TUNE IN: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher

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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[03:30] It’s really important for people to remember that as much as you may love your full-time job, or as much as you may feel comfortable there, or you may have put in many years there, you may be very loyal to the company. When a company exists, its primary purpose is to continue to exist. And if things get crazy, companies are made up of people, of course, but a company as a physical entity, if they can’t continue to prosper and thrive, then everybody loses their jobs.

[08:50] We teach this in the academy is constantly pitching. There’s more likelihood that more things are coming. And so you have this consistent process. When you’re freelance, really taking those actions is what’s gonna help you get over that feeling of not feeling safe. That’s what’s gonna create your safety.

[10:09] If you want to be a professional freelancer and you wanna be successful at it, you need a system.

[10:37] If you’re busy, then maybe scale back the pitching that you’re doing.

[12:42] I’m gonna get an annual pay bump to cover for inflation, or I’m gonna get an annual raise, quite frankly, which isn’t necessarily a guarantee versus when you’re setting your own rates and you can bump up your work, you do have that control.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“There you offer yourself benefits. I think that’s a great point that don’t go into freelancing without having a plan for it and without having a plan for everything and without educating yourself.

 But at the same time, don’t discount the idea of freelancing without understanding it and without understanding how plenty of people are doing it effectively. And they don’t worry about dry spells or they don’t worry about paying for insurance that they don’t, it’s perfectly a successful way to exist and to earn a living.” – Nicki

“Well, if you have a full-time copy earning job, you can still take freelance clients, but it doesn’t have to be like a full side hustle. You can take a client every once in a while. 

But the nice thing about having a little bit of freelancing is that you can scale it up if things go south at the company, but you can also scale it up if you wanna get out of that company.” – Nicki

“So it’s this idea of reframing, instead of having your eggs in one basket and an employer, you are spreading it among all of your different clients. And if one of those clients doesn’t wanna work with you again, or it’s a one-off project, you still have all of these other balls in play versus if you lose your full-time job, you go from all of the income to none of it very quickly versus even if I lost  a really big client of mine, I would still have a very good income.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• The Illusion of Safety: Freelance vs. Full-Time Copywriting

Related Links

• Listen: Why Freelancing in a Recession is Wildly Effective
• The New Truth of Today’s Working World
• How to Avoid a Work Dry Spell
• 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.

Previous Episode

The post Summer Rewind: Ep. 23 Freelance vs. Full-Time Copywriting (a.k.a. the Illusion of Safety Episode) 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

[2:08] Nicki and Kate are joined by CCA students and copywriters Cleo, Nicole, and Dorothy, to discuss what it’s like to make a career transition while you’re also in the middle of making a major life transition.

[5:28] Cleo shares her story of starting a business and having a baby during the pandemic, navigating a subsequent divorce, and how freelancing has provided financial stability and flexibility as a single parent.

[8:00] Nicole talks about managing her business during her partner’s addiction and how recovering from the breakup led to significant growth.

[9:30] Dorothy tells us about ending a 21-year marriage, the impact on her health, and how her freelance business helped her gain financial independence and stability post-divorce.

[11:35] Balancing work with the weight of personal life challenges was a learning experience that pushed Cleo to take self-care seriously, accept her limits, and prioritize rest to manage both work and parenting responsibilities.

[13:40] Nicole’s biggest tip for balancing work and personal challenges is to leave yourself white space for big life transitions because they can drain you unpredictably.

[15:26] Dorothy found that leaving a chronically stressful situation freed up her energy for constructive purposes, allowing her brain and body to heal. Freelancing gives people flexibility to take breaks and process emotions.

[19:04] A mindfulness practice like yoga can be very helpful to reintegrate your mind and your body.

[20:42] The end of a bad relationship can often provide newfound energy and focus for building a business.

[23:48] Dorothy stresses the importance of having a supportive network, both personally and professionally, during tough times like divorce or breakup. The CCA Next Level community helped to keep her grounded and focused.

[28:42] Cleo shares how being a freelancer has allowed her to choose clients she enjoys working with and Nicole gives an example of how one client showed empathy during her divorce.

