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

A Sneak Peek at the Episode

[3:32] Whether you want a full-time position or you’re pitching for freelance work, avoid “one-click applications” at all costs! It’s worth doing a bit of research to find out who the hiring manager is as they are the best people to judge your application.

[5:35] Make sure you read through the *whole* job description. More and more companies (including FRW!) are burying little tasks in the application to help them weed out people who don’t read the full description.

[8:45] Don’t be dissuaded by the qualifications you might see listed on a job application. Employers have to ask for *some* level of experience otherwise they’d get applicants with … zero experience. The skills you show in your portfolio are going to have more of an impact—that’s another reason why your application needs to be in the hands of the hiring manager, not the internal recruiter.

[10:45] A lot of agencies ask for agency experience but don’t let that put you off. What they’re really looking for is that you can manage a lot of different projects and clients. And as a copywriter who’s built your own copywriting business, you already know how to do that!

[11:35] Be cautious when describing yourself as “detail-oriented” since employers may scrutinize your application more closely for errors. Instead, Kate and Nicki suggest demonstrating this quality by, ahem, reading the *full* job description!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“If you don’t take the job time to read the job description, you do not deserve the job. You don’t deserve an interview. It means you’re not going to take the time necessarily to do the work and to slow down and to give the work the time it deserves. So be thorough if it’s a job that you actually want.” – Nicki

“If you have a great portfolio, I don’t care if you went to college. If you can do the job well, then that’s what I care about. So when you see qualifications, things like ‘must have a bachelor’s degree in this’, same thing with experience, ‘must have two to three years experience’—people put that in there because they have to put something. If this is zero experience, then they’re going to get people with zero experience. And the truth is, CCA students, you don’t have zero experience.” – Nicki

“Along with qualifications, a big one is ‘must have agency experience’. A lot of agencies put that. And it’s kind of a catch-22 if you’re trying to break it into an agency. And literally every agency is like, well, you must already have agency experience. Don’t let that be a barrier either. I think the big thing agencies are looking for is that you can manage a lot of different projects, potentially multiple different clients. And as a copywriter who’s built your own copywriting business, you already know how to do that. You’re kind of like a one person agency already, right? You’re doing multiple different things, handling multiple different projects, multiple clients, multiple timelines. And so you can speak to that. So don’t let agency experience get in the way.” – Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• Ace Your Copywriting Interview (Part 2 of 3)
• Post-Interview Must Dos (Part 3 of 3)

Related Links

• Questions to Prepare For in a Copywriting Job Interview
• Copywriting Q&A: Super-Charged Job-Hunting Tactics
• How to Elevate Your Profile & Land Copywriting Clients on LinkedIn

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.

The post Summer Rewind: Ep. 52 What to Do Before Your Copywriting Interview 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

[03:45] All of a sudden something sparked and I was like ‘I love this! This is so fun!’ and it was an amazing experience to come from something you love and then feeling heartbroken and then finding something that fit the lifestyle that I needed and be fulfilling and earn great money and have flexibility so yeah I don’t regret it, I loved every minute and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

[05:45] When I finished the program, I got my first job and the first job paid off the whole class and I was like oh okay there is actual work out here so I started doing the things, started pitching people and literally had the income that I wanted in the first month or two.

[06:09] The most shocking thing for me was how much work there was out there. There is a lot of work out there and so I had more work than I actually wanted or could do.

[9:08] It was really just about pitching and being brave enough to do that. And I feel like I’ve learned so much and even though this was kind of a stepping stone for me and it’s a side hustle that I’m doing, it translates to so many things and it bettered my career, it just enriched the career that I have now.

[14:10] I think it’s so easy for us to forget to re-pitch our current or past clients when it really is the easiest. People who already love you, who already love what you do and know that you do a fantastic job. It was just about networking. And then once I got my pool of clients and I kept just re-pitching them and it just got way easier.

[17:15]  I made the timeline, I literally had a calendar out where I said I’m gonna do this unit and this unit on this day. And then, I scheduled the breaks in there ’cause I am kind of an all or nothing person. And actually after the first couple units, it’s not as intimidating.

[20:03] The more you write you get better at it. Whether you’re starting from ground zero or you’ve been doing it for many years, we’re all still learning. We’re all trying to get better and everything else. I can appreciate somebody else’s copy just as much now as I did back then.

