When you’re learning copywriting, building your experience, and starting to look for clients, it can feel like everything is going to be smooth sailing once you first start landing clients.

But I want to prepare you for something (and then help you get through it).

When you start getting work, your first reaction will be elation. And then, likely about three seconds later, your next emotion will be panic.

Why? Because now you have to deliver on the copy!

So, if you’re looking forward to landing your first clients, great! You should be. It’s going to be thrilling and it’s only the very beginning of all of the excitement and fun.

But, at the same time, I want you to be prepared for feeling nervousness and maybe even full-on panic, too.

1. Remind Yourself: Nervousness Is Natural

Being nervous the first time (or several first times—or every first time) you write for a client is a natural and normal response to doing something new.

In fact, while your reaction will become less strong with time and experience, you may still feel a little flutter of excitement any time you work with a brand-new client. After all, they’re new! And you want to make sure they have a great experience working with you.

Try reframing your fear as excitement.

But remember, too, any time we move out of our comfort zones, there’s a very loud and insidious part of our brains (literally!) that tries to keep us inside that comfort zone. This part of our brains wants to keep us living small, “safe” lives.

That feeling of panic isn’t a sign that you’re not meant to write copy. And it’s not a sign that you’re not going to be able to write copy well. It’s just a natural and normal reaction to doing something new.

So, feel those nerves, and then take a step back. Tell yourself, this is part of the process. I’m doing something new. My brain wants to keep me from doing this new thing, but I want this new thing. I am safe and I am going to show my brain that this new thing is completely safe.

2. Cut Through Fear by Getting to Work

You know what makes that feeling of panic and fear go away the fastest?

Sitting down and getting down to work.

Go over your creative brief so that you’re crystal clear on the project. Then, start the project by concepting. Too often copywriters go straight to the writing stage of the project. But by not skipping crucial steps like concepting, you can ensure you’ll deliver your best possible work.

Feeling proud of your work and knowing you didn’t cut corners is a great way to lower the fear dial knowing you took every step possible to do your best work.

Then, after concepting, outline your key messages so that you’re not facing a blank page.

Start playing around with headlines, subheads, and body copy. Don’t be afraid to move things around the page. This is a work in progress!

Then start writing your first draft. Give yourself time to sleep on that draft and come back at it with fresh eyes to work on your second draft. Your client never has to know that their “first” draft is really your third or fourth or…

3. Know That You Won’t Get It Perfect

You don’t have to get it right the first time. In fact, you probably won’t.

You’ll write your copy, then you’ll edit it, edit it again, and polish it. And then you’ll get feedback from your client and revise again until your client is thrilled.

(And, by the way, thank goodness for deadlines, because nothing will get your butt in your desk chair like a deadline!)

Yes, you’re going to get nervous when you first think about writing—and probably when you first start writing, too.

But your creative brief is your roadmap and the copywriting principles and advanced tactics you’ve learned will help guide your writing and, maybe more importantly, your revisions.

You’re going to freak out. But it’s okay, it’s natural, and you’ll get through it.

Watch More: Avoid Freak-Outs!

Hitting the panic button when things do go wrong is rarely the answer! If you want to know how to work through ANY problem in your business (or life in general!) without freaking out, make sure you catch this Build Your Copywriting Business podcast episode.

Your Turn!

What are some of your tips for dealing with new client nerves? Share your tactics in the comments below!

The post How to Manage That First Copywriting Client Panic appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Looking for copywriting clients is a big part of your job. (At least initially; eventually referrals will make everything much easier.) Many new copywriters can fall into a little bit of a client-search trap, though: They pick one method of searching and stick with it.

If that method works consistently for you, then great. But it’s much more likely that that method will be spotty and, if you’re not seeing the results you want, it’s also likely you’ll get frustrated and disappointed.

So let’s head off any frustration and disappointment at the pass. Today, I’m giving you 35 different ways you can try to find clients. Some will be easy to do and some will take longer than others. And some will work like gangbusters for you, and some won’t—but you can’t know until you try.

The key here is to spread your wings a bit and try a few new tactics. It’ll shake up your marketing game and help you find clients in areas you might not have before. You can work your way down the list, or pick and choose a few that seem most useful to you.

If you’re really serious about success, though, you’ll try as many as you can, giving each a good and solid effort. The more you get yourself out there, the more clients you’ll find.

35 Ways to Find New Copywriting Clients

Ways to Find Copywriting Clients Online

1. Contact previous colleagues and see if their current companies need copywriters

One of the fastest ways to grow your copywriting business is by working with people who already know you and can vouch for your work. These don’t have to be people you’ve worked with as a copywriter! If you’ve held jobs in the past, your previous colleagues have a sense of all the other characteristics that make a great copywriter (e.g. work ethic; friendliness; respectfulness; etc.).