[31:20] Celebrating small wins is important, especially during tough personal situations. Dorothy shares how celebrating income milestones post-separation helped to keep her focused. (She even achieved a 123% increase in annual revenue compared to the year before her breakup!)

[34:23] The panel discusses financial abuse within relationships and how this can impact a person’s ability to leave. Dorothy shares her own experience of financial abuse, while Nicole and Cleo reflect on the newfound financial freedom they gained post-breakup.

[41:53] The panel reflects on when they knew something had to change and how these experiences have influenced their approach to dating. (Fellow freelancers get a big thumbs up!).

[46:32] Journaling can be a therapeutic practice during difficult times and revisiting entries can help identify patterns and gain clarity on personal experiences and emotions.

[48:47] Society often has a negative view of being single or divorced but Cleo reminds us that there can be a lot of freedom, joy, and independence in singlehood.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Coming out on the other side, it has been amazing and it has just given me so much freedom to build the life that I want and the business that I want, the schedule I want and the lifestyle I want. All of that stuff and I think especially if you have kids, especially young kids, the freelancing makes it so much easier to be a single parent.” – Cleo

“After the breakup, I did feel stronger financially and also being able to make money choices for yourself, you’re not relying on someone else’s income, you’re not trying to take care of someone else. From an income standpoint, you can make decisions, invest in your own business, invest in yourself in ways that you couldn’t before, at least that was my experience. I think in 2023, I had a lot more business expenses, choices I made, coaching, and all of those investments led to an increase ultimately in gross revenue. So the freedom to make choices in money was huge for me.” – Nicole

“I do think the confidence and the amount of growth that I went through being a freelancer and having my own business, I really think set me up to be able to handle that in a way that I wouldn’t have. I just think there’s so much growth in having to take that responsibility for your own life the way you do when you’re a freelancer, having to just build that confidence and that trust in yourself and in your own resilience that really helped when I was going through that situation.” – Cleo

“Your professional community can be really, really awesome and supportive. I know Cleo and Dorothy because we’re all in Next Level and the three of us have been talking about our breakups for a while. Connecting with the two of them has been amazing and so important and we met in a professional setting but when we realized we are going through the same thing, we just starting chatting and getting closer to each other and I love these guys and it’s been such an important part of my healing in life.” – Nicole

“So many lives are just what they’re supposed to be now because this community exists.” – Dorothy

Mentioned on this Episode

• Starting a Copywriting Business with a Chronic Illness – Dorothy’s Story

Related Links

• Copywriting Lets This Mom Live Life on Her Own Terms
• Building a Copywriting Business as a Mom – with Kate K, Dorothy & Jen
• Thriving as a Neurodivergent Copywriter – Cleo’s Story

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. 189: Before Starting a Copywriting Side Hustle … Listen to This

The post Episode 190: Freelance Copywriting Through Divorces, Separations, and Breakups 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

[2:45] One of the biggest things to consider when you are doing anything as a side hustle, copywriting or otherwise, is to treat it like a business.

[4:59] Clients will still work with you outside daytime hours. There shouldn’t be too many client calls and you can schedule them during evenings or weekends. Avoid telling your client this is a side hustle as you don’t want to send the message that this work is not a priority.

[8:59] As you start to pitch and get excited about landing clients, it’s tempting to want to say “yes” to every client. But when your hours are limited, you need to be very intentional with how you choose projects and set the timeline for those projects.

[10:10] Nicki and Kate discuss the importance of determining your business boundaries with clients and sticking to them.

[13:00] It’s easy to treat a side hustle as “bonus” money coming in, but don’t forget you still need to pay taxes on that income. You should also track any money that you’re spending for your business.

[14:45] Be realistic about the time you have and the time you want to take off. It can help to visually block time out on the calendar for different activities so you know what is sustainable.

[17:36] When it comes to timing, you also need to factor in the times of the year you might want to work more or less. For example, teachers might want to ramp up their side hustle work over summer.

[19:30] Nicki and Kate recommend starting with copywriting as a side hustle before transitioning to full-time copywriting. Jumping in with both feet can work well for some people, but not others.

[21:17] Knowing your numbers is important to help you understand what you need to make ends meet. You’ll have a better idea of how many clients you need and how much you need to pitch.

