Back in 2020, I took an email copywriting course by Matt Furey (the Emperor of Email).

After taking this course…

I was HOOKED on email copywriting.

I believe that writing promotional emails for companies is the BEST kind of copywriting to specialize in.

4 reasons:

1. Emails are super fun to write
2. They pay the most
3. Email copywriting is always in red-hot demand
4. It only takes a couple minutes to write emails that sell (once you get good at it)

You see, the highly sought-after ability to write emails that sell, is an extremely rare & valuable skill that can transform any copywriter’s income and career.

In this step-by-step email copywriting course…

You’ll learn what an email copywriter is, why you should become one and how to write killer emails that sell like hot dogs at Fenway Park.

 

What is An Email Copywriter?

An email copywriter is someone who writes promotional emails for companies and brands.

The #1 goal of writing emails for companies is to sell their products and services.

There’s a lot of objectives companies may have…

Like….

Improve open rates, get more webinar sign-ups, click-through rates, etc. but the underlying goal is to make more sales from the emails they send out.

Sales reign supreme.

How Profitable is Email Copywriting?

If you work as an email copywriter at a company, you can expect to get paid $40,000 to $65,000 per year as a junior copywriter (entry-level)… and… around $100,000+ as a senior email copywriter.

However…

If you work for yourself (freelance email copywriter), you can earn MILLIONS.

The only limit to your earning potential comes down to how you run your business – your lead generation systems, your prices, how fast you can write, who you’re writing for, etc. (if you’d like to learn how to grow your freelance copywriting business in 2023, see these 2 posts – How to Become a Successful Freelance Copywriter in 2023 (Ultimate Guide for Beginners) ... 3 Fastest Ways to Grow Your Freelance Copywriting Business in 2023 (Make 6-figures This Year))

 

Why Should YOU Become an Email Copywriter?

Like I mentioned above, I believe that email copywriting is the most enjoyable and profitable type of copywriting to specialize in.

Here’s a deeper look into my above reasons:

#1 Super fun to write

Email copywriting is the MOST PERSONAL form of communication via the internet (as opposed to sales pages, blog posts, ads, etc.)

To be able to sell through email, you must talk to your readers on a 1:1, conversational level.

You are essentially a friend who shows up to their door and talks to them about what they’re most interested in.

The best emails build relationships.

To build a strong relationship you must be entertaining, interesting, humorous, etc. (everything that goes into building a real relationship).

If you want to see what I’m talkin’ about, subscribe to my daily email tips:

Notice how I write each email as if I’m talking directly to you. How I focus on building the relationship by telling stories, jokes, analogies, sharing personal details about my life and so on.

So, back to my bullet point.

Emails are very fun to write IF you do em correctly.

#2 Emails pay the most

Not per email.

But most companies send hundreds of emails per year (if not thousands).

Emails are the most continuity-friendly type of copywriting service to offer.

And if you’ve tuned into my show, you know that the REAL money is made on the backend (repeat customers).

With email, it’s VERY easy to offer continuity contracts – where clients send you a check each month, on retainer.

Plus:

Because the goal of email copywriting is to multiply your client’s sales, you can charge a LOT of money for them (just as long as your emails make your clients a lot of money in return).

If you want to hit 10k/month this year, email copywriting is the way to go.

#3 Emails are always in red-hot demand

Just about every company under the red moon uses emails to sell their products and services.

And to compete with the competition, they send out a flood of emails every week.

So, there is no shortage of email copywriting clients.

However, there IS a shortage of email copywriters who can sell through the emails they write.

Specialize in writing emails that sell, and you will always be in demand.

You will never have to worry about competition, ChatGPT, AI or anything else stealing your job.

#4 It only takes a couple of minutes to write an email

When I started writing emails in 2020, it took me a looooooong time to write them.

One stinking email would take me 30 minutes or longer to write.

However, this changed fast.

Now, I write DAILY emails in as quick as 7 minutes.

The key to writing faster?

Write more emails than you’re currently writing now.

Writing emails is probably the fastest type of copywriting to write (average length is around 200 words per email).

And when you focus solely on writing emails, instead of all the other types of copy, you’ll get a system down and it’ll become second nature to crank em out.

 

How Do I Learn Email Copywriting?

In 2020, I broke into copywriting EXTREMELY fast.

50 clients in 3 months… 2 in-house positions… and over 100 freelance clients… within my first year.

But this only happened because of what I did BEFORE trying to get clients.

I spent 3 months learning copywriting.

I read the top books & practiced writing copy every day.

This is the ultimate secret to learning email copywriting:

Learn from the best…

Practice what you learn…

And write emails…

EVERY SINGLE DAY.

There are no shortcuts when starting out.

Put in the work, and you’ll quickly feel confident in your skills and be able to go out and get email copywriting clients.

Believe it or not, I only pay attention to 2 email copywriters…

Ben Settle & Matt Furey.

(I’ve bought both their email copywriting courses. You have to subscribe to Ben’s newsletter to get his).

However, before I splurged into email copywriting, I learned direct response copywriting first.

In my opinion, you’ll want to learn both.

It’s ying and yang.

Because in order to sell through emails (or any media) you need a solid grasp of the fundamentals of selling, marketing, human psychology, etc.

When you can apply the fundamentals of direct response copywriting to your emails, you will explode sales.

Haven’t learned the direct response copywriting fundamentals yet?

You can learn all about them here

 

How Do I Practice Copywriting Emails?

You can practice writing emails by doing spec work.

Plus…

You can also do copy practice exercises – see my detailed post here –

Simply click the blue text above & follow the step-by-step instructions I give away in these posts and apply them to email.

 

Learn how to write killer emails today with this step-by-step guide (FREE Email Copywriting Course)

This guide covers how to write emails. It’s not going to cover the tech side – autoresponders and software.

After reading this crash course…

You will have everything you need to start writing killa emails - TODAY.

I’m going to break down how to write an email from start to finish the RIGHT WAY (breaking down each main element).

Alright, enough blabbering, let’s get err down…

1) The "From" Line

This is something gurus rarely talk about.

It’s very easy to overlook.

However, it might be the most important part of writing emails.

Because, if your readers do not recognize who the email is from, they will not read it.

It will get ignored (or sent to the junk folder or marked as spam).

Look…

People only open and read emails from people & companies they like, know and trust.

So…

In order to prevent getting eliminated right off the bat, you must add your name (or your client’s name) as the from sender.

Do NOT use the company’s name.

People like dealing with PEOPLE, not brands.

We form relationships with humans, not faceless companies.

So, the first VERY IMPORTANT step to writing emails that sell, is to have your client put their name as the from sender.

Okey dokey, on we go…

 

2) Subject Line

The from line keeps you from being deleted on the spot. But the subject line gets you OPENED.

Think of the subject line as your headline.

It’s job is the same…

To grab your reader’s attention and get them into your copy.

Here are 3 of my favorite ways to write email subject lines…

1. Curiosity

This is my favorite.

Curiosity acts as a giant red stop sign to our brain.

If you write curiosity-piquing subject lines, that create an itch your readers just got to scratch, you’ll likely get readers to open your emails.

Writing curiosity piquing subject lines is also among the easiest ways to write subject lines.

Why?

You literally write about ANYTHING.

It just has to be unique and different from what people are accustomed to seeing.

Take these emails I recently sent out as inspiration:

“Copywriting mistakes from The Cheesecake Factory”

(HMMMM? What are these copywriting mistakes?? I’m a copywriter, I don’t want to make mistakes. What the heck do they have to do with The Cheesecake Factory?... I better open this to find out… click.”)

----

“Weakest link in the jungle”

(WHAAAT?! Who is the weakest link in the jungle? What could this possibly mean?... click.”)

----

“Winning the big "stare off"”

(What the heck! What is the big “stare off”? This is unusual… click)

The key to this is…

Write unusual subject lines that are almost incomplete and must be opened in order to find out the rest of the story.

You can find great inspiration for curiosity piquing subject lines by studying emails that use this phenomenon.

And…

Study popular magazine titles (online & offline) that use “clickbait-y” titles.

IMPORTANT:

Do not clickbait your readers. Simply get inspiration from the curiosity appeals they use. ALWAYS pay off your subject line as quickly as possible. If you don’t, you’ll get unsubscribes and spam complaints in droves.

 

2. Numbers

Humans LOVE numbers.

Humans love LISTS.

Humans love EXACT instructions.

Suck your reader’s eyeballs into your email by listing the number of benefits, mistakes to avoid, reasons why to take action, and so on.

Simply start your subject with numbers & words like:

• 3 ways to…
• 5 reasons why…
• 20 mistakes to avoid…
• 10 benefits of…

 

3. How-to subject line

When in doubt, use a “how-to” subject line.

How-to subject lines offer useful information to your reader.

The best subject lines are those that appeal to your target audience’s self-interest. Load em up with key emotional benefits.

It’s super easy to create these types of killer headlines.

Simply start with the words “how to”, then follow with the desired result.

Template:

How to [achieve desired result]

Remember…

The ONLY goal of your subject line is to grab your reader’s attention and get them to open your email – to read your first sentence.

This leads me to the next part of your email…

 

3) Intro

I like to keep this very short.

Usually, I start my emails with one sentence (or LESS).

Here are some examples:

“To be honest…”

“I’m shocked.”

“You won’t believe what happened”

“This is crazy”

You want to keep your intro short because you want to suck your readers into your copy (email body).

Think of your emails as a slide.

You want to get them down this slide as quickly as possible so they can get to your CTA and click your link.

So, to get them down faster, you must “grease” this slide.

And one of the best ways to have a slippery slide effect, is to keep your intro extremely short.

 

4) Tell a Story

The crème de le crème of why Matt Furey is considered the best email copywriter on the planet is because of his storytelling abilities.

Telling stories is one of the most effective & persuasive ways to get your message across.

So…

The best way to write emails (that sell) is to weave stories into them.

I would say 80% of my emails start with a story (99% tell a story at some point).

With sales letters, I follow a more methodical approach to storytelling. However, in emails - I write stories about anything that comes to mind.

Could be something that happened to me while out for a walk. Something I saw on the News. My dog making a funny noise. A conversation I had with a friend. ANYTHING.

Then…

I tie this story into what I sell.

