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 and how you can land clients without … [Read more...]
How to Break Into Copywriting
Originally Published on DearEnglishMajor.com Hey, it's Alyssa here! In the spirit of fresh starts and new opportunities, I sat down with one of our long-time friends of Dear English Major, Nicki Krawczyk. We interviewed Nicki back in 2014 not long after the launch of DearEnglishMajor.com, and she has been kind enough to share some excellent information on … [Read more...]
The Dirty Secret About Copywriting Certificates
Many new and would-be copywriters think they need a copywriting certificate—some sort of proof that they know how to write copy. After all, how else will employers or clients know that you know how to write copy? But not only is copywriter certification not necessary, it could actually be detrimental to your job hunt. What you do need is copywriting training. You need … [Read more...]
What Does It Mean to Be a Filthy Rich Writer?
When I first started writing copy, there were no resources on how to become a copywriter. The one book I read talked about getting a fax machine (yeah...super useful...). So, when I was putting together resources on how to write copy and how to build a copywriting career and business, I could have named this website “Copywriting Training Resources” or something like … [Read more...]
How to Put Together a Copywriting Portfolio (Even With No Experience)
One of the most important things you need to do to build your copywriting career is to build your copywriting portfolio. It's how you prove to clients you know how to write copy well, even before you work with your prospective client. But where do you even start? How do you create a copywriting portfolio website? How to you get samples? Here's how to put together a copywriting … [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...]
Why Freelance Bidding Sites like Upwork and Fiverr Are Bad News
Those freelance bidding sites where you can submit quotes on copywriting projects seem like a great deal. You get to just scan through listings, submit a quick proposal and quote to potential clients, and land tons of work. Great, right? Wrong. Freelance bidding sites are great for clients ... and a waste of a good copywriter’s time. How Freelance Bidding Sites … [Read more...]
What Do Copywriters Actually Do?
As you explore the field of copywriting, you likely know that a copywriter, well, writes. But, you're also probably thinking, "Yeah, but what does a copywriter do? What does that look like?" Copywriting is one of the most flexible careers. You can work as a fully remote freelancer, a contractor who bops in and out of an office, or on-staff within a company or for an ad … [Read more...]
How Soon Can You Make Money as a Copywriter?
One of the most common questions i get from people who are interested in getting into copywriting is, "Great, I'm interested—but when will I start to make money?" It makes sense: we want to know what the earning potential is before we jump headfirst into a new career. So, I’ll answer this question, but, I’m going to presuppose that you’re on an actual copywriting study … [Read more...]
Best Backgrounds and Degrees for Getting Into Copywriting
When you start something new, especially something that's important to you, you want to make sure you start in the best way possible. That means, you want to make sure your job history and education are a good fit for it. You may even wonder if you need a degree for copywriting. When it comes to getting into copywriting, there are a few things you might have in your … [Read more...]