When we launched The Copywriter Club Podcast, we made a list of copywriters we wanted to interview and the guest for episode 51, David Garfinkel, was at the top. Known as the World's Greatest Copywriting Coach, David is a world-class copywriter who regularly consults with clients like Agora Financial and GKIC along with several high-level copywriters to help improve the performance of their copy. During our interview, David talked about:

•  how he got his start as a copywriter

•  a “this will only work for me” method for finding your first project

•  the story behind his $40 million dollar sales letter

•  the mistakes he made as he was just starting his business

•  how he made the shift to coaching and what he does as a coach

•  the three things to look for in a copy coach

•  how to overcome objections with your copy

•  what mistakes he sees over and over again that you will want to avoid

•  the importance of “relevant credentials” when making any sale

•  when you should start coaching other writers

•  the two or three things to go from good to great as a writer

Plus David talked about what his business looks like today and he shared details about the breakout hit song he wrote for the urology department at the University of California’s Centennial celebration. (This is stuff he hasn't even shared on his own podcast.) To hear it, you need to click the play button below, or scroll down to read a full transcript.

The people and stuff we mentioned on the show:

Sponsor: AirStory

McGraw Hill World News

Gary Halbert’s Newsletter

Aaron Sorkin

Barbara (Bloch) Stanny

Jay Conrad Levinson

Jim Camp

KOLBE

Copy Chief

Breakthrough Copywriting

Garfinkelcoaching.com

Kevin Rogers

Scientific Advertising

The Billion Dollar Copywriter

Peak by Anders Erickson

Agora Financial

Fast, Effective Copy

Homespun.com

David’s Facebook Page

The Copywriters Podcast

Kira’s website

Rob’s website

The Copywriter Club Facebook Group

Intro: Content (for now)

Outro: Gravity

Full Transcript:

The Copywriter Club Podcast is sponsored by Airstory, the writing platform for professional writers who want to get more done in half the time. Learn more at Airstory.co/club.

Kira: What if you could hang out with seriously talented copywriters and other experts, ask them about their successes and failures, their work processes and their habits, then steal an idea or two to inspire your own work? That’s what Rob and I do every week at the Copywriter Club Podcast.

Rob: You’re invited to join the club for episode 52 as we chat with the man who has been called the world’s greatest copywriting coach, David Garfinkel, about the lessons he’s learned coaching and working with so many copywriters, what it takes to be truly great as a copywriter, how his life away from copywriting makes him a better writer, and how to do an effective copy critique.

Kira: David, welcome.

David: Thank you. I’m glad to be here.

Rob: Yeah, we’re excited to have you.

Kira: It’s an honor to have you. Yeah, this is the highlight of my day.

David: I know I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now.

Kira: I feel like every time I think of you, David, I think of the beach because I listen to episode 13, Why Customers Buy, while I was running on the beach on vacation last month. I’m just happy anytime I hear your voice because it takes me back.

David: Yeah. I think you mentioned that in an email to me. Which beach? Because I’m about six blocks from the Pacific Beach in San Francisco.

Kira: Oh, this was Myrtle Beach.

David: Oh. Yeah, I went there when I was in high school. I grew up in Maryland. We went there in the spring break or something. It was a very nice beach.

Kira: Yeah, it was great.

Rob: A great place to do some running, some copywriting learning.

Kira: Exactly, yeah.

David: Well, everyone has their own use for the beach. I think that’s a good one, frankly.

Rob: Yeah, exactly. David,