sutherland? If yes, can you give me your thoughts about him and his book “Alchemy”?
Thanks!
Sorry, not super familiar so can’t offer much :-/
What kind of car do you drive? Is it sick as shit?
Lexus GS 350, I think it’s cool :)
I don’t drive much at all when in Austin, but I drive to Houston all the time to see family and that’s mainly when I use it.
I also have an Aprilia Scarabeo 100 scooter, one of those electric scooter thingies, and most of the time just walk places in downtown Austin!
How do you go about getting copywriting clients? (your routine)
When you are just starting: First try to make $100. That’s it.
When you are more established: People come to you more often. I currently put out a lot of content, some people read it, some people consult with me, and some people buy from me.
How do you incorporate good habits into your routine?
1.) I generally make some monthly goals, and post them on the internet for all to see.
2.) I make sure I know what I’m doing for the day with this to-do list method.
3.) I try to make sure people can see my screen…either a real person working with me, or I show my work sometimes on Facebook here.
That’s mainly it!
Hey Nev… You ever been interviewed for a podcast? If so which one and what episode?
Yeah a bunch! I don’t really keep track, but I found in this sample portfolio a few links:
The Art of Charm
LeadPages
Growth Everywhere
Mixergy
Practical eCommerce
Seems like the Lead Pages link is broken Neville.
Also, I didn’t know that you were in the AoC podcast – love those guys. Listening to your episode now! ;)
Oh yeah you’re right, they changed the link, I just updated it, thanks Kevin!
Yeah Jordan Harbinger is my good friend, he started a new podcast too!
https://www.jordanharbinger.com/
Hey Neville, I am an Indian freelance content writer. I write for a US based car review website that pays me in rupees. The pay is very low. I want to get paid in dollars, because even 15 dollars per article will be enough for me.
Well you have the internet, so location isn’t a problem! I think A LOT of successful freelancers do work for other countries and take home far more money because of exchange rates :)
But most of the time people want native English writers. I get rejected by most of the clients. Any suggestions or advice?
People judge writing by the output. So if your English is great, and previous content is great, then people will see that.
Not being a native speaker is definitely a hurdle, but not totally overcomeable!
Can you make another batch of Nevboxes? I hate i missed your offer!
Ahh the good ole NevBox! I might in the future, but no plans for now :)
Hey Neville,
1. What is your go to reference (book/resource) on Copywriting?
2. What are top 3 people whose work you are following ?
Thanks,
Samar
#1.) My list of copywriting books is here (plus a vid at the end explaining each):
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
#2.) Naval Ravikant, my good buddy Noah Kagan, Ross Hudgens at Siege Media, Lex Fridman…..there’s a lot but those are a few that come to mind. I listen to a lot of podcast and YouTube vids too…..so many of them!
Hi Neville,
If i have a high-ticket ($3000) copywriting service and i want pre qualified leads, how do i get them ?
Question is too general, plz elaborate for a better response!
If you were marketing to Medical Doctors what would you say their 3 top pain points or concerns are when taking a vacation that I should address in my sales message to them?
I have no idea 🤷🏼♂️
You should ask THEM! Maybe join some FB Groups with doctors, or ask them directly. Best market research is talking directly to the target audience!
How to improvr my grammar?
Try https://www.grammarly.com/
I THINK this is a joke 😂
How can I successfully apply for copywriting jobs when I’ve just completed courses and don’t have any actual work experience within the field?
Go out there and make your first $100!!
Real paid work > practice.
I’m getting a TON of leads for cheap. Like Uganda Cheap.
Super vague…
What leads? From where? How did you get them?
If these are just random people it’s hard to sell anything, but if it’s from a specific source or they all have a specific interest, maybe I can give a little more info!
How did you start getting clients?
First make $100. That’s it!
I want to know how i can master copywriting and become a copywriting coach for business owners.
Pls help me with this
Keep reading here, or join the Kopywriting Kourse!
https://members.copywritingcourse.com/subscriptions
I’ll never in a million years “guarantee you’ll become a copywriting coach” but I can drastically improve your skills.
Honestly the best method is to not be a coach, but rather start your own business and write all the great copy for it. The best copywriters I know generally own a business also.
Close down?! What’s an ideal close down to ensure patronage?
I THINK you are referring to scarcity? <– Read that link!
Do you recommend any resources for copywriting in e-commerce or something similar? (like blogs, podcasts, anything)
Yeah right here!
