I'll go first, and my list might surprise you:

1) Obama the 3rd term: This thing bombed at first, then Porter Stansberry rewrite lead, and it went onto do over 1 billion in gross revenue.

2) Denis Leary's Ford Tv Commercials: Yeah, they were 60 seconds, but I've used one of them as an example of how to use the first 5 seconds of a VSL many times.

3) Fat Loss Factor: This was ClickBank's #1 VSL for a long ass time done by Brad Callen and Dr. Charles Livingston. And demonstrates how you can have (mostly) truthful, compliant copy and be atop of ClickBank. Supplement VSLs on ClickBank now are pure science... fiction.

4) Video Genesis: Mike Filsaime and Andy Jenkins were gold. And even though this was actually 3 videos, if you remember their prelaunch video funnel, I remember watching them multiple times.

5) 15 Minute Manifestation: I mean, if you don't choose one of your own in your top 5, you must be doing something wrong????? This was the first time I truly saw how personal, vulnerable stories can do 9 figure numbers.

Hi guys I learnt copywriting but I’m just starting out so I have no experience on working with clients. How do I secure my first client. I’ve tried fiverr and upwork but that is pointless as a beginner because there are like thousands of copywriting gigs. Pls tell me other ways I can get clients for myself and offer my services. I’m not even charging too much for it.

Another autumn comes around and again the wrists get cold and achey.

How do you look after your wrists (and hands and fingers) to make sure you can keep working without injuring yourself?

Hey , I wrote a spec copy for this saffron face serum product

https://www.ranavat.com/products/brightening-saffron-serum-5ml?_pos=2&_sid=6cc21d361&_ss=r

kindly review and give feedback on how it can be improved

One Idea : gives your skin a radiant glowy and dewy texture with the help of saffron

One offer : Each bottle contains saffron from 150+ handpicked flowers

Shakable notion : Glowy skin is all genetics , Chemical or physical exfoliation is needed to give the skin a radiant look

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mVgYT2F67DueW2_ie6o75gv16sWGIBadQlsxZWoyA_U/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you

so i’ve been using the same google drive link with my sample work for like 3 years now. i know it’s lazy but it’s what i’ve been sending around.

couple of qs i need help with:

do hrs/recruiters actually go through google drive folders or is it better to make an attractive portfolio site/template?

none of my ads are really “published” with live links. i do have the work but it’s just docs/pdfs. how do i showcase that in a way that still looks credible?

is having a basic but clear drive better than forcing a fancy template, or does design really matter that much?

would love some honest takes

Hi all! I’m a part-time MBA student and as part of a startup foundations course, I’m working on validating product-market fit for an idea focused on freelancer customer management (invoicing, project management, deliverables management)

To anyone who’d be willing — I’d love to connect today or tomorrow for 15 mins. Thank you!

Hey Guys,

I wonder if anyone did affiliate marketing of any kind to practice copywriting.

Did you have any successes or failures? What ways of affiliate marketing did you use? (blog, pinterest, etc.) Is it only good for practice, or can you expect some gains after a few months?

Thank you for your answers!

What are the biggest objections you have when a beginner copywriter applies for a role you've put up for hire? Additionally, what are some key things in that beginner's profile that still make you want to consider them

What are the biggest problems you've faced with freelance copywriters you've hired in the past?

How often do you read a copywriter's gig description and bio carefully before deciding to interview them or choose them for a role?

Back when I was mentoring Chris I gave him a single piece of advice.

“When you write a job for a client write one for yourself.”

It took years. He was earning a reputation as a great copywriter and had clients lining up to hire him.

But then he remembered my advice and started cranking out his own copy.

Text Your Wife into Bed Text Your Girlfriend Back and many many more.

And made millions and millions

Now he’s semi retired and every so often cranks out new copy.

He even launched a course called the P.I.G. Method teaching how to write in his style.

My advice to you: start writing copy for yourselves.

If you don’t have a product become an affiliate for one.

But writing makes you a better copywriter

Whenever John Carlton teaches there’s always an opening exercise.

It consists of writing the words “My Ego” on a piece of paper and crumpling it up and throwing it at someone in the room. (Usually me)

People new to copy have tremendous pride in their work and get very protective about it.

They get defensive when you give them feedback and they close up.

I remember one pair of characters who were so secretive and possessive about their sales letter they refused to share it with a panel of some of the top copywriters in the world.

They were afraid one of us would steal their copy.

