If you’re looking for a way to make money from home, you’ve probably considered trying your hand at copywriting. Earning a freelance copywriting income can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year, and all you need to do to get started is create a profile on freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, or Textbroker and start bidding on copywriting projects.
However, creating a profitable copywriting profile isn’t as easy as it sounds. Besides the fact that you’ll probably need to put in some extra work to ensure that your copy is of a high enough standard, there are also a number of pitfalls that you need to avoid if you really want to create a profitable copywriting profile. Here are some of the most important things you need to keep in mind if you want to make the most of this opportunity.
Get A Writing Partner
When you start freelancing, one of the first things you’ll probably want to do is seek out a partner. Having a collaborator to split the workload with can make a big difference in how much you actually get done. Even if you’re doing all the legwork, writing is still a pretty menial task and can be prone to errors. Having a partner ensures that you get the most out of your time and that your work is of a high quality.
Unfortunately, finding a writing partner is not as easy as simply sheltering in a cave and waiting for someone to appear. You’ll most likely have to go through a number of partners before you find someone whose work you can rely on. Look for a writing partner who has already built a reputation for themselves as a serious and thorough editor whose work you can trust. Once you have established a working relationship with your writing partner, you can proceed to the next step.
Understand The Difference Between Commercial Copywriting And Blogging
The first step towards establishing a profitable copywriting profile is to understand the difference between commercial copywriting and blogging.
The major difference between the two is that commercial copywriting is usually designed to convert as many clicks as possible into sales. This type of writing is often found in advertisements or infomercials, where the copy is often designed to convert viewers into customers for a specific product or service. Blogging, on the other hand, is primarily aimed at attracting an audience and creating a sense of community amongst the readers. When you write for a blog, you’re usually not selling anything except yourself in this case – the blog itself is the product. Because most blogs aren’t designed to generate commercial dollars, they rarely feature the kind of overselling that is common in commercial writing. Hence, while there is no doubt that you can make money writing for a blog, you’ll likely need to do some extra work to qualify as a profitable copywriter for this kind of writing.
Avoid Plagiarism
Even if you’re working with a reputable writing partner, you must avoid plagiarism. Having your own personal blog is one thing. Repurposing someone else’s work is still plagiarism, and will not be tolerated. If you’re working with a professional writing partner, this will be an even taller order – but you must obey this rule regardless.
You wouldn’t put your name on a bill that you didn’t write, and neither should you put someone else’s work under your name. Simply refer to the original source of the idea or materials you are using.
Have Enough Data To Back Up Your Claims
The truth is, no one can guarantee that any piece of writing will be profitable, but with a little bit of research, you can be sure that you’re not in a situation where you’re making false claims and lying about the results of your research. If you’re claiming to have studied X number of Y generations of Z species on this topic, you’d better have studied at least X number of Y generations of Z species or else you’ll look like a jerk on your handsome commercial copywriting client’s handsome commercial copywriting jacket.
Follow The ‘Write To Impress’ Method
There is a tried and true method for copywriters to become profitable and independent and that is to follow the ‘write to impress’ method.
What does this mean? Well, it means that you should start by writing for the fraction of a second that it takes to read an ad or an article and then immediately after, you should begin to impress your reader with a minimal explanation of the concept or idea that you’re writing about. This is an attempt to impress the reader with your knowledge of the subject matter and to make them want to know more. When you write to impress, you’re usually not writing to convert or to sell. Instead, you’re writing to allow the reader to learn more about the topic you’re writing about. Hence, this type of writing is usually less rewarding, but more predictable.
Start By Writing For Smaller Purposes First
If you read commercial copy for our entire lives, we’d probably wish that we could give you some sort of pension plan. Fortunately, there is a way that you can make a good living as a copywriter and not have to worry about funding your retirement years.
The key is to write for smaller purposes first. Yes, you’ll need to write a bunch of commercials to start, but you’ll also need to write a blog post or an op-ed piece to establish yourself as a writer whose work you can trust. Once you have that status, you can write more complex commercials with confidence.