3 Common Copywriting Worries That You’re Likely Overthinking

We’ve talked about ways clients can tell you’re a brand-new copywriter. And don’t get me wrong: There’s nothing wrong with being new. But there’s a lot wrong with seeming inexperienced to your potential clients.

Often, when we’re new to a skill, copywriting or otherwise, the lack of confidence can lead to some serious self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and major worries. There are three common copywriting worries in particular our team sees copywriters worrying about all the time. Even copywriters who have been working for awhile still worry about these things!

But these three things are actually not things you need to worry about at all.

So, let’s dig right in!

1. Taking Time to Quote a Price

When new copywriters get a would-be client on the phone and talk about a project, they often feel a whole lot of effort to quote a price at the end of the conversation.

But guess what? You don’t have to! In fact, I almost never quote a price right at the end of a conversation.

At the end of a conversation in which you’ve just gotten a ton of information about a potential project, you have a lot to think about. It makes sense that you need a little bit of time to go through your notes, take a look at your schedule, and think through the project before you can tell a prospective client what your price will be.

Even better, you can just make this feel like the standard next step by just ending the call by saying something like, “Super! What I’m going to do is take a look at all of my notes and then put together a few notes about the scope of the project so that we’re on the same page and send over my project quote by [TIME].”

The key, of course, is that you give them an idea of what’s coming and when they can expect it by. But don’t ever feel like you need to instantly quote a price—it’s not necessary at all.

2. Not Having a Ton of Experience to Reference

When you’re talking with a would-be client, your instinct will be to try to wow them with all of the projects you’ve done that are just like theirs. And if you don’t have tons of experience, you might feel insecure and unsure.

But here’s the thing: You don’t need tons of experience, you just need some experience along with mastery of the concepts and strategies. What you know—and what you need to convey to your clients—is that the principles of copywriting are the same from project to project. You may not have ten thousand sales page examples, but you can talk to your client about another project in which you really got into your clients’ target audience’s head.

Once your would-be client has seen the samples in your portfolio, the best way to demonstrate your expertise is to ask insightful questions about the project, their business, and their goals, and then talk a bit about how you’ll address all of that. You don’t need tons and tons of similar samples to prove your expertise, you just need to help them understand how you’ll help them solve their problems.

3. Not Having an Impressive Copywriting Resume on Your Website

New copywriters are often worried because their resume is heavy with non-copywriting work. (Which is natural, right? You’re new to copywriting!) First, you don’t need to worry about your copywriting resume as a whole—instead, you should put together a “selected credits resume” for recruiters and people who ask for it.

But as for your website, not only should you not worry about the resume you have posted there—you shouldn’t have one posted!

Imagine this: Your would-be client gets to your site, takes a look at your samples, and thinks, “Hmm, I really like this work. I’m going to reach out so we can talk about my project.” But, before they get to your “Contact Me” page, they notice your resume. And when they get to your resume, they think, “Oh…you know, this copywriter doesn’t have a ton of experience. Maybe I won’t get in touch.”

If someone comes to your website and they’re impressed with your samples, you don’t want anything to interfere with them getting in touch with you! You don’t need to have your resume on your website. If someone wants it, they’ll ask for it—but you don’t need to volunteer it.

Let me be clear: You’re not hiding anything from anyone. You’re never going to pretend you’re anything you’re not. But if the strength of your samples and your website will make people want to get in touch with you, you don’t want to do anything to dissuade them.

(Side note: I’ve been a professional copywriter for 20 years and I’ve still never put a resume on my portfolio site. My work speaks for itself!)

And there you have it…three copy about!

But it can be tricky getting started in a new industry, so now it’s your turn: Are there other things you’re worried about as a new copywriter? Let me know in the comments below!

Last Updated on July 5, 2023