In 2020, I became a freelance copywriter.
I spent 3 months learning copywriting (the basics).
Then, grew my freelance copywriting business VERY FAST.
I gained over 50 paying clients within 3 months…
Secured 2 freelance contract positions with companies within my first year…
And have written copy for hundreds of freelance clients over the last 3 years.
But…
I started WITHOUT any experience, portfolio or writing skills.
You can too.
If you’re interested in becoming a freelance copywriter, this free freelance copywriting course will show you exactly how.
I’ll cover everything you need to get started down the right path.
Including:
What freelance copywriting is, what a freelance copywriter does, how much you can expect to earn in 2024 (and beyond), how to price your freelance copywriting fees and a quick 5-step blueprint to go from complete beginner to securing high-paying freelance copywriting clients within a few short months.
What is Copywriting?
If you search online, you’ll find a bunch of contradictory answers.
Don’t be fooled.
Copywriting is nothing more than salesmanship in print.
Instead of traditional sales, you are selling primarily online through the words you write.
This has a BIG advantage over face-to-face selling.
Why?
Copywriting is salesmanship multiplied.
Meaning:
You are able to sell to 10x more people, at the same time, than you would with traditional sales.
The goal of copywriting is to write in a persuasive and engaging way that motivates your readers to take a specific action (usually to purchase a product or opt-in to an email list).
Also…
There are TONS of mediums to write for.
Like:
- Google Ads
- Social media posts
- Blog posts
- YouTube video scripts
- Direct mail pieces
- Website copy
- And a ho’ bunch more
What is Freelance Copywriting? How is it Different from Traditional Copywriting?
Copywriting is copywriting is copywriting.
The main difference between freelance copywriting vs traditional copywriting is that with traditional copywriting you are essentially an employee.
You work for one company in a traditional 9-5 styled position.
On the other toe…
With freelance copywriting, you are your own boss.
It’s a business.
You are running a copywriting business and it’s up to you to find clients to write for.
Freelance copywriting comes with more responsibilities and “risk” than a typical 9-5 copywriting position.
However, with greater risk, comes greater reward, including:
1. You can work from anywhere
The beach, your couch, in an RV while traveling the world.
You can write from ANYWHERE you fancy.
2. You have TOTAL freedom
You are your own boss.
You set your own hours.
You choose WHO you want to work with.
You choose what topics you write about.
Only freelancing allows you this much freedom.
3 You can earn 6 figures (or more)
Unlike traditional copywriting, there really is no limit to your earning potential.
The only limit is how many clients you can get, your prices and how many projects you can complete each year.
4. YOU can become a freelance copywriter TODAY
You don’t need to go to college…
You don’t need “2 years of experience” just to get your foot in the door…
You don’t need to climb greasy corporate ladders…
Anyone can become a successful freelance copywriter.
You just have to be willing to put in the work and constantly improve your copywriting skills.
Is Freelance Copywriting Still a Good Career Despite AI?
Despite all the fear-mongering news surrounding AI and ChatGPT…
Copywriting is still a FANTASTIC career to jump into.
The good news…
Robots will NEVER replace good copywriters.
Copywriting is salesmanship at its core.
And salesmanship requires communicating to your audience on a personal level. It requires empathy, personality and a deep understanding of human psychology. Robots will never beat true copywriters in the selling arena. If you constantly improve your selling/copywriting skills, you have nothing to worry about.
More good news…
Copywriting will also ALWAYS be in demand (even a thousand years in the future, if humans still exist).
Why?
Because copywriting is the fuel to business growth.
Companies will always need help converting more customers, selling more products and growing their business.
If you can help them achieve this, then you will ALWAYS be in demand and earn hefty paychecks.
What Do Freelance Copywriters Do?
There are two main sides to running a freelance copywriting business.
- The writing side
- The business side
The business side comes first.
It’s much more important to your success.
You’ll be spending your time prospecting and generating leads (getting clients), pricing your copywriting rates, maintaining relationships with clients, doing all the accounting stuff (taxes, keeping track of your earnings, invoices, etc.) and much more.
For the writing side…
After you have clients to write for, this is what your day will look like…
The 3 main phases of copywriting:
1. Research
This is the most important phase of writing copy.
Spend the majority of your time on this phase.
Good copy is assembled, not written. Everything you need to write effective copy already exists. Your job is to find it through research. You’ll spend a lot of time researching your client’s brand, competition, product and target audience (most important). To learn all about copywriting research, see this detailed guide: "Your Ultimate Guide to Copywriting Research (Step-by-Step Process + 5 Best Techniques)"
2. Writing
After you do enough research, you’ll be ready to write.
You’ll need to write attention-grabbing headlines, interesting body copy and persuasive call to actions (ctas) to motivate readers to buy from you (or whatever your client’s main objective is). To learn all about how to write persuasive copy, see this detailed guide.
