From The Golden Thread Mailbag …
Launching Your Career
Hi Scott,
I enjoy reading the emails from students at the end of The Golden Thread, so I thought I would ask a question of my own. I’m a new student, just on Installment Three, but I’m thoroughly enjoying the program. I think I’m going to go ahead and have the entire program sent to me so that I can work at my own pace.
First, a little background … I’m a residential real estate agent. I’m very good at what I do, but the constant stress of this business is really starting to wear me out.
Here’s my question … Do you offer a niche market program in real estate copywriting? I’m always receiving emails from people trying to sell me something that will miraculously “double my real estate business” or “make prospecting a thing of the past!” There are a million realtors, and we’re all looking for that magic bullet that will make this business easier and more lucrative. Do you know if there are opportunities in writing real estate copy currently? I know real estate, but I would like to use that knowledge to help other people build their business rather than be out there in the trenches myself.
– Sara D.
Hello Sara,
No, we don’t offer a niche program for real estate at this time. But we recognize it’s a big market with a lot of opportunity for copywriters and may very well offer one in the future. However, buried in your question is a very important realization: You just need to adjust your perspective a little.
The people who send you those promotions in the mail are very likely real estate agents who have identified an important need that other real estate agents have. If you’d like to get out of the trenches and into helping other people build their own real estate businesses, you need to do the same.
Identify a need that other real estate agents have. Pick a problem that you have already figured out, that you would even consider yourself an expert at (if you can). If you can do that, you’re halfway to reaching your goal. The other half is figuring out how to provide people with this information.
You’re on the right track!
Hi Scott,
If I only want to write short copy (sales letters with the standard reply form – similar to the copy for magazines in the Hall of Fame) because it’s what I enjoy the most in copywriting, is it still possible to earn 100K / year as I gain experience?
Also (and perhaps I just missed it),I didn’t hear/read anything about what I was supposed to do IMMEDIATELY after I finish the program. Write a bio? Prepare the copy for my freelance copywriting business? Organize the office? Then find prospects? Etc.
Thanks,
Edith
Hello Edith,
There are all kinds of copywriting opportunities that only require short letters. Catalogs (very short!), financial services (think of those 2 pages letters you get from credit card companies), space ads, webpages, etc.
The important thing for you, if you think you’re ready, is to get started. Land that first client. Then the second one will come and so on and so on. Don’t worry too much about office organization and things like that.
$100K isn’t going to happen over night … and it may take longer if you wanted to go the shorter copy route, but it can definitely happen (just ask Monica Day and Krista Jones).
You might want to check out Bob Bly’s complete Selling Yourself program (http://www.selling-yourself.com). It gives you everything you need – plus more – to launch your career.
That’s it for today. Thanks to one and all. Keep those emails coming!
Scott
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