Wow. That sure sounds like an opportunity tailor-made for me. I’m a pretty good writer (I mean, my Mom’s told me so, and that’s good enough for me!). And I’d sure love to turn that skill into “$300 an hour”! That’s what they promised in this copywriting program I saw on the Internet. And it has to be true if it’s on the Internet, right? I mean, they could get into BIG trouble if they told lies. But there it is, in black and white!
And the best part? According to the program, I can get started as a “commercial writer” in just seven days! And here’s what those seven days look like:
Day One: I’m going to learn the basics of the freelance commercial writing business. I mean, it’s just writing – how hard could it be?
Day Two: I’ll create my copywriting portfolio. They say it’s easy, and I believe them. Heck, I’ll probably be done by lunch!
Day Three: I’ll create and send out a press release to my local paper, letting them know about my new copywriting business. Wonder how long after I send it out till the phone starts ringing. Could I end up with too much business? It’s possible!
Day Four: I’ll explore making money in PR writing. Working around all the “movers and shakers,” yeah! Sounds like fun – and profitable, too!
Day Five: I get to figure out if I’m going to a generalist or specialist. Decisions, decisions. This is just too easy.
Day Six: I’m going to learn the “ultra-easy” way to market my new business so I can, according to the program, “stay booked up for months.” Like the sound of that. Heck, maybe I will go ahead and buy that Camaro I’ve had my eyes. I mean, obviously, I’m going to have the money to make the payments.
Day Seven: I’m going to learn all about writing for TV and radio. Bet you can make big bucks there, and get to be around all the cool actors. Life is looking up!
I wish the above was just a dramatization of some poor slob getting reeled in hook, line, and sinker by some fictionalized copywriting course, but alas, it’s based on a real one. THIS one. What a joke. I know, why am I surprised? I mean, I know stuff like this exists. It’s just that seeing flat-out fabrication up close still sets you back on your heels a bit.
Someone sent it to me, asking if I knew anything about it. A two-minute visit revealed all. I don’t know who you are, but your offer is a scam, and you know it. And people like you have buyers looking for legit information on copywriting lump the rest of us trying to do the right thing into the same scam-artist boat.
I mean, their “7-Days-to-Riches” timetable would be hilarious if it weren’t for the fact that countless unsuspecting folk are dropping $147 for nothing but a mirage. And $300 an hour? Have you no shame? Yeah, right. Silly me.
I can hear them now: “Well, if you read it carefully, I’m not actually promising people they’ll make $300 an hour inside of a week.” Ah, the old “have-‘em-connect-the-imaginary-dots-in-their-mind” strategy. So, you’re weasels on top of being scam artists. Quite an accomplishment. What an unbelievably fragrant and steaming pile of road apples this is.
Our mothers were right: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” As the experienced commercial writers on this blog know, our field can be a wonderful way to make a great living as a writer. But they also know it’s no cakewalk. As writing fields, go, it’s one of the most accessible, but it still take a lot of hard work to get established and work up to healthy hourly rates. And $300 an hour as a copywriter? In a week? I can hear the hysterical laughter echoing across the land. From sea to shining sea.
Did you ever fall prey to any offers like these before you got started?
What would you say to someone considering this fairy tale of an offer?
What truths would you want them to know about our field instead?
Any general comment for this shyster?
I looked up “irony” in the dictionary. This is what I found:
https://angelabooth.biz/2009/03/writing-for-money-avoid-writing-scams.html
As Mel Allen woulda said, “How about that!”
I like the part where she says you might need to be burned a few times before you figure out how to avoid scams. Wonder if the $300/hr. one-week training is designed to provide one of those burns or something.
From the promo: (You’ll make more than this from your first client; most students get their first client by Lesson 3)
Note, she didn’t say day 3, she said lesson 3. Read between the lines folks and use your heads. Any business takes work, duh!
My favorites were always the “Sell Your Idea to Hollywood for a Million Dollars” packages. They got me once, too, when I was much younger and somewhat dumber. I finally understood that (a) Hollywood could care less about ideas (the more Hollywood movies I see, the deeper this sinks in), and (b) Ideas are like — well, you know. Everybody has them. The pros don’t write ideas; they write scripts.
