Do you want to start a freelance copywriting business but don’t know how to get started? Beeeeeeen there. I’ve learned a lot over these past eight or so years as a freelance copywriter, and now I want to share some of those lessons with you.
How to Start as a Freelance Copywriter
In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the basic steps necessary to start your own freelance copywriting business. I’ll share tips on how to find clients, set your rates, and more! So read on and get started as a freelance copywriter today.
Determine your niche
One of the most important things you need to do when starting any business is to figure out your niche. What kind of copywriting do you want to specialize in? There are so many different types of copywriting, from web copy to email marketing to sales letters. Once you know what area you want to focus on, you can start honing your skills and becoming an expert in that field.
For me, as an SEO copywriting, that meant learning as much as I could about SEO. Otherwise, I couldn’t rightly market myself as an SEO copywriter. From there, I sought out clients who were specifically looking for SEO copywriting. I’ve been lucky in the sense I haven’t had to narrow down my niche to a specific industry, but there’s no harm in doing that if you want to!
Decide what type of clients you want to work with
It’s also important to decide what type of clients you want to work with. Do you want to work with small businesses or large corporations? Local companies or international ones? Once you know who your ideal client is, it will be much easier to find them and land those gigs.
Set your freelance writing rates
Next, it’s time to start setting your rates. This can be a tricky task, especially when you’re just starting out. You don’t want to charge too much and scare away potential clients, but you also don’t want to undervalue your services and end up working for peanuts.
A good rule of thumb is to start by looking at what other freelance copywriters in your area are charging for similar services. Use that as a starting point, and then adjust your rates based on your experience and the type of work you’ll be doing.
Remember you can always negotiate rates with clients. (I once heard someone say if your clients aren’t challenging you on your rates, you’re pricing them too low!) So, if they come back with a lower offer than what you were hoping for, try to counter with a rate that’s fair for both parties.
When you’re first starting out, it can be helpful to take on almost any offer, just so you can get the experience you need to grow your business. Then, over time, you can get pickier about the clients you work with.
Tip: If a client isn’t able to pay the rate you offer but you know it will be good experience, consider asking them for a review you can share on your website or the ability to add the content you create for them to your portfolio.
Find freelance writing clients
Now it’s time to start marketing yourself and finding clients.
There are a number of ways you can go about this. You can start by creating a website or blog and writing some great content that will show off your skills. Be sure to include a portfolio page with samples of your work.
You can also join freelance job boards and bid on projects that interest you. This is where I initially got most of my clients (on Upwork). But now that I’ve been at it for several years, most of them come from word-of-mouth.
(Take a look at this post next for more tips on how to find copywriting jobs)
Another option is to attend local networking events and meet potential clients in person…but this has been tougher over the past few years. Alternatively, you can visit websites of local businesses and make note of any that don’t have blogs on their site. Then, put together a proposal for your copywriting services, how they can help, and why they should hire you.
Whatever marketing strategy you choose, make sure you’re putting yourself out there and making it easy for clients to find you.
Become a Freelance Copywriter Today
So there you have it! These are just a few tips to get you started as a freelance copywriter. Remember to niche down, set your rates, market yourself, and land those dream clients! Good luck!
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