Gary Halbert 30 day challenge Copywriting Group

[Alan LT]

I'm on winter break, so let's see how much of this I can do

 

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[Forodstar]

What is the best resource for finding some gigs as a copywriter?

 

[Alan LT]

Does anyone have a pdf for Tested Advertising Methods?

 

[Cybria]

I'm in the middle of Robert Collier Letter Book now. I've estimated that it will take me at least 15 weeks to finish the whole challenge. Has anyone actually finished this in 30 days? Now I wish I had speed reading skills. Well. Onward and upward then.

 

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[Cybria]

What is the best resource for finding some gigs as a copywriter?

My plan is to do some gigs on oDesk just to establish a portfolio. Then I'll email individual businesses about my services.

 

[marklov]

2 months and an odd amount of days thrown in , writing around 4-6 hrs a day and I am finally finished with the Gary Halbert Challenge

I don't like Gary Halbert's style of writing or found the copying ads by hand to be useful (yet) but found the books to be quite useful although i am lacking in other areas.
While I know how to start a sales letter , I filled my head up with older materials and have a hard time applying them to modern copy and
my grammar needs some fine tuning as well.

Therefore I am compiling a huge file of different swipes and going to do some more self studying with a lot more writing.

After that I plan to:

1. Work out a client acquisition strategy
   
2. get some testimonials and a portfolio going
   
3. Work my way up the Odesk ranks
4. Then branch off to my own site

Going the freelance route for now because I don't really have a steady income source and my current blue collar job doesn't pay enough to fund the ventures I have planned this year.

I was thinking of starting a progress thread but right now I am doing the "boring" stuff so I rather make one when I have made some real progress and not have a thread filled with fluff.

 

[BrianPM]

Hey guys, I know there is a lot of good info/direction here. I read through about 8 pages tonight but for times sake wanted to get a post up and ask. Can anyone simplify the best progression of which books/posts/threads to read? Figured someone who has been through it may have found it would have been better if they read B before A, and C etc. Thanks

 

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[SGSystems]

Here's the order I'm going in...

1. Boron Letters
2. Scientific Advertising
3. The Robert Collier Letter Book
4. Tested Advertising Methods
5. How to Write A Good Advertisement
6. The Lazy Man's Way To Riches
7. 7 Steps To Freedom
8. Breakthrough Advertising
9. Gary Halbert newsletter - Back Issues

This was more or less the order of the books someone else labeled so I figured, eh what the hell....Right now I'm on the Robert Colliers Letter Book. It's 400+ pages and it's taking me a bit longer since we just concluded the holidays. At first I found the examples and letters to be a nuisance but I'm about 1/3rd of the way done and now appreciate the letters as I'm finding them more interesting.

I liked starting off with the Boron Letters because it's easy reading and I like the style since it's letters between Gary and one of his son's.

Scientific Advertising for me was honestly dry and dare I say, boring. I'm not saying anything negative, since it could have just been my general mood while reading this book in particular.

 

[Thiago Machado]

On the "hands on experience" part of his website(http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/Newsletters/zfkj_hands_on_experience.html)

I keep getting...

"Error 404 - Page Not Found
We couldn't find the page you were looking for. Please return to the home page"

Anyone else having this problem?

Does anyone have a "backup" of the challenge?

I've searched through the thread but a lot of author, books, and letter names are missing.

Thanks.

 

[Thiago Machado]

Nevermind, it's back up.

Sorry.

 

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[MantisX]

Being a product manager, I am finding that copywriting is an essential skill for me.. Jumping in with the Scientific advertising today.

 

[miked_d]

Right now I'm on the Robert Colliers Letter Book. It's 400+ pages and it's taking me a bit longer since we just concluded the holidays.

Gary's 30-day challenge starts on page 65 of the letters (on the PDF). Working on the assumption he wanted me to read the letters up until that point, I stopped there. However, I go back to the letters in between books. Currently waiting on The Lazy Man's Way To Riches to arrive in mail, so I am back at the letters.

 

[Alan LT]

This has nothing to do with the challenge, but I just read The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy & I found it very beneficial

 

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[hestati]

Completed! Took me 6 months. I did everything except setter/typer thing for newspaper ads

 

[William]

For anyone starting the challenge or in the midst of it...

