Writing compelling copy is just one piece of the puzzle for finding success as a freelance writer. To take your copywriting career to the next level, you’ll need to know how to find high-paying clients and effectively market your services.
After all, no matter how good your writing is, it won’t mean much if you don’t have a steady stream of clients to work with.
This guide provides actionable advice and tips for landing high-paying copywriting clients, so you can make the most of your writing skills and get paid what you’re worth. Let’s dive in.
How To Land High-Paying Clients For Your Copywriting Services
It’s a competitive market out there, but with the right strategies and tactics, you can position yourself as a top-tier copywriter and attract clients that will take your career to new heights. In this next section, we’ll explore proven tips and tricks for landing those premium clients and maximizing your earning potential as a copywriter.
Consider Guest posting
This is one of the most popular tactics for freelance copywriters — and it’s easy to see why.
Guest posting gives you a chance to establish your authority in a certain niche and attract more potential clients.
It also gives you the opportunity to get connected with industry leaders, who can be an invaluable source of referrals and new job opportunities.
Start by identifying the top publications in your niche. You can do so by analyzing the most shared content on social media platforms (e.g. Buzzsumo). Alternatively, you can key in phrases such as ‘Finance + write for us’ or ‘SaaS + Guest Post’ to find high-authority sites that are accepting guest pitches.
Once you’ve identified your target publications, make a list of the editors, their contact information, and topic ideas. This goes without saying, but your ideas need to be relevant to what the publications already cover.
For instance, if you’re pitching a personal finance blog, you can suggest topics such as “7 Tips for Achieving Financial Freedom Before Age 30” or “10 Investment Strategies Every Beginner Should Know.” You can also research the topics they previously covered and expand on them in your own unique way.
Next, craft a personalized pitch for each editor. The key is to demonstrate that you are a valuable addition to their publication with unique insights and interesting perspectives. Be sure to include the following in your email:
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Your relevant experience and background
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Similar publications you’ve written for
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A couple of story ideas
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How you can help the publication achieve its goals (e.g. increasing its web traffic)
Follow up and stay in touch with the editors. The more they see you around, the more likely they are to remember you when a new project opportunity comes up or whenever they need help with a content piece.
Once your post is live, don’t forget to promote it on social media and ask your contacts to do the same. Always add a link to your blog or portfolio in the bio section as well, so that readers can easily find out more about me and what I do.
If done right, guest posting can be an incredibly effective marketing tactic for freelance copywriters. So don’t be afraid to take the plunge and get your name out there.
Ask For Referrals
Referrals can help you establish credibility and trust with potential clients, which can ultimately lead to more high-paying copywriting projects. They can be especially powerful because they come from people who have no vested interest in the success of your freelance writing business and are therefore perceived as more trustworthy.
To put it simply, your existing clients and contacts can be an invaluable source of new leads. So how do you get more referrals? It’s quite simple — just ask.
Send a quick email to your contact list, letting them know of your current availability and the kind of projects you’re looking for. Be sure to include a link to your portfolio and any relevant background information that would help people get a better idea of what kind of copy you produce.
You can also ask your existing writing client for a review or a testimonial. Online reviews are one of the most valuable assets for any freelancer as they can serve as a powerful form of social proof.
For maximum efficiency, create a referral program that incentivizes people when they refer you to new businesses. You can offer discounts or freebies — anything to make them more likely to spread the word about your copywriting work and bring in new leads.
Also, don’t forget to thank your referrers when you get hired by a new copywriting client. This helps creates goodwill and encourages even more referrals in the future.
Network With Other Copywriters
Attend meetups and conferences in your local area, join online forums, or even start your own virtual writing group. By connecting with other writers, you can:
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Gain copywriting insights
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Discover new opportunities and resources
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Exchange advice
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Brainstorm ideas together
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Support each other in achieving success
You can even establish working relationships with other copywriters that could lead to collaborative projects or even referrals.
Join online groups, forums, and social media communities where freelance copywriters and clients interact. These platforms provide a space to connect with other professionals and showcase your skills. These online communities include:
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r/copywriting – A subreddit for copywriters to discuss industry news, share tips, and critique each other’s work.
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r/freelance– A subreddit for freelancers of all types, including copywriters, to discuss business, share tips, and connect with potential clients.
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r/forhire – A subreddit for freelance writers to post their copywriting services and find copywriting clients.
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The Cult of Copy – A Facebook group for copywriters to discuss their craft, share tips, and connect with prospective clients.
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The Freelance Writer’s Den — A community for writers created by Carol Tice. Members get access to a private forum, webinars, expert Q&A sessions, and a resource library. It’s a collaborative resource for building a freelance copywriting career and connecting with other writers.