Also…
Freelance copywriters can write for a bunch of different platforms like social media content, blog posts, landing pages, ecommerce product descriptions, social media advertisements and so on.
To learn more about the types of copywriting services to offer, see this blog post.
3. Editing
Editing is the last main phase of copywriting. You’ll want to edit your copy several times (I usually edit at least 10 times per project).
The goal is to write the most persuasive message, using the least number of words.
You want to chisel your writing into a clear, concise and easy-to-read sales machine.
How Much Dough Can You Realistically Make as a Freelance Copywriter?
According to Zip Recruiter…
In 2024, freelance copywriters earn around $45 per hour ($90,000 per year).
However:
Freelance copywriting salaries you see online are very misleading.
How come?
As a freelance copywriter, it’s 100% on you how much you earn.
There are freelance copywriters earning $1,000,000 each year…. $100,000…. and… less than $1,000.
If you want to get into freelance copywriting, it’s really important to understand that you are a business owner.
As a business owner, there’s really no limit to how much money you can make.
The only limit is your own goals, determination, and marketing, salesmanship and copywriting skills.
If you become a wizard at marketing yourself, selling your copywriting services and getting impressive results for clients, you can get paid like royalty.
Freelance copywriters can make a lot more money than traditional copywriters (working as an employee).
Never limit yourself to averages.
You CAN earn as much as you desire…. IF you put in the work and become a master at this life-changing skill.
How much do freelance copywriters charge?
To learn all about how to price your copywriting fees, see this detailed guide: "The Ultimate Guide to Freelance Copywriting Rates in 2024 (How Much Should YOU Charge?)"
How to Become a Successful Freelance Copywriter (5 Simple Steps)
I’ve already written a comprehensive guide on how to become a successful freelance copywriter in 2024.
Read this post and follow the steps I’ve outlined to a capital T.
However, here is a quick recap of the steps you’ll want to take:
1. Master the Fundamentals
Read these 10 direct response copywriting books:
- The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
- The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman
- How to Write a Good Advertisement by Victor O. Schwab
- Scientific Advertising By Claude Hopkins
- The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
- Ogilvy on Advertising By David Ogilvy
- Tested Advertising Methods By John Caples
- Cashvertising By Drew Eric Whitman
- The Copywriter’s Handbook By Bob Bly
- Kick-Ass Copywriting Secrets of a Marketing Rebel By John Carlton
Plus…
Practice your copywriting skills by following this guide – How to Practice Copywriting for Free (5 Exercises to Improve Your Skills TODAY).
I spent 3 months on my copywriting education. Learning the core fundamentals, principles and frameworks, from the best copywriters on the planet.
I recommend dedicating at least a month to this phase.
Why?
It's all about being able to provide your clients value.
This is REAL secret to earning 6-figures and beyond.
The more results you produce for clients, the more you can charge for your copywriting services.
2. Get Clients
After learning the basics…
You’ll be ready to write for real clients.
I've created an ultimate guide for beginners looking to land their first bunch of clients: "How to Get Copywriting Clients in 2024 With No Experience (Get New Clients TODAY)"
You’ll learn my 10 favorite ways for securing new freelance copywriting clients.
IMPORTANT:
As a beginner…
For your first few months of writing for clients, the goal is to gain rapid-fire experience.
You want to write for a variety of clients, niches, and different types of copy (emails, social media, blog posts)—as you'll leverage your experience in the following steps…
3. Niche Down
After you've gained real-world experience and collected a ton of samples & testimonials, you’ll be ready to select a copywriting niche.
This is important because you'll earn more as a niche freelance copywriter (specialists are always paid greater than generalists).
My comprehensive guide, "The 10 Highest-Paying Copywriting Niches in 2024 (How to Pick the Best One for YOU)," offers step-by-step instructions on choosing the perfect copywriting niche for you.
4. Create an Impressive Copywriting Portfolio
Before you can attract dream clients, you'll need to create a portfolio filled with impressive testimonials & samples.
It’s easy!
Use this guide to create a portfolio within 10 minutes: How to Create a Copywriting Portfolio with NO Experience (In 10 minutes or Less)
5. Grow Your Freelance Copywriting Business
This blog post shares the top 3 strategies for growing your freelance copywriting business: "3 Fastest Ways to Grow Your Freelance Copywriting Business in 2024 (Make 6-figures This Year)"
Read it when you're ready to scale your freelance copywriting business to 6-figures and beyond!
Conclusion
Freelance copywriting is one of the best careers in 2024.
Follow this step-by-step blueprint and read the guides listed throughout this post to shortcut your success in this exciting field.
If you do, I can almost guarantee you can achieve a long and profitable freelance copywriting business.
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