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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[1:50] CCS student Rachael always knew she would be writing in some capacity for her career, but had no idea how to make a living out of it. After having little success with crummy job-bidding sites like Fiverr and Upwork, she signed up for the CCA.

[6:68] Although she faced some resistance when it came to pitching, Pitch-A-Palooza helped Rachael get out of her comfort zone and start pitching. Every client she’s landed has been through LinkedIn.

[8:48] Imposter syndrome was responsible for holding Rachael back from taking action. But after landing her first client, she gained confidence and work started to snowball.

[11:16] Rachael reminds us that we gain confidence by taking action and the first step is always the hardest step. What’s the worst that could happen by sending out a pitch?

[13:53] There’s no “one-size-fits-all” route into copywriting. If one way of pitching feels impossible to you, then you find the way that feels a little bit less impossible and try that!

[15:48] Rachael has just landed a dream position as a content writer for a global SaaS company. In her non-working hours, she will also be able to continue freelancing for a global media company and teaching creative writing.

[19:36] When you’re working on something that you really enjoy, it never feels like “work”.

[21:05] It’s important to choose what’s going to work for you—you don’t have to bust a gut doing things like social media if you don’t want to. As an introvert with social anxiety, Rachael has tailored her career to suit her personality.

[22:33] Sometimes there is a misconception that copywriting has to be very salesy. For the most part, it’s actually just about finding connections, telling a story, and providing a solution for people’s problems.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Honestly, I’ve done quite a few of these online courses and various different things and this is by far and away the most comprehensive one I’ve ever done. The follow up care and the amount of information that’s on there, you guys have literally thought of everything we could possibly need and you’ve put it there for us. Absolutely life changing. I was talking with my husband recently and he said, ‘that was the best decision you’ve ever made, wasn’t it?’ and I was like ‘yep, absolutely was!'” – Rachael

“Pitch-A-Palooza” happened which was exactly what I needed to kick me out of my comfort zone and then I started pitching. But the more pitching I did, the more confident I felt in my ability.” – Rachael

“I was pretty confident in my copywriting skills, I suppose. But I was worried that people wouldn’t have the faith in me when in fact the problem was that I didn’t have the faith in myself. Because even when I had just one client behind me, I felt like I had a right to call myself a copywriter, which I know is ridiculous because nothing substantial changed between not having a client and having a client, I was still the same writer.” – Rachael

“I think there can sometimes be a misconception that copywriting has to be very salesy and very extroverted and pushy but that’s kind of the antithesis of what it is. If somebody feels like you’re trying to sell to them then you’ve probably lost them. For the overwhelming most part, it’s just about finding connection and telling a story which is like the opposite of being salesy so the sales skills are there but you’re not deploying them in a pushy or extroverted way.” – Rachael

Mentioned on this Episode

• View Rachael’s Portfolio

Related Links

• The Real Math on Job Bidding Site “Success”
• How NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients
• Overcoming Copywriter Imposter Syndrome
• How to Optimize Your Copywriting LinkedIn Page

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. 183: You Will Have Too Much Copywriting Work … Here’s What to Do

The post Episode 184: This Copywriter Landed Her Dream Job—And Tripled Her Income – Rachael’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] When people look at a job listing, they often make the mistake of taking everything in the description as written in stone. But job descriptions are essentially a wish list for companies.

[5:17] Nicki and Kate discuss how studies show that women in particular tend to cut themselves off from opportunities as they often only apply to jobs if they meet ALL of the qualifications.

[6:37] The years of experience sought by employers may not directly match your own years of experience. For example, six months in the CCA could be equivalent to two or three years of experience elsewhere. Essentially, employers expect you to have training, and CCA students fulfill that requirement!

[8:52] Our hosts read between the lines of the responsibilities listed for a real copywriter job posting taken from LinkedIn and show why everyone in the CCA should be saying, “Yes, I can do all of those!”

[14:46] Kate emphasizes that—even at associate creative director level—none of the responsibilities listed should feel unachievable by any means.

[16:20] It’s rare to find a copywriting job description that asks for other skills like design, SEO, or social media management. If you do see a posting like that, it’s a sign that the company has very unrealistic expectations about what they can get in one person.

[19:28] As a CCA student, don’t be deterred if they ask you for 3-5 years of experience. Mike’s story is a prime example of why you shouldn’t let that stop you from applying!

[20:43] We hear some examples of the qualifications and skills that people ask for in actual copywriting job descriptions. Even if they ask for a Bachelor’s degree, don’t be put off if you have a portfolio that shows your work.

