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Congratulations! Well done! You now own the program that gives you everything you need to learn the skills to launch
your brand-new freelance career!

time to dive into the world

It’s of content writing and copywriting, so you can enjoy the “do-what-you-like” lifestyle that
comes with freelance writing.

Ready? Let’s begin with the video below where you’ll meet Katie Yeakle and Rebecca Matter.

Video Lesson:

Audio Only (right-click to save) Transcript

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As Katie mentioned in the video, you’ll be doing exercises throughout this program to fully immerse yourself into the
well-paid writer’s life
.

You’ll find each exercise in the running text of each PART of this program. But to make notes and keep track of your
findings and ideas … be sure to download your WORKBOOK (also found on your Member Page) for this program
and fill in each section as prompted. This includes each exercise.

To get those writing muscles going now, let’s start writing with this exercise!

Read the instructions below, and then make notes in your WORKBOOK .

Exercise #1
Write every day starting with this exercise:
Your writer’s life — How you envision it
Your mission: Create a “vision document” about what the writer’s life actually looks like when you picture yourself
living the dream.

Write 100 words on your vision of what the well-paid writer’s life looks like for YOU.

A Glimpse into the Type of Writing Companies

Desperately Need
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One the core concepts of becoming a well-paid writer is the

of
art of persuasion. Persuasive writing, to be specific. And, we’ll
show you just how big a demand there is for this “superpower.”

For a quick glimpse of persuasive writing in action, check out this

Facebook ad. You can see that the ad’s mission is to persuade the
reader to Learn More .

Seems simple enough, right?

We’re just getting started, though …

You’re about to learn, practice, and ace the copywriting principles

that have launched life-changing careers for more than two
decades! It’s your turn to take these skills where YOU want to go
as a well-paid and in-demand sales copywriter, content writer, or
both.

It’stime to wrap up this introductory section with our favorite tips

to propel you forward on a clear and proven path to success
throughout your writing career.

Daily Habits for Success

7
How to become successful … by imitating success
We know that life can sometimes get in the way of achieving your dream. But you can get there if you commit to small
tasks each day.

As you work your way through this program, we encourage you to embrace the following daily habits of success
provided by top copywriters, including Mark and Paul, and others, such as Bob Bly, David Deutsch, Marcella Allison, Will
Newman, Mike Palmer, and us.

If you make this commitment, these habits will become routine, and you’ll make meaningful progress. We promise they
will make a world of difference to you.
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Habit #1: Make the commitment to be at work.

One of the main benefits of being a freelance copywriter is you can work from home or
anywhere you choose. But, every copywriter we interviewed has had to make the
following commitment:

When it’s time to work, you must adopt the mindset that you’re at work.

The best way to do that is to establish an area that defines your “office.” All you really need
is a workspace for your computer, perhaps headphones to tune out distractions, and ideally

a door you can close so everyone knows, “I’m working now. Do not disturb.”
Paul Hollingshead

Paul Hollingshead said, “It’s important to create a space you enjoy going to — that’s all your own — that’s bright and
conducive to creativity.”

Speaking of distractions, when you’re at work, turn off the TV, ignore those dishes, shut down your email, and really
commit to focusing on learning, writing, and doing the exercises in this program.

Habit #2: Establish a consistent schedule and stick to it!

“Know when you work best, know how you work best, build a productive schedule around those times, and stick to it.”

That’s the advice of master copywriter Gene Schwartz, who you’ll learn about in this program.

When are you most productive? If it’s early morning, make a date with yourself to rise at 6
a.m. and spend an hour on studying, before you head to your day job or get the kids ready
for school. Or, if you’re more focused in the evenings, have a nice dinner and then spend an
hour working on this program instead of watching TV.

Take your calendar and block out time each day to work on your copywriting skills. You can
find the time if your desire is strong enough! Find inspiration in people like Danielle Steel,
the prolific, best-selling novelist who raised nine children while building her career.

Mike Palmer Here’s one more trick that many of our members have embraced. Once again, it comes
from Gene Schwartz:

Set a timer for 30 minutes.

Do nothing else except writing during that time. Nothing else, except maybe studying a section of this program.
When the timer goes off, stand up and take a short break to breathe, stretch, drink some water, and refresh your
mind.
Do this as many times as you can each day, depending on your schedule.

Master copywriter Mike Palmer does this, but he sets his timer for 45 minutes because that works better for him.
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Habit #3: Read every day.

The most successful copywriters we know are also avid readers. It’s where they get ideas, inspiration, and more. And it

may be the most important habit of all!

Why? When you’re reading every day, you’ll fuel your writing ideas, get powerful
perspectives from all angles of the marketing/writing world, find exciting ways to bring
your writing to life, discover how the masters approach different projects, and expand your
research skills to infuse your writing with stand-out concepts.

Copywriting legend and AWAI’s Editorial Director and Copy Chief Sandy Franks swears by
this habit. She should know — she’s been a copy chief for some of the most successful
copywriters in our industry! Sandy wants you to know, “It’s been said that copywriters … the
most famous and ones making the most money, are naturally curious to a fault. While this is
Sandy Franks
probably true for the most part, it is the copywriter’s job to know — inside and out — not
only the product they are selling but also to whom they are selling, the target audience. The best way to do this is read
everything you possibly can on the subject matter. This deep knowledge is what allows you to develop an emotionally
compelling big idea, bring the benefits to life, enhance the product’s unique selling proposition and build tons of
credibility.

