Introduction
When I first stumbled across Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy, I was skeptical. I’ve seen countless copywriting courses promise to teach you the “secrets” of persuasion, only to deliver bloated theory and outdated tactics. But something about Nate’s approach felt different. He wasn’t promising overnight riches or magic formulas. Instead, he was offering something far more valuable: a brutally honest, stripped-down approach to writing words that actually sell. If you’re tired of overcomplicated marketing advice that leaves you more confused than when you started, this course might be the breath of fresh air you need. I decided to dive deep into the curriculum to see if it truly lives up to the hype of being so simple that, as Nate puts it, “a brain dead monkey could do it.” What I discovered was a no-nonsense system that cuts through the noise and focuses entirely on what moves people to buy.
Course Description
Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy is a comprehensive direct response copywriting course designed to take you from complete beginner to competent copywriter without the usual academic fluff. The course is hosted on Blue Ocean E-Commerce and consists of video-based training modules that you can access immediately upon enrollment. Nate teaches you how to write copy that entertains, persuades, and sells using simple, actionable principles rather than complex theories. The training covers everything from market research and human psychology to specific writing tactics and editing strategies. Unlike traditional writing courses that focus on grammar and flowery language, this program emphasizes salesmanship in print, teaching you how to ethically “take money from other people’s pockets” by understanding what makes them tick. With lifetime access and regular bonus content updates, this is a resource you can return to whenever you need a refresher on writing high-converting copy.
What sets this course apart is Nate’s raw, unfiltered teaching style. He shares real examples from his own journey, including how he went from delivering pizza to earning six figures through copywriting. The curriculum is structured into five core sections plus three extensive bonus modules, ensuring you get both foundational knowledge and advanced tactical implementation. Whether you want to freelance, boost your e-commerce sales, or build a personal brand, the principles taught here apply across any business model.
Ideal Student
I believe Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy is perfect for specific types of people who are ready to take action. This course isn’t for those looking for theoretical academic knowledge about writing. Instead, it’s designed for:
- Aspiring freelance copywriters who want to land their first client and build a location-independent business using nothing but a laptop and internet connection
- E-commerce store owners and dropshippers struggling to convert traffic into sales and need to write product descriptions, ads, and landing pages that actually persuade visitors to buy
- Affiliate marketers and info product creators who need to master the art of selling through email sequences, sales pages, and social media content without sounding sleazy or pushy
- Complete beginners who feel overwhelmed by the “make money online” world and need a clear starting point that doesn’t require prior business or marketing experience
- Content creators and personal brand builders looking to grow their audience and monetize through compelling storytelling and persuasive communication
Learning Outcomes
By the time you complete Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy, you’ll have developed practical skills that translate directly into income. This isn’t about learning theory for theory’s sake. Here is what you can expect to achieve:
- Master the psychology of persuasion by understanding 28 cognitive “short circuits” that ethically influence people to take action and buy from you immediately
- Write high-converting sales copy for emails, landing pages, Facebook ads, and product descriptions that generate revenue on autopilot
- Build a freelance copywriting business from scratch using the 8-step process for landing your first $1,000 client without prior experience or a portfolio
- Edit ruthlessly using a 5-step process that transforms rough drafts into tight, compelling copy that keeps readers engaged from first line to last
- Cultivate demand rather than create it by learning how to enter conversations already happening in your prospect’s mind and position your offer as the obvious solution
Course Modules
The curriculum of Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy is organized into logical progressions that build your skills from foundational mindset shifts to advanced tactical execution. Each module contains multiple video lessons that you can consume at your own pace. Here is a detailed breakdown of what you’ll find inside:
Module 1: The Intro – Foundations and Framework
This opening module sets the stage for your copywriting journey by establishing the fundamental truth about making money online: there’s no such thing as “making money,” only moving money from other people’s pockets into yours through persuasion. Nate explains why copywriting is essentially an “evil superpower” that can be used for good or evil, and emphasizes the ethical responsibility that comes with mastering persuasion. You’ll learn the WWWWWH framework (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) for approaching any copy project, and discover why traditional copywriting books aren’t the secret to success. This module includes Nate’s personal story of going from broke college student delivering pizza to six-figure copywriter, providing proof that these principles work in the real world. You’ll also get the brain-dead simple 7-step process for turning your course investment into $1,000 or more, giving you immediate actionable direction.
