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

• Ep. 56: What is a Copywriting Test and Should You Do One?
• Ep. 49: How to Build Your Own Benefits as a Freelancer

Related Links

• Freelance Copywriter Benefits: How to Build Your Own Benefits Package
• Is it Better to Be an On-Staff Copywriter or a Freelance Copywriter?
• Where to Find Great Copywriting Jobs

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

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.

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.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[3:45] CCA student Melanie spends a lot of time in Mexico, and is looking to get temporary residency. She is worried that clients might not have confidence in you if you don’t have a physical presence in the same country.

[5:03] Clients won’t mind where you are, as long as you can do what it is that you say you can do. It’s very common for people to be working from all over and traveling while they work.

[6:40] Having a backup plan for infrastructure issues like power or internet outages is crucial for remote work.

[8:50] It’s always a good idea to give clients a deadline where you’re able to over deliver and get it to them a couple of days earlier. Then if there are any unexpected issues, you have built in time to account for that.

[10:09] Confidence in your abilities and professionalism will outweigh any concerns clients may have about your location.

[12:27] Having multiple modes of communication like Zoom, Google Meet, and a Skype number gives you more options in case of problems.

[13:11] A Skype number allows you to dial out and appear as a local number to the recipient, without any additional charges for your client.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Clients aren’t going to care where you are, as long as you can do what it is that you say you can do. You have your portfolio you can send them to and say, ‘here’s work I’ve done’, and you’re going to do it the exact same way that you would land clients if you were in the U.S., or if you were anywhere. This process is not going to change in terms of pitching.” – Kate

“For your clients, it’s no different whether you’re in Mexico City or whether you’re in Los Angeles. There’s no different experience for them at all. The only thing for you is that there can be infrastructure issues.” – Nicki

“I always give clients a deadline and I usually under promise, over deliver in the sense of I’m going try to get this done probably at least 2 days before the actual deadline, and then maybe the next day I’ll just read it for one more read through to make sure it’s all good. But I feel confident that if I had to send this to the client as is, I could in those situations.” – Kate

“If you want to have your days free and work nights, you can definitely do that. I think the only thing I would say is set boundaries for yourself of saying, ‘okay I know I need to take some client calls – what are those hours going to be for me that I’m available on whatever time zone that your clients are on?’ But otherwise, so much of what you’re going to be doing, you can control your schedule and when and where you do it.” – Kate

Related Links

• Is it Really Possible for Copywriters to Work Entirely Remotely?
• Tips for Copywriters Working With Remote Clients
• Which Work From Home Writing Jobs Are Real?
• 7 Tips to Living the Digital Nomad Lifestyle as a Copywriter

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

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.

See Previous Episode

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

The post BONUS – Laser Coaching: How Can I Work Remotely from Anywhere in the World? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

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

• Ep. 56: What is a Copywriting Test and Should You Do One?
• Ep. 49: How to Build Your Own Benefits as a Freelancer

Related Links

• Freelance Copywriter Benefits: How to Build Your Own Benefits Package
• Is it Better to Be an On-Staff Copywriter or a Freelance Copywriter?

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

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.

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.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:53] Chris joined the CCA because he was looking for the digital nomad dream and was determined not to return to office life after the pandemic.

[4:46] Chris was hesitant to invest in a course and leave his employment to jump into a new career in copywriting.

[6:15] Building a client base while traveling was a steep learning curve for Chris. 

[8:34] One of Chris’ biggest hurdles has been making sure to set expectations about what is realistic to get done while traveling, so that he’s not setting himself up for failure.

[10:08] The hosts discuss the importance of setting boundaries in your business that make sense for you and your schedule, and Chris explains how he has implemented this.

[14:04] Chris has moved toward more of an agency model, so that he can offer his clients a suite of solutions.

[16:41] Chris warns anyone interested in the agency model not to over commit as people’s livelihoods are at stake.

[19:25] Traveling too frequently is challenging and it can be better to just stay in one place for a little while.

