Today we are shaking up the usual format as Kate interviews Nicki.
Nicki has over 15 years of experience working with clients including TripAdvisor, Marshalls, Hasbro, Keurig, adidas, and, yes, even Harlequin Romance novels. She’s worked for agencies, in-house and as a freelancer, plus she knows first-hand how to make six-figures as a copywriter.
In this episode, Nicki dives right in to how she got her start in copywriting, the major piece of advice she would have given her younger self, and why she started Filthy Rich Writer and the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy.
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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Check out the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[1:56] Nicki shares how she got into copywriting in the first place. Having studied public relations in college, Nicki was working at a health club and ended up sleeping a lot because she had no idea what she actually wanted to do.
[8:05] Having a health club background, Nicki’s first client was a health club. Like many copywriters working on their first project, she had the reaction of “oh my goodness, I have a client!!” Followed quickly by the panic of “oh my goodness, now I have to do the work.”
[12:44] Working on staff, freelance, and contract, Nicki talks about her experience working in each of these areas. One of the great things about copywriting is you can do any and all of these roles.
[18:23] When you have 20+ years of experience, you’ve worked on a lot of projects. Nicki talks about one of her favorite projects that didn’t pay well, but was a great experience. There’s potential to earn a lot of money in copywriting, but there are some projects you take because they’re just fun.
[21:22] Lots of Nicki’s advice for building a copywriting business is in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy and on this podcast, but having a default toward taking action is the one thing she believes has helped her move forward. Focus on that one next step you need to take.
[25:20] Nicki talks about how and why she built Filthy Rich Writer and the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy. When she was starting out, there was no good place to learn how to write copy, how to build your portfolio, and how to pitch clients, among other things. You can make a good living writing.
[34:11] For copywriters with ambitions to build their business into something bigger, Nicki recommends having a solid base. Once you have a really good copywriting income yourself and have surplus work, then you can cross that bridge. Building a business, especially when you involve other people, includes a lot of different considerations compared to a freelance business.
[36:41] Having hired copywriters, Nicki explains what she looks for from copywriting pitching their services. Going the extra mile is really going the extra inch. She shares a story of why following up with prospective clients is so important, as well as red flags that may prevent you getting hired.
[41:55] Nicki has also hired copywriters to write copy for various projects. Once she decides she is going to work with a copywriter, she expects the copywriter to guide the process. She explains what copywriters can do to make the process as easy as possible for their 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 15+ 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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Last Updated on December 16, 2022
