As promised, I’ve done a review of The Ultimate Desktop Copy Coach from Clayton Makepeace. The course just became publicly available about 30 minutes ago, and there are lots of extra bonuses thrown in for those who move fast (including one from me).
The short answer is… it’s a great A-to-Z copywriting course taught in an accessible style. At over 1,000 pages of comprehensive copywriting knowledge, it’s likely the only course in copywriting you’ll ever need.
Bookmark and Promote!
Related Articles
Thesis Theme for WordPress
Thesis is the search engine optimized WordPress theme of choice for serious online publishers. The stunning design and innovative options panel make Thesis perfect for beginners and professionals alike. Find out more below:
11 comments... add one
#1 Moe → 06.27.08 at 11:54 am
Looks like an outstanding course.
I’m curious to know why they haven’t offered a payment plan, though - surely the lump-sum price tag is one of the barriers to purchase they uncovered while “in the mind” of their target audience?
#2 Bucktowndusty @FromThePen.com → 06.27.08 at 12:34 pm
Are sample contracts included in this course? I didn’t see this in your review (I could have missed it)?
Buck
#3 Brian Clark → 06.27.08 at 12:36 pm Copyblogger
Buck, do you mean copywriting engagement contracts? If so, I’ll email you one.
#4 Bucktowndusty @FromThePen.com → 06.27.08 at 12:43 pm
Yeah, If I approach a company saying I can increase their sales with my copy, I’d like to see the typical contract that covers a situation like this - how you track sales increases, price ranges within the industry for this type of service, typical payments and durations, etc.
Would be neat if Clayton did some video samples of this type of situation. Allow us to “see” and “hear” a mock copywriting interaction between writer and company.
#5 Douglas Karr → 06.27.08 at 1:34 pm
Sounds like a great package to give away to a copy-challenged reader of your blog (i.e. Me!)
#6 Chad → 06.27.08 at 2:35 pm
Hey Brian,
This certainly looks like a “must-buy” product for any serious copywriter out there - especially those looking to get into the game.
However, since it seems they are targeting beginners just as much as more advanced writers, I was wondering why they wouldn’t bother with a payment plan.
For me personally, if they had a 3-monthly payments plan set up I would have already placed my order. I know you have to sometimes invest more than you have to be successful…but sometimes people purchase much more than they consume. Let’s be real…who has actually read every book and ebook they ever purchased?
I’ve already got AWAI products coming to my door - as somebody I trust in this business I’ll ask you this flat out: Would you purchase this today if you were a young copywriter who didn’t have a $1000 product in your budget? If so, why or why not?
#7 Brian Clark → 06.27.08 at 3:56 pm Copyblogger
Moe and Chad, I just heard back from Jackie with the Makepeace team and a payment plan is in the works.
Chad, to answer your other question… well, the answer is yes, but let me explain that. That answer comes from the benefit of hindsight, both on my part and Clayton’s.
I’ve spent thousands of dollars on just about every copywriting course around. So looking at this course in this context I think it might have done the trick alone when I was starting out.
That doesn’t mean that other copywriting courses are bad. In fact, all the major copywriting courses are extremely good. But I think by waiting, Clayton got the benefit of seeing all the competition, listening to people talk about where they got stuck with those courses, and made improvements.
So, that’s my answer. Hope it made sense.
#8 Chad → 06.27.08 at 4:03 pm
Brian - thanks for the response. The moment there’s a payment plan (which they’ve also informed me is in the works) is the moment I’ll purchase (through your affiliate link).
#9 Spending more time on promotion and free content → 06.29.08 at 1:12 pm
[...] The Ultimate Desktop Copy Coach [...]
#10 lawton chiles → 06.30.08 at 10:25 am
I have had the distinct honor to work with some of Clayton’s team, and also to be on his Easy Writers Club mailing list. Other than reading Scientific Advertising, and other classic books, and reading your blog Brian, Clayton is really the only other person I go to online for business, and copy advice.
He just gets it.
He pushes the research angle because that is where the GOLDEN marketing angles and hooks are. No one can really be creative, like Ogilvy said. It all comes down to who does more effective research. After that, turning the copy from features to emotional -laden benefits is a whole lot easier.
Example: In doing a sales letter for a fishing marina, I picked up Florida Sports Fisherman magazine or something like that.
I turned to the Letters To The Editor section.
There was a letter called The Chief Joy Of Fishing. It said that the whole “being on the water” experience was crap, and that the real reason guys went fishing was catch a bigger fish than the guy next to him!
This was the “thinking” pattern I was looking for and it really skyrocketed the letter’s emotional impact.
Research is one of the major copy keys to success, and I’m glad you pointed it out. Sorry this is so long
#11 Chad → 07.01.08 at 10:37 pm
I know I may be anticipating this a bit too much…but I’m seriously checking the sales letter 3 times a day to see if they’ve added a payment plan.
Nothing yet…any news on this? I sure hope it happens before the price jump on the 15th!
Leave a Comment