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:

“No matter where I am in the world, I’ve stopped trying to do meetings across the full 9-5 day where I am, and instead try to fit it in a couple of hours and then fit my work around whatever I want to do.” – Chris

“That’s certainly something that all of us can and should be doing, protecting that time that is your deep work time and then scheduling your client calls for only a specific window.” – Nicki

“We need to have that kind of employee relationship with ourself as well. Would you ask an employee to work from eight o’clock in the morning until 11 o’clock at night, five days a week? No, you wouldn’t. If you can set your own timelines, you need to still treat your business as a business and make sure that you are not just treating it as a hobby because you soon start slipping in different places, but you also need to make sure that you are holding yourself within those boundaries to make sure you don’t burn out at the same time.” – Chris

“It’s even more valuable when our clients can come to us with a suite of problems and we can come to them with a suite of solutions and make that easy for them.” – Nicki

 “I made the mistake of trying to rely too much on one customer at the beginning. And I think since I kind of moved away from that, it’s been a lot better in terms of job satisfaction and also getting more work because you’re forced to go out and speak to different people and figure out what different companies want, rather than just being very good at one company’s requirements.” – Chris

Related Links

• 7 Tips to Living the Digital Nomad Lifestyle as a Copywriter
• 6 Must-Pack Items to Write Copy Overseas
• Is it Really Possible for Copywriters to Work Entirely Remotely?
• Ep. 68: Learning to Embrace the Flexibility of Copywriting

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

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.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 139: Are You Skipping This Essential Copywriting Task?

The post Episode 140: Traveling Europe While Running a Copywriting Agency—Chris’s Story appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Retirement is an achievement and, for some, a time to completely close the door on the “work” chapter of their lives. But, if you’re like many others, you may miss having a job—or at least something in your day that offers structure—you may be toying with the idea of a retirement side hustle or even starting a new career. Or maybe you want to supplement your retirement savings with additional income.

Your retirement side hustle doesn’t have to feel like a chore. In fact, it can—and should!—be fun.

If you have an affinity for writing, then copywriting may be the perfect retirement job or side hustle.

1. Work on your schedule

One of the best parts about copywriting? Its flexibility. Once you know how to write copy, you can shape your career any number of ways. Want more interaction with other adults? Look for in-person roles. You can look for full- and part-time roles. But if you’re thinking, “I retired for a reason! I don’t want even close to that many hours,” good news: there are plenty of in-person contract and freelancing opportunities for copywriters, too.

Prefer working when and where you want? Focus on freelancing. Freelance copywriters work on their schedule (of course, with the occasional client meeting you may need to find time for).

2. Partner only with clients you love

As a copywriter, you quickly realize just how much opportunity there is across all industries. Businesses and organizations of all types and sizes need effective messaging to, well, stay in business! That includes nonprofits.

That’s good news for you. You didn’t retire to start a new job that makes you groan as you get out of bed every morning.

If you have an affinity for dogs, for example, you can work with dog shelters to get their message out. Or, if in your prior career you were a nurse, you could look to write copy for healthcare companies. Or maybe you feel strongly about supporting environmental efforts. You can look to work with nonprofits or other organizations in the sustainability space, contributing to their mission with your writing.

You get the idea! Think big and think broad—there is so much opportunity for copywriters.

Copywriting may be your opportunity to help organizations you love.

3. Don’t stress your resume

If you’re like most people who get into copywriting, your background has nothing to do with marketing. That’s completely fine and, when used to your advantage, a strength. You can use all your past experience to look at copywriting challenges from a unique lens.

And, as for your resume, it’s not the most important data point for clients looking to hire you. In fact, most won’t even ask to see one! What they will want to see is your portfolio—samples of work that show you know how to write copy (there’s an entire course in the CCA that walks you step-by-step through this process).

4. Earn extra income in retirement

The system we teach students for finding and landing clients in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy (CCA) allows you to dial up and dial down the amount of work you have at any given moment. Want to do absolutely no work over the summer? Great! Want to take on a little extra work to upgrade your hotel on your next vacation? Done. You have ultimate control over how many projects you take on.

