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PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SCAMS!  Research all business opportunities thoroughly, and never blow off other people's bad experiences.  Ask around (and listen!).  The Scams101 Message Board is a good place to start.  What's that?  You've found a Biz Op and you're wondering if it's endorsed by FIB?...  Not unless it's listed in MaaMaw's Magnificent Toolbox.






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FIB - Scams 101

Re: So what were you looking for?

Posted By: Mel. White
Date: Thursday, March 12, 2009, at 3:37 p.m.(pst)

In Response To: Re: So what were you looking for? (AJ)

>> I've come accross these 2 sites recently and while they are certainly
>> more affordable than the AWAI programs I don't know if they are painting
>> an accurate picture of the income potential.
>> http://www.mycopywritingcareer.com/copywriting/

This one certainly isn't. And if that's "good copywriting" then we need to revise the standards. It lost my interest within the first two paragraphs when it claimed that some copywriters make more money than doctors (doctors where? Some third world country?) and slipped into the realm of repetitive fluffery within the first five paragraphs.

>> I was more interested in this one though:
>> http://www.abmagic.com/Web_Write/Web_write.html

(insert skeptical look.) $150-$200/hour? Only if you're writing a "buy this wonderful web course" website (and perhaps putting it up as an ad on Craigslist)... and then only for a limited time. Otherwise, your experience is going to be similar to the AWAI course.

If you want to be a copywriter, quit wasting money on courses. Hie thyself instead to the library and read the books on writing and copywriting from people who have done more than sell online courses. Practice by writing some Ebay ads for things you might like to sell or a friend wants to sell. Offer to write a sales blurb for a charitable event in your town. Get your name known and your services known. A string of successful campaigns says more than some "certificate" from an outfit that nobody heard of.

Getting a job as a copywriter will be difficult in today's market, but there are some opportunities listed on Craigslist. You're much more likely to sell short nonfiction articles, fillers, poetry (sometimes) and fiction (particularly horror fiction or mysteries.)

You don't need a course for those, either. You just write, hunt up market guides, and start submitting. You might have the slickest query letter in the world but if your prose isn't up to it, you're not selling anything.

My query letter is pretty simple. I introduce myself, list a few of my writing credits, say that I'm submitting this for their consideration and if it doesn't meet their needs please let me know. Because I write well and I target markets tightly, I don't get a lot of rejection letters.

I do get some, but my acceptance rate is well over 50%. When I have an editor who likes my stuff, I send them more stuff. Once you get a collection of works that were sold, you can always self-produce collections of your essays or stories or poems and sell those (IF you have some large market like a book fair or conventions that you attend.)

So quit researching and start writing. That's the ticket to success. You're not going to outpace a doctor's earnings (at least no doctor that I've met here in America) but you can certainly supplement your income nicely and if you learn to do little travel pieces and restaurant reviews, you can make your vacations pay a little, too!

I haven't learned that one yet, but it's in the string of things to do.

silly webcomic (updated on Sundays... don't hold your breath.)

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(you know who you are... you scream "Foul!" when the truth comes out)
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