There is a lucrative and burgeoning market for freelance copywriters who can nail the language of advertising and marketing. If you have a knack for languages, you can translate words, phrases, and sentences into human-readable content and convey the necessary message to the right audience. You will not only be writing content, but you will be doing so for brands, businesses, and organisations in search of advertising and marketing material.
If you can commit to writing regularly, you can put together a portfolio of work and send it out to potential clients. If you can find a niche between contract work and content writing, you can develop a business specialising in copywriting for the web. You can find freelance copywriting jobs on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and PeoplePerHour. If you are just getting started, you can join a collective of freelance writers for mutual support and increase your chances of securing placements.
Decide on your speciality
The first step to becoming a freelance copywriter is to decide on a niche. You should consider factors like the following:
- The size of your target audience
- The purpose of your content
- The platform(s) you will optimise for
- How many articles you will need to write
- The geographical spread of your delivery area
When choosing a niche, you should also consider the audiences you will be appealing to. This is a crucial step as you will be focusing on a particular group of people and trying to sell a product or service to them. You should take your own demographic into consideration as you will be addressing yourself to people who reflect your own interests, hobbies, dislikes, and concerns. For example, if you are a person who enjoys travelling, you may want to consider a niche that involves travel writing or marketing material for tourism products and destinations. You should also examine the audiences you will be competing with for a piece of work. This way, you can decide which articles you will write to outshine your competitors and gain the upper hand in securing projects.
Diversify your portfolio
It is a good habit to regularly update your portfolio. Having old work on your resume can quickly turn into a negative. Instead of being seen as an asset, your old work could be perceived as a liability. Ensure that you are keeping your skills current by regularly writing and publishing content. Publishing on a niche platform like LinkedIn is a great way to keep your skills fresh in the eyes of potential employers and customers. Furthermore, you can look for freelancing opportunities that provide you with content to publish. If you have existing connections on LinkedIn, you can use their connections to gain access to additional work. You can also take this opportunity to further establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field. What’s more is you can take your pick of the litter. You do not have to wait for employers to come to you. Rather, you can approach organisations and businesses who are already serving your target audience and might be looking for extra help. This is a great way to gain experience and make money along the way.
Join a writer’s co-operative
If you are looking to get started as a freelance copywriter, you should consider joining a co-operative of some kind. Being a member of a writers’ co-operative simply means you are contributing to an established body of work. The advantage of being a member of a writers’ co-operative is that you will have access to a wider range of clients and projects. Additionally, you will be able to showcase your work to the public and can continue building your portfolio. What’s more, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and have the opportunity to become the go-to person for content related to your niche.
Get inspired
To really make it as a freelancer, you need to be able to get your creative juices flowing. The best way to do this is to get inspired by things around you. Consider the people you encounter on a daily basis and how you can utilise their language and the themes they represent to tell a story or to convey a message. Of course, you will need to tailor your work to fit the chosen client, but you can take a shortcut by getting inspired by your daily life.
Getting started as a freelance copywriter is a lucrative and rewarding career choice. The only thing standing in your way is your imagination. Good luck out there.