It's hard enough to get started in copywriting without making one of these huge mistakes. And when I say huge, I mean huge: Any one of these is enough to delay your success, if not bring your career to a grinding halt. And what's worse, the vast majority of copywriters will make at least one of these mistakes, if not more. So read on to find out what these mistakes are, … [Read more...]
How to Find and Write for Solopreneurs
I always recommend thatbrand-new copywriters start with brick-and-mortar, local small business clients. You have a lot to offer them, even when you’ve just started learning. But there is another excellent source for copywriting clients: solopreneurs. A solopreneur is a person running a one-person business—hence the “solo.” They run the gamut from health and business … [Read more...]
Here’s Why HR Is Not Your Friend
When you’re already in a job, your friendly HR team is a great ally. But HR is not your friend when you're looking for a copywriting job and, in fact, it might be your biggest barrier to landing an interview—never mind landing the job. Here's what to do when you find a copywriting job you really want. Don't Submit Your Resume for Copywriting Jobs The number one tip I … [Read more...]
Break Into New Copywriting Industries Using Spec Ads
If you’re new to copywriting, you’re probably wondering how to build your portfolio before you actually have things to put in it. Having an online portfolio site is crucial because it helps “sell” you to prospective employers and clients before they even meet you. The samples in your portfolio prove that you know how to write copy, work with a designer, write to a brand … [Read more...]
What Do the Best Copywriter Resumes Include?
Many new copywriters want to know what the best copywriter resumes look like. And I’ll certainly answer that question, but there’s actually and even bigger consideration that entirely outweighs the resume. Must-Haves on Your Copywriter Resume 1. Benefit to Consumer There’s one simple swap that will make your copywriting resume stand out above all others. In fact, this … [Read more...]
How to Put Together a Copywriting Portfolio (Even With No Experience)
One of the most important things you need to do to build your copywriting career is to build your copywriting portfolio. It's how you prove to clients you know how to write copy well, even before you work with your prospective client. But where do you even start? How do you create a copywriting portfolio website? How to you get samples? Here's how to put together a copywriting … [Read more...]
How Much Experience Do You Need to Become a Copywriter?
The concept of “experience” for copywriters can be a bit tricky: Adequate experience for one project might not be enough for another. And just what constitutes ”experience”, anyway? Is it years? Types of projects? Let’s break it all down. Experience is made up of a combination of knowledge and practice. You gain a base level of knowledge first through training, you … [Read more...]
How to Avoid the Copywriting Niche Trap
Many so-called copywriting gurus will tell you that the path to success is to proclaim a niche right away. But that advice is 100% wrong and, worse, it's potentially damaging to your career. Read on to hear why and find out what you should do instead. The other day, a student said to me, "I’ve heard that I should pick a niche and focus on building samples and finding clients … [Read more...]
The One Thing Your Copywriter Resume Is Missing
There are lots of books and sites about putting together your resume. But the vast majority misses one crucial item—which means your resume is missing it, too. There is one thing that is likely missing from your copywriter resume. When you’re looking for work, the biggest questions on your mind are very likely, “How do I get what want out of a job?” and “Do I want this … [Read more...]
The Difference Between Copywriting and Editing
The word “copy” gets bandied about quite a bit, but how do you know when it’s referring to the work you do (or want to do)? You may see "copy" referring to writing and editing. But does that mean you should prepared to be both a copywriter and a copy editor? The short answer to that is a resounding no. But let's dig into why, what each of these careers entails, and how you … [Read more...]