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How do I learn copywriting as a teen?

hoponthebop

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Hey!

Im 17 and I've besn reading tons about making money online
I neex to start makinng money online to help me and my family and i found out that copywriting is the only thing that can give me tons of money online. The problem is dont know how to learn it, I dont know how to start.

What advice could you give me?
 
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Lex DeVille

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Hey!

Im 17 and I've besn reading tons about making money online
I neex to start makinng money online to help me and my family and i found out that copywriting is the only thing that can give me tons of money online. The problem is dont know how to learn it, I dont know how to start.

What advice could you give me?

Get a job. Start helping people in other ways for free. Copywriting can't save you yet. You'll make way more money with a job for now and it will be more stable income while you begin to develop the necessary mindset which is going to take time.
 

astr0

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What advice could you give me?
Stop focusing on making money, focus on adding value and helping people first.

Copywriting is not "the only thing" and it would definitely won't "give you tons of money online".

You're new here and maybe don't know that @Lex DeVille is a real pro on copywriting.
Consider thinking on his advice seriously.
 

Lex DeVille

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Copywriting is not "the only thing" and it would definitely won't "give you tons of money online".

Yup. Copywriting won't give you money until you learn to be a problem solver which starts by learning how to solve your own problems!
 
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hoponthebop

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@Lex DeVille i need to be 18 to get a job in my country and I need to be able to work full time which I cant because of school thats why I want to learn something to make momey online (i just turned 17).
 

Lex DeVille

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How do I learn copywriting?

You can start with the links in my signature.

But if I were you I would pick up a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People first. Read it. Then go out in the real world and apply each chapter one at a time so you build experience and understanding of the materials.

After that learn sales because you'll need sales for copy. Plus sales will make you money a lot faster than copywriting. If you want to be a copywriter you'll also need to learn to write well. You'll then need to understand how to influence people through your writing.

Most copywriters will take six months to a year to earn full-time income. At least one year starting from scratch. So if you really want to be a copywriter, you better get started today. You'll be 18 by the time you make real money with it. But then you can just get a job...
 
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Jeff Noel

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How do I learn copywriting?
It's going to sound harsh, but read the message behind the words:
You're not listening.

Lex gave you a winning ticket. He's definitely the one you should be listening to, if you are serious about copywriting.

Are the laws in your country preventing people from hiring you, full time or part time ? If that's the case, are the same laws preventing you from mowing lawns, shoveling snow, planting/watering plants, cleaning carpets ?
This is what the mindset is about. If you cannot turn the switch on, in your mind, and find opportunities all around you, copywriting will be hard.

Turn the switch.
 

ideasunlimited1

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A lot of job routes can be learned for free. I recommend ALISON courses, since they are free flexible, and I really enjoy the lecturers they utilize. But if your main issue is that you are too young to legally work in your country, then the when and where aren't the big questions. Are you disciplined and focused enough to stick with this? You may b better off learning on how to successfully be a freelancer or make a brand.
 

rjrobbins2

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Copywriting is far from the only source of income online. In fact, I wouldnt even say it is close to the easiest because it requires you to learn lots of skills. At your age, I would be flipping items on eBay or other 3rd party seller sites. That is how I first made money online and still do to this day. Then, I would be reading lots of books on copywriting, sales, business and more.

Follow Lex's advice, dont focus on making money, start reading books, start taking online classes, and be patient. If you just focus on making money and are impatient, you will likely fail. Copywriting without even a basic understanding of business, sales, people, psychology, and more is not a great idea. It is highly unlikely you have any of that at 17, especially since you are asking questions in the manner you are.
 
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NewManRising

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Take Lex' 15 days to freedom in copywriting. Just follow the thread and DO the exercises. I promise that after you do it, you will be "good enough" to get started on copywriting. You can try freelancing on Upwork or find some other route. But it can take a few months before you start making decent money. This depends on your knowledge, how you market yourself, and how much hustle you have.
 

Andy Black

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I’m curious whether you guys think it’s easier for a newbie to make money running Google Ads campaigns for businesses than copywriting for them?

Technically, Google Ads seems simpler to me because you setup a keyword, a relevant ad that’s only got a few words in it. and send folks to the most appropriate webpage. Sure there’s other campaign settings and bidding involved, but he copywriting requires is pretty straightforward.

Given Google Ads is an online technical thing, I suspect business owners automatically assume that the youngsters will be better at it than them.

And businesses that are considering or already using Google Ads have shown a willingness to pay monthly for leads. Charging $100-300/mth to manage the campaigns is quite an easy sell to a small business (to the right prospects of course).

And you can find plenty of businesses locally that might avail of the service - meaning you could become a big fish in a small pond quite quickly.
 

Lex DeVille

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I’m curious whether you guys think it’s easier for a newbie to make money running Google Ads campaigns for businesses than copywriting for them?

Technically, Google Ads seems simpler to me because you setup a keyword, a relevant ad that’s only got a few words in it. and send folks to the most appropriate webpage. Sure there’s other campaign settings and bidding involved, but he copywriting requires is pretty straightforward.