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-courses-books-review/
I’d say that most of my good ideas however come from OUTSIDE the copywriting/ecommerce world.
How do you employ the guilt effect in copywriting?
I rarely do. I personally believe it’s a bit manipulative.
Joe Sugarman would use it like:
#21.) Guilt:
Sugarman gives examples of charities that would send people free things like stickers or other small gifts in order to kind of “guilt” people into sending in a donation.
A more ethical way to induce guilt in someone is by repeatedly providing them with great information or entertainment. PBS and NPR are both great example of non-profit organizations which use a slight tinge or guilt to get viewers to donate to them.
https://copywritingcourse.com/joe-sugarman-triggers/#21
The best way to stabilize work/income as a freelance copywriter (ideally 15-20 hours/week)?
Find repeat/regular copywriting clients (how?)? Find a small agency to work with (how?)? Sell something on your own (but where does traffic come from?)? Or something else?
P. S. Advice such as “do a damn good work and they’ll hire you again” doesn’t count :D
Hello I am 17 years old and I want to start building up a swipe file, do you have any guidelines and reccomendations of emails that I should sign up to or any other type of useful learning sources…
1) Read the Boron Letters by Gary Halbert.
2) Read How To Make Maximum Money In Minimum Time by Gary Halbert.
3) Read every post in this blog.
4) Read The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joe Sugarman.
5) Read Neville’s and Ramit Sethi’s Emails.
Great advice Filip!
These articles might help:
If you are trying to optimize for “stability” you can work based on retainers.
I hate that you rejected the advice “do damn good work” ….because that literally is the best way to get a lot of clients/referrals/money + get people to pay attention.
Hahaha don’t hate me :D
I already know that “doing damn good work” is the prerequisite for success. That’s why I wanted advice other than that :D
And yeah, I already read all of the linked posts. I am slowly (2-3/day) trying to read every single post here.
If you find the time today in this AMA, take a look at my Upwork profile, and please give me short (and painful comments) :)
I even mention you in my profile overview: https://www.upwork.com/fl/filipstanojevic7
How do you balance studying copywriting vs getting out there and pitching for business? Do you have any rules of thumb, eg don’t try and pitch before you have 20-30 hours under your belt studying copywriting techniques?
I rarely “study” copywriting anymore as I’m always “doing” it. Writing articles, emails, content, recording video/audio, consulting etc….is far better than reading books on it (keep in mind I’ve read most popular books on copywriting already, so this IS important).
I “get out there and pitch” by creating a lot of content people read, then people come to me. This is known as “inbound marketing.”
Hi Neville,
Hope you are doing good.
I really admire the blog articles you have put on your website.
Learned a lot.
Now it’s time for me to implement.
How would do you approach content writing so as to build new email list for someone starting new ?
#1.) Thank you John!
#2.) I would assume I would be writing content for years before ever getting paid. If you can handle that, you will be good.
#3.) I would try putting out 3 solid articles about ANYTHING AT ALL. You might realize after just 3 articles you hate writing. GOOD! That means you can move onto something else.
So try putting out 3 pieces and see if you have any desire to continue :)
Love the #3 point.
Thanks Vishal, I’ve seen a lot of people get over-excited about writing, then they actually try it and realize they don’t enjoy it. So it IS solid advice and will quickly tell you if you are compatible with writing :)
In January I started testing Drift chat on our website to continue addressing some top of funnel conversion issues. It is great – I have booked 15 meetings for the sales team and improved our MQL to SQL ratio and time to conversion. However, I would like to move beyond live chat and start implementing more of the automated chatbot features. Any tips for great conversational copy?
Yea…..sound conversational!
Imagine you were actually typing to a customer live, and use that type of language. Especially with chatbots you can sound conversational. Now don’t be all wacky and goofy, just type out responses like you’re talking to a person :)
I am a businessperson, I get a pool of candidates, vet them then look for organizations to hire them. They pay me to access my database and hire.
I have been trying to sell more by focusing on how much time and money it saves them to interview and vet. What other pain point do you think I can use?
I would focus less on pain points and show more features/benefits/savings you have got others.
“We hired 7 full-time assistants for X company. They didn’t have to lift a finger, and they have a 100% retention rate. Previously they spent $30,000 in resources and 3 months of time to hire the same number of people.”
Showing examples or case studies like that seem to entice people more.