This is a pet peeve of mine. The obvious hucksters are bad enough. But even some very well-respected copywriters are promising fantastic results to anyone who buys their overpriced programs. And I’m sure that if you tracked every buyer of the program, you’d probably find a 75 percent failure rate.
Some hard truths:
-Not everyone is cut out to be a writer.
-And even for those who can write professionally, not everyone is cut out to be a business owner.
-And to get even more specific, success in one area might not translate into success in another area; there are public relations writers who may never master direct mail, for example.
-Many markets are hard to penetrate if you have no connections and no track record.
Most copywriting products/seminars/consultants gloss over the difficulties of this profession, and over-promise the rewards. But I suppose if copywriting gurus were bluntly realistic about what it takes to succeed, no one would buy their $500 CD packages.
I thought we rested on the seventh day – maybe I missed something…
And i heartily second Rick – a lot of people are selling vapor to the desperate
I fell prey to something worse – a client who presented his “charity” for 9/11 rescue workers and managed to get me to write a press release for free. It wasn’t until a police officer called and tipped me off that I realized he was scamming money out of people. He provided all the paperwork (I’m a skeptic at heart – I asked for proof of his charity status).
What I say repeatedly to writers is this: look for the red flags. Is it too good to be true? Flag #1. Do they promise “easy work for the right person”? Flag #2. Are they wanting bulk writing for pennies on the dollar? Flag #3. Do they promise you can make thousands a week depending on your speed? Huge flag #4. The content mills are famous for promising everything from freedom to work from home (hello! We’re freelancers! We all have that!) to discounts on healthcare (which turn out to be a few dollars off a huge bill).
What writers should know about our profession: Freelancing is hard work. It’s not easy starting out, but if you apply yourself to learning how to run a business and how to market yourself, you can succeed. We have. If someone offers you an easier way, it’s going to turn into a time sink and an earnings trap.
Just to follow up on Rick’s comments, I can deal with the obvious hucksters, but some of my copywriting heroes (not you, Peter!) have resorted to peddling their programs ad nauseam, with all the hyperbole and promises usually associated with “get rich quick” schemes. I had to actually unsubscribe from one person’s mailing list because I was getting their solicitation emails almost daily, promoting various teleclasses, e-books, special reports, etc.
I know it’s all about multiple income streams and passive income, but it was kind of disappointing coming from this person in particular.
Thank you, Peter, for not resorting to those tactics! 🙂
Rick and John are right: some of the more respected (again, NOT you Peter) copywriting gurus are resorting to some pretty unprofessional behavior.
One such guru, promised a wonderful program that would benefit specialists like me. After completing an inquiry form, the person contacted me and set up a free 2o minute consultation (I didn’t ask for it, it was the guru’s idea). Confirmation emails went back and forth. But on Appointment Day, I waited and waited. Yes, I got stood up. Even emailed to make sure no tragedy occurred. Never heard back. No apologies–nothing. This person is VERY well-respected and charges a lot for their program.
Peter, glad there are still folks like you out there.
Hi Peter,
I’ve been online too long so I reverse engineered this person’s site and Whoa Nelly! She’s tried to sell this thing as a ‘for writers’, ‘for bloggers’, ‘goal achivement’ ad nauseum. I thought I recognized the picture (may or maynot be her true face but no time to check Istockphoto) and this isn’t the first time she’s tried to make a quick buck from people who are newbies.
Don’t expect her to apologize or admit what she’s up to…people on the Warrior Forum have old posts about her tactics. Allow me to play psychic on her next ‘big thing’….7-Days-to-Offline- Riches-Copywriting-For-Offline-Busineses:0)
Yep, if it’s too good to be true – Run Away!
Thanks all,
Glad to hear I’m not just imagining all this! And guess who I hear from shortly after posting? None other than Angela Booth herself! I thought about approving her comment and letting you all jump in (and all she’d have to say is “go ahead,” and it would’ve been done). That would have been interesting.
In any case, she was taking ME to task for jumping to conclusions based on a quick read of her sales letter (I told her that’s all it took, even less in fact). When I called her on all of it (i.e., the $300 an hour; the One-Day sample portfolio building; the “If you can write an e-mail message or a letter, you can write for business” BS, she wrote back:
Thanks for getting back to me, Peter. You’ve certainly got your shotgun out, and you’re blasting happily away… 🙂 I can see where you’re coming from, and I had to go back and read my own sales letter to make sure I wasn’t going crazy.
