The concept of “experience” for copywriters can be a bit tricky: Adequate experience for one project might not be enough for another. And just what constitutes ”experience”, anyway? Is it years? Types of projects? Let’s break it all down. Experience is made up of a combination of knowledge and practice. You gain a base level of knowledge first through training, you … [Read more...]
What’s a Back Pocket Career? (And Why You Need One)
Getting fired or downsized is devastating—emotionally and financially. But there’s something you can do to help prepare yourself and make sure a career shock doesn’t completely throw you. Everyone (and I truly mean everyone) needs a back pocket career. If you like copywriting, but aren't sure you want to do it full-time, that's totally fine! There are plenty of … [Read more...]
How To Prepare for a Copywriting Interview
You applied for the copywriting job and got the call to come in for an interview. Congrats! Now what? You need to prepare for the interview. This means having a ready answer for commonly asked questions and doing some prep work. Your standard interview prep should involve familiarizing yourself with their company philosophy, reorganizing your print portfolio to features … [Read more...]
How to Avoid the Copywriting Niche Trap
Many so-called copywriting gurus will tell you that the path to success is to proclaim a niche right away. But that advice is 100% wrong and, worse, it's potentially damaging to your career. Read on to hear why and find out what you should do instead. The other day, a student said to me, "I’ve heard that I should pick a niche and focus on building samples and finding clients … [Read more...]
6 Work-From-Home Sanity Killers (And How to Combat Them)
Sometimes, working from home is just as much a curse as a blessing. The distractions are plentiful, and there’s no boss to raise an eyebrow when you’re online shopping. Those built-in boundaries that help keep you focused in an office simply don't exist when you work from home. If you watch a movie at your desk or lay your head down to take a nap, there are no coworkers to … [Read more...]
The One Thing Your Copywriter Resume Is Missing
There are lots of books and sites about putting together your resume. But the vast majority misses one crucial item—which means your resume is missing it, too. There is one thing that is likely missing from your copywriter resume. When you’re looking for work, the biggest questions on your mind are very likely, “How do I get what want out of a job?” and “Do I want this … [Read more...]
4 Productivity Tactics
Knowing what you need to do is one thing, but doing it is another. Luckily the “productivity” industry is always coming up with new ways to help us get things done. Despite the fact that productivity improvement has been a common goal for at least 100 years, we’re still discovering new and better ways to achieve it. Here are four must-try productivity habits for … [Read more...]
How To Set Up Customer Surveys
You need to know about your target audience to craft a message that makes sense to them. But what if your client doesn’t know anything about the people to whom they sell? Then it might just be up to you to find out. It’s shocking, but it’s true: There are some companies who have no idea who they’re selling to. Sure, if they’re a cable provider, you can guess that they are … [Read more...]
Copywriting Q&A: How to Plan for the New Year
A new year means a fresh start—and a prime opportunity to jumpstart (or re-start) your copywriting business. Here’s how to plan your year to make sure it rocks. Read on… With 2016 fast approaching, it’s time to get ready to start this new year and hit the ground running. Here are three possible frameworks you can use to plan your year and make sure it’s as successful as it … [Read more...]
How to Make Deadlines Work For You
Many copywriters love deadlines since they certainly help us stay on track. But even those who love them often mix in a lot of hate with that adoration. Today, we’re going to talk about taming the deadline devils and making them work for you. Read on… Today’s question comes from Melanie H., who asks, “I have a hard time with deadlines. I set a deadline with a client that seems … [Read more...]