- Understanding persuasion as the ultimate transferable skill
- Why most copywriting education fails and how to avoid common pitfalls
- The only metric you need to track to make your first $1,000 online
Module 2: The Mindset – Killing the Inner Sales Monster
Before you write a single word of copy, you need to adopt the mindset of a direct response marketer rather than a creative writer. This module destroys the limiting beliefs that prevent most people from writing effective sales copy. Nate explains why most copywriters make “jack diddly” by focusing on brand awareness rather than direct response copywriting, which is 100x more profitable. You’ll learn why everything your 9th grade English teacher taught you about writing is actually hurting your sales, and why proper grammar and flowery language often reduce conversions. The module covers the ethical framework for “taking money” from people’s pockets in a way that makes them grateful to give it to you. By the end, you’ll understand why sales skills trump every other business skill, and you’ll have brutally murdered the “scary sales monster” that prevents most people from asking for the sale.
- Direct response vs. branding: why one makes money and the other makes trophies
- How to view selling as the most ethical thing you can do
- Unlearning academic writing habits that kill sales copy
Module 3: The Principles – Market Research and Human Nature
This is where the meat of the course begins. Nate reveals that great copy isn’t written, it’s assembled through deep understanding of your market. You’ll learn his systematic approach to market research that uncovers exactly what your prospects are thinking, feeling, and struggling with. The module covers human nature and the psychological triggers that drive purchasing decisions, including 28 specific “short circuits” in the human brain you can leverage to ethically force people to buy. You’ll discover how one copywriter made six figures writing about prostate problems without even mentioning the product, and what Ferrari salesmen know about selling that Toyota salesmen don’t. This section emphasizes getting into your prospect’s world before trying to sell them anything, and explains why speaking about your product before addressing the prospect’s pain points is strangling your sales at the source.
- The Gene Schwartz method of assembling copy rather than writing it
- 28 cognitive biases and psychological triggers for immediate persuasion
- Why selling results and emotions beats selling features and logic
Module 4: The Principles – Storytelling and Vision Creation
Building on psychological foundations, this module dives into the art of storytelling and creating compelling visions for your prospects. Nate breaks down the 7-figure copy secrets of a famous comedian (hint: it involves creating vivid mental movies), and shows you how to use curiosity and contrast to keep readers glued to your copy. You’ll learn why creating demand is exhausting and expensive, while cultivating existing demand is the key to easy sales. The module covers the critical difference between persuasion and convincing, explaining why convincing feels “salesy” while persuasion feels natural. You’ll master the “Seal Team Six” copy weapon for ethically forcing purchases, and understand why negative emotions often sell better than positive ones, though they must be handled carefully to remain ethical. By the end, you’ll know how to write copy that’s more entertaining than the circus while still driving sales.
- Crafting persuasive stories that create urgency and desire
- Using curiosity gaps and contrast to maintain attention
- Jeff Bezos’s secret weapon for selling (and how Amazon uses it)
Module 5: The Principles – Specificity and Urgency
This section focuses on advanced psychological triggers that separate amateur copy from professional-grade sales material. Nate emphasizes the power of specificity, showing you why vague claims destroy credibility while specific details build trust and desire. You’ll learn the “Now, Not Later” principle, including four specific examples of copy that forces immediate purchase rather than “thinking about it” (because if they don’t buy now, they never will). The module covers social proof and demonstration strategies, including the million-dollar anti-copy “trick” that QVC uses in their infomercials to sell millions without traditional sales copy. You’ll understand why clarity beats cleverness every time, and how to use the “Are We Clear?” test to ensure your message hits home. This module also touches on why being boring is the only sin in copywriting, and how to use “stupidity” (simple, obvious language) to increase sales.
- Specificity tactics that boost credibility and conversions
- Creating “now or never” urgency without false scarcity
- Social proof frameworks that don’t sound fake or forced
Module 6: The Writing Strategies – Structure and Formulas
Now we move from theory to tactical execution. This module provides two “handed to you on a silver platter” copy formulas that generated six figures in sales for Nate in just three months. The first formula is common sense but often ignored, while the second is a lesser-known structure that outperforms traditional approaches. You’ll discover Hollywood’s disgusting copy secret and why the entertainment industry makes billions using these principles. The module covers basic copywriting structures that work across any medium, from emails to landing pages to Facebook ads. Nate explains his “Next Line” philosophy, where the only purpose of any sentence is to get the reader to read the next sentence. This creates an unstoppable momentum that carries prospects through your entire sales message. You’ll also learn why infotainment, combining education with entertainment, is the key to modern copywriting success.
