If you want to become a copywriter, everyone could use some guidance.
I know I could have!
I jumped head-first into the deep end of writing before I knew what I was getting into, purely because I knew how versatile and valuable of a skill it is.
The purpose of my website is to level up your writing and get you making many as quickly as possible.
What better way to start your writing career than reading the best copywriting books from some of the most successful copywriters and marketers in the business?
How to Master Copywriting and Why College is Dead
The first and most important thing we need to address here is you don’t need a degree to become a copywriter. You just need to produce quality writing.
Great writing speaks for itself. It doesn’t need a diploma to tell it how good it is.
Here are some noteworthy figures about pursuing writing through the traditional degree route:
- The cost of a writing degree is $9,144 per year for state residents at state schools.
- It costs $31,151 per year for out-of-state students for the academic year 2021-2022.
- These programs take a minimum of 4 years to complete.
- Most professors who teach writing classes have never worked as copywriters. They’ve spent their entire careers in academia.
Pursuing a writing degree is maximally costly in both your money and time.
I don’t know this for a fact, but I bet your goals are to
- Get great at copywriting
- Start making money from your writing as soon as possible.
Well, in my mind, school is out forever. It can’t keep up with the internet, and it’s way too expensive.
The True Cost of Becoming a Great Copywriter
I’m thrilled for you! You are about to save tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and get an unparalleled copywriting education with inexpensive books (AKA – the life work of some of the greatest copywriters in history) and free resources on the Ole World Wide Web.
In comparison to rolling with the degree route, the reading list in this blog post:
- Costs about as much as two college textbooks ($200-$400). A mere .01% the cost of an entire B.S. at a state school and .003% the cost of a private school.
- Can be read in its entirety in about 3-6 months. 1-2 months if you just take the top 5 books from this post. Not 4 years.
- Are written by some of the best, highest grossing, and most successful copywriters of the last 50 years. Not by professors who have never worked outside of the classroom.
- If you’re a beginner or aspiring writer, will 50-100x your copywriting writing skills and turn you into a magnet for new copywriting clients.
When it comes to writing and copywriting, B.S.’s are BS.
Study the greats, read some of the best copywriting books ever written, and go start your side hustle or career as a handsomely paid copywriter.
Before you Start Reading
If your goal is to get great at copywriting as fast as possible so that you can start closing clients and making money, you may not have time to read through the whole list right now.
That’s totally cool.
If that describes your situation, here’s what I recommend.
- Go to each of the links below. Then, read the book reviews and descriptions of each book.
- Buy the 5-6 books that either have the best reviews or sound the most relevant to pursuing the career you want as a freelance writer.
- Launch an inexpensive blog, portfolio, or website using WordPress.com and Bluehost, Medium, or Journo Portfolio.
- Read one book per week.
- Write one blog per week on what you learned from reading the book. You can write the post throughout the week as you go.
Don’t have a resume? No sweat! You’ll not only have gained a world-class education from these books, but you’ll have also documented what you learned to you can refer back to your notes later. You will have also built a fully-fledged resume that you can show to your soon-to-be sales prospects and future clients.
The Shortlist: Best Copywriting Books for Beginners
Want to get started with your reading? Here’s the list. To help your buying decisions, I added a quick synopsis to each of these books, starting in the section below.
- The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert W. Bly
- How to Write Copy that Sells by Ray Edwards
- The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman
- The Boron Letters by Gary C. Halbert
- Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
- How to Write Seductive Web Copy by Henneke Duistermaat
- Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
- How to Write Magnetic Headlines by Copyblogger Media
- Made To Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
- The Power of Moments by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
- They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
- Copywriting Secrets by Jim Edwards
- Persuasive Copywriting: Cut Through the Noise and Communicate With Impact
- This Is Marketing by Seth Godin
- The Practice by Seth Godin
Best Copywriting Books for Beginners | 60 Seconds Each
The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert W. Bly
If you’re serious about becoming a copywriter, The Copywriter’s Handbook is the starting gun to your copywriting journey.
Robert W. Bly has been in the business for decades, and his book is a comprehensive guide to every aspect of copywriting, from crafting headlines to writing effective sales letters.
This book is for anyone who wants to work in copywriting or marketing –– copywriters, writers of all kinds, multichannel marketers, creative directors, freelance writers, content marketing managers –– even small business owners and solopreneurs in information marketing.
