The best books on creating powerful, money-making advertising copy

If you want to run ads that work, you need to learn what makes them work. This book tells you. John Caples is widely regarded to be one of history’s most iconic advertising copywriters. The man knew how to influence people to buy. This classic book gets down to the very foundation of advertising effectiveness and is loaded with examples and success "recipes" that you can immediately apply to your own ads--no matter what you sell. 100% practical, too. Look for the 4th edition or earlier for a book that's “totally Caples” without dilution by editors to "modernize" (er, weaken!) it. Miss this, and you’re missing the Queen Mary

This is one of my all-time favorites by a wizard of direct response. It discusses the psychology of advertising and the stages your product or service goes through in consumers’ minds. It talks a great deal about headlines, examines how to fire up your copy, and contains some of the hardest-hitting direct-response ads I’ve ever seen. Read this only if you’re serious about writing great ad copy--it’s not for beginners or those just dabbling in the art.

What’s it like to climb inside the mind of one of advertising’s most iconic legends? Reading this book is probably the closest thing to it. You’re sure to come out with a dramatically changed view on how the industry works, and doesn’t. I’ve quoted him often in Cashvertising because his no-bull approach to advertising resonates strongly with everything I’ve been teaching for nearly four decades. Make his words your own and then--when you speak to others about advertising--you’ll be speaking with the voice of unquestionable authority.

Do you have competition? Most of us do. And unless you know how to stand out, you're just one more player in your industry. You need to know how to set yourself apart from your competition... how to communicate that you're different, better, and offer more advantages than your competitors. This is an important book that teaches you how to construct your USP: Unique Selling Proposition, so that your business is PREFERRED over the other guys. When you're preferred, you're the one who gets the business. And it requires more than a clever name and a nice website. This book will open your eyes wide. Most business owners don’t have a clue about this topic. Don’t you be one of them!

Here’s a classic by the man who started it all. Claude Hopkins is regarded as one of the greatest copywriters of all time. He pioneered the “Reason-Why” style of copywriting (telling people why to buy your product). It’s filled with priceless stories, humor, and practical lessons you can apply to your ads immediately. Get this classic if you're truly serious about learning to create effective ads! While your competitors are floundering around scratching their heads because their ads aren’t working, you’ll know exactly what to do to influence people to buy NOW!