On this page, I’ll be reviewing a popular home-business opportunity / product. In this case, a popular copywriting course from AWAI.

Quick note: This is an honest, unbiased review. In interest of full disclosure, I am an affiliate, and will get a small commission if you buy it through the links on this page. Believe me, it’s not enough to risk tainting my name in any way. That’s why my review is as honest as possible. I’ll tell you the good AND the bad, and let you make up your own mind.

The Product: The Accelerated Program for Six Figure Copywriting from AWAI (American Writers & Artists Inc.) , which is a home study program designed to turn you into a highly paid copywriter.

The Claim: You can work for yourself at home and make six figures writing sales letters and the like.

The Truth: Mostly accurate, with an explanation.

AWAI e-mailed me in January 2009 and asked me to be an affiliate for their program. Now, I have to tell you, immediately, I was intrigued. Because as a copywriter, I had seen their stuff before and wondered “real, or not?”

The arrogant part of me said “nah, no way could they teach someone to do what I do.” But then I recalled the words of an old English teacher of mine, who basically told me to go into the military, mainly because they would provide me with “three hots and a cot” (she really said this, to which I replied “yea, and so does prison”.)

I guess she thought food and shelter were going to be a real problem for me… but I digress.

Basically, my point is I don’t have any special training or advanced degree, and I’m a very successful copywriter. In fact, no copywriter I know has any “classic” writing training, so why couldn’t AWAI teach someone this skill?

So I asked AWAI to send me the course, and if I liked it, I’d post a review and become an affiliate.

Well, they sent me the course, I did like it, and here I am, an affiliate.

Now, before we move on, I have to address the elephant in the room:

But Dan, why on earth would you recommend this course if all it will do is create MORE copywriters – copywriters who will compete with you?

My answer to that is simple: There is waaaay more work than I can  handle out there. I actually really like my competition, and have an e-mail correspondence with several of them. We talk shop, bounce ideas off each other, and have a mutually respectful relationship. They are like me – successful one man/woman operations. 

Enough preliminary stuff – I go ahead and get the course:

The AWAI Accelerated Program for Six Figure Copywriting essentially consists of an online program (it’s printable too) of more than 700 pages of material, member forums, support, videos, job postings, etc. 

The great part about it is they really do teach the fundamentals. They show you how important headlines are, and how to create great ones. They show you how important “flow” is. They show you how to break your writing up so it’s easy to read, and why that matters. They give you tons and tons of examples. And many of the examples are battle tested. Good copywriting is timeless, and AWAI really does a nice job keeping one foot in the past (i.e., what worked before), and another in what works in today’s digital age.

There’s no two ways around it – I’m a professional copywriter, and AWAI’s course is a solid introduction to the art of direct response copywriting. 

Now, let me be crystal clear – it is NOT going to turn you into me overnight. I’ve been doing this for years. But for anyone who has an interest in copywriting for a living, this course is probably equivalent to a few high level college courses in copywriting. Plenty to get you going. And well worth what they charge for it.

And trust me, being a copywriter is pretty cool.

If you have read AWAI’s ads, you will be hit with what sounds like a pretty good lifestyle. How when you are a copywriter, there is decent pay, quite a bit of work, and the holy grail of all businesses – the ability to work where you want, when you want.

Gotta be honest with you here – that’s all pretty true. To a point, anyway. Let me explain:

• A good copywriter makes decent money – I’m not going to get into what I make, but let’s just say their six figure claim is obtainable. Now, I’m really good at copywriting, I run a good business, I have a nice website, and I advertise. You can work a lot less than I do, and maybe just make that extra 20k a year that your family needs. It’s truly up to you. But again, to be clear, if you are good, and are capable of running a solid business, you can make six figures if you want to

• There is definite demand – The web has created a serious need for good copywriters. No website sells anything without good writing. Trust me, not many people out there can get you to read this far down the page. Those of us that can will always find work.

• You are your own boss – Work in the morning, in the evening… whenever. I give myself lots of wiggle room when I negotiate deadlines – that allows me to take an afternoon off if I feel like it, etc etc. I’m also a night owl (the internet’s original Night Owl!) and like working late at night. And I don’t roll out of bed until 8:00am. Sweet.

Ok, now let’s get to the bad stuff

(well, there is no bad stuff, but let’s get to the point where I tell you that you are going to have to work and all that stuff nobody thinks about.)

AWAI’s course is what they say it is – they will teach you the art of copywriting, which can easily lead to a six figure “work from anywhere” income. That’s not BS.

But before you run out and finance a beach house I do have to tell you a few things (these are things that are already in the back of your mind, so they should not surprise you.)

What they are teaching you is a SKILL. What you DO with that skill is up to you. Yes, AWAI will say that they have a job board, but the truth is, if you want to really succeed, you are going to have to take this skill and run with it. Like any other business, you will have to advertise and get clients. And a lot of the “business stuff” you will have to learn on your own. But there are millions of clients out there. That I can attest to.

Secondly, look at the word “teaching” in the previous paragraph – let it sink in. Yes, my friend, you are going to have to learn this. It’s not going to happen overnight. If you buy their package, open it up, glance at it a bit, then halfheartedly read it over the next month in between hours of TikTok and Facebook, well, save your money. Because you aren’t cut out for this.

The course will show you a salesletter, and then ask you to read it over ten times, each time focusing on a different part. If you say “yea, yea, whatever” to that, well, I’m not so sure this is for you. Like I said – this is the equivalent of perhaps a few high level college courses. This is not some “program” that you buy and put a half-hearted effort into.

In addition, I am going to recommend that you already have some writing skill. By “some”, I mean “write a nice Christmas letter” level of skill. If you can do that, you probably have the basics down (full disclosure: I’m a guy who barely passed English in school.)

Now, we’re also all a little different in talent level – maybe, even with the course and lots of effort, you may not make 100k. That could happen. No promises here. Maybe you’re only going to be able to make 60k. But… big deal. Does 60k from home sound ok?

A skill for life

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think writing good sales copy is not just ideal for a home based business, but can help you in almost any facet of your life. Trust me when I tell you, being able to write good, compelling letters has opened a lot of doors for me.

From 20 years old to 30, I had a lot of jobs. I’d get fired, quit, get bored… whatever. But that means I got HIRED a lot. And that happened largely because I could write killer cover letters to get me in the door. 

So even if you don’t go on to fame and fortune with your own writing business, what AWAI teaches you will serve you well for the rest of your life. Again, provided you had a little “nice Christmas letter” writing skill to start with.

Wrapping this up

My professional opinion is what AWAI will teach you is worth the cost of the course. Provided you want to learn, they can teach you a skill, one that (with some work on your end) could fairly easily lead to a six figure income. And even if it doesn’t, knowing how to write compelling sales copy will NEVER hurt you.

Ok my friend, here’s the link for AWAI. It’s going to lead to a salesletter that talks about how copywriting can give you the life you want. Read it – if you like what you read (and know the truth from my words here), go ahead and get it.