[23:32] Some postings asked for experience using Jasper and/or ChatGPT. Remember AI is not something to be afraid of—they want it for efficiency purposes, not just writing (bad) copy.

[24:33] Some of the “nice to haves” listed included specific industry experience, experience working in SaaS (software as a service), experience partnering with a designer, and UX (user experience) writing. Again, remember these are wish list items but you can always prove your skills through spec work if it’s a role you’re really interested in.

[26:24] If a company asks for startup experience, don’t let assumptions limit you. Get on the phone with them and ask questions to get a sense for the role because all startups are different. 

[27:50] It can feel like a catch-22 when a post asks for agency experience. How do I get into an agency when agencies want agency experience?! But agencies are happy to hire—it all comes down to  demonstrating that you know what you’re doing and can thrive in that environment.

[28:46] Never, ever, ever use the “one-click” or “easy apply” button! You want to avoid being lumped in with a bunch of other people. The same system that you use to pitch clients for freelance work is exactly what you can use to pitch companies to work there. 

[30:45] Ideally, you want to pitch directly to the hiring manager—that is the person who has the knowledge and experience to make the best decision about your application. 

Must-Hear Takeaways

“The years specifically that people are looking for may not correlate exactly with the years of your experience. Our students know that they do a very concentrated amount of work, a lot of study and a lot of practice and they really build up their skills very, very quickly. Whereas outside of a program like that, it might take someone several years to get that same level of experience and expertise. So, you know, your six months in the program might equate to two or three years of outside experience. So don’t, I mean, this is specifically for CCA students, don’t see, oh, they’re looking for three to five years experience and think, well, I don’t qualify because I’ve only been working through this for six months or for a year. You absolutely do.” – Nicki

 “Don’t say no to yourself before someone else does. Why would we ever say no to ourselves? It just doesn’t make sense. But we do it because we’re humans, and we feel like, oh, I just am not qualified. I don’t meet 110% of the qualifications.” – Kate

“Do not use the ‘one-click’ apply! But also do not then just go and apply through their website. You want to avoid being stopped, being lumped in with a bunch of other people. And Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students, you know exactly how to do this. The same system that you use to pitch clients for freelance work is exactly what you can do to pitch companies to work there. And again, whether you want to freelance for them or whether you want to work for them on staff, use the exact same system. Your cover letter should effectively be a pitch because again, it’s all about being helpful and all about showing that you are strategic and that you will hit the ground running as soon as you start working with them.” – Nicki

“What you should be taking away from this is that all of these opportunities are open to you. There’s no point at looking at a job and coming up with reasons not to apply for it or feeling like you need to be all of the things to all of the people, you don’t. You are enough. You are fantastic. Apply for these roles, people need the skills that you have, go out there and help these companies!” – Nicki and Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• This Brand-New Copywriter Landed a Senior Copywriting Role

Related Links

• Why Companies Requiring Experience for Copywriting Jobs is a Good Thing
• How to Land Copywriting Work with an Ad Agency
• Too Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting Pitches
• Why Freelance Copywriters Should Still Apply to Full-Time Jobs
• Supercharged Job-Hunting Tactics

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. 180: Thriving as a Neurodivergent Copywriter – Cleo’s Story

The post Episode 181: Reading Between the Lines of Copywriter Job Descriptions 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

[1:39] As consumers, we see sales and discounts everywhere, tempting us to make purchases. So for copywriters (who are also learning to be marketers), it’s natural to question if you should also offer discounts.

[3:21] As a way of getting their first clients quickly, we often see new copywriters offering discounts on their social media pages. But if a client sees they can get your service at a reduced rate, why would they ever want to pay the full price?

[4:42] We have a reason for quoting the rates that we do—there’s a formula to it. So by offering a discount, you’re implying that there isn’t anything real behind your numbers.

[6:05] When you run a sale as a service provider, the implication is that you can’t get people at your standard rate or that people think your standard rate is too high.

[8:56] Discounting your rates usually comes from a place of fear. If you haven’t landed clients yet, then you don’t know that it’s possible. But you have to go in with the mindset of, “This is my rate. I’ve done the work, and I know what I need to charge to make a living.”

[11:25] You can still run promotions that encourage people to take action, but they shouldn’t be based around price or discounts. For example, you could offer a limited number of free strategy calls.

[12:34] Just posting on social media and waiting for people to come to you is not an effective strategy. Pitching is the number one way to stay in control of your opportunities. 

[14:28] If you are offering supplemental promotions like free strategy calls, make sure you limit the number of people that can have access to it and the time you spend on them.

