The first time I made six figures as a copywriter was in 2008...right in the middle of the Great Recession...right after I left my full-time job to go freelance. Why then? Especially knowing that period was when, sadly, companies were laying off staff left and right. But here’s the key: **Companies still needed copy because copy drives business.** Remember, copywriting … [Read more...]
Is Handwriting Ads a Real Way to Get Copywriting Practice?
When I first heard about this tactic, I was shocked. Someone left a comment on a post asking if there was any use in hand-copying other people’s ads to learn copywriting. Then, someone else sent an email to the Filthy Rich Writer team. And, after that, I found out that a few copywriting courses make hand-copying ads a major pillar of their teaching. Let me make something … [Read more...]
If I Make So Much Money Writing Copy, Why Am I Teaching Copywriting?
Usually, I get this question via a Facebook comment on an ad. And, I’d venture to say that it’s not asked in the most, oh, constructive manner. (Which tends to be the way with most Facebook ad comments that come through in the middle of the night…) But it’s come up often enough—and maybe you’ve even wondered it yourself— that I want to be sure to address it now. The question … [Read more...]
The Very Common Assumptions That Will Cut Your Copywriting Business in Half
There are a lot of tasks that require focus and persistence when you’re building your copywriting business. What we’re talking about today is not one of them. The process of compiling the companies that you’re going to pitch should be easy, light-hearted, and fun. This is one part of your business-building in which I’m going to actively encourage you to go down rabbit … [Read more...]
The Perspective Shift You NEED to Make to Be Successful as a Copywriter
Here’s a short post but an important one. When we’re writing copy for our clients, it can be tempting to view the project and your copy through your own perspective. After all, that’s the perspective you’ve been viewing things from for your entire life, right? But when you can’t escape your own perspective, you’re doing your clients—and your career—a disservice. If … [Read more...]
8 Must-Listen Podcasts to Amp Up Your Digital Marketing Knowledge
If you want to stay on top of your game, you can never stop learning. And thank goodness, right? How boring would life (and our careers) be if we never had to learn anything new? Well, good news. As copywriters, we’re in the world of digital marketing and that world is always changing and developing. With new sites, programs, and even means of communication (hello, … [Read more...]
How NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients
You already know that pitching clients is the #1 way to affect and control your workload and your income. But I know…the idea of reaching out to people seems scary. It seems soooo much easier to just watch those job-bidding sites and respond when you see something posted. (Which is a great strategy for frustration and underpayment.) What you’re not aware of is how very, … [Read more...]
How to Win Trust to Get Copywriting Clients
Here’s a hard truth: the average conversion rate for purchases is right around 2%. Of course, it can skew up or down depending on the industry or the product, but 2% is a pretty solid estimate. That means that for every 100 people who see an offer…2 people will buy. That's on top of the fact that, for most businesses, a lot of money is spent getting those 100 people to even … [Read more...]
Amp Up Your Copywriting Productivity With Ultra Scheduling
It’s 9:05 on Thursday morning, which means I’m five minutes into my “write FRW post” one-hour block on my schedule. And this is exactly where I’ll be every Thursday at 9:05, barring emergencies or vacations. I know: For a lot of people who are interested in becoming freelancers, a big part of the appeal is the “free” part. No schedule, work from anywhere, manage your own … [Read more...]
Creative Brief: The First Step to Any Successful Copywriting Project
Here’s a copywriter’s nightmare scenario: You land a client. You agree on a price and deadline. You work your rear end off, writing, revising, and perfecting the copy. And, when you send it to your client, they reply with: “This really isn’t what I wanted.” Or, maybe even worse, pages and pages of changes they want made. Huh? What went wrong? How did this project … [Read more...]