Given Google Ads is an online technical thing, I suspect business owners automatically assume that the youngsters will be better at it than them.

And businesses that are considering or already using Google Ads have shown a willingness to pay monthly for leads. Charging $100-300/mth to manage the campaigns is quite an easy sell to a small business (to the right prospects of course).

And you can find plenty of businesses locally that might avail of the service - meaning you could become a big fish in a small pond quite quickly.

I think Google Ads would be easier. Web design would be easier. Social media, SEO, transcription...you name it. All of these can be learned in a relatively short time to get you to levels where you can get the client results they want. They all still require sales though.
 
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Jeff Noel

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I’m curious whether you guys think it’s easier for a newbie to make money running Google Ads campaigns for businesses than copywriting for them?

Technically, Google Ads seems simpler to me because you setup a keyword, a relevant ad that’s only got a few words in it. and send folks to the most appropriate webpage. Sure there’s other campaign settings and bidding involved, but he copywriting requires is pretty straightforward.

Given Google Ads is an online technical thing, I suspect business owners automatically assume that the youngsters will be better at it than them.

And businesses that are considering or already using Google Ads have shown a willingness to pay monthly for leads. Charging $100-300/mth to manage the campaigns is quite an easy sell to a small business (to the right prospects of course).

And you can find plenty of businesses locally that might avail of the service - meaning you could become a big fish in a small pond quite quickly.
I think the weakness (or strength - could be considered as a barrier of entry) of Google Ads as an ideal "first time" business is that you need to play with someone else's budget or money.

It would make many newbies uncomfortable. I would be uncomfortable. I know you wouldn't though :)
 

Andy Black

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I think Google Ads would be easier. Web design would be easier. Social media, SEO, transcription...you name it. All of these can be learned in a relatively short time to get you to levels where you can get the client results they want.
I suspect web design is harder than Google Ads. There's so many different ways to design and then build a website. With Google Ads the restrictions in what you can do are it's strength.

They all still require sales though.
Oh yes, they all require sales skills. Without sales it's just a hobby.

I think the weakness (or strength - could be considered as a barrier of entry) of Google Ads as an ideal "first time" business is that you need to play with someone else's budget or money. It would make many newbies uncomfortable. I would be uncomfortable. I know you wouldn't though :)
What if it was your uncle's business and he was thinking of spending or was already spending $300/mth? Would you be uncomfortable offering to run those campaigns for $100/mth?


I'm bringing this up because I think copywriting looks bleeding hard. There seems to be so much art to the science! And you have to think, with a capital T.
 
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Lex DeVille

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I suspect web design is harder than Google Ads. There's so many different ways to design and then build a website.

You don't need all the ways though. You only need one way. Wordpress and the ability to install a theme, replace the demo content, and maybe Google search some CSS code for odds and ends customization. My first Wordpress site was built this way and had 500+ members. The site was live in about a month. Now it takes a day to set up a 5-7 page website. Sometimes I wonder why I do copywriting lol.
 

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I think Google Ads would be easier. Web design would be easier. Social media, SEO, transcription...you name it. All of these can be learned in a relatively short time to get you to levels where you can get the client results they want. They all still require sales though.

Been meaning to ask for curiosity sake, do you know code? Or do you build websites for clients using wordpress or something similar? Thanks.
 

Jeff Noel

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You don't need all the ways though. You only need one way. Wordpress and the ability to install a theme, replace the demo content, and maybe Google search some CSS code for odds and ends customization. My first Wordpress site was built this way and had 500+ members. The site was live in about a month. Now it takes a day to set up a 5-7 page website. Sometimes I wonder why I do copywriting lol.
I've been against doing this myself because I felt like a crook. "This is so easy, I can't charge people for that".

I should rethink my past decisions.
What if it was your uncle's business and he was thinking of spending or was already spending $300/mth? Would you be uncomfortable offering to run those campaigns for $100/mth?


I'm bringing this up because I think copywriting looks bleeding hard. There seems to be so much art to the science! And you have to think, with a capital T.
I would feel even more pressure knowing it's a family member ! I know what you're trying to say though. I believe the easiest way to learn would be to find businesses that don't even know about Google Ads and offer them to manage an ad campaign. Their expectations cannot be too high - they don't know what it is... and you end up learning the process.

I also strongly believe copywriting is tougher by a magnitude - It's like learning to talk for a salesman. It's something you cannot just learn in an 8-hour training.
 
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hoponthebop

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It's going to sound harsh, but read the message behind the words:
You're not listening.

Lex gave you a winning ticket. He's definitely the one you should be listening to, if you are serious about copywriting.

Are the laws in your country preventing people from hiring you, full time or part time ? If that's the case, are the same laws preventing you from mowing lawns, shoveling snow, planting/watering plants, cleaning carpets ?
This is what the mindset is about. If you cannot turn the switch on, in your mind, and find opportunities all around you, copywriting will be hard.

