Oops! How Clients Can Tell You’re a Brand-New Copywriter

There’s nothing wrong with being new. Even the most seasoned, successful copywriters were once new to copywriting. So if you’re starting out right there at square one, guess what? You’re in exactly the right place.

That said, though, no one wants to hire a brand-new copywriter. It’s nothing personal: YOU are a fabulous human being. But hiring anyone to do anything is a risk, and hiring someone who’s completely green to handle one of the most important parts of their businesses (their messaging) is just a bad idea.

But wait – if it’s okay to be new to something, how do you transition from “Hi, I’m new here!” to “Yes, I AM the skilled copywriter you need to hire?” Basically, how can you be new without seeming so new that no one wants to hire you?

The first step, obviously, is to know what you’re doing. To learn how to write copy effectively and to practice your skills. Let’s just assume you’re already doing that, right?

The second step is to avoid doing a few things that clearly mark you as a newbie—things that (even though you might not realize it) are big red flags for your would-be clients.

7 Telltale Signs That You’re a Brand-New Copywriter

Mixing Copy and Content

You and I both know that there’s a big difference between copy and content. (As a refresher, copy is writing that is designed to persuade or to sell. Content is writing that’s designed to educate, inspire, and/or entertain. Companies’ sales pages, emails campaign, brochures, even About Me pages? Copy. Blog posts and articles? Content)

But the problem is that there are a lot of would-be copywriters out there who don’t know the difference. And you know how you can tell? When their “copywriting” portfolio is full of content.

And, while you’re savvy enough not to do that, you may be making a similar mistake: mixing copy and content samples within your portfolio. And I get it; you want to show off all of the great work you’ve done. But when you put both copy and content samples within your copywriting portfolio it looks almost as bad as just having content samples.

So what’s the solution? Put your copywriting samples in your portfolio, and have a separate section for “content samples.” It demonstrates that you know the difference between the two, and that copywriting is your main focus—but that you may be available for content writing work.

“Explaining” Copywriting

It can be challenging for new copywriters to come up with what to write on their portfolio sites. It’s hard to write about ourselves! (And for that exact reason, entrepreneurs need and value us a great deal.)

But the problem is when new copywriters spend valuable space on their site explaining what copywriting is and why clients need it. As in “Copywriting is the art of creating words that compel your audience…” and so on. Here’s the problem—and why it marks you as a newbie: By the time a potential client gets to your site, they don’t need to be educated about what copywriting is or why they need it. They’re there to determine if you’re the copywriter they’ll hire.

When you waste time with unnecessary copy, it speaks to your copywriting skill and it speaks to your understanding of your audience—and neither one of them are in your favor. When someone gets to your site, it’s up to you to convince them of what you can do for them and why you’re the exact right person to do it.

Charging By the Word

This is a crucial point, but not only because it marks you as a newbie. This one can also cost you a whole lot of money. Let me make it very clear, right off the bat: Professional copywriters absolutely never charge by the word. They charge by the project or by the hour (depending on the situation), but never by the word.

Part of our value as copywriters is to create the most effective message and to do it as efficiently and concisely as possible. When you charge by the word, you’re actually penalizing yourself for doing your job well! Charging by the word is a very clear signal that you—and I say this as gently as I can—don’t know what you’re doing.

No Portfolio Site

Okay, I feel compelled to put this one in here just to cover my bases: If you don’t have a portfolio site, you’re not a professional copywriter. Plain and simple.

Letting Them Take Charge

When you get on a phone with a potential client, it’s true that they’re “interviewing” you to see if you’re right for them. But…a lot of clients don’t know what’s right for them. Or what to look for.

When you let the client lead the discussion, you’re putting them in charge—and that’s the mark of a newbie. As the professional, it’s up to you to lead the conversation. To ask them questions about their situation, their needs, and their goals, and then to connect those answers to what you have to offer, how you can benefit them, and why you are the exact right person for the job.

Accepting Any Rate

It’s exciting to get work! And it’s exciting when a client wants to work with you. But that doesn’t mean you need to accept a rate that’s much lower than your standard hourly rate. (Bonus tip: You need to know what your standard, or at least your lowest acceptable hourly rate is.)

When you quote a price to a client, they counter with a much lower rate, and you just accept that lower rate without any qualms or negotiations, it’s a big tip-off to the client that you’re a very inexperienced copywriter.

Professional copywriters know their value and know that people will pay for that value. Also, professional copywriter’s rates aren’t arbitrary—they’re based on calculations of time and effort estimated by what they know about the project.

Accepting a much lower rate than what you quote either looks like you haven’t thought through the project very well or that you’re desperate. And, of course, neither one of those reflects very well on you.

Not Following Up

Here’s something that shouldn’t be a surprise: People are busy. Really busy. So busy, in fact, that they might not have time to respond to you. Or, they might be so busy that your email gets lost in their inbox. So let’s be clear: One outreach email isn’t enough.

Professional copywriters know that pitching clients is a process. (Luckily, it’s a pretty easy process to systematize, but still.) It’s going to be exceedingly, exceedingly rare that you can send out one email to a client you’re interested in working with and get a response. Usually, you’ll have to send at least a few follow-ups.

When you send just one email and vanish, it’s a clear sign you’re new to this. Even if a potential client hung on to your email to maybe get in touch later, it’s not going to reflect well on you that it’s the only email they ever got. That fact alone is likely to get them to delete that single email.

Newbies send out one email and cross their fingers. Professionals are disciplined. Professionals add value. Professionals reach out to potential clients multiple times, offering new ideas or resources each time.

And there you have it! Being new doesn’t have to count against you—as long as you don’t act like or conduct your business like you’re new. Behaving like a pro when you’re starting out with catapult you out of “newbie” status faster than you can imagine.

Your turn! Which of these mistakes have you made or which are you going to fix first? (No judgment—this may be completely new information!) Let us know in the comments below…