“Know thyself” isn’t just good advice from a self-help perspective; it’s also crucially important when it comes to building a successful freelance business. And a million different “gurus” can give you a million different pieces of advice about the “right” time to get up, the “right” way to organize your day, the “right” order to accomplish your tasks and all of that—but none … [Read more...]
4 Pieces of Terrible Advice New Copywriters Get All the Time
Let’s start out today with a reminder: Just because someone is loud, doesn’t mean they’re right. Also, just because something is prevalent, doesn’t mean it’s correct. We can agree on those, right? Okay, good. Because today we’re going to bust some very prevalent myths and debunk some very popular pieces of advice. Why? Because not only are they wrong, but they’re actually … [Read more...]
4 More Books Every Copywriter Should Read
I’m a big believer in continual learning; if you ever think you know everything about something, you’re in BIG trouble. And, lucky for us, there are more ways than ever to consume new content and ideas: Podcasts, videos, courses, blog posts—the list goes on and on. But as writers, many of us still have a certain fondness for the written word in classic book form (ebook … [Read more...]
How Do You Land Your First Copywriting Clients Without Experience or Samples?
Here’s what most people think about breaking into copywriting: You need experience to get clients and you need clients to get experience. And that’s a catch-22 that stops a lot of would-be copywriters dead in their tracks. But the truth—and good news—is that that’s only half true. Today, we’re going to talk about which half is true, which isn’t and how you can get … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Vastly Improve Your Pitches to Would-Be Copywriting Clients
Last week, we talked about how, not only should you not be afraid of pitching would-be copywriting clients, but, in fact, they want you to pitch them. And, of course, we’ve also already covered how pitching is the only way to truly be in control of your business and your income and why “easier” ways of finding work (I’m looking at you, Upwork and Freelancer!) are … [Read more...]
Why Business Owners WANT You to Pitch Them Your Copywriting Services
When I tell my copywriting students that they need to pitch their copywriting services to potential clients, there’s often a lot of push back. A lot. And I get it: They’re afraid of reaching out to strangers. Of bothering them. Of asking for their business. Of potentially not getting that business—or, what they anticipate will feel like rejection. So some students … [Read more...]
3 Things New Copywriters Worry About…That They Really Don’t Have To
Last week, we 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. Today, we’re going to take a different angle, and talk about three things that new copywriters often worry about—but that they don’t actually have to. So let’s … [Read more...]
Oops! How Clients Can Tell You’re a Brand-New Copywriter
There's nothing wrong with being new. Even the most seasoned, successful copywriters were once new to copywriting. So if you’re starting out right there at square one, guess what? You’re in exactly the right place. That said, though, no one wants to hire a brand-new copywriter. It’s nothing personal: YOU are a fabulous human being. But hiring anyone to do anything is a risk, … [Read more...]
Your Goal Should Be to Love Your Career. Period.
How many people do you know who really don’t like what they do for a living? Anywhere from “eh, it pays the bills” to “I fricking HATE it”? And are you one of those people? I was recently reminded of just how many people don’t like their jobs when I had a conversation with a friend of mine. She described all of the things she hated about her job and then, when I asked her … [Read more...]
How to Know if You Should Charge Copywriting Clients Upfront
Recently, one of my copywriting students asked me if she should be charging her copywriting clients upfront and, if so, whether she should be charging the full amount, 50%, or another percentage. Here’s the thing: I suspect the copywriters that have their clients pay upfront comes from a fear that the client isn’t going to pay them at all and getting some of their fee is better … [Read more...]
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