When it comes to copywriting courses, there are numerous options. You, of course, have the option to spend $40,000+ on portfolio school. But there’s no reason to drop tens of thousands of dollars when you can become a copywriter for a fraction of the cost. Let’s dig into two of the top copywriting courses, AWAI and Filthy Rich Writer.
(Note: While we’re listing pros and cons here, there’s no escaping the fact that I am biased. I am the head copywriting coach for Filthy Rich Writer. You can read more about how I know Nicki Krawczyk, founder of Filthy Rich Writer, right here.)
AWAI vs Filthy Rich Writer: Who is Behind Each Course?
AWAI’s site claims there are “legendary” copywriters behind its courses. But here’s the thing about copywriting: our names are never on our work and truly incredible work is the result of a team—not a solo contributor.
Anyone purporting to be the sole reason a company is making millions of dollars has a completely out-of-check ego. Yes, copywriters can certainly help businesses bottom line. And we do! But to completely dismiss the rest of the team you’re working with is disingenuous.
Both Nicki and I have worked as full-time freelancers, we’ve freelanced while working full-time, we’ve worked on-staff in companies, as well as for ad agencies working with multiple clients. We’ve worked as contractors. Name a type of way you want to work, and you have the support of a team who has done it and continues to do it. We’re working copywriters—not just people selling a course.
We’ve also got a stellar team of professionals who are experts in marketing, social media, operations, and more. Filthy Rich Writer’s Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students get access to our team. For example, during the 2021 Summer Freelance Summit—free to CCA students—our operations manager Kaitlyn did a session on setting up and streamlining your systems that students still rave about (and that you get access to as a CCA student—we record everything!).
You also get feedback from our team of student copy coaches who have been in your exact shoes going through the CCA. They’re all working copywriters who, along with Nicki and myself, help you work through roadblocks.
Famous copywriters aren’t actually thing. There are tens of thousands of working copywriters who are making great money. We’re just keeping our heads down doing the work versus trying to become the next social media influencer. That, my friends, is a different career entirely!
How Does the AWAI Cost Compare to Filthy Rich Writer’s Comprehensive Copywriting Academy?
AWAI’s Pricing Model
AWAI has multiple courses available for purchase, some based on your level, some based on the “type” of copywriter you want to become (the digital copywriting handbook alone is $597).
As a beginner, how do you know what you want to work on before you’ve worked on it?
Plus, choosing one niche (e.g. “I’m only going to write emails) is a surefire way to limit your career. Clients want to work with copywriters who can tackle whatever project they throw their way. If you’re a freelancer, you of course do not need to take on every project your client wants you to take on. But it’s a lot more fun when you have variety.
There’s a lot of nickel-and-diming with individual courses (like pricing your services) at around $49.
Filthy Rich Writer’s Pricing Model
Filthy Rich Writer’s Comprehensive Copywriting Academy is called comprehensive for a reason. Whether you want to land a full-time, on-staff role or you want to work as a freelancer, you’ll find everything you need to launch the career you want.
But we also know that plans change. So you get access to all courses, allowing you to build a flexible copywriting career. Maybe you start on staff and then decide you want to freelance. Or you want to freelance while working full time. You have the resources and support to do it.
And you get lifetime access so as you need to revisit modules you can. (One of our coaches, Stuart, shared a story of having skipped the print module in the CCA. When a client asked if he could write a print piece, he simply revisited that section of the course!)
What AWAI or Filthy Rich Writer Copywriters Have Had Success?
Here are the AWAI success stories I could find.
I can’t speak to those folks since I don’t know them, but I have had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with many, many CCA students over the last three years I’ve been working with Filthy Rich Writer.
You can watch several of their stories on YouTube right here. You can also see some of the latest and greatest wins from the CCA’s student-only Facebook group right here.
What I love about CCA students is that each one of them has carved out their own path. They’re all working with clients they want to work with, some on staff, some with ad agencies, and some as full-time freelancers.
There’s perhaps nothing more exciting than watching a student have so much success that they leave their full-time job to pursue copywriting full time.
These are incredibly hard working, brilliant people and I feel so lucky to have a sneak peek into their journeys!
Copywriting Courses: What Will You Learn?
As previously mentioned, AWAI has a lot of various programs, but they’re each going to cost you. The Comprehensive Copywriting Academy covers everything you need to learn copywriting and build a six-figure copywriting career—if that’s what you want!
Some students only want to work part time (and some are still making six figures working part time—insane!). Some want to fund a vacation. What’s your why? What’s your reason for pursuing copywriting? Get clear on that first so you always know what you’re working towards.
And, if there’s something not covered in the course, tell us! We’re always adding new material to the course.
After all, we’re working copywriters. The content is much fresher than AWAI. AWAI is still hanging its hat on sales letters. Sales letters are dead.
Not only does the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy teach you the ins and outs of copywriting itself (with Action Sheets for practice!), but it also has courses on how to find and land clients. After all, what good is having copywriting as a skill if you don’t use it?
So, AWAI or Filthy Rich Writer?
As with everything in life, it depends on YOU! What are your goals? What do you want to learn? Have you already learned copywriting and only need a course on pricing? Or a course on a specific medium? Then maybe the one-off AWAI courses are for you.
But if you’re brand-new to copywriting or you haven’t seen the success you want from copywriting, then having access to all of the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy’s modules may be your better investment (this includes 6 core Foundation modules and more than 20 bonus courses, plus special student-only events and more).
If you opt for Filthy Rich Writer’s CCA, I’ll see you in there!
But either way, I wish you the best in your copywriting journey! Remember: there’s room for all of us to having the thriving copywriting career we want.