Question

Topic: Career/Training

Career In Copywriting - Where Do I Start?

Posted by Anonymous on 2/9/2006 at 12:14 PM ET 500 Points
I received a marketing piece in the mail about copywriting a couple of months ago. I quickly shelved it - BUT - it is VERY interesting to me. I am an operations director for two very successful pizza locations. My family and I are planning on moving to Illinois in about a year and a half. A BIG change, especially for me career wise. I am not looking for overnight success - I've been in "management" roles for over 12 years, mostly in the restaurant business. We are moving to a farm 45 minutes away from any source of income as far a a "job" is concerned. WHERE DO I START? The mailing I received wants me to spend $450 for training materials - is it worth it? I have a very high level of initiative and am very self-motivated. I have a two year degree from a community college. My success thus far is in large part due to my work ethic and persistence, not my education level. Any suggestions will be taken to heart and very much appreciated.
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  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 2/9/2006 at 1:27 PM Member
    twgman1...
    Don't part with your hard earned cash....
    I know that I will most likely get bombarded with hate-mail on this, but I would seriously doubt any unsolicited offer received over via email.....
    I know Illinois.. there are plenty of opportunities even in the smaller cities. With your successful background in the food industry, I would suggest you look to consulting in that arena. Here are some ideas to look into: brokering of food ingredients for the Pizza business, selling food via a institutional supplier, looking into advising on advertising strategies for the independent food restaurants in the surrounding area.
    If you want to talk Illinois market place etc.. you can contact me via my website..
    Frank Hurtte riverheightsconsulting.com
  • Posted by darcy.moen on 2/9/2006 at 3:06 PM Accepted
    I may agree about saving your money. What course is being offered? If it was a Gary Halbert, Jay Abraham type course, it may be worth the money. If it was produced by a pretender...maybe not.

    If you are so close to Chicago, you may be better off scheduling a meeting with Carlton Sheets (He lives there) and see if you can't learn a thing or two about copy writing from him (or at least who helps produce his infomercials).

    Chicago is a hotbed of opportunity these days. I almost regret not moving there just to be close to some action. I was able to speak at McDonald's University once. Joe Sugarman has been known to hang around the town when he is not at his winter home (you would be better off buying Joe's books on copy writing by the way). Even though I'm far from Chicago (I can drive there in about 27 hours non-stop) I still have my fingers in a few pies down that way.

    With the advances of the Internet, you are never far from any action, globally, if you are hooked into the right circles. Heck, out on my farm, with no electricity or phone, I can still connect with satellite Internet, a generator, and a laptop. I may as well be next door. For all you know, I could be on my farm right now, typing this by the glow of a lantern, and the laptop screen.

    I'm working with a Pizza Chain client right now. His operations are 33 hours away from me, and we are still connected. Makes no difference where you are.

    So, don;t let physical presence fool you. Where your mind is, and your thoughts are applied, there you are. Go to town, and make some business happen.

    Darcy Moen
    www.customerloyaltynetwork.com
  • Posted on 2/9/2006 at 8:57 PM Member
    I would echo what others have said about not spending your money on the American Writers & Artists Inc. course. It might be OK, but $450 is awfully expensive if you are really self-motivated. Just go to your public library and start reading all you can about copywriting, and if you want to buy a few books on your own, it's still going to cost you a lot less than $450.

    Good copywriting is really a subset of good marketing. The words are important, but the CONCEPT you're trying to communicate is even more important. If I were in your position, I'd include 4 or 5 books on marketing and marketing strategy, not just books on copywriting.

    Read Kotler on Marketing, by Philip Kotler; Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind, by Reis and Trout; The Tipping Point and Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell; and a few of Seth Godin's books (my personal favorite is Permission Marketing).

    You can also find a wealth of information in the archives here at MarketingProfs.com. It's worth the time it will take you to forage through the files.

    When you're ready for more suggestions, I'm sure this group can help. For now, I'd suggest you discipline yourself to create your own course in copywriting and use the difference in cost (from $450 to whatever you spend on books) to buy yourself a few very nice dinners -- no pizza!

  • Posted by telemoxie on 2/10/2006 at 7:19 AM Accepted
    Would it create a problem for your present company if you were to begin writing now, on a part-time basis?

    I personally have writing projects all the time... yet very limited funds... and I'll bet there are dozens of other folk here at MarketingProfs who need writing help from time to time. And, it seems to me most marketing departments need good copywriting help.

    If I were you, I would think in terms of positive cash flow...
    Rather than starting by SPENDING money, why not start by MAKING money? Find someone (maybe me) who will pay you enough for a small writing project to buy a couple of those books mgoodman suggested. Read those books, do some writing projects, see if you like the work. If it is not a conflict with your current job, START NOW.

    If you start now, on a part-time basis, when you move to the farm, you will have exising contacts, reference accounts, and samples of your work. You will be able to work on projects at a more reasonable pace, without the pressures of productio and cash flow (that will come later). Also, in a year or so when you go to borrow money to expand your business, you will have a job, and will be a better credit risk for the bank). Many people will ask you, "How long have you been in business?" Very few will ask, "How long have you been in business FULL TIME?".

    It is refreshing to see someone who is planning ahead. Good luck. Click on my name to the right if you want to contact me for more advice or for any other reason.
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