Hi there... I am a copywriter that doesn't really know it. Well, I guess. I mean I am in the radio industry and have been for at least a few decades. I have helped clients and sales people, even some copywriters write copy throughout all these years. I was recently asked by a guy who I barely know to come up with some spec copy for him for various clients, to which he would pay me for those he thought were good enough. Like I said I barely know the guy but I was referred to him by... well, apparently somebody who is familiar with my copy work. I don't know how he found out about me actually. But somebody had to tell him because we live on different sides of the country. So I wrote him some copy and he accepted every piece! And he GUSHED over them. I was reading his email where he went on and on and could not figure out what the big deal was.

I talked to my wife about it and realized from that conversation that I must know how to write copy pretty well. Who'd a ever thunk that? I just thought I was a voice over/audio production guy. I guess these years of reading copy has saturated me to the point that I can really write good copy too. But then I stopped... maybe that's true for radio and TV. But does that make me a good copywriter? I barely know what a copywriter is. Much less if I am one. I know nothing about the kind of person you have to be to be a copywriter or the rewards and bitches of the job. But I want to find out. So this post is kind of like a research project. My question is, what was it that made you realize you were a copywriter and could even do it for a living. And, what's that career choice meant to you? Thanks for your patience. I know that was a long story. And thanks for your input as well.

Tim

Hi Tim.

Great post. I must admit that I fell into copywriting by
way of wanting to do my own advertising. It was not
for want of saving money. I wanted to learn to
do it so I would know if I was getting ripped off. No
kidding. I was so afraid of being taken advantage of
that I dug in for the winter (many, many years ago) and
did not stop until I understood and knew I could do it.

Then I started doing it for one of my businesses. Then
the next one and so on. By the time my first business
went online, I had been a sideline copywriter for a long
time. Because of the success of my first business I was
asked who had written the copy. That led to an
offer, then another offer and so on again.

The only reason I thought I could do it in the first place
was because I had written two novels. I love writing and
read anything I can get my hands on. Even junk mail,
at one time, had an allure I could not deny. Reading the
"junk" always made me wonder "who wrote this stuff?"
OH - the two novels? Unpublished, and it's a long, very
boring story.

It always makes me wonder if people do have a
true calling.

So, to answer your question?

I don't have a frigging clue.



Verb

PS - Probably 20 "I's" in this reply. It probably should
have been a personal blog post. sheesh.

Similar to both of you, I stumbled upon Copywriting. My background has been that of a journalist, and I got into that field because I loved -- and still love -- to write. Today I use Copywriting to promote my own website products and to help people who ask for my help. I'm now thinking of making it into a full-time career instead of as a profitable sideline to my other web interests.

While natural talent will definitely help you succeed, formal education in it will make you into an excellent Copywriter. On this blog, Miguel appears to have identified most of the best courses and software for this craft. I myself completed the AWAI in 1997 -- and it is the best thing I've done to improve as a Copywriter.

If you think the courses are too expensive for you right now, the other resources on this website are fantastic, too. Especially, the tutorial on consumer psychology and the articles.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, baby, practice.

Once one of my ex-girlfriend's was telling me about why her daughter did so well in school. She considered the whole thing play. Learning how to read was play. Learning how to write was play. And because she was having so much fun, she excelled.

I adopted that attitude in learning how to set up websites, design my own products, and promote my other online marketing ventures ... and it worked like a charm.

Maybe this is how we can all become really good at copywriting, too.

It will be awesome to see how you fine-tune your natural talents to become highly successful copywriters.

Cheers,

Sal

I have done a little copywriting and written several SEO articles but the problem I am having is where to find new work. If anyone knows where to look or what to do I'd appreciate all the help I can get. I do a lot of freelance writing, mostly fiction, but we all know the real money is in copywriting.

This is an excellent question. I hope some of the seasoned pros will respond to it. My own work has been accidental. Like Tim, people hear of me and ask for a sample of past work, then hire me. I do need to create some kind of marketing system. I'm thinking of creating a website around my skills.

Wow, it's beginning to feel like the Twilight Zone in here. My background
is in journalism as well. I've done all kinds of writing for print and a lot of online
writing in many genres. I've been writer, publisher, and editor. If it involves
weaving thoughts into words, I've probably done it.

One thing you can do is go to - like - Guru.com, post all your information, and bid on projects. There are other sites lilke Guru as well.

Also, sites like Craigslist.org (not .com - that's porn, I think) and look for jobs, gigs, etc. either in your area or anywhere.

If you're new and can find a few local companies that will let you do something for them that can give you a little something else to add to the resume or brochure.

Employment agencies that place writers (permanently or on a contract basis) may be helpful.

So far, for me, its kind of been a matter of scouring the whole world and finding a little something here, a little something there. Of course, copywriting is not my main focus - which may account for my not yet figuring out an easier way to do things other than scouring.

This site looked pretty interesting. Is it one you have to pay for? What's been your experience overall with it?

Personally I'm very strongly against having to pay to get a job. Some will
argue it's fine, but it just doesn't make sense to me. More and more of the
SEO places had started to do that. I haven't checked for a while because it
was discouraging, so I don't know if they ever changed it back or not.

one can try hireaghostwriter.com also. got couple of projects from there and earned some good money. have got some projects from odesk.com also but i dont think they are too much into writing because one rarely finds jobs related to copywriting over there.

I checked out the Guru site in depth, and found while they offer a limited amount of services for free, to get access to the majority of the listings you have to pay. I agree with you Katharina, I don't see the sense of paying to get a job. hireaghostwriter.com had a few listings, but I didn't see any copywriting ones. And Odesk seems to be mostly computer programming...

