Freelance Copywriting: An Easy Guide To Ink It Right

Freelance copywriting, the two words have sparked a lot of interest in the digital community in recent years.

For some, it’s the word “Copywriting” that attracts them, for others, it’s the “freelance” that sounds like music to the ears. 

Join them together, and you get the opportunity that provides the ability and flexibility to work from anywhere.

Are you a go-getter who can’t let go of the comfort of his pyjamas? or a globe-trotter who loves to travel? 

Whatever you choose, freelance copywriting is one of the best ways to provide you the freedom to achieve your dreams.

In this guide, I will share the mysteries of freelance copywriting and actionable strategies that will help you kickstart your journey towards freedom and fulfilment.

So let’s dive in.

So, What is Freelance Copywriting Anyway?  

As soon as we hear the word “Copywriting” most of us tend to confuse it with copyright. 

However, even if both sound the same, they are completely different and have nothing to do with each other.

Copywriting is the art of crafting and writing persuasive content for a target audience, that engages, informs and persuades them to take a desired action such as buying a product or service, subscribing to a newsletter or making a donation. 

So, a copywriter is a creative mastermind who writes catchy slogans, compelling emails, insightful and informative blog posts, persuasive sales letters or website landing pages. 

In other words, a copywriter is a salesperson behind a computer. The entire job of a copywriter is to use his craft of writing compelling text in such a way that it convinces his target customer to perform an action desired by the copywriter.

Now, if you’re thinking, ”A copywriter is just a writer, right? What is so special about it?”, well, you’re missing a major point here.

A freelance copywriter is not just an average writer who simply puts words on paper, they are more than just writers, they are a mix of many skills such as advertising, creativity, human psychology and sales.

To become a successful copywriter, you must learn how to catch a reader’s attention, influence their behaviour, and lead them to buy your products or services.  

So, why are copywriters, specifically freelance copywriters needed so much? 

Since there has been a rise in digital marketing, there is an ever-increasing demand for high-quality content writing.   

Businesses across the sectors know the value of quality, and compelling copy and are willing to invest time and money in professionals who can help them in improving their sales and as a result, make the business more profitable.

What does a Freelance Copywriter do?

So, you must be asking many questions in your mind such as:

What does a freelance copywriter do? 

What are the roles of a freelance copywriter?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a freelance copywriter?

Can I become a Freelance Copywriter?

How can I upskill myself to become a freelance copywriter?

Don’t worry, in this blog post, you will go through each and every step of freelance copywriting and understand every aspect of it in detail

Let’s begin:

As a freelance copywriter, you have to create sales copy, blog posts, articles, and email campaigns for businesses that have a product or service to sell.

Unlike full-time copywriters hired by companies, a freelance copywriter is not tied to one business or one company. 

A freelance copywriter works on various projects of different companies and gets the opportunity to work with different kinds of businesses offering a variety of products and services to sell.

Freelance copywriting also includes conducting research on the product or service you are writing for (as you must understand the public image of the business and the target market for the product being offered)

You also have to edit and proofread the copies written by you (or your team) to make them more suitable and compelling for the target audience.

Although writing is always your main job as a freelance copywriter, you also have to spend a lot of time thinking, formatting and making sure that the content is as well thought out as possible. 

Freelance copywriting is more of a business than a job, so you must fully understand the advantages and disadvantages before starting any business.

Advantages of Freelance Copywriting

Some of the advantages of working as a Freelance Copywriter are as follows:

Freedom to work on projects you’re passionate about

One of the advantages of freelance copywriting is the freedom to choose the projects that align with your passion. 

Do you love animals? You can become a copywriter for a dog adoption service. 

Do you love to travel? Start taking projects from travel agencies.

The options are unlimited, and you are free to choose whatever you like.  

Work as per your Schedule

Being a freelance copywriter, you are not bound by the number of working hours, nor are you bound by a fixed schedule.

This is an amazing advantage over a fixed copywriting job as you can design your own working schedule as per your needs and convenience. 

Want to take a break from work during weekdays? Sure, you can, after all, you are your own boss. 

Scale up and start your own agency

Scalability is one of the biggest advantages of any business. If your business can be scaled up, your earning potential is unlimited. 

Just like any other business, freelance copywriting can be scaled up in many ways.

Once you have enough experience working as a freelance copywriter, you can scale up your earnings by starting a copywriting agency, by hiring people who will work for you as copywriters.

Apart from starting a copywriting agency, you can also work as a trainer and launch a coaching business, training new students who want to make their career as copywriters.

Freedom to work remotely

This, in my opinion, is one of the biggest advantages of freelance copywriting, FREEDOM.

Freelance copywriters can work from anywhere, which means complete freedom of working from any location. 

Want to travel while you’re working? No problem, you can work while sitting in a beach house or a remote cabin.

All you need is a laptop and an internet connection.

But, before you start dreaming of making tons of money as a freelance copywriter, sitting at home, in the comfort of your pyjamas, here is a reality check.

As they say, every coin has two sides, similarly, freelance copywriting is not all bed of roses. It comes with its own set of challenges, and if you cannot overcome them, you need to rethink your career choices.

