By the time you finish this article, you will have a working framework and plan for turning your copywriting skills into a freelance writing business. I’m going to show you how to use content marketing to become an authority in your field and attract high-quality clients (clients who will pay good money for the content you write).
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Leverage your copywriting skills as a foundation for a freelance writing business. |
| 2. Identify your target niche and audience to offer specialized writing services. |
| 3. Build a professional portfolio showcasing your best copywriting samples. |
| 4. Utilize online platforms and job boards to find freelance writing opportunities. |
| 5. Network and establish connections with potential clients and other freelancers in the industry. |
Focus On Your Business First And Your Marketing Later
It’s easy to get caught up in the marketing side of things, especially if you’re just starting out. But before you start doing any marketing, you need to make sure that your business is ready for it.
If you want to turn your copywriting skills into a freelance writing business, several steps will help make this happen:
Come up with a business name that suits the type of work you do (for example, “Marketing Copywriter” or “Copywriter”) and registers your website domain name as soon as possible.
Build out a simple website where potential clients can learn about what you offer and contact you for more information about hiring services.
Start building an email list for people interested in learning more about hiring services from freelancers like yourself!
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Be Persistent When Pitching
Persistence is the key to building a successful freelance writing career. Don’t give up! You may need to follow up with many potential clients before you land your first gig, and even then it can take months for the client to make a decision.
Don’t take rejections personally they happen to everyone, even big-name writers like Stephen King and Ernest Hemingway (both of whom famously had their manuscripts rejected by publishers). Just keep on sending out your work until someone says yes!
You could also try asking friends or colleagues if they know anyone who needs help with writing projects; they might be able to refer you to people they know who need your services.
Don’t Be Afraid To Pitch To Multiple Clients At Once
Don’t be afraid to pitch to multiple clients at once. You don’t have to take on every client that comes your way, and you don’t have to meet with everyone for an initial consultation. You can still be selective and picky about who you pitch to, but the key is that it doesn’t have to happen in one sitting.
For example, let’s say you’re pitching for a copywriting job with a small business owner who has never hired a freelance writer before and isn’t sure what they want or needs from a writer. They may not know exactly how much they’re willing or able to pay for your services yet because they’re still trying to figure out if hiring a writer is right for them in the first place!
It might make sense at this point for them not to know whether or not hiring someone will benefit their business (and therefore how much money it would cost).
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Learn To Pitch With One Email
- Writing a good pitch email is a skill that will help you stand out, get clients, and make more money.
- I’ve helped dozens of new writers learn how to pitch their skills on the job board and with clients they already know. Here’s what we’ve found works best:
- Write a query letter first – then edit it into your pitch email
- Create an “idea bank” of topics and ideas for writing projects (e-books, blog posts, etc)
- Look at all the clients’ websites you have access to right now (you’ll find their contact info on their About page) and decide who might be interested in what you have to offer them
Learn How To Write Amazing Query Letters
Your query letter is the first impression you make on a potential client. You only have one chance to impress them. If you want to land a freelance writing job, then this is the place to start!
A query letter is an email that tells your prospective clients about yourself and why you’re the best person for the job. It should include who you are and what kind of writer experience you have. You can also mention any awards or accolades that might help with their decision-making process too!
If they like what they see in your query letter (and if it’s good enough), they’ll contact YOU directly instead of going through an agency or manager which saves both parties time and money!
Get A Great Copywriting Portfolio Website Up Asap
The first thing you need to do is put together a copywriting portfolio website. Your portfolio website should be easy for potential clients to find, contact, and pay you, as well as see your skills and experience. You can include samples of your writing on this site, but don’t go overboard you don’t want them thinking it’s more than just a sample!
For example: “I am available for freelance writing jobs in these areas” should be linked directly from the home page; “Contact Me” also links directly from the home page; “See My Writing” takes them to an article you wrote about how great your work is.
“Read About Me” includes info about how long you’ve been doing this kind of work and where/when (and maybe why); “Check Out My Skills And Experience” shows links where they can see more examples of good work done by writers like yourself.
