The title of this podcast episode might sound dramatic, but it's 100% true.There are copywriting experts touting this strategy. It's so incredibly risky and, well, Nicki and Kate don't want this strategy to put your copywriting success at risk.Because this strategy sounds good.The idea is that, if you can get your copywriting portfolio to show up in search results when people … [Read more...]
Episode 196: 5 Email Copywriting Tests to Recommend to Clients (And Get More Work)
You don't have a crystal ball to predict the *exact* copy that will resonate with your client's audience. But, you do have a different tool that can help: A/B testing. A/B copy tests—comparing one element of copy to the same element with different copy—helps you learn what makes your client's audience tick. (For example, you may have two ideas for a subject line—how do … [Read more...]
The Surefire Way to Get Repeat Copywriting Work
Do great work. It’s as simple as that. OK, there’s a little more to it, otherwise we wouldn’t have written a blog post. When you’re first starting out as a copywriter, especially if you want to or have already quit a full-time job, it’s super tempting to rush to land clients. And that’s great if you feel ready and like you can add value for your clients. But … [Read more...]
How to Make 2021 The Best Year Yet
Okay, let’s face it: It’s not going to be hard to beat 2020. Even if you were lucky enough to avoid the illness and catastrophe that some people faced (and even if, like many of our students, you actually made a lot of progress on making your dreams come true)…2020 was still a rough one. Globally, I think, we’re all tentatively optimistic that 2021 will turn things back … [Read more...]
The Huge Benefits of Writing for Clients that Don’t “Wow” You
We all have dream clients: Companies that are so cool or so interesting or so inspiring that it would rock our worlds to write with them. And maybe you can even expand that to a whole group or list of clients that seem interesting or exciting. They certainly don’t need to fall into the same niche (and probably shouldn’t—learn when to break the copywriting niche rule), … [Read more...]
How Do I Know If I’m Ready to Pitch Copywriting Clients?
This isn’t going to be a major revelation but in to be a professional copywriter and have a successful career, you need, well, clients. Paying clients. And to get those clients, you need a proven system for finding, pitching, and landing those clients. (All of which we teach in the CCA, so if you're a student, no worries there.) But all this invariably leads to the … [Read more...]
Will the Market Be Flooded with Copywriters?
A few nights ago, someone left a comment on one of our Facebook ads essentially saying, “Your training is all well and good, but when the market is flooded with copywriters no one will be able to find work and everyone will have to work for peanuts.” Well, that’s a pretty dire prediction. But as you’ve likely heard me say before: The people who know the least about a topic … [Read more...]
Recessions Are Huge Opportunities for Copywriters. Here’s Why.
The first time I made six figures as a copywriter was in 2008...right in the middle of the Great Recession...right after I left my full-time job to go freelance. Why then? Especially knowing that period was when, sadly, companies were laying off staff left and right. But here’s the key: **Companies still needed copy because copy drives business.** Remember, copywriting … [Read more...]
The Very Common Assumptions That Will Cut Your Copywriting Business in Half
There are a lot of tasks that require focus and persistence when you’re building your copywriting business. What we’re talking about today is not one of them. The process of compiling the companies that you’re going to pitch should be easy, light-hearted, and fun. This is one part of your business-building in which I’m going to actively encourage you to go down rabbit … [Read more...]
How NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients
You already know that pitching clients is the #1 way to affect and control your workload and your income. But I know…the idea of reaching out to people seems scary. It seems soooo much easier to just watch those job-bidding sites and respond when you see something posted. (Which is a great strategy for frustration and underpayment.) What you’re not aware of is how very, … [Read more...]