This is the easiest way to write addicting emails that get read and sell your clients’ products and services.

Here are some examples of “out-of-the-blue” stories I’ve written in emails...

 

 

----------------------------

 

 

See how easy this is?

Don’t overcomplicate it.

Just tell a story about ANYTHING, then relate it to your product/service in some way shape or form.

 

5) Close

After you’ve told a story, you want to tie it into the product or service you’re selling.

It’s really simple.

You can have a totally unrelated story, but then, segway into your product by tying in a concept from the story, a theme, a thought, or even a single word from the last sentence (see the above images to how I do this).

Then, after you’ve tied in your product or service, you want to include a clickable link that takes readers to your product’s landing page (website).

If you don’t already know how to write CTA’s, here’s the gist…

Give your readers super clear and direct instructions on what to do next (I.E. click your link).

And to motivate them to click your link, add in urgency and scarcity.

You can achieve this by...

• Adding a discount
• Mentioning that there’s only a limited number of products available
• Emphasizing why they should buy now (problems they can relieve, desires they can achieve).

 

Email Strategy 101

There’s a lot of different strategies when it comes to writing emails.

However, here are some tips:

• Frequency – the more emails you send out (I email DAILY) the more sales your clients’ will make.

• Build the relationship – do not pitch in emails. Instead, focus on building the relationship with the email list you’re writing to. When your readers like, know and trust you (or your client), they will naturally buy as a result.

• Infotainment – because your client likely sends out emails on a regular basis, and to stand out amongst competitors, you should inject infotainment into each email you write. The easiest and most effective way to do this is to tell stories.

• Sell in every email – No. This does not mean you are pitching or pushy. But you should include a link to buy in EVERY EMAIL YOU SEND. Screw “nurture” campaigns. Every email you send out can be the last email they’ll ever read. So, why not include a sales link? If you write emails the way I described in this post, they will not come across as pushy or scammy. They will build relationships. And if your client’s product is legit, it will improve your readers’ lives.

 

Conclusion

You now have everything you need to become a kickass email copywriter.

However, the day you stop improving is the day you die.

You should strive to improve your email copywriting skills each day, by reviewing this email copywriting course and by practicing and writing emails.

Plus…

You’d be wise as a whale’s tale to subscribe to my DAILY email tips.

Study em. And learn the insider secrets I send you to help you become a top-paid copywriter:

 

Back in 2019, I struggled HARD to break into copywriting.

I read a few books. Dabbled in some online courses. Plowed through a wide variety of blog posts, YouTube videos and social media posts.

But, I still had NO FREAKIN IDEA what I was doing.

So…

I gave up on my freelance writing dreams.

But then, in 2020 (when lockdowns hit) I made the SMART decision to give copywriting another shot.

This time…

I broke into copywriting like a wrecking ball on speed.

I got over 50 paying clients within 3 months, worked at multiple companies as an in-house & agency copywriter and wrote for HUNDREDS of freelance clients over the next couple years.

However, I attribute any “success” I’ve had in my copywriting career (4 years and running) to the first 3 months, in 2020, when I gave copywriting a second crack.

Why?

Because within these 3 months, I got an accelerated education into copywriting.

I quickly built my copywriting knowledge, skills and felt EXTREMELY confident to go out and get clients.

What did I do?

In these 3 months…

I read 10 copywriting books (2x each).

But not just any copywriting books.

These 10 copywriting books for beginners were written by the BEST copywriters on the planet, who have proven their success through products sold.

I studied from the best copywriters in the world and quickly became an elite copywriter because of this “boot camp” like education from reading the top 10 copywriting books (along with practicing my writing skills via copy practice)

In this post…

I’m going to reveal the single best way to learn copywriting (perfect for beginners who want to learn copywriting FAST), why reading books will make you a better copywriter, and the 10 best copywriting books EVERY BEGINNER MUST READ.

 

What is the Best Way to Learn Copywriting?

In my phat opinion…

EVERY beginner copywriter MUST read the 10 books I’m about to mention.

Why?

Before you can get clients and provide value to them through your writing, you need a solid education on the direct response basics.

Copywriting 101.

I recommend all aspiring and beginner copywriters to read these 10 books, as they will give you a very solid foundation of everything you need to know about copywriting.

You'll learn the principles, the fundamentals, the basics of copywriting to get a really good foundation of your knowledge of what successful copy is and also what it's not.

You'll learn from the top copywriters in the history of this industry who have paved the way in this field and who have proven their success through the money they've made with their copy (through products sold).

This is the most important step when starting out because this is going to lay the groundwork for everything else you do in your copywriting career.

If you get a good education on the principles and fundamentals of what makes successful copy, you'll be building your career off on the right foot and this will help you with everything you do later on.

You can think of it like building a house.

You're laying the foundation.

If you mess up the foundation, the house is going to crumble.

It's the same with your career.

You need to learn what makes good copy and to really understand the fundamentals and the laws of copywriting, salesmanship, marketing, and human psychology, at a DEEP level, which these 10 books are going to cover in full detail.

So many copywriters struggle because they skip this do-or-die first step.

They never truly learn the fundamentals of copywriting.

This curses them from the beginning and almost guarantees low-paying gigs, mediocre writing and mountain-high obstacles throughout their entire (short) careers.

All of which COULD be avoided IF they learned the basics BEFORE trying to get clients.

 

How Can Reading Books Make You a Better Copywriter?

Reading copywriting books from the world’s most successful copywriters will transform your copywriting skills – in record time.

After you learn from the best and practice what you’ve learned, you’ll gain tiger confidence in your writing skills and be able to provide REAL value to your clients.

As I always say, in order to become a successful copywriter, you MUST be able to provide value for your clients.

And there’s only ONE way to do this…

By getting them their desired results through the words you write (leads and sales).

Learning from the top copywriters will set you apart from the fierce competition and ensure you can provide your clients with extreme value.

 

The 10 Best Copywriting Books for Beginners

Here are the 10 best copywriting books for beginners to learn copywriting.

All of these books cover the basics of direct response copywriting (the stuff that sells).

Each author gives their own unique methods for writing killa copy. Most of these books provide checklists, fill-in-the-blank formulas and examples of real-life ads (with insights).

Alrighty, let’s get it on like Donkey Kong…

1. The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert – FREE

 

It’s no secret, Gary Halbert is one of the best copywriters who’s ever lived. These letters (written to his son while he served time in jail) hold some of the greatest lessons on copywriting, marketing & business. There are 25 letters in total. They are quick to read and are very fun & engaging. You’ll learn the basics of direct response marketing and copywriting. As you read, pay special attention to how Gary writes these letters. There’s an entire copywriting education in studying his structure, flow and writing style.

Read The Boron Letters TODAY:

https://morgancrozier.com/boron-letters/

 

2. The Adweek Copywriting Handbook by Joseph Sugarman – $15

Joseph Sugarman, creator of the famous BluBlockers’ ad, hosted very expensive seminars ($2000+ per person) for an elite group of entrepreneurs on copywriting. He turned these seminars into a book – The Adweek Copywriting Handbook. This is probably the most extensive book on copywriting and the closest thing to an A-to-Z copywriting course (much better than ANY copywriting course online). This book will give you everything you need to know about what goes into successful copy. At the end, Joseph gives dozens of pages worth of real-life examples to see his teachings in action.

Read The Adweek Copywriting Handbook TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Adweek-Copywriting-Handbook-Advertising-Copywriters/dp/0470051248

 

3. How to Write a Good Advertisement by Victor O. Schwab – $10

 

Victor reveals his 5-step process for writing homerun copy. My favorite part of this book is the headline section. He gives away the 100 most successful headlines ever written (at the time) and gives great details and insights on WHY they worked so well.

Read How to Write a Good Advertisement TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Write-Good-Advertisement-Victor-Schwab/dp/1614278865

 

4. Scientific Advertising By Claude Hopkins – $4

 

The godfather of advertising explains what advertising (and copywriting) really is. This book revolutionized advertising. Changing it from a mysterious art to a definite science. You’ll want to read this book AT LEAST 10x.

Read Scientific Advertising TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Advertising-audiobook/dp/B075TK3PXC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1EL62GBLOMVKF&keywords=scientific+advertising&qid=1695564380&s=books&sprefix=scientific+adv%2Cstripbooks%2C136&sr=1-3

 

5. The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy - $12

 

Dan Kennedy gives away his secret formula for creating successful sales letters. He gives you a step-by-step process that anyone can follow to write better sales letters and ads. There are tons of examples, breakdowns and copywriting secrets packed inside this goldmine.

Read The Ultimate Sales Letter TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sales-Letter-4th-Customers/dp/B07P19G3Q5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OT3P53PC9M40&keywords=the+ultimate+sales+letter&qid=1695564461&s=audible&sprefix=the+ultimate+sales+lett%2Caudible%2C531&sr=1-1

 

6. Ogilvy on Advertising By David Ogilvy – $20

 

The REAL Don Draper (Ogilvy) spills the beans on everything advertising. You’ll not only learn how to write good ads, but you’ll learn what images to use, how to design ads (that make money), how to deal with clients, and the nuances of different copywriting styles and niches.

Read Ogilvy on Advertising TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Ogilvy-Advertising-David/dp/039472903X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2O02OGE4YSZKL&keywords=david+olgivy&qid=1695565061&sprefix=david+ol%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-3

 

7. Tested Advertising Methods By John Caples – $18

 

Like scientific advertising, this book breaks advertising (and sales copy) down to a science. Caples provides tons of real-life examples – backed by cold hard data - to prove his claims. You’ll discover what works, why it works and HOW to replicate it for similar extraordinary results.

Read Tested Advertising Methods TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Advertising-Methods-Prentice-Business-Classics/dp/0130957011

 

8. Cashvertising By Drew Eric Whitman – $12

 

Unlike the other books, the author of this book is not a top copywriter. BUT… he is a top marketer who specializes in buyer psychology. To write effective copy, you must tap into your reader’s psychology, this book covers everything you need to know about WHY people buy things and how they react to ads. This book gives HUNDREDS of tips and tactics on how to tap into your readers’ psychology to “force” them to read every word you write and buy from you.

