This story initially appeared on Enterprise Insider.
Earlier than I knew it, I had destroyed my life. I used to be a rail-thin 19-year-old, and I used to be so poor, I spent each morning strolling by means of quick meals drive-thrus so I may gather sufficient change to purchase a sweet bar and a soda to carry me over for the day.
I obtained a job at In-N-Out Burger, and after a yr of working there, I requested my boss for a increase. He informed me as a substitute that I ought to be part of the morning crew. Little did I do know that meant I might be scrubbing bogs at 5 a.m. and ready for the Arizona solar to return up so I may clear the car parking zone.
The creator when he was working at In-N-Out Burger. Courtesy of Michael Clendenen
I discovered myself scrubbing concrete by day and doing punk-rock exhibits by night time. In the meantime, my pals had been graduating faculty, getting married, and having children.
By 22, my life was even worse. I used to be residing out of a single motel room with 5 different individuals and a chihuahua to economize. I did not even have an web connection — not to mention a smartphone, a pc, or a automobile.
However I turned it throughout, and I am now a six-figure copywriter and direct-response marketer who’s labored with Fortune 100 firms, USA BMX, political campaigns, and extra, strategizing advertising and marketing and replica. This is how I did it by instructing myself and sending out letters.
In 2017, a pal requested me to put in writing an advert promoting his Mustang in trade for 10% of the sale
I would by no means written an advert earlier than, so I borrowed my pal’s cellphone and Googled “learn how to write a very good commercial.” I found a e-newsletter known as “The Gary Halbert Letter.” I learn one of many newsletters, through which he mentioned he may cost a consumer $15,000 for a letter he wrote in his underwear at his kitchen desk.
That was once I knew that is what I wished to do for the remainder of my life.
I learn each e-newsletter Halbert had. Once I was finished with these, I would sit on the ground at Barnes & Noble and browse all of the advertising and marketing books within the retailer as a result of I could not afford to purchase them.
Subsequent, I had to determine learn how to discover shoppers.
Sending letters modified every thing
The No. 1 technique I realized from Halbert was to ship letters within the mail to companies to land shoppers. However it wasn’t that simple at first as a result of I did not have many assets.
I began writing copy on the library. One pal would drop me off within the morning, and one other would assist me get residence. I used to be writing my letters by hand, and once I ran out of paper, the type librarian would give me printer paper to put in writing on.
I used the Reference USA database — now generally known as Knowledge Axle — that the library needed to discover the addresses of companies I wished to work with. I landed my first consumer by means of a letter. I made a decision I might work on fee solely, and solely with companies that I had a private vested curiosity in.
My letters had been so efficient, I did not really feel the necessity to leap on the social-media prepare
In a world of content material creators however with out constant web entry at my disposal, letters had been my solely possibility, which labored in my favor and made me stand out.
One of many first teams of individuals I began working with was chiropractors as a result of I felt strongly in regards to the work they did. Once I was youthful, I would been in a number of automobile accidents, and I had scoliosis. My therapy from a chiropractor helped me heal, and that is how I opened my letter.
I did not discuss all the issues that I may do for them — I informed chiropractors in my space why I used to be keen about their work and why I used to be emotionally invested in them, and I gave them the chance to discover working collectively. It was trustworthy and constructed instantaneous rapport.
These are the identical ideas that I take advantage of in my shoppers’ copy now. I nonetheless work with chiropractors, however I’ve expanded to working with relationship coaches, knowledge scientists, and anxiousness coaches. I additionally coach different copywriters on each their copywriting expertise and acquiring shoppers utilizing letters.
I now make between $8,000 and $17,000 per 30 days in revenue
I work round 35 hours per week, and my earnings has elevated as I’ve introduced on extra shoppers. My work brings in between $40,000 and $100,000 per 30 days on common for my shoppers.
I now have my very own place stuffed with furnishings that I purchased. I’ve a profitable enterprise with out spending all of my time on social media, and I simply turned 27.
Even to this present day, once I wish to deliver on new shoppers, I ship out a brand new batch of letters. Snail mail saved my life and fully modified my future.
