When I first started as a copywriter, I started cold outreaching…
No, not the boring “cAN yOu PLeAse GIve mE A jOb” sales pitch…
I would break down what I like about their email, give them three tangible ideas they can test, WRITE an example of what the revision would look like, and challenge them to test it out.
(giving credit: this is Shiv’s Flaming Camel approach)
Before you yell, “Ah-ha, I’ve been waiting for this moment for over a year. Wuyen is finally caving in and retreating to selling courses… like all the other gurus.”
Nope, that’s not the point of this email.
(back to the story)
I did NOT hit an overnight win.
*shock-shock*
Instead…
Prospect #1 – *cricket*
Prospect #2 – *hush*
…
…
Prospect #9 – “I love this”… ghosting me
…
…
Prospect #13 – “You should go to hell”
…
…
Prospect #17 – “Whoever taught you this outreach should be ashamed”
(😉 Shiv)
…
…
Prospect #23: “Let’s hop on a call”
Prospect #23 became a long-term client—partnering together for over a year—where I helped them restructure their whole email marketing strategy.
The lesson?
Most gurus like to sell you on overnight success.
“My client A got this result. Client B this result. Client C has this result.”
“I don’t guarantee success… because FTC will kick my butt…”
“this is only for hard-working bla bla bla… but if I don’t help you make a gazillion buckaroo in 30 days, I’ll refund everything, no question asked.”
It’s the same promise.
Quick, easy biz-ops without risk.
In other words: 💩
Here’s what really happens in business –
– Didn’t work
– Didn’t work
– Kinda… nope, didn’t work
…
…
– Huh, did that work?
(“I’m the king of the world!”)
– Didn’t work
– Didn’t work
(“I’m embarrassing my ancestors *sobbing*”)
…
…
After a couple hundred trial & error…
One day –
Everything suddenly clicks, and it starts working—consistently.
(this is usually when entrepreneurs get bored and pivot into doing something else… which is another lesson for another day)
You are not bad at anything.
You just need more reps.
Keep doing the “work.” Keep connecting the dots. Keep improving 1% every time. And there’s (almost) nothing you can’t master.
Talk soon,
– WYH
PS – There’s only one caveat…
The fact that you CAN master anything doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Pick your zone of genius and seek expertise for the rest.