Read Cashvertising TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Cahvertising-Drew-Eric-Whitman-audiobook/dp/B0711KZW8K/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TEHI6JOEQDLQ&keywords=cashvertising&qid=1695564889&s=books&sprefix=cashvertisin%2Cstripbooks%2C95&sr=1-1

 

9. The Copywriter’s Handbook By Bob Bly – $8

 

Bob Bly is one of the top-paid living freelance copywriters. In this book, he covers everything you need to know about how to write effective direct response copy. He gives great insights on how the internet has changed copywriting, and how it’s remained the same. This book gives a crash course on how to write direct response copy, and then, covers how to write copy for all of the most popular media used today.

Read The Copywriter’s Handbook TODAY:

https://www.amazon.com/Copywriters-Handbook-Step-Step-Writing/dp/B08JQP7QFK/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5ARC96TBCUYG&keywords=the+copywriters+handbook&qid=1695564913&s=audible&sprefix=the+copywriters+handbok%2Caudible%2C88&sr=1-1

 

10. Kick-Ass Copywriting Secrets of a Marketing Rebel By John Carlton - $40

John Carlton, the most ripped-off copywriter on the web, reveals his secret formula for writing kick-ass copy. He gives his own unique spin on copywriting and a LOT more… like: how to create your own product, how to choose a starving crowd, etc.

Read Kick-Ass Copywriting Secrets of a Marketing Rebel TODAY:

https://marketingrebel.com/kick-ass-copywriting-secrets-of-a-marketing-rebel/?cookieUUID=78cf5886-f0b5-42ae-86d0-97fad09cc052

 

Conclusion

You now have a treasure chest filled with copywriting gold.

Pick up your shovel and start digging!

I recommend reading each book twice.

The first time, just read it and have fun.

The second time, take detailed notes.

After you’ve read these 10 books, and have studied them, you will be ready to break into copywriting with lightning speed and provide your clients supreme value.

If you’d like to learn how to get a flood of new freelance clients and quickly climb the copywriter’s mountain to fame and fortune, enter your email below:

 

Can I make 6 figures as a freelance copywriter??

What about 7-figures???

I often get asked this question from aspiring copywriters and my answer always remains the same…

YES.

You can earn 6 figures or more as a freelance copywriter.

HOWEVER:

You can also make less than a McDonald’s worker.

You see, as a freelance copywriter, you are a business owner.

And the amount of money you earn is directly tied to you. And how you run your freelance copywriting business.

My #1 tip for growing a successful freelance copywriting business is to provide your clients EXTREME VALUE.

To truly care about them.

And always look for ways to go above and beyond for them.

This relationship-first approach of treating your clients like royalty is the mindset you want to have at all times.

With that being said, I’m going to reveal the 3 quickest ways to grow your freelance copywriting business in 2024.

After reading this post, you’ll be ready to put these tips into action and start generating more clients and more sales… RIGHT AWAY.

These 3 insider secrets can potentially earn you MILLIONS.

But only if you apply them, consistently, throughout your freelance copywriting career.

They are long-term solutions to business growth (but you can experience shocking benefits within days).

But first…

Before we get into the good stuff...

Let’s cover some basics…

 

What is a Copywriting Business?

A copywriting business is simply any copywriter who works for themselves.

Aka:

A freelance copywriter.

Instead of working for a company (as their employee) – like an in-house copywriter or an agency copywriter – you are working for yourself and writing for your own clients.

You are the boss.

As a freelance copywriter, you have more responsibilities than simply writing copy.

A big chunk of your time will also be spent getting freelance clients and managing your finances (making sure you get paid from clients, managing your copywriting rates, expenses, taxes, etc.)

 

How to Start a Freelance Copywriting Business in 2024?

I’ve created a step-by-step crash course on how to quickly start a freelance copywriting business.

You can read all about it here.

I recommend ALL freelance copywriters to read this detailed post, from start to finish, because it covers the essential steps (from A to Z) you need to take to build a successful freelance copywriting business from scratch.

There are key building blocks you need to set in place in order to be successful.

If just ONE building block is missing, your freelance copywriting business will crumble, FAST.

Make sure you read this post ASAP to ensure your long-term success as a freelance copywriter.

Alright, now on to the good stuff…

 

3 Ways to Grow Your Freelance Copywriting Business to Reach “6 Figures” THIS YEAR (Or More)

 

These are 3 top secret ways to put your freelance business on steroids.

To scale your copywriting business faster than a bullet and put duffle bags of dead presidents in your bank account, month after month, year after year. Building more momentum with each day that passes.

Here’s the dog’s honest truth:

You can realistically grow a 6-figure copywriting business this year by applying just ONE of these business-growth tips.

Apply all 3… and the sky’s the limit to your earning potential.

Ready?

Let’s goooo….

#1 Referrals

Generating referrals is amongst the easiest, most cost-effective ways to gain new freelance copywriting clients and help you grow your copywriting business.

The best leads you can have, are leads who were referred to you by past clients.

Because they are sent to you on a silver platter by people who know, like and trust you and have already put in the good word for you.

How to get referrals:

Current clients

These are the fine folk you’re currently working with, right now… and past clients.

These people like, know and trust you and are red-hot sources to give you referrals.

It’s simple.

If you’ve provided them value and a good experience, then, you just have to ask for referrals.

If you are currently working with a copywriting client, especially on repeat work (so they’re already happy with the work you’ve done for them) ask them for a referral at the end of a call or whenever you talk to them next.

This is a very easy, simple and EFFECTIVE way to get more HIGH-QUALITY freelance copywriting clients.

Past clients

Anyone you’ve provided work for in the past (given it was a good experience) is a potential REFERRAL GOLD MINE.

If you’ve already provided a great experience for them, then they’re very likely to refer you to business owners they know, because they already like, know and trust you.

Simply reach out to any and all of your past copywriting clients and see how they’re doing.

After bonding with them, ask for referrals.

Or…

You can just ask them straight up for a referral.

Try both methods.

Note:

The more recent your client, the better. Because the tremendous experience you provided them is fresh in their brain.

Here’s a quick fill-in-the-blank template you can use when asking for referrals:

Hello {First name},

I hope you had a great weekend.

It’s been a pleasure working with {Company name} on {Project}.

I’m always looking to provide value to like-minded people, so if you know of anyone in the industry who could benefit from my services, please let me know.

Feel free to give them my email.

Thanks!

Best,

{Your name}

It can be this simple!

You’d be pleasantly surprised at how many clients will happily suggest your services to other business owners if they’ve had a positive experience working with you.

Networking contacts

Networking groups are a smart way of generating referrals because you are there to benefit each other.

Your objective of networking is to meet success-oriented people to exchange referrals with.

Tip:

Get your network buddy to contact the referrals, on their behalf, with a person who is in the market for your services and to vouch for you.

Also…

Make sure you provide them value FIRST.

Give them something valuable in return for the referral.

Find out what they want by ASKING them WHY they’re at the networking group in the first place and figure out a way to provide them value.

Additional tips for getting referrals:

Reward your referral sources

Always thank everyone who refers people to you. Send them gifts. REWARD their good behavior and ENCOURAGE them to keep doing so.

Events

Invite your past copywriting clients, who refer people to you, to a client appreciation event (can be as simple as taking them out for food & drinks or inviting them to a house party.)

Become a specialist

If you are seen as the go-to guy or gal for your niche, you will naturally attract a lot more referrals because your clients want to provide value to their company and professional network. And they will refer them to the specialist… over the generalist, EVERY TIME.

Superior service

An absolute must for getting referrals is to deliver great service to your clients. Constantly look for new ways to wow them by going above n beyond for them. When you provide exceptional service, not only will they be more likely to refer business to you when you ask, but they will also refer people to you automatically because you treated them so well.

 

#2 The REAL Money is In The Backend

The real money’s in the backend.

The most successful business owners and marketers understand this fundamental business truth - that the real money comes from their EXISTING CUSTOMERS.

The same is true with your past copywriting clients.

They are the most likely to buy from you again and refer business to you.

So, you should put them on a pedestal. Treat them like royalty.

Meaning:

ALWAYS maintain your relationship with them.

Stay in contact with them and provide them with superior service.

You want to always be on their minds and be seen as the go-to person they think of when they are in need of your copywriting services (or know someone who is).

Offer them upsells

Instead of 3 landing pages, offer to write 5 for a discount.

Instead of 10 emails, offer to write 15 for half the normal price.

And so on…

This allows you to make more money per service you provide.

Also…

Get them on retainers

The real wealth comes from subscriptions (aka retainers).

You want to get clients to have retainer contracts with you, where they pay you monthly for your copywriting services.

This way, you don’t have to pitch them again or get them on a sales call.

And…

Every month you automatically get more work and earn more money.

The good news is…

Tons of clients will need repeat services.

Very few copywriting services are one-and-done deals IF you do a great job.

Services that require retainers:

• Email sequences – rarely any business only sends out one (or a few) emails. Email is usually the easiest service to get retainers for.
• Blog posts
• Social media content
• Paid ads

Finding ways to add upsells to your current offers (related services that compliment what you offer and provide additional value) and getting as much retainer work as possible are 2 sure-fire ways to grow your copywriting business – FAST (and keep growing your copywriting business steady, over long-term).

 

#3 Content Marketing

 

If you’re just starting out…

You’ll need to pitch, apply and network to get clients.

It requires a lot of time and energy.

And you need to keep doing it until you get steady repeat business and referrals (which can take a while).

However…

While you do this work to get immediate clients, you should also invest some time and energy into content marketing.

This can include:

• Blog posts
• YouTube channel
• Podcast
• Social media: Facebook, Insta, twitter, TikTok

Benefits of content marketing:

• Passive income
• Generates clients while you sleep
• ATTRACT clients to you, without you doing any additional work. No hunting or pitching required (unlike with prospecting)
• Besides referrals, these are the most valuable clients
• The copywriting clients you get from content marketing are actively LOOKING for you and your copywriting services

However…

It takes a long time to notice any results from content marketing.

It’s a very effective long-term strategy to gain copywriting clients.

But once you DO build momentum…

It builds and builds and builds…

You can get so many clients over time that you’ll never need to send cold emails or apply for freelance gigs again.

(It’ll get to the point where you’ll even need to reject client requests because you’ve got so much work.)

 

Additional Content Marketing Tips

Choose a search-based platform

Start a blog or YouTube channel.

