| |
| |
|
WebsiteAlways |
|
Can Anyone Succeed as a Freelance Copywriter?
This is a question that can be answered in a lot of different ways. But let's start with a perfectly simple and honest answer. No. No, in spite of what you might hear or read elsewhere, not everyone can succeed as a copywriter, freelance or otherwise. If someone tells you different, they are not telling you the whole truth. If someone says, "If I did it, anyone can..." that is a tried and tested half-truth that should make you cautious. You want the truth? If you want to succeed as a freelance copywriter, you need four elements in place. >> 1. You need some writing skills You don't need a degree in writing. You don't even need to have done that well in writing at school. I got my lowest exam grades in English language at high school. (This probably explains my occasional grammatical howlers and frequent spelling mistakes.) But you do need some kind of 'way with words'. You need to be able to express your thoughts and ideas. You need to be able to paint pictures with language. And you need to enjoy writing. While you don't need any formal writing training, you do need to be able to write simply, clearly and with a little life and energy. >> 2. You need some 'commercial empathy' You need to like the world of business. That is to say, you need to understand what makes business work. You have to understand what your clients are trying to achieve, and you must want them to succeed. If you think business is dumb, or all business people are somehow dishonest, you'll never make it as a copywriter. It is best if you are fascinated by business and marketing. Myself, I am a huge fan of small business. Most of my income comes from larger companies, but I love to watch and study smaller companies. I love their inventiveness and the courage of the people who start them. >> 3. You need the ability to market yourself As a freelancer you are isolated. Nobody knows who you are, where you are or what you do. One way or another, you need to get the word out. Some freelance copywriters are blessed with the ability to pick up the phone and cold-call for new business. Lucky them. For myself and countless others, self-promotion is a painful, arduous business. But you have to do it. I promote my services my writing numerous articles, promoting my book, Net Words, and appearing on stage to speak about copywriting. Other freelancers find different ways to get themselves known and to promote their particular skills. For the unlucky few, who struggle but fail to find any way in which to market their services, they look for other work. If you want to succeed as a freelance copywriter, you have to marketing yourself. >> 4. You need perseverance You need the first three qualities in this list. But without this fourth one, all will be lost. The life of a freelancer is paved with a thousand small failures. We try a particular way to get some more work. It doesn't work. We try to get more work from a favorite client. Nothing doing. We try to get some articles published in an industry magazine. Refused. We have a very cool idea concerning a project with a local entrepreneur. He or she says no. We spend hours and days on a promotional idea which could potentially double our income or more. It falls flat. And so it goes. For myself, I probably try ten to twenty ideas that fail until I hit on one that works well. Does that mean I'm slow, or not very smart? No, I think it means I know how to persevere. And what do twenty small failures really cost me, if the twenty-first idea makes me thousands of extra dollars? The cost is counted only in bruises to one's ego and self esteem. In that sense, being a successful freelancer is a little like being a boxer. If you can't take the hits, don't get into the ring. >> Concluding thoughts If you have some writing skills, love business, are able to market yourself and can take a few slaps to the ego, you can succeed as a freelance copywriter. Is it worth the struggle? I think so. I think it's a wonderful way to make a living. There will always be work for freelance copywriters. And nobody can ever fire you. You'll be your own boss - master or mistress of your own triumphs and disasters. Nick Usborne is a copywriter, author and speaker. You'll find more articles and resources on how to make money as a freelance writer at http://www.FreelanceWritingSuccess.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Copywriting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
