Filthy Rich Writer - Tips, tools, & training for new and aspiring copywriters.

Summer Rewind: Ep. 52 What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Are you ready to stand out in your next copywriting interview or discovery call? Whether you’re applying for an on staff position or a freelance role, the key to success lies in the right preparation.

That’s why we’re taking you back to this must-listen episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, where Nicki and Kate share their top tips on how to ace the prep for your copywriting interview. You’ll learn key steps that many copywriters overlook—steps that could be the difference between landing the job or not. Tune in now to boost your chances of securing your next copywriting gig!

(Psst: You’ll also want to check out part two to know what to do during the interview and part three to set yourself apart from the competition once the interview is over!)

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[3:32] Whether you want a full-time position or you’re pitching for freelance work, avoid “one-click applications” at all costs! It’s worth doing a bit of research to find out who the hiring manager is as they are the best people to judge your application.

[5:35] Make sure you read through the *whole* job description. More and more companies (including FRW!) are burying little tasks in the application to help them weed out people who don’t read the full description.

[8:45] Don’t be dissuaded by the qualifications you might see listed on a job application. Employers have to ask for *some* level of experience otherwise they’d get applicants with … zero experience. The skills you show in your portfolio are going to have more of an impact—that’s another reason why your application needs to be in the hands of the hiring manager, not the internal recruiter.

[10:45] A lot of agencies ask for agency experience but don’t let that put you off. What they’re really looking for is that you can manage a lot of different projects and clients. And as a copywriter who’s built your own copywriting business, you already know how to do that!

[11:35] Be cautious when describing yourself as “detail-oriented” since employers may scrutinize your application more closely for errors. Instead, Kate and Nicki suggest demonstrating this quality by, ahem, reading the *full* job description!

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“If you don’t take the job time to read the job description, you do not deserve the job. You don’t deserve an interview. It means you’re not going to take the time necessarily to do the work and to slow down and to give the work the time it deserves. So be thorough if it’s a job that you actually want.” – Nicki

“If you have a great portfolio, I don’t care if you went to college. If you can do the job well, then that’s what I care about. So when you see qualifications, things like ‘must have a bachelor’s degree in this’, same thing with experience, ‘must have two to three years experience’—people put that in there because they have to put something. If this is zero experience, then they’re going to get people with zero experience. And the truth is, CCA students, you don’t have zero experience.” – Nicki

“Along with qualifications, a big one is ‘must have agency experience’. A lot of agencies put that. And it’s kind of a catch-22 if you’re trying to break it into an agency. And literally every agency is like, well, you must already have agency experience. Don’t let that be a barrier either. I think the big thing agencies are looking for is that you can manage a lot of different projects, potentially multiple different clients. And as a copywriter who’s built your own copywriting business, you already know how to do that. You’re kind of like a one person agency already, right? You’re doing multiple different things, handling multiple different projects, multiple clients, multiple timelines. And so you can speak to that. So don’t let agency experience get in the way.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

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About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

The post Summer Rewind: Ep. 52 What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Summer Rewind: Ep. 46 Are the Best Copywriters Introverts or Extroverts?

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

If you’re someone who thrives on interactions with other people, you might be wondering if the sit-alone-at-a-desk-and-write copywriter lifestyle would work for you. Equally, if you’re more introverted, you might be worried about client interactions draining all your energy.

Whichever camp you find yourself in, we want to make sure you get the most enjoyment out of your new career. That’s why we’re rewinding back to this special episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, where you’ll hear Nicki and Kate talk about what it’s like to work as a copywriter, whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or even an ambivert! Tune in now to discover how to make the career work for *your* personality type.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:07] How you get and put out energy helps determine whether you are an extrovert or an introvert. Extroverts get their energy from being around other people, whereas introverts receive energy from alone time or in social settings with much smaller groups.

[3:55] A lot of brain power and energy is required to attend client meetings—even highly extroverted people can benefit from taking a moment to relax and collect themselves after a client call.

[5:28] With practice and time, you gain confidence when it comes to speaking to clients. But knowing when to book those interactions is key. For example, you might feel better to get it out the way in the morning so you’re not worrying about it all day.

[6:55] Technology has made life a lot easier for introverts. Previously, you’d have to meet someone in their office, but now you can do it all from the comfort and safety of your own home.

