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 via quick meals drive-thrus so I might acquire sufficient change to purchase a sweet bar and a soda to carry me over for the day.
I acquired a job at In-N-Out Burger, and after a yr of working there, I requested my boss for a increase. He instructed 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 bathrooms at 5 a.m. and ready for the Arizona solar to come back up so I might clear the car parking zone.
The writer when he was working at In-N-Out Burger. Courtesy of Michael Clendenen
I discovered myself scrubbing concrete by day and doing punk-rock reveals by night time. In the meantime, my buddies had been graduating school, getting married, and having youngsters.
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 automotive.
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 duplicate. Here is how I did it by educating myself and sending out letters.
In 2017, a buddy requested me to jot down an advert promoting his Mustang in alternate for 10% of the sale
I might by no means written an advert earlier than, so I borrowed my buddy’s telephone and Googled “the best way to write a superb commercial.” I found a e-newsletter referred to as “The Gary Halbert Letter.” I learn one of many newsletters, through which he mentioned he might cost a shopper $15,000 for a letter he wrote in his underwear at his kitchen desk.
That was after I knew that is what I needed to do for the remainder of my life.
I learn each e-newsletter Halbert had. After I was executed with these, I might sit on the ground at Barnes & Noble and skim all of the advertising books within the retailer as a result of I could not afford to purchase them.
Subsequent, I had to determine the best way to discover purchasers.
Sending letters modified every thing
The No. 1 technique I realized from Halbert was to ship letters within the mail to companies to land purchasers. However it wasn’t that simple to start with as a result of I did not have many assets.
I began writing copy on the library. One buddy would drop me off within the morning, and one other would assist me get dwelling. I used to be writing my letters by hand, and after I ran out of paper, the type librarian would give me printer paper to jot down on.
I used the Reference USA database — now often called Knowledge Axle — that the library needed to discover the addresses of companies I needed to work with. I landed my first shopper via 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 bounce 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 choice, 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. After I was youthful, I might been in a number of automotive accidents, and I had scoliosis. My remedy from a chiropractor helped me heal, and that is how I opened my letter.
I did not discuss all the issues that I might do for them — I instructed chiropractors in my space why I used to be captivated with their work and why I used to be emotionally invested in them, and I gave them the chance to discover working collectively. It was sincere and constructed prompt rapport.
These are the identical rules that I exploit in my purchasers’ 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 purchasers 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 purchasers. My work brings in between $40,000 and $100,000 per 30 days on common for my purchasers.
I now have my very own place full of 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 at the present time, after I need to deliver on new purchasers, I ship out a brand new batch of letters. Snail mail saved my life and fully modified my future.