Have You Got What It Takes To Be A Freelance Copywriter

Are you good with language? Do you have loads of creative ideas? Can you put yourself in the shoes of a potential customer? If so, you might be able to make a decent living by working as a freelance copywriter.
Of course, if you are educated to a high level in marketing, journalism or other related subject, you definitely have an advantage as a rookie freelance copywriter. Although, having said that, such a background is not essential if you have the raw talent and the drive to make success happen.
So far as copywriting theory goes: there are plenty of excellent books available to assist new freelance copywriters in learning the tricks of the trade quickly. However, try to avoid books that are written for an academic audience and stick to books that are basically ‘how to’ manuals for copywriting. Write to Sell by Andy Maslen is an excellent example.
‘But how am I going to look like a professional?’ you might ask. Well, you will definitely need a good-looking website that introduces yourself and explains what you do as a freelance copywriter. Ideally, the website should contain some examples of your work and also testimonials from satisfied clients. However, don’t worry if you are only just starting out, because all this stuff will come together in its own sweet time if you are patient and work through your objectives methodically.
In addition, social networking is also important. Not only in promoting your core message as a freelance copywriter, but also in making and retaining contacts who may turn out to be paying customers. And remember: when it comes to social networking, you only need to focus on the big three, which are: Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.
The final piece of the puzzle for any would-be freelance copywriter is networking. Networking groups have been springing up all over the place in the last decade or so. They represent fertile ground for making contacts and meeting potential customers. At first it can seem unnatural pitching your business ideas in front of a room full of strangers, but remember: everyone is in the same boat at networking events. But the advice doesn’t end there…
When it comes to putting together your first few assignments, a really great niche for any new freelance copywriter is search engine optimisation (SEO) projects. There is a lot of information on the web about SEO, so what are you waiting for? ‘The periodic table of SEO’ is a particularly interesting diagram that gives you a very clear idea about the holistic nature of SEO. You’ll easily find it with a quick Google search.