It's hard enough to get started in copywriting without making one of these huge mistakes. And when I say huge, I mean huge: Any one of these is enough to delay your success, if not bring your career to a grinding halt. And what's worse, the vast majority of copywriters will make at least one of these mistakes, if not more. So read on to find out what these mistakes are, … [Read more...]
The Creative Review Myth
Every creative project ends with a creative review … or does it? There’s a lot of confusion around exactly what a creative review accomplishes and what you can expect once it’s done. So let’s clear some things up, shall we? Easily the greatest myth about creatives reviews is that they’re going to be “one and done.” The vast, vast majority of the time, you’ll have multiple … [Read more...]
Keys to Getting Recruiters Interested in You
Recruiters can be amazing resources for getting you work—but they’ll only be great resources for you if you’re a great resource for them. After all, they work for the companies looking for copywriters, not the other way around. So how do you attract a recruiters’ attentions and get them interested? The mistake a lot of people—including copywriters—make is thinking that … [Read more...]
What to Look for in a Copywriting Job
When you’re applying for copywriting jobs, you’re looking for a good fit for you just as much as the company is looking for a good fit for the position. But what does that mean? What makes one job great and one job “meh”? What, ultimately, should you look for in a copywriting job? First, let's set aside salary and benefits. A job has to have a salary that is commensurate … [Read more...]
How to Find and Write for Solopreneurs
I always recommend thatbrand-new copywriters start with brick-and-mortar, local small business clients. You have a lot to offer them, even when you’ve just started learning. But there is another excellent source for copywriting clients: solopreneurs. A solopreneur is a person running a one-person business—hence the “solo.” They run the gamut from health and business … [Read more...]
The Best Copywriting Courses vs. Waste of Time (and Money!)
As soon as you decide you want to learn copywriting, you discover that there are a whole lot of copywriting courses out there. But which ones are good? And which ones are a waste of money? Today's article is all about the five things a copywriting course absolutely must have to be worth your time and money. 1. A Copywriting Course Must Cover All Kinds of Copy There are … [Read more...]
Tips for Your Professional Headshots
Your work—your samples in your print and online portfolios—are your biggest selling points. But there are other elements that impress prospective clients and sway them to choose you. One of them is your very own professional headshot. Today we’re going to talk about what your photo needs to look like in order to speak to your own professionalism. But first, I want … [Read more...]
Why Copywriting Matters So Much
I was talking to a young woman who was thinking through her career options. She was good at writing (I’m sure you can relate) and was interested in copywriting. Her big objection to it, though? “Yeah, but I want my job to really mean something.” She had no idea how much she didn’t understand. People tend to think of marketing and sales as bad things; “forcing” people … [Read more...]
Copywriting for Nonprofits: 2 Tips to Crafting Compelling Copy
Copywriting for nonprofits can be great for your portfolio—and your personal fulfillment. But nonprofits are one of the most challenging clients to write for. How do you get their message across and compel people to take action when writing for a nonprofit? As you know, conveying the benefit to the consumer so they will take whatever action you want is crucial to crafting an … [Read more...]
Copywriting Q&A: Planning for Taxes
If you’re moving from on-staff work to freelancing—or even just freelancing on nights and weekends—you’re in for a whole new world of taxation. Here’s what you need to know… Today’s question comes from Meera V., who asks, “Are there any tax implications I should know about when I accept freelance work? Clients don’t withhold taxes, do they?” This is a very astute question. … [Read more...]