Do you remember when Kate and I shared allllll sorts of jobs you can do with a background in copywriting?
(I totally get if you don’t remember, but you can catch that podcast episode right here.)
Thanks to CCA student Alba, we’ve got another one to add to that list: product marketer.
On today’s episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Alba was generous enough to join us from Spain (where, spoiler, she’s from and now a homeowner!).
She is sharing the full story that led her from working 60 hour weeks teaching in the UK to becoming a copywriter and, ultimately, landing a product marketing role that allows her to work from her home in Spain.
Alba’s journey is the perfect reminder that you never know where your career will take you.
But if you’re open to the possibilities, copywriting can take you places you may not even realize are options.
I can’t wait for you to hear all of Alba’s wisdom (and how one of her first copy clients was the World Health Organization—how cool is that?!).
TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher
Prefer to watch the episode? Hit play below (plus, hit “cc” to toggle on closed captioning)!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[02:00] I’m Spanish. I’m originally from Spain. And I finished English degree. I went to do a masters in American literature actually in the UK. And at this point, I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but never did. I wasn’t really sure I could make it work. I just went in and started teaching both Spanish and French.
[05:00] Having been working like 60 plus hours/ week with only one day off. I was burning out massively. I was in the UK away from my family, away from most of my friends. And I was like, what am I doing with my life?
[05:30] When the pandemic started. I already had some experience of remote teaching of content creation in very accessible terms for students and stuff of different levels. And I really liked being at home.
[06:05] I got the CCA program in March, 2021, that’s when I first signed for it. And then in October that year, I was already working as a freelance copywriter for my first project.
[07:03] When I said yes to the World Health Organization, I was watching the videos back to back like a mad person, taking all the notes I could, looking up things online and stuff. It was over a week for a campaign or alcohol awareness in Europe. I was terrified throughout the whole process but I did it.
[08:56] Around November, 2021, I got into a contract with a pharmaceutical company that needed a copywriter. I got a position there as a copywriter. Within six months, I was promoted to senior copywriter because they were very happy with the results. I was there for another eight months.
[10:57] I moved on to work with an agency that was based in Las Vegas. But eventually, it was just between the topic and the mental drainage that I had to say no to that because it was just too much.
[11:54] And then eventually, I got this job in Spain, which is remote in a B2B SaaS company. When I first started it was just the head of marketing. After 3 months, I managed to become a senior copywriter and then this November they’ve moved me to product marketer.
[14:50] I think the best thing that I got out of this course, which is the job that I have now and the ability to do this, is the fact that because of this course I was able to actually come back home in 2022. I was able to buy my first house, and I’m able now to be close to my mom and to the friends that I have that remain in this village.
[19:56] You can bring client work to the coaching calls. If you wanna go to point B from point A and you just need pointers, just go and ask for them. Don’t sit there panicking. Just say ‘Look, I’m trying to do this or I’ve been doing this for so long, can you give me any pointers?’
[23:03 It’s not really about you as a person. This is a creative job. There is no right or wrong. It’s just a continuity of things that are going to be flowing all the time. And whether somebody agrees or not on the end piece, it is not a reflection of who you are as a person.
[26:00] So it’s always a matter of presenting things and explaining why you are doing the things you’re doing. Not to show your creative process, They don’t really care about how you come up with the idea. They care about why is this idea here and why is it relevant?
[27:57] You need to set clear expectations from the get-go. Don’t be scared to say no to things and to postpone things. So that’s the main thing you need to do in this field: stand up for yourself. Because if you wouldn’t do it, then I don’t really see what’s the point in changing a career. You don’t need to change to be miserable somewhere else.
[37:39] Opportunity came because I kept pitching. Even though I was terrified, I went there with them and I sent them and I met people and I spoke to them.
[38:11] Clients don’t know enough to say to you, you’re not good enough to be here doing this job for me ’cause they don’t know that. All they know is that you had this idea, you pitched them with. It was good enough to pick their interest. And so they want to listen to you. That should be enough for you to know that you are needed there.
Must-Hear Takeaways
As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:
” I was quite surprised to see that all the bases that we covered in the course were actually not just beginner level but also intermediate. And also even advance.” – Alba
” I literally thought that I was just gonna die in the UK ’cause it was like there’s really nothing I can do at home. If it wasn’t for these, I wouldn’t be here today.” – Alba
” I do feel like there are opportunities that come up, and maybe we don’t recognize them as opportunities because we kick up all of those roadblocks for ourselves.” – Kate
” You can’t be waiting when you’re ready, and you’re never gonna be ready. It’s as long as you’re happy with what you think you can bring to the table. So just go and do it and figure things out later.” – Alba
” Copywriting is a collaborative field and it’s creative and it’s strategic. It is our writing combined with the feedback and the input of the client.” – Nicki
” There is the main reason why people are doing this. Why they’re taking this course, why they want to transition to copywriting is because they want to have a more sustainable lifestyle.” – Alba
Mentioned in the Episode
- How Do I Know If I’m Ready to Pitch Copywriting Clients?
- How to Fast Track Your Copywriting Career Success
- Ep. 203: Secrets to Smooth Copywriting Client Relations
Related Links
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