This is a tough question.

On one hand, website owners need to monetize on creating a medium where those offering work can meet with those who can supply work. This is why those who seek quality in either direction gravitate to these more exclusive domains. The main function of these websites is to keep the honor system in place...so that one does not pay for work that does not get delivered or one does not get work that is not paid for. Free website job boards don't really invest in creating harmony between employers and employees. In freelancing work, it's a jungle and paid sites act like local authorities that you can rely on to keep things running fairly.

On the other hand, both Katharina and Stephanie are absolutely correct, one should not have to pay to go to work, especially so since you are going to work because you need the money. What makes it even worse is that you are charged on a regular basis to keep your membership going, and it may be a while before you see any return on your investment. With the fierce competion, it's possible not to get a single job despite how long you've been advertising there.

My own take on paying for a membership is that one should consider it the equivalent of the money you pay to go to a regular brick-and-mortar job. You have to pay to have a decent wardrobe and you have to pay to put gas in the tank to go to work. For freelancers, you have to pay to get other people to notice you. Once you develop enough work and enough repeat clientele, you don't have to pay again to get attention.

Another strategy to get clients is to put up a website and drive traffic to it. While you don't have to pay money for this, unless of course you do PPC advertising, you do have to spend lots of time cultivating JV's, writing articles that drive traffic to your website, and other free methods.

The basic question, then, is not whether you should pay or not pay money to get work. It is what is the most cost-effective way for you to begin building a reputation for yourself as a copywriter. For some people, it pays to spend money. For other people, it pays to spend time.

No doubt the debate could waver on each side, with neither side wrong, and ultimately it depends on discovering the best strategy to create a regular and dependable income when you are a free soul.

Really, there is nothing nobler than being a free soul, one not bound by the invisible chains of some corporate entity that decides when you can eat, rest, or go to the bathroom.

There is something wonderful to being free, yet how does one manage it? There is a price to pay for it, and since you are a free soul, it is up to you to decide on the price.

Cheers,

Sal

I understand your viewpoint too, Sal. I can see how paying a fee would ensure that only those who will actually commit to doing the work will sign up. My husband's gym at work is similar. They could offer gym membership to all the employees for free, but instead they require you to pay for it. Their reason? Because if people don't pay to go to the gym, they don't go.

I also read a similar story about a woman selling turquoise jewelry. Very nice pieces weren't selling at the price she set for it, so she went out of town for the weekend, instructing her assistant to mark them half off. The assistant misunderstood and doubled the price, and all those pieces sold that weekend.

It's interesting how the human mind works in that for something to be of value to us, we must earn it. It's an idea that has a lot of good applications in marketing.

The Guru site free membership has turned out better than I thought. They've been emailing me job opportunities every day, and there's been a few decent ones. My thought is if you make enough money and experience in doing smaller jobs, then reinvest it in expanding your career.

If these people are like their name suggests, am I right in that you don't get
a byline? I'm not sure I'd want to write without one. Then again, "good money"
is good money, I suppose.

That's the thing about copywriting that tends to put off quite a few "creatives" - you don't
get a byline. Ever. What you DO get is about a thousand dollars a page more than
what creative writing pays. So...in the end...not having a byline pays off!

If you've already done work writing copy for media, your best bet to get started will be to
set up a blog or website, add a few of your samples; and if you can get them, testimonials
as well. Then start promoting yourself as a copywriter in the field you have the experience.

Especially for those who have broadcast media experience, there is a high demand for good
copywriters. Your past experience will make you a very valuable commodity for a lot of
companies!

Good Luck!

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New Report: Learn To Be A Freelance Copywriter, Available Now

I find the jewelry story, Circusmama, a very interesting one; and one that might have relevance to us when it comes to setting fees - if he/she's that cheap then he/she can't be all that good. It's a matter, I suppose, of finding a balance.
Incidentally, to get me into a gym it would have to be the other around.

I recently doubled almost all my prices and tripled in a couple of cases. It has not
made one bit of difference except I am making more money for the same effort.
Clients who want your exact services will pay. If you are great at what you do,
you will get the business. Simple as that.

The only prices that did not double are the hosting and webmaster fees.
Although webmaster fees did go up significantly, there have been no complaints.
The folks who depend on someone else for web services would much rather pay
to have things done correctly and at a high level of ROI understand that to make
money, you must spend money. There is no risk factor in raising prices for current
clients. Two clients in fact, laughed and said almost the same thing "You figured out
your services are worth more to us than even you knew..."

With the rate increases I explained the time involved, in some detail (not enough
to give away my secrets though!) and the reasoning behind the increases.

It has been a real eye opener. Once you have your foot in the door, don't sell
yourself short.

Blessings.

Verb

Absolutely... I was answering the "hireaghostwriter" post... I assume we all know
that bylines don't come with copywriting. I keep my writing very separate
in my mind. I also do publishing of another kind, so everything has its own little
place. I'd not do creative writing as a ghostwriter, I think.

This thread has taken an interesting turn in the middle.

I began copywriting for myself because I was desperate to start my own business online. That was quite a while ago. Since any type of business needs sales copy to create profit, I became more interested in that aspect of it. Copywriting is a natural progression, I believe.

As a creative writer (I write fantasy and horror fiction under a pseudonym), I understand completely that different types of writing bring different results. A byline for a short story is much more important than one for copy work.

Yes, this is very true. I also think of my different writing projects in different ways, too.
When I do fiction or articles, it's a huge expression of my creativity and I wouldn't do that
without a byline. When it's copywriting I think of it more as a "desk job" and large part of
the income, so I don't mind not having a byline. That may not make a lot of sense, but
it does to me.