What's the best copywriting course for a newbie? I've been looking at AIWA or
John Carlton's Kick Ass Course. What would you recommend?

thanks.

I am also a newbie, but have found two beginning courses out there that I like:

1. David Garfinkel (Sign Up Now for David Garfinkel's World Copywriting Newsletter)
2. American Writers & Artists Institute (www.awaionline.com).

I have heard about courses by Dan Kennedy, Laurie Morgan-Ferraro and Jeff Paul, but I can't tell you a lot about them from first-hand experience.

Good luck!

An optional choice (and a better one in my opinion) is to take advantage of the many lower cost copywriting resources out there when combined will cost you less than $500 and could very well give you more info than any single copywriting course on the planet could...

"Advertising Magic" a copywriting course by Brian Keith Voiles
"Breakthrough Advertising" by Eugene Swartz
"Robert Collier Letter Book" by Robert Collier
"Advertsing Secrets of the Written Word" by Joe Sugarman
"Magic Words That Bring You Riches" by Ted Nicholas
"Cash Copy" by Jeffrey Lant
"Words That Sell" by Richard Bayan
"Ultimate Sales Letter" by Dan Kennedy

I completely agree with Michael. It's best to study multiple sources.

Each author will have a different way of explaining key concepts. The way one author explains a concept may not click exactly in your mind...but another author makes that connection for you.

I'll add a couple additional books worth picking up:

Tested Advertising Methods - John Caples
Influence - Robert Cialdini (not sure on the author spelling as I'm doing this from memory)
Make Your Words Sell - Ken Evoy and Joe Robson (ebook)

Good luck!

Mike

SamV999,

I bought and studied the AWAI course.

In my opinion it isn't the best way to go for a total newbie. There is far too much missing to be useful (I guess that's why they advertise in every stinking chapter that they are withholding info you have to pay more for in the "advanced" course or go to boot camps to learn).

Also, the course contains lots of absolutely useless 'filler'. And it takes far too long to get around to telling you the info you need for writing good copy. Not at all succinct.

Oh, if you're thinking of writing for others you'll be disappointed in finding the course is lacking quality examples you can use/swipe for getting paying clients. But wait... there are ads in this course for a $1,995 'Selling Yourself' course about getting clients.

This annoyed me because I bought the course hoping there'd be swipeable examples for various industries. Here's what the course sales letter says:

"And if you’re ready to really kick your copywriting career into high gear, we have all the resources you need to become a respected “expert” in specific segments of the industry. For instance, if you’re interested in health, we have a report that shows you how to write winning copy specifically for the health market, as well as a long list of clients (over 300 of them!) you can work for. Same for the financial industry... fundraising...and more."

Where these reports of contacts in the financial and health market are at is anyone's guess. I can't find them in my awai box. Oh well, such is life.

Anyhow, does this mean I think the course is totally useless? No. Just not a good investment if you are starting at ground zero. Come back to it after you've made some money. Maybe.

I agree with Michael's recommendations of materials from Robert Collier, Dan Kennedy, Joseph Sugarman, and Ted Nicolas.

I'd also recommend:

- Yanick Silver's Surefire Sales Letter Secrets (swipeable collection of headlines, openings, bucket brigades, etc etc)

- Dan Kennedy's Magnetic Marketing (learn about multi-step marketing methods and how to format direct mail pieces)

- Marlon Sanders Push Button Letters (use it as a quick checklist of the major components necessary for persuading people in print -- but don't use it as-is. Structure has been overused online.)

- Gary Halbert's Boron letters (great resource on selecting profitable products to sell and writing copy)

- Ben Suarez's Seven Steps to Freedom II (dated but still great info on creating direct mail 'packages')

- Jeff Paul’s instant profit marketing system (has examples of using emotional response marketing in various mediums)

Andre

Hi Sam,

Try with Maria Veloso's Web copy that sells. I heard good things about that book. I haven't started reading it so far, but it's on the first place of my to do list.

Hope this helps,
Hrvoje

If I was starting all over again, I'd get Michel and David Garfinkel's Breakthrough Copywriting. I don't think you can learn from 2 better copywriters.

I suggest Scott Haines...

"Shortcut Copywriting Secrets"

if you want to learn how to develop
and hone your copywriting skills.

Then the AWAI course. It covers
a few other copywriting strategies
that are more advanced.

Then John Carlton's course.

What a remarkably diverse set of replies.

I was very pleased with Maria Velosa's book, Web Copy That Sells. I think it takes a large body of knowledge to fully develop yourself. I am a complete beginner, just really learning to understand the fundamentals. You don't get a masters degree taking one course.

I have read and would recommend the following:

Paper Books
The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
The Ultimate Marketing Plan by Dan Kennedy
Web Copy That Sells by Maria Velosa
Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples
Words That Sell (more of a deskside reference book)
The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly
Gary Halberts Letters
Bary Halberts Motherload Swipefile

Ebooks
Everything written by Bryan Kumar at Bryan Kumar - About Secrets
Everything I could find by Joe Vitale
Confessions of a Website Copywriter by Lenny Eng (Best $27 you can spend. Michel just sent an email promo about this book)
Winning Website Sales Letters by Boduch

What I'm looking for is a good deal on "Advertising Magic" by Brian Keith Voiles. I've heard lots of great things about it.

Scott Haines doesn't seem to be selling his course anymore, or his website has been down for a few days. Anyone know where I can get it from?

Thanks.

Burton