Reviews of the Best Copywriting Books

The full title of this book by James Newell is

“Clear Sales Message: What are you selling, who are you selling it to and why should they care?“

In my review at Amazon.co.uk, I rated it as a Four Star book, which means I think it is good to very good.

Here is what I posted.

Helpful

This book splits the issue of creating clear sales messages (something others may refer to as a customer value proposition) into the answers to a series of questions that potential customers want answered. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Robert Bly is

“The Perfect Sales Pitch: A Complete Do-it-Yourself Guide to Creating Brochures, Catalogs, Fliers and Pamphlets“.

In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book at the Four Stars level. This means I consider it to be good to very good.

Here is my book review.

Quaint but still helpful and relevant

This book was published in 1994. A great deal has changed in the twenty odd years since then in terms of the Internet, PCs, digital photographs and developments in the printing industry.

Some of it is quaint but there is plenty in here that is still relevant and useful. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Seth Czerepak is

The Sexy Sales Letter Formula: How To Use “Value Mechanics” To Craft Smoking Hot, Seductive Sales Letters.

In my review at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a Four Stars rating. This means I consider it to be good to very good.

Here is my review.

An interesting look at the issues involved with copywriting for different buyer stages and personalities.

I read this book because I thought the author’s first book, The 24 Hour Marketing Miracle was excellent.

That book introduced the ideas of value mechanics based on axiology and as this had the same topic in the subtitle, I thought it would be the main focus of the book. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Seth Czerepak is

“The 24 Hour Marketing Miracle: The FIRST Marketing Book EVER to Be Backed Up By a 500% Money Back Guarantee“.

In my review at Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a FIVE STARS rating. I don;t give the five stars away easily and this means that I think it is EXCELLENT.

Here is my review.

A direct response marketing book so good you don’t want your competitors to read it

This book isn’t for everybody. The writing style is quite abrasive at the start and the author doesn’t pull any punches over what he thinks is right or wrong.

The book looks at direct response marketing and copywriting. While you may not want to do it yourself, I believe business owners need to know and understand the process. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Joe Sugarman is

“The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America’s Top Copywriters“.

I my review at Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book a rating of FIVE STARS. This means I think it is excellent.

Here is my book review.

A true marketing classic and packed with charm

Some copywriters work for clients and charge a fixed fee. Others charge a fee and ask for a percentage of the revenue generated on top so they gain financially if the item sells well. Neither of these groups of writers lose out if the copy flops all together. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Mish Slade is

“May I Have Your Attention, Please? Your Guide to Business Writing That Charms, Captivates and Converts“.

In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a Four Stars rating. This means I consider it to be in the range of good to very good.

Here is my book review.

A very good book about the style of your copywriting

There are two main types of copywriting books.

One type explains the process of putting together a sales letter, advertisement or webpage. It tells you about how to write headlines, bullet points, guarantees and calls to action. It might tell you about the copywriting formulas like AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) or PAR (problem, agitate, solve). [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Bond Halbert is

“The Halbert Copywriting Method Part III: The Simple, Fast, & Easy Editing Formula That Forces Buyers To Read Every Word Of Your Ads“.

In my review on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book a four star rating. This means I think it is good.

Here is my book review.

Interesting book from the son of possibly the greatest copywriter ever

Bond Halbert is the son of Gary Halbert, possibly the greatest copywriter to have ever put words to paper. Not only did he start learning from his father as a child, he is a successful copywriter in his own career.

The author says that time on a copywriting assignment should be split 1/3 research, 1/3 drafting the hook, headline, bullets, offer and everything else in the copy and 1/3 editing. [continue reading…]

Reality In Advertising by Rosser Reeves

This is considered to be a classic market text as it introduced or at least popularised the concept of unique selling propositions.

Does it stand the test of time?

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book at the Five Stars level. This means I think it is Excellent.

Here is my book review.

A marketing classic and a delight to read

This is the famous book credited with popularising the concept of the Unique Selling Proposition. It was first published in 1961. Can a book that is fifty years old have anything to teach us about advertising and marketing?

You bet it does. It starts with perhaps the most powerful statement I’ve read in a business book.”It cost $1,000,000,000 to write this book. We spent that much of our clients’ money and made many mistakes to isolate these principles.” One billion dollars – in 1961! Who knows how much that would be in today’s money. [continue reading…]

The full title of this classic book by Joe Sugarman is

“Triggers: How to Use the Psychological Triggers of Selling to Motivate, Persuade & Influence“.

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I rated the book as Five Stars. This means I think it is Excellent and is Very Highly Recommended. I don’t give many Five Star Ratings.

It explains the 30 psychological factors that help the customer to buy

Triggers is a terrific book by Joe Sugarman, one of the leading direct marketers in the world who has used these factors over many years to make a fortune in direct response mail order advertising.

In fact I wish that I had read it years ago. The book is beautifully written with each chapter focused on one psychological trigger with explanations of how the factor can be used in copywriting/print and in a direct, face-to-face selling environment. [continue reading…]