Start With Smaller Projects Before Pitching Bigger Ones
As a freelance writer, you’re going to be pitching plenty of projects. And chances are that not all of them will be accepted. The good news is that your first few pitches won’t likely be big-ticket items either. Instead, you should start with smaller projects so you can build up your portfolio and get the experience necessary to land bigger gigs later on.
You might not think this makes sense at first after all, why would someone want a writer who hasn’t proven themselves yet? But there’s a reason: smaller projects are easier to get and complete than larger ones. Plus, they’re great for building relationships within an organization especially if it’s going to be one of your regular clients!
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Take Advantage of Freelancing Networks Like Craigslist And Upwork, But Know Their Limitations
You can make money fast on Upwork, but it’s a good idea to keep in mind that the competition is fierce. To get more clients, you’ll need some luck and persistence.
When you start out freelancing, it will be helpful to have a network of people who know what they’re doing and can help you get started.
Craigslist is a great place because there are all sorts of opportunities for new freelancers looking to make money online. You may even find yourself working with other writers who have been in your shoes before!
Always Send Samples Of Your Writing With Every Query Letter You Send Out
You’ve written a great query letter, but it will be all for naught if the client you’re targeting doesn’t get to see your writing skills. Always send samples with every query letter you send out.
Most clients won’t have time to read through an entire portfolio from writers who are interested in working with them, so these smaller samples must demonstrate your ability to write about their industry and target audience.
Remember: Don’t forget to include your contact information! You don’t want a missed opportunity because someone didn’t know how to reach out!
Start A Blog (And Make It Spectacular)
You’re probably already familiar with blogs, but just in case you aren’t: a blog is a website that contains articles written by one or more authors. Blogs are usually focused on a specific topic and point of view, which means they have their unique voice and tone.
Blogs can be fun to create, especially if you have an area of expertise that interests people or if you want to share your passion for something with others.
They also come in handy when trying to build relationships with potential clients because people tend to trust companies that have a strong online presence (and blogs are an excellent way to build one).
Use Social Media To Promote Yourself And Network With Other Freelance Writers And Potential Clients
Social media is a great way to promote yourself and your business. It also allows you to network with other freelancers, which will help you build your brand and make connections with potential clients.
When using social media as part of your freelance writing business, don’t just focus on promoting yourself use it as an opportunity to build relationships as well. When people like or comment on something that you’ve posted, respond!
Engage in conversation about the topic at hand and show that you’re invested in what others have to say (this will help them feel comfortable working with you).
Form Relationships with editors for blogs, magazines, newspapers, etc. you may want to write for in the future. (They will come in handy later.)
The first step to establishing relationships with editors is connecting with them on social media. You should get to know them and see what they are working on, what they have recently written, and what they have published in the past.
You can also ask them about their goals for the future of their publication, which may give you insight as to what kind of articles they are looking for from freelancers or perhaps even hire full-time writers.
Check out common topics that are being covered by other publications in your industry or niche, and ask your contacts at those publications if these topics would be appropriate for the type of content they publish (or if it would be better suited somewhere else).
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Set Yourself Up For Search Engine Optimization Success On Your Website, Blog, And Social Media Profiles From Day One
The importance of search engine optimization (SEO) cannot be overstated. If you are serious about turning your copywriting skills into a freelancing business, you need to make sure that SEO is part of your strategy from day one.
Set up SEO on Your Website. The first thing you can do to set yourself up for success with SEO is to think about how people will find your website and blog content and how they can easily navigate through it without getting bogged down in technical jargon or confusing navigation systems.
Optimize Your Blog Posts For Search Engines With Keywords
Next up, optimize each blog post so that it contains keywords relevant to the topic at hand these will help people who want more information about what you’re writing about find it when using a search engine like Google or Yahoo!
Invest In Copies Of The Writer’s Market When It Comes To Finding Publishers
The Writer’s Market is a great resource for finding publishers, book and magazine editors, and online publications that may hire you as a freelance writer.
It’s important to know what your audience wants so that you can focus on writing content that will appeal to them. This means knowing their age range, where they live, their education level, and more.
