Many small business people feel intimidated when trying to write an ad because they feel they don't have good copywriting skills. In reality, if they have achieved any degree of success in their business, they are one of the best copywriters they could ever hire.

When you hire a professional copywriter, they certainly would have copywriting skills, but they can never know as much as you do about the business iteself. What you say to convince a prospective client to do business with you has been honed over several years of trial and error in real life situations. You may not have copywriting skills, but you have selling skills that have proven to get business for you over and over again.

Writing copy for ads is strictly your sales pitch in writing. If you simply say your sales presentation over the phone or in person to a customer and record it you will have an amazingly successful ad. You don't need formal copywriting skills. Just as you can get business by doing what you have done for many years in your business, your ad will get you business without you having to present it in person. That's what copywriting basically does for you.

On the other hand, if you hire a professional copywriter with good copywriting skills, he/she will be able to take your "rough" presentation and really make it sing in writing. However, the professional can't do that without you first "saying" your sales presentation.

If you are doing your own copywriting you can get started by simply "saying" your presentation in writing. However, if you take a couple of courses from "proven" copywriters who know how to make a profit from advertising, you will be much more effective.

In conclusion: You can do your own copywriting very profitably by being yourself. If you want, you can hire a professional to polish up what you know works in your business. The best would be if you take some time to polish up your own copywriting skills by taking a couple of courses... in the steps of the "masters".