[21:49] If you’re on the fence or if you’re struggling or if you’re even in a slump of where you feel you can’t get through the course or you don’t have enough work, I would tell you there’s just no substitute for hustle. You go out there and you hustle until you kind of get a breakthrough. And that’s what I would tell them. But, get the course.

Must-Hear Takeaways

 “So because I have repeat customers, it’s a lot easier. So that way, I know hey I’ve got a day here that I’m slow and I could do some copy work then I would go and pitch those people and be like ‘hey I’ve got some time’ and I think getting those repeat customers is really important when you’re trying to balance both because then you’re not out trying to fish for the work and you just know you have your pool of people that you can pitch over and over again so that helps with the balancing and then sometimes they call me like ‘hey I’ve got work, can you do this?’ And then it’s neat where I can say yes or no where I have time or I don’t.” Audrey

“And like I said, I had way more work than I even wanted to which blew my mind. I was like this could be a full time gig, I could hire an assistant. There is definitely work out there so I would say if you’re on the fence just go ahead and do it. Because literally it was the first job I got paid off the course. And there’s very few things I feel like in life where you take a plunge and it pays off with so much and it was so worth it for me. I’ve never had something pay off that quickly.” Audrey

“I felt very prepared after the course too. I just did the program, I did the thing exactly the way you said and it prepared me perfectly. It was great. Actually, now you’re the benchmark for any other class I take.” Audrey

“The community is great. I couldn’t have done it without the community. It’s fun. You get to know people on the Facebook group and it’s always fun to see other people’s progress and their wins and their success stories and I would dive into that.” Audrey

Mentioned on This Episode

• Ep. 5: Why Choosing a Copywriting Niche is Terrible Advice
• Ep. 84: When to Break the Copywriting Niche Rule

Related Links

• Too Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting Pitches
• The Simplest Way to Start Finding Copywriting Clients
• Find Copywriting Clients by Networking in the Right Places
• Land Copywriting Clients With These 35 Tips
• The Three Steps to Career Change
• Value-Based Pitches, English-Language Nuances, and About Pages

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

The post Episode 192 : This Part-Time Copywriter is Too Busy to Have a Portfolio – Audrey’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

[1:35] CCA student Lizzie, a former business analyst who always loved the writing part of her job, started freelance writing back in 2020. Last year, she transitioned to full-time freelancing and is seeing great success!

[2:49] Lizzie shares advice on transitioning from a full-time career to copywriting and how networking has played a huge role in helping her land work. 

[5:12] Lizzie recommends more structured networking for people who are introverted because they have a more predictable format which minimizes social anxiety.

[6:06] Switching tasks to maintain productivity and relying on structured working hours and consistent processes have helped Lizzie thrive as a copywriter with ADHD and autism.

[7:00] For Lizzie, not niching down has allowed her to be as productive as she is. Her business analysis background has also been helpful in supporting businesses with strategy around their marketing.

[8:11] In terms of pitching and networking, Lizzie has found that when you focus on giving, it’s a lot easier to build up your client base.

[10:52] Networking can help you reach dream clients by tapping into the six degrees of separation and can lead to a lot of unexpected opportunities. Lizzie has been invited to lots of exciting events like celebrity galas and awards ceremonies!

[12:47] After networking events, it’s always important to follow up. Lizzie does this by asking for one-on-one meetings to understand potential clients’ businesses better. This builds rapport and helps her make effective referrals, increasing her chances of getting future work.

[14:57] Copywriting opportunities are not just limited to where you live—there are a lot of opportunities out there. Lizzie has a diverse client base, ranging from local to international clients, including one in Hong Kong! 

[16:46] Lizzie has been surprised by how often she’s asked to ghostwrite books. Many people have great ideas but struggle to write them down, making copywriters and content writers essential in bringing those ideas to life.

[17:30] If you’re considering going into copywriting, Lizzie encourages you to take the leap! Spread the word among friends, get on LinkedIn, and start networking. You’ll find tons of resources and potential collaborators through making those connections.