- Two proven copy formulas for immediate implementation
- The “Next Line” principle for maintaining reader momentum
- Hollywood storytelling structures adapted for sales copy
Module 7: The Writing Tactics – Voice and Editing
This is where you learn the actual mechanics of writing. Nate reveals why he uses “copious amounts of swear words and slang” in his copy and how this authenticity drives sales. You’ll learn the “miserly introvert’s blueprint” for writing words people can’t stop reading, even if they hate reading. The module covers the “Write Like You Talk” philosophy, explaining how conversational copy outperforms corporate speak every time. You’ll discover how to “say more by writing less,” eliminating fluff while increasing impact. Nate shares his hilarious but instructive story about turning a bout of explosive diarrhea into $1,000 in sales, demonstrating how to find copy ideas in everyday life. Most importantly, you’ll learn the two sales-strangling copy mistakes that 95% of newbies make, and how to avoid them from day one.
- Developing an authentic voice that builds trust
- The “Shock” tactic for jading readers into paying attention
- Why conversational copy beats “professional” copy
Module 8: The Application – Putting It All Together
This module focuses on implementation and integration of everything you’ve learned. Nate walks you through real-world application of the principles, showing you exactly how to approach different copy projects from start to finish. You’ll see how to research a market, outline your copy using the formulas provided, write the first draft using the voice and tactics from previous modules, and then edit ruthlessly using the 5-step editing process. This section bridges the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Nate emphasizes that your first draft will likely be terrible, but that’s okay, because the editing process is where the magic happens. You’ll learn to view copywriting as a systematic process rather than a creative art, making it replicable and scalable across any business or client project.
- The ruthless 5-step editing process for maximum conversion
- Turning rookie-level drafts into sales-generating machines
- Systematic application across different business models
Module 9: Bonus – Freelancing and Client Acquisition
This extensive bonus module is specifically for those wanting to build a freelance copywriting business. Nate provides an 8-step dead simple process for becoming a well-paid freelance copywriter, starting from zero. You’ll learn why calling yourself a “copywriter” is actually the worst thing you can do when starting out (Nate made this mistake and it cost him two months of income), and what to call yourself instead. The module covers how to define your ideal client and position yourself as the only logical choice for their needs. You’ll get Nate’s exact process for finding prospects to cold email, including where to look and how to qualify them. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to craft persuasive cold emails with no experience, using the principles from the main course to land clients. The module includes strategies for ruthless follow-up, closing clients on the phone, getting them results immediately, and then upselling to higher-ticket retainers.
- Positioning strategies that attract high-paying clients
- Cold email frameworks that get responses
- Closing techniques for phone calls and upsells
Module 10: Bonus – Real-World Analysis and Case Studies
The final bonus module brings everything together through real-world examples and case studies. Nate analyzes legendary copy pieces, including Gary Halbert’s famous “Coat of Arms” letter, breaking down exactly why it worked and how you can apply those principles today. You’ll see analysis of Ramit Sethi’s email list strategies, examining how he uses storytelling and persuasion to build a multi-million dollar education business. The module includes a meta-analysis of the Brain Dead Simple Copy sales page itself, showing you how Nate used the course principles to sell the course. You’ll also see breakdowns of successful campaigns from Nutrisystem and ALPHA Brain, understanding how major companies use these same tactics at scale. Finally, the BDSC case studies section includes real outreach messages from a student named Cam who landed a $1,000/month client, including the actual Instagram DMs and a recording of the client closing call. This provides concrete proof that the system works when applied correctly.
- Breakdown of Gary Halbert’s legendary direct mail piece
- Analysis of Ramit Sethi’s email marketing strategy
- Real client acquisition case study with Cam
Real-World Applications and Success Stories
The principles taught in Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy apply to virtually any business model where words influence buying decisions. I’ve seen these strategies work specifically in e-commerce, where students use the product description and ad copy tactics to turn failing Shopify stores into profitable ventures. The email marketing strategies are perfect for building automated sequences that generate revenue while you sleep. For freelancers, the client acquisition bonus module provides a clear roadmap to replacing your job income within months, not years. The personal branding applications help you build an engaged audience on Twitter or other platforms that actually buys from you rather than just liking your content. What makes these applications powerful is that they don’t require massive ad budgets or complex tech stacks. They rely on understanding human psychology and communicating clearly, skills that transfer across any industry or economic climate.
The success stories from students demonstrate the practical effectiveness of Nate’s teaching. Take Cam, for example, whose case study is included in the course. Using the exact cold outreach templates and positioning strategies taught in the freelancing module, Cam landed a client paying $1,000 per month within weeks of implementing the training. The course includes the actual DMs he sent and a recording of his closing call, providing transparent proof of how the system works. Another student applied the e-commerce principles to their dropshipping store and went from zero sales to consistent daily profits by simply rewriting their product descriptions using the “sell results, not products” framework. These aren’t overnight millionaire stories, but they represent realistic outcomes for people willing to do the work and apply the principles consistently.
