If you want to discover how to become a copywriter, keep reading.
Today, you are going to discover how you can become a copywriter with no experience and earn thousands of dollars monthly.
But first,
You should understand that being a copywriter is friggin’ awesome.
You make good money while helping other people (business owners mostly,) increase their sales and profits.
And the best part is;
You don’t need a formal education to get into this business.
All you have to do is read some books that will show you how to write damn good copy that will make customers want to give you their money.
This means that learning copywriting can be an awesome side hustle if you already have a 9-5 job.
And as soon as copywriting starts bringing in the cash your job brings in, you can quit your job if you want to.
But I tell you,
When you realize that you can make 10X what you make at your job with copywriting, you will have no problem quitting your job to go full-time into copywriting.
Check out the rates that copywriters charge compiled by Growthlab.
A new copywriter can make $400 from just one sales page.
Note
There are different types of copywriting, but as you may already know by now, this website deals with the type of copywriting that persuades customers to make a purchase.
It’s called Direct Response Copywriting.
What a direct response copywriter writes is called a sales page. They also compose emails, Ad copy, and lead magnets.
Whatever type of copy you want, you choose.
It’s completely your choice.
I focus on direct-response copywriting.
That is not to say that sometimes I don’t get jobs writing blog posts and others, but my focus has always been direct response.
Why is that?
With direct response copywriting, since the company uses your sales copy to make sales, you can charge on percentage.
And if your copy is good, there’s no limit to the amount of money you can earn…
As long as the company keeps using your sales copy to make money, you also make money.
Neat, right?
Who is a copywriter?
A copywriter is someone who is paid to write words used by companies in marketing their products or services. These include things like:
- Sales pages
- Email funnels
- Landing pages
- Blog posts/articles
- Social media posts
- White papers
- Case studies
Copywriters are not just writers, despite the name, they are also salespeople and behavioral psychologists all rolled into one.
To be good at copywriting, you need to understand how to use all these elements when writing copy.
Two simple paths to getting started as a copywriter:
- Freelance: This means working as a freelance copywriter and being your own boss
- In-house: Working for a company or a good digital marketing agency
Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
In-House Copywriting: Pros
- You get a stable income
- If you work under an experienced copywriter, you get a mentor
- You will work for big brands and contracts
- Hone skills for copywriting more quickly since you have consistent work and mentorship
In-House Copywriting: Cons
- You get paid the same even if your work makes millions (Remember, I mentioned earlier that there is no limit to how much you can make if your copy is really good. With in-house, there’s a limit!)
- Have to deal with office life (commute, traffic, Steve from accounting who steals your lunch every day, etc)
- Might have to write for brands and projects you’re not passionate about
- Have to work a LOT. This means stress and late nights at the agency to complete deadlines
Freelance copywriting: Pros
- You are your own boss
- You choose your own hours, projects, and rates.
- Hustle on the side. You don’t have to quit your 9-5
- Work from home — which means you won’t have to worry about commuting to and from work.
How to become a copywriter
You can learn how to write better through experience. This is so that you may be great at it if you are just starting out.
The great thing is that the more you write copy, the better you will become.
So, there are four major steps to becoming a freelance copywriter:
- Define your niche
- Find your client
- Know what to charge
- Scale
Let’s begin!
Step 1: Define your niche
Before you begin searching for clients, before you even start writing anything, you should first define your niche.
This is the specific audience you want to target as a copywriter.
It may seem like you are limiting yourself to just a segment of the audience.
But you should know that the more you niche down, the more business you get.
I know, it’s a paradox.
But look at it this way, which one of these copywriters would you hire? (Let’s imagine you are a middle-aged family man)
- The copywriter who makes anyone earn more money, or
- The copywriter who makes middle-aged family men earn more money
It’s the second one.
Why?
Because he is targeted at your very person.
Then think about what type of copy you want to write – there are lots of them;
- Emails / Sales funnels
- Social media / Community management
- Search engine optimization (SEO)
- Blog posts / Articles
- Video / Podcast scripts
There’s no right answer here. Pick one and stick to it.
Next, niche down to your target market.
- What industry do you want to write for?
You have to be able to answer these questions to be able to attract the best clients and command more fees.
Step 2: Find your client
Finding clients can be a little intimidating, especially if you are a new copywriter.
Fortunately, as soon as you find your first few clients, the process becomes easier and less intimidating. (Mostly because they are likely to refer you to their network)
There are many ways to find clients. And different platforms make finding clients a little bit easier. (Not that you will find high-quality clients there).
Some of these platforms are; Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc.
And it is simple to get started with these websites.
There are other ways of getting your first few clients. (That’s a discussion for another post)
Step 3: Know what to charge
This is where most freelance copywriters trip up. I know I did when I got started.
For my very first client, after she asked what my rate was, I had to send an email to a mentor at the time to give me a quote.
But you don’t have to do what I did.
You shouldn’t worry too much about money when starting out. (I know, ironic.)
You can even do it for free… STRATEGICALLY!
When my first client asked for my portfolio and since I was new, I had none, I told her that I could write for her FREE, and if she liked it, then she could pay me.
She loved it!
And, I got paid!
Here are some good examples of when it’s okay to work for free:
- You’re building a portfolio of work you can show to future paying clients
- You want to build connections with businesses you admire
- The person you want to work for is well-connected. And if you do a good job, they’ll connect you with other people
- You already have a full-time job so you can afford to trade time for experience
These are things I did when I was starting out and you can and should also.
But eventually, you will start charging money.
You can use the method I used, by letting them know they can only pay you if they liked the copy or, in the case of a direct response freelancer like me, if the copy converts.
Here are four pricing models you can choose from:
Hourly: You set your hourly rate and the client pays you per hour.
By project: You set how much you charge per project. The amount you charge will vary depending on the type of project.
By retainer: This is a pricing method whereby the client pays you a monthly fee (just like a salary) and they can get access to your service whenever they want.
This is a good pricing model because you are guaranteed a certain amount for the duration of your contract. (Yes, since it’s a company, you’ll have to sign a contract with them).
Commission/Bonus: This model can work in addition to the other ones and can provide a healthy incentive for you to get your work done. For instance, you get a percentage of the profits your copy earns for the company. Also, after you get X number of leads, you get a bonus.
You can use the chart below to find out how much you can charge per hour or per project.
This is just to encourage you to about copywriting.
When you become an experienced copywriter, you can charge tooth and nail for your services and people will be willing to pay you.
Step 4: Scale
This means growing your copywriting business to get more clients and command more fees.
And the best way to do this is through referrals. these are potential clients you get through your current clients.
This method is valuable for three reasons:
- You can raise your prices when you get a referral. The client who referred you has automatically added value to your work by recommending you. That means you can charge more for your work.
- You get better clients. When you charge more, you’ll start attracting high-quality clients who can afford you. They’re also much less likely to waste your time if you’re being paid top dollar. It’s a win all around.
- You can more than double your income. This is a HUGE win.
You can use this script to ask for a referral from your current clients.
CLIENT’S NAME,
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed my work. If you know of anyone else who’s looking for my services as well, I’d be grateful if you passed my contact information along to them.
Thank you,
YOUR NAME
It’s simple, direct, and gets results.
And over time, you’ll start getting so many referrals you’ll have to deny some prospective clients — which is an awesome problem to have.
How to become a copywriter with zero experience.
If you want to become a copywriter and land your first client… even if you have zero experience, click here.