[10:06] Kate emphasizes the importance of both introverts and extroverts feeling prepared for any call they have scheduled. Having your notes together and knowing what points you want to cover can make a big difference. She also reminds us to treat these calls simply as conversations—they don’t need to feel daunting.

[12:38] Confidence doesn’t come before you take action; it comes from taking action. Yes, preparation is key, but it can only take you so far compared to the confidence gained from actually doing it—showing yourself that you can, and will, do it again.

[14:24] Extroverts sometimes shy away from writing because it’s seen as a solo gig. But there are communities, like–ahem–the CCA group, where you can connect and socialize with fellow copywriters, getting that much-needed interaction and support.

[17:15] For extroverts who miss the office environment, they can try co-working spaces with other freelancers or cafes that welcome all-day work sessions. This setup provides accountability and the opportunity to exchange ideas with fellow workers.

[21:45] Regardless of whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, it’s important to find companies that will suit you best. You might thrive in a larger marketing team collaborating with designers, or prefer the intimacy of a smaller, close-knit group. Choose what feels most suitable for you!

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“Because copywriting is a flexible career, you can freelance full time, if you want to. Or if you want an on staff job, you can absolutely get that as well. Or you can contract, where you go into an office. And you can kind of, as you and I have said many times, we’ve bounced around with all of that. I mean, we’ve always freelanced, but we have also been on staff, or we’ve also been contractors. And you can figure out what works best for you.” – Nicki

“You don’t get confident before you take the action. You get confident by taking the action. So you can’t sit there and wait for confidence before you schedule that client call because that’s not how the confidence is going to come. It’s not going to be bestowed on you magically. It will kind of in a way be bestowed on you magically after you take the call, after you go through it, after you push your comfort zone a little bit or push yourself outside of your comfort zone. And then when it’s done, you go, okay, I lived through it. And that makes the next one a little easier.” – Nicki

“You have the opportunity to cater your career and your work opportunities to yourself and your needs and your energetic preferences and all of that. And we’re very fortunate in that sense, so make the most of it. If you are an extrovert, if you are an introvert, if you are an ambivert, the bottom line is that you can make it work. And you can be very successful at it. But it’s up to you to figure out what you need and structure your work experience so that it gives you what you need.” – Nicki

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About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

The post Summer Rewind: Ep. 46 Are the Best Copywriters Introverts or Extroverts? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Episode 181: Reading Between the Lines of Copywriter Job Descriptions

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 01 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Whether you want to work as a copywriter on staff or as a freelancer, it’s always worth taking a look at job listings. (But remember: job postings are just a small fraction of the available opportunities!) The trouble is, many people get discouraged when they see the dreaded line: “Must have at least two years of experience”.

One of the biggest mistakes people make when looking at job descriptions is taking everything as written in stone. But that is absolutely *not* the case! In fact, they’re really more of a wish list for the company. (And frankly, some are like that kid who writes to Santa Claus asking for the ability to fly!) In this episode, Nicki and Kate unpick some real LinkedIn copywriting job postings to show us why we shouldn’t say “no” to ourselves before someone else does.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[1:50] When people look at a job listing, they often make the mistake of taking everything in the description as written in stone. But job descriptions are essentially a wish list for companies.

[5:17] Nicki and Kate discuss how studies show that women in particular tend to cut themselves off from opportunities as they often only apply to jobs if they meet ALL of the qualifications.

[6:37] The years of experience sought by employers may not directly match your own years of experience. For example, six months in the CCA could be equivalent to two or three years of experience elsewhere. Essentially, employers expect you to have training, and CCA students fulfill that requirement!

[8:52] Our hosts read between the lines of the responsibilities listed for a real copywriter job posting taken from LinkedIn and show why everyone in the CCA should be saying, “Yes, I can do all of those!”

[14:46] Kate emphasizes that—even at associate creative director level—none of the responsibilities listed should feel unachievable by any means.

[16:20] It’s rare to find a copywriting job description that asks for other skills like design, SEO, or social media management. If you do see a posting like that, it’s a sign that the company has very unrealistic expectations about what they can get in one person.

[19:28] As a CCA student, don’t be deterred if they ask you for 3-5 years of experience. Mike’s story is a prime example of why you shouldn’t let that stop you from applying!

[20:43] We hear some examples of the qualifications and skills that people ask for in actual copywriting job descriptions. Even if they ask for a Bachelor’s degree, don’t be put off if you have a portfolio that shows your work.