[15:42] Our hosts do not recommend writing free projects for people. This doesn’t give a good impression of your service and if you work for free, why would a client ever bother to pay you? 

[16:42] For any of these promotions, just like with a pitch, make sure you’re sending over the “what”, not the “how”—remember the “how” is what they are hiring you to do.

[17:37] If a client responds to a quote by saying it’s out of their budget, you have the option to negotiate in a way that adds value for the client but makes it work for both of you. For example, you might remove some of the deliverables and save them for a later phase.

[21:17] Don’t make assumptions about who can and can’t afford to pay your rates. Go into conversations with your best foot forward and give yourself the opportunity for someone to say “yes” to you. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when it actually happens!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“If we’re able to discount something by 15-20% at any time, the implication is that our rates are malleable, not based on anything real to begin with and/or our rates are inflated, in case we want to discount. Either of these impressions are a really, really bad impression to give to potential clients.” – Nicki

“I think we get into our own heads to start discounting and reducing our rates because we are afraid. It comes from a place of fear, it comes from a place from not knowing what we don’t know. If we haven’t done the thing, we haven’t landed the clients then we don’t know that it’s possible and so going in with the mindset of this are my rate, I’ve done the work, I know what I need to charge, and you know what you need to charge to pay your bills, to make a living, and that your time is valuable. And once you start valuing your time, you don’t want to discount your time.” – Kate

“It’s the idea of not making assumptions of who can and can’t afford to pay your rates, and so enter conversations with your best foot forward, saying this is my rate and then weighing the decision of what you want to do for your business after that. But there’s no sense in putting up your own roadblocks, in saying no to yourself before someone else says no to you.” – Kate

“Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Give yourself the opportunity to have someone say yes to you. Because by not doing it, you’re taking away that opportunity from someone to be able to say that to you. And again, you’ll be so surprised, I think, once it actually happens. And so it’s something you just have to do and have to practice. And then if you do eventually get a firm no, it’s also not a no forever. You can follow up with them and say, ‘hey, is it cool if I follow up in six months that this might be better timing for everyone?’ That happens all the time too.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• How to Set Your Copywriting Rates

Related Links

• Are Your Copywriting Prices Leaving Money on the Table?
• Why Most Advice About How to Price Your Services is Dead Wrong for You
• Copywriting Is Only 1/3 Writing—Here’s Why That Affects How You Charge
• Set Your Copywriting Business Up for Financial Success

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. 178: Combatting Anxiety-Inducing “What Ifs” with This Tactic

The post Episode 179: Should You Offer Discounts or Sales on Your Copywriting Services? 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

[1:44] Nicki and Kate are going to be digging into a question that pops into everybody’s mind at some point, especially when starting a new career in copywriting: “What if I fail?”

[3:10] Unfortunately as human beings, our brains tend to catastrophize and look for danger. And so when you’re interested in something new, it’s natural to start thinking, “What if I can’t do it?” 

[4:27] If you’re thinking about failing as being a possibility, then why can’t success be just as likely? If you’re not giving up and continuing to take the right actions, then you’re most likely going to get to where you want to go.

[7:10] Whenever you start to notice yourself going down the route of catastrophizing, make a note of the alternate version of the “what if”. 

[7:53] High achievers tend to hold themselves to high standards, which means they’re also more likely to worry about failure, and to count small setbacks as “failures”.

[10:50] If one of your friends wants to achieve something, you’d most likely be cheering on their success. So why aren’t we doing that for ourselves?

[12:02] A lot of us think we need to rely on motivation to stick with something. You might use motivation to get started, but when it inevitably disappears, you have to move into the commitment stage.

[15:45] Sometimes, we get muddled about what success really means to us—especially with social media! Make sure you’re focused on your definition of success—not anybody else’s.

[17:36] Success is not just one final destination. There are lots of successes to experience as you make your way through the process to where you want to be.

[19:36] You can’t predict where the path is going to go, so stay open to the fun opportunities that might come your way. A lot of CCA students have experienced success that looks a lot different to the success they originally set out for. (Carli’s story is a great example of this!)

[23:19] Self-doubt is a natural part of the process. But there are tried and true steps that you can take to get yourself out of that self doubt and onto the next step (like reaching out to the community or hopping on a coaching call).

