When I bought this book I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about whether it was another of those 'anyone can do it' type of book, designed to make its author a subsidiary income for very little additional work. How wrong I was! I couldn't put the book down and was constantly highlighting and taking notes from it.

Incidentally, the final pages are very useful as they summarise the website references that appear throughout the book. Shortly after finishing reading the book I was contacted by my first client, and I referred to the book for any help I needed. Don't be fooled by the more glossy looking books available - this one does exactly what it says on the tin!

I had also emailed the author prior to finding out about the book and he responded promptly and courteously to my questions. Furthermore I raised a question with him having read the book and received a response within a day or two. A most helpful author who is obviously very experienced and simply wants to disseminate his knowledge to aspiring copywriters.

I am so grateful I came across this book. It has given me so much confidence and insight into copywriting and remains to date one of the only start-up books that details what you need to do clearly and honestly. I have actually had fun completing the tasks in the book, become much more forthright in my abilities and, most importantly of all, learned to not sell myself short, but to clearly pitch for what I am worth. Sometimes when starting out you can't imagine what you'll earn, how you'll earn it, if this career is for you, how people have got there, etc. This book details all of that and more, and truly gives an accurate account of what you need to do to get along in the industry and what you can expect from it too. I couldn't recommend it enough.

This book is ideal for anyone wanting to try their hand as a freelance copywriter. In particular, it addresses that thorny problem of finding fee-paying work from scratch. It gives links, for example, to a number of sites seeking freelance work - sites that have been vetted as genuine. Being an eBook, the links and downloads are particularly useful.

It can be used either as a reference manual or as a step-by-step guide. For the complete beginner, following the book in sequence will give them the confidence to try, without overstepping themselves in the early stages.

The author is UK-based, but has built an international clientele, so it is just as relevant in the USA and other English speaking parts of the world.

AMAZON REVIEW

I wish this text had existed when I first started writing many years ago. The practical focus and the no nonsense approach make this book instantly readable and highly applicable when setting up a copywriting business.

I find that Len Smith goes well beyond the `common sense' of writing copy and, more importantly, setting up a business from home. His advice is the A-Z of Copywriting and he takes you from setting up yourself in forming a business of writing and managing and interacting with your likely prospects and clients, to purchasing very simple technology for recording and playing back phone conversations and interviews with clients and others.

The author even locates and specifies free software packages to aid the process of copywriting. In many ways, the title is a misnomer. The context of his writing moves beyond simple copywriting to business writing and researching for articles and the occasional white paper. To me it is a real primer for business writing, full stop!

A possible slight weakness in the text is that the author has stayed clear of designing and writing advertisements. It is probably a good idea because it is an area filled with conflicting views.

He has been very clear on `sticking to the knitting' of copywriting and I believe the book has delivered in its defined parameters and meets the needs of the reader who really does want to become a successful copywriter.

 My final review and summary

*It is not yet another re-work of `twenty killer headlines'. It is a genuine book on writing sensibly and for profit.

* It is a very down to earth, practical guide. Anyone who believes they can write, really can expect to be earning money from home - quickly

* Most valuable: (1) ways to get into print and get fee-paid work fast (2) how to set up a copywriting website at no cost - and how to get it onto page one of Google (3) download links to free software tools to boost writing productivity

* Written by a practicing freelancer who has been successful year in, year out (I checked his business website)

* One of the few `how to' books that really does spill all the beans

* The author says he will refresh the book every six months (free to existing readers) with new material and links.


Finally, this text portrays the ways and means to get started in establishing yourself for a career in copywriting. There certainly seems to be a strong motivation in his writing to"just do it" and it appears from the indicative fees quoted by the author that this can be a very profitable enterprise that can be run from the comfort of one's own home.

I have tried a number of books on becoming a copywriter, but have found them lacking when it comes to the practicalities. I felt very isolated as a beginner, and I found my confidence was low. I got to the point where I didn't know where to begin. How do you get `on the circuit'? How much should you charge? What should your contract look like? How can I talk to potential clients on the phone without sounding an absolute beginner?

This book covers all these points, so it is a real confidence builder. For me, the section on how to get early paid work has been extremely useful. It works.

It is not so much a `how to write' book as a very practical `how to become' book. Before I was recommended this book i must have spent over £100 on other titles (mentioning no names) which were just awful.

Thanks to the author of this book - it felt as though he were sitting next to me and encouraging me throughout the whole process. I've just come back from a great, much needed holiday with my daughter which was paid for by my first few copywriting jobs. Just brilliant.