Why?

Because on these platforms, potential copywriting clients are SEARCHING for your services.

They are SEARCHING for solutions to their problems.

Plus, these platforms offer long-term momentum.

Blog posts and YouTube videos only grow over time.

And they can attract new copywriting clients for you for years to come (unlike a non-search-based platform like Instagram or TikTok.)

Choose 1 platform

I STRONLGY recommend choosing only ONE platform and sticking with this ONE platform for at least a year.

Why?

Because all platforms have best practices and different ways of using them to grow your freelance copywriting business. So…

Get good and master ONE before moving to another.

A blog or YouTube channel can bring you enough work for the rest of your life IF you do it correctly.

Choose the platform where your target audience spends the most time on.

For example:

If your target audience is 50-year-olds, don’t use TikTok or Insta.

Eventually…

After you create success on one platform...

You can easily turn a blog post into a script to film a YouTube video, and then, take the audio from that video to create a podcast.

 

Conclusion

You now have 3 of the most valuable secrets for growing your freelance copywriting business.

Use them to scale your business to 6-figures… 7-figures… and beyond!

If you’d like more insider secrets to quickly become a top-paid copywriter, enter your email below:

 

 

Back in 2020, I bought a very expensive course on email copywriting from legendary copywriter – Matt Furey.

One of the main lessons he taught was the power of storytelling in copy.

He explained that the best way to write money-making emails, extremely fast, is to start each email with a story.

I’ve taken this lesson to heart and expanded upon it…

Almost every piece of copy I write, for my clients and myself, has at least one persuasive story baked into it.

Especially my emails and blog posts (if you read my blog posts or are subscribed to my daily email tips, you know this already.)

Not only does storytelling make copy more enjoyable to write but it also makes your writing MUCH MORE PERSUASIVE.

You see, telling stories is one of the most effective ways to grab your reader’s attention, have them hooked on every word you write, and sell your products & services.

For some reason, storytelling is kind of a lost art amongst copywriters.

However, if you are able to tap into the persuasive power of storytelling, you will blow away competition and be able to charge as much mula as you’d like.

But…

First…

You must know HOW to tell the right kind of stories.

Stories that are designed to sell.

In this post…

I’m going to cover what storytelling is in copywriting, why storytelling is a MUST-HAVE SKILL for copywriters and the 5 most persuasive types of stories to sell more products (examples included).

 

What is Storytelling in Copywriting?

Storytelling in copywriting is a powerful persuasion weapon that goes far beyond features and benefits.

It involves weaving a narrative that engages and resonates with your target audience on a deeper level.

An emotional level that pulls your readers in and makes them feel a personal connection to you and your message.

Storytelling in copywriting is about creating a journey for your audience.

It could be a story about the creation of a product, how someone in your market overcame a BIG obstacle or the life-changing impact your product has had on a customer's life.

This narrative approach adds a human touch to your copy, making it more relatable and memorable.

Picture this…

You take on a copywriting project selling a new fitness app.

You could write about its features & benefits (most copywriters would).

But instead…

What if you told an inspirational story?

An inspirational story about someone who was severely overweight, had low self-esteem and faced a whole slew of life-threatening health problems…

BUT…

Then…

A miracle happened…

They lost 100 lbs and are now in the best shape of their life.

What happened?

They discovered your fitness app.

Think that would be a more effective way of selling your fitness app than stuffing features & benefits down your readers’ throats?

(Like every other company does)

When you take your readers on a relatable journey that taps into their emotions, psychology and personal experiences, you will transform your copywriting skills (and your customers’ lives).

 

Are Copywriters Storytellers?

They should be!

If you’re not already telling stories in your copy, you are leaking GIANT ponds of money.

Telling stories in your copy is one of the easiest, most enjoyable and most profitable ways to write copy that sells.

The best copywriters of all time are master storytellers.

If you study great direct response ads, you’ll find that almost all of the most successful ads told engaging and persuasive stories that their readers could relate to and identify with.

 

Why Storytelling in Copywriting is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

Believe it or not…

A persuasive story, told to the right market, at the right time, can have a bigger impact on making the sale than ANY OTHER element of copywriting.

Why?

Because we are hardwired to be persuaded, entertained and educated by stories.

It’s in our DNA.

Stories are how humans have communicated with each other for THOUSANDS of years.

Even the top memory training courses and books tell you to put complex things, you want to remember, into story formats to remember them much more easily.

In a world inundated with information, stories stand out.

They slice through the noise like a machete and engage readers in a way that straightforward, facts, features and benefits simply cannot.

Stories create an emotional response that triggers a deeper connection and understanding.

When you tell a story in your copy, you're not just selling a product or service; you're selling an experience, a solution to a problem, or a vision of a better future.

This emotional resonance is what makes your message memorable and persuasive.

Also…

Storytelling helps you stand out in a fierce sea of “me-too” competition.

In an era where consumers are bombarded with ads, they will ALWAYS choose the brands that resonate with them on a personal level.

Stories cover all the bases over creating powerful copy - solves problems, paints vision, educates, entertains, taps into emotions, and so on.

 

How Telling Stories Can Improve Your Copywriting

Storytelling is a skill that, when mastered, can turn mediocre copy into irresistible copy that changes lives and makes its owners RICH.

Here's how incorporating storytelling can improve your copywriting and multiply your income:

• Capturing Attention: In a world where attention spans are shrinking like a sinkhole, storytelling serves as a hook that grabs and holds your audience's attention. A compelling story keeps readers engaged from the beginning to the end of your copy.
• Building Trust: Stories create authenticity. When you share real experiences or present your brand through a narrative lens, you build trust with your audience. Trust is a key factor in the decision-making process, and customers are more likely to choose a brand they trust.
• Eliciting Emotions: Emotion is a powerful motivator. By incorporating storytelling in your copywriting, you can evoke emotions that resonate with your audience, whether it's joy, empathy, or inspiration. Emotional connections lead to stronger brand loyalty and increased likelihood of conversion.
• Enhancing Memorability: People remember stories better than dry facts. When your message is embedded in a narrative, it becomes more memorable. This increased recall can lead to word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat business.

But, Jeremy, what kind of stories should I tell? And how do I tell them?

I gotchu, umbre…

 

The 5 Most Persuasive Types of Stories to Tell in Your Copywriting to Sell More Products (With Examples)

Each of these proven storytelling formats is fun to write and VERY persuasive. Test drive them TODAY!

#1) Inspirational Stories

Everyone’s looking to be inspired.

Don’t believe me?

Just look at the billion dollar self-help industry.

Most of the books, seminars, training, etc. are just fluffy feel-good INSPIRATION.

Why?

Because people love inspiration.

People are looking to be inspired.

People NEED inspiration to get them through the bum drum of life.

We are addicted to inspiring quotes, movies and books.

(Especially about people we can relate to, who have overcome similar challenges that we’re currently facing).

When you inspire your readers through the copy you write, they will look to you not only as an expert, but as a LEADER.

You want this because people follow LEADERS.

How to tell inspirational stories…

Tell a story about people (the market you’re writing to), like them, who have faced similar problems, frustrations, challenges and who have overcome them (related to whatever you’re selling)… And then… tie in how YOU can help them overcome these challenges.

Do NOT make this complicated.

You can draw inspiration from anything:

• Real-life stories about you or other people
• Historical figures
• Celebrities
• Characters from TV/movies/books
• Inspiring stories and people you see in the news

Here’s an example of telling an inspiring story to sell MILLIONS worth of products for a weight loss company:

https://swiped.co/file/weight-loss-ad-by-gary-halbert/

 

#2) Cautionary Tales

This classic storytelling example works wonders because it wrenches on people’s curiosity.

And, according to the Michael Jordan of copywriting himself, Gary Halbert, curiosity is the #1 reason why people buy from ads.

When you tell a RELATABLE cautionary story about mistakes to avoid, you naturally grab your audience’s undivided attention and pique their interest because they will want to know what the mistakes are so that they can avoid them at all costs. Nobody wants to suffer embarrassment or other potential negative consequences, of making mistakes.

How to tell cautionary tales...

The best way to tell cautionary tales in your copywriting is to find REAL LIFE stories from people in the market you’re writing to.

Find out mistakes they’ve made and the consequences they’ve suffered.

Where can you find common mistakes your market makes?

Online forums and social media groups.

Spend some time on these sites and I guarantee you’ll be able to find people in your market talking about common mistakes they’ve made (IMPORTANT: keep it relevant to what you’re writing about).

Also…

Another potential GOLDMINE for cautionary tales is the news.

For example…

If you’re writing for the self-defense niche, find brutal stories about people getting attacked.

Explain the mistakes they’ve made and how they could have avoided them IF they knew how to protect themselves.

When writing cautionary tales, you should dramatize the negative consequences and stress how easy it can be to avoid mistakes (by buying your product/service).

Here’s a classic example of “mistakes to avoid” written by Maxwell Sackheim…

https://swiped.co/file/do-you-make-these-mistakes-by-max-sackheim/

 

#3) Stories about Historical Figures

Another way to tell addicting stories that persuade your readers is to talk about historical figures.

It’s extremely easy…

Simply find a historical figure (something that happened in history) and tie it into what you’re selling.

This works like gangbusters because the story already exists. You simply have to dig it up. And then, make it interesting and relatable to your market and product.

The key is to find an interesting & unique story about a historical figure who is well-known by the masses.

Here’s an example:

https://swiped.co/file/colon-cleanse-salesletter-from-gary-halbert/

 

#4) The Star, Story, Solution Story

This is more of a common theme used in advertising than it is a story, however, it’s one of the most profitable ways to sell in your copy.

Here’s what you do…

The star is either you or your client.

The story is a “rags-to-riches” styled story where you talk about a common problem, challenge, woe, etc…. that is shared by your target audience.

Then offer the solution -  the product you’re selling.

This type of story works so well because everyone loves an underdog story.

Plus...

Your audience can identify with the main character because they experienced a BIG problem or challenge that your market is CURRENTLY experiencing.

And as they read your story, they are reliving, experiencing and FEELING everything that you went through (or your client), because they are going through it too (in some way, shape or form).

Then…

You give them hope by explaining how you overcame your challenges and how they can too (if they buy your product).

Here’s an example:

https://swiped.co/file/amazing-money-making-secrets-ad-by-gary-halbert/

#5) Hell to Heaven Stories

This is essentially the rags-to-riches story but on selling steroids.

It’s probably the MOST PERSAUSIVE story to tell.

The goal is to tell a story about someone in your market who your audience can relate.

Someone that has gone from “hell to heaven”.

Meaning…

They have faced incredible obstacles (in hell) but overcame their hellish experience and now are living much better (in heaven).

This works best for markets that solve big problems like Health & wellness.

However, it can work for any market, if you get creative.

For example…

If you are selling an online course to real estate agents that teaches them marketing…

You could tell a story about someone who was on the verge of bankruptcy. And get very detailed with the specifics of their financial struggles (wife leaving them, losing their house, having to live on the streets, etc.)

Then, tell how they not only escaped poverty but got extremely wealthy by using the information that you teach in this marketing course.

Here's a great example of this type of story in action:

https://swiped.co/file/amazing-diet-secrets-ad-from-gary-halbert/

 

Additional Storytelling Tips:

• When writing stories in ads - get to the climax right away!
• Dig into your market’s emotions - create tension and drama throughout, by highlighting all the emotions, pain points, frustrations… that your prospects are going through.
• Make it short - trim, trim trim. Only leave essentials that build tension and move the story along. Make it very quick n easy to understand and relate to.
• Make it DRAMATIC - the more dramatic and tension-filled stories you tell, the more of an impact they’ll have on your audience.

 

Conclusion

The more stories you tell, the more money you’ll make.

Use this post as a reference guide and practice telling persuasive stories by using the 5 storytelling formats mentioned above.

In no time flat, you’ll be a persuasive copywriter who changes lives and earns a king’s fortune simply by filling your copy with stories.

Want more copywriting tips? Enter your email below and I’ll send you the best I got:

 

 

 

Do you struggle with writer’s block?

Have a hard time turning “on” your creative side?

Trouble coming up with persuasive copy that sells?

If so…

Your struggles end TODAY.

Because you’re about to learn how to effortlessly come up with “million-dollar” ideas on command.

The best way to do so is to create a copywriting swipe file.

In this post…

I’m going to reveal what a copywriting swipe file is, how it can improve YOUR writing, the nitty-gritty details that go into creating a swipe file, and my top secret online swipe files that I use to crank out grand slam copy (they’re 100% free).

 

What is a Copywriting Swipe File?

A copywriting swipe file is a “virtual library” where you store proven sales, marketing and copywriting materials.

Like…

Direct mail ads, promotional emails, headlines, bullets, Facebook ads, etc.

You use copywriting swipe files to get inspiration when writing your own copy.

Which brings me to my next point…

 

What Does “Swiping Copy” Mean?

There’s a lot of confusion around what swiping copy is.

First…

Here’s what it’s NOT.

Swiping copy is NOT copying and pasting someone else’s work.

It’s not tweaking someone’s headline by moving a few words around and slapping your fat name on it.

Only broke losers do this.

This is wrong for two big reasons:

ONE

You are downright stealing from someone else’s hard work. You can be called out by the owner and their fanbase AND you can get sued BIG TIME.

TWO

This adds to the dumpster fire of generic, “me too” advertising and marketing online. The internet is filled with brainless posers. Don’t be one of them.

Now, here’s what swiping copy IS…

Swiping copy is used for getting IDEAS.

You want to swipe proven copy to get inspiration from what has worked for other copywriters and marketers.

Then, you want to IMPROVE upon what has worked and make it more relevant and persuasive for your client’s market and product. 

If you swipe copy by improving upon what has made advertisers a lot of green stuff, you can become a top-paid copywriter very quickly.

However, if you mindlessly steal other’s work, you will be labeled the village’s idiot and be chased out of town with flaming pitchforks.

 

How Can a Copywriting Swipe File Improve Your Writing?

You can quickly improve your copywriting by using a swipe file to study what has worked for other copywriters, and then, use this wisdom to improve your own writing

By “swiping” ideas from PROVEN copywriting pieces, you will quickly internalize what makes an ad successful and the ideas, psychology and sales principles baked into it.

When you use advertisements and marketing material that has worked in the past and improve upon it in your own copy (by making it relevant to your readers and your product), your copywriting will produce far better results.

 

How to Make Your Own Million-Dollar Swipe File

Copywriters make this WAAAY too complicated.

Creating a kickass swipe file is EASY.

Follow these simple steps to create your own copywriting swipe file TODAY:

Step 1: Set Up Your Digital Toolbox

The first thing you need is a digital toolbox. Create a dedicated folder on your computer where you'll store all your copywriting materials. This can be a simple folder on your desktop or a cloud-based storage solution like Google Drive or Dropbox. Having your swipe file accessible from anywhere (like your phone) is a big plus.

Step 2: Define Your Categories

Organize your swipe file into categories that make sense for you. Common categories include headlines, email subject lines, call-to-action phrases, persuasive storytelling, and even entire sales letters. The key is to have a structure that allows you to quickly locate the type of copy you need when inspiration strikes.

Step 3: Collect Copywriting Samples

Start adding proven copywriting pieces to your swipe file. You can add your own work that you find particularly effective, but the real magic happens when you curate content from various sources. Have your “marketing antenna” on HIGH alert as you read books, articles, websites, and marketing materials or when you listen to a podcast or watch your favorite TV show… be on the lookout for phrases, sentences and concepts that resonate with you and get your copywriting juices flowing.

Alright…

Let’s get more into the nitty-gritty of what to add to your copywriting swipe file…

 

What Should You Add to Your Copywriting Swipe File?

Now that you've set up your swipe file, it's time to decide what to add to it and how to keep it organized.

Here are some of the best elements of copy to add to your swiple file…

#1) Headlines and Subheads

The headline is one of the most important parts of your copy. Collect attention-grabbing headlines from million-dollar ads, sales pages, etc. that piqued your interest and worked its persuasive charm on you. Then, study them and figure out WHY they worked so well and how YOU can use its persuasive power to improve your copy.

#2) Email Subject Lines

Your inbox is a goldmine for persuasive subject lines. Save subject lines that grabbed your attention, stopped you from scrolling and “forced” you to open the email. Again, figure out WHY this subject line got you to open the email. Did it use contrast? Did it use a big, juicy benefit? Did it bring up a current event? Find out!

#3) Stories

Often, a good story can make a reader click “buy now” EVEN if the rest of the copy isn’t great. Humans are persuaded by stories. It’s in our DNA. One of the best advantages you can have over other copywriters and marketers is to tell persuasive stories. A great way to get better at telling stories is to study the most effective direct response ads. Most of them tell personal stories that trigger emotions and persuade readers to buy.

#4) Ad Copy

Today, we’re bombarded with ads. Use this to your advantage by being on the lookout for persuasive ads that stick out to you.

You can find successful ad copy in a number of media. Like: magazines, social media, Google, YouTube, Billboards, direct mail pieces, etc.

Save text, images, or links to entire ad campaigns that caught your eye and use the sales psychology embedded within them to make your copy more effective.

#5) Bullets

Bullets are my FAVORITE type of copy to write. Believe it or not, Gary Halbert said they are the MOST important element of copy (even more important than headlines).

So, whenever you stumble across an ad, look for the bullets.

If they have bullets that piqued your curiosity… add em to your swipe file.

Want to study a sales letter with over 50+ sizzling hot bullets? Go here.

#6) Call-to-Action Phrases

Your call to action is what makes or breaks your advertisement.

Keep your eyes peeled for CTA’s on websites, emails and ads.

You want to find CTA’s that use urgency, scarcity and give their readers clear instructions on what to do and how to do it.

Now that you know WHAT to add to your copywriting swipe file, here’s how to organize it…

 

How to Organize Your Copywriting Swipe File

As mentioned above…

You want to categorize your swipe file into folders or sections that match your needs and preferences.

For example…

You could have separate folders for each type of copy, such as headlines, subject lines, and ad copy.

Within these folders, you might further organize by industry or style.

The key is to make it easy to locate what you need.

Here’s some of my favorite software to use to create copywriting swipe files…

 

What Software Should You Use to Create Your Copywriting Swipe File?

Here are my 4 favorite places to store copy I’ve “swiped”:

1. Evernote: this note-taking app allows you to organize your swipe file with tags and notebooks. It’s super easy to use.
2. OneNote: Microsoft's digital note-taking app is muy bueno for organizing your copywriting materials.
3. Google Drive: Use Google Docs or Google Sheets to create a structured swipe file accessible across all your devices.
4. Trello: A visual project management tool that can be adapted to store and categorize your copywriting resources.

With your swipe file organized and filled to the panties with killer copy, you're ready to explode sales with your copywriting skillz.

In the next section, I’ll reveal ten places where you can find valuable pieces of copy to add to your swipe file.

 

10 Places to Get Copywriting Materials to Add to Your Swipe File

#1) Competitor Websites: Analyze your competitors' websites for effective headlines, product descriptions, and persuasive copy.

#2) Magazines and Newspapers: Print media often features attention-grabbing headlines and storytelling techniques that can inspire your own copy.

#3) Content Aggregator Sites: Platforms like Reddit, Quora, and BuzzSumo can provide insights into trending topics and insider language that resonates with your target audience.

#4) Email Marketing Campaigns: Sign up for newsletters from businesses in your industry and save the emails with compelling subject lines and persuasive copy.

#5) Social Media Advertisements: Platforms like Facebook and Instagram showcase various ad formats with engaging ad copy.

#6) Sales Letters: Look for long-form sales letters on websites, landing pages, or direct mail marketing.

#7) Reviews and Testimonials: Visit e-commerce websites to gather product reviews and customer testimonials. HINT: Look for the ones that tell stories.

#8) Blogs and Content Marketing: Quality blog posts often feature persuasive storytelling & attention-grabbing headlines that resonate with their readers.

#9) Books and Ebooks: Scan your bookshelf or e-library for excerpts that showcase the art of persuasive writing. I like to look at the titles of best-selling books.

#10) Advertising Archives: Explore advertising archives like AdWeek, Ad Age, or the Archive of Vintage Ads for historical and modern ad campaigns.

 

My 3 Favorite Online Copywriting Swipe Files (100% FREE)

There are 3 online swipe files that I spend a LOT of time on.