Send a quick email to previous colleagues letting them know you’re a copywriter if you haven’t already. Think of it as the start of a conversation. What’s the worst that can happen? They don’t respond? They say they’re not hiring? But also, what’s the best that can happen? It may be your next opportunity is right there waiting for you.

2. Run useful, instructional webinars geared to your target audiences

Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students know they have an entire course on writing for webinars in the CCA bonus courses. You can take the sample principles you’d use to write a webinar for a client and apply them to writing and creating a webinar for your own target audiences.

(As with any project, make sure you start with a creative brief! Even when you’re the client, you need to keep yourself—and your project—on track.)

3. Advertise (carefully!) on Facebook, Google, LinkedIn

It’s very easy to spend money without any gains on social media platforms. Anything you do should pay for itself, and then some! But running ads can be a great way to reach new copywriting clients. Learn more about running Facebook Ads for your copywriting business >>

4. Create a branded Facebook page and post regularly

They key is to provide valuable information that your prospective clients will find useful and demonstrate your expertise as a copywriter. Your prospective clients don’t necessarily want to hear about your last vacation, but they do want to hear about how effective messaging can improve their bottom lines.

5. Create a Quora account and interact with people who ask marketing/copy questions

As with creating a Facebook page, the key is to provide value in your responses. You don’t want to write copy for free, but you do want to answer people’s questions as succinctly as possible. Be careful not to do a hard sell of your services. You can point people to your portfolio as it makes sense, but stay away from responses that put the focus on you (“Hire me!”) versus answering the question.

6. Create a networking group with designers and marketers

There are several ways you can go about creating your own networking group. You can use a platform like Facebook to connect fellow creatives in one space. You can also attend events in your local area, whether a conference or through events on sites like Meetup.

If you’re creating an online group, you have the benefit of connecting with creatives all over the world. But you also have the potential to create a group so big that it makes it hard to form connections with people in the group. As the admin of the group, keep an eye on what’s working and what’s not and adjust as needed!

7. List your business on LinkedIn

Make sure you’re setting up your LinkedIn profile for success. Here’s how to rock your LinkedIn profile as a copywriter >>

8. Create a newsletter for your online portfolio site

Since the vast majority of website visitors will never return, newsletters are a way to keep potential clients engaged with your business and keep you top of mind as a resource. Even if they’re not ready to hire a copywriter in the moment, a newsletter is a way to nurture them, demonstrating your expertise so when they are ready for a copywriter, they have a go-to resource.

Learn more about creating your own copywriting newsletter >>

9. Create an irresistible newsletter sign-up bonus for your site

If you’re creating a newsletter for your site, consider creating a bonus to get them to opt in to the newsletter in the first place! Building your email list allows you to continue to market to the folks on the list again and again (with valuable content, of course). It’s a way to nurture prospective clients and keep your services top of mind.

Even if they’re not ready to work with you when you pitch them, getting valuable reminders of your services will increase the chances of them choosing your services when they are ready.

10. Host an online event for decision makers in your target audiences

Digital events are easy to host (you just need something like Zoom or Google Meet) and easy for people to join. You’ll want to come up with the topic and benefit to your prospective clients as to why they should join. And, of course, you’ll want to promote the event everywhere you can (email list, LinkedIn, Facebook page, etc.).

When the event ends, follow-up with your attendees (if they don’t follow up with you first!).

11. Offer free 15-minute copy evaluations

CCA students know that copywriting is way too valuable of a skill to do it for free. So, if you’re going to offer free 15-minute evaluations for prospective clients, you need to make sure you’re giving them the what not the how. The “how” is what they hire you to do.

For example, you may point out areas on the website where your prospective client could have a stronger benefit to consumer, or a clearer call to action. But you’re not writing or rewriting the copy for them. They can hire you for that! The consultation gives them insight into your strategic mind and how you’d make a great partner for their business.

12. Create a Medium account and post copy-related posts there

You can certainly post blogs on your copywriting website, but posting them on Medium may give you more reach to a wider audience.

Learn more about blogging to build your business >>

13. Improve your SEO to bring in more organic traffic

If you’re blogging, you need to have some familiarity with SEO tactics that relate to content (there are a ton of SEO tactics that are more technical). Use these SEO writing tips to get started >>

14. Create an email funnel for your own business

CCA students also have a course on writing email funnels in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy bonus courses section. You can use the same principles—the ones you’d use to create a wildly effective email funnel for your clients—to create an email funnel for your own business!

Learn more about email funnels >>

15. Update your email signature

Put your contact information (including a link to your portfolio!) and a compelling message in your email signature line.