You don’t have to do this from scratch many research sites offer demographic data about people who visit websites like Google or Amazon (the two most visited sites in the world). To get started on your research:
- Visit Google Trends (https://trends.google.com/)
- Visit Alexa Traffic Rank (https://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/), which tells how popular a website is by looking at how often people visit it vs other sites
- Check out Quantcast (http://www.quantcast.com/) which gives detailed demographics about visitors
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Conclusion
If you’re like a lot of copywriters, you’ve probably thought about turning your copywriting skills into a freelance writing business. It’s tempting, right?
You get to work from home in your pajamas, set your hours, and decide which clients you want to work with (and which ones you don’t). There are many benefits to becoming a freelance writer that would seem appealing at first glance!
Then there are the downsides: You have no boss or salary; instead of working nine-to-five every day on someone else’s schedule, now you must create one for yourself.
And if that isn’t enough pressure already, it can feel overwhelming when trying to figure out how much money should be made per hour after expenses but don’t worry because we’re here to help! A few easy steps will give an estimate on whether starting this journey is worth it or not.
- Section: Step 1: Make sure that you have everything set up professionally
- Section: Step 2: Create an editorial calendar for yourself so work doesn’t keep piling up without ever getting done
- Section: Step 3: Figure out how much time each project takes and then multiply by $2+/hour (at least!)
The bottom line is this – the biggest thing holding people back from starting their freelancing career is fear of failure. But what if there wasn’t any risk involved? What if all it took was some simple math calculations before hitting submit? That’s where our calculator comes in handy!
Input your hourly rate and estimated weekly hours spent working on projects as well as other expenses related such as rent (if applicable) or food costs.
Then see what happens when adding these numbers together against potential income potentials by multiplying them out over time frames ranging from one month to ten years long; calculate today just how much money could be coming
Further Reading
How to Become a Freelance Copywriter: Explore the steps and essential tips to kickstart your journey as a freelance copywriter.
Successfully Market Yourself as a Freelance Copywriter: Learn effective strategies to promote your freelance copywriting services and attract clients.
How to Start Your Own Freelance Copywriting Business: Discover valuable insights on launching and managing a successful freelance copywriting business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Way To Start A Freelance Writing Business?
The best way to start a freelance writing business is by doing what you love! If you love writing, then that’s what you should do with your life. If you don’t love it, then you’ll be miserable and no one wants that.
How Do I Know What Someone Else Wants From Their Copywriting?
It’s very simple: ask them! If they’re interested in hiring a writer, then they’ll most likely be happy to tell you exactly what they want from their copywriting if you ask them directly (or at least give some clues).
Otherwise, just read through some of their existing content and see if there are any patterns or styles that jump out at you that might also be something they’d like to continue using in their future content!
What Makes A Good Writer?
A good writer has two things: passion and skillfulness. You need to have both of these things to be successful as a freelance writer.
What Is The Difference Between Copywriting And Content Writing?
Copywriting is the art of using words to sell a product or service. It’s about communicating with your audience in a way that makes them want to buy what you’re selling.
Content writing, on the other hand, is not focused on sales at all. Rather, it’s about providing useful information to your readers.
If you want to be a content writer, then you should focus on creating articles and blog posts that are helpful and informative rather than trying to convince people to buy something from you.
How Do I Become A Freelance Writer?
The first step is finding clients who will hire you as their copywriter or content writer. This can be done by networking with other freelancers and businesses in your area or by posting ads online. Once you have clients lined up, it’s time to start writing for them!
You don’t need any special training or experience just some basic knowledge of how digital marketing works and an interest in learning more about it if needed (which will come naturally).
Why Should I Become A Freelance Writer?
Freelance writing is an exciting, rewarding career choice. You can work from home, set your hours, and make as much money as you want.
What Does It Take To Be A Successful Freelance Writer?
To be a successful freelance writer, you need to be self-motivated and able to think on your feet. You’ll also need to be able to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work every time.
How Do I Get Started?
The first thing you’ll need is an idea of what kind of writing you’d like to do whether it’s blogging, copywriting, or technical writing. Once you have an idea of what type of writing you’d like to specialize in, head over to Upwork and start applying for jobs!
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.