Neville how can I use your copy writing course to totally blow up my resume which is just so full of words that nobody even gets to the bottom of the page to read it I’m thinking like the makeover you did for the guy with the sandwich board is it possible to use the KK copywriting course to totally simplify a resume and get noticed would love to pay someone to do mine for me again my question how can you use the cake a copy writing course to simplify and yet totally blow up a resume
Hey Scott, it’s definitely possible!
One option is to just join the course and post it, and me/Mitch/Dan will go through and punch it up:
https://members.copywritingcourse.com/subscriptions
You can also use some advice from this post and make it easier to digest for people!
https://copywritingcourse.com/copywriting-portfolio
Make sure to eliminate the buzzwords, most resumes are FULL of useless buzzy words!
Hey Neville, any thoughts on offering your services in foreign languages? Germany, Austria, Switzerland (same language) have 100 Million residents and we need good Kopy too
Cheers, Andy (from Vienna)
Yeah I do think there’s a big market there, but I’m not native to those cultures or languages so it would be slightly harder for me (not impossible, but harder).
Andrei, I have the EXACT SAME THOUGHT! The German speaking market is underserved with prolific copywriters. Do your own thing and blow up. With Neville you got the best blueprint. Hit me up on LinkedIn!
How’s life? :)
Gotta say pretty good….the coffee is kicking in!
How do you manage your work? Do you keep a to do list? How you make sure you follow the items you add in there?
Hey Berilac, this is still to this day my current to-do list method! I always make it the day before, and I never add things the same day:
It looks like this:
Do you think it is necessary to nail a niche for a personal blog to be able to grow it? What if the blog talks about different aspects of lifestyle say travel, wellness, home decor, beauty, food, books, etc.?
Nope…..my first blog was called “NevBlog” because I had no idea what it was going to be about. Then it turned more into personal finance at some point.
I would keep the name your name, or general……be general first, then specific later!
Hey, Mr. Medhora
How can I find my first copywriting client without having any previous results to show, living in a country where most business owners don’t even know that something like “copywriting” even exists.
Hey, it’s not Neville here, but I think I can help you with this.
First, to broke any objections, you should work for free. I know its a hard task, but thats the easiest way to find your first prospect.
You have to put your life in this, and give the best result you can, and this will become your “recomendation letter” to any other person.
You have a gold mine in your hands. A pent-up demand in copywrinting is explored with results. Show then results and you have their money in your pockets. Copywriting its not about to write texts, it’s about drawing strategies e execute then.
Good luck and keep faith ;)
Hey Johnny, I would follow this framework to get your first $100 (or whatever sum of money).
Once you get momentum, it gets easier. But if you have nothing to show so far, you WILL have to start at the bottom!
Hi! I would like to know How do you do your copywriting research process? and how long it should take before you start writing? Do you have any article on this? Thanks!
Hey Arvin, research varies WILDLY on topic!
Sometimes I can bang out an article in 30 minutes, like this quick hack I learned took very little time to write:
https://copywritingcourse.com/edit-any-website-free-tool/
But then this billboard article took me several weeks of research and doing the actual experiment:
https://copywritingcourse.com/billboard-advertising/
So it just depends on the level of research needed :)
Hi Nev Thanks for the response.. Im just thinking, When i got my first client, let say im gonna do a sales page. How long should i commit to the client to finish the project? Is one month is enough? As a beginner? What is the usual? Thanks!😁
One MONTH? Good lord….I mean any project for a single piece should take probably a week. Maybe more for a giant sales page, but probably a week-ish.
Can a person without any education certifications in copy writing or journalism hope to find a foothold in freelance copy-writing? If yes where and how does one to begin to look for clients without working in an advertisement agency? Does cold emailing work?
Yes, me!
There is no real certification or requirements to be a copywriter….just update your LinkedIn with “Copywriter” and BAM you’re done 😂
The key to getting good is doing actual client work. I would HIGHLY encourage you to follow the steps here and start getting small gigs first:
https://copywritingcourse.com/how-to-make-100-dollars/
….this method will start you freelancing, not just copywriting. Once you have a few clients under your belt, it gets far easier to get more clients.
As for cold emailing new clients as a new copywriter, I would say from all my experience in this world that it DOES NOT.