16. Join Facebook groups and post about your services (when allowed)

Learn more about using Facebook to find clients >>

17. Follow HARO and look for publicity opportunities

HARO, which stands for Help a Reporter, is free to join. Here’s how it works:

• Sign up for a HARO account.
• Check your email — journalists looking for expert sources for stories use HARO to connect with those experts.
• Respond to relevant queries.

As you’d expect there’s not a daily need for copywriting experts, but requests for writers and copywriters comes up more often than you’d think!

18. Start your own podcast

As with any content you create, start with the strategy. What’s the goal of your podcast? Who is your target audience? What types of content would they find most useful?

Much like blogging for your business, starting a podcast can help drive traffic to your portfolio site and establish you as a pro in the copywriting space.

19. Run a giveaway

We’ve said it before (in this post!) and we’ll said it again: you never have to work for free. When you think “giveaway,” think free ,15-minute strategy call. (Again, where you give the what can be improved not the how.) Or, you could giveaway a free ebook with tips on writing effective emails with a CTA that reminds them that you can do it all for them.

20. Partner with other business people and share email lists or co-host giveaways

Instead of hosting your own giveaway, talk with the designers, developers, and other creatives in your business about sharing your email lists. It’s a great way for you to connect with their clients who may not have a copywriting resource and a great way for them to connect with your clients who may not have development, design, and other creative resources.

21. Guest post on relevant sites

As with blogging on your own site, sharing your expertise on another website can help you establish your authority as a copywriter. Guest posting on other sites has the added benefit of opening you up to new audiences.

Make sure when they post, they include a link back to your website. Link building like this can help build your authority and makes your portfolio site more attractive to search engines.

22. Pitch businesses on sites like Groupon

Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students have an entire course on how to get their copywriting businesses up and running fast by pitching businesses on Groupon. After all, if they have marketing budget to be on Groupon, they may have budget to work with you. (Added bonus: they wouldn’t have to reduce the cost of their services to work with you like they do on Groupon!)

23. Buy ads on niche sites

Niche sites may have lower ad costs than advertising on the heavy hitters like Google and Facebook. Plus, they’ll help you focus your messaging on one specific group.

Of course, as with any advertising, make sure you know your numbers and stand to have a positive ROI.

24. Post videos on YouTube

We’ve said it before in this post and we’ll say it again: any content you’re creating must serve your target audience. Your YouTube channel should be focused on serving them. While “how to invoice copywriting clients” is useful, it’s aimed at other copywriters, not the people who are going to hire you.

First, figure out who your ideal client is. Then, brainstorm your list of topics. Make sure all of them have some value for your target audience. Cross off anything like “the last copy project I completed—and why the client was awful” or “my review of my trip to Santorini.”

25. Connect with design studios

Design studios are the perfect place for copywriters to find work. They work with clients on design projects … but often their clients need copy, too. Since design studios are run by, you guessed it, designers, they have a need for great copywriters.

Learn more about connecting with design studios here >>

26. Co-host a digital training event with designers/marketers/etc.

Instead of running a digital event by yourself, invite fellow creatives and marketers to join you. Each person can have a 30-minute or hour-long session on a topic of their choosing. Just make sure it’s relevant to your target audience. And, of course, use your copywriting skills to promote the heck out of the event.

Essentially, it’s like the Summer Freelance Summit our team puts together each year (free for CCA students).

27. Apply to full-time jobs … even if you don’t want a full-time job

You may be surprised at the number of companies who actually are willing to work with a freelancer even though they think they need someone full time!

More on why you should apply to full-time jobs even if you want to freelance here >>

Ways to Find Copywriting Clients In Person

28. Host an in-person workshop or training

Instead of hosting your event on Zoom, take it in person. Talk with your local library or community center about meeting space—you may be able to reserve it for free. Plus, these community venues may even be willing to promote your event on their social channels, bulletin boards, and more.

29. Pass out your info to vendors at farmers markets and craft fairs

Yup, go old school. Whether it’s a business card or a flyer you make up, hand out your contact information. Of course, it’s even better if you have a conversation and talk about ways you can benefit their business!

30. Attend trade shows and chat with both vendors and attendees

One of the best ways to find new copywriting clients is to go places where businesses are already spending money on marketing. Businesses spend hundreds if not thousands on trade shows (depending on the show), which means they have a marketing budget and value getting their business out there.

But don’t overlook the attendees! These are great potential clients, too.

31. Send prospecting letters to local brick and mortar businesses

Again, sounds old school, but it works. Send a well written, value-packed pitch to brick and mortars … just do it by printing out the pitch, putting it in an envelope, and throwing it in the mail.

32. Offer referral bonuses to previous clients

Your clients are some of your best advocates. They’ve worked with you. They’ve (presumably) loved your work. Let them know you’re taking on a few new clients (and you’ll still have plenty of time for their work). If they refer you, and the referral books a project with you, you’ll throw in something extra for them.

