Working remotely as a copywriter comes with a lot of perks: the freedom to create your own schedule, the potential to earn a great living, and the ability to work from anywhere in the world. And let’s not forget the biggest perk of all: never having to deal with rush hour traffic or awkward elevator small talk ever again.
But as enticing as it all sounds, becoming a successful remote copywriter takes more than just a laptop and a strong WiFi signal. It takes dedication, creativity, and a willingness to constantly learn and adapt to the ever-evolving industry.
In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of becoming a successful copywriter, from developing your skills to finding copywriting clients.
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Get a Grasp of Copywriting Fundamentals
Copywriting is a lot like cooking a gourmet meal — without the right ingredients, your final product will fall flat.
In copywriting, understanding your audience, crafting a compelling headline, and using persuasive language are the essential ingredients you need to make your writing shine. These ingredients act as the seasoning, elevating your writing and capturing your reader’s attention.
If you lack these fundamental skills, your writing will be dull and uninspiring, like a tasteless dish
Just as a novice cook wouldn’t call themselves a chef without knowing how to select quality ingredients, preparing them properly, and understanding flavor combinations, a beginner copywriter shouldn’t expect to produce excellent content without learning the essentials first.
By mastering the fundamentals, you can start writing copy that you can charge for and be proud of. Here’s how you can do so:
Read books and blogs written by top copywriters in your niche – Look for books and blogs by copywriters who specialize in your niche, and study their writing style and techniques. Learn about the structure of sales copy, how to write effective headlines, how to appeal to your target audience, and other important copywriting concepts. Read books like “The Adweek Copywriting Handbook” by Joseph Sugarman or “Copywriting Secrets” by Jim Edwards to learn about the basics of copywriting. Follow copywriting blogs like Copyblogger or Copyhackers to learn about the latest copywriting trends and techniques.
Join online copywriting communities – Join online communities like Reddit’s r/copywriting or Facebook groups for copywriters. Engage with other professional copywriters, ask questions, and share your work to get feedback.
Take an online course – There are many online courses that teach copywriting skills, including courses from established copywriters and universities. These courses can help you gain practical skills and build your copywriting portfolio. Udemy offers a wide range of copywriting courses taught by experienced copywriters, including courses on writing sales copy, email marketing, and SEO copywriting.
Write every day – Set a goal to write for 15-30 minutes every day, even if it’s just a few lines of copy. Use writing prompts or exercises to help you generate ideas and practice writing. This will help you hone your writing skills and develop your own unique writing style.
Get feedback on your work – Seek feedback from other copywriters or mentors who can help you identify areas for improvement and provide guidance on how to strengthen your copy.
Once you have a basic understanding of the fundamentals and know how to create copy that drives value for your clients, you can move on to the next section. You don’t have to wait until you’re a “perfect” copywriter to start earning a living from your copywriting business.
As you gain more experience and work with a variety of higher paying clients, you’ll naturally refine your skills and develop your own style and approach.
Choose a Copywriting Niche
A copywriting niche is a specific area of expertise or focus within the field of copywriting. It refers to specializing in writing copy for a particular industry, market segment, or type of product/service.
For example, a copywriting niche might be direct response copywriting for e-commerce websites, writing product descriptions for beauty products, or writing video scripts for non-profit organizations.
Selecting a copywriting niche offers several benefits, including:
Allows you to develop specialized knowledge and expertise in a specific industry, which helps you produce high-quality copy that resonates with your client’s target audience.
You can charge higher rates because clients are willing to pay a premium for writers who have in-depth knowledge.
Helps you differentiate yourself from generalist copywriters who may not have the same level of niche expertise.
Allows you to write more efficiently because you’re familiar with the industry, meaning you can produce copy faster and with higher accuracy.
You can develop long-term relationships with clients in your niche who see you as a valuable resource and come back to you for future projects.
Helps you network with other successful copywriters in your industry. This can lead to new clients and writing job opportunities.
Think about what you’re passionate about. What topics excite you? What industries do you have experience in? It’s much easier to write compelling copy when you’re genuinely interested in the subject matter.
Next, consider your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. What kind of writing do you excel at? What areas do you need to improve?
Do you have a natural talent for persuasive writing, or are you more adept at informative writing? Play to your strengths and use them to your advantage.
Once you’ve narrowed down your interests and strengths, research potential niches within those areas. Look at what kinds of companies are in those niches and what their copywriting needs might be.
For example, if you’re interested in the health and wellness industry, you might want to focus on writing for supplement companies or health blogs.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment and try out different niches. It’s perfectly normal to start in one area and then pivot to another as you discover what you enjoy writing about and what’s most in demand. The key is to keep an open mind and stay curious.
Create Engaging Copywriting Samples
Now that you’ve identified your area of expertise, it’s time to start building your portfolio and getting some copywriting samples under your belt.
Here are three ways to do just that:
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Volunteer your services: If you’re just starting out, offering your copywriting services for free can be a great way to build your portfolio and get some valuable experience. Look for non-profit organizations or small businesses in your niche that could benefit from your skills, and offer to write copy for them in exchange for permission to use the work in your portfolio.
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Create spec work: Spec work is a type of work that you create on your own, without a client, to demonstrate your skills and abilities. This could be anything from writing a sales letter to creating a tagline for a product. While you may not get paid for spec work, it can be a great way to showcase your abilities and attract potential clients.