Over the last 4 years of writing copy, I’ve used these copywriting swipe files to study great copy, get ideas from legendary copywriters and improve my copywriting. Each swipe file is 100% FREE.

You can find them here:

1. Swiped.co

This is my favorite copywriting swipe file because it’s extremely easy to use and has tons of great direct response copywriting examples (new and old). Plus, the owner gives a nice background and helpful tips on most of the ads… breaking down why they worked so well.

2. Swipefile.com

This online copywriting swipe file is similar to swiped.co. It has a wide variety of ads (new and old-school) to study and get inspiration from.

3. Hardtofindads.com

I’ve used this one the least, but it has some absolute gems that aren’t found in the above 2 copywriting swipe files.

 

Conclusion

There ya go, mi amigo.

You now have everything you need to build an extremely valuable swipe file.

Now, get to swiping!

If you found this post valuable and would like more insider tips to help you become an UNSTOPPABLE copywriter, enter your email below:

 

There’s an online ocean filled with copywriting formulas, tactics and frameworks…

To be honest…

I’ve only used a handful throughout the last 4 years of writing copy.

However, there is one copywriting formula that I’ll always use.

Why?

Because it simply works MAGIC.

It’s probably the most effective way to help your clients generate more leads and convert more sales.

Because this copywriting formula makes it easy for you to grab your reader's attention, hook them from the very first word, and have them drooling with excitement, begging for a way to buy from you.

What is this method I speak of?

The PAS copywriting formula.

This copywriting formula is used by some of the best copywriters, salesmen and marketers on the planet.

It’s stupidly simple to use and will almost instantly turn dull, ignored copy into money printing machines.

In this post…

I’m going to reveal what the PAS copywriting formula is… How YOU can use this formula to improve your copywriting skills INSTANTLY… hand you 5 specific PAS copywriting examples and give you a handy dandy template to practice this money-making framework TODAY.

 

What is the PAS Copywriting Formula?

The PAS copywriting formula is a tried-n-true framework used by salesmen, copywriters and marketers to sell products.

By using this copywriting formula, you can effortlessly write interesting, engaging, and persuasive copy that hooks your readers and gets them to take immediate action.

The PAS copywriting formula stands for…

Problem

Agitate

Solution

Now that you know WHAT the problem agitate solution copywriting formula is…

Here’s HOW to use it to inject selling steroids into your writing…

 

How to Use The Problem Agitate Solution Framework to Improve Your Copywriting Almost Instantly

This formula is very simple and easy to use…

Here’s a quick breakdown of how to apply each element.

Problem

 

Bring up the biggest problem your target audience is currently facing.

How do you find the biggest problem your audience is facing?

RESEARCH.

As a copywriter, research is THE MOST IMPORTANT part of the “writing” process.

If you can’t find the biggest problem from the market research info that your clients or company provides you… do this…

Go to reddit.com

Search for your market’s subreddit (just search the keyword in Reddit and click on the group – for example: “golf”)

Like this…

 

 

Now…

Browse your market’s subreddit.

Be on the lookout for common problems, pains, fears, frustrations, insecurities, etc. that keep popping up.

Click on the posts and read them & the comments.

After doing this for a few minutes you should be able to find your market’s BIGGEST problem they’re currently facing (related to whatever you’re writing about).

The best part is…

It will be in the market’s own words.

Meaning:

They’ll tell you exactly what their problem is – in a ton of unfiltered details.

Once you find the single biggest problem…

Place it front and center in your copy.

You can put it in your headline or bring it up right away in your body copy.

Make it crystal clear and direct.

Plus, you should call out your target audience…

Here’s an example:

For struggling golfers who are too embarrassed to play with their friends.

Then, after you’ve flagged down your readers by bringing up the BIGGEST problem they’re currently experiencing when stumbling across your copy…

 

Agitate

Agitate your target audience’s problem by tapping into their EMOTIONS.

Tap into their…

Anger, resentment, guilt, embarrassment, fear, insecurity, greed…

Any and every negative emotion.

The goal is to make their problem larger than life, worse than death.

Get them stomping around their house, with fists in the air, shouting - “This has got to stop! I’ve got to do something about this RIGHT NOW!”

To achieve this, you must paint a VIVID VISION (filled with emotions), inside their mind, of their PROBLEM.

The easiest way to paint this painful vision is to talk about their problems… using… specific details… and… word images.

Get as specific as possible when talking about their problems.

Cover all the details about their problem and their situation.

Here are a few examples to understand this better:

To make your copy more specific…

Don’t say – “Save lots of money.”

Do say – “Save $327 each month for the next 5 years.”

Don’t say – “ripe strawberries.”

Do say – “Fire red, mouth-watering strawberries hand-picked from Nana’s garden."

Don’t say – “I made a sandwich.”

Do say – “I grabbed ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and baby spinach out of my fridge and placed them in between 2 slices of toasted whole wheat bread.”

You get the point…

Now, here’s how to paint vision in your reader’s mind using word images…

Word images = vivid words that hit your reader’s 5-senses:

1. Touch
2. Taste
3. Smell
4. Hear
5. See

Use as many of these 5 senses throughout your copy as possible.

Doing so will paint a vivid picture in their mind’s eye of their problem and will agitate it, urging them to take action NOW to solve it.

Here’s a few examples:

Touch – I sliced my toe on a razor-sharp piece of glass.

Taste – the chocolate had hints of tart raspberry and sugar-sweet vanilla.

Smell – her perfume smelt like cotton candy from the carnival.

Hear – her deep, scratchy voice penetrated my ears.

See – his Jabba The Hut gut jiggled when he jumped up to catch the football.

Also…

Stories work like magic to paint vision and get inside your readers’ minds.

The easiest (and most effective) way to create stories that agitate their problems, is to tell a dramatic story of someone whom the reader can identify with and relate to (someone else in the market who has faced similar problems and found a solution).

 

Solution

Then…

After you’ve got them all hot & bothered…

Offer the solution to their problem!

Emphasis on what USING your client’s product (or service) will DO FOR THEM.

Tips:

Make the solution instant & effortless to obtain.

You want to convince them that they can solve their problem by using your client’s product or service.

Again, if you don’t already know the #1 solution that your client’s product or service solves then you have some digging to do, my friend…

You can use Reddit (similar to finding their problem on Reddit), Amazon reviews, your competition, Facebook groups, etc.

Find the BIGGEST solution that your client’s product or service solves and bring it up right after you’ve agitated your readers’ BIG problem.

 

5 PAS Copywriting Examples to Help You Write More Persuasive Copy

Here are 5 examples of the Problem Agitate Solution formula in action…

Use these PAS copywriting examples as inspiration when writing copy.

PAS Copywriting Example #1:

 

 

PAS Copywriting Example #2:

 

 

PAS Copywriting Example #3:

 

 

PAS Copywriting Example #4:

 

 

PAS Copywriting Example #5:

 

 

PAS Practice Exercise: How to Practice the PAS Copywriting Formula Today! (WITHOUT Clients)

Here’s a practice exercise you can use TODAY to practice the Problem Agitate Solution copywriting formula…

Go on Amazon.com.

Search for a product you’re interested in writing about.

Do some QUICK research…

Read the product’s description, some reviews, the benefits, etc.

Then…

Paste the product’s title into a Word Doc (or whatever online writing software you use).

And write…

Product:

 

Problem:

 

Agitate:

 

Solution:

 

Then simply add a couple sentences (or paragraphs, if you’re feeling frisky) for each section.

 

Conclusion

You now have one of the most powerful copywriting frameworks in your copywriting arsenal.

Practice the Problem Agitate Solution copywriting formula regularly to transform your copywriting skills and use it in your next copywriting project to explode sales and impress your clients.

Want more insider tips to help you grow your freelance copywriting business? Enter your email below:

 

Are you a freelance copywriter scratching your scruffy head over how much to charge for your copywriting services?

When I first started my freelance copywriting business in 2020, I struggled like a crab in a bucket to come up with my copywriting fees.

However…

After doing a LOT of cold hard research and tweaking my copywriting rates over the years, I’ve come up with a fool proof way to price your copywriting services.

This is THE ULTIMATE GUIDE to freelance copywriting rates in 2024.

This pricing guide will clear your fog of confusion and give you a clear path to follow so you can charge fair, top rates for your work.

In this comprehensive guide, I cover all the bases on how to price your copywriting services…

Including:

The new copywriting rates for 2023, all the specifics that influence copywriting fees, how to determine your own pricing strategy and how to increase your rates so you can earn 6 figures (or more) as quickly as possible.

This guide is perfect for beginners who are stuck… and also… for seasoned freelancers who want to check to see if they’re charging the right rates and gain insider tips to increase their current copywriting prices.

 

New Copywriting Rates for 2024

If you're a freelance copywriter, you're probably wondering how much you should charge for your services in 2023.

The truth is…

Copywriting prices can vary widely depending on a number of things, like…

Your niche…

Your experience level…

The type of copy you specialize in…

And so on.

According to the American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) the average freelance copywriting rate for 2024 is around $0.70 per word.

However:

These rates can vary GREATLY depending on the type of copy you're writing for clients.

For example…

Email copywriters charge between $300 and $500 per email, while SEO copywriters charge between $0.20 and $0.50 per word.

To give you a better idea…

Here's a breakdown of the average copywriting rates per niche and types of copy in 2024:

Niche	Type of Copy	Average Rate
B2B	White papers	$3,000 - $6,000
B2B	Case studies	$1,500 - $3,000
B2B	Blog posts	$500 - $1,500
B2C	Product descriptions	$50 - $200 per product
B2C	Landing pages	$500 - $1,000 per page
B2C	Email campaigns	$250 - $500 per email
SEO	Blog posts	$0.15 - $0.50 per word
SEO	Website copy	$1.00 - $2.00 per word

 

IMPORTANT:

These rates are just averages.

How much you can charge for your copywriting services depend on your experience, your skills and most importantly – your niche (WHO you are selling your copywriting services to).

However, this guide should give you a good starting point for determining how much you should charge for your copywriting services in 2024 – so you can earn as much as possible without offending potential clients.

 

How to Determine Your Copywriting Rates Like a Pro

Determining your freelance copywriting rates can be a daunting task, especially if you're just starting out.