Must-Hear Takeaways

 “Absolutely network. Most networks, people are there to help you and want to help themselves, they cant help themselves if they’re not in a group of successful people. So they want to help you be successful because it helps them be successful. So absolutely network your heart out because it also helps you with your cold pitching as well. So you don’t need to do one or the other, a combination of both is always best.” – Lizzie

“I think the reason I’ve got a lot of work is because I don’t put forward that impression of really salesy which is quite hard for people when what we do is selling material. But being free with that information that you have, appearing the expert that you are is really helpful because people go, ‘They clearly know what they’re doing.’” – Lizzie

“People remember you. I’ve now become ubiquitous in my city, everyone knows and is like, ‘Oh it’s you!’ And I’ve literally only been doing it for 8 months, and you get invited to things. I’ve been to more events that I never would have thought I would be invited to in my life before just from starting this and everyone’s like, ‘Oh you’re the copywriter’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I am the copywriter!'” – Lizzie

“Speak to all your friends, all your work colleagues, tell everyone that this is what you’re doing because it gives you a set of warm leads to immediately go to. Get a profile on LinkedIn, make it clever, make it fun. Don’t be exactly the same as everyone else. Don’t expect it to go viral or anything overnight, mine definitely hasn’t but it’s sort of just building traction. And go and network. If you’re introverted, there are networks out there for you, there are online networks. Go and talk to people because the more you talk to people, they might help you in other ways. You’ll find your accountant that way, you’ll find your web designer that way, you’ll find the designers that you want to work with if you want to get those spec pieces.” – Lizzie

Mentioned on this Episode

• View Lizzie’s profile

Related Links

• The One Question That Makes Copywriting Networking Easy
• Can an Introvert Be a Successful Copywriter?
• Thriving as a Neurodivergent Copywriter – Cleo’s Story
• How to Elevate Your Profile & Land Copywriting Clients on LinkedIn

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. 190: Freelance Copywriting Through Divorces, Separations, and Breakups

The post Episode 191: This Copywriter Books Work 3+ Months Out—Here’s How She Does It – Lizzie’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

[2:00] Nicki and Kate are joined by CCA student Kelly, who had been copywriting for a lot of years before she joined the CCA, without even knowing it!

[3:35] Kelly wanted to start her own business and after seeing an ad for the CCA, she knew it would give her the structure she needed to pursue a career in copywriting.

[5:00] Adult learners find it harder to learn without “doing”. That’s why Kelly loved all of the action sheets within the course as she could practice applying her knowledge.

[6:12] After putting herself out into the world through LinkedIn and Facebook, Kelly was overwhelmed by the response from people looking for writers and has been completely booked out with work.

[7:53] Kelly has worked on a range of projects, from video scripting, to brochure copy, and web copy. Most of her work has come through agencies, which Kelly loves because of all the collaboration that comes with it.

[10:48] Kelly is a CCA Next Level member and is toying with the idea of building an agency and niching down her work.

[14:26] It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hustle of doing the work, pitching, and landing clients. But Kelly always maintains a broader perspective, considering how each project impacts not just the organization, but also the world.

[15:31] Kelly’s age has not held her back from pivoting into another career.  She’s found that she has fewer inhibitions and people respect your years of experience, no matter what field you were in before.

[20:58] Nicki often hears from people who are considering getting into copywriting but worried they are too old to make a change.  But in copywriting, it can be a great asset.

[21:53] Kelly encourages people not to be nervous about approaching clients for the first time because you know more than they do. And when it comes to pitching and discovery calls, the more you do it, the easier (and faster and more enjoyable!) it gets.

[25:28] If you’re good at writing and often get tapped for it at work, Kelly definitely recommends giving copywriting a try—many people from diverse backgrounds have successfully made the switch.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“I think it was actually easier to pivot into this kind of job because I had complete control over the decision to go out and start my company, all of the details of my company. I will say I am 53 years old, at a certain point I was sending out resumes and those days where you close your office door and say I’m polishing up my resume, I can’t take it anymore. I had some of those days along the way and didn’t get much reaction. And I think part of that is there’s definitely some agism out in the job market but when you go out on your own instead, especially as an older worker, people immediately respect you for all of your years of experience, no matter what field you were in before.” – Kelly

“There is so much writing work out there for people. I have not met a person that hasn’t said, ‘I need a writer and I haven’t known where to find one.’ There’s such demand, even with AI coming into the picture, there’s still just massive, massive demand for writers.” – Kelly

“I think very quickly, people who go through this program will realize that if they’re in a situation, especially if they are approaching organizations that don’t have a sophisticated marketing program, after just your course, they are the smartest people in the room on the subject of copywriting and marketing. And I think they’ll just be amazed at how much they did learn and it’s a big a confidence booster. You really only need to take one or two meetings before you’re realizing, ‘I know this stuff, I can do this!’ So I would encourage people not to be nervous about approaching clients for the first time because you know more than they do.” – Kelly

Mentioned on this Episode

• View Kelly’s Portfolio

Related Links

• The Three Steps to Career Change
• Changing Your Career to Copywriting While at Your Existing Job
• Best Backgrounds and Degrees for Getting Into Copywriting
• Do You Have What It Takes to Become a 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.