[25:12] The fear of failure will come up at various points throughout your career. Our hosts encourage you to share your experience (our student-only Facebook group is a great place for this!) so that you feel less alone and realize that you CAN do this!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Think about what success is for you. What if I achieve this definition of success? I might not achieve this other definition, but do I even want to achieve that? And thinking about motivation, it can be very demotivating if you’re like, ‘I’m not achieving what I think I should be’ but ask yourself, ‘Do I even want that? Do I even want that to be what my success looks like?'” – Kate

“You can’t predict where the path is going to go. Things are going to come your way, things are going to change, you’re going to learn more, you’re going to have more opportunities and as you see and identify those opportunities, you might use that copywriting skill set in a different way but it might not have been the “success” you set out for.” – Kate

“Success is not just one final destination. Success is all kinds of wins on the way to wherever you eventually want to get to.” – Nicki

“You’re never in this alone, I guarantee that whatever you’re feeling, whether you’re at the very beginning of the process and you’re thinking, ‘I don’t know, I’m afraid that I’m going to fail’, you are not alone. Every single person that is a successful copywriter now started in the exact same place, knowing nothing about copywriting. No one is born knowing anything about copywriting so if that’s where you are, you are in excellent company because that’s exactly where everybody who is a successful copywriter now, or is a student now, who is working their way, everybody started in that same place. Often our emotions make us feel like we’re the only person experiencing it, right? Experiencing the self-doubt, experiencing that fear, you are not the only person, but it will feel like you’re the only person as long as you just stay within yourself, and you don’t share that experience.” – Nicki

Mentioned on this Episode

• Why Some Copywriters Fail

Related Links

• Why People Tell You “Copywriting Is Hard to Get Into”
• Fight These 10 Fears with a Systematic Process
• Why Setbacks and “Failures” Don’t Mean What You Think They Do

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. 177: Reframing Your Copywriting Goals to Align with Your Values – with Jessica Lackey

The post Episode 178: Combatting Anxiety-Inducing “What Ifs” with This Tactic 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

[03:03] CCA student Shelby had always wanted to be a writer but didn’t know where to go after graduating with a degree in journalism. When the pandemic hit, she began researching copywriting and managed to land a copywriting internship before discovering the CCA.

[4:58] After working through the CCA, Shelby took a bit of a backseat for a few months, before landing an entry level job in corporate communications and social media, followed by a role as a marketing assistant—both of which allowed her to build up her experience and her portfolio.

[6:51] Shelby was laid off from her job as a marketing assistant and started applying to roles on Indeed and LinkedIn. At the interview for her current role, she brought her printed portfolio and asked for spec work, standing out and securing the job!

[8:16] Shelby never thought she’d land a job with such a big corporation. But it’s a reminder that we never know what opportunities will come up and what we’ll learn from them!

[9:10] Despite changing careers, Shelby was still able to use her previous experience in the restaurant industry to help her land the job as a junior copywriter.

[10:07] There have been lots of opportunities to work on different and exciting projects, including writing a new slogan for a hotel!

[11:20] Shelby enjoys how collaborative this role is and that she gets to work with lots of different people, from designers to brand managers. 

[12:02] When you’re intimidated about a new job, it’s easy to just focus on yourself, and forget that all of the other people in the office want you to do well. Shelby would advise someone to go into it with a willingness to ask questions and be open to learning.

[14:10] Sometimes, working for big corporations can be advantageous because they often have a better understanding of your role and don’t expect you to do work that is outside of your realm of expertise.

[15:28] One of the great things about copywriting is how flexible it can be. Shelby didn’t have to throw her career in the restaurant industry out the window and jump into copywriting. She could build things up gradually until she felt ready to let it go.

[16:23] Shelby landed one of her freelance clients as she got the job as a junior copywriter. It’s fun working on something a bit different to her day-to-day work and has allowed her to add SEO to her skill set!

[17:45] The big goal for Shelby is still to be a freelancer so that she has more control over her income and schedule. Pitching is at the heart of freelance success.

[19:15] If you feel like you’re a creative person, and you like to write, Shelby advises signing up for the CCA. Don’t feel like you have to know everything to begin—just start pitching because you’ll learn so much on the job.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“I kind of feel like getting the job was the hardest part and once you get there, people are going to be nice and help you and help you learn. You just have to ask a lot of questions and I’m really lucky, the place I work at, everyone is just really nice and really helpful. No one’s intimidating, everyone is just really nice and really educated, so I guess everyone you’re working with, they’re just people. You just have to put yourself out there.” – Shelby

“One of my first big projects was a rebrand for a hotel in the Hamptons and they actually picked up one my slogans and they might use it for the number one slogan, so that was pretty cool. That was my first project.” – Shelby