It is absolutely possible for copywriters to make six figures (and, in fact, some CCA students make six figures working part time!). But it’s also possible to make an extra $1,000 or $2,000/month if that’s your goal. You determine how much you want to work.

Learn More: Building a Copywriting Side Hustle in Retirement

Explore your opportunities in copywriting: get our free online training “How to Get Started in Copywriting.”

Click here to learn more about the free training >>

The post Starting a Copywriting Side Hustle in Retirement appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[1:36] Today Nicki and Kate are getting your out of your home office and talking about all of the different places you can work from! Work from home means work from anywhere, and it can be so refreshing to shake up your routine by moving around once in a while.

[2:00] Kate shares that one of her favorite locations to work out of is the hotel lobby! It’s an energetic change of scenery that gets you out of the house. Plus, you can grab some coffee or a cocktail from the hotel bar.

[4:04] A huge benefit to working outside of your house is it can open up different parts of your creativity! A change of scenery can definitely change your mindset and can help your creativity!

[6:10] Nicki shares that working in a different location than your home can definitely help with interruptions and distractions that commonly pop up in your own house. By having that physical separation it’s easier to work through your day free of interruptions.

[10:15] Taking a shot at the digital nomad lifestyle gives you an opportunity to explore the world. Nicki points out that it also adds structure to your day that can be hard to find when working solely from the home office.

[13:15] Our hosts emphasize that wifi is a non-negotiable part of the digital nomad lifestyle. The best practice is to bring a wifi-hotspot device so that you know you’ll always have connection.

[17:40] It’s essential to have cloud storage as a digital nomad in case of any accidents that compromise your computer. You need to back things up to the cloud because eventually, your computer will die!

[19:40] Kate explains that you may want to tell your clients if you are working on the road, just so that they know. You definitely don’t have to, but it’s best they know should anything come up as a result of your travel.

[23:31] Nicki closes the episode with some encouragement to give working outside of your house a try! You never know what a change of setting may do to positively impact your daily routine.

Mentioned on the Episode

• 6 Must-Pack Items to Write Copy Overseas

Related Links

• How to Become a Digital Nomad Copywriter
• Note: CCA students, you have access to Laurel Van Woerkom‘s session Life Liberation: Taking the Leap to Location Independence. You can find it on your CCA dashboard under Special Events > Summer Freelance Summit 2022.

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

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.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 99: Running a Copy Agency from Costa Rica – Poorva’s Story

The post Ep. 100: Take Advantage of the Digital Nomad Lifestyle appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[2:07] Many people think an extrovert is someone who is outgoing, and an introvert is someone who is shy. However, that’s not that case. It’s all about where you get your energy from, whether that’s being around people or being on your own or with one or two other people.

[3:55] Nicki mentions that when you have to be actively thinking and communicating with a client, a lot of brain power and energy is taken out of you. Even 100% extroverts can benefit from taking a moment and relaxing after a client call, just because it can be so much.

[5:28] Practicing and knowing when to book those interactions as a copywriter is key. As time goes on, you will get more and more confident with speaking to clients, but it takes practice.

[6:55] Technology has assisted with making life easier for introverts in this day and age. Before you would meet with someone in their office. Now, you’re in your home and you have that element of comfort and safety around you.

[10:06] Kate notes that it’s important for introverts and extroverts to feel prepared for whatever call you’re getting on. Gathering those notes and having an idea of what you want to say and when you want to say it, can help immensely. She also mentions that sometimes you have to realize that you’re just having a conversation with this person, and that it doesn’t always have to feel so intense.

[12:38] You don’t get confident before taking the action, you get confident by taking action. Confidence will come to you after you push yourself outside of your comfort zone and realize that you lived through it. Preparation gives only so much confidence compared to doing it, which gives you infinite confidence and makes you realize you can do it again.

[14:24] Extroverts can be put off a bit from writing because it is known to be such a solitary occupation. However, there are communities that you can join that can provide that interaction and socialization with other copywriters (like the CCA group).