See Previous Episode

Ep. 187: Change My Mind About Advertising! How to Be an Ethical Copywriter

The post Episode 188: Pivoting to Copywriting Later in Your Career – Kelly’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

[2:09] One of the biggest assumptions that people make when it comes to pitching is avoiding sending pitches to chain companies and franchises, thinking they’re too unwieldy.

[6:20] Don’t worry too much about finding the exact contact you need to send your pitch to. When you create a fantastic, value-based pitch, there’s a very good chance it will be forwarded to the right person.

[8:38] There’s no harm in sending multiple pitches to the same company (especially bigger ones) if you know there are specific arms of the business that you could pitch different ideas to.

[9:20] People often assume bigger companies already have copywriters in place. But a lot of the time, they want additional support as people rotate in and out due to vacations, maternity leave, etc. or if they need help beyond their day-to-day operations.

[11:30] Don’t assume small businesses or solopreneurs don’t need copywriters—many are happy to invest in copywriters as it takes work off their plate and helps them make more money.

[13:17] There’s no downside to pitching. Any assumptions you make or resistance are just your comfort zone talking. If you have a valuable idea for a company, you don’t need to wait for a ‘perfect’ time to pitch them—just do it anyway!

[14:39] Don’t overthink it when it comes to the right time of year, day, or time to send a pitch—just sending your pitches and follow-ups consistently throughout the year is what matters most.

[17:42] Another assumption that will cost you is not pitching agencies or assuming that because a company is so big, they only work with an agency, and therefore you shouldn’t pitch them. You can pitch both the in-house and the agency.

[19:20] When people are doing research, they often assume that if a company’s website looks perfect, they don’t need any copywriting support. But you never know what projects they’re working on internally and when you pitch, you’re simply offering an idea to get your foot in the door.

[23:04] You’re not psychic, so there’s no point in trying to guess a company’s needs. There is *every* reason to send a pitch and even if it’s a “no” right now, it could still leave the door open for future possibilities!

Must-Hear Takeaways

“Is a company too big? Is it too unwieldy to pitch? The answer is absolutely not. Often, the bigger a company, the more opportunities there are within that company.” – Nicki

“People are taking maternity leaves, people are taking vacations, people are taking sabbatical and so even if you’re feeling like, ‘Well, they already have a full team”, a lot of these places want
additional, backup help. People are rotating in and out all the time. They might keep your pitch for when they do need someone.” – Kate

“Don’t make assumptions about companies being too small to need a copywriter. There are plenty of solopreneurs who are already making money and there are also plenty of solopreneurs who understand that you have to invest in a business and are willing to hire a copywriter to help them start making money.” – Nicki

“There’s absolutely no downside to pitching. Absolutely none. And any of these assumptions are just your
resistance popping up trying to keep you in your comfort zone.” – Nicki

“Put together a really fantastic pitch and send it to someone who is most likely the right contact but don’t worry if they’re not the exact right contact because when you put together a really helpful, useful pitch, there’s a very good chance that they’re just going to forward it to the right person.” – Nicki

Related Links

• Too Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting Pitches
• How NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients
• How to Pitch Copywriting Services to Agencies
• How to Find and Write for Solopreneurs
• 5 Ways to Vastly Improve Your Pitches to Would-Be Copywriting Clients

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. 184: This Copywriter Landed Her Dream Job—And Tripled Her Income (Rachael Kelly)

The post Episode 185: Copywriting Pitching Assumptions That Will Cost Your Business 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] 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

[1:44] It’s a bad scenario when communication from clients or would-be clients gets missed. That’s why it’s important to regularly check your spam folder and test the contact form on your portfolio site.

[3:50] You also need to check your messages on social media frequently. And remember, if you aren’t connected with somebody, it’s not going to go through as a message—it will go through as a request.

