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Health & Fitness

Presentation: 10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter

After years of writing headlines and subject lines, direct mail packages and email blasts, blog posts and brochures, teasers and tweets, here's what I've learned about copywriting.

My first job out of graduate school many years ago was as a copywriter for RCA Direct Marketing in New York City. And the rest, as they say, has been history.

Since that first gig writing about popular records (yes, vinyl) and tapes (cassettes and eight-tracks, to be specific), I’ve written about an incalculable number of other products and services, from business cards to books, healthcare to software, magazines to music, travel to tuxedos and more.

I’ve also written direct response fundraising copy for dozens of charitable organizations — which, by the way, has been some of the most satisfying work I’ve done over the course of my career so far.

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I may have worked for a number of different companies, developed new skills and taken on new responsibilities — such as creative direction, public speaking and social media — along the way, but I’ve also stayed true to my professional roots.

And after all these years writing headlines and subject lines, direct mail packages and email blasts, blog posts and brochures, teasers and tweets, I’ve drawn a handful of conclusions about what it takes to make a living as a copywriter.

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So for those who are interested in learning more about this profession, here (above) is a new presentation of mine based on a list of 10 ways to succeed as a copywriter that I originally wrote and published as a series of blog posts.

I hope you won’t hesitate to view, download and share this presentation with others. And if you know anyone who might be interested in learning more about copywriting, I’m always happy to speak about this topic, so I’d be grateful if you were to point them in my direction. Thanks a lot.

Note: This post, "Presentation: 10 Ways to Succeed as a Copywriter," was initially published on the blog, A New Marketing Commentator, on October 26, 2012.

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