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A Million Dollars Or King Of The Squirrels? The Copywriter’s Dilemma
“Is it better to have a million dollars or be King of the Squirrels?”
A fellow software Test Lead would ask this question of his team whenever there was an indecisive moment about where to go next on a project.
Believe it or not, there were some who had to think that one over.
Today, I see many businessfolk doing this, especially copywriters . . . especially junior and beginning writers.
And, even some of you reading this right now.
Now, I don’t usually write posts addressing copywriters, because I don’t care what they think. They’re not my target audience/market, they’re not influencers of my target market, ergo I don’t care.
So if you’re not part of the sales writing-profession, stick around anyway because this still pertains to your business and how you market it.
In other words, Listen Up– this is important. Learning from other people’s Worst Practices so you don’t have to make the same expensive mistakes is always important, right?
Can someone please tell me what is up with junior copywriters writing their blogs and creating products to
advise even more junior copywriters (i.e., beginners) on how to run their freelance businesses?
Maybe I should be asking why the hell any beginning copywriter would read/buy anything that didn’t come from someone with a proven track record?
What is up with that?
If you’re a beginning copywriter or marketer, why would you buy or listen to someone you never heard of as opposed to a Clayton Makepeace or Bob Bly? Why aren’t you buying information products from proven leaders in the field like AWAI’s Copywriting course? Do you think the price is more affordable?
If that were your reasoning, then here’s a Good Question: how expensive will it prove to be if you follow “affordable” advice and you spend thousands and waste months or even years trying to make the ill-informed opinion work?
If you’re a junior copywriter selling to beginners — why would you even try to even compete in this category?
Why are you trying to sell to beginning copywriters?! They have no money!You have fallen into a habit of not-thinking-things-through. Yes, there’s money to be made in this field — but only if you’re established and a Name — like Makepeace, Bly AWAI and others.
Sure, you bought their products, but think about why you did — it was because they were a proven commodity, right? And why did you bypass all the other low-end competing info-products?
Yep, because they were not proven.
And your copywriting blogs . . . why are you writing for the beginner’s market? Are you trying to impress other beginners with how much you know? Why would you care?
No, no wait . . . here’s a better question — why would you write to impress other copywriters when you could be writing to impress your target markets? Hmmm?
And trust me, your professional target markets are not impressed by how much you’re wowing and getting agreement from the newbies.
Moreover, why in the world would you create low-dollar products for beginning copywriters when you are one yourself?
Sure it’s tough this to read it here in black and white, but it’s better than spinning your wheels and being King of the Squirrels even longer, isn’t it?
So you’re the hit of the message boards, and freelancers and beginners flock to you blog to comment and keep the thread growing on the boards.
BFD . . . you’re officially King of All Squirrels! I genuflect and anoint thee.
But . . . but . . . what’s your ROI as a result of all that?
Next up — the definitive King of the Squirrels Case Study. Stay tuned for it.
Technorati tags: Walter Terry, ROIcopywriting, information marketing, information publishing, info-products
By Walter |
Topics: Marketing Mishaps, Pet Peeves |