Marketing Copywriter

About me . . . Gerry Black

What Qualifies Me To Help You With Your Marketing Challenges?

I’ve been a professional copywriter/marketing consultant since 1997.

In 1998, I discovered the power of direct-response marketing when an advertising agency asked me to write a sales letter for one of their non-profit clients – the  Toronto Zoo. They asked me to write the letter using the same approach I would if I was sitting across the table from someone explaining why the organization needed their donation.

Although I had no formal training in writing sales copy – the style was very different from what I learned in journalism school. I decided to use some of the techniques and strategies that had been effective for me in my-face-to-face selling efforts. To my surprise, the letter generated a 12.6% response 25% over what the client had been expecting.

I was hooked!

I figured that if I could get that kind of a business result for my client without really knowing what I was doing, imagine what some training would do!

So, I enrolled in America Writers & Artists (AWAI) Accelerated Six-Figure Copywriting Program to develop my direct-response writing and marketing skills. I can still remember the encouraging feeling I got when AWAI’s Will Newman sent me his positive feedback on my first assignment.

It started a me on a mission to soak up everything I could get my hands on that would help me develop my direct-response marketing skills and knowledge so I could help my clients sell their services and products.

I read every book on copywriting I could find. Bob Bly was my mentor. I read all of his books. Dan Kennedy, John Carlton and Gary Halbert were other huge influences in teaching me how to write copy that generates results my clients can measure.

You can imagine how thrilled I was when Bob Bly – the man McGraw-Hill calls “America’s top copywriter” – called ME and asked if he could include a special report I wrote in HIS new book!

I collected “junk mail” and studied the structure. I went to seminars. I looked at websites and sales letters – some bad, some good and some great. I taught myself everything I could about copywriting and marketing while I continued to produce results for my clients.

Today, in addition to working on a variety of marketing and copywriting projects, I consult with self-employed professionals and small business owners about ways they can attract more clients and increase their profits by using more effective marketing strategies and creating information products they can use to generate passive income streams.

Articles I’ve written on effective marketing strategies for small business owners have appeared in Direct Marketing News, Review of Ophthalmology and in numerous ezines by publishers who have downloaded my articles so they can add value for their readers. I have also been featured in the Toronto Sun newspaper.

I have presented marketing seminars for such groups VA Networking and IVAA and appeared as a guest presenter on BlogTalk radio.

Prior to becoming an independent copywriter and consultant, I spent 20 years working in the advertising and publishing industry for companies like MacLean Hunter (now Rogers Communications) and The Pattis Group.

I earned a B.A. in Journalism from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

I offer a variety of consulting options including one-on-one mentoring, a “Mini-mentoriing” program” created for small business owners who sense they are leaving big profits on the table but aren’t sure where that allows you to “test the waters” and see if mentoring offers a practical solution for your needs, copywriting assistance and monthly group teleseminars focused on specific online marketing topics.

Here’s what you can expect:

100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

If you implement the simple strategies and ideas I give you based on what is missing from your current marketing strategy, I guarantee my advice will result in more sales and profits for your business or I will happily refund your money.

You will get 100% of my attention and my commitment. That may sound like something you SHOULD get. And you’re absolutely right. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work out that way.

You will always get more than you pay for. Frankly, I can ‘t help it. It’s the way I work. If I spot something that can help you get more clients and increase your profits, I’ll let you know.

You will get full value for your investment in me. Period.