Here’s what I say in the headline: “You Can Get Started Making A Six-Figure Income As A Copywriter Within ONE Week With This Copywriting Course – earn $300 an hour”
It says they can GET STARTED in their copywriting career in seven days. And they can earn $300 an hour as a copywriter. That’s true. (Nowhere does it say they can earn $300 an hour in seven days.)
I’ve been teaching my program for eight years, and I know that this program gives my students a terrific start on a great career — as you point out, copywriting IS a great career, and I’ve been doing it for a long time.
As far as I can tell you have problems with the sales letter, and that’s fine, you’re as entitled to your opinion as anyone. However, it’s just your opinion, and I respectfully remind you of that. Now, enough entertainment; back to work. 🙂 Have a great week. 🙂 All best wishes Angela
Amazing. Course, I’m sure she didn’t actually intend that they interpret it differently way than how she actually wrote it. Banish the thought. And, she never addressed any of my other concerns. Cat must’ve got her tongue. But, hopefully, it got her thinking…
And thanks to several of you who commented on how I avoid over-promoting and overworking my list. I’m happy that that’s how I come across, and I have to say, it’s a dilemma. I KNOW I’m leaving money on the table by not being more aggressive, but that’s okay. And believe it or not, I still get a handful of folks who bark at me about becoming a carnival barker because I’ve sent out 3 emails that month, “and everything you send out is some sales pitch for something.” Which of course, is preposterous, and I’ll tell them that (I’m not shy), reminding them exactly how infrequently I do sent out any notes.
Not sure if it’s some entitlement mentality, but some people believe you should JUST provide free stuff, and never promote anything – a perspective that’s somewhat of a head-scratcher. As many of you are no doubt aware, I’ll get an affiliate commission on many of the programs I’ll promote for others, but my philosophy is this: If it’s someone I know and trust, and KNOW their program is of value, and I KNOW it’s absolutely a worthwhile investment for my readers, I don’t hesitate (And I’m about to send one out on this particular program, because I know, like, respect and trust all the guys involved…). AND I limit my communications to no more than 3-4 a month (maybe a hair more when promoting something like Copywriting Success Summit, which I’m a big part of).
But just to promote anything and everything I get a commission on, regardless of who’s putting it out? Or to send out 3-4 a week? No faster way to turn off your list, methinks… But, everyone approaches it differently.
Anyway, keep the comments coming…
PB
Whether or not she’s a writer, she’s really good at putting together words that sound like they’re promising more than she’s really saying. Rather than argue over whether she really said anyone could $300 an hour in just one week or just that could start on a career that might eventually pay that well, how about we take her to task for this specific and unambiguous claim: “most (commercial writers) charge fees of $300 an hour.” I have never seen any rates survey or other other published information supporting the idea that MOST writers charge that much. This isn’t to say I’ve never *earned* that much on select projects by charging flat fees then working really fast, but it’s far from the norm. I’d really like to see her proof of this figure.
I’d also like to see her substantiation of this: “I’m a writing teacher, and have been helping writers to success for 20 years … my normal consultation fees are $300 per hour …” Maybe she can share just a few examples of real clients she’s served or some of the successful writers she’s helped.
I’m not asking her to do anything I wouldn’t do. You can go to my website and see examples of real work I’ve done for real clients as well as real rates I’ve charged for real projects. You can call me on the phone and — if you’re in the D.C. area — scehdule an in-person meeting to see for yourself that I really am what I claim to be. Is it too much to ask Angela to do the same?
I earned $300 an hour once–for a slogan that was on the back of buses in DC. Fluke. Yes, the name Angela Booth is out there.
Yes, the name is out there. I visited her freelance writing blog and found a lot of what’s there to be realistic and reasonable advice for wannabe freelancers. Which makes it all the more disappointing that she would resort to hype, deceptive language and questionable facts in promoting her how-to guides.
I followed one of her links to another how-to she sells: “Your Just-In-Time Cash Machine: Sell Your Services Online In Seven Days.” There’s no qualifying language in claims such as: “I promise you that if you follow the instructions in my “Your Just-In-Time Cash Machine: Sell Your Services Online In Seven Days” guide, you’ll be making money within seven days.” Or: “Just seven short days from now, you’ll be able to treat the Internet as your very own just-in-time cash machine.”