[23:32] Some postings asked for experience using Jasper and/or ChatGPT. Remember AI is not something to be afraid of—they want it for efficiency purposes, not just writing (bad) copy.

[24:33] Some of the “nice to haves” listed included specific industry experience, experience working in SaaS (software as a service), experience partnering with a designer, and UX (user experience) writing. Again, remember these are wish list items but you can always prove your skills through spec work if it’s a role you’re really interested in.

[26:24] If a company asks for startup experience, don’t let assumptions limit you. Get on the phone with them and ask questions to get a sense for the role because all startups are different.

[27:50] It can feel like a catch-22 when a post asks for agency experience. How do I get into an agency when agencies want agency experience?! But agencies are happy to hire—it all comes down to demonstrating that you know what you’re doing and can thrive in that environment.

[28:46] Never, ever, ever use the “one-click” or “easy apply” button! You want to avoid being lumped in with a bunch of other people. The same system that you use to pitch clients for freelance work is exactly what you can use to pitch companies to work there.

[30:45] Ideally, you want to pitch directly to the hiring manager—that is the person who has the knowledge and experience to make the best decision about your application.

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“The years specifically that people are looking for may not correlate exactly with the years of your experience. Our students know that they do a very concentrated amount of work, a lot of study and a lot of practice and they really build up their skills very, very quickly. Whereas outside of a program like that, it might take someone several years to get that same level of experience and expertise. So, you know, your six months in the program might equate to two or three years of outside experience. So don’t, I mean, this is specifically for CCA students, don’t see, oh, they’re looking for three to five years experience and think, well, I don’t qualify because I’ve only been working through this for six months or for a year. You absolutely do.” – Nicki

“Don’t say no to yourself before someone else does. Why would we ever say no to ourselves? It just doesn’t make sense. But we do it because we’re humans, and we feel like, oh, I just am not qualified. I don’t meet 110% of the qualifications.” – Kate

“Do not use the ‘one-click’ apply! But also do not then just go and apply through their website. You want to avoid being stopped, being lumped in with a bunch of other people. And Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students, you know exactly how to do this. The same system that you use to pitch clients for freelance work is exactly what you can do to pitch companies to work there. And again, whether you want to freelance for them or whether you want to work for them on staff, use the exact same system. Your cover letter should effectively be a pitch because again, it’s all about being helpful and all about showing that you are strategic and that you will hit the ground running as soon as you start working with them.” – Nicki

“What you should be taking away from this is that all of these opportunities are open to you. There’s no point at looking at a job and coming up with reasons not to apply for it or feeling like you need to be all of the things to all of the people, you don’t. You are enough. You are fantastic. Apply for these roles, people need the skills that you have, go out there and help these companies!” – Nicki and Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

This Brand-New Copywriter Landed a Senior Copywriting Role

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About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 180: Thriving as a Neurodivergent Copywriter – Cleo’s Story

The post Episode 181: Reading Between the Lines of Copywriter Job Descriptions appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Episode 172: Taking Action in the Face of Imposter Syndrome – Shelby’s Story

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Have you ever scrolled past copywriting roles at big-name companies, feeling like they’re out of your league? “There’s no WAY they’d consider hiring someone like me!” Many of us have doubted whether those big, corporate giants would ever give us a shot. But today, we’re about to share a story that proves those internal doubts wrong…

When Comprehensive Copywriting Academy student Shelby landed an interview at a big corporation, she certainly thought it was one of those “’too good to be true” scenarios. Little did she know, her unique approach would be key to standing out from the crowd and securing the position! Tune in to discover the two key ingredients that helped Shelby land the job of her dreams.

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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[03:03] CCA student Shelby had always wanted to be a writer but didn’t know where to go after graduating with a degree in journalism. When the pandemic hit, she began researching copywriting and managed to land a copywriting internship before discovering the CCA.

[4:58] After working through the CCA, Shelby took a bit of a backseat for a few months, before landing an entry level job in corporate communications and social media, followed by a role as a marketing assistant—both of which allowed her to build up her experience and her portfolio.

[6:51] Shelby was laid off from her job as a marketing assistant and started applying to roles on Indeed and LinkedIn. At the interview for her current role, she brought her printed portfolio and asked for spec work, standing out and securing the job!

[8:16] Shelby never thought she’d land a job with such a big corporation. But it’s a reminder that we never know what opportunities will come up and what we’ll learn from them!

