A freelance copywriting business is one that provides copywriting services to companies and individuals for a fee. When you become a freelance copywriter, you essentially become an independent contractor who is commissioned to write content for various organizations. Because you are self-employed, you are responsible for putting in the amount of work required to produce the desired results. You can find work whenever you want as long as you are able to secure some form of payment. You might decide to start your own business or work remotely for a small business that cannot afford a full-time employee.
The Pros
As the name implies, a freelance copywriting business provides services to individuals and companies who want to promote products or services via online content such as articles, blog posts, and social media posts. The individual or company that hires you will be able to access a pool of experienced writers who can provide content for various platforms. This can be a time-saver as you are not required to conduct research or look for specific words and phrases to use in your copy.
A freelance copywriting business can also be a great way to build a portfolio of work and gain experience. You will be doing work for various clients which will give you the opportunity to try out new things and gain more practical experience. Plus, you will be able to establish yourself as an expert in your field and provide valuable content to your potential customers.
The Cons
There are a few downsides to working as a freelancer for a copywriting business. The first is that you do not have complete control over your workload. Your workload will depend on your ability to secure projects and your ability to complete the projects on time. The second downside is that you will not be able to choose your clients. Your clients will be businesses and organizations who want to use your services to produce content for various platforms.
Being a freelancer for a copywriting business entails giving your professional opinion on products and services you have not used before. This is usually not a problem for experienced writers who have developed valuable critical thinking skills while in university. However, it can be a problem for novice writers who may not possess the skills needed to provide an objective view on complicated topics. Finally, you will not be able to control the pricing of your services. Your pricing will depend on various factors such as your experience and the type of content you produce. However, it is usually not possible to establish fixed prices for the work you will be doing.
How to Become a Freelance Copywriter
If you are looking to start a freelance copywriting business, here are a few tips on how to become successful:
Understand the Business
The first thing you need to do before you start offering your services to businesses is to fully understand what a freelance copywriting business entails. This includes gaining an idea of what a typical project looks like, what to charge for your services, and what to expect as far as workloads and deadlines. Before you can start pitching your services to businesses, you will need to have some sample projects to show your potential clients. This can be tricky to find, but if you are determined to succeed as a freelancer, you will find a way.
Get A Safe Place To Work
In addition to having a place to store your samples, you will need to secure a safe place to work. In order to protect yourself from being robbed by a client or a competitor, you will need to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with your employer. Before you put pen to paper, you must ensure that you have read and understood the terms and conditions of the NDA. If you fail to sign an NDA with your employer, you may open yourself up to legal action. The terms and conditions of the agreement will be based on your contract with your employer, but you will also need to ensure that you do not breach any laws while working as a freelancer. It is highly advised that you seek professional assistance in creating an NDA that complies with all legal and government requirements.
Find Work
Once you have your NDA in place and you have some samples to show your potential clients, it’s time to find work. The first thing you should do is to build a portfolio of projects by securing contracts with different businesses and organizations. Some examples of typical projects include:
- Creating press releases for businesses
- Editing websites
- Handling social media accounts for businesses
- Content for email marketing campaigns
- and the list goes on
In addition to building a portfolio, it is important to find suitable clients who are able to pay you on time. An experienced freelancer will be able to identify potential clients based on their needs and then use his/her network to find the best match. A good place to start is by looking for clients within your existing network. Depending on your skills, you might be able to secure bids from even more remote parts of the globe. Using a freelancing platform such as Upwork or Demandforce can also prove to be extremely useful in connecting with potential customers.
The Different Types of Copywriting Projects
Now that you are equipped with the basics of what a freelance copywriting business is and how to start one, it’s time to discuss some of the different types of projects that you will encounter as a copywriter.
Firstly, you will need to decide whether you will do product or service-based copy. Product or service-based copy can be any type of content that is directly related to a product or service. For example, if you are a car writer, you might be asked to write about car repairs or new models. The key here is that you are providing content that is directly related to a product or service. Creating content that is not related to a product or service does not require a special license and is generally less complicated as far as the legalities are concerned. However, unrelated content can be a great way to build your portfolio and gain experience. When working for an organization or a business, it is usually a good idea to take along any relevant samples as you may be required to do product or service-based copy on the job. Moreover, the more you can do within the car industry, the better as you can then build a reputation for yourself.
Product Or Service-Based Copy?
If you choose to become a freelancer within the car industry, you will probably be asked to do product or service-based copy. This may not seem like a traditional type of writing project, but it can be. For example, if you are asked to write an article about the best types of cars for families, you will be required to research and cite various statistics about consumer habits and car ownership. In this case, you are effectively writing content for a car dealership as they need to sell more families on the idea of getting a new vehicle. In a nutshell, product or service-based copy is any type of content that is directly related to a product or service.
If you are new to freelancing, it can be hard to know which type of copy you will be asked to do. Always ask your potential clients for references and read online reviews to gain a better idea of the general types of projects you will be dealing with. Furthermore, if you are not sure whether you want to become a product or service-based freelancer, it can be a good idea to explore other industries and see how things work there. In particular, industries such as e-commerce, which involves promoting products or services via online content, can be a great place for a fresh graduate to get their feet wet.
Creative Briefing
After you have been working for a while and have established yourself as a proven writer with a reputable firm, you will be invited to join a creative team and provide input on a creative brief. A creative brief is a document that contains the goals and objectives of the project, as well as high-level details on the targeted audience. It should include everything from the headline to the first few paragraphs of the content. The client will typically provide the creative brief and then the content will be tailored accordingly. Sometimes, you might be asked to pitch in ideas for the project and provide suggestions on how to make the content more effective. In general, creative briefing is a stage in the creative process where the content is still being written but the ideas and key insights have already been defined.