First, let me start by saying that you DO NOT have to invest in Facebook ads to build your business. If they don’t interest you at all, you’re off the hook. On the other hand, if they’re something that intrigue you, there are a few things you should know… The thing is, Facebook ads are really incredible in a lot of different ways. They offer an amazing level of targeting … [Read more...]
Can Copywriting Software Replace Skilled Copywriters?
I recently got this question from a subscriber and it’s been something I’ve been meaning to address since I saw this headline in a business email: “JPMorgan Chase Partners with an Ad-Writing Machine…Literally.” The crux of the story is that they’ve signed a five-year deal with a start-up called Persado that uses AI to write creative ad copy. SCREEEEEEECH. I sense … [Read more...]
Lessons Learned From Copywriting for Solopreneurs
Last week, I wrote about some of the things I’ve learned from writing for multibillion-dollar companies including Hasbro, T.J.Maxx, Reebok, TripAdvisor, and more. This week, we’re going to look at the other end of the spectrum: The lessons I’ve learned from writing for one-person companies. One-person business owners, or solopreneurs, are fascinating clients to work with. … [Read more...]
Marketing Trends for Freelancers and Contractors in 2019
Recently, Venngage (an infographic design company) released a report about how freelancers and contractor spend their energy (and money!) to market their services. Though they call it the "Best Marketing Strategies for Consultants and Freelancers in 2019" it's definitely more of an exploration of how people are focusing their efforts, versus the best ways to do so. Still, … [Read more...]
Should You Package Your Copywriting Services?
One of the keys to selling copywriting services—or selling anything, really—is to make it as easy as possible for a potential client to say yes. The more obvious you can make it that your solution is the best solution, the faster you’ll get them to hire you. The tricky thing is that many would-be clients aren’t entirely sure of exactly what they need. Or they may think they … [Read more...]
Do You Need to Send Clients a Brand Questionnaire?
Starting a business relationship with a new client is exciting—there’s the excitement of starting a new project (and the forthcoming paycheck!), there’s the potential to build a relationship that can become long-term...and there’s also the potential to quickly and easily mess things up entirely. In a lot of ways, the first few interactions with a new client are some of the … [Read more...]
A Powerful Self-Inventory for Freelance Business Success
“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...]
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...]
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...]