[24:43] To make the transition from side hustle to full time a little easier, you’re going to have to dial up your side hustle hours before leaving your full-time job. 

[26:20] Remembering your big “why” can be really motivating in those moments where you’re dialing up your freelance hours and working extra hard. And don’t forget to make it fun, too!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“One of the biggest things to consider when you are doing anything as a side hustle, copywriting or otherwise, is to treat it like a business. Because if you are treating a side hustle like a hobby or like a ‘nice to have’, then you’re not going to see the results that you want to see. If you treat it like a hobby, it will be a hobby. It might be fun, but it might not bring you the income, the revenue that you want to receive. So you have to go into it knowing that it is a business. It’s your business.” – Kate

“You have to take every element of your business just as seriously as if you were doing it full time. And that includes your finances as well. But that also includes tracking any money that you’re spending for your business. If you are buying supplies for your business, track those as well. Treat it just the same as you would if you were doing it full time.” – Nicki

“I think one of the things to note too with client communication is that your client shouldn’t know that this is a side hustle per se. They don’t need to know that this is something that you’re doing extra or on top of a full-time job. They don’t need to know the details of what’s going on in your life beyond that because I think there can be a connotation with some clients of this is just a side hustle, this is just something they’re doing extra on top of a full-time job. You don’t want to send the message that this is secondary. You want to always present yourself as this client is the most, and this project is the most important thing on my plate.” – Kate

“Jumping in with both feet is probably not a great plan for you if you can possibly help it. If you have a full-time job and you’re fine with your full-time job or it’s not making you too miserable, can you build up your side hustle income and build up your client base so that you have an easier transition into full-time freelancing?” “One of the biggest things is knowing your numbers. What do you comfortably need to live month to month to pay the bills?” – Nicki & Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• Build a Copywriting Business While Working 9 to 5 (with Grace Nelson)
• Copywriting as a Side Hustle – Alicia’s Story
• How to Be a Part-Time Copywriter with a Full-Time Job
• Balancing a Copywriting Career with an Acting Career
• Building a Copywriting Side Hustle With a Full-Time Job – Claire’s Story
• Bridging the Gap from Quitting a Job to Full-Time Freelance

Related Links

• Can Copywriting Be a Side Hustle?
• How to Be a Part-Time Copywriter from Home
• The Secret to Sustaining Freelance Copywriting 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. 188: Pivoting to Copywriting Later in Your Career – Kelly’s Story

The post Episode 189: Before Starting a Copywriting Side Hustle … Listen to This 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] Transitioning from an employee mindset to a business owner mindset can be challenging, especially if you’ve spent the vast majority of your life in the employee mindset, making decisions based on having a limit to your income.

[4:20] Typically, when you’re a consumer, you are making a purchase. But as a business owner, there are many opportunities to make investments in your business, which have the power to pay for themselves many times over.

[7:08] Unlike the average consumer who might hesitate and wait during challenging economic times, business owners can’t afford to give in to fear and scale back. You have to keep taking action to sustain your business, which may involve exploring new strategies.

[11:07] Changing your environment when you’re working on your business can help shift your mindset away from consumer concerns so you can focus on the investments your business really needs.

[12:27] Set aside time each month to dig into your numbers (income, number of clients, time spent on tasks etc.) to help optimize your income, time, and energy.

[14:35] Be mindful of the conversations you’re having as a business owner, especially when it comes to the economy. People around you may have more of a pessimistic outlook if they’re influenced by the media. Block out the noise and stay focused on your goals and what you can control.

[20:07] Instead of following consumer or employee-oriented advice, lean into your community to make sure you are thinking like the business owner that you want to be instead of the consumer that you used to be.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“I feel like the key difference between an employee mindset and a business owner mindset is, when I’m spending my money as a consumer, I’m making these purchases. I’m buying things that aren’t actually going to give me anything back. They might bring me joy, I might have fun with them, I might use them, and it might be valuable to me in some way. But as a business owner, the things I’m spending my money on have the power, if I’m making the right investments, have the power to pay for themselves many, many times over.” – Kate

“Make sure that you are listening to and thinking like the business owner that you are and that you want to be instead of the consumer that you used to be. It’s not easy, but it is crucial and it will have such a positive, positive impact on you and on your business.”- Nicki

