Most people don't know this, but I am a
self-taught copywriter. Once I discovered my talent, I embarked on a journey of self-education.
I purchased every book I could get my hands on, from classics like "Tested Advertising Methods" to groundbreaking works like "Breakthrough Advertising." I devoured every page, eager to learn and improve my craft.
What many don't realize is that my degree in speech communication played a crucial role in my development as a copywriter. That's because saw each direct mail letter, email, and video sales letter as a speech to persuade on paper. This perspective, coupled with my dogged determination to succeed, propelled me forward.
One pivotal step in my journey was taking the Dale Carnegie sales course. It equipped me with essential skills and strategies that would prove invaluable in my career. I could sell! So when I got on the phone trying to find copywriting work, I really had no competition.
It was this unique
combination of factors that allowed me to break into the big leagues. This was how a newbie like me was able to secure an assignment with the largest investment newsletter publisher on the planet--Phillips Publishing (now InvestorPlace Media)-- where I was blessed to collaborate with the legendary publisher Richard Stanton-Jones.
Under Richard's guidance, I crafted my first promotional package, the
Great Retirement Betrayal, which turned out to be a grand slam. It was a defining moment in my career, and it set the stage for further success.
That was the first of hundreds of control packages that paid me millions of dollars in royalties. It was the greatest career on the planet. I got to work from home, type sales letters for a living, take my kids to and from school, coach their sports, go to jiu-jitsu at lunch (and get a black belt after 12 years), and put a meal on the table by the time my wife got home from work.
When I think back to my successes, it was Richard Stanton-Jones taking me under his wing that turned my raw talent into an in-demand copywriter. The great part of Richard was that he was working with the greats of the industry: Gary Bencivenga, Jim Rutz, Clayton Makepeace, and Eugene Schwartz, and transferring that knowledge to me as we worked together on numerous efforts.
During my 20 years in the industry, I had the pleasure of collaborating with some of the finest minds in copywriting, direct response, and marketing, including Chris Marett, Melanie Russo, Amy Long, Mike Bell, Doreen Adger, Rosemary Owina-Losa, Shannon Miller, Ron Jackson, Marty Edelston, Martin Weiss, Roger Michelski, Kim Hyde-Santucci, Vicki Moffit and many others, honing my skills
and refining my approach.
Now, as I reflect on my journey, I am grateful for every opportunity and every mentor who helped shape my career.
Had I not been devouring every book on copywriting, taking the sales course, and working
with smaller clients as I improved my skills, I would never have been able to sell Richard on working with me. None of this would have happened.
I might have been forced to work in some corner office somewhere, for $42,000 a year hoping to get a 3% raise each year.
That said, the secret to my success came down to one thing: selling myself as a copywriter. My ability to send sales letters, make telephone calls, follow up, close the deal--and--most importantly--get them to FedEx me half the money up front.
There is no greater joy in life than that (other than receiving a big fat royalty check!)
If you are not marketing yourself, you are not getting the work you want. As I learned when I started out, the business doesn’t come to you unless you go get it.
If you are not getting the business you think you should, I invite you to check out my "How to Sell Yourself as a Copywriter" sales course. It promises you three clients in 90 days--or your money back--if you follow my instructions to a T.
Plus, you’ll get a full credit of every penny you paid when you take my private
copywriting coaching course.
So in that sense, taking my course is almost FREE.
So you really don't have anything to lose!
As I regularly tell my coaching students the only way you won’t succeed is if you don’t do the work.
As a seasoned direct response copywriter, Doug has created hundreds of profitable direct mail packages, emails, and video sales letters for the world's largest specialized information publishers—generating over $100 million in direct sales.
