I’ve been a freelance copywriter for over seven years, and I’ve learned so much along the way. These are my top 11 tips for starting out as a copywriter.
They will help you get off the ground and on your feet in no time! I hope these tips help you too!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Becoming a freelance copywriter can lead to high earnings within a year if approached strategically. |
| 2. Focus on developing strong copywriting skills and understanding your target audience. |
| 3. Building a solid portfolio and showcasing your expertise is essential for attracting clients. |
| 4. Implement effective marketing strategies to promote yourself and acquire high-paying projects. |
| 5. Stay committed, persistent, and professional in your freelancing journey to achieve success. |
Practice Writing Copy
Write every day.
If you want to become a better writer, you have to practice writing.
This can be as simple as jotting down some ideas on your phone throughout the day or even just taking a few minutes before bed to jot down some notes about the things that happened during your day.
The more time you spend writing, the better you will get at it (think of it as working out).
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Write About Different Topics And Industries
The best way to learn how to write is by practicing with different topics and industries so that you can learn how different types of people think, speak and act in various situations.
Remember: people are always buying what they need but don’t know yet exists!
Invest In Copyblogger
Copyblogger is a great resource for freelance copywriters. You’ll find plenty of tips and tricks to help you become an even better writer, as well as advice on how to get the most out of Copyblogger.
The first step to improving your writing skills is buying something called “copywriting,” which comes with a fancy cover and some pages inside with words on them.
If you don’t have any money, there are other options: You could borrow some money from a friend or family member; take out a student loan; make more money so you can buy what’s needed, or just steal one (you know who you are).
Remember that stealing is bad unless it’s done by someone else who isn’t around at the time because stealing will cause problems later on down the line when everybody finds out about it!
Go Through The Define Process For Freelancing
The Define process is a way of working out what you want to achieve. It’s also the name of a book by Brian Tracy, who runs a website called BrianTracy.com where he teaches people how to do this.
The Define process helps you to set goals, achieve them, stay focused on them and avoid distractions so that you can get more done in less time.
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Start Your Day With A Copywriting Ritual
A morning routine is a great way to get your day started on the right foot. It’s also a good time to build up a habit of writing, which can be helpful in your freelance copywriting business.
Here are some tips for starting a morning routine that includes writing:
Set aside 5 minutes or so every morning to focus on your copywriting work. If you’re feeling ambitious and have more time, set aside 20-30 minutes instead!
Start small with just 5 minutes per day at first and gradually increase it from there if necessary.
As long as you’re consistent about doing this every single day without fail, it’ll become easier over time until eventually, all it takes is some willpower not to skip out on writing for even one day (which I’ve done before).
That said, don’t beat yourself up if things aren’t going great just try again tomorrow!
Do Research On Your Client’s Business
- Know what the client’s business is about
- Know what their target audience is
- Know the competition in this particular niche market
- Understand the goals of the client and where they are trying to go with their business, and how you can help them get there.
- Ensure you have a good understanding of their budget so that you don’t spend more than they can afford.
The last thing you want is to spend hours writing a copy only to have it rejected because your price was too high!
Have A Style Guide
What is a style guide?
A style guide is simply a set of rules that dictate how you write and edit your copy.
A good style guide will help ensure that all your copy reads in the same way so that it’s easy for readers to follow and understand.
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Have A Strategic Plan For Every Project You Work On
Before you begin, it is important to have a plan. You should be able to clearly define what your goals are and how they will be achieved.
It is also important that the goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely (SMART).
If you don’t have a plan before starting on a project then how will you know when it has been completed?
If your goal is $3 million in sales for next year then what do you need to do for this goal to be achieved?
Shouldn’t there be milestones along the way so that when someone asks if it has been achieved or not we can say yes or no with confidence?
Know What Problem You’re Solving For Your Clients Before Providing A Quote
To know how much you should charge, you need to understand the problem your client is solving for their business.
Your job as a copywriter is not just to write words; it’s also to solve problems for your clients.
And understanding what problem you’re solving for your clients before providing a quote will help guide the entire process of quoting and selling yourself in general.
You might be thinking “Surely this goes without saying?” but I’ve seen so many people who don’t do this and feel like they’re leaving money on the table because they don’t know how valuable their services are or how much clients are willing to pay them.
If this sounds familiar, I have good news: knowing what problem(s) you’re solving for clients before providing a quote will make all of the difference!
Read A Lot Of Good Writing, Not Just Copywriting Books
A lot of people think that if you want to be a great writer, you should just read about writing. This is not true.
To be a great writer, you have to read for enjoyment, pleasure, and interest too. And when reading for enjoyment and pleasure, remember that not all books are good!
While I highly recommend learning from masters like Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) or other copywriting resources such as Jon Morrow’s excellent blog Copyblogger.
And while these two sources will give you an excellent foundation in this field don’t let reading these types of texts become your sole form of inspiration and education.
Read fiction read nonfiction on topics unrelated to the craft of copywriting; pick up some old-school classics like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or War And Peace by Leo Tolstoy;
Check out some modern classics like The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson or Game Of Thrones by George R.R Martin; explore poetry from your favorite poets like William Blake or Sylvia Plath;
Immerse yourself in some thought-provoking nonfiction titles such as Sapiens: A Brief History Of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari, For Those Who Set Themselves On Fire: Poems, END OF SECTION
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Use Multiple Methods Of Communication To Learn More About Your Client’s Business Before Making An Offer Or Sending An Invoice
One of the best ways to learn more about your client’s business is by meeting them in person. Another is by talking on the phone, which you can do through a conference call or via Skype.