“When you are in a more challenging financial time, for a business owner, that’s actually not the time to scale back on activities. And even potentially not the time to scale back on spending. Whereas when the economy gets a little uncertain, the average consumer kind of goes, ‘Oh, we’re not going to do anything. And I’m going to pull the blankets over my head and just wait it out.’ The business owner does not have the luxury to give into that fear. You have to keep taking action in order to keep your business going. And sometimes you have to explore different kinds of action to take.” – Nicki

“When 2020 started, I, like everyone, was just like, ‘Oh, pandemic, work’s going to dry up.’ I had a lot of people in my network who did lose jobs and it was a hard time for many, many people. I’m very, very fortunate. I’m very grateful. And I don’t say this to toot my own horn in any way, but 2020 was one of my best financial years as a copywriter. And if I had listened to what was going on in the news and just went on that feeling and got scared or stopped doing what I was doing, maybe it would have been a different year. But instead I buckled down and I blocked out the noise. Here’s what I know is happening. Here are my clients. I’m going to continue doing the things that I have control over.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• 3 Tips for Combatting Imposter Syndrome
• Overcome Scarcity Mindset as a Copywriter
• Face Your Freelance Finances Fears
• Want to Earn Six Figures as a Copywriter? Get Your Finances in Order
• Actual Freelance Copywriting Salary: Digging Into One Copywriter’s Numbers

Related Links

• Top Copywriting Advice from Working Copywriters
• #1 Change That Will Double Your Copywriting Income
• Master Your Money Mindset
• 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. 185: Copywriting Pitching Assumptions That Will Cost Your Business

The post Episode 186: Are You Stuck in an Employee Mindset? 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

[2:06] Managing finances can be intimidating for freelancers, but it’s important to face your fears and start understanding the numbers!

[3:25] If you have a bookkeeper, Crystalynn recommends having a sit-down meeting with them at least once a month to go over your numbers.

[4:20] If you are currently managing your finances on your own, it’s a good idea to find a QuickBooks expert to set you up and teach you how to properly manage your books.

[6:02] Crystalynn recommends five reports to look at, including the accounts receivable aging report.

[7:47] Crystalynn advises keeping a separate business account, even if you’re using your personal account to fund things initially.

[12:35] Investing in accounting software has many benefits and can help you to keep on top of business expenses more easily.

[16:10] Scheduling regular time to review your transactions is a great way to stay organized when it comes to your business’ finances.

[19:51] Finding ways to reward yourself after completing financial tasks can make them a lot more palatable!

[21:43] Waiting until January or February to compile 12 months worth of information is very stressful. Managing your finances on a monthly basis makes the process a whole lot easier.

[24:27] Bookkeepers tend to do all of the day-to-day work like invoicing, recording, and categorizing of the numbers, whereas an accountant reviews and analyzes the financial statements to help give some insight into what the numbers say about the business.

[27:58] Accountants can also support with tax planning and discussing any changes to your legal entity.

[31:45] Try to use as little cash as possible when you’re purchasing items for your business or paying for expenses. It’s better to use something that’s going to have a record.

Must-Hear Takeaways

” I think a lot of people don’t realize that while your Excel spreadsheet is great, having an accounting software allows you to go paperless and automate things such as uploading your receipts. So I would just say while it does cost you money to purchase the software, it’s worth it because there are so many benefits. I would say another benefit would be connecting all of your bank accounts.” – Crystalynn

“As soon as you can afford to pay someone, a professional, I would say do it. But I still want the business owners out there to realize just because you hired someone to manage your books, that doesn’t mean you have a hands-off approach. Absolutely not. You still need to understand what that person is doing.” – Crystalynn

“There are just some things that we don’t necessarily feel like doing or maybe even things that intimidate us a little bit, especially as it can be when it comes to numbers, but that’s still something you have to do. And so we have to figure out a way to make ourselves do it and maybe even make it more palatable for ourselves. – Nicki

“Try to use as little cash as possible when you’re purchasing items for your business or paying for expenses. Use something that’s going to have a record. So use your credit card or use your debit card, or write a check if you need to do that.” – Crystalynn

