Karisa joined the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy in fall of 2019 and sent her first pitches in January 2020 during Pitch-a-palooza, an annual event for CCA students. She landed her first client from one of her first five pitches. Then COVID happened. But, like many skilled copywriters, Karisa had a fantastic 2020.
On this episode, you’ll first hear Karisa and Nicki’s conversation from early 2020 during which Karisa shares her progress after only a few months in the CCA. Then, you’ll hear Nicki and Kate catch up with Karisa a year later, at the beginning of 2021. Check out her portfolio at copybykarisa.com.
Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Check out the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[2:11] Karisa talks about pitching only a few months after joining the CCA and why she joined the CCA in the first place. As someone who has a disability that makes it difficult for her to work outside the home, Karisa had a remote job that she wasn’t thrilled with.
[6:16] One of Karisa’s first five pitches responded. She talks about what it was like to work on her first project and meet with her client for the first time. “It was just so empowering to go to this meeting and to feel like I was really in charge of what I was saying. They look at you like you’re the expert and expect you to know these things—and I did.”
[12:47] Karisa shares her original goal: supplementing her full-time job and, eventually, go full-time freelance.
[18:58] She shares why anyone who is interested in copywriting should try it. As she says, trying it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it, it’s just a way to see if you like doing that thing. Karisa also shares why she loves the CCA Facebook community.
[21:12] Karisa, Nicki, and Kate catch up a year later at the beginning of 2021! She explains how she built up her freelancing on the side and realized she didn’t want to continue full-time job, but wasn’t quite ready to go full-time freelance. She shares how she found a full-time role she was interested in, the application process, the copy test, and how she ultimately landed the job.
[26:27] Starting off on a contract, Karisa notes that it was helpful for both her and the company to get a good feel whether they were a mutual fit. She also shares a bit about the projects she’s working on and the roles she interacts with on a day-to-day basis.
[30:00] She shares how the nurture sequence she helped create had a direct impact on her company’s bottom line, as well as how she worked with the team to bring the idea to life.
[34:45] Karisa, Nicki, and Kate discuss the remote aspect of her job and how 2020 has really proven that you can work remote full-time. A lot of people want to freelance because they can work remote, but there are full-time opportunities that allow you to do that. Karisa also shares how the company culture contributes to a fantastic experience.
[41:04] With her remote position, Karisa has the flexibility to work when she wants as long as she gets her work done. “I’m not chained to my computer 9 to 5 every day just because I have a full-time job.”
[42:47] Karisa shares that she is still taking on freelance work, too. She explains where and how she found several freelance clients, as well as the pro-bono work for charities she has been doing.
[45:51] She shares that she’s making double as a copywriter than she did at her previous job.
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