90-Day Copywriting Challenge: Do You Have What it Takes To Become a Copywriter?

What’s the best way for a beginner to learn copywriting in 2024?

Should you take an expensive course?

Should you read a book?

Should you hire a coach?

Nope!

The best way to learn copywriting in 2024, is to complete a copywriting challenge that was created 40+ years ago, by one of the best copywriters who’s ever lived.

I’m talking about Gary Halbert’s 30-day copywriting challenge.

He created this copywriting challenge for raw beginners looking to become copywriting pros in 30 days.

When I started copywriting in 2020, I took this challenge.

Well, kinda.

The thing is….

This challenge is pretty outdated.

For example:

For one of the exercises, he wants you to hand draw the layouts of classic direct mail advertisements.

Not the best use of your time.

But…

The good news is…

The core principles and concepts of this challenge remain the same.

I updated this copywriting challenge and made it relevant for beginner copywriters in 2024.

Instead of 30 days…

This is a 90-day copywriting challenge (you CAN complete this in 30 days, maybe, but it’ll be extremely hard. I’m talking 10+ hours per day, at least).

If you take this 90-day challenge, you will learn the copywriting basics, feel confident in your writing ability and be able to get clients shortly after.

This copywriting challenge is a step-by-step blueprint for beginners who want to learn copywriting as quickly as possible.

 

5 Main Reasons Why Beginner Copywriters Should Complete this Copywriting Challenge

#1. Set yourself up for success

A huge mistake beginners make is skipping over the basics. The main reason why I was able to get into copywriting so fast is because I built a very sturdy foundation of the evergreen copywriting principles, fundamentals and rules. If you learn the basics as a beginner, you set yourself up for a profitable LONG-TERM career.

#2. Learn from the best

Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, learn what has been proven to work from the very best copywriters in the game. By taking this copywriting challenge, you will learn from 10 of the best copywriters of all time.

#3. Fastest way to get good at copywriting

 

We’re talking 90 days to pick up a new, life-changing skill. This is an accelerated bootcamp for a complete copywriting education. You will not learn copywriting (or any other profession) faster than 90 days.

#4. Habit of writing

The more you write, the more money you make. By taking this 90-day copywriting challenge, you be able to write EXTREMELY FAST because you will be writing every single day.

#5. Discover if this career’s right for you

If your butt is still on the spiky fence, then give this copywriting challenge a run for its money.

The worst that can happen? You decide copywriting ain’t for you. And you can go along your merry way without wasting years in a career you despise.

 

The 90-Day Copywriting Challenge for Beginner Copywriters

This copywriting challenge is very achievable (only 3 main steps) and relatively short (in one “semester” you can graduate and start getting paid to write).

If you complete this copywriting challenge, you will gain one of the most profitable skills on the planet and be able to leverage what you learned into a successful career.

Here is the 90-day challenge…

1. Passive Learning

When starting out, the MOST important thing to do is learn copywriting, the RIGHT WAY.

Learn from the very select few copywriters who have made BILLIONS (through products sold) and have paved the way in this industry.

And do not learn from ANYONE ELSE.

During this challenge, you are not allowed to read ANY blog posts, watch any YouTube videos, or buy any guru courses.

Just read these 10 books:

1. The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
2. The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman
3. How to Write a Good Advertisement by Victor O. Schwab
4. Scientific Advertising By Claude Hopkins
5. The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
6. Ogilvy on Advertising By David Ogilvy
7. Tested Advertising Methods By John Caples
8. Cashvertising By Drew Eric Whitman
9. The Copywriter’s Handbook By Bob Bly
10. Kick-Ass Copywriting Secrets of a Marketing Rebel By John Carlton

Read them once for pleasure.

Then, read them again. The 2^nd time, take detailed notes (I wrote 10-50 page summaries per book).

If you strive for 25 pages per day, you can realistically read these 10 books (2x each) within 90 days.

 

2. Copywriting Practice Exercises

Passive learning is important, but it’s not enough.

You want to gain an inside-out understanding of the writing process.

You achieve this through practicing your copywriting skills.

Here are 3 copywriting exercises you’ll practice over the next 90 days….

#1. Read, analyze and handwrite successful ads

Gary Halbert preached this method.

He said that the fastest way to become a pro copywriter is to read, analyze and handwrite great direct response ads.

Here are 10 ads to start:

10 Best Ad Copy Examples that will Make YOU a Better Copywriter

Read each ad out loud.

Then…

Write it out by hand, line by line.

Then…

Analyze each ad. Break down each sentence. Uncover the hidden psychology, emotional triggers, benefits, appeals and hooks baked “in between the lines.” You will know what to look for once you start reading the above books.