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Write guest posts: Guest posting is the process of writing articles for other websites or blogs in your niche in exchange for exposure and a backlink to your website. It’s a win-win situation for both parties: the website or blog gets high-quality content for their readers, while you get exposure and the opportunity to showcase your writing skills. When writing your guest post, focus on providing high-quality content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your niche. Use your writing skills to create a compelling headline, an attention-grabbing introduction, and clear and concise copy that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. Include a bio and a link back to your website or portfolio in your guest post.
While it’s important to have a strong portfolio as a copywriter, you don’t want to spend too much time doing unpaid work. In most cases, two or three high-quality samples are enough to showcase your writing skills and expertise in your niche.
Once you’ve created your samples, be sure to upload them on your website where potential clients can easily access and view them (more on that below.) You can also use them when reaching out to clients or applying for freelance copywriting jobs.
Build a Freelance Copywriter Website
A well-designed website can help you establish a professional online presence, increase your visibility, and make it easier for clients to find and hire you.
Here are some steps you can follow to set up your writing site:
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Choose a domain name: Your domain name should be easy to remember and relevant to your copywriting niche. You can buy a domain name for as little as $0.99 from GoDaddy or Namecheap.
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Select a web hosting service: Some popular options include Bluehost, SiteGround, and DreamHost. You can get hosting for as little as $2.75/month from Bluehost or $6.99/month from SiteGround.
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Design your website: You can use a website builder like Wix, Squarespace, or WordPress to create your website. Choose a template that is visually appealing and easy to navigate, and make sure your website is optimized for mobile devices.
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Write an About page: Your About page should introduce yourself to potential clients and explain why you’re passionate about copywriting. It’s also a good idea to include your contact information and links to your social media profiles.
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Include testimonials: If you have worked with clients before, ask them for testimonials that you can feature on your website. Testimonials are a powerful way to build trust with potential clients and demonstrate your credibility as a successful copywriter
Remember, the goal of your website is to showcase your skills and have an online presence. By focusing on the essentials when you build your own copywriting website, you can achieve these goals without breaking the bank.
As you start to gain more clients and establish your reputation, you may want to consider investing in a more advanced website that can help you attract clients through Search Engine Optimization (SEO), inbound marketing, and other strategies.
Find Potential Copywriting Clients
We recommend two ways of landing clients as a freelance copywriter:
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Pitching directly to them
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Using job boards/freelance marketplaces
Let’s look into each one below.
Cold Pitching Clients
Cold pitching is a direct way to reach potential copywriting clients who may not have known about your services otherwise.
By sending them a well-crafted cold email, you can introduce yourself and your services, showcase your relevant experience and skills, and provide a value proposition that can pique their interest.
Though not every prospect will respond, being proactive and reaching out can create opportunities and build relationships that can lead to ongoing work.
Over time, this can help you establish a steady stream of work, land your dream clients, and grow your own copywriting business.
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Identify potential clients: Use LinkedIn’s search bar to find companies that may need your copywriting services. Sift through social media posts to find relevant agencies or brands. Look for employees who may be decision-makers and connect with them. You can also search for groups related to your niche and connect with members. Make a list of their names, job titles, and email addresses. You can also use Crunchbase to find companies in your niche that have recently been funded; they’re more likely to hire freelance copywriters for their content needs.
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Find their email addresses: Once you have a list of potential clients, you can use tools like Hunter.io, VoilaNorbert, or Clearbit to find their email addresses. If you can’t find their email address, consider reaching out to them via LinkedIn or social media.
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Draft an email: Start your email by addressing the recipient by name and briefly introducing yourself. Mention the pain points of the advertising agency and how you can solve them with your copywriting services. Highlight your experience, education, and past successes to demonstrate your expertise. Finally, end the email with a clear call to action.
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Follow up: If you don’t receive a response within a week, follow up with a polite email or LinkedIn message.
The key to successful cold-pitching is to personalize your emails and demonstrate your value. Keep your emails short and to the point, and be persistent in following up with potential clients.
Using job boards to find freelance copywriting jobs
Job boards and freelance marketplaces offer a centralized platform for copywriters to access a large pool of potential clients and online writing jobs. They allow you to showcase their portfolio and experience as a freelance writer, making it easier for clients to evaluate their work.
The drawback, however, is that there’s high competition among copywriters using the boards, which makes it challenging to stand out and get noticed.
That said, here’s a step-by-step process for landing new copywriter jobs using job boards and freelance marketplaces:
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Sign up for reputable job boards and freelance marketplaces: Some popular options include Upwork, Freelancer, and ProBlogger Job Board.
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Create a strong profile that highlights your skills and experience. Make sure to include relevant keywords that potential clients may be searching for, as well as examples of your work.
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Set up job alerts based on your skills and preferences, so you can receive notifications for relevant job postings.
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Apply to relevant job postings. Take the time to read the job description thoroughly and tailor your application to the specific needs of the client. Highlight your relevant skills and experience, and provide examples of your work that showcase your abilities.
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If you haven’t heard back from a potential client after a few days, it’s okay to send a brief follow-up message to express your continued interest in the opportunity.
Final Thoughts: How to Become a Remote Copywriter
Remote copywriting offers a world of opportunities for those who are willing to put in the time and effort to succeed. With this handy blueprint, you can develop your skills, build your client base, and create a thriving freelance copywriting career that offers the freedom and flexibility you crave.