A question comes in via Linkedin:
“I’m a student currently learning email copywriting and I really admire your work in this field. If you had to give one piece of advice to a beginner who wants to become great at email copywriting, what would it be? I really appreciate your guidance.”
I doubt anyone will want to do the following.
They might get excited by it, and maybe even want to share it.
But actually do it?
Doubtful.
But here’s what I would do if starting over, knowing nothing about email copywriting:
1. Ignore goo-roos reciting corporate CEO talking points about so-called AI –
I do not recommend wasting time getting bogged down in pointless arguments with their useful idiot followers/customers parroting what they’re told to say, either. Some of these guys get very precious about their so-called AI. And it’s like wrestling a pig: you both get dirty, but the pig likes it.
I suggest spending that time on completing the rest of the tasks on the list below, instead.
2. Write at LEAST 10 (yes, 10) emails per day for 30-days –
If nothing else, this’ll get you writing, and get your iterations in.
And no, it doesn’t matter if you have a list or not.
In fact, what I’d do is just write them as if you do have a list and post them on social media.
But, instead of the call to action to buy something, make it a call to action to join your email list. You are looking to see what people are responding to, what they’re not responding to, and honing your craft simultaneously.
3. Watch the “Johnny Carson: King of Late Night” once per day for 30-days –
Johnny was a true master at connecting with audiences.
The first ten minutes alone is probably the only “email” lesson you’ll need. But watch the whole thing, yes every day, for those 30 days while thinking about your life and I DEFY you not to become a far better email copywriter.
4. Read at least one direct mail magalog per day for 30-days –
Use Google to find them.
But find some old school (direct mail) magalogs that were long-running controls and specifically look at the SIDE BARS. Those sidebars are very often perfect email copywriting “templates” to model (not swipe or copy).
5. Listen to one high rated talk radio show per day for 30-days –
You can find these on YouTube, Rumble, etc.
Look for Rush Limbaugh or Michael Savage, specifically. Rush for how he would rally his base to take action and apply his infotainment super powers, and Savage for story-telling skill, all of which the email copywriter can model, replicate, learn from.
6. Talk to someone in your market each day for 30-days –
Not online, but in person, ideally.
The more you actually talk to your market (by “talk” I mean mostly LISTEN), the better you can sell to them. I guarantee you none of the rubbery little anons chanting “AI is here to stay!” in unison are doing it. And you’ll blow right past them as a result.
7. Watch one Seinfeld episode per day for 30-days –
Many years ago, I invented the term “Seinfeld emails” which has been since used (and re-taught) by a lot of online marketers, I have noticed. And for good reason: Seinfeld was the biggest show of its day, with the biggest influence of its day, with the biggest audience of its day.
You can learn much about persuasive communication by watching it.
8. Watch at least one standup comedy from a master each day for 30-days –
Related to watching Seinfeld, find some comedians you enjoy, the more politically incorrect (i.e., on verge of being cancelled, not the ones who just parrot virtue signaling mainstream narrative approved lines), the better. Pay close attention to how they get you engaged and maybe even enraged.
9. Write a PERSONAL email to someone you love persuading them to do something you want each day for 30-days –
Ooh.
Next time a goo-roo tells you about how great their so-called AI copy is, how you’ll be left behind, and other corporate CEO drivel they’re parroting… ask them if they’d write a heartfelt, emotional, love letter to their wife or a letter about the death of a loved one to their mother or spouse with fapGPT.
Then pay attention to what they say, it will speak volumes.
* Read your SPAM each day for 30-days –
Why?
So you can see a lot of what not to do.
Or, if someone you want to hear from is wriggling around in there, your actions after that will be telling.
There you have it.
It’s not supposed to be “easy.” If it was , everyone would be doing it.
In fact, here’s one last, 11th thing to do, and it’s free:
Go to my mobile app, and listen to an hour of it each day, for 30-days.
Put me on double speed and you’ll get through the 40 hours of content in there waiting patiently for you, that can also do much for your righteous box office gross when writing email copy.
Here’s where to access it:
Ben Settle
