Friday, November 21, 2008

A Few Pointers About Freelance Copywriting

By Ray Edwards

Freelancing is becoming very popular these days as a career move. Why? Because as a freelancer you aren't locked into a strict work schedule, you are your own boss, and you can work from anywhere in the world as long as you can get on the Internet.

FINDING A WHOLE NEW WORLD

One of the industries where freelancing is growing rapidly is copywriting. With the help of the Internet, more and more copywriters are discovering the benefits of freelancing their services. Delving into freelance copywriting as a professional or part time job will require some planning and preparation. If you are already a copywriter, or just starting out, and you want to work as a freelancer, here are some of the things you might want to consider.

1. Build a website. Many copywriters do not have a website, so having one can give you an advantage over some of you competition. A website will function as your "shop front" window as well.

It should be cross-browser compatible, easy to read, and professional looking. Don't use pre-existing personal sites. You should build a new site that is dedicated to promoting your services as a freelance copywriter.

2. Build a portfolio. Your portfolio will function as your resume as potential clients consider hiring you. It should include examples of your best work, a sales letter explaining why you are the best copywriter for the job, and testimonials from clients.

3. Market yourself. You can be the best copywriter the world has seen, but if no one knows who you are then you won't have any clients. Therefore invest time and money into learning how to effectively market yourself. It will be a worthwhile investment.

4. Don't expect to make too much in the beginning. Being a freelance copywriter can help you earn a lot of money if you already have a stable and steady list of clients in the field. But if you are just starting out, don't expect projects to rush in. Getting paying clients in the beginning is hard, so you may have to do some pro bono work to start out. But know that success is definitely possible; you just have to work hard and put a lot of time and energy into your business.

5. Continue your education. Even if you've been in copywriting for a while it is still smart to learn more about your trade. There is enough information out there that you could study your entire life and still not learn it all. Meaning there is always something that you can learn to keep your product competitive. The best freelance copywriters know that they are also life long students.

6. Keep your day job for a while. Since you're just starting your freelancing career, you should keep your day job in order to cover your financial needs initially. You may have to work double, but it will be worth it. With that said, you should quit your day job as soon as you can in order to devote all your resources on your freelancing career. Freelance copywriting will not bring complete success until you quit your regular job.

These were just a few brief points about starting a freelance copywriting career. Hopefully they gave you an idea of what is involved in becoming a freelancer. If freelance copywriting sounds interesting to you, then do some more research into it. You never know, this could be the career move that finally breaks you into financial success.

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