The #1 place you will get your first clients is from personal connections. That’s why the method shown in that article works so well :)
Hi! I sell programming courses for kids and I still didn’t find a way to write about them in an intresting way to the parents. Parents usually have no idea about programming and do not really want to know about it. They just want to make sure their kids are in good hands. Any tips on how to write about a product your clients don’t use (their kids do) and usually have very little knowledge about? I have already used all the most common things like programming is the future, it will give them a better start etc. Thank you for any tips!
Hey Johana, then DON’T!!
If the parents don’t understand programming, then trying to explain “good” programming to them will be nearly impossible.
Could you imagine trying to explain when you should use a for loop vs while loop to someone who barely understands what programming is??
If you target audience (the parents) don’t understand programming, don’t talk about it! Instead tell them about what they care about: Their kids becoming being smart and successful adults!
Which one sounds better:
– 4 modules on For loops vs While loops.
– They will learn linear regression applied to a gradient descent model.
– Class time focused on integrating JQuery with JavaScript.
-or-
– Your kids will learn to think like smart engineers.
– Kids who can program are 85% more likely to get into high-end colleges.
– Only 1% of the world can program, and your kids will be part of this exclusive club.
– A child who leans to program has a 90% higher chance of doing better in all subjects including math and foreign languages.
See :-)
First off, thanks for your epic content – you’ve made the internet a better place!
How did you get so darned good at what you do! Have you desinged any landing pages for businesses and/or CV templates for entreprneuers?
PS: My website’s not finished yet! Just started building it! It’s a pretty awesome, fun job though! Just saying…
PPS: I’m always looking for your emails! Thanks so MUCH Neville!
PPS: I love your drawings too! Big favorites!
Thank you Marcia! Two things lead to this:
#1.) I’ve been practicing for longer than most people, having been publishing articles on the web since around 1999.
#2.) I really think I’m stupid, and have to break things down to their simplest elements. So when I re-explain something to people, it’s generally very simplistic and almost child-like. I cannot grasp complex things without taking time to truly understand each simple thing involved.
For this reason my explanations come out simple to understand (at least I try to make them like that)!
Neville
I am working out how to tell stories about the products I sell. I’d like to talk about typical, fictional customers who have the sort of technical challenges my customers would have and how they solved them.
I am not sure where to start.
First of all John, do you NEED to tell stories about your particular products?
Stories don’t work well if your products are super common and easy to get elsewhere.
Wal-Mart sells a bunch of stuff because it’s convenient and cheap. Rarely sells on the story.
However if your products are unique and no one else has it, then a story could work. I would however encourage you to show Features & Benefits instead of trying to weave a whole story.
BTW, what type of products are you selling? That might help better explain all this :)
When a once-successful press advertisement finally runs out of steam, what would your plan of action be for creating a new version?
Hey Ian, I would generally try to figure out WHY it ran out of steam:
Once identified, you can modify the existing advertisement or cancel it depending on the situation.
I have a number of copywriting clients but am now looking into growing that into a small enterprise. How would you suggest vetting potential copywriters to work with?
My preference is to first hire someone for a small project. Then do it again for another small project. Then decide if they’re good and should go more steady.
I never hire full time right off the bat.
I want to do the course but i find it a bit expensive.
May I know if there is a sale coming anytime soon?
We just added a $97/mo option which is probably the cheapest it’ll ever be!
https://members.copywritingcourse.com/subscriptions
I am looking forward to create back links for using copy writing techniques.
Please share your own experience where you applied some good techniques and got lot of back links.
How copy writing does work in it…
Hey Manoj!
Unfortunately my opinion is:
“Tactics” to getting backlinks ALWAYS backfire in the long run, and almost never work in the short run either anymore.
The basis of ranking something at the top of the search engines is:
You must literally create the best piece of content in the world on that topic.
It’s Google’s job to put the top content in the world for a query towards the top of the heap, so if you have the best article/video/experience/software for a query, you invariably get to the top by high quality sites linking you.
There are ways to get exposure for more links (emailing people, social media outreach etc), but the basis for it is ALWAYS just creating the best content.
If you want to take content that is decent, and really make it pop (and useful for people), I would suggest following this method:
https://copywritingcourse.com/blog-content-strategy/
Hope that helps!!
In other words, if you have to resort to trickery for Google to rank your post, then you’re directing people to crappy content. And that’s no bueno. That’s a lose-lose-lose situation. The visitor loses. Google loses. And therefore, you lose.
In a nutshell Michael you nailed it!