Copywriters are pursuing freelance copywriting more and more these days because of the great opportunities it offers. If you're interested in freelancing, then here are some basic pointers to help you get an idea of what is involved.
1. Know when to say "no." As a freelance copywriter you have to learn when to say no. Sometimes you have to say no to projects because you're schedule is overloaded or sometimes you also have to say no to poor suggestions made by your clients. In this situation you need to remember that you are the advertising expert, not your client. They are hiring you to sell their product, so you have to learn when to say "no" gently enough not to make your client angry.
Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the time or trouble.
2. You should also be polite, persistent, and positive. You need to always communicate with your clients professionally and listen to their desires intently. You must persistently stand by your ideas on how to sell your clients' products, and you must also look for work vigilantly.
3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.
4. Make sure to relax. It doesn't make much sense to go from one stressful job to another. Therefore take time to relax. Rest is so important that you should even write it into your schedule to make sure you do it. This will not only help you be happier, but it will also help you write better copy. In the end, if you take time to relax, you'll be happier and more successful.
5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.
6. Nurture your personal life. A successful person is also a well-rounded person. You need to have a well-nurtured personal life for you and your family's emotional health. Even though you're working to be more successful as a copywriter, your personal life is far more important than your occupation. If you become super successful but neglect your friends and family, then all you have is a really nice empty house.
7. Always practice honesty and good ethics. This is really important, you need to be a person of honesty and integrity. Don't make any promises you can't keep. Tell your clients if you're failing to live up to your agreement and try to make recompense. Never compromise on your integrity just to get a project. And always be ethical in conducting your business arrangements.
8. Learn to manage your business. Freelance copywriters run every aspect of their business and need to know how to do it well if they are going to be successful. Read up on how to effectively run a small business and know the laws that can protect you.
Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business more effectively.
9. Don't take rejection personally. Your value as a person does not reside in what you do or how much money you make. Remember this when clients reject your bids. Keep a professional composure and know that there are plenty of reasons outside of your ability to write copy that someone would reject your bid.
10. Do not miss deadlines. Missing deadlines will severely hurt your chances at success, so you must make every effort to manage your time well and get your projects completed on schedule.
Hopefully this article helped you see what's involved in freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there on freelancing, so if it interests you, go ahead and do some more research about this exciting career. - 15615
1. Know when to say "no." As a freelance copywriter you have to learn when to say no. Sometimes you have to say no to projects because you're schedule is overloaded or sometimes you also have to say no to poor suggestions made by your clients. In this situation you need to remember that you are the advertising expert, not your client. They are hiring you to sell their product, so you have to learn when to say "no" gently enough not to make your client angry.
Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the time or trouble.
2. You should also be polite, persistent, and positive. You need to always communicate with your clients professionally and listen to their desires intently. You must persistently stand by your ideas on how to sell your clients' products, and you must also look for work vigilantly.
3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.
4. Make sure to relax. It doesn't make much sense to go from one stressful job to another. Therefore take time to relax. Rest is so important that you should even write it into your schedule to make sure you do it. This will not only help you be happier, but it will also help you write better copy. In the end, if you take time to relax, you'll be happier and more successful.
5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.
6. Nurture your personal life. A successful person is also a well-rounded person. You need to have a well-nurtured personal life for you and your family's emotional health. Even though you're working to be more successful as a copywriter, your personal life is far more important than your occupation. If you become super successful but neglect your friends and family, then all you have is a really nice empty house.
7. Always practice honesty and good ethics. This is really important, you need to be a person of honesty and integrity. Don't make any promises you can't keep. Tell your clients if you're failing to live up to your agreement and try to make recompense. Never compromise on your integrity just to get a project. And always be ethical in conducting your business arrangements.
8. Learn to manage your business. Freelance copywriters run every aspect of their business and need to know how to do it well if they are going to be successful. Read up on how to effectively run a small business and know the laws that can protect you.
Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business more effectively.
9. Don't take rejection personally. Your value as a person does not reside in what you do or how much money you make. Remember this when clients reject your bids. Keep a professional composure and know that there are plenty of reasons outside of your ability to write copy that someone would reject your bid.
10. Do not miss deadlines. Missing deadlines will severely hurt your chances at success, so you must make every effort to manage your time well and get your projects completed on schedule.
Hopefully this article helped you see what's involved in freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there on freelancing, so if it interests you, go ahead and do some more research about this exciting career. - 15615
About the Author:
For an inside look at the techniques of a top direct response copywriter, check out the blog of Copywriter Ray Edwards. Claim your free podcasts, marketing tips, videos and free copywriting advice.
