TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[1:39] Our hosts are joined by CCA student and copywriting coach, Cleo, who tried several other careers before copywriting, including resume writing. 

[4:27] Cleo encountered a lot of messaging about how it’s “impossible to make money as a writer”. But copywriting excited her as it seemed like a viable path for making good money as a writer.

[5:49] Financially, Cleo has been able to support herself solely through copywriting for a couple of years now. It provides 100% of the household income for her and her daughter (while working a heck of a lot less than 40 hours a week!).

[6:48] Cleo was diagnosed with autism as an adult. But working from home as a freelancer allows her to leverage her neurodivergent strengths and be more flexible in finding workarounds for her weaknesses—something that seemed impossible in a normal 9-5 office job.

[10:05] Having a neurodivergent mind has been an asset as a copywriter because she can tap into her creative side a lot more and embrace her ‘busy brain’ through the diverse range of client work she does.

[12:01] A big part of Cleo’s journey has been accepting that the way she works might look different to other people. She has learnt to accommodate her needs and give herself the freedom to explore the working patterns that suit her the most—without any shame attached.

[15:30] Nicki reminds us that, no matter how your brain works, you don’t need to put your pressure on yourself to conform to a way of working that is not natural for you. 

[18:17] Whether it’s therapy, self-help books, or connecting with people who have similar struggles, there are many ways to practice self-acceptance and stop trying to force yourself to fit into a certain box.

[21:07] While there are anxious moments in freelancing, it helps Cleo to know that she is the one who has the power to deal with those problems. But when we work for someone else, we give up a lot of that control. You just have to earn your own trust as a freelancer by proving to yourself that you *can* do it.

[26:10] Sometimes, we don’t realize how much of an impact small things like having control over when you eat or who you work with, can have on our mental health. 

[28:45] Copywriting and freelancing in general can be so much more than a career—it gives you so many opportunities to work on boundaries, which have a wider impact on your confidence, self-acceptance, and self esteem.

[32:32] Cleo is also a creative writer and had a gigantic win recently when her first novel got accepted for publication (after working on it for ten years!).

Must-Hear Takeaways

“When I started out freelancing, I had this idea that I had to be working this 9-5 like a ‘real job’ and that I had to do things a certain way. And I ended up really pushing myself to the point where I had a lot of burnout and overwhelm and really struggled in that first year or so before I realized that I had to do this a different way. And I think that is something that likely going to be common for people who have mental illnesses, disabilities, neurodivergence, is just that you have to accept that you aren’t going to be able to do it in the same way as everybody else is doing it and be able to accept that.” – Cleo

“A huge part of this process as well is the self-acceptance towards the things that are part of my brain and how I work, while also being very serious about tackling those anxieties and figuring out how to deal with them. And the opposite of anxiety is trust and I think that for me at least working for an employer is putting something so important to my life in someone else’s hands and I always feel more anxious when something important is in someone else’s hands than when it’s mine. So while there are certainly anxious moments freelancing, absolutely, I think that it helps to feel like I am the one who has the power to deal with those problems. But that trust takes time to build and you have to sort of earn your own trust and prove to yourself that you can do it.” – Cleo

“I think that being able to work from home and not just work from home but work from home for myself, has just freed up so much my ability to use the strengths the come from being neurodivergent and find workarounds for the weaknesses, and just have that flexibility to tailor my work life in a way that would almost certainly be out of the realm of the possible for most jobs.” – Cleo

“Copywriting and freelancing in general can be just so more than a career and have such a bigger impact on who you are and your overall confidence and self-acceptance and self-esteem.” – Cleo

Mentioned on this Episode

• 5 Books to Read Written by Copywriters
• View Cleo’s portfolio
• Connect with Cleo on LinkedIn

Related Links

• Setting Boundaries as a Copywriter
• Building Your Career for Maximum Flexibility
• Tips for Neurodivergent Copywriters

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. 179: Should You Offer Discounts or Sales on Your Copywriting Services?

The post Episode 180: Thriving as a Neurodivergent Copywriter – Cleo’s Story 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

[1:50] It’s easy to get excited about new endeavors, and then immediately go out and purchase all of the various accessories to go with that hobby. To help you avoid getting carried away, Nicki and Kate are digging into what you do and don’t need when it comes to your copywriting career.

[3:01] For starters, you need (reliable!) internet and a computer of some kind, whether it’s a laptop or desktop.

[4:50] You’ll also need some kind of automated backup for your computer (the joys of tech!) and some kind of word processing software, like Google Docs or Microsoft Word.  

[6:32] There are all kinds of things you *could* purchase, but are not necessary. It’s very easy to start investing in software, for example, but make sure the software is going to pay for itself (and then some!) before you start investing in it.

[7:56] A few of the software that we’re big fans of include DubSado (for client tracking and invoicing) and Asana (for project management).

[9:23] As a copywriter, you need a space that you can work in (and actually get work done), and a space where you can go and take video calls or phone calls as needed.

[12:37] Even though we’re working from home, we want to come across as professional as we can. But that doesn’t mean you need to spend loads of money on a fancy office background—a blur is totally fine.

[15:05] Remember you also need to look professional on client calls—not necessarily a full suit but you don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed!

[17:15] It’s worth considering how to make your workspace more ergonomic, whether that’s investing in a better office chair or wrist pad, to help with posture and comfort.

[19:10] Of course, there are additional items you can buy yourself like a new desk or lamps, but don’t buy that stuff before you have client income coming in.

[22:22] The temptation is to buy additional home office equipment first, thinking that it’s going to make you feel more professional so that you’ll take action. But that is 100% resistance showing up. In reality, there are very few purchases that you have to make to start copywriting.

[25:03] If you’re a CCA student, upload a photo of your home office to the Facebook group—it’s always fun to get inspired by other people’s home office setups!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Frankly, you could do your whole copywriting career from a library which has free internet, which has computers that you can borrow, which has all of those things. You wouldn’t even need to buy anything. A lot of libraries have rooms that you can go to and shut the door for calls. So there are ways to make this work without spending anything really.” – Kate

“The magic to get you to do things is not going to be coming from making a purchase. It’s just not. It’s going to be from learning your motivation types, making commitments, reaching out for support from fellow students in the group, putting it on your schedule. All that kind of stuff is not going to come from stuff. However, go ahead and get the stuff once you are earning.” – Nicki

“Office decor, that kind of thing, it is not an investment. It’s a purchase. And it’s totally fine to make that purchase. But our strong advice to you is don’t make that purchase before you’re making the income that will help you pay for that purchase.” – Nicki

“There are all kinds of things that you could purchase, but they’re not necessary. Our students know that when we talk about software, for example, make sure that the software is going to pay for itself and then some before you start investing it. Because it’s very easy to start investing in software and a lot of them have monthly payment program and all of a sudden, at the end of the year, you can look at what you spend and go, “Oh my gosh, I’ve spent hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on software that I don’t really use or that isn’t really making any kind of positive impact on my business.” – Nicki

Mentioned on this Episode

• Best Free Software for Copywriters
• DubSado (for client tracking and invoicing)
• Asana (for project management).

Related Links

• What Software Do You Need to Run Your Copywriting Business?
• Home Office Essentials for a Copywriter
• What Does a Typical Copywriter Day Look Like?

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

Episode 173: How to Elevate Your Profile & Land Copywriting Clients on LinkedIn

The post Episode 174: What You Need for Your Professional Copywriting Home Office 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?
• 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

[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.

I say “new truth” but it’s really been creeping up on us for a while. First, companies got rid of pensions…then workers moved away from being “lifers” at companies…then it became common—if not necessary—to change jobs every three to five years. Now, the importance of freelancing is clear: you need the skills to find and land clients (and bring in income) whenever you need (or want!) to.

And then: Boom. COVID-19 and the ensuing recession. Industries (Restaurants! Travel! In-store shopping! Education and childcare!) and businesses that had seemed like dependable mainstays were suddenly, well, not so dependable. The importance of freelancing became even more clear!

A worker in the 1970s or 1980s might have thought, “Well geez, if you can’t depend on your job, what CAN you depend on?”

Well, you already know that I strongly advocate that you are safest when YOU are in control of your career and your income and that any “safety” or “dependability” offered by full-time jobs are illusory.

But what we’re facing today is the evolution of both the way we work AND the evolution of the economy as a whole.

Very simply put: Every person needs a skill they can do as a freelancer.

The Importance of Freelancing … Even If You Don’t Want to Freelance Full-Time

Now, I’m NOT saying that everyone needs to become a freelancer. There are plenty of benefits to working on-staff for companies.

But, as we have clearly seen, things can go wrong very suddenly and businesses and jobs that once seemed “safe” can disappear virtually overnight. We’ve also seen that unemployment benefits often don’t cut it or are difficult to access when masses of other people are also trying to access them.

People need to have a skill that they can fall back on when times get tough AND a proven plan and system for finding and landing clients.

This is not negotiable anymore.

I used to say that you needed “Eff You” money (wink wink) in the bank in case you were ever in a scenario when you really needed or wanted to walk away from your job. And while I still do advocate that, before you even get that cash in the bank, you need to have a set of skills to protect you if you HAVE to leave a job—or if the job leaves you. You need a parachute skill.

Choosing Your Freelance Skill

Your freelance skill could be a skill that you do full-time at your job. Or this could be something totally different that you do as a side hustle in the evenings or on the weekends every once in a while.

It doesn’t even have to be something you’re working at all that often! But the keys are that you KNOW how to do it (you’ve taken the time to learn and practice the skill) and you have to have a proven system for prospecting for, contacting, and landing clients that you can flip on when or if you need more income.

As you know, I’m still a working copywriter—I still do client work nearly every day. I’ve scaled back on my copywriting, though, since I’m building this business and since my team and I are scaling this and a few upcoming brands.

BUT, if something went terribly wrong and this business and my company disappeared overnight, I could wake up tomorrow and put into play the prospecting and pitching system that we teach our students without missing a beat.

Why Having a Freelance Skill is a Major Opportunity

All of this might sound a bit pessimistic or negative—“Nobody’s going to take care of you but you!”—but I’d really encourage you to look at all of this information as a positive thing. Now, more than ever before, we all have the opportunity to protect ourselves, protect our incomes, and protect our lifestyles.

Will learning a new skill and learning a new system take some time that maybe some evenings you’d rather spend on Netflix? Of course. But I can 1,000% guarantee that the minute you find yourself faced with extra expenses or, worst-case scenario, no full-time source of income, you’ll be glad you did it. The importance of freelancing is greater than the importance of finding out how Ozark or Yellowstone

It used to be that success came from putting in that little extra bit of effort and getting outside of your comfort zone. And while that’s still true, it’s now the case that just STABILITY requires the same things of us.

But you know what? That’s great—because what’s a life without growth and development, anyway?

Even if you’re in a full-time job right now (one that “feels” stable), I’d encourage you to think carefully about what skills you have or what skills you need to ensure that you can take care of yourself and your family no matter what happens with that job or with the economy. You’ll be glad you took the time now.

Your turn! What have been your big takeaways from the turn the economy (and, well, the world!) has taken? Are you open to viewing it as an opportunity? Let me know in the comments below.

The post The Importance of Freelancing in Today’s Working World 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 9:05 on Thursday morning, which means I’m five minutes into my “write FRW post” one-hour block on my schedule. And this is exactly where I’ll be every Thursday at 9:05, barring emergencies or vacations.

I know: For a lot of people who are interested in becoming freelancers, a big part of the appeal is the “free” part. No schedule, work from anywhere, manage your own life.

And those absolutely are benefits of the freelance lifestyle—well, at least the last two.

One of the problems with living entirely schedule-free is that there are no parameters and few outside forces to keep you in line.

Maybe you’re thinking, “But I do have parameters! I have to get work done between 8:30 when the kids get on the bus and 3:30 when they get home.” But if you’ve ever actually sat down with an open seven-hour block in front of you, you know how quickly things go off the rails.

The problem is that we are naturally distractible creatures. On top of that, one of our most powerful drives is for pleasure and comfort.

If you’re working from home, you have to contend with a slew of tasks and distractions—some of which are truly things you need to get done, like laundry, emptying the dishwasher, or grocery shopping.

But when those things get done, work doesn’t.

Here’s the secret: You can still be 100% in control of your life and get things done. The key is to create an ultra-schedule.

Why You Need to Block Time on Your Calendar

They say that “if it doesn’t get scheduled, it doesn’t get done” and that’s very true. But for most people, a “schedule” means a to-do list. “What’s on your schedule today?” elicits a rattling off of tasks that SHOULD be finished that day…but probably won’t.

True scheduling means actually blocking off time on your calendar to devote to one task and only that task. It means avoiding alerts or text messages and sitting in your chair until the task is completed—even in spite of the siren song of your laundry or dishes.

When you schedule time to do things—literally block time on your computer calendar—it increases the chances of them getting done. (You’ll see why I recommend using iCal, Outlook, or Google calendars over print calendars in a bit.)

And this can be easy for weekly or daily tasks (like studying copywriting or pitching potential clients); you block off time and you devote that time to the task.

What’s an Ultra Schedule?

But what about all of the rest of the tasks on your to-do list? And all of the other open time in the day?

This is where I’m going to challenge you to experiment with ultra-scheduling. Ultra-scheduling means looking at your to-do list each day, prioritizing the most important tasks (the ones that will make the most impact on your business) as well as the things that must get done that day, and then scheduling out every moment of your workday.

“WHAT?” I didn’t become a freelancer to live by a schedule!”

I know, I get it. You became a freelancer to be in control of your own time. And you will be because you control the schedule. You decide what time you start, you decide what time you stop, you block off time for breaks or naps, you control what your day looks like.

But within your work-time period, you’ll block out individual segments for accomplishing the tasks you need to accomplish.

Batch Your Work Based on Your Energy Levels

You’ll batch your work—schedule out a half hour to respond to all of the emails in your inbox instead of scheduling out time for each, individual email—and you’ll schedule your daily tasks to coincide with your energy levels throughout the day. Freshest in the morning? Schedule time to do your copywriting then.

The key is that your work time will be fully scheduled on your calendar. (Yes, including breaks! Don’t forget to take breaks. You’re not superhuman.)

Block Time for Client Calls

“But what about client calls?” Block off an hour (or however long they usually take you) in the afternoon for client calls. If a client absolutely can’t have the call during that time, no problem! Just rearrange the blocks in your calendar, moving the call time to when they can chat and move whatever task was in that time period to the now-open slot.

Time Yourself—And Challenge Yourself to Stick to Your Timers

Don’t forget: Parkinson’s Law says that “work expands to fill the time allotted.” Boy, does it! Challenge yourself to complete tasks in slightly less time than you’d like to give yourself. If you normally spend 30 minutes returning emails, could you actually do it in 15? Probably – but you’d have to stop clicking on emails from e-tailers and other distractions. Win!

Be sure, too, to set up alarms on your calendar. The ability to set up alarms and to rearrange tasks by drag-and-drop two big reasons to live by a digital calendar—at least for work. Set alarms five minutes before each new task or time block begins so that you can start wrapping up and be ready to start the next one.

Experiment with Your Schedule

Do you have to LIVE by the ultra-schedule to be productive? Of course not. You might try experimenting with ultra-scheduling on days when you know you have to focus and get a lot done. Or if there are tasks that have been on your to-do list for days or even weeks, ultra-scheduling a day or two could work perfectly.

But ultra-learning absolutely COULD be a part of your regular work system. If you don’t choose to do it every day, you could do it for a few set days of the week.

Give Yourself Grace (And Space) for Life

And what happens if an emergency comes up and derails your day? Well, that happens—but it was going to happen no matter if you had your day scheduled or not. If an emergency comes up, just re-schedule everything to the next day you’ll be able to work.

You’re still completely in control of your life and your career when you ultra-schedule—remember that it’s still you creating the schedule and it certainly doesn’t have to be 9-5, Monday through Friday. Your work time could be from 2-7 every afternoon and evening in a café in Paris…and you could still benefit from ultra-scheduling.

Trust The Process: Creativity Thrives in Constraints

I know that the creative element of us can resist the concept of scheduling—especially the idea of scheduling out each moment of a workday.

But the truth is that creativity and focus thrive in constraints. The most prolific and successful writers will tell you that they have a system for writing and a time when they have to get their work done each day.

When we freelance, we are the owners of our own business. And that business only succeeds if we prioritize and do the work that needs to be done. Ultra-scheduling is the best tool I’ve found to do that.

9:40 am. Right on time.

Your Turn

Are you willing to give ultra-scheduling a try for a day or two? Or even to make it a regular part of your worklife? Let me know in the comments below!

The post Amp Up Your Copywriting Productivity With Ultra Scheduling 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.

One of the (many) great things about being a copywriter is that it’s a very flexible career: In many ways, you can work for whom you want to and work how you want to.

But that much flexibility and so many opportunities can be overwhelming for people, so I often get asked if it’s better to focus on on-staff or freelance copywriting careers.

The first thing I want to make clear is that you don’t have to choose just one for the rest of your life. I’m entirely freelance now, but I’ve been on staff for several years and I’ve also been a contractor for several years. 

Generally, I bounce around when I feel like a change. And you can absolutely do the same. If you focus on freelancing and then later decide you’d like a little more structure to your day and you’d enjoy going into an office and working with people in person, you can move to on-staff.

Or, if you’re on-staff and you start to feel like you’d like a little more control of your days and your schedule, you can switch to freelance. 

(And, of course, either or both can switch to contracting.)

The point is that making a choice right now doesn’t mean it’s a permanent choice. Try one way and, if it’s not quite right, switch it up! Or, as I have, switch it up whenever you feel like it. Starting out on-staff or starting out as a freelancer doesn’t mean you have to do either for life.

People also ask me about the “safety” of each one, as in “Is it safer, income-wise, to be on-staff or to be a freelancer?” 

A lot of people like the predictability of getting a regular paycheck and having their company pay for health insurance, and that can make being on-staff very appealing. The downside of that, though, is that you’re not in charge of whether you continue to work there or not; the company is. Sadly, layoffs do happen. 

That’s one reason I suggest that copywriters who are on-staff still periodically take freelance work. Not a ton, of course—just a project or two a month. Maintaining freelance clients helps keep you creatively fresh, brings in extra cash, and makes it easier to transition back to more freelance work if you suddenly find yourself in need of a cash infusion.

With freelance work, it may come as a surprise to people who’ve never freelanced, but you’re much more in control of your work and income. If you’re doing it right, you’re not at the mercy of the whims of clients; you’re ensuring that work is regularly coming in.

The system of pitching that I teach my students means that they’re always reaching out to get in touch with companies and business owners about potential opportunities and, as such, there are always opportunities coming in. If a freelancer wants to make more money, they increase their pitching efforts. If their schedule is booked, they can dial them back a bit.

People fear a “freelance dry spell”—the period when, all of a sudden, no work is coming in at all. But dry spells don’t come out of nowhere. Generally, when you’re pitching, you’re talking to clients about projects that will get started anywhere from a few weeks to even a few months in the future.