Do NOT buy the kindle versions for Scientific Advertisement or The Robert Collier Letter Book.

I bought both before completely reading through this thread.

Robert Collier Letter Book is BAD.
Scientific Advertising is doable, but you notice a few typos. The print version is not even 4 bucks on Amazon. So, grab that one.

 

[samuraijack]

Tell me what you guys think. I tried to use as much copy as I could, this is an email I sent for as a job application. I didn't have their name to reference.


SUBJECT: Looking for an Order fulfillment specialist in eCommerce?

Hi there,

I'm Stephen, and I think I would be the perfect person to work with you.

Here's why.

I am extremely interested in eCommerce, being an aspiring entrepreneur myself. What better motivation to get work done? I don't have much experience yet, but for the past couple weeks I have been selling used goods on Amazon and Ebay. Not exactly "eCommerce" experience I know...but I have been learning and getting used to the process of packing/shipping orders + customer service.

I love the fact that you mention that you are "willing to train with the right attitude". I am not a perfect person, but I definitely have the right attitude about work, and my own life. I think we can agree that teaching someone to do certain tasks is much easier than changing someones outlook.

My resume is not included, since I can pretty much sum it up in a sentence to save you time. Here it is:

I'm 25 years old and I have an associates degree that I will never use. I have worked odd jobs here and there (restaurant/contracting), closely with the business owners. I've learned to view the business from their end and the most important thing I've learned is TO GET THINGS DONE.

If I sound like a good fit for you, please send me an email back. It would be great if you could tell me where you are located. I do have my own car for transportation, but I'd prefer to work somewhere in Queens. Thanks!

 

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[MantisX]

@ProblemOd - my personal opinion here and I am playing devils advocate. The area about your work experience feels a little negative. I would suggest adding a positive spin on it. Like " I have an associate degree in ****. Given my passion with eCommerce I have decides not to pursue any more opportunities in that space. I have worked in the restaurant and contracting business and I have learned to view......"
People always like positive stuff. And when you are presenting yourself for a job, you want to come across as a positive person who will make their lives and jobs easier my two cents.

 

[Thiago Machado]

Are we supposed to read the entire 7 steps to freedom?

Or should we read up to a certain page like Gary's letters?

 

[miked_d]

Are we supposed to read the entire 7 steps to freedom?

Or should we read up to a certain page like Gary's letters?

I don't have "7 Steps to Freedom" yet, but I will say read it all. I suggested part of Gary's letters as a start. The first part is good place to take a break and read another book. Then go back to Gary's letters. I plan on reading all all of them and have already gone well past where I suggested.

You get out of this challenge what you put in. When you cut corners, you only cheat yourself.

 

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[Thiago Machado]

True...

I read all of them so far except for 7 Steps to Freedom.

7 Steps to Freedom is the last one.

I got it in the mail a couple of days ago and it's huge. lol. I'm sure it's definitely worth the read though. The first couple of pages already struck a chord in me.

I am also curious...Has anyone actually been able to finish this in a month?

Seems tough.

 

[Deon]

True...

I read all of them so far except for 7 Steps to Freedom.

7 Steps to Freedom is the last one.

I got it in the mail a couple of days ago and it's huge. lol. I'm sure it's definitely worth the read though. The first couple of pages already struck a chord in me.

I am also curious...Has anyone actually been able to finish this in a month?

Seems tough.

I finished 7 steps... but I skipped through some pages in the end. Some were technical and about accounting numbers, or lawyers, auditing, human resources, etc... I read this appendix too though (about 1/4 of the book in size)... which is a different part of the book but tells his story and how he started, etc

 

[quickermyaccount]

blah, blah, etc., etc.,

I do not want to waist my precious time so I make it as short as humanly possible:


Sir Marklov,


you sound like a one-legged man who tries to win an a$$-kicking contest. Seriously. With this weak-minded loser attitude, why not you just go and work in Macdonalds or something? It is clear that you ask for advice as someone who have nearly no ability at all to make a friggin decision. It is very likely that anybody here, who actually works on Gary’s instructions, does not want to read from anyone who whines about things, things as “I don’t like Gary’s writing style,“ or “reading all these books is just too hard,” or “I didn’t figured out how to make the GH handwriting instructions to work ”or ...


”I did the challenge and it didn’t worked for me!”


And now, can you believe it, it seems that he thinks to go and get “some” copywriting course? I mean, how more loser can somebody get? If you don’t have the guts, then just shut up, stop this thing and instead, first, find a way to get your act together and, then, after you got the cojones, the attitude of “I am going to make it happen whatever it takes, legally” then go with the GH guide and make it work. How do you get you cojones?

The answer is this: Listen Lil Wayne and Jay Z. Eliminate the scumbags from your life (as they have clearly made you such a miserable human being), and listen Napoleon Hill’s stuff as “The Law to...” and “Think and...” and maybe listen Eben Pagan’s Mind Control or something (maybe listen them from your phone or mp3 player as you walk on the street or driving in your car) and so maybe find some job where you don’t talk to people, install new beliefs and, then off you go, ready to be mentored and to be associated with people who make things happen.


But here’s the thing. I refuse to “convince” you to actually do it. This will be my way of punishing you. Actually convincing you to do it takes time, and that time, I am very sure, would be (at least for myself) one of the worst-spent times in my life, to convince you to do anything (as I rather will do big things happen than waste time helping losers who fight to be losers). So you need to convince yourself!

 

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[theag]

I do not want to waist my precious time so I make it as short as humanly possible:


Sir Marklov,


you sound like a one-legged man who tries to win an a$$-kicking contest. Seriously. With this weak-minded loser attitude, why not you just go and work in Macdonalds or something? It is clear that you ask for advice as someone who have nearly no ability at all to make a friggin decision. It is very likely that anybody here, who actually works on Gary’s instructions, does not want to read from anyone who whines about things, things as “I don’t like Gary’s writing style,“ or “reading all these books is just too hard,” or “I didn’t figured out how to make the GH handwriting instructions to work ”or ...


”I did the challenge and it didn’t worked for me!”


And now, can you believe it, it seems that he thinks to go and get “some” copywriting course? I mean, how more loser can somebody get? If you don’t have the guts, then just shut up, stop this thing and instead, first, find a way to get your act together and, then, after you got the cojones, the attitude of “I am going to make it happen whatever it takes, legally” then go with the GH guide and make it work. How do you get you cojones?

The answer is this: Listen Lil Wayne and Jay Z. Eliminate the scumbags from your life (as they have clearly made you such a miserable human being), and listen Napoleon Hill’s stuff as “The Law to...” and “Think and...” and maybe listen Eben Pagan’s Mind Control or something (maybe listen them from your phone or mp3 player as you walk on the street or driving in your car) and so maybe find some job where you don’t talk to people, install new beliefs and, then off you go, ready to be mentored and to be associated with people who make things happen.


But here’s the thing. I refuse to “convince” you to actually do it. This will be my way of punishing you. Actually convincing you to do it takes time, and that time, I am very sure, would be (at least for myself) one of the worst-spent times in my life, to convince you to do anything (as I rather will do big things happen than waste time helping losers who fight to be losers). So you need to convince yourself!

lolwut

 

[Mr. Rush]

Yeah, I'm in. Starting Now.

 

[BeGreat]

I'm starting the challenge tomorrow. Plan to do it in the 30 days.

Thanks for all the info guys and gals. Crazy amount of help here.

 

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[Zachariah Lange]

I just started reading Scientific advertising. I am not putting a timeline on this, but all this cold weather is giving me plenty of time to read at work!

 

[LouieLouie]

Just started the competition last week,
FInished.

• Boron letters
• Scientific advertising
  
• And working through the Gary Halebert Letters.

could someone please share the dropbox files?
louis at loulux .com

Thanks in advance

Also an idea just popped in my head.

What if all of us who complete this course compete on selling a product and see who gets the best response numbers. (Just a crazy thought)

 

[jake1720]

I'm studying copywriting. Lots of fun.

 

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[Dimski]

Love it.

 

[LouieLouie]

Anybody interested in a shared dropbox folder? Pm your dropbox email and I'll invite you.

could you please ad me to that dropbox file
louis at loulux.com
thanks in advance
Got through all the books fixing to start copying the ad's,
I assume that is what you got in the dropbox