Mentioned on this Episode

• Listen to her podcast: https://www.crystalynnshelton.com/podcasts
• Website: https://www.crystalynnshelton.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crystalynn.shelton.5/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crystalynn-shelton-cpa-09436995/ 
• Instagram: @crystalynnshelton

Related Links

• Set Your Copywriting Business Up for Financial Success
• Opening a Business Bank Account as a Copywriter
• Accounting Tips for New Copywriters
• Ep. 112: Want to Earn Six Figures as a Copywriter? Get Your Finances in Order

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. 145: Catchy Hook or Clickbait? How to Tell the Difference

The post Episode 146: Face Your Freelance Finances Fears – with Crystalynn Shelton (CPA) 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

[2:15] Sometimes when you are new you may not be as confident about yourself and your copywriting skills. That’s okay! That even happens to veteran copywriters. But you have to be careful when it comes to letting your insecurities show, as those may mark you as an inexperienced copywriter.

[4:00] The first red flag you may be “waving” is mixing copy and content! You need to demonstrate that you know these are two different things and have two different skill sets.

[7:20] It’s your job to tell potential clients why they should hire you, but not why copy is important. They are already evaluating you to be their copywriter, they have made the decision that copywriting is important for their business.

[13:30] You want to come across as the professional that you are, and an important way to show that is your portfolio website! You don’t necessary need it to start pitching but it’s important to show you are professional and to show case your skills!

[16:30] When it comes to rates there are a few different mistakes that can put up red flags and mark you as inexperienced! Charging by the word and undervaluing yourself are just a few of the red flags!

[23:45] Following up is so important! You are not bothering clients, you are professional and are running a business. They expect you to communicate with them.

[26:10] You need to ask the right questions and lead the conversation with clients so you have the information you need to create good copy, and a sign of an experienced copywriter.

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 are not the most important person on your portfolio site, which I know sounds so crazy but the purpose of your portfolio site is not for you to talk about what you love and what you’re passionate about. The purpose of your portfolio site is to convey to a potential client, what you can do for them and how you can benefit their business.” – Nicki

“It doesn’t mark you as a newbie to say, “hey, excuse me, you said this term, I just wanted to clarify what you mean by that.’ That doesn’t mark you as a newbie. What marks you as a newbie is if you don’t ask that question and then you’re unable to produce the copy that you need to produce because you felt uncomfortable speaking up in the initial conversation.” – Kate

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode 3: What’s the Difference Between Copy and Content?

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. 132: Using Copywriting to Build a Second Business – Karen’s Story

The post Episode 133: Are You Giving Off Any of These Copywriter Red Flags? 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

[3:00] You deserve to be paid well for performing a valuable service! Not only is it possible, but it’s probable, if you follow some specific steps to grow your copywriting business to making five figures a month.

[4:00] If you track your time very closely for a week or two, you will find areas where you are not accounting for your time and missing out on billable hours. You are almost certainly leaving money on the table.

[7:15] If you increase your rates and you still are doing unaccounted for work you will still end up working for less than you should be. And yes, you should evaluate your rates at least once per year.

[9:45] Repitching your current and previous clients is an excellent way to help increase your income because they know you and like what you do, they already know you are great to work with, and they also know your work is high-quality.

[13:50] Giving a current client the opportunity to put you on retainer can be a great way to have a baseline, and then plan your other pitching and work around that to make sure you are hitting your financial goals each month. Having recurring work can help you plan!

[18:00] When you set your rate you also need to set your “no lower than rate.” And sometimes you might have to walk away. Having that rate will make it easier to say no.

[22:40] Not every client is going to pay the rate you have set, but that doesn’t mean that no clients will. It’s just part of the process. And knowing what your boundaries are means you can focus on the clients who will meet your rates.

[23:30] Think about your pricing in terms of value. The length of time you have been a copywriter doesn’t mean as much as you may think. You are bringing value to your client; messaging is the most important part of a business.

[28:50] It’s always better to quote on the higher side. That gives you some wiggle room for negotiation. Value yourself and don’t be afraid to have conversations about your rates.