So, when a dry spell comes up, a freelancer should always take a look back over the past few weeks and months: That dry spell is the result of slacking on pitching in favor of other activities.  Keep pitching and you’ll keep the business coming in. 

So, which is better? Neither one is better in and of itself; it’s really a matter of which one is better for you. Which one will help you have the lifestyle you’d most like to live? Which one suits your style of working better? Which one suits your schedule better? Which one will give you the kind of resume or career trajectory you’d like to have?

The answer to each question is deeply personal but important for you to think about because the answer to each one will help you determine the right direction for you.

Watch More

On episode 142 of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, Nicki and Kate are sharing some of their insights from a combined 35+ years of copywriting experience as on-staff and freelance copywriters (and often doing both at the same time!).

There are often misconceptions about freelancing and working on-staff as a copywriter, so you’ll want to listen in to debunk these myths. Your next copywriting career move may be something you didn’t even expect!

Feel like sharing? Let me know how you’re setting up your copywriting career! Post your thoughts in the comments below. 

The post Is it Better to Be an On-Staff Copywriter or a Freelance Copywriter? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Okay, let’s get one thing straight: There are a LOT of scams out there. And a lot of things that sound too good to be true ARE too good to be true.

But let’s get another thing straight while we’re at it. Copywriting—the actual career of writing copy—is not one of those. It’s a real career and plenty of people are enjoying doing that work every day, whether at ad agencies, as part of internal creative teams or, yes, entirely as freelancers.

The problem is that it’s not very clear for people which “opportunities” are real and which ones are scams. For example, there’s an ad I’ve seen a lot that promises high-paying writing jobs, even for people with no experience. Well, it turns out that it’s not an ad for jobs—it’s an ad for a course.

And let’s not forget those work-from-home jobs that promise that if you can write blog posts you can make lots of money. But, of course, they’re “churn and burn” content factories that pay 5¢ per word and that means you have to write constantly even to come close to a livable wage. (And writing constantly means you burn out fast.)

(Both writing blog posts and charging by the word ARE not marks of copywriting by the way, but I wanted to include them as examples because they’re so common.)

But in spite of all this—AND in spite of the naysayers who’ve been burned by these scams and now will tell you that EVERYTHING related to making a living as a writer is a scam—you absolutely can still make an excellent living working from home as a writer.

(If you haven’t seen it yet, check out this interview with one of my students. She’s an American living on a tiny island in the Mediterranean and making six figures entirely remotely as a copywriter.)

Why You Won’t Find Opportunities on Job-Bidding Sites

The simple fact of the matter is that most well-paying copywriting opportunities will never make it to job posting sites. (And they’re DEFINITELY not on those job-bidding sites like Upwork or Freelancer.)

Why? Well, when a small-to-medium-sized copywriting project comes up, it just doesn’t make sense to post it to job sites. Job sites weren’t made for those—they were made for full-time, on-staff work. One-off projects, even projects that might turn into something regular, don’t fit well within the constraints of those sites.

Where the Work Really Comes From

Instead, when projects like that come up, hiring managers/creative directors reach out to people in their networks, recruiters, OR people who’ve offered up those services to them.

Think about it. If a creative director needs a copywriter and you pop up in their email offering your service via a well-crafted pitch email, they’re going to pay attention, right?

And even if they don’t need you at that moment, they’re likely to keep your information for when they do.

(We’ve talked about it before so I won’t get into it, but this is exactly why clients WANT you to pitch them.)

The “wow, this sounds really easy!” work-from-home opportunities are the scams. If it sounds too good to be true, 99.99999% of the time, it is. So, don’t waste your time there!

There are plenty of real and true opportunities to make a very good income working from home as a copywriter. What you need to do (and what we teach our students) is learn how to find them; make yourself the perfect, irresistible candidate; and land them.

Your Turn

What too-good-to-be-true work from home writing “opportunities” have you seen? Let me know in the comments below!

The post Which Work-From-Home Writing Jobs Are Real? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.