“For each new project you take on, you’ll understand that research is critical to your success. And over time, you’ll
become one of those copywriters who is curious to a fault."

We’ll explain some of those benefits Sandy just mentioned as you work your way through this program.

If you’re looking for suggestions on what to read to enrich your copywriting education in addition to this program, dig
into some of these copywriting classics recommended by Master Copywriter John Forde. Read the emails you get from
AWAI and the other companies you’re associated with. And keep up with your other reading as well — everything from
fiction to magazine covers to postcards you get in the mail to product labels. It all helps you develop an eye (and ear)
for copywriting

Habit #4: Write every day.

Copywriting is a craft, a skill that you learn and then perfect with practice.

Mark Ford believes that to be a good, competent copywriter, it takes 1,000 hours of practice. To be a great copywriter,
5,000 hours. Having said that, you won’t have to wait 1,000 hours to start working with clients. You may land a client
tomorrow, and you can begin using your new skills to help him or her right away.
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But if you’re writing every day, those hours will add up quickly. So practice, practice,
practice.

What should you write?

Copy the samples in this program and in our bonus materials.

As you learn about persuasive copywriting, you could offer to improve the website of
a nonprofit organization — as a donation (and a work sample).

Write for local small businesses for free, just for the experience. You could even do this
Mark Ford
trade for their services. (Think of a local gym, dog groomer, or other business you can
help.)
You might also create a journal of your experiences as a copywriter, starting with your work with this program.
Check out our Write Now! persuasive writing prompts to find a collection of topic ideas for you.
And, by the end of this program, you’ll know what to write on your own freelance website to attract great clients.

Habit #5: Prepare to write … before you write.

Before a master sculptor begins chiseling away at a chunk of marble, she gathers her tools together. She talks to the
model. She makes sketches and maps out her approach.

The same is true for the top copywriters. Before a master copywriter like Carline Anglade-
Cole (shown here) puts a word on the page, preparation paves the way. This may involve
the following ideas we’ll cover in this program:

Product or market research

Picturing the prospect and thinking about his or her interests
Looking at the structure of a direct-response letter
Making a list of promises that will get the attention of your reader
Carline Anglade Cole
These are just a few ideas; you’ll develop your own.

Habit #6: Research everything.

Research is of major importance to every copywriting assignment. Your success depends on what you discover during
your own research, and how you use your findings to create powerful, persuasive messages.
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You’ll come across a major section in this program on the best ways to conduct research
and find winning gems for your copy. But as a starting point for your daily habits, consider
this checklist on types of research you’ll do for any product you’re writing about. (Master
copywriter Guillermo Rubio, pictured here, is living proof of this. He’s one of AWAI’s top
copywriters.):

The product itself

Specific components of the product (for example, the ingredients in a supplement)

Guillermo Rubio
The company selling the product (its track record, how it was founded, etc.)

Previous marketing campaigns for the product

Bonuses or additional products/offers that come with the product
Competitive products
Social media forums where people are talking about the product (or the product category)
Online reviews (if applicable) related to the product
Books, websites, associations, and other online resources related to the product category
Thought leaders and other authorities related to the product
News, trends, forecasts, surveys, and other online information related to the product

Habit #7: Banish writer’s block.

You know what’s great about studying the winning copy samples we’ve included in this program? You never have to
face writer’s block. You can use the formats of these samples to kickstart your own project.

program, you’ll learn the top secrets and formulas you can apply to any project. So,
In this

when it’s time to write a new promotion, simply refer to the formulas as your guide.

Ifyou’re still stuck, we recommend taking a break from your project. Walk around the block.
Play outside with your kids or dog. Take a shower. Rejuvenate your mind and your body.
Quite often, an idea that’s been ruminating in your brain will come to life. Or a new idea will
pop into your head.

Or just start with a “fearless fast-write” exercise (coined by master copywriter Marcella
Allison, shown here), where you take a random topic and just start freely writing about it,
Marcella Allison
journal style. This may help you get your flow back.

If you commit to these seven daily habits, you’ll definitely move quickly to a fulfilling career.

Let’s start building your new habits with your next practice exercise. Read the instructions below, and then make notes
in your WORKBOOK .
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Exercise #2

Create your study schedule for the next 30 days.

As we mentioned in the “7 Daily Habits” … successful copywriters block out time for work.

exercise, we’d like you to take your calendar and block out time each day
In this for the next 30 days to study this
program, complete the exercises, take each quiz, and turn in each assignment.

Try to make that time block a sacred, uninterrupted time just for this effort. And then, in 30 days, you’ll look back
and realize how much you’ve accomplished already!

The Key Takeaways from Part 1

“Now that you’ve completed the introduction to this program, you understand – as an AWAI member – you’re in the
best possible place to learn a highly valued skill that will change your life.

You also know …

Who created this program — and WHY

Your big “WHY” — the reason you’re pursuing the well-paid writer’s life

To achieve success in this program, it’s best to follow the lessons and exercises in order; don’t skip anything
There’s a Facebook community waiting to meet you and support your success
Our seven recommended daily habits for success help you get set up for success

That’s a great start! Now let’s take a look at what’s next.