How to Succeed as a Freelance Copywriter

If you want to succeed as a freelance copywriter, you have to start with a plan. It doesn’t have to be a complex plan, at first – just a plan.

Study your craft, which is a combination of persuasive writing and salesmanship. After you have made a study of advertising copywriting, looking at the work of Gary Halbert, Claude Hopkins and David Ogilvy, your next problem is how to get clients. This is the biggest problem that you will be confronted with as a freelance writer.

This is where the plan comes in.

Decide How Much Money You Want to Make and Plan Accordingly

Most people get started freelance copywriting because they need to make money, not because they need a new hobby. So, decide how much money you need to make from your freelance writing. Consider your annual budget. How much money do you need each month to keep a roof over your head, feed yourself and your family, pay the utilities and other expenses like insurance? Write that down.

Then, decide how much you’d like to make, realistically. Write that down.

Divide the amount you need per year into a goal amount for each month and each week. This will make up part of your guideline when you’re deciding how much to charge your clients.

With freelance copywriting, to some extent, you’re worth what you say you’re worth.

A good freelance copywriter usually specializes. So, decide what your specialty or specialties will be. In my case, I began freelance writing on alternative health subjects, so I tend to do copywriting on those same subjects.

But, there are more lucrative industries. Sometimes you’ll luck into this when a client calls you and asks you if you can do copy for a particular niche. But, it’s better not to leave this important choice to chance. You should choose a market that is healthy and full of big spenders and research it thoroughly.

When your client is making more money, he or she can more easily afford to pay you. It is tough to deal with clients who are in failing or stagnant businesses. And, frankly, there are lots of those right now. So, choose your niche wisely.

Also, look for sub-niches within a niche. For example, I’m a freelance copywriter for alternative health, but I specialize in writing on colloidal silver. Colloidal silver is an example of a sub-niche.

As you get more experience in a niche, you will feel more confident and increasingly able to charge more for your work. Always try to get testimonials from happy customers.

Once you’ve decide on your niche and who your target market will be, decide what kind of copywriting services you’re going to sell them.

Get a web site at which to display your work.

Be persistent.

Spend a certain amount of time each week or each day finding new clients.

Court referrals.

Freelance copywriting isn’t necessarily easy, but it is feasible to make good money at it pretty quickly. It is easier to make good money and actually support yourself with this kind of writing than any other kind of online freelance writing I know of.

The web has made freelance copywriting a lucrative possibility for you regardless of where you live or what your personal circumstances are. It’s also great for parents who must stay at home with children or those who have a disability.

You can really hit the ground running with it with the book, “Writer’s Fast Track to Freelance Copywriting.” The best feature of this book is it shows you how to get the best copywriting clients and get them fast. If you’re a writer or have some sales background and need to get started making money as a writer fast, then this is a good opportunity for you.