Copywriting Book Reviews From 5 Stars Down to 1 Star

The full title of this book by Glenn Fisher is

Buy This Now: A Beginner’s Guide to Direct Response Copywriting

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it Three Stars. This means Worthwhile.

Here is my review.

A discussion about copywriting rather than a “how to” guide

I smiled when the author talked about the difference between direct response and what he called indirect response marketing. It’s normally called brand advertising or image advertising and it’s what most of the giant companies do to make themselves better known. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Ling Wong is

Copywriting Alchemy: Secrets To Turning a Powerful Personal Brand Into Content That Sells: Write Your Way To a Standout Personality-Driven Business

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it 2 Stars.

Here is my review.

An interesting idea to combine personal branding with copywriting

I thought it was an interesting idea to combine personal branding with copywriting. The personality of the owner or staff is a great way to help differentiate your from competitors. As people, we are all different. We have unique strengths, weaknesses and eccentricities. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Richard Halbread is

Copywriting: For Beginners! How To Write, Persuade & Sell Anything To Anyone Like A Pro With Copy

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave the book Two Stars.

Here is my review.

A book about having a career as a copywriters and not about writing copy

This wasn’t the book I was expecting from the title. Copywriting For Beginners, How to Write, Persuade, & Sell.. sounded like a book teaching copywriting skills to me.

It’s more about having a career as a copywriter. [continue reading…]

In my review of

The Ultimate Book of Effective and Proven Sales Pitches

by Stephen Ashley posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave this book Two Stars. This means Disappointing.

Here is my review.

A very long list of words and phrases that customers might think sound good

There are a few books like this that are lists of selling words and phrases.

In principle, they are very useful for people who have to write sales copy and who are struggling to find the right words. Sadly not this one. [continue reading…]

In my review of

Commonsense Direct and Digital Marketing by Drayton Bird

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

Here is my book review.

British direct response marketing

This book is written for business owners, marketing professionals and students of marketing. For a text book, it’s great and I wish my MBA had included a direct marketing module.

As a book for business owners, it’s a bit daunting. It’s bigger and heavier than normal and looking at it feels more like work than reading the lighter style marketing management books. [continue reading…]

The full title of this book by Abagail Pumphrey and Emylee Williams is

16 Formulas that Convince & 101 Headlines that Convert Readers to Leads

In my review posted on Amazon.co.uk, I gave it 3 Stars.

Here is my review.

A short book about advertising headlines

I was slightly confused by the book title because I thought the 16 formulas to convince were going to be copywriting formulas like AIDA (attention + interest + desire + action ). [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…]