Robert covers this and a lot more:
- Eight headlines that work–and how to use them
- His 5-step Motivating Sequence for increasing profits and sales
- Ten tips to boost conversion rates for landing pages
- 15 powerful techniques for higher email open and click-through rates
- How to create valuable lead magnets that 2x your response rates
- The formula to make your copy clear, concise, and compelling
How to Write Copy that Sells by Ray Edwards
Ray Edwards is a communications strategist, copywriter, and of course, the author of this book.
Ray not only hosts a top-ranked podcast on iTunes but has worked on marketing strategies and copy for some of the most influential, powerful, and well-known names in leadership and business.
It’s estimated his writing has generated well over $300 million in revenue for the clients he’s worked with. He’s also been featured in Forbes and entrepreneur.
What else do you need to know?
Ray is a writing beast, and he has the results to show it. Get the book.
The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman
Adweek Copywriting Handbook is another must-read in the best copywriting books for beginners.
Great copywriting is the heart and soul of marketing, advertising, and every business on the planet.
In this practical guide, copywriting legend Joe Sugarman provides verified and field-tested guidelines and masterful advice on what it takes to write copy that:
- Entices
- Motivates
- And moves customers to buy
Whether you’re a total beginner in writing or copywriting or are new and trying to break into the business, this is the ultimate companion designed for your writing success.
The Boron Letters by Gary C. Halbert
The Boron Letters is another great read for beginner copywriters.
Gary C. Halbert is known by many in the industry as the Greatest Copywriter Who Ever Lived.
This book is a compilation of the letters he wrote to his son. They are packed with direct insights from the master on how to write world-class copy. If you’re looking to improve your copywriting skills as soon as possible, this is another fabulous book to start with.
Everybody Writes by Ann Handley
Ann Handley has been cited in Forbes as the most influential woman in Social Media.
She’s also recognized by Forbes as one of the top 20 female bloggers (on the planet) and serves as the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs.
Everybody Writes is a top guide for attracting and retaining clients and customers through superb online writing and communication. Handley believes that in this content-driven world, everyone is a writer.
In Everybody Writes, Ann gives specialist guidance and pro insights on her process and strategy toward content creation, production, and publishing. This is one of the best copywriting books for beginners because it’s packed with practical how-tos and actionable advice designed to get results.
How to Write Seductive Web Copy by Henneke Duistermaat
Henneke has 15 years of experience in sales and marketing, with an expert eye for content and copywriting. She has worked with multinational companies like Philips Electronics and Saint-Gobain and now runs her own business –– Enchanting Marketing.
She has a knack for picking-apart boring business writing and making copywriting more captivating, entertaining, and enjoyable.
If you are planning on writing any kind of web copywriting or writing web copy ––which you should be –– look no further. This hands-on guide explains how to create your own website descriptions using a step-by-step method.
Henneke walks us through:
- Her six-step process for writing compelling web copy.
- How to optimize website copy to bring more visitors to your site.
- How to convert more of your website visitors into customers and clients.
- Her 26-step editing checklist to make sure your web copy is flawless.
How to Write Magnetic Headlines by Copyblogger Media
8 out of 10 people will read your headline copy.
Only 2 of those 10 will read the rest of your writing.
Since way back in January 2006, Copyblogger has been one of the leading online resources teaching people how to produce killer online copywriting and content.
Your headline is the first –– and maybe the only –– shot you’ll get to convince your audience to read your copy and content.
This ebook gives you solid recommendations and guidance for mastering the most fundamental copywriting skill on the planet –– headline writing.
With this book in your toolkit, you’ll be writing better-converting, higher revenue-generating headlines in no time.
Made To Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
This instant classic by Chip and Dan Heath is about why some ideas thrive, why most die, and the formula to make your ideas stick.
“Anyone interested in influencing others—to buy, to vote, to learn, to diet, to give to charity or to start a revolution—can learn from this book.”—The Washington Post
In Made to Stick, Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of sticky ideas and how to make your ideas stickier, memorable, and even unforgettable.
This book answers all of our questions about how we can use these principles to make our messages maximally sticky –– making it another great copywriting book for beginners.
They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan
Marcus Sheridan used the wisdom he distilled for this book to pull his pool company out of the depths of the 2008 recession and become one of the biggest pool installment companies in the country.
Sheridan realized that to be successful, businesses have to be obsessive over their buyer’s problems, questions, and concerns. They also must address them as thoroughly and honestly– as possible (online).
Every day, buyers turn to search engines first to find
- Solutions to their problems
- And answers to their questions
As I write this, some reports say consumers run 5.6 billion searches on Google every day.
