The AWAI Method, Part 3

My Thoughts So Far

I was right to be terrifyingly excited for part 3 of the AWAI Method. It was a nice, easy cruise through the basics of copywriting.

Well, maybe not THAT basic, but close enough.

What I Learned

• What direct response marketing is
• The Three Fundamental Rules of Selling
• AWAI calls Robert Bly "Bob" (so now I will refer to him as "Bobby" Bly because I like alliteration and implying a familiarity with someone I've never met by referring to them with a potentially annoying nickname. 
• Bobby Bly is BRILLIANT. (I already sorta knew this from seeing him pop up on numerous lists of "COPYWRITING BOOKS EVERY COPYWRITER SHOULD READ OR DIE TRYING." Yes, that title is a bit fatalistic. No, you really don't want to know what copywriting sites I've been going to.)

Letterkenny The Dark Web GIFfrom Letterkenny GIFs

• All about simple text ads
• That Google Docs can save files as .docx
• What AWAI's "Four U's" for online ads are 
  
• A smidge about PPC (Pay per click) ads
• You never know when a knowledge gained from a life experience will come in handy

Not all of those are lessons the AWAI Method teaches. I'm throwing in some extra lessons I learned while learning from AWAI . . . and dicking around on the internet when my ADHD kicked in.

I Finally Got To Write Some Copy!

Granted some of it was copying a sample e-mail by hand multiple times, but the part 3 assignment had me write a simple text ad! Okay, so it had me improve a "lame" one, but I primarily used the lame one as a source of information and then did the COPYWRITING my own sweet self. Not sure when the feedback on that assignment will appear (since "within 14 days" encompasses quite a bit of time), but I'm really looking forward to it. While I'd LOVE to hear some positive feedback, what I really want is constructive criticism. I want whatever copywriter reads it to tear it apart and then tell me how it SHOULD have been pieced together. Hell, I'll even settle for "this is a good effort, and here are places that could have made it great."

Thoughts, Criticisms, and Anything Else Rattling Around in My Head

The AWAI Method defaults to he/him pronouns. This seems really old-fashioned and out of touch to me. I hope they update the course at some point and default to they/them. 

I mean, did my COS mentor call me from one of these?

While AWAI put great emphasis on how you could make lots of money by writing a series of simple text ads, googling "Google Simple Text Ad" led me to this interesting article about RSA's being the new default ad . . . and basically the new hotness.

via GIPHY

I guess we know what that makes the simple text ads . . .

But seriously, this makes me wonder how often they update this course. The world of digital marketing does not turn slowly. 

Now, obviously, I haven't finished the course, so they could very well cover RSA's later--and if they do, I'll be back later and update this. Though even if they do, it would seem kind of sus to not mention it until later and keep touting the potential worth of writing a series of simple text ads. 
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Among Us GIFfrom Among Us GIFs

No, like RED level sus.

Conclusion?

Educational but likely in need of a bit of updating. I'm still looking forward to continuing the course and still believe the knowledge I gain will be invaluable. Strong, steady foundations are crucial for any skill.