[4:28] Nicki recommends checking these different inboxes at least once daily. If a couple of days go by and a client doesn’t hear from you, it does not reflect well on you.

[5:17] It’s perfectly fine to take time off but make sure that you communicate clearly when people can expect to hear back from you.

[6:24] It might sound like there are a lot of channels to check but you want to make it as easy as possible for a potential client to get in touch with you. You never want to take people off the platform they’re on if you don’t have to. 

[7:54] Nicki and Kate strongly recommend sending your initial outreach to a client via email as opposed to a DM on social media.

[10:58] It takes a bit of research sometimes to find a client’s email address but there are several online tools like hunter.io that can help you. (Always avoid emailing generic company email addresses like info@xyzcorperation.com!)

[13:25] Once you have a client, it’s best to ask them how they would prefer to communicate. But choose just ONE way to interact with them—having too many channels for communication gets very confusing.

[17:19] Whichever form of communication you choose to use with a client, you can still set up certain parameters so that you don’t have to constantly be at a client’s beck and call. Just make sure you communicate those clearly to your clients.

[20:17] If there is a certain platform that your client is using, they should add you to that platform without any extra work or costs on your end.

[21:17] Our hosts give a word of warning around texting clients. This kind of communication can cross personal boundaries and is hard to get out of once you’ve started. Plus, there is no such thing as a copy emergency! 

[26:15] Kate advises us to consider taking the tech for your business off your phone. One Sec is also a useful app which gives you the chance to think twice before opening certain apps on your phone.

[28:43] Ideally at the start of a relationship with a client, you want to set them up with clear expectations of when they can hear from you with regard to check-ins for a project and the key milestones throughout it. (It’s best to err on the side of over communication.)

Must-Hear Takeaways

“As with any relationship, it’s about setting the expectations, making sure communication is open and clear but balancing boundaries as well. So, as you’re planning how you’re going to be reaching out in the world, as you’re going to be taking incoming messages, as you’re going to be communicating with your clients, figure out what works for you. And yes, sometimes you might have to accommodate clients in certain ways and that’s okay but also make sure you’re not bending over backwards, and make sure you’re not letting it encroach your peace of mind. Because you need your peace of mind, you need your creativity to do your best work so make sure you’re protecting yourself and protecting your energy while still communicating in an open and timely (not immediate) way with potential clients and clients.” – Nicki

“You want to set your client up with clear expectations of when they can hear from you, check-ins for the project, key milestones throughout it. And if you’re thinking, ‘well, what are my key milestones?’ Again, if it’s a bigger project, you want to have places where you check in, even if it’s just to say, ‘hey, this project’s still on track, still loving digging in, I’m having so much fun, just wanted to let you know that we’re still on track for x deadline’, whatever it is—especially if you kick something off and then it’s weeks before you’re delivering something, just that touch base can set a client’s mind at ease. So thinking about when to communicate with a client, err on the side of over communication in the sense of just, ‘hey, wanted to let you know the status update.'” – Kate

“You can set up. parameters so that you don’t have to constantly be at a client’s beck and call. Remember you are not an employee, you are not on staff. If you are, you can even still do that if it’s okay with your employer, but the expectation is not that you are sitting in front of your computer from nine to five each day. If you are an employee, it might be a little bit different, but even still then, you should be able to get a little bit of time away from Slack and email and all that kind of stuff. The expectation is not that you’re just sitting there, waiting to respond to them at any time. You being a freelancer and having many different clients that you’re dealing with, you need to control those rivers of communication, all of those inputs, because if you are constantly trying to respond to everything, seeing all these notifications coming up, watch it, it’s going to get overwhelming. And you have way more important things to be doing than to watch the notifications and respond at every single moment. Well, it’s going to be a time suck. It’s going to completely ruin your productivity.” – Nicki & Kate

Mentioned on this Episode

• One Sec App
• Hunter.io
• RocketReach

Related Links

• Learning to Effectively Communicate as a Copywriter
• What Are Your Copywriting Business Rules?
• You Don’t Have to Work With Clients You Hate
• How NOT to Pitch Potential Copywriting Clients

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. 181: Reading Between the Lines of Copywriter Job Descriptions

The post Episode 182: What’s the Best Way to Communicate with Copywriting Clients? 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

[1:39] Nicki and Kate are joined by CCA student and member of the Filthy Rich Writer team, Rebecca, who was working as a languages teacher when she first learnt about copywriting as a career. She signed up to the CCA in July 2022 while on maternity leave.