Answering your audience’s questions and solutions to their problems can attract thousands of potential buyers to your company if your content strategy lands you at the top of search engine results.
This book is equal parts a valuable training in marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) as it is a tremendous copywriting book for beginners.
Copywriting Secrets by Jim Edwards
Jim Edwards is another all-start copywriter that has been featured in Entrepreneur magazine. Even more impressive, his products have ranked as number one best sellers in the educational, business, economics, and special interest business categories on Amazon.
I would write a synopsis for this book, but I think Jim himself did it best.
Persuasive Copywriting: Cut Through the Noise and Communicate With Impact
This book is a step-up for those already familiar with the basics of copywriting. If you’re a total beginner writer and have already read 4-5 books on this list –– go for it!
This book is for writers seeking a more advanced, psychology-driven approach to copywriting techniques to gain an edge over their competitors.
Andy Maslen provides valuable insight into the human decision-making process and how to produce better consumer engagement.
Maslen wrote this to help copywriters learn how to conceive, quantify, pitch, and sell outstanding copy in a hyper-competitive marketplace.
The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan S. Kennedy
Let’s take a minute to gawk at Dan S. Kennedy’s credentials and track record:
- Wildly successful author of thirteen business books in total
- Serial, multi-million dollar entrepreneur
- Marketing advisor, consultant, and coach to hundreds of private entrepreneurial clients operating businesses ranging from million to billion-dollar businesses
- Reaches and influences over one million independent business owners annually through his newsletters, writing, and e-coaching programs
Kennedy has been touted as THE most successful, and one of the highest-paid direct-response copywriters in the country. In his book, he gives copywriters a step-by-step formula so they can write letters that will generate more clicks and sales.
This Is Marketing by Seth Godin
Seth Godin has educated and inspired millions of entrepreneurs, marketers, executives, and fans from all walks of life since his blog launched years ago. His online courses, lectures, and best-selling books closely followed this.
Seth deploys his expert writing and marketing insight, observations, and unforgettable examples to teach you:
- How to build trust with and get permission from your target audience.
- How to position your products, services, content, and writing.
- Uncovering that the most effective way to attain your marketing, copywriting, and business goals is to help others become who they want to be.
- How great marketing and copywriting –– at their core –– is about the stories we tell ourselves related to our social status.
The Practice by Seth Godin
The Practice is precisely what is sounds like –– advice for diligently committing to creativity as a craft. For us, copywriting is the perfect creative and business skill to dedicate your efforts to.
This book will help you pull yourself out of creative and writing ruts. It’s designed to help you unleash your inner courageous creative so that you can make and share creative work (and, ahem, your own great inner copywriting).
Godin illustrates that:
- Writer’s block is a myth.
- Consistency is far more valuable than authenticity.
- And that feeling imposter syndrome indicates that you’re a well-adjusted human.
Most importantly, he shows us how to turn our passion from a private distraction –– or a new ambition –– to a productive contribution to yourself, your life, career, your community, and maybe even society. This book is the perfect inspiration kick in the pants for helping you explore your passion and fall in love with copywriting and the writing process.
Several Short Sentences About Writing by Verlyn Klinkenborg
Verlyn Klinkenborg’s Several Short Sentences About Writing is a concise, no-nonsense guide to writing well, like really well. I personally love that he’s super in-your-face about how to write and the way that he writes.
Check out this opening statement from him:
“Most of what you think you know about writing is useless. It’s the harmful debris of your education—a mixture of half-truths, myths, and false assumptions that prevents you from writing well.”
Some have said that this book has more to do with unlearning the type of writing you were taught, as a means of sharpening your writing, your thinking, and your perspective.
This book isn’t necessarily on copywriting, but it’s such a valuable book for any type of writer that I recommend it to anyone I know who writes. Even if it’s just texts and emails!
In his book, Klinkenborg highlights the subtle, seldomly-sought, and sometimes controversial truths about great writing:
- What your teachers taught you is BS.
- Less is better.
- Simplicity is the key.
- Never confuse or lose your reader.
I would put this in the top five list of the best copywriting books for beginners, and it’s not even about copywriting!
In Closing
Copywriting is a skill that takes time and practice, but it doesn’t take years to get there. With only a handful of books in this reading list, you should be able to 50-100x your writing skills –– and close your first client of $1,000 –– in a matter of a few months.
And if you’re ready to jump into your brand new side hustle, career, or business as a freelance writer, be sure to get my free ebook on the Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs for Freelance Writers.