So here are some challenges that you might face as a freelance copywriter.

Challenges of a Freelance Copywriter

Some of the biggest challenges of freelance copywriting are:

Deadlines can be demanding

There is a reason why it’s called a “Dead” line. By the time it arrives, only one of the two gets to live, if your work is not finished, then it’s definitely you.  

There is a famous saying in the world of copywriting, “deadlines don’t wait for inspiration to strike.” 

Deadlines demand that you finish work on time, no matter what. That is why it takes a lot of discipline and structure to finish creative work as copywriting within a given time frame. 

On top of that, if you are juggling multiple projects at a time, it can be an even bigger challenge.

My advice? Don’t bite more than you can chew, it’s easy to get greedy and say yes to every project that comes into your inbox. 

Before taking a project, wait, and analyze your schedule, accept a project only if you have enough time in your calendar without feeling burned out.   

Finding Consistent work can be challenging

Another huge challenge of freelance copywriting is finding consistent work. Unlike full-time copywriters, who work on a fixed monthly salary, freelance copywriters get paid on a per-project basis.

It’s always a feast or famine for freelance copywriters. Some months it rains work and money, and other months there is a complete drought. 

The best way to overcome a lack of work? Keep learning and upskilling yourself, and if need be, diversify your portfolio. 

Another way is to reach out to your old and faithful clients and ask for work or referrals to other clients. There is no shame in asking for work. 

Isolation can affect your work

Freelance copywriting can sometimes be isolating, especially, if you are working alone. 

You are your own boss in this business, unless you are surrounded by like-minded people, with whom you can talk, it’s hard to find company in such a profession.

It’s always good to be in touch with people who have similar professions as yours, this allows you to share your insights and take inputs from them as well. 

Sharing ideas not only takes away the loneliness from your profession, but it also helps you grow and become better at your skills. 

Freelance copywriting is a career that requires dedication, resilience, persistence and most of all, an insatiable love for writing. It does take some time to become successful, but if you stay the course, it’s a highly rewarding career. 

If you think freelance copywriting is a perfect fit for you, and you might be one of those who can do it, here are the steps to start a career as a freelance copywriter.

How to Become A Freelance Copywriter?

If you are new to the world of writing, let alone freelance copywriting, you need to start from the very basics. 

It will take some time and effort but if you follow these steps with all seriousness and dedication, you will become successful in the world of freelance copywriting.

So here are the steps:

Improve Your Writing Style

The first step towards becoming a successful copywriter is by honing your writing skills. Having good writing skills is a plus, but more is needed to become a successful freelance copywriter.

Successful copywriting requires a good fusion of creativity and strategy.

As a successful copywriter, you must have a voice that sets you apart from others.

You must be able to write in a clear and concise manner, as most people do not have time or patience to go through huge paragraphs of text. 

Apart from being concise, you must be able to capture the reader’s attention right from the beginning. Think of it as storytelling but with a purpose.

You need a firm grasp of marketing principles, a knack for understanding human psychology, and an ability to weave these storytelling elements into a compelling narrative.

As a good copywriter, you must know how to create an emotional connection with your readers, an art essential for effective copywriting.

You must be thinking, how can I learn these skills? 

Well, this is a digital age, which offers a treasure trove of resources you can use. Books, blogs, online videos, YouTube, and ad copies, there are a ton of free and paid resources that can provide the perfect guide to start your freelancing career. My Advice? Start with free ones.

Whether you are a beginner in freelancing or a seasoned professional, these resources can be a great starting guide for your journey.   

Identify Your Niche

As a beginner in freelance copywriting, it might be tempting to jump into any work that you can get. 

However, being a jack of all trades means you master none, and that is a deadly mistake in freelance copywriting.

That is why, it is important to identify a niche that you can relate to and have some expertise in, this could be your golden ticket to successful copywriting.

Your educational background or any previous work experience can play a significant role in deciding your niche.

For example, If you have a background in tech, you can write awesome copies for software products. Have a background in finance? You can write killer copies for trading courses, financial products, banks or even credit card companies.

Finding an exact niche that you have expertise in provides you with an opportunity where you can let your skills truly shine.

A niche can also help you stand out if the copywriting market gets saturated. Picking a niche also allows you to deepen your expertise in a particular niche.

So take a look at your personal history and your educational and personal background, I am sure you have a wealth of knowledge in that sphere, understand your likes, dislikes, skills and areas of expertise and see which niche appeals to you the most.

Understand The Market (and your Clients)

The third step is to understand your clients and their needs thoroughly, you need to research your clients, grasp their needs and find out what kind of language or tone would suit their business the best.

Understanding your client allows you to speak the language they speak, which resonates with their clients and write a copy that can persuade them to take action.

Know what makes your clients stick, understand their customer’s needs and figure out how to bridge the gap with your words.

Build your Portfolio

Although this step comes only after you have added some good clients to your kitty, you simply cannot underestimate the potential of having a portfolio. 

Your portfolio speaks volumes about you and your work, it’s a gallery of your artwork. 

Your portfolio is something your potential clients will assess whether you will fit their project. 