“I know people get really scared about working for big corporations, but it’s actually been way less scary to work for them than say a small business owner because when I walk into the corporation, they already have the tone guide, they have the process, they have everything and I just have to do my little job and just complete it. But the small business that I worked for, they wanted me to know everything, know how to do social media, know how to do PR, administrative assistant, all these kinds of things so it can actually be easier to get your foot in the door at a bigger corporation because there’s more structure.” – Shelby

“I wish this had been a class in my college, I’m like, ‘Where has this been all my life?!’ My life would have been so much easier! So yeah, definitely sign up for the CCA and then don’t feel like you have to know everything to get started. And just start pitching. You’ll learn on the job, you can’t know everything before you do your first job so just get started.” – Shelby

Mentioned on this Episode

• View Shelby’s portfolio site

Related Links

• Can Copywriting Be a Side Hustle?
• 1 Year to a Senior Copywriter Promotion – Kelsey’s Story
• Why Freelance Copywriters Should Still Apply to Full-Time Jobs
• How To Prepare for a Copywriting Interview
• Ace These Copywriting Interview Questions to Land the Job

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. 171: Help! My Client Wants to Test My Copy!

The post Episode 172: Taking Action in the Face of Imposter Syndrome – Shelby’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

[3:19] There is NO benefit in hand-copying ads when you’re trying to learn copywriting. Instead, Nicki and Kate encourage students to analyze copy out in the wild, as that focuses on the principles and strategies that went into creating that copy.

[10:16] Many so-called copywriting gurus will tell you that “the riches are in the niches.” But choosing a niche when you’re just getting started unnecessarily limits yourself and is not the smartest move when you don’t yet know what you’re going to like or not like.

[15:22] Clients, by and large, are looking for a depth and breadth of experience across different industries and different types of copy. Copywriting itself is your niche.

[18:20] The perception is that you can charge more when you have a niche. In reality, if you only have very narrow experience, you are not providing more value and it could be a red flag for clients. Breadth is valuable and makes your work more varied too!

[23:28] Copywriting and content writing are not the same. Using blog writing as a way to break into copywriting is bad advice because they are very different skill sets–plus, content writing is not paid anywhere near as well as copywriting. If your goal is to be a copywriter, then you should focus on writing copy and getting experience writing copy.

[29:41] Using job bidding sites like Fiverr and Upwork is not the best way to start landing work. Pitching and following up is a much more effective strategy for getting clients, and gives you more control over who you work with and what you charge.

[35:57] New copywriters tend to worry about bothering people who don’t need their services. But when you send a pitch that is based on providing value, clients are much more likely to hang onto it and call you when they do have a project.

[38:57] Don’t undermine your own copywriting skills by leaning on templates and formulas. The challenge that you’re going to be solving is going to be very specific to that company, that target audience, and that tone of voice. By all means use them for inspiration but remember it is your own creativity that will create great work.

[42:00] When you volunteer to work for free, you are essentially saying that your skills are worth nothing. Even if you don’t have any clients yet, you have experience, which means that you have skill, which means that you should be paid for it (even if it’s friends and family!).

[49:33] The internet has created an echo chamber of bad advice, so be discerning about where you get information. Taking advice from people who are successful and have been successful for a while will prevent you from veering off the path to success.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Our brains want things to move really fast, we want that instant gratification, we want that instant yes. The analogy I like to use is it’s like planting a garden, each pitch is a seed that you’re planting, and the follow-ups are like watering it and eventually it will sprout into a big, beautiful, and wonderful garden. It’s a long-term strategy, it doesn’t have to take tons of time, it’s just not necessarily going to happen overnight. And so I think people do that, get discouraged, go to Upwork because they think, ‘well I can just go to this platform and tomorrow I’ll have a client’ and then they spend hours on Upwork and realize ‘Oh I’ve just wasted weeks and weeks of time on Upwork because I thought it was going to be easier, I thought it was going to be faster’ and then they came back to pitching and realize that that is actually the most effective way.” – Kate

“You may not have clients yet, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have experience. Again, our CCA students know, you’re going through the action sheets, you’re getting feedback, you are honing your skills, we have a lot of action sheets in there, we have a lot of opportunities for you to practice and to get feedback and make changes on that feedback and improve. So yes, you might be at the moment that you do not have any clients yet but you have experience, which means that you have skill, which means that you should be paid for it.” – Nicki

“One of the things that I’ve learned in my career and just in my life–and I’m glad that I did–only take advice from people who are successful and have been successful for a while at what it is you want to do.” – Nicki

Mentioned on this Episode

• 5 Ways to Improve Your Copywriting
• Why Choosing a Copywriting Niche is Terrible Advice
• What’s the Difference Between Copy and Content?
• Artificial Intelligence Copywriting: Do You Need to Worry?
• 1 Copywriting Tactic You Should Avoid at All Costs
• What is a Copywriting Test and Should You Do One?

