Excuse #6: I'm Not a Good Copywriter
April 8, 2008 by Kenton Newby
Here's another item from our list of common excuses for not getting your online business up and running. Pretty easy fix here, but will take some time over the long haul.
Excuse #6: I'm not a good copywriter
This is a skill you'll probably want to learn. But…
Don't buy any infoproducts on the subject yet…the price will be pretty high for most of them.
Instead, head over to Amazon.com and pick up a handful of the best copywriting books. Here are a few I recommend:
- Words That Sell (and others in the series, including the spin off - Phrases that Sell)
- Web Copy That Sells by Maria Veloso
- The Online Copywriter's Handbook by Robert Bly
- The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
- Note: If you have any other suggestions, just leave a comment below
I have a few copywriting infoproducts and some books too. Other than the case studies, swipe files and a few little extras here and there, the major portion of what's in the infoproducts can also be found many books…certainly the basics.
Bottom line is the books will get you 80% there.
One thing to keep in mind about learning copywriting is that by doing so, it can make you better at selling your product or service in other types of media…like helping you figure out what to say in an audio or video, what to put in your resource box for your articles, writing pay-per-click ads, and so on.
All of those things can be based on skills you pick up as you learn to write effective copy.
But it shouldn't be something that causes inaction in the beginning.
P.S. (Bonus Tip) - Start keeping an eye out for headlines, blog post titles, article titles, bullet points (which should also be headlines) and other copy that appeals to you. Then, create a swipe file and start adding examples to it. Turn them into fill-in-the-blank templates and use them for your own headlines, content titles, etc.
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Kenton,
I give the two thumbs up to Dan Kennedy's "The Ultimate Sales Letter" Book. That was my first book on copywriting, and used it to write my first sales letter.
I also like Joe Sugarman's "The Adweek Copywriting Handbook". He is a master copywriter, and the book is a fast read.
Keith
Keith,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving that great comment. I'm a big Dan Kennedy fan…even got to see the guy live when he came here to Maryland recently for a free event (they say he RARELY travels).
That book and a few others of his are among the handful of books that are always within arms reach…worth at least reading through my highlights at least once a year.
I'll have to check out Joe Sugarman's stuff too. Obviously I've heard the name, but (shamefully) I've never picked up any of his books.
Geez, I have so many on my list now I need to learn how to read faster or something.
Take care,
~Kenton