Hello Fellow Copywriters,

My name is Gabriel and I have been a member for about 2 days now. I have a question. I have just finally got into the critique videos and have been taking quite a bit of notes.

Although I have not reviewed the whole website in it's entirety I am interested in learning more about the meaning and purpose of every aspect of copy-writing.

For example, What is the purpose of sub-headlines? and so forth.

If you guys/girls could recommed a book not only for the basics but also other copy-writing books that have been great help to you I would really appreciate it.

I am a total newbie to all this copy-writing stuff, and need some information to read on.

I await patiently for a response. Thanks for your time.


Dearest Regards,

Gabriel

Welcome Gabriel to The Copy Doctor and the Copywriters Board! I'm leaving the office right now, but I'll come back to your answer soon. Guys, any input?

Hey gsconiers

the best advice I can give you is not to look for the "copywriting bible" out there, or any other book that promises formulas.

Simply - DIVE IN !!!

Jump. All you need is a will and a pen. Everything else comes with experience. The best thing about this biz is, that you simply can't make mistakes... even spelling errors are being detected in the word processor...

Just begin; the magic will happen on its own.

Ahhhh... fresh beginings, how I miss the feeling. Savor it.

Rob

YES, I agree! DIVE IN!

This is what Gary Halbert recommends (I've followed this list to the letter and I LOVED what this has done for me! I could kiss that man for showing this list and the complete road to writing copy.

Here's the book list:


"Scientific Advertising"

-by Claude Hopkins

"The Robert Collier Letter Book"

-by Robert Collier

"Tested Advertising Methods"

-by John Caples
"How To Write A Good Advertisement"
-by Vic Schwab

"The Gary Halbert Letter" (all back issues)

-by Gary Halbert

"The Boron Letters"
-by Gary Halbert

"The Lazy Man's Way to Riches"

-by Joe Karbo

"Break-Through Advertising"

-by Eugene M. Schwartz

"7-Steps To Freedom"

-by Ben Suarez

Most books are available on Amazon. The Boron Letters are largely posted on http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com - WHICH, you should also read in its entirety.

Then, you should try and get some classic ads. Study them. Copy them in your own handwriting (This gives you a GREAT feel of how it feels to write winning copy. I LOVE doing this!

In fact, here's Gary's suggestions

http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/...experience.htm

Then, you should start write some of your own copy. Research a product. Create a fact list, a benefit list and a "deal sheet" (Damn, I stole this from Gary too!)

Check it out at:

http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/...copywriter.htm

After this, you're half way there. It's the best jump start you could give yourself!

Best of luck!

If you are willing to spend $99, I highly recommend Monthly Copywriting Genius. It's here: www.monthlycopywritinggenius.com . Each month, they take a winning direct mail promotion, break it apart, and analyze it for you. You'll also have access to all the archived analyses. I print out each issue and take a few hours to study it. Also, have a look at Mike Fortin's success doctor website - www.successdoctor.com - and see the sample video on how he takes apart mediocre copy and makes it better right before your eyes. I don't know the cost, but as soon as I get through my current stack of learning materials, this one is on my wish list.

Yes, you could study direct mail and email that comes to your mailbox, and I do, but I find services like the above really shorten your learning curve and prevent wasted time and dead ends in the learning process.

First off,


I would like to thank every single one of you for taking out a few minutes of your time in an effort to help me understand the techniques of copywriting. It is really appreciative. Fortunately I have already done a little bit of homework. I have been studying thegaryhalbertletter.com newsletter, as well as subscribing to Michael Fortin's copy critique, taking tons of notes from websites like hardtofindads.com and listened to an awful lot of teleseminars. I have also took the iniative and picked up a few books from the library before I become a book-buying maniac. One you guys might know of as I have seen her post in here..... Marcia Yudkin. Haven't started on the book yet, but I will go into great detail in a moment.

This market and every aspect of it peaks my interest. Being able to grab a readers focus and persuade them to by your product by the choices of words you use is incredibly remarkable. I just can't explain my feeling when it comes to the idea of persuasion. I have this burning desire to learn these techniques from front to back as soon as possible.

In response to diving in, I guess I will have no choice. I suppose I am extremely analytical, so when I plan to do something I like to plan strategically. Which I why I could find reading books that have helped everyone along the way enable me to take tons of notes and cross-reference those when I start writing. But I guess getting a feel would be alot more reasonable. Atleast I'm still young, only 20 years old. Yea I know, I'm a young pup.


But anyways I would like to thank everyone for taking even a few minutes out of there (probably busy) day to assist me. I will grab anything I can get my hands on..when time prevails. Good day to every helpful soul in this forum.


Warmest Regards,

Gabriel



P.S. Is there really a book out there that explains in detail what the purpose of pre-heads, heads, sub-heads and so forth are for? If not then I will continue on this adventurous journey without it. Thanks again.

1. That's great that you did your research.

2. You're not young. I've seen some outstanding copywriters who are/were younger. Take Jason Cox (now 20, but started at 17), for example.

3. As far as the functions of certain elements, there's no one specific resource. But a few explain the reason why some work, as well as the specific winning formulas used, include The Ultimate Salesletter by Dan Kennedy and David Garfinkel's upcoming Copywriting Templates (it will be available soon, but only currently being sold at seminars).

(You can email David if you want to ask him to buy an advanced copy, at http://www.breakthroughcopywriting.com/michel/ -- there's a form at the bottom, I believe.)