These are important steps that will help you understand what a client needs and how to tailor your language accordingly, so don’t skip this step!
If you want to get into their shoes, ask for a tour of their office space or even have lunch with them but only if it makes sense for both parties involved.
This isn’t going to work if your clients live far away from each other (or from yourself!), but if there are no geographical barriers and all parties are willing? Then go ahead!
Have A Mindset That You Are Always Getting To The Next Level In Your Copywriting Career
A good mindset for a freelancer has the willingness to learn new things and take risks. You should also be willing to build a network, make mistakes, try new things and work hard.
It may take you several years before you start making six figures as a copywriter. But if you have patience and determination, it will happen eventually!
Be Available To Help Your Client Whenever They Need It, Even When It’s Inconvenient For You
Being available to your client at all times is not only a courtesy, but it’s also an opportunity for you to build trust with them.
For example, when you’re helping one of your clients figure out the best way to execute their strategy, they may be unsure of what they want or need from you at that moment.
By being willing on the spot (even if it’s inconvenient for you) and offering options that could work for them as well as yourself, you’ll likely gain their trust in your abilities and expertise.
This will make them more willing to request help from other projects in the future when they hit a wall or need additional input from someone who knows their business well.
Be Generous With Your Time, Skills, And Expertise When Writing Copy For Clients
It’s worth remembering that this is a team effort. You’re not working for yourself, but rather with your client to achieve their goals.
So be generous with your time, skills, and expertise when writing copy for clients. It makes sense because the more you give away, the more value you provide them (and thus earn).
Stay Up-To-Date On What’s Going On In The Industry By Connecting With People Who Work In It, Reading Blogs, And Attending Events Regularly
As a freelance copywriter, one of the most important things you can do is stay up-to-date on what’s going on in the industry.
By connecting with people who work in it and reading blogs and other content regularly, you’ll be able to keep your skills sharp while also getting paid for sharing that knowledge with others.
It’s important to be part of the community because when you share what you know, there are many benefits:
You build relationships with potential clients or employers across different industries (which means more opportunities for finding new business)
You get access to information about trends in your industry (like where jobs are located)
Offer Different Services That Are Related To Writing So You Can Charge More Per Hour
If you’re a copywriter, offering different services that are related to writing is a great way to charge more than someone doing the same thing but without experience doing it for other clients first.
For example:
Provide content strategy consulting or research and development. This helps you understand how your client’s business works and why their customers buy their products or services.
You can use this knowledge when creating copy that speaks directly to those customers’ needs and wants via the web or email marketing campaigns (which we’ll talk about soon).
Offer proofreading and editing services for non-copywriting projects like resumes, blog posts, brochures, annual reports, etc.,
Which gives you even more insight into what makes good writing effective while giving clients an additional service they may not have been aware of needing before bringing on a freelancer like yourself!
This can also lead directly to landing bigger writing jobs down the line because now everyone knows who did such great work on those smaller projects!
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Conclusion
You’re a copywriter and that means you have the skills to make people’s lives easier. You can help them get more traffic, sales, or subscribers by writing something that will convince their audience why they should buy from them or hire them over someone else.
It may take some time before you see results but it’s worth it because once those first few clients start coming in, there’s no stopping you!
Further Reading
How to Become a Copywriter: A comprehensive guide on the steps and skills needed to pursue a successful career as a copywriter.
How to Make 6 Figures in Your First Year Freelancing: Learn proven strategies to achieve high earnings as a freelancer in your first year.
6-Figure Freelance Copywriter: Discover the secrets and tips from an experienced copywriter to earn a six-figure income in the freelancing world.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do Freelance Copywriters Make?
The short answer is that you can earn a lot of money as a freelance copywriter if you’re willing to put in the time and effort.
We know people who have earned six figures in their first year, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of hustle to get there.
If you’re looking for something more immediate, we’d recommend looking into freelancing as an SEO writer or website content editor.
How Do I Get Started?
Good question! The best thing you can do is start with your resume and portfolio. Make sure they’re up-to-date and reflect all of your previous experience and skills.
You’ll also want to put together a portfolio of samples that show off your best work. If possible, include testimonials from previous clients or even colleagues who will vouch for your skills.
You should also consider getting some training in copywriting so that you can demonstrate proficiency with the industry standards and practices.
Finally, make sure that any clients you pitch have budgets that are large enough to support your hourly rate (or at least cover expenses).
How Much Will I Earn?
It depends on your location, experience, and market demand for the type of copywriting you do. You can make anywhere from $50 to $500 per hour.
What Kind Of Work Is Available?
There are many different kinds of freelance writing jobs available, including blog posts, articles, marketing emails, case studies, press releases, and more.
If you’re new to freelancing as a copywriter, we recommend starting with an article or landing page as your first project because these are easy to complete quickly and will help you build up your portfolio.
What Qualifications Do I Need?
You don’t need any formal qualifications just some writing experience! We recommend having at least 1-2 years of experience in content writing before starting as a freelance copywriter.
That’s because you must know how to write well before trying to sell yourself as someone who can write well!
You’ll also need good English skills (or another language if you’re working internationally).
An internet connection, and access to Google Drive or other cloud storage service where you can save your work securely so that it doesn’t get lost if anything happens to your computer or device while working.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.