Again, this doesn’t have to be free or discounted work! Instead, look to a strategy session.

33. Pitch a story to your local news outlets

Now, you’ve got to have a story to tell first and foremost.

Here’s more on what’s newsworthy … and what’s not >>

34. Self-publish a book

There are so many platforms for self publishing your book. One of the biggest perks to you is not even the book itself. (Though if you write a book, bravo! That’s an accomplishment that deserves to be celebrated.)

One of the biggest perks is, when people search your name or a client wants to learn more about you, they’ll see you have a book. Most people won’t notice (or care) whether it’s self published or not. It’s another way to establish and show off your expertise.

Just make sure your book is relevant to your target audience. If you write a novel, it’s certainly impressive. But your copywriting clients aren’t going to care.

35. Attend industry meetups

Connect with others in your area who are also involved in creative fields or marketing in general. Yes, you may connect with other copywriters, too. But guess what? Other copywriters can be great sources of work, too!

You can also join your local Chamber of Commerce—it’s a great way to get your business out there and connect with other business owners.

Your turn! This is, by no means, a complete list: What additional ideas do you have for finding copywriting clients? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Land Copywriting Clients With These 35 Tips appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

Starting out as a copywriter, you may wonder what you actually deliver to clients. The document that you put your copy into is usually called a “copy deck” or, even simpler, a “copy doc.” Every writer has their own way of formatting copy docs (I’ll show you how I do it), but the most important thing is that you make it clear what’s what.

Your designer should immediately be able to tell which line is your headline, which line is your subhead, and which lines are your body copy, your bullet points, your special callout, your buttons, etc.

The very simple way that I do this is by capitalizing the type of copy and leaving the rest in either sentence or initial caps.

Sample Copy Doc Template

A copy doc for an email may look like this:

[SUBJECT LINE]

New Summer Fashion on Sale! All the Hottest Trends at Up to 50% Off

[SNIPPET]

From jeggings and jean shorts to florals and stripes, the must-have styles are on sale now. Start shopping.

[HEADLINE]

Summer Styles at Up to 50% Off

[SUBHEAD]

Shop Now Before They Disappear

[BODY]

Kiss spring goodbye and dive into summer! All of the hottest styles are here and all at sizzling savings. But don’t wait to start your shopping—these are all way too hot to last!

[CTA BUTTON]

SHOP NOW!

Okay, now, that’s not exactly my best copy, but you get the point: Make it clear to your designers and clients what they are looking at.

Leaving Design Notes in the Copy Doc

When it comes to the layout of your actual project, you probably have some ideas in your head of how it could look. (And that’s great.) The ideal scenario is that you and your designer get a chance to brainstorm about how the project will look before you even sit down to write copy. That way, you’ll already have a good idea of whether or not your copy needs a special section for a sidebar or a callout.

But if you come up with an idea of how something could look as you write, you should definitely communicate that to your designer—just make sure you make it clear that it’s a suggestion. (You don’t want them to tell you how to write and they don’t want you to tell them how to design. This relationship is one of the most important ones you’ll have as a copywriter, and you want to ensure you have smooth collaboration with your designer.)

Don’t bother trying to format your copy doc with bigger fonts or center justification—your designer can figure that out and/or the two of you can talk it over. If you think a section might work well as a sidebar, you can always write it up like this:

SIDEBAR?

[HEADER]

Trends to Be Seen In

[BULLETED LIST]

• Pastel jeggings
• Espadrilles
• Flowing tank tops
• Ponchos

Just make it clear to your designer that it’s an idea, not a mandate. And then, of course, be sure to follow up with your designer and go over how the copy actually looks and works in layout.

A Note on Google Docs

Typically, I do not use Google Docs for copywriting. There’s nothing worse than making edits to your copy only to see that your client is currently in the document, too, potentially watching as you revise and edit. I don’t know about you, but I can’t perform copy! There are workarounds, of course (making edits in another doc and copy/pasting into your client-facing doc).

Watch More

Chance are that if you have questions about a copy doc, you’re probably overthinking it. The most important thing is to make sure your client and/or designer understands the function of each piece of copy. You don’t want to leave anyone guessing what’s supposed to be the headline or the body copy.

Any time copy is going to go in a different area, it should be clear where it’s supposed to go. For example, you may have multiple sections and say: “Section 1 Headline,” “Section 1 Body,” “Section 2 Headline,” and so on and so forth.

Watch to hear Nicki explain the purpose of the copy doc and why keeping it simple is the way to go.

Your Turn!

Do you have a special way you like to format your copy doc or copy decks? Anything you’ve found that’s worked especially well? Or that hasn’t? Let us know in the comments!

The post What Should a Copy Doc Look Like? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.