Pricing
Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy is currently available for a one-time investment that grants you lifetime access to all current and future content. While the value provided easily justifies a higher price point, Nate has kept this accessible to beginners who are serious about learning the skill.
- One-Time Payment: $377 for complete lifetime access to all modules, bonuses, and future updates. This includes the core curriculum, all three bonus modules, and any content Nate adds based on student feedback.
The course also offers a payment plan option for those who need flexibility. At $377, this represents significant value compared to other copywriting courses that often charge $1,000 or more for similar content. Considering that the freelancing bonus alone can help you earn that back with a single client, the return on investment potential is substantial. Remember, this is not a subscription; once you pay, you own the course forever, including all future bonus materials that Nate adds as the program evolves.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No fluff or filler content – Every lesson delivers actionable information without theoretical padding or academic jargon
- Real-world examples – Nate shares actual copy that made him money, including the famous diarrhea story that generated $1,000 in sales
- Comprehensive psychology training – The 28 cognitive biases and “short circuits” provide a cheat sheet for persuasion
- Freelancing blueprint included – The bonus module on getting your first $1,000 client is worth the price alone
- Lifetime access with updates – Pay once and get all future bonus content as Nate adds it
- Works for any business model – Principles apply to e-commerce, freelancing, affiliate marketing, or personal branding
Cons
- No refund policy – Nate explicitly states he does not offer refunds for any reason, which requires commitment before purchasing
- Requires implementation – This isn’t passive learning; you must actually write copy to see results, which some students may find challenging
- Unfiltered teaching style – The casual tone and occasional profanity might not appeal to corporate professionals seeking traditional business education
- Self-paced discipline required – Without live classes or accountability, some students may struggle to complete the material
- Price may be high for absolute beginners – While valuable, $377 represents a significant investment for someone with zero income yet
- Limited advanced technical copy – Focuses primarily on direct response rather than complex B2B or technical copywriting
FAQs
What exactly is Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy?
This is a comprehensive direct response copywriting course that teaches you how to write persuasive sales copy for emails, landing pages, ads, and social media. It focuses on practical, actionable strategies rather than theory, designed to help you make money online through better writing.
Do I need any prior writing experience to succeed with this course?
Absolutely not. The course is designed for complete beginners and assumes zero prior knowledge of copywriting or marketing. In fact, Nate argues that having no experience can be an advantage because you won’t have bad habits to unlearn from academic writing training.
How is this different from other copywriting courses?
Unlike courses that teach branding or content marketing, Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy focuses exclusively on direct response copywriting, the type that generates immediate sales. It cuts out all fluff and provides specific psychological triggers, formulas, and editing processes you can use today.
What is the refund policy?
The course does not offer refunds. Nate specifically states that he does not provide refunds for any reason because he knows the content is worth far more than the price charged. This policy ensures only serious students enroll.
Can I use these skills for e-commerce and dropshipping?
Yes, absolutely. Nate used these exact principles to build his own Shopify stores to hundreds of dollars in daily profit. The course includes specific strategies for product descriptions, Facebook ads, and landing pages that work perfectly for e-commerce businesses.
How long do I have access to the course materials?
You get lifetime access to all current and future content. As Nate adds bonus materials based on student feedback, you receive them at no additional cost. The course is hosted on Teachable, accessible across all your devices.
Final Verdict
After thoroughly reviewing Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy, I can confidently say this is one of the most practical, no-nonsense copywriting courses available for beginners and intermediate marketers alike. Unlike programs that hide basic information behind thousands of dollars of upsells or bury simple concepts in complex theory, Nate delivers exactly what he promises: a brain-dead simple approach to writing words that sell. The combination of psychological principles, specific writing tactics, and real-world case studies provides a complete education in direct response copywriting.
Where this course truly shines is in its applicability. Whether you want to freelance, boost your e-commerce sales, or build a personal brand, the principles transfer seamlessly. The freelancing bonus module alone justifies the $377 price tag, as landing just one client recoups your entire investment. However, this course isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for theoretical academic study of literature, or if you need hand-holding and motivational content, look elsewhere. This is for people who want to learn the skill of persuasion quickly and are willing to do the work to implement it. If you’re serious about making money online and understand that copywriting is the foundational skill that makes everything else work, then Nate Schmidt – Brain Dead Simple Copy is an investment that will pay dividends for years to come. The lack of a refund policy means you need to be committed, but if you’re ready to take action, this course provides the roadmap.