Related Links

• How to Avoid the Copywriting Niche Trap
• What’s a Copy Test?
• Content or Copy: How to Tell the Difference and What Should You Charge
• The Real Math on Job Bidding Site “Success”
• Should I use job bidding sites like Upwork?

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. 164: Changing Roles Within Your Current Company – Joseph’s Story

The post Episode 165: Terrible Advice New Copywriters Get All the Time 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

[1:44] Any money that you’re leaving on the table in your copywriting business undercuts the goal of having a free, exciting, and fulfilling life. When you’re pricing out projects for your clients, there are certain things you need to remember to factor in.

[2:51] If you are just factoring in meetings, writing time, and some editing, you’re overlooking many tasks that can end up taking a lot of time when you add them all together.

[4:37] If you can do something special for a client like delivering a project early, let them know that it’s something special. Otherwise, you’re just breaking your boundaries and letting them think that’s normal. 

[5:38] It takes the human brain a little bit of time to transition into different projects so it’s important to factor in time for task switching.

[7:58] It can take a bit of time to get your brain in the right space for writing copy. As this is part of the process, it’s something that you should be charging for.

[9:30] Definitely factor in the discovery call (and the prep work you did!) when charging your client. You might also think about factoring in a small portion of other discovery calls that you’ve had that have increased your skills, experience, and abilities.

[11:28] Estimate the time you spent creating and sending your quote, as well as the time for any research you had to do for that input call and the time you spent consolidating your notes from the call.

[13:57] You shouldn’t have that many unbillable hours when doing work for your copywriting business. Project management systems like Asana can help account for time spent on tasks for specific projects.

[17:08] Don’t forget to factor in the creative review meeting, as well as a couple of rounds of edits. Even if you do a great job first time round, they end up getting the final copy faster, which is a benefit to them. 

[19:20] Your client is paying for the end result, not the individual hours to get there. They only need to know the deliverables they’re getting rather than an hourly breakdown of your time.

[23:30] If you are outsourcing admin tasks or elements of copywriting projects, make sure you know exactly what kind of profit you want to make. Dig into the numbers and factor in all the time it will take to get them up to speed to avoid losing money on the project.

[25:37] Invoicing is still part of the project and this time should be accounted for.

[27:46] When you work with a client and they drag their feet or make things a bit more difficult, consider charging what Nicki calls a PIA (pain in the…rear end) tax!

[29:39] Kate reminds us that if your client uses a payment software with a fee attached, make sure to include it in your project price as it is a convenience for your clients that you’re offering.

[32:59] It can be frustrating that there is no perfect formula for knowing exactly how much to charge your clients. The problem with calculators is that every project is different, every client is different, and every experience is going to be different. But with each project, you will learn.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Considering that all of us got into copywriting to start a career, we all get into it to make money as a business, to support ourselves. Any money that we’re leaving on the table or we are forgetting to factor in, or missed opportunities…that just undercuts our goal of having a free, exciting, fulfilling life.” – Nicki

“As a freelancer, as a writer, sometimes we get caught up in our emotion and fear and self-doubt, and all that kind of thing. But as business owners we have to step back from that, put on the CFO hat and look at our actual numbers and make sure that we are getting paid for all of the work that we’re doing. Because a business is not going to succeed and thrive if it’s not getting paid for all of the work that it’s doing.” – Nicki

“I think we underestimate just how much time effective, good communication takes. And so you want to build in and bill for all of those hours because it does add up to hours of your time.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• The Right Way to Raise Copywriting Rates
• Increase Your Copywriting Pricing Without Burning Bridges

Related Links

• How to Set Your Copywriting Rates
• Why Most Advice About How to Price Your Services is Dead Wrong for You
• Copywriting Is Only 1/3 Writing—Here’s Why That Affects How You Charge

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. 162: #1 Secret for Copywriting Success

The post Episode 163: Are Your Copywriting Prices Leaving Money on the Table? 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 always helpful to hear advice from actual working copywriters, so today’s episode is a roundup of some of the very best advice we’ve heard from our Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students and working copywriters.

