As if life weren't full of tests and trials enough, you'll find that some jobs even require you to complete a copy test before you get the work—or even before a second interview. A copywriting test is a sample writing exercise. It's a way for a potential employer to see your skills writing for their particular brand. But what does that mean? And is it a good thing or a bad … [Read more...]
Should You Get a Copywriting Internship?
Once you're out of school, an internship may feel outdated. But when you see that the ad or in-house agency you really want to get into has only one opening and it's a copywriting internship, you may find yourself reconsidering. Strictly speaking, an internship is an opportunity for beginners in an industry to get practical, on-the-job experience. It's true that internships … [Read more...]
Building Your Career for Maximum Flexibility
Many people get into copywriting because they want the options to work where they want and when they want. And, of course, that's perfectly possible. But to do that successfully (read: without going bankrupt) they have to build their careers accordingly. Now, to state the obvious. You'll never have complete say in when you work since you'll always be creating work for … [Read more...]
How to Answer the Agency Experience Question
Many new copywriters have dreams of working in an ad agency. But it seems like many ad agencies are only interested in hiring you if you already have agency experience. A bit of a catch-22? Sure—but nothing you can't overcome. Here we offer some tips on how to address the question of whether or not you have experience as copywriter at an ad agency. Why Makes Agency Work … [Read more...]
Don’t Make This Mistake In Your Copywriting Spec Ads
You want your copywriting spec ad to be the best that it a can be. (Obviously!) But there's one huge mistake that a ton of new copywriters make that can absolutely tank their chances of getting work. Want to avoid it? I thought you might. I was watching some movie the other day in which a PR pro was advising a politician to reject the premise of a question. I'm going to do … [Read more...]
Where to Find Great Copywriting Jobs
Three-quarters of the battle to becoming a successful copywriting is getting the right training. But the other quarter is finding the right opportunities to get experience (and, of course, to get paid!). Where do you find those gigs and jobs? That's the magic question, isn't it? Well, luckily, I have the magic answer ... but it's not entirely what you think. There are … [Read more...]
Why You Need to Separate Copy and Content on Your Portfolio Site
Most non-industry people don't understand the difference between content and copy. And it's true that, as a copywriter, you'll probably get paid to write content at least a few times. But it's also very important that you demonstrate that you know the difference between the two. Here's why. A few weeks back, I was randomly website hopping. I found myself on a copywriter's … [Read more...]
Why Every Copywriter Needs a Standalone Portfolio Site
As a copywriter you need an online portfolio. But, if you put your work up on Behance, do you still need your own site, too? Short answer? Yes. Longer answer? Yes, yes, yes. Keep Prospective Clients Focused on Your Work With so many great sites out there dedicated to hosting your online portfolio, you might be asking yourself why I'm so adamant about you creating … [Read more...]
Why You Need an Online Portfolio
When a lot of people first try to get into copywriting, their first steps are to spruce up their resumes and cover letters and then apply to jobs. And these people (usually, by the way, the ones who tell you that it's "so hard to get into copywriting"...see more below) never get called in for interviews. Why? Because they haven't put together online … [Read more...]
Do You Need to Go to Copywriting Portfolio School?
Breaking into copywriting can seem hard: You need experience to get a job, and you need a job to get experience. Well, it turns out this isn't quite the case, and one of the ways that people have found to get around this seeming catch-22 is going to advertising school or copywriting portfolio school. But, like any school, ad school is often expensive and time-consuming. So, … [Read more...]