How to Land High-Paying Clients in a
World Flooded with AI and Amateurs

Fellow Copywriter,

I don't know if it was luck or fate that placed this note in your inbox, but I do know this:

Today, AI tools like ChatGPT turning everyone from bloggers to baristas into self-proclaimed “copywriters,” and companies leaning on internal teams or automated content to bypass professionals.

The result? A brutal market where standing out feels like shouting into a hurricane.

Here's the brutal truth: You’re Just Another Email in the Pile

The fact is, it’s a warzone you there.

You message is buried under an avalanche of emails from “copywriters” all singing the same tune.

These pitches, often churned out by AI with soulless efficiency, read like they came from the same tired template.

They’re slick, but they lack heart, originality, or humanity. Your email—no matter how clever—drowns in the digital deluge. You don’t stand out. You’re just another nobody, a faceless name in a sea of sameness.

KEEP THIS IN MIND:

You are not hired by a robot. You are hired by a human being, not an algorithms.

If you’re relying on emails, TikTok videos, or Instagram reels to break through, you’re fighting in a digital shouting match where everyone sounds the same.

In 1984, when I started, I couldn’t hide behind a screen because there was no Internet!

I had to find my prospects the hard way, the old fashioned way,.

That forced me to connect on a human level, and it’s a lesson that’s more vital than ever today. The solution? Step away from the online chaos and go old school, like I did.

My Old-School Secret: Direct Mail and a Phone Call

Back in ’84, there was no “send” button.

To reach a client, I’d scour direct mail directories and marketing clubs for names and addresses, craft a letter by hand, and mail it—hoping it landed in the right hands.

When I discovered the 1-2 punch of direct mail and a phone call, everything changed. 

This approach became my secret weapon, and it’s just as potent today in our AI-saturated world. It’s not just a tactic—it’s a philosophy rooted in the timeless truth that people buy from people, not bots.

Here’s why it works.

A physical letter—especially one sent via FedEx—lands on a decision-maker’s desk like a thunderbolt. 

In a world of overflowing inboxes, it’s a rare, tangible thing, screaming importance. It’s opened first, read closely, and remembered long after emails are deleted.

Follow it with a phone call—your voice warm, confident, and unmistakably human—and you’re no longer just a name. 

You’re the copywriter who dared to show up, who cared enough to connect, just like I did when I was dialing prospects from a rotary phone.

Why This Approach Wins Every Time

• Direct Mail Grabs Attention: A FedEx envelope isn’t junk mail—it’s an event. It demands to be opened, signaling you’re serious, professional, and worth noticing. It’s a move AI can’t mimic, and it’s as effective now as it was in the ‘80s.
   
• Phone Calls Build Bonds: A call is bold, personal, and real. It lets you listen, adapt, and show you’re not just another faceless freelancer—you’re a partner who gets it. It’s the same human touch that won me clients decades ago.
   
• You Beat the Crowd: While others spam inboxes with AI-written pitches, your letter and call make you unforgettable. You’re not blending in—you’re standing tall, just as I did when I mailed letters to prospects across the country.

This strategy fueled my career, lifting me head and shoulders above the competition in an era when finding clients meant legwork and persistence.

Today, with inboxes more clogged than ever, it’s your ticket to breaking through. It’s not about working harder—it’s about working smarter, connecting deeper, and showing clients you’re the real deal, just like I learned in those pre-Internet days.

How I Did It—and How You Can, Too

I’ve poured every lesson, every tactic, every battle-tested insight from my 40 years in the game into my How to Sell Yourself as a Copywriter home course. This isn’t just a guide—it’s a blueprint for building a thriving career in a cutthroat market. Inside, you’ll discover:

• How to craft a direct mail piece that stops prospects in their tracks and showcases your unique voice.
• The art of targeting the right clients, so your efforts hit the bullseye every time, just like I did when I hunted down prospects in the ‘80s.
• The secrets to a follow-up phone call that turns strangers into loyal clients.
• A step-by-step system to keep your pipeline full, even when the market feels impossible.

This is the exact approach that became my copywriting success story, starting in a world without digital crutches. It’s rooted in the timeless principles of persuasion.

The bottom line here is this:

The copywriting world is a gauntlet, but you don’t have to stay lost in the crowd.

Forget chasing likes on social media or blasting emails that never get read. 

Pick up a pen, send that FedEx letter, make that call—and watch clients come to you. 

Your talent deserves to shine, your voice to be heard, just as mine did when I started with nothing but a typewriter and a dream in 1984.

Want the full playbook?

CLICK HERE to dive into my How to Sell Yourself as a Copywriter course .

It’s your roadmap to landing clients, building a career, and rising above the AI-driven masses. 

Don’t wait for the world to notice you—go out and make it happen, the old-school way.

Cheers,

Doug D’Anna

P.S. Does this "old school" approach really work?  Check out the articles below and see for yourself.