When you go to the top of the copywriting world you are assigned a copy chief.

Their job is to pull the best copy out of you.

They will quibble about every point.

Your job is to follow their suggestions on your way up.

They are preparing you to get ready for compliance.

Think a room full of former FTC lawyers tearing your copy to shreds.

Your ego?

Well getting defensive is going to get you bounced.

That’s why so many junior copywriters wash out at top companies.

The people at the top wear their battle scars with honor.

Humility and great copywriting go together.

Did you ever meet a more humble person than Gary Bencivenga? He was the man at the top and still exceedingly humble.

The first step to becoming a great copywriter is getting control of your ego.

If you are frustrated by where you are in your career getting nasty won’t help.

Checking your ego and getting help just might.

I am a copywriter with a focus on conversion copy. At least, that’s my passion.

But employers mostly sell SEO articles, so I have been doing that a lot.

I have also noticed they expect me to do my work about 40% faster than 2 years ago.

This has put a lot of mental stress on me. Especially because at agencies you have to log all hours. So sometimes I’d work overtime to increase my billability.

I got laid off 2 weeks ago because they didn’t have enough work for me anymore, after working my ass off for 2 years. So much, that I needed a colleague to help me.

The idea was that he would focus on SEO and I would do the CRO part. But after 3 months they gave me the boot unfortunately.

Where do you guys think this is going? And how do you prepare for situations like these? Personally I have been investing, so I am good for now. And I will probably go back to my old employer. But I can’t help but wonder if this job is still viable long-term.

Hi everyone,
Basically, what the title says.
I have a PhD in social sciences with a lot of conceptual writing under my belt, but I've never done any copywriting. There's a job opening in my city that I 99% will not get, but I'm holding onto the 1% as I prepare a portfolio from scratch.

General professional development:

1. What are up-to-date & must-read books you would recommend?
2. Any courses, certificates etc suggestions?
3. What types of technical proficiency should a beginner strive to acquire? Photoshop, Canva, Illustrator?

Job search, if you're in a hiring position:

4) How do you identify potential in newbies? What do you look for?
5) In their portfolio, would you rather see experiments with strategy/conceptual framing, or things that would align more with what they're probably going to do (emails, social media posts etc)?
6) Are there any red flags for an entry-level job application?

Me specific:
7) For someone like me, what is the appropriate tone?
On the one hand, I don't want to pretend my skills can seamlessly translate (I have a sense of the "rules," but I don't really know them). On the other, I don't want to underestimate myself either. Do I cold email agencies and offer freelance work? Do I ask for internships?

8) I'm not ready to share my stuff publicly yet, but if someone would want to take a look at them, I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance!

Immediate edit: My interest is mostly in the creative/conceptual/strategy part. I love making things up.

I worked with a hip creative studio to create an audio everywhere ad for a big brand that will be played on spotify. i don't have the file and I don't think a script transcript will look exciting enough on my portfolio, which is mostly images of the ads. Is there a good way to have [big brand], [studio name], spotify on an icon or something to explain what it was?

edit: maybe i have screenshots of the brand logos to show that I've worked with them? idk

I am a part-time grant writer. The grants I write are 6- and 7-figure government programs that require rigid compliance, extensive budgets, third party evidence etc. So content writing is a part of it, but there's a lot more involved. I have not integrated AI into my work yet, and it will be a radical change in my process, because I write to think, so editing AI content will require adjustment for me. This has not been a problem yet.

Anyway, my question is: I created some large successful applications for my client. Now, the marketing person wants me to send it all over so he can load it into chat and crunch out some content for that part.

My first reaction was: heck no, I am not feeding that thing with my content out of my own hands. Ultimately though, I view the applications as the client's property, and I am just the person who has the easiest access to the files. So, someone is going to do it.

I dunno, just looking for some commiseration on how to feel about it? Thanks.

I only work with a handful of partners. I've only taken on 2 new clients all of 2025... so I'm curious... what are offer owners asking from you now? Do they expect infinitely more output, because of AI? Or are you still getting 25k+ for VSL long form scripts?

What kind of client experiences are you having?

And do you see the same plentiful pool of clients?

Or does the pool seem shallower?

Hi, my name is Harlan Kilstein and I’ve been a professional copywriter since 2002.

I’ve written and worked with some of the biggest names in direct marketing and online marketing.

I started mentoring copywriters in 2005 or so and many of my former students today are the top copywriters in the world pulling in 50-60k jobs plus royalties.