[17:15] For extroverts who miss that feeling of being in an office, you can go to a co-working space with other freelancers or work in a cafe where they allow you to work all day. Doing so can give you a sense of accountability and you can even bounce ideas back and forth with others.

[21:45] Whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, it’s important to look at companies that will suit you best. You may have to work with a larger marketing team and designers, or one on one with a smaller team. Do what you think is best for you.

Related Links

• Freelance Copywriting for Introverts
• Copywriting Success Secrets for Introverts

Tell us what you love about the podcast and what you hope to hear next! When you do, you can get access to an exclusive bonus recording featuring five wildly successful entrepreneurs who share what they do (and don’t!) look for when hiring copywriters. You do not want to miss it! 

Get all the details on how to get your recording here »

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.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 45: How to Calm Your Nerves for Meetings with Copywriting Clients

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

Ah, the joys and challenges of working from home. All that freedom and flexibility! And, also, EEK! All that freedom and flexibility.

As anyone who has been in charge of creating their own schedule can tell you, it’s a lot harder than it looks. It’s much easier to stay on task when there’s a risk of a coworker or boss walking past your desk at any moment. And exactly when the workday begins and ends gets much fuzzier when your office consists of wherever you set down your laptop.

Here we look at tips for setting up your work-from-home schedule, maximizing your productivity, and making sure that your work hours don’t creep into your relaxation hours. Setting up your daily habits to be most productive is a key to business success.

Get to Know Yourself

The first and, arguably, most important key to setting up an effective work-from-home schedule is to learn exactly when YOU are naturally most focused and creative. No, not when it’s most convenient for you to be focused or creative, but when you are.

I desperately wish I were most focused and creative in the afternoon because I’d much prefer to ease into the workday with small, admin tasks in the morning. Alas, that’s just not how I work. I’m at my most creative and focused in the morning, which means that’s when any copywriting or big project work HAS to happen. By the afternoon, my focus and energy are at a low point and I have to do admin tasks then. (Finding a “typical” copywriter schedule is challenging!)

To make the most of your workday, you need to figure out when YOU are most focused and creative and schedule your most challenging work for that time. Maybe, like me, you’re a morning person. Or maybe you do better work in the afternoon. (Lucky!) Either way, you need to arrange your schedule to keep that time blocked off for important work.

Don’t take calls during that time if you can help it and don’t let yourself get pulled into smaller, less important tasks.

Once you’ve identified your personal most productive time of the day, then identify your least most productive time. For me, it’s 1 or 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.—I’m utterly useless for creative work during that time. BUT that time is perfect for lower-focus, lower-energy tasks.

I’d strongly recommend that you do the same: Save your admin tasks like sending follow-up or check-in emails, invoicing clients, researching potential clients, and so on for that time.

Clock In and Clock Out

When your office is within your own home (or even when it’s in a hotel or café), the lines between “work time” and “non-work time” can get a little blurry. It’s easy to let non-work activities like laundry or dishes slide into your workday (“Oh, it needs to be done and it’ll just take 10 minutes!”). And it’s easy to let your work time slip into your off-hours (“I’m just going to answer this email while the oven is pre-heating.”)

At first, this might seem like an efficient use of your time. But the problem with doing non-work activities during your workday is that there’s an energy cost every time you switch from a work activity to a non-work activity. Instead of “maximizing your time” you’re actually taking away from your brain’s ability to focus and stay disciplined. (It can also be a STRONG indicator of Resistance…)

And when your work bleeds into your downtime hours, you run the risk of burning yourself out. All work and no play doesn’t make Jack a dull boy—it makes him exhausted and unable to do ANYTHING.

So, what do you do? Set yourself definite hours for when you’re working and when you’re not, and do your very best to stick to it. Maybe your workday starts at 9 and goes to 4 with a break for lunch. Or maybe you have a full-time job and your part-time workday starts at 7 pm and goes to 7:45. Either way, the key is to set those times and stick to them—don’t let non-work activities slip in during those times, and don’t let work slip outside of them.