I find this practice exercise to be the BEST way to quickly improve your copywriting skills.

This all takes about 30 minutes to do (Depending on how long the ad is. Some can take days to write out by hand).

Do this for 1 ad per day, or 30 minutes (depending how long the ad is. Some ads can take days to write out by hand)

#2. Turning Features, to Benefits, to REAL Benefits

Emotional benefits are one of the most important elements of copywriting.

To become a successful copywriter, you must become a master at writing irresistible benefits.

Here is a technique for writing killer benefits…

Step 1:

Go to Amazon.com

Pick a product you’d enjoy writing about.

Then, open an Excel spreadsheet (you can use Word or Notepad but Excel is more organized).

Then, create 3 sections at the top & label them… Feature, Benefit, Ultimate Benefit.

It will look like this:

 

Step 2:

Next up…

Add the product’s name to the left-side column.

Then, add 3-5 features from the Amazon product you choose, below the column labeled “feature.”

Like this…

Step 3:

Now for the fun part…

Turn each dull feature into a colorful benefit.

Add each benefit under the “benefit” column.

Step 4:

Then, take the benefit you just created and go a step further.

Uncover the ULTIMATE benefit.

What this benefit will DO for your customer.

Easy way to find this:

Say “So what?” to the benefit. Soon, you will uncover the TRUE benefit.

Here’s a quick example:

Imagine…

Your product is a car.

The feature is - “oncoming car sensor.”

A benefit to this feature could be, “to avoid crashes and fender benders”.

But so what?

So what that you can avoid crashes?

What’s the REAL benefit of this?

The ULTIMATE benefit (which you’d add to the last column in Excel) is that you’ll protect yourself and your loved ones from deadly crashes.

That’s the REAL benefit.

That’s what this feature DOES for the customer.

It’s WHY they would buy this product.

They wouldn’t buy this product to simply avoid crashes.

But they WOULD buy it to protect their children and ensure their safety.

Instructions:

Do this practice exercise, each day, for one product and 3-5 of its features.

This will take you around 10 minutes per day.

#3: The 4 U’s Headline Practice

Last one…

This practice exercise will help you write attention-grabbing headlines (which are the #1 most important element of copywriting).

How to:

Open a new window in Firefox (or whatever browser you use).

Look below at the online articles.

It will look something like this:

Most web browsers have this as a default.

If you don’t see these articles, simply use Firefox or Google Chrome.

Okay, so what you want to do is, copy and paste one of these headlines into a Word doc.

Rewrite each headline using the 4 U’s headline formula:

Ultra-specific – specifics are more believable and interesting.

Unique – what’s unique grabs our attention.

Urgent – urgency makes us read NOW

Useful – the biggest benefit of your client’s product or service.

The reason why you want to improve existing headlines using the 4 U’s technique is because each “U” makes your headlines more attention-grabbing and persuasive.

Here’s an example:

I just found this headline…

Here’s how I would improve upon this headline using the 4 U’s headline technique:

Unique

Famous chef comes out of retirement to teach you her beloved pie recipes for this holiday season

Useful

Make your family fall in love with your cooking: 15 yummy pie recipes that are quick & easy to make this Christmas

Ultra-specific

15 scrumptious pie recipes to make in under 1 hour

Urgent

Download this delicious pie recipe ebook before midnight and it’s yours FREE

Do this for one headline each day.

This will take you 10 minutes MAX.

 

3. WRITE

 

Reading copywriting books and practicing what you’re learning will get you started, but nothing beats WRITING.

It doesn’t matter what you write…

The key is to create a habit of daily writing.

Here’s how to write copy without clients:

Go to your favorite brand’s website.

Then, copy and paste the text into a Word document (or whatever writing app you use).

Then, simply rewrite their copy.

Improve upon it by using everything you are learning from the books and practice exercises.

Do this for website copy, headlines, emails, social media ads, google ads, etc.

(And any other type of copy you want to write for clients.)

When I did this, I wrote for at least one hour per day.

I recommend doing the same.

However, the more you write, the faster you’ll build your skills.

90-Day Copywriting Challenge Summary

Here’s a quick recap of the action steps:

1. Read 25 pages per day (10 books, 2 times each).
2. Complete each practice exercise once per day.
3. Write for one hour per day by improving upon existing copy.

TOTAL: around 3 hours per day.

 

Conclusion

Stop wasting time trying to learn how to become a copywriter.

Take this copywriting challenge.

After 90 days, you will realistically be able to start writing for clients and making money.

If you’d like extra help along the way, enter your email below: