Comments on: “Guru” is a four-letter word

By: Rens Baggermans

Rens Baggermans — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:38:31 +0000

Hello Clayton,

I think finding useful free information is indeed a good thing… Like strategies or tactics that you can learn for free from the real experts.

However, I remark that I (just starting out) do indeed get good advice from you and other experts that are worth the read, but I miss a SYSTEM. In a course often there’s given a system from where to start for example. I miss that in reading the free advice from experts.

When people are more advanced I can understand that these free parts of advice are worthwhile. But those people can often implement them right away.

Thanks for reading this and I hope you’ll give me a response with some advice :).

All the best,
Rens

By: Zelimir

Zelimir — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:29:18 +0000

Hey folks,
just a few blurbs from me, being a beginner, it`s not hard to drown in a sea of information that the Internet is. Since I got interested in copywriting, there are three people I fell in love: first Michael Fortin with his honesty and will to help and power to teach, Clayton with his unique personality, huge ego I adore and laser focused precision in delivering the message to target audience that always manages to blow me away. And every blog post from him is greeted in my mailbox like royalty has arrived. And there is Gary B, the guy who is just so genuine, that it is irresistable, combined with his knowledge and experience, I fully understand where his success came from. Thanks to all three, and they all get my humble, but deepest reccomendations for begginers in need of guidance, I know I will stick with them.

By: Larry Mekus

Larry Mekus — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:29:29 +0000

THE BEST OF THE BEST….

1. Everything…absolutely everything that Clayton Makepeace offers, sells, and even gives away. I have almost every product he has produced, and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

2. MCG (Monthly Copywriting Genius) offered by AWAI. Paid for a lifetime membership, and the monthly information is excellent!! You receive an interview, a control that is dissected in detail, and also a monthly report on subject of copywriting.

3. And just as important, Carline Cole’s upcoming, first ever, 3-day bootcamp in Atlanta. I already know that is to be a sure hit, full of value.

By: Nizom

Nizom — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:32:37 +0000

I’ve started with The Gary Halbert Letters…then bought recommended by him (The Halbert’s First Approval Seal) "Shortcut Copywriting Secrets" by Scott Haines (indeed it’s shortcut and REAL getting-started tool) …and advanced with Gary Bencivenga 100 Seminar DVDs (AWESOME!).

The rest is…work, work and work!

Hope, it helps.

Nizom

By: Shanika Journey

Shanika Journey — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:03:33 +0000

Hey Clayton,

Nice article. Just one thing since I am aspiring to be a damn good copywriter myself.

All the tips you have mentioned? I already do every last one of those steps to make sure I am buying from a a strong suited copywriter, or gaining some good knowledge at least. Been doing that for a couple of years now.

That’s how I found you, Yanik Silver, Frank Kern, Dan Kennedy, Gary Halbert, and Micheal Fortin. And then you guys refer who else is pretty strong suited as well so I look them up too.

That’s how I know who to look up. What to read. I dig and dig until I find what I may or may not know to improve my copy skills for (in my opinion) the best.

Great reminder article for me. It Tells me I’m on the right track and influence to further develop my skills

By: Gerard LeBlond

Gerard LeBlond — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 02:10:42 +0000

Very best marketing and/or copywriting products you’ve bought — Eugene Schwartz: "Breakthrough Advertising"Lester Wunderman: "Being Direct"Richard V. Benson: "Secrets of Successful Direct Mail"Daniel S. Kennedy: "The Ultimate Marketing Plan"Daniel S. Kennedy: "The Ultimate Sales Letter"Gary Halbert: "The Boron Letters"Joe Girard: "How To Sell Anything to Anybody"P.T. Barnum: "Struggles and Triumphs or Sixty Years’ Recollections of P.T. Barnum including his Golden Rules for Money-Making" 1889Jay Abraham: "Your Secret Wealth" cassette course from Nightingale-ConantNapoleon Hill: "Think and Grow Rich"Frank Bettger: "How I Raised Myself From Failure To Success In Selling"Joe Karbo: "The Lazy Man’s Way to Riches"E. Joseph Cossman and William A. Cohen: "Making It! Wealth-Building Secrets From Two Great Entrepreneurial Minds"John Kremer: "1001 Ways To Market Your Books"The worse marketing and/or copywriting products I’ve bought —Bruce A. Berman: "I Got Here. You Can Too! A Master’s Course in Becoming A Millionaire"Mike Filsaime: "The 7 Figure Secrets"Respectfully,Gerard LeBlond

By: Cathy Sutter

Cathy Sutter — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:46:44 +0000

Just after I posted, I saw Jack’s post…totally agree with you Jack! Learn from one master bricklayer…

That’s why I’m focusing on learning one way–from Clayton and Carline…after all, she learned from Clayton! Touche`

Note to Jack: To separate paragraphs…I just hit the "enter" key…that works. HA…

By: Cathy Sutter

Cathy Sutter — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:39:28 +0000

I have the AWAI course, good starting point…but now that I have
The Ultimate Desktop Copy Coach, there’s no comparison.

I’m also going to Carline’s bootcamp next month. Uh, there’s a rumor going around that Clayton’s gonna be there…that’s a big WOW! (Maybe I will have an opportunity to get drunk with this guy after all…) :) OK…just kidding. It will probably be best to remain level-headed for the duration of the gig. HA…

Sure, it’s good to read the legendary masters’ books (Hopkins, Collier, etc.) and to check out blogs of various A-list copywriters…but just how much can you read?? :) I mean, when will you have the time to write???

I kind of like sticking to just a couple of teachers…and if I can’t learn from Clayton and Carline…well, then, there’s no hope for me!

Just the same…I will be purchasing Bob Bly’s Copywriters Handbook and most likely Gene Schwartz’s Breakthrough Advertising. I also frequently check the best place to get books (my local library).

Of course, the wealth of education on the Total Package web site alone is fantabulous…(both fantastic and fabulous)…plus the FREE down-loadable books offered. Thanks Clayton!

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:27:39 +0000

Snakes to my Left… Wolves to my Right

I look it at it like this, I decided to become a copywriter and make it my career … so,
just like the guy who wants to break into the brick laying trade has to for a few years, apprenticeship under ONE master brick layer at a time, focusing on learnng one way…..I’ll do the same.

Get grounded with the old masters, then pick one mentor.

Just shut the door on all the distractions, the bull shit, the Guru piker, the shark - selling - frenzy that’ll always be there to take your money and your focus away from your goal.

I put line break codes in this time, hope it works.

By: Gerard LeBlond

Gerard LeBlond — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:29:53 +0000

Incidentally - the one other person that has come across as an honest person, other than Ray Edwards, is Gerard LeBlond. Just as outstanding copywriters test - I too always test, not only my copy, but also the folks I work with…and let me state, very strongly, that Mr. Gerard LeBlond is one of the few respected commenters who is offering real value and who has understands what people in my market really want. Many, if not most, of the other participants have yet to discover what people like me want or discovered with pricing through their back ends. Thank you Mr. Makepeace!!!! I simply wanted to clarify my position. :)- Gerard LeBlond