Review
of : Michael Masterson's Accelerated Program for Six-Figure Copywriting
Review by: Nick Usborne
The great thing about being a freelance copywriter is that you
can work from home... there are almost no start-up or running costs...
and you don't need a degree or any other special qualifications.
It doesn't matter who you are... how young or old you are...
where you are... or whether you want to work full-time or part-time.
In fact, all you need are the writing skills you already possess,
and a genuine desire to succeed.
Michael
Masterson's copywriting course teaches you the skills of a direct
response copywriter - the kind of copywriter who makes the most
money of all.
- It teaches
you to write great direct mail packages and direct response ads.
- It teaches
you to market and sell with words.
- And, just
as important, it shows you how to start and build your own freelance
writing career.
This is a course
I can comfortably and sincerely recommend to anyone, whether you
are just starting out or are looking to improve your current level
of copywriting skills.
Am I qualified
to judge whether this course is good or bad?
I think I am.
I was an award-winning direct response copywriter for almost 20
years (and in some ways, still am).
My clients included
Diners Club, TV Guide, Franklin Mint, Citibank, Fidelity Investments
and many others. These are hard-core direct marketers.
Both I and my
clients knew exactly how good or bad my copywriting was as soon
as the results started coming in. (That's how it is for direct response
copywriters: you live or die by response rates, not by ego or the
address of your office.)
5 reasons
why I think this is an excellent copywriting course...
1.
You will learn how to write successful direct mail packages and
ads step by step
The way I learned
to write direct response letters was slow, almost organic. I picked
up a little knowledge at a time as an agency junior.
With this course,
every step is laid out for you. In fact, it is the first time I
have ever seen the process so clearly presented and taught. Yes,
I am familiar with the material in this course - but I had never
seen it all together in one place, with each element linked to the
next.
I often moan
about online writers just dashing off a first draft and then uploading
it to their site. With direct response writing, that just doesn't
happen. Every paragraph, every subhead, every sentence and every
word has its role and purpose. It's about detail, about sequence,
about pace and flow. And when you do it right, that 'construction'
becomes invisible and you just read a great piece of sales writing.
This course
takes you through everything, step by step. There are no blank spots,
no elements of a successful direct mail piece or direct response
ad that are left unexplored or unexplained.
2.
And more than just letters
Successful direct
mail packages are made up of more than just a letter.
You have the
envelope, the order form, the lift note or buck slip and often a
brochure. All these elements need writing and designing. They all
need to work together, supporting each other. All play a part in
delivering the promise, presenting the benefits and overcoming doubt.
You need to work with all these pieces to make an offer, provide
a premium, deliver a guarantee, drive a response.
All this is
covered in the course. Every bit of it.
3.
You will learn by example
The course itself
includes numerous examples of great copywriting. Whole sections
are built around letters and ads that have worked extremely well.
I think this is a great way to teach. If you want to be a great
copywriter, you need to immerse yourself in the best of what others
have written. Enjoy the writing, then deconstruct it to see why
it works so well.
In addition,
the course box includes a 320-page book that is filled with the
best of the best. It is called, "Hall of Fame. Great Selling
Ideas from 50 Super-Successful Direct mail Letters and Direct Response
Ads".
Like direct
response writing itself, this course is based on facts and results.
This course isn't about opinions and personal whims - it's about
what has been proven to work. That's how direct response is. That's
how this course is built.
4.
You will complete exercises and assignments
This isn't a
'book' about copywriting. There are numerous exercises you are asked
to complete and there are assignments you will be asked to write
and submit. That may sound a little scary, but it's the only way
to learn. You can't learn to be a copywriter by leaning back and
just reading about it. You have to lean forward and actually do
it. Time and time again.
5.
You will learn how to sell yourself and build a business
Can you really
build a six-figure income as a copywriter? Sure you can. I did,
and some years those six figures are pretty big. And I'm not one
of those huge names where you think, "Sure, HE did it, but
I bet I couldn't."
By the same
token, it isn't always easy and not everyone will succeed in making
that amount of money. But how does a high five figure income sound?
In any event, if you want to write in a way that sells, and earn
a good living, whatever the final dollar outcome, this is the one
course I would recommend.
Concluding
thoughts
I may be a little
biased, coming as I do from a direct marketing background. But I
truly believe direct response skills are the strongest foundation
for any copywriter, whether you work offline or online. These are
skills based on results. This is about learning what truly works
and what doesn't.
If you want
to find out how to earn a living as a copywriter, or improve the
skills you already have, I recommend you take this course. It will
cost you a few bucks, but you'll make it back fast enough.
Find out more
about Michael Masterson's copywriting course, and how it could change
your life...
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