Now, of course, if you need to get to an appointment or run errands during your work hours every once in a while, you can do that. (Your boss is flexible like that ) But then actually clock out—mark it on your calendar as time away from work. And just be careful about “essential” errands sneaking into your workday too often…

Guard Your Workday

For people who don’t work for themselves (or for people who aren’t used to working from home), your schedule can seem to them like an open day when you can do anything you want. And sure, you can enjoy that jealousy just a little bit.

But the problem comes in when they treat your workday like a non-workday, calling or messaging you during your peak work hours. (Or asking for favors or meetups during the day.) Now, yes, one of the great things about being freelance is the flexibility—but when you let your friends or family break up your day, you’re basically giving over your schedule to them!

Much as we love our family and friends, you need to set some ground rules. First, I’d strongly consider shutting off your phone or at least silencing the ringer and message notifications. It’s easier to ignore if you don’t know someone is reaching out.

Or, if you need to keep your notifications on, then let your friends and family know when it’s okay to call you or text you—or, at least, when they can expect to get their calls answered or their texts returned. If they don’t know when is the best time to call you, how can they possibly get it right?

And the same goes for people within your household. You might adopt my friend’s policy (“Don’t knock if there’s no blood”) for her closed office door. Meaning, “I love you kids so much but, during the time that this door is closed, don’t knock unless someone has been grievously injured.” And, frankly, sometimes significant others need the same gentle guidance, too. (“Please don’t interrupt me when the door is closed. Pretend I’m not even here.”)

I don’t go around quoting Spider-Man as a rule but, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Working for yourself and setting up your own work schedule gives you a lot of power, but it’s also your responsibility to make sure those hours are used effectively.

With some clear planning and some rules in place, you can ensure that your best work gets done during your designated work hours (whenever those are!) and you’re free to enjoy the rest of your day.

Your Turn

Which of these recommendations will you adopt for your schedule? Let us know in the comments below.

The post How To Set Up Your Schedule When Working from Home appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Maybe it’s because writing itself requires so much time alone, but it seems that a lot of people who love to write also require solitude to recharge their batteries.

It makes sense, then, that we get a lot of questions about whether freelance copywriting is a good career for introverts.

And it can seem like the perfect career for introverts—freelancers get to work from wherever they like, avoiding offices and even cafes if they feel like it. There are no drop-bys from coworkers or big meetings to attend when you work from your own kitchen table.

At the same time, though, working as a freelancer means that you do have to connect with new people all the time—you can write copy alone, but it’s sure hard to get paid without clients.

If this makes you nervous, I’m going to strike even a bit more fear into your heart. (Though you might have guessed that I’m also going to allay that fear in a moment. Stick with me.)

Fundamentally, the very best way to ensure that you have plenty of work and money coming in is to take control of your copywriting opportunities and proactively pitch your valuable services to companies.

Cue the panic: “You want me to reach out to STRANGERS???”

Okay my friend, take a deep breath. This is not anywhere near as scary as it first sounds and, actually, it’s probably the most ideal way for introverts to build a career, anyway.

First, the way we teach our students to pitch clients begins by emailing with enthusiastic and valuable emails—the kind of emails that not only are not pushy or aggressive, but are regularly welcomed by clients because of the value they include.

On top of that, this system means that our copywriters never even talk to anyone on the phone unless they’re at least somewhat interested in hiring them. There are no “Please hire me” conversations, only conversations between one person who has a need for copywriting, and another who can provide those solutions.

(And, yes, we have training for how to facilitate those calls, too.)

You can’t make money as a copywriter without clients. (And, in fact, I’d challenge you to find me any career that will pay you without clients or a boss of some kind.) But the method we teach of pitching clients (and the support we offer in our coaching calls and within the student-only Facebook group) makes pitching clients as painless as possible.

Yes, the first few pitch emails will probably make you nervous—but they make our extrovert and ambivert students nervous, too! Doing anything new for the first time can trigger nerves.