The good news is, that you don’t need a ton of samples to start building a portfolio. All you need is a few, well-crafted pieces that show your copywriting skills and the ones that align with your nice. Trust me, it works wonders.

As you get more clients and more experience, don’t forget to update your portfolio regularly. Understand, that your portfolio is your brand, and it reflects your growth and professionalism.         

Find Clients

One of the biggest tasks after venturing into freelance copywriting is finding clients. Although it can be daunting at times, however, it is an essential part of your journey. 

Finding good clients is a mixed bag of good networking, marketing skills and a promising pitch.

If you are a beginner, don’t worry about the lack of experience at this point.   

Tap into your existing network ( if you have any), and use social media and other networks to show you exist.

Use emails to outreach to prospective clients, let them know you are offering copywriting services,

Mine job boards, you will find a lot of freelancing opportunities there, leverage platforms like blogs and Question and Answers forums to show your writing skills. 

Once you have identified potential clients, the next step is to pitch them your work by writing a stellar proposal.

Remember, the proposal you write is not just about asking for work, it’s about you as well, clients invest in you and not just your copywriting services.

When you write a proposal to a client, it’s more like an introduction of yourself, as you are the person behind the computer, providing his services.

It’s your handshake with your potential client, so make it memorable.

One Pro Tip:

Avoid using templated email outreach, many beginners try to save time and effort and simply copy and paste a templated outreach email, with no personal touch. This is one of the most commonly overlooked mistakes many beginners make.

Each proposal should be tailored as per the client’s needs highlighting the needs of the client.

A tailor-made email outreach also shows how professional you are with your work and how important that client is to you.

Pricing Your Services: Charge Them Your Worth

The biggest question most freelance copywriters have in their minds is, How much should you charge for your work?

Many freelance copywriters with little to no work experience, start their careers with enthusiasm only to end up making pennies for their work. 

Pricing your work can be a tightrope walk. On one hand, you want your work’s value to be recognized, but if you charge too high, you will be placed out of the market, charge too low and you end up short-changing yourself.  

So what is the solution?

Research the market rates, spend some time on various freelancing sites and see how much a beginner freelancer is charging for his work, and whether is he landing projects. 

Also, consider a project’s complexity and try to asses at least a ballpark figure of how much can you reasonably charge for similar services.

Finally, do not hesitate to negotiate, it’s a part of the process. Your pricing should reflect the value you bring to the table, allowing for flexibility based on the circumstances of each project.  

Communicate With Your Clients

Good and healthy communication is crucial for a successful relationship between a client and a freelance copywriter.

Clear communication can go a long way, setting up the right expectations, and ironing out any misunderstanding that might occur if there is a miscommunication. 

While you must always keep your communication professional, do not hesitate to ask questions and seek clarification in case of any doubt. Clients are always happy and helpful if you are willing to learn.

Try your best to exceed your client’s expectations. A happy client brings repeat business, and even better, they can also become your representative, recommending your copywriting services to their network.

While it is essential for a successful freelance copywriting business to have amazing copywriting, marketing and persuasion skills, there are some supplement skills that go above and beyond just writing, which are equally essential for running your copywriting business smoothly for a long time.

Here are a few critical abilities you need to develop:

Time Management 

If you are a freelancer, time management becomes crucial and more complex than a 9-to-5 job. 

As a freelance copywriter, you will be juggling multiple projects with your personal responsibilities.

If you want to succeed, mastering time management is a must. 

Investing in some tools such as a to-do list, making a schedule, and deciding your working hours or using project management software can help you a lot in saving your time and boosting your productivity.

Also, remember, carve out some time for breaks, it is essential for you to recharge yourself regularly, especially when your work demands creativity. 

Effective time management will allow you to manage between maximizing your productivity and maintaining a healthy balance between your professional and your personal life.

Being Flexible with Work

Freelance copywriting, in many ways different from a regular job, when you are in a regular job, you work or fixed rules, mindsets and principles decided by the company.

When it comes to freelancing, only one thing is fixed, and that is change. A freelance copywriter has to stay competitive which requires a mindset of continual learning.

For example, in the past few years, video content has gained a lot of popularity, people now prefer to watch a video above reading a long blog. 

In order to tap into this market, you must learn how to use it to your advantage. Most of the video content requires a script, which is where a copywriter can help. 

Learn to write effective video scripts that will introduce you to new markets. Video scripts will also have less competition and as a result better opportunities to make more money.

As a freelance copywriter, you must:

Keep yourself updated with changing marketing trends, and changes in consumer behaviour.

Follow industry blogs, or remain in touch with industry leaders, this will help you catch up with emerging trends early, thereby giving you first mover advantage.

Remember, your growth as a freelancer is not sixty seconds to fame, it’s a long-term game and you have to be in it for the long haul, and continuous learning is the biggest advantage you have. 

Conclusion

Diving into the world of freelance copywriting can be both exciting as well as exhausting. With each line you write and each project you complete successfully, you come an inch closer to the dream life you always wanted to live. 

It’s only through dedication, perseverance and a pinch of creativity, that you will have a rewarding career. 

Now that you have a roadmap it’s time to embark on the exciting and adventurous journey of freelance copywriting. Wish you a happy journey!