Yes, I've Taken AWAI's Copywriting Course...

Hi Belinda,

I meant to answer eDave's inquiry about it, but never got around to it.

The course is a good one -- the content is solid and they have some veterans with solid experience on their board, most notably Bob Bly. They also have excellent customer service.

However... There are two things you should know before investing in it:

1. There are many forms of copywriting. AWAI's course teaches you only one type of copywriting: direct response copywriting. Their focus is teaching you to write direct response print ads and direct direct mail. (I didn't realize this until after I'd bought it.)

It's a lucrative niche and there is a lot of opportunity in the field. If you're interested in writing other types of material (collateral material like brochures, newsletters, etc. for example), then look elsewhere. The course doesn't teach you that.

2. The course teaches you how to write. It DOES NOT teach you how to market yourself as a copywriter or build a copywriting business. They DO offer separate courses for these though.

If you'd like to pursue this type of writing and want to learn how, it's a great course. If you want to know how to build your business (the marketing side of it), be prepared to learn that separately. If you're not sure exactly what market you'd like to specialize in, then you'll need to spend some time exploring it and then make a decision.

Once you buy from them, you'll get lots of follow-ups from them promoting their other courses and bootcamps. This is simply good business practice. They are never pushy, rude, or unprofessional about it. As a matter of fact, it's a great education in good marketing. But if you're someone who's easily irritated by that sort of thing, be prepared for it.

I read eDave's review of it on his Web site a while back. Apparently, he was under the impression that it included instructions on marketing his new business. It doesn't.

It's not a "business opportunity in a box." They don't pretend to give you everything you need to know to "start a business and be successful." Like any ordinary job or chance to start a business, it's a solid opportunity to learn a new craft and make a business out of it. In other words, it's WORK. Once you learn, you have to learn how to market yourself and get clients.

If you really want to write -- if writing is your passion and you want to make a living at it, then AWAI's course is a good way to learn a new type of writing and about the market for it. If you're just another opporunity seeker looking for an all-inclusive solution, look elsewhere.

AWAI's course DOES offer feedback on your writing assignments though. So yes, in that sense, they offer handholding. And the feedback from veterans who have been in the trenches is invaluable.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, please ask.