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:

“The first thing, and the first place to start … is that copywriters don’t actually account for all of their time … I can guarantee if you track all of your time very, very closely—say to the minute, but every 15 minutes—writing down exactly what you’re doing and tracking that for a week or two, you’re going to find areas where you think ‘Oh, I didn’t account for that.’ Or ‘I sent this email, and it actually took me 15 or 20 minutes to write this email.'” – Kate

“15 minutes here, 15 minutes there, and you may be thinking ‘5 minutes, that’s not a lot of time!’ That time ads up. Over the course of a week, a month, a year, that is thousands of dollars that you may very well be leaving on the table. In fact, I guarantee that you’re leaving money on the table.” – Kate

“You have to take care of yourself. Someone who gets to the level of 5 figures a month has to lean into respecting themselves and taking care of themselves as a professional.” – Nicki

“You need to set your rate. But you also need to set your ‘no lower than’ rate … all too often, though, copywriters get in the position of ‘well, I’m just going to take this work because it’s what’s here and I don’t care that it’s half my regular rate. I need the work.’ When, instead, you could be using that time saying ‘no’ to a client who won’t pay your rate, to pitch and work with clients that will pay your full rate … you need that price when you’re willing to walk away.” – Kate

“I think especially newer copywriters may think ‘I’ve only been practicing copywriting for 6 months.’ Or ‘I’ve only been practicing copywriting for …’ however long. But the length of time you’re practicing copywriting, it doesn’t mean anything. Someone could be ‘practicing’ copywriting for 6 months and not write a single piece … you putting in 6 months may have been a lot of studying, a lot of practice … you are bringing value to your client.” – Nicki

“As you’re thinking about your rates, and as you’re thinking about who you’re going to pitch and how you’re going to pitch, don’t forget to respect yourself as a professional and respect the skills that you have developed and you will continue to develop. We’re never done learning.” – Nicki

“And so if you’re the type of person who goes to send a quote, and you’ve done all the work ‘I factored in all the meetings, and emails,’ and you get to the point where you’re like ‘oh my gosh, I’m going to charge $1,500 or $2,000’ or whatever your number is for this project. And you start to feel like ‘Oh that’s really high. I did all the math, and this is right and this is what it’s going to take. But $2,000 feels like a lot, maybe I’ll it $1,750 because that feels a little lower and maybe they’ll accept that.’ Take your pricing dear listener or viewer and send it. Send it. Do not second guess the work. If anything, second guess in the other direction. Did I factor in enough time for meetings and emails and all of this?” -Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• Ep. 42: How Copywriters Can Negotiate with Confidence – with Susie Tomenchok
• Ep. 104: Biggest Copywriting Mistakes in Our Careers

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. 130: 4 of the Highest Paying Copywriting Niches

The post Episode 131: Can You Make $10,000 Month With Copywriting? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

One of the major reasons people avoid freelance copywriting (and freelancing in general) is the lack of benefits. But the truth is, freelancers have a huge opportunity to build their benefits package the way they want—not the way their employer wants. And that includes saving for retirement as a self-employed freelancer.

As a freelancer, you set your own rates, and you should be setting them in a way that factors in all the usual benefits of working on staff—including vacation and retirement.

When it comes to freelancers and self-employed individuals saving for retirement, you have a few options to explore.

How Self-Employed Freelancers Save for Retirement

When it comes to retirement, freelancers have some huge benefits over on-staff employees—if you know how to take advantage of those benefits!

There are several ways to save for retirement as a freelancer. Each option has ways it can reduce your taxable income (the amount you own the government in taxes). Talk to your tax prep professional to make sure you’re maximizing these benefits in a way that makes sense for you.

Self 401(k)

A self 401(k)—also sometimes referred to as a one-participant 401(k) or solo 401(k)—is a great option if you’re running your business, well, solo! Contributing to a self 401(k) is especially beneficial for freelancers who had a lucrative year for business and want to lower their taxable income.

Your contributions to your retirement account lower the amount you’re able to be taxed on. (For example, if you made $125,000 and contribute $20,000 to your retirement, your taxable income is now $105,000 versus $125,000. You may, of course, have additional deductions that lower your taxable income further.)