[5:22] A career in copywriting appealed to Rebecca as it combined her passion for writing alongside her lifelong desire to start and run her own business.

[6:28] As soon as Rebecca joined the CCA, she prioritized taking action. She began finding designers to work with, started to build up her portfolio, and applied to a position someone had posted in the CCA group, which, to her surprise, she landed!

[10:03] Our hosts remind us that as long as you’re pitching in a way that provides value, there’s never a downside to it. 

[12:45] The work Rebecca did for her first client inspired her next plan of action, which focused on contacting podcasters to offer support with writing copy and creating content for each episode.

[14:17] Initially, Rebecca saw copywriting as a side gig alongside teaching. But within six months of joining the CCA, she matched her teaching salary—with more freedom and less stress! When her maternity leave ended, she decided to go all in on her copywriting career.

[16:10] The flexibility of a career in copywriting has had a hugely positive impact on Rebecca, as she is able to raise a young family with much more energy than she would have had as a teacher.

[17:23] Rebecca pitched the Filthy Rich Writer team to offer support with podcast show notes. She couldn’t believe it when she got a positive response and urges everyone to send those pitches they’ve been hesitating about—you never know what might come of it!

[19:21] Sometimes, pitching is really just a matter of getting your foot in the door and showing people that you’re out there and that you can help them. Now, Rebecca is not just working on show notes, but all kinds of other projects for The Filthy Rich Writer Team.

[22:00] Podcasts are a great resource to help you come up with potential clients to pitch to. Plus, regularly listening to a client’s podcast can support your research and help to nail down their tone of voice.

[24:43] Rebecca’s goals for this year center around delivering more value to the clients she has while building experience writing copy for more diverse types of media.

[26:01] For anyone considering a career in copywriting, Rebecca encourages you to take action, even if you don’t *feel* ready. Whether it’s writing copy or pitching clients, the more you practice, the easier it gets.

[27:49] People often assume that if they have a natural talent for something like writing, it can’t possibly be valuable because everybody else must find it easy, too—but that’s not the case at all!

[30:55] Don’t feel intimidated if you’re thinking about pitching to someone with a background in writing. Their feedback could be super valuable and improve your copywriting skills.

[32:47] Prioritizing value in your pitches is what sets you apart and demonstrates to a client that you have potential to be a team member. It shows them that you’ve really gone the extra mile.

Must-Hear Takeaways

“My top piece of advice for anyone out there, if you’re kind of umming and ahing about pitching someone because you think, ‘well, they probably don’t need my help’, just go for it because it could literally change your life, like you guys have changed mine. You might get to work with your absolute dream client, you might get to have one-to-ones with Kate Sitarz every month and all the amazing things that come with it. So yeah, if you’re thinking about it, just do it because that was the case for me, and it ended up being ‘right place, right time’ with that one.” – Rebecca

“First of all, you don’t need to know everything before going into this. I had a little bit of marketing experience which I suppose gave me a some confidence going into it but you don’t need that. Everything is within the course that you need. So if you think you’re someone that has a passion for writing and this is something that you could get on board with, then just start taking action. That’s the biggest thing I could tell you. Practice makes perfect, just get in there with pitching and don’t be afraid.” – Rebecca

“My initial thinking was that this would be a side hustle, but it turned out not to be a side hustle and I did go straight into it. I did not go back to teaching after my maternity leave. But after landing my first client and getting that confidence, and then I think I got another couple additional clients on top of that, I basically matched what I would be earning as a part-time teacher for a lot less stress and fewer working hours. So it just didn’t make sense to me to go back.” – Rebecca

Mentioned on this Episode

• Rebecca’s Portfolio
• Are You Living in the Gap or the Gain?

Related Links

• Transitioning Out of Teaching to Copywriting – George’s Story
• Her Goal Was to Replace Her Teaching Income in 5 Months: She Did It in 6 Weeks
• Great Summer Job for Teachers: Copywriting
• Too Afraid to Pitch? Business Owners WANT Your Copywriting Pitches

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. 175: Career Resolutions to Make Right Now

The post Episode 176: How This Ex-Teacher Joined the Filthy Rich Writer Team—As a Copywriter – Rebecca’s Story appeared first on Filthy Rich Writer.