[4:23] Stacey reminds us that imposter syndrome can often come out as a lot of negative self-talk and beating ourselves up. But this is usually just our brain’s way of dealing with something new and uncomfortable. Imposter syndrome is not going away–it will be your buddy on this journey with you, so try to honor it and approach it compassionately!

[8:29] Courtney assures us that once you have the features vs. benefits concept clear, you can start making money as a copywriter–all of the other pieces will fall into place. She really adopted the mindset of ‘if they can do it, I can do it’, using other people’s success stories to inspire her, and it has really paid off.

[13:56] Kate is currently training for a 10K, which is a great analogy for going through the CCA course. You have to trust the process and continue following the steps, even if it doesn’t always feel comfortable. If you keep going, you will achieve your end goal, whether that’s running a 10K or becoming a copywriter.

[15:21] Adele and her now husband Jake talk about navigating a complete career change with someone who loves you, but is maybe not initially as supportive as you would like them to be.

[18:38] Nicki advises us not to take advice about our copywriting career from someone who’s not familiar with copywriting or not familiar with freelancing and who doesn’t know how successful, lucrative, and fulfilling it can actually be.

[22:30] Mike shares his approach to landing a senior copywriting role and encourages us to reframe how we look at copywriting jobs that are out there. Qualifications are often a wishlist for companies–demonstrating that you can write is a lot more important.

[28:22] We’re all going to experience a lot of rejection when it comes to applying for jobs, but don’t shut down opportunities for yourself because you could end up working at an amazing job!

[31:29] CCA student Carli saw an opportunity for an internship and despite feeling too old for it, she threw her hat into the ring. She was really attracted to the company, the topic, and the mix of work, so she was willing to take a chance on it. Don’t be afraid to go for the opportunities that you are excited about!

[36:19] Tammy transitioned from teaching to copywriting and landed a role at an agency. Unfortunately that agency had a round of layoffs that Tammy was impacted by, but her resilient mindset didn’t let that hold her back from moving on and finding great success after that experience.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Anytime you’re feeling imposter syndrome and you’re feeling these feelings, you should almost celebrate it as a win because you are doing something that’s making you uncomfortable. And not everyone does that. Not everyone even puts themselves in the position to feel uncomfortable. So that alone is a win.” – Kate

“So you apply for something, what’s the worst that happens? They say ‘no’ or they don’t get back to you. They say, ‘thanks so much, but we’re going with a different candidate’ or ‘thanks so much for applying, but you’re not right for the role’. Big flipping deal. But what’s the best that could happen? You could end up working at an amazing job for maybe a while or maybe you work there for a little while and you go, ‘actually now I want to go back to freelance’ or whatever. But don’t be the person who limits yourself. There are already so many limits in the world, so don’t impose any limits on yourself.” – Nicki

 “I really adopted this mindset that if they can do it, I can do it. I would go through the Facebook group and look for people’s testimonies and their stories of success and things that they’ve done. And I’m like, okay, I can do it. If they can do it, I can do it. I mean I adopted that mantra wholeheartedly and it really has paid off. I think people really get hung up on trying to do it perfectly. Just do it. You will learn.” – Courtney

“A key element of success in any business is that you can’t be afraid to be a beginner and look like a beginner. We all start off that way. So if somebody laughs at me, that’s fine, I’m learning. So you just can’t be afraid. And if you see a chance and you’re like, ‘I’m not sure if I’m ready yet’ or ‘I don’t have my portfolio site’, but this person wants what I have, just go for it. You know you’ve got nothing to lose at this point, so you’ve just got to go for it. And if you are afraid, you just do the thing anyway.” – Carli

Mentioned on this Episode

• Hitting 6 Figures As a Copywriter in 6 Months – Stacy’s Story
• Changing Careers to Become a Copywriter – Adele’s Story
• Landing a 4-Figure Project 2 Months In—Courtney’s Story
• Landing a Senior Copywriter Role with No Paid Experience – Mike’s Story
• Becoming a Social Media Copywriter & Manager – Carli’s Story
• Navigating Ups and Downs in a Copywriting Career – Tammy’s Story

Related Links

• Overcoming Copywriter Imposter Syndrome
• What to Do When You Feel Inadequate
• What to Look for in a Copywriting Job
• 5 Reasons You’re Not Getting Copywriting Job Responses

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. 154: How Freelancers Can Masterfully Juggle Multiple Projects – with Kaitlyn Spinney

The post Episode 155: Top Copywriting Advice from Working Copywriters 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

[2:55] The concept of the law of attraction is that you think about and focus on what it is that you want, you believe that it’s possible for you to have, and you align your actions in that direction, so that eventually that thing that you want will come to you.