If you are a freelancer that has no employees (you’re a sole proprietor or a one-person LLC), you can contribute to the plan as both the employer and employee. You can also contribute to a self 401(k) plan if you hire your spouse.

Employee Contributions

As the employee_, you can contribute to the 401(k) just as you would to an employer-offered 401(k) plan. The maximum amount you can contribute to the plan varies year to year ($22,500 in 2023). (If you’re over 50 years old, you may be able to make catch-up contributions. Talk with your tax pro for your specific situation.)

You must make your employee contribution by the end of the calendar year. (For example, if you want to contribute to retirement in 2023, you must do so by December 31, 2023.)

Employer Contributions

As the employer, the math is a little trickier. You can contribute 25% of “earned income,” which the IRS defines as “net earnings from self-employment after deducting both one-half of your self-employment tax, and contributions for yourself.”

This is why you have until you file taxes to make your employer contribution.

Note: When you have $250,000 or more in assets in your self 401(k) plan, you must file Form 5500-EZ each year with the IRS.

IRA

Another option is to contribute to an IRA (individual retirement arrangement or account). There are two types of IRAs: Roth and Traditional.

Roth IRA: Your ability to contribute to a Roth IRA depends on how much you earn. For 2023, you can contribute if your modified adjusted gross income (your income, minus certain allowable deductions) is less than $153,000 (or $228,000 if you’re married and filing taxes jointly). If that all sounds confusing, consult your tax prep professional! The perks of contributing to a Roth IRA is that the money is not taxed when you start withdrawing in retirement.

Traditional IRA: Anyone can contribute to a traditional IRA, regardless of how much you earn.

The perk of a traditional IRA is that you may qualify for a tax deduction in the year in which you make a contribution to the account. Traditional IRAs also assume you’re likely making more money now that you will be in retirement. So, you’ll likely be taxed at a lower rate when you begin withdrawing money in retirement.

SEP IRA

A SEP IRA, or Simplified Employee Pension plan, allows you to contribute up to 25% of your net self-employment earnings, up to $66,000 (in 2023). Unlike a self 401(k) that allows you to contribute as the employer and employee, a SEP IRA allows you to contribute only as the employer.

Like other options, contributing to your SEP IRA reduces your taxable income (and, therefore, reduces the amount of federal income tax you owe).

SIMPLE IRA

Like a self 401(k), a SIMPLE IRA allows you to make contributions as both the employer and employee. You can contribute all your net earnings from self employment in the plan, up to $15,500 in 2023 (plus, catch-up contributions if you’re over 50).

However, employer contributions to a SIMPLE IRA are a bit different than a 401(k). SIMPLE IRAs require either a 2% fixed contribution or a 3% matching contribution.

Contributions are deductible.

When Should You Start Saving for Retirement When Freelancing?

As with anything when it comes to personal finances, it’s really dependent on you and your specific situation. For most freelancers, the first step is to have an emergency fund. But you may also decide to contribute to both your emergency fund and retirement simultaneously. After all, the benefits of compound interest are bigger the sooner you get started.

Start With an Emergency Fund

How much is in your emergency fund is dependent on your lifestyle. Everyone has different recurring costs (rent/mortgage, car payment, grocery bills, etc.).

A good rule of thumb is to save anywhere from three to six months worth of expenses. Some people may want to save even more—it really depends on you and your comfort level.

High-yield savings accounts are a great place to save your emergency fund. These savings accounts offer a higher interest rate than normal savings accounts, meaning you earn more interest. You want your emergency funds easily accessible, which is why putting them in a savings account makes sense. But you also want to earn as much as possible for that money sitting in the account.

Determine How Much You Want to Save for Retirement Each Month

The sooner you can start socking away money in a retirement account, the longer it has to grow. You can use this compound interest calculator to see just how much opportunity there is for your initial investment to grow the sooner you start and the longer you let it grow.

Play around with the numbers. Yes, you eventually want to nail down how much you want to contribute each month, but seeing how much more your money can grow if you invest just a little more each month may sway what number you choose.

Aim to contribute a percentage of your pre-tax earnings each month. Again, this number will depend on your situation, including how much you’re earning and your age (if you’re playing retirement catch-up), among other factors.