16 Golden Rules of Master Copywriting You could spend thousands of dollars on advertisement and have extremely low or no results in sales because of your poor planed copy. You shouldn't be amazed by the fact that huge corporations all over the world do that mistake and waste millions of dollars on false advertisement campaigns. Super Verbs Really Move Your Copy Run or hustle? Eat or devour? Move or scurry? You can boost the power of your copy by boosting the quality of verbs you use. Verbs show action, and the way you describe that action can have a dramatic bearing on your readers. Health and Fitness: A Huge Industry in Need of Writers Think about how much you read about and spend on health and fitness.Do you ever exercise? Take supplements? Go on a diet? Visit the doctor sometimes? Most of us do all four. Is Your Web Copy Plain Talk? It's true, we were all taught in school to express ourselves differently on paper, than the way we speak. To follow rules of grammar, and inject an artificial air of formality. 11 Ways to Get an Editors Attention I worked as a business magazine editor for about 20 years. During that time, thousands of news stories and press releases crossed my desk. Long Copy versus Short Copy When I show some people my advertisements, I sometimes get the feedback: "I'd never read that. There's too much writing. The Lost Art Of Fundamental Copywriting What ever happened to good old fashion, fundamental copywriting? Has anyone seen AIDA? I mean, before you can run, you first have to learn how to walk, right? Yet, I see it over and over again. Marketers who can't even write a simple headline are trying to "hypnotize" readers with "psychological copywriting," because that's what a few of today's copywriting experts are telling them they should do!I'll let you in on a little secret. "Super Adjectives" Boost the Power of Your Copy Pretty or elegant? Good or scrumptious? Nice or delightful? There is power in the adjectives you choose. Just like Clark Kent and Superman or Bruce Wayne and Batman, some adjectives are plain, ordinary, everyday words. How To Really Connect With Your Customer In Your Copywriting One of the least talked-about areas in copywriting education is voice. This is probably because it's tough to set general rules for something that's so personal to each of us. Ad Copy - Your 12 Point Inspection! You're ready to launch that new product or promotion, & you're really counting on a piece of advertising copy to come through for you.You're looking for stellar results! And, you're determined to do everything in your power to get them. Copywriting Businesses - How You Can Get Started Do you have the training and skills needed for copywriting?Are you looking for a way to get your foot in the door?Will you have what it takes to succeed with your copywriting businesses?For many, these three questions drive them day in and day out to become the person that people demand time with. Still for others, the business aspects of copywriting have just been easy to get. Copywriter Trick Unveiled: How to Write Better Copy Faster "Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book. How To Find A Copywriting School Have you heard the good things about the field of copywriting? If you have, then you know that a qualified copywriter is an invaluable asset to those looking for them. Becoming this asset means going to a copywriting school. Subtle Emotion - The Key To Copy That Works Say the word "emotion" to a man, and he'll immediately jump out of his seat and run from the room! Utter the word "emotion" to a woman, and she begins to conjure up thoughts of romantic, long talks centered around feelings. However, speak the word "emotion" to a copywriter and s/he should see dollar signs. The Biggest Mistake Copywriters Make Most of the sales pieces people ask me to rewrite seem to offer great products and services. In fact, some of their offers are so good, prospects would be crazy to turn them down. Writing Great Website Sales Copy Many small businesses fail because their owners don't pay enough attention to marketing and sales. Part of the effectiveness of a marketing effort is directly related to the sales copy you produce. Writing Tips for Your Website Now that your website is up and running, it's time to add content. Fresh content will make your site interesting and keep people (and search engine crawlers) coming back. Why Is FREE The Most Powerful Marketing Word You Can Use? As the famous cowboy Will Rogers once said, "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there".So what does that have to do with "FREE"? Quite a lot really. The Number One Copywriting Technique That Makes Your Prospects Read Every Word You Write How does this sound?Today, I'm going to show you how to get a fifteen page sales letter read from beginning to end and keep your prospect magnetized to *every* paragraph along the way. Impossible?The real magic behind these magnetic sales letters is not some mystical skill or secret formula but rather a simple copywriting concept that has been around longer than most of us have been alive. How You Can Find Freelance Copy Editing Jobs Even for those with the skills needed, finding copy editing jobs can seem next to impossible. The simple fact of the matter is, though, that through quality and building relationships, these jobs can be found and employment can lead to a career in the field.
|
| Interesting articles | Home | site map | Link |
| © 2006 |