You likely don’t remember it now, but the first time you drove a car or the first time you tried swimming triggered just as many nerves. But you kept going, and now you’re adept at them and don’t give them a second thought.

Freelance copywriting can make a great career for introverts. The key—and the key for absolutely everyone—is to keep taking action. Everything gets easier with practice, and that includes both copywriting and pitching potential clients.

The simple fact is that every moment that you spend worrying about them is another moment longer until you’ve mastered them and they feel easy.

Watch More

Nicki and Kate both consider themselves ambiverts and are digging into why copywriting is a great career for both introverts and extroverts—with some of the factors you should consider depending which camp you fall into.

If you’ve been wondering if copywriting is right for your personality, listen in to hear tips for making the most of it no matter how you identify!

Your turn! Are there other concerns I haven’t addressed? Or are you willing to take the plunge and get started? Let me know in the comments below.

The post Freelance Copywriting for Introverts appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

It’s always the right time of year to think about all the things we’re thankful for—and, for me, one of those things is definitely my career.

I thought I’d share 10 things that I’m thankful for about copywriting to give you a little insight into exactly why I’m so passionate about this career. 

1. I Get to Write for a Living

As a little kid, I dreamed about being a writer, but as I got older I “discovered” that I couldn’t be a full-time writer unless I wanted to be chronically underpaid. Luckily, I eventually stumbled onto the REAL discovery: Copywriters get to write for a living, do creative work, and command great rates to do it. (The first time I hit six figures was in 2008—during the Great Recession.) If you’re anything like me, you know just how amazing of a discovery that is. I get to WRITE for a LIVING. 

2. The Creative Challenges

There’s just about nothing worse than working in a job that doesn’t call on you to use your brain and use it well. Copywriting makes me think and challenges me to use my creativity in a strategic way. It’s SO much fun and so incredibly rewarding.

3. The Flexibility

I can work when I want, where I want, and for whom I want. I’ve worked on-staff, I’ve worked as a contractor, I’ve worked as a freelancer—and I love that I get the option to do all of those.

We love the flexibility of copywriting so much, we even recorded an entire Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode about it.

4. The Income

Before I realized that I could write copy for a living, I truly thought that writers couldn’t make a good living. And I am SO delighted to say how wrong I was. (The first year I hit six figures was during the Great Recession!) Here’s another podcast for additional insight!

5. The Control

Okay, that makes me sound like a little bit of a lunatic, but bear with me: It’s up to ME how much work I take on and how many clients I have. I can dial up or dial down my client pitching to dial up or dial down my workflow. It’s up to me—not to anyone else. And I love that!

6. The Things I’ve Learned

Working with all kinds of different clients means that I’m always learning new things and I LOVE that. I’ve learned more about the allure of non-commercial tractor equipment, fast-casual restaurant digital loyalty programs, and residential solar panels than I ever expected to and you know what? Each one is fascinating!

7. The People I’ve Met

Throughout my career, I have worked with the most incredible group of creative, interesting, and dynamic people. I’ve worked with incredible graphic designers, incredible product managers, business owners, and tech developers, among many others. Want to be inspired? Work with inspiring people.

8. The Freedom

Right now, I’m working entirely freelance and entirely from home (or wherever). This is fantastic enough on its own, believe me. But recently a friend of mine had a major family emergency and needed help. My job let me grab my computer and an overnight bag and be there for her and her two little girls exactly when she needed me and I am SO grateful that I have the kind of career that lets me do that.

9. The Opportunities Ahead of Me

As marketing and business evolve, there are more and more new ways to flex my copywriting skills and more new ways to help my clients build their successful businesses.

10. The Students I Get to Work With!

I am so blessed to work with some of the most motivated, positive, and gifted people I’ve ever met in our Comprehensive Copywriting Academy. Our CCA students are dedicated to learning to write copy, mastering their skills, and building the careers of their dreams and I couldn’t be more honored to help them and guide them on their journeys.

Your Turn

What are you thankful for as a copywriter? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The Top 10 Benefits of a Copywriting Career appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.