Or how about this ridiculous claim in the section where she describes what it is you might sell: “If you’re reading this, you have a computer and you know how to use it, so you have basic skills which you can sell.” Give me a break. By what stretch does knowing how to turn on a computer and navigate to a website constitute evidence of marketable computer skills?
And let’s not forget that her copywriting course is called “7 Days to Easy Money: Copywriting Success.” Easy money? Do any of you full time freelance copywriters think this is easy?
Finally, I visited Angela’s portfolio. There’s one magazine ad and a bunch of web stuff — maybe one commercial/industrial site and a bunch of blogs, including her own. I sincerely doubt she earned $300 an hour writing any of the sparse samples there.
Angela, if there is in fact an Angela, has the potential to be of great service to the copywriting community. I’m not saying she has to give away her know-how for free. But my first impression of what she’s selling is that it’s shameful.
Sort of off topic maybe–but interesting…
https://ragan.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=5AA50C55146B4C8C98F903986BC02C56&tier=4&id=BFCDACF0B52E48BA80FC5E7130F8CE86&AudID=3FF14703FD8C4AE98B9B4365B978201A
I always wonder about something like this what I used to wonder about screenwriting gurus when I was involved with that–if they are so expert, why aren’t they doing it and raking in those big bucks? Copywriting? Scriptwriting? There is even a cliche about this, I believe.
Just a slightly different direction with my comments…
To me, this illustrates the value of a good network. Not only for products/services you might have questions about, but for questions you may have about potential clients or just running your business.
It’s kind of fun to think back to the days (not so long ago) before the Internet was popular. If you were thinking about buying something, perhaps from a magazine or a sales letter, you were kind of on your own. (Going back to my youth, I remember wasting more than a few dollars on some products in the back of comic books. Anyone remember the X-ray vision glasses?)
Today, a Google search or Twitter/Facebook request to your followers will tell you everything you want to know about something or someone. It’s virtually impossible to hide these days.
Certainly the Internet has brought us more scams than ever (including the nice man I heard from last week working on behalf of some prince who needs help getting money out the country.) But discovering whether something is a scam is easier than ever, assuming you take the time to check and not get totally sucked in by some well-written copy.
OK, so how about a little business realism, for a change:
https://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/my-week-in-cash-flow-monday/
I still remember the words in a well-written direct response letter that got my attention to consider FLCW as an actual career – “…the life of an artist, the income of a doctor or lawyer.” (To be fair, this statement was made specifically about direct-response copywriting, a field which I’ve never completed the first project in, but it got my attention anyway, to take a look at writing for a living in ways other that being a novelist, screenwriter, etc. – which I’ll never be.)
After 10 years in the biz, the life part has been everything it was sold as. The income…let’s say I’ve stayed in the top 10% or higher of American earners, so I have no complaints; but a doctor or attorney making what I make is not considered successful in their profession by any means. So yes, there is hype being sold out there, even at times by realistic and credible professionals. Marketing & sales are sometimes like that.
Peter, I’m not trying to butter you up, but I think you’ve managed to keep it real while profiting from being an enthusiastic spokesperson for a profession you enjoy and one that has been good to you. Nothing wrong with creatively maximizing opportunity. It’s American. People these days seem to easily forget, if you want an income like Bob Bly, you have to work like Bob Bly does. I doubt many of us do.
In my humble opinion, purely from a value standpoint, the advice worth the most money on this particular blog entry comes from Rick. slr
RE: Copywriting in 7 days etc.
I note that this scam offers no refunds! I have just spent an hour trying to get a refund from another ‘person’ [or company] that DID offer a 56 day guarantee. Guess what? None of the links or contact data work. The only one that is live is ‘Buy Now’. Stranger still, this product offers articles on ‘ethics, integrity and fairness’. She is also the ‘Queen of Affiliate Marketing’.
Yeah! Sure! Like I am the King of Buttobuttoland too! So beware if you are ever tempted to order The Super ASffiliates Handbook.