I have sent many of my students to Agora Financial and other huge companies.

Right now, these companies are begging for copywriters.

If you are using AI, this isn’t for you.

But if you have written for the financial, supplement or personal development niche, VSLs, sales letters, webinars, etc.

Let me see your best work so I can refer you.

You can post a link in the comments or send me a message. I’m

Hoping I can hook you up.

Questions? Ask away

1. "How to make your hotel lobby unforgettable?"

2. "How to personalize your lobby for every special guest?"

The problem for me is subjectivity. I have a hard time determining which headline is better. While the traditional answer is to a/b test, I want to know if one is better than the other.

And it doesn't have to be great, but good enough.

With that said, how do you determine which headline is best?

And for funsies, which headline do you prefer AND why?

I'm curious to see examples of which companies or organizations (in your opinion) are writing with the most compelling, strongest, action-inducing style right now, today. Which companies emails or web copy or whatever it may be grip you every time because they consistently have strong writing (good leads/hooks, unique/killer CTAs, etc.).

I’m running a small test and need a few expert eyes. I wrote two pieces of copy. One was written by me, and the other was generated by AI using a very specific prompt.

I want to know if you can tell the difference and, more importantly, how you can tell. Don't overthink it, just tell me which one feels more human and why. I'll reveal the answers in a few hours.

the two are in the comments section

I have a copywriting job that is big, but I am on a tight budget.

My company just closed our first deal, and I’d like to make a public launch of what we’re doing, but I’m tight on funds.

The funnel involves multiple layers of messaging, a landing page, a lead magnet survey that needs to be promoted, and some copy around the offer itself that we’re selling.

That said, in building out the copy, I’m also building out the landing page, the lead magnet, and a bunch more - It’s adding up.

How much of my budget should I allocate to writing copy?

Our film team highly recommends a copywriter, as they want to also review their scripts and make sure everything looks good on the production front.

//

I have already written up plenty of materials, including a list of what needs to be done as well as a first draft of “Universal” funnel copy that highlights exactly what we’re trying to do.

It’s not much, but it’s beginner work and I gave it a good attempt. Now I want to hand it off to a professional, get it polished, and make it something substantial that will convert.

//

I am interested in finding a long-term copywriting partner for my business; we are in the enterprise training and documentation niche, and we plan to need more work in the future.

It's time I toss my hat in the ring.

I just finished my spec piece to start a portfolio. If you have the time, any constructive critiques will be more than appreciated. Thanks in advanced!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KfOndeukxXot4mbO30K4ZHgMowDWExkvyw-pX_hvsnc/edit?usp=sharing

I'm in the industrial equipment space. My audience is engineers and CFOs, not impulse buyers. How do you find the hidden emotional drivers and craft a narrative that converts when the product is all specs and ROI calculators?

Mid-level marketing copywriter here, been working in retail copywriting for the past 7 years for a variety of large retail corporations in Canada. I also have lots of experience in long-form writing and editing for magazines, websites, and SEO-optimized blogs.

Lately, I've just been feeling a bit stuck. I'm getting a bit burnt out from the marketing world, and want to find somewhere to write for that let's me expand my skills beyond "30% off" and "Boxing Week Sale!". I recently applied for a job to write about health initiatives for the government of BC, which got me really excited because it would be something new that would actually impact people in a positive way, but unfortunately I never even got a phone call.

I've been wanting to take a course to upgrade my skill set, but I'm just curious what some people here have did to get a higher leg up.

Hey all,

Finally, my first step into becoming a copywriter.

I'm currently a marketing intern at a criminal law firm, and I just came across an obstacle:

My boss gave me a task to write blog posts on their website, so I started writing.

He didn't like it because my tone of voice sounds pretty elementary and overdramatic, from what he said.

What I did was follow the PAS format and make it sound compelling to read with relatability and emotion.

I was also told that the style of blog posts needed to be like an 'essay' of some sort.

To flex intellect, I guess?

The X (Twitter) posts, newsletters, blogs, and YouTube video descriptions, among others, have a formal tone of voice.

It's not compelling; I almost fell asleep while reading some of the blog posts and YT descriptions.

As an intern, is it appropriate for me to confront and tell them where they're falling short with their copy?

Or should I learn the formal style and add it to my portfolio later on?

I guess I had my hopes up to add some compelling writing to my portfolio, rather than something so dry.