[9:10] Despite changing careers, Shelby was still able to use her previous experience in the restaurant industry to help her land the job as a junior copywriter.

[10:07] There have been lots of opportunities to work on different and exciting projects, including writing a new slogan for a hotel!

[11:20] Shelby enjoys how collaborative this role is and that she gets to work with lots of different people, from designers to brand managers.

[12:02] When you’re intimidated about a new job, it’s easy to just focus on yourself, and forget that all of the other people in the office want you to do well. Shelby would advise someone to go into it with a willingness to ask questions and be open to learning.

[14:10] Sometimes, working for big corporations can be advantageous because they often have a better understanding of your role and don’t expect you to do work that is outside of your realm of expertise.

[15:28] One of the great things about copywriting is how flexible it can be. Shelby didn’t have to throw her career in the restaurant industry out the window and jump into copywriting. She could build things up gradually until she felt ready to let it go.

[16:23] Shelby landed one of her freelance clients as she got the job as a junior copywriter. It’s fun working on something a bit different to her day-to-day work and has allowed her to add SEO to her skill set!

[17:45] The big goal for Shelby is still to be a freelancer so that she has more control over her income and schedule. Pitching is at the heart of freelance success.

[19:15] If you feel like you’re a creative person, and you like to write, Shelby advises signing up for the CCA. Don’t feel like you have to know everything to begin—just start pitching because you’ll learn so much on the job.

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“I kind of feel like getting the job was the hardest part and once you get there, people are going to be nice and help you and help you learn. You just have to ask a lot of questions and I’m really lucky, the place I work at, everyone is just really nice and really helpful. No one’s intimidating, everyone is just really nice and really educated, so I guess everyone you’re working with, they’re just people. You just have to put yourself out there.” – Shelby

“One of my first big projects was a rebrand for a hotel in the Hamptons and they actually picked up one my slogans and they might use it for the number one slogan, so that was pretty cool. That was my first project.” – Shelby

“I know people get really scared about working for big corporations, but it’s actually been way less scary to work for them than say a small business owner because when I walk into the corporation, they already have the tone guide, they have the process, they have everything and I just have to do my little job and just complete it. But the small business that I worked for, they wanted me to know everything, know how to do social media, know how to do PR, administrative assistant, all these kinds of things so it can actually be easier to get your foot in the door at a bigger corporation because there’s more structure.” – Shelby

“I wish this had been a class in my college, I’m like, ‘Where has this been all my life?!’ My life would have been so much easier! So yeah, definitely sign up for the CCA and then don’t feel like you have to know everything to get started. And just start pitching. You’ll learn on the job, you can’t know everything before you do your first job so just get started.” – Shelby

Mentioned on this Episode

View Shelby’s portfolio site

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About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 171: Help! My Client Wants to Test My Copy!

The post Episode 172: Taking Action in the Face of Imposter Syndrome – Shelby’s Story appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Episode 142: On-Staff vs. Freelance Copywriting: Which is Better?

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 21:26:05 +0000

One of the wonders of a copywriting career is how versatile and flexible it can be. But having so many opportunities and so much freedom can feel overwhelming, especially when you don’t know which direction is best to take.

Nicki and Kate answer the long-standing debate once and for all: Is it better to focus on on-staff or freelance copywriting careers? The answer is not as black and white as you might think…

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:23] The answer to this question is deeply personal but important for you to consider because it will help to determine the right direction for you.

[3:31] Copywriting is less rigid than other careers and the people hiring you care more about the work you can do for their business than your career trajectory.

[6.06] Nicki discusses two different ways to be on-staff: working for a marketing or advertising agency and working for an in-house agency or creative team.

[7:09] The perks of working on-staff go beyond a regular paycheck, including getting a variety of portfolio samples, plus collaboration and mentorship opportunities.

[10:43] Kate reminds us that you are safest when you are in control of your income, rather than a company.

[14:02] Freelancing provides a lot of freedom but there are also trade-offs to consider such as loneliness.

[17:29] When making this decision, it is important to consider what type of person you are and how you work best.

[20:59] The common misconception is that as a freelancer, you don’t get the same benefits as an employee and that factoring in taxes is scary. Our hosts explain why this is not the case.

[23:54] Nicki talks about how contracting fits into this and why it could be another option to factor in.

[26:57] There is no perfect answer to which one is best as they can all be great at different times in your career.