[4:00] Overcoming skepticism and opening yourself up to the idea that success is possible is a huge hurdle for many. But if someone else can do it, then you can also do it (just look at the hundreds of CCA testimonials)!

[10:14] Whenever we start something new, our fearful brains can get in the way of our success.  But if it’s not working for someone, it’s usually because they’re not doing the work that they need to do. Taking action is crucial for success!

[11:22] Belief is a lot easier once you’ve had a little bit of proof. So until you have that from getting your first clients, definitely lean on the CCA community where students regularly share their wins.

[13:46] Instead of asking ‘Why can’t I…?’, try asking yourself empowering questions like ‘How can I do this better?’. You have so many resources and so many people there to support you, build up your belief, and encourage you to take action.

[15:03] Belief and action go hand in hand. If you feel like you’re in that spot where you haven’t fully cemented your belief yet, keep following the steps and trusting the process.

[18:12] By keeping going, it’s not just helping you get to your end goal, it’s also developing you as a person along the way.

[21:23] Many people don’t realize that they can take control of elements of their lives. But once you do that with one thing and make it happen, then you realize you can do that with many other things in your life. 

[23:33] Our hosts Nicki and Kate share examples of testimonials from CCA students who have stuck with it despite feeling doubtful, and gone on to achieve great successes!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“One of the first things I would encourage you to open yourself to is this concept of possibility. If someone else can do it, then I also can do it. And the question then is whether you are willing to do the things to get to that result.” – Nicki

“You can complete a marathon by taking baby steps, but you have to keep taking those steps. Will it take you a little bit longer than maybe some other people? Certainly, but who cares? You’re going to get there eventually and that time will pass no matter what. But you will have completed a marathon and obviously that’s the metaphor for your business, and it’s not just that you’ve completed the marathon, it’s who you’ve become on that path.” – Nicki

“It’s the first hurdle in even taking action and some of us may not even realize we’re creating this hurdle for ourselves.” – Kate

“It’s like a self-sabotage moment of just getting in your own way because you’re scared so you’re trying to temper your excitement and expectations from the get-go but then that’s stopping you from taking the right steps that you need to take and from taking action. So you’re just limiting yourself out the gate.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• CCA Student Testimonials

Related Links

• Ep. 85: Overcome Scarcity Mindset as a Copywriter with Mindi Huebner
• 3 Books to Help You Amp Up Your Persistence
• Overcoming Copywriter Imposter Syndrome
• 3 Tips for Combatting Imposter Syndrome

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 Copywriting 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. 150: A Day in the Life of a Copywriter

The post Episode 151: Is Manifesting a Copywriting Career Bogus? 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

[1:47] Our guest Felicity explains to Nicki and Kate that her long standing career in health care has caused her to struggle at times with creativity.

[2:44] Nicki discusses how to expand your creative thinking if you are coming from a long term career which has required a very specific way of thinking.

[5:49] Kate advises our guest to use a voice memo initially to help her tap into her creativity.

[7:10] Our hosts suggest ways to lower the pressure on yourself and let your mind unwind.

[8:44] Nicki and Kate remind us of the importance of looking for ways to make work more enjoyable and experiment with what works for you.

[10:17] Felicity emphasizes why you need to give yourself permission to do things in an entirely different way, not just in terms of writing, but in the practical elements as well.

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:

“Kate and I will always say, sometimes when we’re in our heads too much, we’ll go find a different place to work. You know, a hotel lobby somewhere because they usually have Wi-Fi and often coffee, but changing the environment can help a little bit.” – Nicki

“Obviously the challenging thing is that you are the boss and no one else is telling you to get down to work, but it’s nice that you have the ability to tell yourself, you can make up the rules.” – Kate

“I would spend a little time not even thinking about clients, but just noticing the way that you talk and that you think.” – Nicki

“One of the blessings of the CCA for me is that it’s taught me to open up the way I was thinking entirely and totally forced me in a new direction.” – Felicity

“You’re taught you have to do it this way, so even when you guys are saying words like fun, and unwind, and creative, and relaxed, it’s such a foreign concept isn’t it? But it’s just about learning that actually, yes it’s okay, you can do that, it’s fun and actually doing that, your imagination runs freer.” – Felicity

Mentioned on this Episode

• Spotify Workday Lounge Playlist

Related Links

• The Copywriter’s Creativity Problem

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 BONUS – Laser Coaching: A Copywriter’s Guide to Creative Thinking appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.