I agree with Rick. They may be the real deal, but some of the promotional material AWAI has put out over the years is borderline BS too. Like this, for instance:
https://thewriterslife.com/home/
Yes, you can make a six figure income writing a few sales letters a year, but as we all know, there’s way more to it than cruising through the course, sitting down at the computer, and pounding on the keys. The time marketing of your skills and the research that go into crafting an effective sales letter far outweigh the amount of time actually spent writing.
Hello, everyone! I’m at the beginning of this journey, and this is my first post here.
I was drawn in by the stock photo angle; if you are curious about the history of an image, TinEye can provide some intriguing results.
https://tineye.com/search/a383bc32af1447d9642025f2c819b4613720477e?page=1
Angela’s been busy! All matches are from her sites or blog traffic, so this doesn’t appear to be a stock photo.
So we’ve established that she’s immune to criticism, and probably incapable of embarrassment.
The rest is rubbernecking.
It’s more than rubbernecking, because this individual is far from the only one who uses this business model. The larger discussion is important. A lot of us are paying lots of money for high-priced/high-promise advice and products, and trying to understand if we are getting value or not.
Thanks all, and I agree with Rick. It IS more than rubbernecking at this point. It’s important for people to have a baseline understanding of what the realities are in a given field where they’re considering purchasing info from someone. Though, as more than a few of you have pointed out here, people just need to use common sense when reviewing offers such as Angela’s. Those that seem too blue sky, in 99.9% of the cases, are.
That’s one reason I unhesitating recommended the program noted above. It’s already in progress so I’m not “promoting” it anymore, but what I liked about its promo copy was its realism. It was a fair set of promises and a goal of helping you make $50K in your first full year, which again, is more than doable.
PB
Hey I remember Angela. I once answered one of her ads. With in an hour I realized that I might have made a mistake. And I swam away from that old shark.
Ugh – I’ve gotten bitten by those ads a number of times. I have started to realize that if they have a published book, usually you can find out if they know what they are talking about or not. I’ve bought products from several Internet Marketers with their sales pages. I have to say that I will not purchase anything else from them if their product is crap.
I know it will take longer than 7 days to have a career in writing. It took me about 9 months now to have a full time income writing articles. I’m looking to go into publishing and other forms of writing. If you write and listen to your editor’s comments, usually you can get somewhere. At least with article writing. I’m sure copywriting has its own ways of knowing if you are being effective such as the conversion rate of people visiting the site.
Writing is definitely a career you have to work at. Even after years of writing, you might still try to perfect your skills. If you look at earlier writing from well-known authors, you can probably spot errors. It takes time. You might get a job on a freelance website with one of those programs, but don’t expect to get hired at Demand Studios or some other content giant any time soon until you perfect your skills.
IMHO, no single book can adequately provide the basic personal skills I imagine one would need to succeed in any business. Honesty and integrity are foremost. This is why I am currently devoting so much time and highlighter ink to my new copy of “The Well-Fed Writer.” Mr. Bowerman’s words are encouraging, but realistic. Work hard, play fair, learn from his mistakes and experience, and the opportunities abound.
Thanks Liz,
Appreciate the kind words and vote of confidence! Hope you enjoy it…
PB
Wow! When I clicked on the link, lo’ and behold…I’m on this person’s mailing list. I actually bought one ebook from her a year or so ago and was disappointed, as there was just nothing really informative in it, nothing I hadn’t already gleaned for free online. Anywho, I’ll be promptly un-sub’ing. After just a little bit of time spent here on WFW, I can plainly see what direction I’m going to proceed in, as well as who the hype-mongers are and where the “real” reliable help and direction can be found. Thanks for an absolutely excellent site. Learning lots, will be purchasing, and have finally found some clarity.
Sharie
I actually purchased one of her e-books when I first started out. However, it was geared for people who totally had no clue in starting a freelance business. It’s certainly a book for the neophyte. Even though I didn’t get a lot of value from her book, it is possible that you can make at least $ 200 or more a day with online copywriting. I’ve resonated with http://www.inkwelleditorial.com and followed her every step , and as a result I recently had my first $ 200 day for writing simple online articles. And I am not talking about that $ 5.00 crap people churn out either. However, it took a lot of work to get to that point. I mean I had to network my ass off( and still do) and send over 50 emails before I get a response. It’s possible, but you have to have tenacity, be fearless, and learn as you go.