However…

It's important to charge a fair rate for your services that reflects your experience and the value you bring to the table.

One way to determine your rates is to consider industry standards and what other freelancers are charging.

Beginner copywriters can charge around $27 per hour, while experienced copywriters can earn around $100 per hour.

However, it's important to note that your copywriting fees can vary depending on your niche, and the type of project you're working on.

Another way to determine your rates is to consider your expenses.

Like…

Overhead costs such as rent, utilities, software subscriptions and so on.

You should also factor in the time it takes to complete each project. As well as any revisions or edits that may be required.

It's also important to consider the value you bring to the table.

If you have a unique skill set or specialized knowledge, you may be able to charge a higher rate than someone with less experience or expertise.

Additionally…

If you're able to deliver high-quality work, quickly, you can charge a premium for your services.

Ultimately, the key to determining your rates is to find a balance between what you need to earn to make a living and what your clients are willing to pay.

By doing your research, considering your expenses and value, and being confident in your copywriting abilities, you can set profitable rates that reflect your worth as a freelance copywriter.

4 Key Factors That Influence Your Copywriting Rates

When setting your freelance copywriting prices, there are 4 MAJOR factors to consider that can influence how much you charge for your services.

#1: Experience Level

Your experience level is one of the most important factors that can impact your copywriting rates. As a raw beginner, you can expect to charge lower rates than someone with more experience. According to Salary.com, novice copywriters can charge between $26 and $29 per hour, while experienced writers with five or more years of experience can charge between $75 and $125 per hour.

#2: Project Complexity

The complexity of a project can also impact your copywriting rates. Projects that require extensive research, multiple revisions, or specialized knowledge may require a higher rate than simpler projects. For example, a website copywriting project that requires extensive keyword research and optimization may take more time and effort than a simple product description.

#3: Market Demand

The demand for copywriting services can vary depending on the market and industry. If you're working in a highly competitive niche, you will be able to charge MUCH HIGHER RATES than if you're working in a less competitive industry. It's important to research the market demand for your services and adjust your rates accordingly.

Want to learn the top copywriting 10 niches in 2023? Go here:

The 10 Highest-Paying Copywriting Niches in 2023 (How to Pick the Best One for YOU)

This post will give you everything you need to choose a Lava-hot copywriting niche. Without a hot niche, you will not be able to charge top rates for your copywriting services, no matter how many years of experience you have or how skilled you are at writing copy.

I HIGHLY recommend all freelance copywriters to study this post BEFORE going all in with a copywriting niche.

#4: Client Budget

Finally, your client's budget can also impact your copywriting prices. Some clients may have a limited budget and will need to negotiate a lower rate, while others may have a more flexible budget and be willing to pay more for high-quality work. It's important to have a clear understanding of your client's budget and expectations before setting your rates.

This is another important reason to choose the right copywriting niche.

In summary…

When setting your copywriting rates, it's important to consider your experience level, project complexity, market demand, and client budget.

By taking these factors into account, you can set rates that are competitive, fair, and reflective of your skills and expertise.

 

How to Set Your Copywriting Prices

Here are some common ways to set your rates:

Hourly Rates

One common way to set your rates is to charge an hourly rate. This can be a good option if you're just starting out and don't have a lot of experience. According to Salary.com, novice copywriters can expect to earn around $27 per hour, while experienced copywriters can earn around $100 per hour.

Per Word Rates

Another way to set your rates is to charge per word. This can be a good option if you're experienced and can write quickly. According to Elna Cain, for a copywriter with over seven years of experience, the rate for 2023 is between $.50-$.80/word with a max of 2,000 words. However, keep in mind that this rate can change over time as you gain more experience and pick up more clients.

Project Based Rates

Another option is to charge a flat fee for a project. This can be a good option if you're working on a larger project that will take several weeks or months to complete. When setting your project-based rates, make sure to take into account the amount of time you'll spend on the project, as well as any additional expenses you may incur.

Copywriting Royalties

Finally, some copywriters may choose to charge royalties for their work. This means that you'll receive a percentage of the sales generated by your copy. This can be a good option if you're working on a project that has the potential to generate a lot of sales, such as a sales page or product launch.

When setting your rates, it's important to take into account your experience, the amount of time you'll spend on a project, and any additional expenses you may incur. By setting your rates in a way that is fair to both you and your clients, you'll be able to build a successful freelance copywriting business.

 

Negotiating Your Copywriting Rates

Once you've determined your copywriting rate, it's time to negotiate with potential clients.

Negotiating your rates can be intimidating, but it's important to remember that you are providing a valuable service and deserve to be paid fairly for your work.

To negotiate your rates effectively, consider the following tips:

• Evaluate your skills and experience: Before negotiating your rates, take some time to evaluate your skills and experience. Consider your education, training, and past work experience to determine your worth as a copywriter.
• Research the market rates: It's important to research the current market rates for copywriting services in your niche. This will give you an idea of what other copywriters are charging and help you determine a fair rate for your services.
• Decide on your rate structure: There are several ways to structure your copywriting prices, including hourly, per-word, per-project, or retainer. Consider which structure works best for you and your clients.
• Communicate your rates effectively: When communicating your rates to potential clients, be clear and confident. Explain the value of your services and why you charge what you do.
• Negotiation techniques: Use negotiation techniques such as anchoring, framing, and bundling to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with your clients.
• Handle client objections: Be prepared to handle client objections, such as budget constraints or skepticism about your rates. Address these objections with confidence and professionalism.
• Raise your rates with existing clients: As you gain more experience and expertise, it's important to periodically raise your rates with existing clients. Communicate the reasons for the increase and the value you provide.

Remember, negotiating your rates is a normal part of the freelance copywriting process. By following these tips and being confident in your skills and worth, you can successfully negotiate fair rates with your clients.

 

How to Charge More For Your Copywriting

Everything mentioned above is meant to cover the basics of pricing your copywriting services.

However…

There really is NO limit to how much you can charge for your copywriting services.

Here are the most important tips to make as much money as possible with your copywriting...

7 Tips for Charging More For Your Copywriting Services:

1. Improve your copywriting skills

The better your writing skills, the more you can charge for your services. Always strive to improve your marketing, sales, lead gen and copywriting skills. The best ways to improve your skills are to WRITE, PRACTICE and LEARN daily. The day you stop improving is the day you die. To be paid like a king or queen, you gotta outwork your competition.

2. Specialize in a niche

It’s no secret, specialists are paid more than generalists. If you want to make 6-figures or more you MUST choose a copywriting niche. But not just any niche, you must choose a niche that is filled with thousands of potential clients who are ACTIVELY hiring freelance copywriters and who can pay top dollar for their services. I cover everything you need to know about choosing a copywriting niche here: The 10 Highest-Paying Copywriting Niches in 2023 (How to Pick the Best One for YOU)

3. Write faster

The faster you can write high-quality, money-oozing copy, the more you can earn. Because the more projects you submit, the more money you make. Simple math. Here’s the BEST way to write faster… Write more words each day than you currently are now. Plus, write within STRICT DEADLINES. I like to use Euguene Shwartz’s 33.33 method which I cover in full detail here (see bonus #4 – How to 10x Your Productivity)

4. Offer more services

What else can you sell to clients? Here’s a hint: Take a look at what they’re ALREADY BUYING. Like… consulting, content strategy, done-for-them services like setting up and running Google ads, etc. The key to making more money is on the back-end (I.E. selling more services to existing customers).

5. Improve your copywriting portfolio

A strong portfolio can help you command higher rates like a king. I show you how to create a successful portfolio in this ultimate guide. TIP: make your copywriting portfolio SUPER RELEVANT to your clients’ needs (only add niche examples, make your copy call out your target audience, add specific samples they’re currently hiring for, etc.)

6. Upsells

Another bullet-proof way to earn more money from freelance copywriting is to add a ho’ bunch of upsells to your main offers. For example, say you offer to write 5 emails for $1,000. You could throw in an additional email for half the normal price ($100). Or… a whole stack of emails at a ridiculously generous price. Or… you could add on an hour of consulting on top of your main service. The possibilities are endless and so is your earning potential when you add upsells.

7. Sell money at a discount

Probably the biggest mistake freelance copywriters make is they frame their offer as the mere words they’re writing for clients. HUGE MISTAKE. Instead, frame your offer as the VALUE you’re providing to your clients. My favorite way? Offer money at a discount. Here’s what I mean… say you write emails for real estate investing companies. You can frame your service like this “I guarantee my emails will make you DOUBLE your investment back in 30 days or I’ll refund you every cent.” When you can confidently get your clients a positive return on investment (ROIcop) you can charge ANY price you desire – as long it’s less than what you make your clients via products sold.

 

Conclusion

Wowzers!

That was a lot of information.

Take some time to digest it and then APPLY it to your own freelance copywriting business.

You now have everything you need to confidently set your own copywriting rates.

Use this guide as a reference but remember – there really is NO LIMIT to how much you can charge AS LONG AS the value you provide your clients is greater than your fees.

Want more tips to become a 6-figure copywriter?

Enter your email below and I'll send you the best tips I've got:

 

Back in 2020, I went all in with freelance copywriting.

Believe it or not…

I did NOT become a freelance copywriter because I enjoyed writing.

Nope.

I became a freelance copywriter because I realized that this profitable and RARE skill would allow me to live the ultimate freelancer dream life.

I could have total freedom and control over my work while making as much money as I desired… writing from anywhere in the world.

However:

This is only possible when you can provide your clients SUPREME value.

Once you can provide real value, the possibilities are endless for your freelance copywriting career.

Over the last 3 years, I’ve secured hundreds of paying clients, worked in dozens of different niches and have written copy for the most popular mediums (emails, ad copy, websites, landing pages, SEO blogs, etc.).

I’ve learned a lot during this time.

And I’m going to share my best tips & secrets with you to help YOU become a successful freelance copywriter in 2024.

In this post…

I’m going to cover what freelance copywriting is, what a day in the life of a freelance copywriter looks like, how much you can realistically earn, and hand you a step-by-step gameplan on how to become a successful freelance copywriter in the fastest amount of time possible – EVEN if you have ZERO copywriting experience.

 

What is Freelance Copywriting?

First, before you learn how to become a freelance copywriter…

It’s important to understand what COPYWRITING is.

