Donald Trump copywriter interview part 2
Published: Fri, 11/06/15
Part 2 of my interview with world class copywriter Scott Haines…
QUESTION: I'd like to ask Scott about getting clients when you don't have a huge track record. I've written some high performing website copy, and five sales letters that turned around the businesses response by more than 300%. But I don't have a "binder" full of successes yet. How do I get to the big bucks?
SCOTT HAINES: You don't get to the big bucks until you earn it. It sounds like you are on your way. Keep it up. Add to your successes until you DO have a big binder full.
If you want some advice on leapfrogging your way up the ladder, read Robert Ringer's book, Winning Through Intimidation. (The updated version has been retitled: To Be or Not to Be Intimidated? That is the Question. A much lamer title, by the way.)
Just be careful of what you ask for. It's a lot of responsibility to take someone's business and ten to fifteen thousand (or more) of their dollars into your hands. If you do so before you're ready, you're going to be in for a very bumpy ride.
QUESTION: Have you been able to make a compiled list payout? If so what?
SCOTT HAINES: No, I've never tried. Halbert did it a couple of times. The first time with his Coat-of-Arms promotion. And he did it with at least one diet promotion (maybe more than one, I can't remember) by choosing people in the DMV database (or various DMV databases) based on their height/weight on their Driver Licenses. I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think you can access that information anymore.
QUESTION: If you were self-studying copywriting, today, what type of daily curriculum would you set up for yourself?
SCOTT HAINES: I have a report that details exactly what I'd do titled:
The Haines Method(tm)
For Quick Copywriting Mastery!
I'll tell you how you can get a copy in just a minute.
QUESTION: If you still were a relatively new (but accomplished) copywriter with a good track record of performing for a single client thus far (i.e. made them almost $500K in the last six months), how would you position and effectively market yourself to land newer and higher paying clients?
SCOTT HAINES: Keep working at it. Use that success story. Build upon each success you have. That brings something up... I'm in my 15th year as a freelancer, and there are guys out there in their first few years trying to charge as much (and in many cases, much more) than I do. It's ridiculous. They don't have the chops or the track record. And, like I said earlier, be careful, getting a lot of money for something you're not prepared for is a recipe for disaster.
QUESTION: As Scott got started what were his steps to A class? I'm new, I graduated from John Carlton's SWS and I realize that is a first step, but what's next in the whole picture?
SCOTT HAINES: John's Simple Writing System is superb. As I mentioned before, I've been a featured coach every time he's held it. But, if you're truly new, you need to fill in the gaps in your education. You need to read the classic texts on marketing and advertising and get grounded in the basics.
Here's a quick story to illustrate what I mean: 10 years ago, I had a meeting with Jay Abraham in his office. During the meeting, Jay asked me how many times I'd read Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins. Proud of myself, I said, "Seven times." And he immediately shot back with, "That's not enough. I've read it over 50 times."
Jay probably has the best marketing mind of anyone alive. And, before he ever did any of his seminal thinking on the subject, he immersed himself in the greats who came before him.
You should do the same.
QUESTION: Here's my problem. I need to clear $150,000, after taxes by next year. This allows me to get debt-free. What I've chosen to do is sale nutritional supplements (Virility, Bladder Control, Prostate, etc.)
My first promotion will offer the product at a pre-sale/pre-formulation discounted price.
Here's my question to Scott.
How and what would you do to generate that kind of money?... i.e. Copy strategies, marketing strategies, etc...to get it going.
SCOTT HAINES: I'm not trying to be rude, but if you're starting from dead scratch with little to no money and little to no experience in this market, you're delusional. It's a very good market, but it's also highly-competitive with pretty sophisticated customers.
If you think you're going to swoop in and clean up against some of the best companies and promotions going today, be prepared for a brutal reality check.
Selling nutritional supplements is a business... meaning... you better be prepared to absorb some setbacks while you're learning the ropes. There's a lot you can't know going in... and... you're going to pay for that lack of knowledge in time and money lost.
Read Michael Masterson's, Seven Years to Seven Figures. It'll go a long way toward clearing up your thinking.
[END PART 2]
That wraps up part 2 of my interview with Scott.
About his big expensive copywriting course:
If you order it from my naked affiliate link below before Sunday at midnight (pacific time) I’ll send you almost $1,000 in “for real” value bonuses (each printed and mailed to you at my expense), including:
* Crypto Marketing Secrets book ($810 value — 30 issues of a $27 newsletter)
* My bullet points template (which you can only get in my $297 Copywriting Grab Bag product)
* A free issue of “Email Players” (I’ll send you a copy of the latest back issue catalog, pick which one you want)
Deadline is Sunday at midnight.
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http://www.copywritinggrabbag.com/haines
Ben Settle