If you’re creative and you’re looking to make money as a writer, I have good news for you: Copywriting is absolutely the way to go. You get to be creative and you get paid well for the work that you do. However, if, to you, “being creative” means being airy and free and without constraints, I have bad news for you: You’re not going to make much money. For a lot of … [Read more...]
How to Fast Track Your Copywriting Career Success
When you realize you need a change, you want to have that change happen as soon as possible. And once you figure out how to make that change? Well, you want to motor through that process, until you break out into all of the success and happiness on the other side. If you've found your way to copywriting and you've realized it's the direction you want to take—you want to use … [Read more...]
Know Your Copywriting Numbers
Your copywriting portfolio acts as proof that you know what you’re doing. But there’s another element to add that can be even more enticing and make you even more sellable. What’s that? Copywriting numbers, or metrics. Clients may ask about the results of your project. But what exactly do they mean by "results?" Here we look at copywriting numbers, or copywriting metrics, … [Read more...]
Copywriting Q&A: Software Programs for Copywriting Professionals
There are a billion and one new software programs for tracking projects, sending invoices, sharing screens, and all of the other tasks you need to perform on a regular basis. But how many of them are worth it? Let’s break it all down… Today’s question comes from Julia R., who asks, “I was wondering if you could share resources that you use to step up your ‘professional game’ … [Read more...]
How To Perform a SWOT Analysis as a Copywriter
You already know that thinking strategically is an important part of being a copywriter. But how, exactly, can you start going about doing that? And how can you think strategically when it comes to your own business? A SWOT analysis is a great way to start. What Is a SWOT Analysis? A SWOT analysis is a tool for figuring out where you (or your business) is and where … [Read more...]
Questions You Need to Ask Your Copywriting Clients
Starting a new project with a new client is exciting, but don’t let that excitement get in the way of your strategy. To keep your project from getting mired in confused schedules and dozens of rounds of review, you need to start the project off with concrete answers to some important questions. These are essential questions to ask your copywriting clients. You already know … [Read more...]
The Worst (and Best) Places to Get Copywriting Advice
One of my favorite sayings isn’t appropriate to print here, so I’ll paraphrase: Opinions are like [unpleasant but necessary body part]; everybody’s got one. Advice is similar—everybody’s got some. Unfortunately, though, a lot of people who want to give advice have bad advice to offer. That's especially true if you're becoming a copywriter or even if you've been running … [Read more...]
The Big Question You Need to Answer to Be a Successful Copywriter
It’s not easy starting a new career, much less building a successful one. Building a copywriting career is a big goal, and big goals are almost always challenging. Think about it. Running a marathon, raising a healthy and happy child, writing a book, and losing 100 pounds are big goals are all difficult. It can feel scary and cause you to doubt yourself more than anything … [Read more...]
How Do You Find the Confidence to Get Started in Copywriting?
Even when you want something very badly—a new career, for example—it’s not always enough to get you to take the steps to begin. Here we look at how to find the confidence to get started in copywriting. I wish I could tell you that there was some magical incantation or elixir that would instantly give you confidence. There just isn’t. But there are two things that, when … [Read more...]
Looking Back at 2016 and Planning for 2017
As we’re wrapping up the new year, I thought I’d share a year-end ritual that preps me for success in the new year. First, I start by looking back at the year that’s ending and asking myself a few questions. The key, of course, is to be gentle with myself and what’s over, but also be ruthlessly honest in my evaluation. What went well with my career this year? What were my … [Read more...]