For example, you may aim for 15-20% if you’re starting to invest in your 30s, or 25-30% if you’re starting in your 40s. But you may also aim to contribute more if you’re able or less if your business has slowed for one reason or another. You can always adjust as needed, but it’s best to choose a number so you can automate your processes as much as possible. This way you can ensure you’re saving and don’t have to waste valuable time figuring out what you need to do each month.

Automate Your Retirement Contributions

Really—automate it! If you can automatically deposit money from one account to another consider this option. If you can’t, add a recurring calendar invite for yourself to make the deposit.

Your Turn! How are you saving as a freelancer? Share your tips in the comments below!

Note: We are not legal experts or tax preparation professionals, so always consult an accountant, tax prep professional, or attorney if you have concerns. This information is aimed at copywriters in the United States. Copywriters in other locations may find this information useful for determining what questions they need to ask and answer based on their city, country, or region.

The post How Do I Save for Retirement If I Am Self-Employed? appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.

First, if you hate numbers and you still are reading this post, congratulations! Many copywriters aren’t math fans, so you’re not alone. But regardless of whether you love numbers or hate ’em, you need to spend some quality time with a few key numbers if you want to set your copywriting finances—and frankly your whole business—up for success.

So, if you’re serious about your copywriting business, here are three steps you need to take to set a solid foundation for your business.

Know Your Numbers

Many copywriters start their copywriting business without knowing their numbers. The numbers we’re talking about here are:

• Your expenses: what do you absolutely need to make to cover your bills, including rent, healthcare, food, etc. Many copywriters who want to freelance shy away from it due to healthcare. But it only seems scary because you haven’t dug into the numbers behind it.
• Your rate: you need to figure out your hourly rate. We recommend charging by the project, but your hourly rate gives you a place to start. Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students have an entire course on pricing, as well as the Write Start workbook—use it to think through your financial goals!
• The hours you know you can or want to work in a day.

All of these numbers are what will help you determine what you need to do each month to cover your expenses. Without this information, you’re throwing darts into the dark.

Set a Financial Goal

In order to meet a goal, you need to have a goal in the first place. But this goal should be specific to you and take into account where your business is and where you want it to go.

For example, if six figures is your ultimate goal, but you’ve just started, you need to break that goal down. It’s far more motivating to hit milestones on the way to your big goal than constantly working toward a big goal with nothing to remind you of all your great progress.

So, you may want to say “my goal is to land my first client.” Once you hit that goal, it may become “my goal is to make $1,000” (perhaps you did that with your first client; if so, good for you!). Then, “my goal is to make $5,000/month.” Then $6,000, and so on and so forth.

But make sure your financial goal is your financial goal. What do I mean by that? I mean make sure you’re not setting out to hit a number just because someone else said that was their number. Focus on what makes sense for your business.

Schedule a Monthly Copywriting Finances Check-In

It’s much easier to make smart decisions for your business when you have the information you need to make those decisions. And having a monthly check-in to go over what money came in and what money went out can give you some of the information you need to answer questions like:

• Did I meet my monthly income goal? Why or why not?
• How many pitches did I send last month and did that help me meet my goals? What do I need to adjust?
• How many clients did I work with last month? Was that too few? Too many? Can I repitch them?
• Is the bulk of my income coming from one client? Do I like working with them? Do I need to find a client to replace them?

These are just a few questions to consider during your check-in. With this information you can plan what you need to do for the coming month.

It’s also a lot easier to course correct when you catch something soon after it happens. For example, perhaps no one is responding to your pitches. By digging in and figuring out why that may be, you can make small adjustments before you send out 20 additional pitches with the same mistake.

The more you look at your numbers, the less mystifying they’ll be, the less afraid you’ll be to look at them, and the more successful your business has the potential to be.

Watch More

If you have a financial goal you want to hit, then knowing your numbers is essential. Watch this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast to get more tips from Nicki and Kate on how you can track your finances and hit your goals.

From putting quarterly check-ins on your calendar to also tracking how much energy certain projects and clients take you, you’ll be able to get a better picture of your finances and the changes you need to hit your goals.

Your Turn! What other numbers do you look at to get your copywriting finances and financial goals in order?

The post Set Your Copywriting Business Up for Financial Success appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.