Nobody warns you how damn lonely it feels to work your ass off on a cold pitch… just to get ghosted.

Or how you can spend weeks obsessing over your portfolio and still feel like it’s not “good enough” to land a real client.

Or worse... land one, get paid peanuts, and wonder if this whole freelance copywriting thing was a mistake.

I’ve been there.

I started out thinking all I needed was solid copy skills and some hustle. I figured once I knew how to write a killer email or sales page, the money would follow. I was wrong.

It took me way too long to realize that freelance copywriting isn’t just about writing. You need to know how to run your business. Sell yourself. Handle rejection. Build momentum. Set boundaries. And keep showing up—even when things feel slow, awkward, or uncomfortable.

So if you're somewhere in the messy middle—writing decent copy, but struggling to land clients, raise your rates, or get any damn traction—this post is for you.

These are the lessons that would've saved me months of frustration, second-guessing, and spinning my wheels. I’m giving them to you straight—so you can skip the confusion and start building a real freelance copywriting business that actually works.

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When I first got into freelance copywriting, I thought the hard part was learning how to write.

I was obsessing over headline formulas, CTA placement, email sequences, swipe files, you name it. But none of that mattered when I had no clients to write for. The real problem? I was thinking like a writer—not like a business owner.

I treated every project like a one-off gig. I didn’t follow up with leads. I didn’t track income. I didn’t market myself. And I sure as hell didn’t think about my freelance writing business like a real business with systems, goals, or a strategy.

Then one day, it clicked: If I wanted to make real money, I couldn’t just “get hired”—I had to build something. That shift changed everything.

If you want to grow a freelance copywriting career that’s stable, profitable, and in your control—you need to treat it like a business from day one. That means:

• Setting up a simple system to track leads, pitches, and income

• Creating a plan for finding clients consistently

• Treating every client interaction like the start of a long-term relationship

• Positioning yourself like a problem-solver, not just a “writer for hire”

This mindset shift is the foundation. Everything else—your marketing, your confidence, your rates—builds on this.

Mini-action tip: Stop calling yourself “just a freelancer” or “a writer.” Start saying: “I run a freelance copywriting business.” Say it out loud. Then act like it.

Back when I first started out, I thought credibility came from logos and certificates. I proudly listed every course I’d taken. AWAI, CopyHour, you name it. I figured the more proof I had that I’d “learned the craft,” the more clients would trust me.

I was wrong. Not once has a client ever said, “Wow, you took that course? You’re hired.”

What they do care about is simple:

Can you help them get more leads, sales, or revenue?

Everything else is noise.

This is one of the biggest copywriting mistakes I see with newer freelancers. They lean on credentials instead of outcomes. They lead with education instead of value. But clients don’t care how much you know—they care what you can do for them.

When I shifted my positioning from “Here’s what I’ve studied” to “Here’s how I can help you make money,” I started attracting better clients—fast. It wasn’t about being an “expert.” It was about solving expensive problems.

If you're serious about your copywriting career, stop worrying about whether you’re qualified enough. Start focusing on how to communicate the value you bring to the table.

Mini-action tip: Review your pitch or website. Are you selling credentials—or outcomes? Rewrite at least one section to focus on specific results you help clients achieve.

Early on in my freelance copywriting journey, I’d spend hours organizing swipe files, tweaking my website, or watching copy breakdowns on YouTube. I told myself I was working on my business.

But the truth? I was hiding.

I wasn’t pitching. I wasn’t talking to potential clients. I wasn’t putting myself in situations where I could get rejected—or paid.

This is one of the most dangerous copywriting mistakes out there. You stay busy so you can feel like you’re making progress, but deep down, you know you’re avoiding the stuff that actually moves the needle.

Real talk: Learning more isn’t the answer. Fixing your “About” page for the 12th time won’t land you a client. The only way to grow your freelance writing business is to consistently do the hard, uncomfortable stuff that leads to income.

That means outreach. Follow-ups. Getting on calls. Making offers. Asking for referrals. Following up again.

Mini-action tip: For the next 5 days, set a timer and spend the first 60 minutes of your workday on revenue-generating actions only. No design. No research rabbit holes. Just outreach, follow-ups, or working on paid client work. Track what changes.

I used to think I wasn’t landing clients because I wasn’t “good enough” yet.

So I kept reading books. Rewriting headlines. Taking notes on sales pages. Studying how Gary Halbert opened his letters. I convinced myself I just needed to get a little better before I could charge more or pitch that client I really wanted.

But here’s the truth:

Your lack of clients probably has nothing to do with your skill—and everything to do with how you're showing up.

I’ve seen copywriters with half your experience pull in $5K/month. Why? Because they believe they can. They act like a pro, even if they don’t feel like one yet. They show up, make offers, follow up, and confidently pitch their value—even if it’s still a little messy.

This is a key piece of freelance copywriting advice for struggling writers: If you keep waiting until you feel “ready,” you’ll be waiting forever. Confidence doesn’t come before action—it comes from action.

When you start treating your copywriting skills like they’re worth real money… others will too.

Mini-action tip: Write a list of 3 projects you’ve already done (even spec work or for friends) and list the value each one delivered. Then use those results in your next pitch or website update. You have more to offer than you think.