Do you want to know how much you can make from sales copywriting?
No matter what kind of copy you are writing (e.g., ads, emails, website content, social media posts), you can set your own hours and be your own boss. In general, you can expect to make at least £20,000 per year from this kind of copywriting (not including bonuses or commission).
Here’s an example of how much money you can make from copywriting: Say you’re a lawyer in London specialising in intellectual property law. You’ve had some success in the past with writing legal briefs and case summaries for other lawyers, and now you want to continue doing this but also expand your client base. How can you do this? You could write a few sales letters a week for different businesses in order to build up a portfolio.
So you’ve written a compelling sales letter and sent it out to a contact group of possible new clients. Now you want to keep going – but how can you do this without risking burnout? You could consider taking on some copywriting projects for other businesses in order to gain experience and to keep your pipeline full. For example, you might take on a freelance copywriting project for a business that markets luxury goods – let’s call them Luxury Brand X. When you’ve completed this project, you can move on to the next one. This keeps your skills current and allows you to grow your income over time.
The Copywriting Career
Of course, there’s more to a copywriting career than just pitching in on sales letters. As mentioned, you can set your own hours and be your own boss. This means you can work remotely and be available to take on sudden projects as and when they arise. This can give you a sense of flexibility that can be appealing for those who want to eventually climb the career ladder.
In general, a copywriting career can look something like this: Start small then gradually expand your client base. Once you’ve gained some experience, you can take on larger projects and charge more. Here are just a few of the different roles you might find in a copywriting agency:
- Content strategist/editor: If you have a clear eye for design and copywriting, you can consider this a step up from your role as a social media manager or content strategist. You will take on a diverse array of content from websites to newsletters to billboards and more. You should be confident enough in your writing abilities to take on this role. A good grasp of SEO and digital marketing is also essential. Familiarity with a variety of platforms (e.g., SEO, social media, content creation, etc.) is desirable.
- Content writer: Similar to the content strategist/editor, the only difference is that you’ll be taking on a narrower scope of work – primarily website content for businesses, brands or organisations. You’ll be expected to manage large projects, manage content schedules, and pitch in where needed.
- Advertising copywriter: Similar to the content strategist/editor, the main difference is that you’ll be taking on a broader scope of work – primarily radio and TV commercials, digital ads, and social media campaigns. You’ll be expected to take a leadership role and manage a small team of copywriters.
- PR and marketing copywriter: Similar to the advertising copywriter role, the main difference is that you’ll be taking on a wider scope of work – primarily press releases, media articles, and advertisements. You’ll be expected to take a creative approach to pitching creative ideas to journalists and media influencers.
Of course, your existing skills and abilities will determine your specific responsibilities and the hourly rate you can demand. However, these roles should provide you with ample opportunity to make a good living. With prices starting at just £20,000 per year, you can certainly expect to easily make enough to cover your living costs and have enough left over to enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer.