2005 - 11-29-05

Let me switch gears here for a moment. I
know only a few truly world-class copywriters and there is
something unique about them you would never guess. That
secret is...

None Of Them
Are Cheap!

When I was learning my trade, I bought every
book, course, and seminar about copywriting and marketing I
could get my hands on. I didn't care if I had to spend the
rent or utility money to learn more about my passion. When
John Carlton learned Gary Bencivenga was giving a $5,000
seminar, he was the first to sign up. He did so without even
reading the sales pitch. I also signed up for Bencivenga's
seminar without bothering to read the pitch.

Later, in a private conversation with Gary
Bencivenga when I was in New York to attend his seminar, he
told me that he had privately purchased everything about
marketing and copywriting I had ever offered for sale.

Years ago, when I was teaching on a regular
basis at the Jefferson Institute in Utah, Mark Stoddard
spotted me picking out several books on marketing on display
at the Institute, and then going to cashier to pay for them.
He told me since I was a featured speaker, I could get all
this material at a fraction of the cost and didn't have to
pay full price.

You know what? It'll probably seem curious
to many of my readers, but it never even crossed my mind to
ask if I could get this valuable material at a discount.

I charge different prices for my different
services. Sometimes it's as low as $7,500 for a 2-hour
telephone consultation. The most common price for my
copywriting services is $15,000 payable in advance plus 5%
of the gross sales I am able to achieve for my client.
Sometimes on a job which is going to take me a lot of time,
I charge $30,000 upfront.

I've noticed a BIG difference in the people
who hire me at $30,000. Basically, they only ask two
questions:

"Are you available to do my job?"
And if I say
'yes' the second question is,
"Who do I make the check out
to, and what address do I FedEx it to?"