Turn the switch.


There are laws that prevent people from hiring me. But they do not prevent me from doing the other stuff. The problem is the mentality in the place where I live. Its a small a$$ city in a European country where everyone is afraid of paying or doing something. If they want t someone to mow their lawn or water their garden,clean the carpet they will either do it themselves to save money (even if they are rich) or ask someone in their family. If I go around asking to do that stuff they will tell me to F*ck off (which already happened). My only chhance to do something is doing smth online or going to college (whichh Im planning to do)
 

astr0

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I think Google Ads would be easier. Web design would be easier. Social media, SEO, transcription...you name it.
Totally agree.

Google Ads: very little but top quality copywriting for headlines + optimizations skill/experience.
Web Design: yeah, Wordpress is easy, but one would still need some Design skill and basic knowledge in HTML/CSS/Plugins.
Copywriting: requires lots of experience in different areas like psychology, sales, the actual writing skills, etc.

And a newby in Google Ads or Wordpress design can still offer good value to the client.
While an inexperienced copywriter has high chances to do more harm instead.
 

Lex DeVille

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Been meaning to ask for curiosity sake, do you know code? Or do you build websites for clients using wordpress or something similar? Thanks.

I don't know any code other than CSS. Every once in a while I build a website for a client using Wordpress. Web design isn't my core skill so I only offer it when I think I can help my client.

I've been against doing this myself because I felt like a crook. "This is so easy, I can't charge people for that".

I should rethink my past decisions.

Have you seen the websites most clients have? They aren't paying you for the website. They're paying for results. If you use a pre-made theme and they get a huge boost in sales because they look like a professional instead of someone who let their nephew build them a free website...then it's worth whatever they paid you.

When I build websites I don't use pre-made designs. But that is the fastest way to set something up. I set things up my own way to be optimized for conversions.
 
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astr0

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The problem is the mentality in the place where I live. Its a small a$$ city in a European country where everyone is afraid of paying or doing something. If they want t someone to mow their lawn or water their garden,clean the carpet they will either do it themselves to save money (even if they are rich) or ask someone in their family.
Where do you live? Cause it sounds pretty familiar...

When I build websites I don't use pre-made designs. But that is the fastest way to set something up. I set things up my own way to be optimized for conversions.
Pre-made designs also have a problem - they have a lot of content that's matched to fill the theme. Once you remove or replace that content it often doesn't look that great.

Most businesses actually don't need a lot of content and huge websites either.
A simple neat one-pager optimized for sales can achieve better results in most cases.
 

astr0

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Hm... Average salary is 3x bigger than here, but purchasing power parity is only 50% more. Which is still 2.5x less than in the US or major European countries.

That's a poor people's mentality and very hard to change... Get away from it and build strong walls against it.
 
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hoponthebop

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Hm... Average salary is 3x bigger than here, but purchasing power parity is only 50% more. Which is still 2.5x less than in the US or major European countries.

That's a poor people's mentality and very hard to change... Get away from it and build strong walls against it.


Thats what im trying to do, this kind of ppl piss me off.

But I still dont know what to do, what to learn now to start making money online :/
 

astr0

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Pretty much everyone here agreed that Google Ads is the closest open door to your current position.

Check out @Andy Black threads in his signature and start learning. I suspect you don't have much money in your 17, so you won't be able to do it in his way, but you can offer your service for free pretty soon. The sale would be easier, but your client would still have to pay for the campaign so it's still a sale. Don't try to jump straight on a high ticket and popular businesses.

Your best place to start would be someone who would benefit ads and can feel your results, but in a niche where CPC is pretty low so you can bring him more prospects with a smaller budget. Research situation in your country, here that would probably be pretty much every small mid-priced service business, niched restaurants, beauty salons, construction workers, etc. Start with helping service businesses as their owners have more connections, can recommend you to other business owners and your results would be pretty noticeable to them. It's harder to track why someone bought a product.

Also, you need to work on your mindset. Check out Andy's threads on helping people, this thread is great too: The "Astonishing Secrets" Thread
Have you read MJ's books? You should have a significant mind-shift after reading Unscripted (or TMF ).
Look for young and successful people locally, they must have a better mindset than the poor ones. Starting a Google Ads hustle should get you connections. Some of them may become your friends and/or mentors in the future.

making money online
You keep repeating this phrase, so it must be very important to you. Can you tell what exact word is the most important for you now?
 

astr0

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1301271022001.jpg
Any of the other two would be better:
making - doing something to achieve results, the process
money - merely an outcome, a measure of your value
online - freedom, a way out from the mentality of people in place you live, ability to connect with successful people
 

hoponthebop

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View attachment 24424
Any of the other two would be better:
making - doing something to achieve results, the process
money - merely an outcome, a measure of your value
online - freedom, a way out from the mentality of people in place you live, ability to connect with successful people

Now I truly understand my mindset is flawed as F*ck. But Im still lost
 

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