It’s the question ever new and would-be copywriter has early on in their journey: how do you land clients if you don’t have experience? And how do you get experience if you can’t land clients? It feels like a classic catch-22. But you’re not going to let that stop you dead in your tracks, right? Right. You do need experience to land clients … but not the kind of experience you may think.
In this episode, Nicki and Kate discuss the steps you need to take to land your first copywriting clients. These are tried-and-true steps taken by the 11,000+ (and counting) Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students. And, if you want to transition into copywriting, this is the fastest way to prove you have the skills (and experience) clients want.
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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Check out the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[2:00] Nobody was born knowing copywriting! The good news is, copywriting is a merit-based career. Nicki and Kate discuss proving you can write copy (through spec ads).
[3:40] Nicki and Kate explain what spec ads are and common worries that copywriters may have, such as writing a spec ad for a company you have no contact with.
[5:15] Could a spec ad count against you? Nicki and Kate discuss what companies are thinking when they see spec ads in your portfolio as well as why someone (even an experienced copywriter) might want to add spec ads to their portfolio. Spoiler: spec ads are never bad!
[8:00] Nicki and Kate compare applying for a job with just a resume versus applying with a portfolio of just a few spec ads.
[10:40] Okay, but how does one approach writing a spec ad? Kate and Nicki go over what’s most important to consider when writing a spec ad. They suggest writing it just like you would a paid ad.
[12:13] How many spec ads should you have in your portfolio before pitching clients? Nicki says 3–5, but there are a few exceptions.
[14:07] Nicki reads a message about success from one of the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students.
Related Links
- How to Land Your First Copywriting Clients Without Experience or Samples
- Why Small Businesses Make Great First Copywriting Clients
- The Simplest Way to Start Finding Clients
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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.
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Ep. 17: How to Price Your Copywriting Services
Last Updated on January 26, 2024