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“You don’t want to necessarily write off any one company. This falls under a ‘don’t make assumptions’ philosophy and ethos about many things. You want to choose on-staff roles based on maybe your affinity for the company or if you think this will be an interesting opportunity, or you feel like having mentorship and guidance will help you grow as a copywriter.” – Kate

“I know when people hear ‘regular paycheck’, they immediately think safety, that this is a safe role because I am going to be getting steady income. But the thing is, you are safest when you are in control of your income, and you are not in control of your income when the company is controlling your income.” – Kate

“You’ll also really get to know whatever brands you’re working on really, really well. You’ll learn them inside and out. You’ll learn the target audience, and you’ll learn exactly how to speak to that target audience.” – Nicki

“People that are going to be hiring you and looking to work with you know that you don’t have to have been at a company for 10 years to have a mark of excellence. They are going to look at your portfolio, they are going to look at the work that you’ve done, they might give you a copy test. They care about the work that you can do for their business. They do not necessarily care about your career trajectory.” – Kate

“The biggest consideration is that when you’re freelance, your income is up to you.” – Nicki

Mentioned on this Episode

Get an Exclusive Bonus Recording!

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 141: #1 Change That Will Double Your Copywriting Income

The post Episode 142: On-Staff vs. Freelance Copywriting: Which is Better? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Episode 152: From Pastry Chef to Dutch Copywriter – Steffan’s Story

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Depending on what’s going on in your life, and what you need in the moment, copywriting offers a ton of flexibility. And Comprehensive Copywriting Academy Student, Steffan, is a prime example of how to take full advantage of all the different possibilities!

After years of working as a pastry chef, Steffan had to rethink his career when the pandemic hit the industry hard. He joined the CCA in 2021–fast forward two years and he has landed a full-time on staff position writing copy for an insurance company in the Netherlands! Listen in to hear some of the benefits of working in-house and his wise words of advice for anyone just starting out.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:58] Steffan has a background in journalism, which is how he started off writing. He then worked for many years as a pastry chef but when the pandemic hit the industry very hard, he began writing again.

[4:57] Steffan enjoys the research aspect of copywriting and naturally gravitates towards writing email copy and short form copy.

[7:22] Sometimes as copywriters, we can forget the impact we have on businesses. During the pandemic, Steffan began writing email campaigns and social posts for a restaurant, which ultimately helped them stay open by promoting their new services.

[9:20] Steffan has landed his first full-time in-house copywriting job at an insurance company. Go Steffan! He finds being in-house with the whole creative team much more rewarding, even though projects have to go through many layers of people before they’re published.

[11:32] Although the in-house role was financially less attractive than freelancing, Steffan is learning a lot from this role to push his career forward.

[13:26] The company where Steffan currently works is a startup, and he handles a mix of copy and content projects. There is also the potential for his role to develop into a marketing manager!

[15:24] Steffan works in a creative team of people, including the creative director. The company is scaling fast so it’s likely this team will soon be expanding.

[17:02] It’s unlikely Steffan will return to being a pastry chef but he would love to combine his two passions by writing about food one day.

[18:27] Steffan’s advice for anyone who is just getting started as a copywriter is to keep going and be consistent. The small wins do add up over time!

[21:17] Steffan’s success is a testament to following the steps outlined in the CCA, even if there are times when you feel a little uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback in the group!

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“As copywriters sometimes we can get so focused on trying to get work, trying to get that next client, working with our clients and doing the writing, that we forget what an impact our writing can have on these businesses. Certainly during times when there is a massive upheaval, like during a pandemic, but even just on a daily basis, the work that we do really helps businesses continue to run and grow.” – Nicki

“I had great months, but also I had months where it was less good and at a certain point I was like ‘Am I actually learning as much as I want at this point? Maybe it makes sense for me to go in-house’, like I just said, to be with the creative team, with the creative director, and other copywriters. So I was like, okay, maybe financially in this sense, it may be less attractive, but I think at this point I’m learning so much that it can actually only push myself forward for the time coming.” – Steffan

“These small wins, they actually add up. And then after months of consistent work, then you’re like, ‘Hey, actually I’m kind of getting the hang of this.’ Even though when I started off, my first drafts, they were absolute, well, I can’t say the word I guess, but they were not good!” – Steffan

“I was a bit hesitant about putting it online in the CCA group. You’re like, ‘Am I good enough? Am I not good enough?’ But in the end, you have to do it to get better because there are so many smart people in that group that can give you tons of valuable feedback on there.” – Steffan

Mentioned on this Episode

Get an Exclusive Bonus Recording!