These groups and forums can also provide invaluable feedback as you hone your copywriting skills. As a bonus, some of the communities even offer exclusive job postings for members, so they can help you land your first writing client.
By connecting with other copywriters, you can build valuable relationships that could lead to referrals or collaborative projects. Plus, most online communities are free to join—so why not take advantage of the opportunity?
Leverage LinkedIn/Create Content
Social media platforms, Medium, and other content-sharing platforms are great places to showcase your writing skills and get noticed by potential employers. LinkedIn, specifically, can be a goldmine for networking with employers. To thrive on LinkedIn, optimize your profile with keywords related to copywriting, join relevant groups, and start engaging in conversations. Share fresh takes on topics related to copywriting, your niche, or anything else related to the industry you’re interested in.
Quality is key when it comes to your content. People have short attention spans and won’t have time to read long-winded posts. Keep it short and sweet, but make sure you cover everything you need to in order to get your point across. Aim to post at least 3 high-quality LinkedIn posts each week to stay active on the platform; within a few months, you should start seeing results in the form of new job opportunities.
You can also take advantage of your blog or website you’ve built to showcase your knowledge, expertise, and writing skills. By regularly posting quality content on your blog/website, you can attract potential employers who may be interested in your copywriting services.
YouTube can also be a great place to showcase your skills. You can create video tutorials or explainer videos on copywriting and marketing, which will establish your expertise in the field.
Cold Pitch Clients
Inbound leads are great, but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands and actively seek out clients. A great way to do this is by cold pitching potential copywriting clients and introducing yourself in the process.
Cold pitching is simply the process of reaching out to clients or local businesses with offers of your freelance services. You can do this by either emailing a potential client or using LinkedIn.
Cold pitching is a numbers game. You need to cast a wide net and reach out to as many potential clients as possible.
To do this, use Crunchbase, Angel List, Y Combinator, and other relevant databases to find companies with the right kind of budget or startups that have recently received funding. Make a list of potential clients, their contact info, and the services they may need.
You can find the relevant contact person by looking up the company’s website and conducting a bit of research on LinkedIn. Their email address may be listed on their profile. If not, use an email finder tool such as Hunter.io or VoilaNorbert to help you track it down.
Crafting the perfect cold email is an art in itself. Include a brief introduction, the services you offer, why they need your help, and how you can help them. Your email should be helpful, professional, and detailed enough to catch their attention but short enough not to put them off.
Once you’ve sent the email, give it some time to get a response before following up. Wait at least three days before sending your first follow-up message and then send additional follow-ups after that if needed.
Apply On Job Boards
The competition on job boards can be stiff, but this is still one of the best ways to land high-paying copywriting clients. Many freelance writers make their living from job boards such as:
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BloggingPro: Posts job listings for writers and bloggers, including freelance, full-time, and part-time writing jobs.
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Contenta: Specializes in content marketing jobs such as copywriting, social media management, and content strategy.
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ProBlogger Job Board: Features job listings for bloggers, writers, and content creators across various niches, including freelance and full-time positions.
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Smart Blogger Jobs Board: Posts job listings for content creators across various industries.
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Mediabistro: Posts job listings for media professionals across various industries and offers resources for career development.
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FlexJobs: Specializes in remote and flexible job opportunities across various industries and job types, including part-time, freelance, and full-time remote positions for any local business.
Once you’ve found a job listing that interests you, read the job description thoroughly and make sure your qualifications match what they are looking for. If they mention keywords or topics that you’re not familiar with, make sure you do your research and understand them before applying.
Customize your application for every job. The same cut-and-paste reply won’t get you far. Craft a unique response that clearly demonstrates your qualifications and why you are the best candidate for the job.
Include a cover letter that explains why you are the perfect fit for the job and provide specific examples of work that you’ve done in the past. You can also include a portfolio of your best writing samples to show the employer what you’re capable of.
If you don’t have specific examples, you can offer to do a trial assignment to prove your worth. This could be anything from writing a sample article or creating copy for their website.
Again, follow up with the employer after sending your application and inquire if they have any questions or feedback. Most companies receive hundreds of applications, so following up is a great way to make sure your application stands out.
Final Thoughts: Where To Find High-Paying Copywriting Clients
Your copywriting career is yours to shape and create, and it’s up to you to put in the effort required to be successful. With a combination of job-hunting and self-promotion, you can get copywriting clients who value your work, and you can start making a comfortable living doing something you love.
The key to success is to remain persistent and focused, even when the going gets tough. Stay confident in your abilities, network with employers and peers, and don’t be afraid to try something new. With the right attitude and skill set, you can make your mark in the copywriting industry and achieve your desired goals.