Forget all the mumbo jumbo you’ve heard online.

Copywriting is simply salesmanship in print (or on the web).

Its salesmanship multiplied.

Because…

Instead of selling face-to-face, to only one person at a time…

You are selling to hundreds, thousands, even MILLIONS of people, all at once, through the words you write.

The ONLY goal of writing copy is to get results (either more leads or more sales).

And FREELANCE copywriting is simply writing copy for your own clients vs writing for one company, as their employee.

The only real difference with freelance copywriting, as opposed to working as an in-house copywriter or at an agency (9-5 type roles), is that you are your own boss.

Yes, as a freelance copywriter, you are a business owner.

Your success as a freelance copywriter has just as much to do with how well you market yourself, as the words you write for clients.

Because in order to write for clients, you must get them first.

This requires marketing AND sales skills.

However, there are many benefits to being a freelance copywriter…

Top 4 Reasons Why You Should Become a Freelance Copywriter

NUMBER #1: You can work from anywhere

The beach, Starbucks, from your couch wearing SpongeBob PJs.

It doesn’t matter.

You can write from ANYWHERE your heart desires.

NUMBER #2: You have TOTAL freedom over your work

You are your own boss.

You set your own hours.

You choose how many hours you want to work, WHO you want to work with, what kind of copy you want to write, etc.

Only entrepreneurship allows you this much freedom.

NUMBER #3: You can earn 7 figures or more

Unlike working for a company, there really is no limit to your earning potential.

The only limit is how many clients you can get and how much you can write in a day.

NUMBER #4: YOU can become a freelance copywriter TODAY

You don’t need a degree…

You don’t need “5 years of experience” just to get your foot in the door…

You don’t need to climb the corporate ladder…

The truth is…

Anyone can become a successful freelance copywriter… if they put in the work and constantly improve their marketing, sales and copywriting skills.

 

What Does a Freelance Copywriter Do?

So, what does a freelance copywriter actually do?

As a freelance copywriter…

Your daily tasks will include finding clients and writing for them.

That’s it.

When starting out…

You will focus more time on finding clients, than writing.

Then, once you have a steady stream of clients, you can spend the majority of your time writing about topics you enjoy, for brands you love.

 

How Much Does a Freelance Copywriter Make?

According to Zip Recruiter…

As of today (Nov 6, 2023), freelance copywriters earn around $45 per hour (or… around $90,000 per year).

However, going by the average copywriting rates you see online is FOOLISH.

It is VERY misleading.

Because as a freelance copywriter, it’s 100% up to you on how much (or how little) you make.

You can make $2,000,000 in one year… or… you can make less than $1,000.

You are a business owner. There is virtually no limit to how much you can earn. The only limit is your own marketing, salesmanship and copywriting skills.

If you get good at marketing yourself, selling your services and getting results for your clients, you can earn a FORTUNE.

Freelance copywriters can make WAAAAY more money than in-house or agency copywriters (working as an employee).

So, you shouldn’t 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 Should a Freelance Copywriter Charge?

How much you can charge as a freelance copywriter varies greatly depending on WHO you’re writing for.

For example…

If you choose a hot niche filled with companies looking to hire copywriters, you can charge $100 per hour (or more).

But, on the other toe, if you don’t have a niche or you choose a niche that doesn’t understand the value copywriters bring to the table, you won’t be able to charge much at all.

In the next section, I’ll cover how to find the perfect niche for you.

However:

When starting out with no clients, you should charge VERY LOW FEES.

When I started out, I did not choose a niche.

I went broad. And accepted any and every client I could get.

And I charged VERY LOW RATES per gig.

I did this because I wanted to get a shit ton of experience, in the shortest amount of time possible.

Why?

So I could build an impressive portfolio.

I knew that without a portfolio, with a bunch of copywriting samples & testimonials, I wouldn’t be able to get top-paying clients.

So…

If you’re just starting out and don’t have many clients (or zero), I’d recommend charging VERY LOW fees and going broad (not choosing a niche).

 

How to Become a Freelance Copywriter with NO Experience

Here are my 5 steps for becoming a successful freelance copywriter.

This is what I personally did and recommend you do too.

Use these 5 steps as a roadmap to breaking into freelance copywriting and growing a successful freelance copywriting business.

#1) Git Gud

The first step to becoming a kickass freelance copywriter is…

Learn how to write copy.

In order to make money as a copywriter, you need to provide your clients extreme value.

So…

Here’s how to learn copywriting extremely fast…

Read the top 5-10 books on direct response copywriting.

Strive to read 20-50 pages, each day.

As you read these books…

You also want to practice your copywriting skills.

I’ve written a very detailed blog post on how to practice copywriting – How to Practice Copywriting for Free (5 Exercises to Improve Your Skills TODAY)

However, here’s the gist of it…

Read, handwrite and study successful ads (I list which ads to study here.

Plus…

Turn features to benefits, by finding products on Amazon, pasting their features to an Excel document and adding your own benefits.

Plus…

Improve headlines you find online.

I like to improve headlines from online articles displayed on Firefox’s home page.

Like this:

Write 4 new headlines using the 4 U’s headline technique.

Write a headline that is:

Unique…

Ultra-specific…

Useful…

And Urgent.

Do this copy practice every day (along with reading 20ish pages per day)

This should all take you no longer than an hour.

If you do this each day, you will become a copywriting wizard in a few short months (this can be done in weeks if you don’t work full-time).

After a few months, you’ll be ready to provide REAL VALUE to potential clients via writing for them.

 

#2) Where to Find Copywriting Clients

I’ve created a detailed blog post covering my 10 favorite methods for getting freelance copywriting clients called... How to Get Copywriting Clients in 2023 With No Experience (Get New Clients TODAY)

You can read it here.

However, when starting out, the goal is to get rapid-fire experience.

You want to write for a wide variety of clients (in different industries) and, also, write for the most popular types of copy (emails, landing pages, blog posts, ads, etc).

Limiting yourself to a specific niche or a specific type of copy (when just starting out), will handicap you from getting clients fast and breaking into this field.

Beginners should strive to write a LOT of copy for paying clients, for a VARIETY of different industries & mediums.

The 2 fastest ways to get freelance copywriting clients (as quick as TODAY):

1. Post on Facebook

Simply create an offer and post it to your feed.

I got my first copywriting client doing this - within 24 hours.

It works extremely well and takes about 10 minutes to whip up.

Again, see my blog post for step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

2. Fiverr

Create a Fiverr account and post gigs.

This is another way to get clients within days.

I’ve gotten dozens of freelance clients from Fiverr within my first few months as a copywriter.

AFTER you’ve gotten a lot of experience writing for different industries and types of copy….

You should niche down.

Scratch that…

If you desire to earn “6-figures” or “10k per month” (or much more), then you MUST choose a freelance copywriting niche.

You will never earn much money by staying a generalist.

 

#3) Choose a Copywriting Niche

Once you’ve gotten experience and can demonstrate your expertise to potential clients, you’ll be ready to choose a copywriting niche.

I’ve written over 3,000 words on how to choose a copywriting niche, with step-by-step instructions, in this ultimate guide – The 10 Highest-Paying Copywriting Niches in 2023 (How to Pick the Best One for YOU).

I STRONGLY RECOMMEND reading this ENTIRE post BEFORE choosing a niche (or even if you already have a niche)…

Because I reveal the must-haves and secrets for maximizing your success as a freelance copywriter via the niche you choose.

Essentially…

You want to find a WEALTHY niche that you are passionate about writing for (filled with thousands of potential clients who understand the importance of copywriting, are actively hiring freelance copywriters and have unlimited money to spend).

Here are the top 10 freelance copywriting niches in 2023:

1. Health and Fitness
2. Finance
3. Tech
4. Ecommerce
5. Real Estate
6. Travel
7. Pet
8. Self Improvement
9. Academic Education
10. Fashion and beauty

And…

Here are the top 5 copywriting services to specialize in:

1. Email copywriter
2. Website copywriter
3. SEO copywriter
4. Direct response advertising copywriter
5. Landing page copywriter

After you choose your niche, you MUST do something FIRST before getting clients within your new niche.

You must…

 

#4) Create a Copywriting Portfolio

After you gotten a bunch of samples and testimonials, you’ll want to create a copywriting portfolio.

Believe it or not…

There’s a way to create a copywriting portfolio that impresses clients – 100% FREE – in 10 minutes or less.

This is the same way that I created my portfolio (I still use this exact same portfolio - 4 years later).

This method is perfect for beginner copywriters because you don’t need to pay a dime, it takes 10 minutes to create and you don’t have to have any tech or design skills.

Once you’re ready to create a freelance copywriting portfolio, follow this step-by-step crash course here.

 

#5) How to Get Freelance Copywriting Clients

After you’ve picked a copywriting niche and have created your copywriting portfolio, now the real fun begins…

I recommend freelance copywriters to start with prospecting.

There’s really no way around this.

Especially when starting out.

The best ways to prospect are through networking, cold email outreach and LinkedIn outreach.

I cover these 3 ways to get freelance clients in great detail here.

Prospecting will get you clients ASAP – in as quick as 24 hours.

However…

Prospecting is tough work.

And there’s a limit to how many clients you can get because it requires time and energy.

If you aren’t reaching out to new clients frequently, you won’t be earning too much money.

However, there is a way to grow your freelance business WITHOUT prospecting.

There is a way to get new clients WHILE YOU SLEEP.

Which brings me to the last tip in this freelance copywriting crash course:

Content marketing

In the beginning…

You’ll need to pitch, apply and network to get copywriting clients.

It requires a lot of time and energy.

And you need to keep doing this until you get steady repeat business and referrals (which can take a while).

However, while you do this work to get immediate clients, you should also invest some time and energy into content marketing.

This can include:

• Blog posts
• YouTube channel
• Podcast
• Social media: Facebook, Insta, Twitter, TikTok

However, it takes a lot of time and effort and a long time to notice any results.

It is much more of a long-term strategy to gain clients.

But once you do build momentum, it builds and builds and builds upon itself

You can get so many clients over time that you’ll never need to cold outreach again and you’ll even need to reject a lot of requests because you’ve got so much work.

 

Conclusion

You now have everything you need to start your freelance copywriting business.

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