About the Build Your Business Podcast

Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?

Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 151: Is Manifesting a Copywriting Career Bogus?

The post Episode 152: From Pastry Chef to Dutch Copywriter – Steffan’s Story appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Episode 150: A Day in the Life of a Copywriter

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +0000

One of the selling points of a career in copywriting is the flexibility of how you structure your work. But if you’re not yet making your living as a full-time copywriter, you might be wondering how a copywriter actually spends their time.

While this is going to look completely different from one person to another (especially as there are different routes like freelancing or working on-staff), there will still be some commonalities. In this episode, Nicki and Kate talk us through the details of a day in the life of a copywriter and how best to use your time when you’re feeling more or less creative!

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Watch the episode on YouTube!

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[3:05] A copywriter’s day will look completely different from one person to another due to all of the variables, but there will still be some commonalities.

[3:33] The beginning of the day can be a good time to do admin tasks if you prefer to ease into your day, like Kate, and not have to worry about checking emails all day. For Nicki, she is more fresh and creative at this time of the day, so it’s a valuable time for her to work on trickier copywriting projects.

[5:26] Scheduling breaks throughout the day and identifying when you are at your most creative and most focused is crucial for producing quality work.

[8:22] During the times when you know you are less creative, it’s a good idea to schedule client calls or do admin tasks like checking emails or research for pitching.

[10:04] Kate also likes to use the time when she is less creative to outline her copy doc and add some “low pressure writing” as she calls it. This is a good tactic because it means you have some momentum when you sit down the next day and are not starting from scratch.

[12:33] Nicki advises against sending through copy during wine time. As Hemmingway said, “write drunk, edit sober”!

[14:08] If you’re working on-staff, it can be more of a challenge to choose when you can do your most creative time. Try to block out your creative time and schedule meetings around this if possible–if you’re working for a creative director or a marketing director, they’ll likely understand.

[16:17] It’s important to communicate with all the people on your team, such as designers, to establish when your creative hours are. That way you can book in a suitable time to collaborate on your projects.

[21:20] For freelancers, it can be very easy to forget that you can create opportunities to collaborate as you need or want. Technology makes it so much easier to hop on a quick call with people and still build really fantastic collaborations.

[23:51] If you’re working freelance and with clients across different time zones, remember to set the boundaries that make sense for you. You don’t have to take calls at 11 o’clock at night!

[26:34] Nicki and Kate encourage you to do a little experimentation when it comes to when and where you do your creative work, so that you can find out what works best for you.

[29:02] Don’t forget that you can do different things on different days to keep it exciting and interesting. We didn’t get into this job to be bored!

Must-Hear Takeaways

As with every episode, we highly encourage you to listen to the entire conversation! But here are a few of the highlights:

“One of the many great things about this career is that you can kind of figure out what works for you and we would encourage you to do a little experimentation. If you know you always do your creative work in the morning, try doing it in the evening, or in the afternoon. You could discover that you’ve been trying to force yourself into the morning hours, when it turns out you are one of the people who’s just really good in the afternoon or middle of the day. But experiment to figure out what works best for you, as long as you are delivering the best quality copy that you can to your clients and are responding to them in a timely manner.” – Nicki

“I would say one of the things I wish I learned sooner was still having that idea of when my key peak hours were to then be able to better push back against meetings that are scheduled.” – Kate

“Communication, communication, communication. Ask for what you need.” – Kate

“If you’re traveling while you’re working too, then you’re going to have to shift potentially what your ‘day in the life’ looks like. Maybe you want to be out exploring all day and then work at night. And that’s perfectly doable, which is the beauty of this career: the flexibility of it and the flexibility to change what your day looks like, especially as a freelancer. – Kate

“You can do different things on different days, just to keep it exciting and interesting, and not boring. We didn’t get into this to be bored.” Kate

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About the Build Your Business Podcast

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See Previous Episode

Ep. 149: The Worst Advice for New Freelancers (And What to Do Instead)

The post Episode 150: A Day in the Life of a Copywriter appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Episode 142: On-Staff vs. Freelance Copywriting: Which is Better?

Nicki Krawczyk — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Today, Nicki and Kate answer the long standing debate once and for all: Is it better to focus on on-staff or freelance copywriting careers? The answer is not as black and white as you might think…