Why I Chose Chaos Over Templates (My Weird Journey Into Copywriting) My first Blog Post. 😌
Hey, I'm Tim.
And I'm probably the weirdest copywriter you'll ever meet.
Why? Because I break pretty much every "rule" those copywriting gurus preach:
- I don't use their precious templates
- I ignore their "proven" formulas
- I write like I'm texting a friend
- And yes, I sometimes start sentences with "And"
But here's the thing - it works. And the story of how I figured this out is... well, let's just say it involves a lot of coffee, some embarrassing mistakes, and one very patient client who didn't run away when I accidentally called them "buddy" in a professional email.
The "Before" Picture
Let me paint you a picture of where I started:
- A student trying to figure out life
- More enthusiasm than experience
- A coffee addiction that would make a barista nervous
- And absolutely zero idea what I was doing
You know those "Day in the Life" posts where everything looks perfect? This isn't one of those.
The Breaking Point
I remember the exact moment I decided to do things differently.
I was sitting there, staring at my screen, trying to force myself to write one of those "proven" cold email templates:
"Dear {First Name}, I noticed your {business type} could benefit from..."
And I just... couldn't.
Not because I didn't know how. But because it felt about as authentic as my aunt's "natural" hair color. (Sorry, Aunt Lisa, but we all know.)
The Experiment
So I tried something crazy.
Instead of copying templates, I started writing like... me.
My first "real" email went something like:
"Hey! Just read your blog post about that garden gnome incident. Gerald the Grumpy Gnome is my spirit animal, and I need to know if he has an Instagram..."
Was it professional? Nope.
Did it follow any formulas? Definitely not.
Did it work? Somehow, yes.
The Plot Twist
Here's the weird part - clients actually liked it.
Turns out, when everyone else is sending:
"I noticed your business could benefit from optimization of your strategic marketing initiatives..."
An email that sounds like a human wrote it actually stands out.
The Real Results
My first month doing things "by the book":
- 50 template emails sent
- 1 responses
- 1 spam folder achievement unlocked
My first month being myself:
- 15 weird, human emails sent
- 9 responses
- 4 clients
- Several concerned messages from my mom about my coffee consumption
Why This Actually Works
Here's what I've learned about copywriting:
1. Humans buy from humans
Not templates. Not formulas. Not "proven systems."
2. Authenticity isn't just a buzzword
It's what happens when you're too caffeinated to pretend to be professional.
3. Mistakes make you memorable
Like that time I sent a draft with "INSERT SMART CONCLUSION HERE" still in it. (The client actually loved seeing my process. Go figure.)
The Truth About My "Style"
My approach isn't for everyone. Some might even call it unprofessional.
But here's the thing:
- My clients get results
- My emails get responses
- My copy actually sounds human
- And yes, I still accidentally call people "buddy" sometimes
What I Actually Do
Instead of following templates, I:
- Tell stories from my life
- Write like I talk
- Share my failures (there are many)
- Keep it real (sometimes too real)
- Drink concerning amounts of coffee
The Future
I'm still figuring this out. Still making mistakes. Still occasionally sending emails with "FIX THIS BEFORE SENDING" left in them.
But I wouldn't have it any other way.
Because at the end of the day, I'd rather be authentically chaotic than perfectly boring.
P.S. Want to hear about the time I accidentally turned in a college essay with all my self-doubt notes still in it? ("Is this smart enough? Maybe add more big words? Do I even know what juxtaposition means?") Drop a comment below. That story involves an understanding professor, a valuable lesson about authenticity, and me finally learning what juxtaposition means.
P.P.S. Yes, I'm still drinking coffee while writing this. No, I probably won't stop.
Hey! Tim here again. If you've read this far, you're either:
a) Really interested in copywriting
b) Really bored
c) My mom (hi mom!)
Either way, let's connect! Drop a comment, share your own copywriting disaster story, or just tell me I need to cut back on the coffee. I read and respond to everything. Usually at 3 AM. Because sleep is for people who don't have deadlines. 😅