Mastering Copywriting: 4 Essential Exercises for Success

In the realm of digital marketing, copywriting stands as one of the most essential skills. However, many beginners fall into the trap of endlessly consuming information about copywriting without actually putting it into practice. This is like trying to become a boxer by watching videos and reading books but never stepping into the ring—it simply doesn’t work.

To truly master copywriting, hands-on experience is key. In this post, I’ll share five actionable copywriting exercises you can start today to significantly enhance your skills. These exercises have personally helped me grow, enabling me to earn a six-figure income through copywriting. They’re inspired by industry experts like Dan Lok and Russell Brunson. Stick around until the end for a special bonus: a collection of free resources, courses, and training to boost your copywriting journey!

Exercise 1: Build a Swipe File

One of the biggest challenges for new copywriters is staring at a blank page, unsure of where to begin. This wastes time and leads to frustration. To avoid this, every copywriter should create a swipe file—a personal collection of effective copy from top businesses and campaigns.

What is a Swipe File?

A swipe file is essentially a resource where you gather compelling or useful copy written by others. It serves as a source of inspiration and ideas when you’re tackling a new project. The beauty of it is that great copy is everywhere, and it’s no secret! Leading businesses hire top-notch copywriters to craft their ads, emails, and landing pages—so why not learn from them?

How to Build Your Swipe File:

• Subscribe to Newsletters: Sign up for email lists from brands you admire. Analyze their marketing emails, promotions, and offers to understand what makes them effective.
• Review Social Media Ads: Instead of ignoring ads on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, study them. Notice how they grab your attention, the language they use, and how they encourage action.

By consistently adding to your swipe file, you’ll always have a vault of inspiration to draw from.

Exercise 2: Convert Sales Pages into Emails (and Vice Versa)

A great way to challenge your copywriting skills is to transform long-form content into short-form copy and vice versa. For example, take a lengthy sales page and compress it into a concise 200-300 word email. Alternatively, take an email and expand it into a full sales page.

This exercise forces you to think critically about the content. You’ll need to focus on condensing information or expanding key points while maintaining clarity and persuasion.

This practice sharpens your ability to handle different types of copywriting projects, helping you seamlessly switch between formats.

Exercise 3: Trim Your Copy Ruthlessly

A key skill in copywriting is the ability to communicate big ideas in as few words as possible. In a world where attention spans are shrinking—thanks to platforms like TikTok—it’s crucial to keep your copy concise and impactful.

Overly long emails or ads filled with unnecessary fluff will quickly lose your audience’s attention. Your goal should be to make your writing clear, compelling, and succinct.

Quick Tip:

When reviewing your work, ask yourself: Can I say this in fewer words? If the answer is yes, trim it down. Brevity doesn’t dilute impact—it enhances clarity.

Exercise 4: Replace Entertainment with Education

This is perhaps the most challenging but also the most rewarding exercise. To truly excel at copywriting, you need to devote time to learning and practicing. Unfortunately, we often waste countless hours on entertainment—whether that’s binge-watching Netflix, scrolling through TikTok, or watching funny YouTube videos.

Replace those hours with educational content, and your copywriting skills will soar. Between my Discord community and the free courses on my YouTube channel, you have access to hours of valuable material. Use your time wisely, and you’ll outpace your peers in no time.

Conclusion

Mastering copywriting goes beyond reading books and watching tutorials—you must put in the work. By incorporating these five exercises—building a swipe file, converting long- and short-form content, trimming your copy, replacing entertainment with education, and seeking expert feedback—you’ll notice significant improvements in your abilities.