Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting

Jack Bastide · 07-26-2009, 04:07 PM

Hey Guys,

I wanted to introduce myself and ask a little
advice

My name is Jack Bastide. I've been on the Warrior
Forum for years but this is my first time on the
copywriting Forums.

I used to hang out on Michel Fortin's copywritersboard
awhile ago

My Primary Income believe it or not is from Network
Marketing. Yeah I'm one of those MLM Guys. I have been
a Full Time MLMer for many years

I have lots of free time and I am looking for a challenge. I have
been doing Copywriting for myself for years and am now looking
to do a little Freelance copy writing for others

I Have already done some Freelancing with excellent results

I did a Squeeze page, a Series of Emails and a Long
Copy Sales Letter for the personal product of one of
the Most Well Known Online Copywriters in the business

He RAVED about it and it had a Sales conversion rate of 8%

I have done some work for some other pretty well known
Internet marketers as well and it pulled very well

I have also taken Shaune Clarkes Copywriting Course
a few years back

So I know how to write Copy that converts well

I have a good amount of friends in the Marketing
world ...(I'm not gonna drop names here)

I'm also friends with some very well known Copywriters

So here’s my question ...

What’s the Best way for me to break into Freelance
Copywriting?

1 - Should I talk to my marketer friends and see if
they need some copy?

2 - Should I talk to my copywriter friends and let them
know I am available for work if they get too busy?

3 - all of the Above?

4 - None of the above?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Jack Bastide

Jack (at) JackBastide.com

Loren Woirhaye · 07-26-2009, 04:21 PM

Get some books of how to run a freelance writing career:
Bowerman, Slaunwhite and Bob Bly all wrote well-reviewed,
and overlapping, books on the topic.

Like any business - promote what you can do, work to
improve your skills, work on developing your consultative
selling skills. Yada-yada. Most books or courses on how
to run a consulting business will be of use too.

Come to think of it I haven't read a book on salesmanship
yet that hasn't in some way contributed to my skills as
a copywriter and marketer.

In the end to be a writer you need to be a reader. Stephen
King wrote that in different words in his book "On Writing" -
which is wicked good for any writer to digest.

Cherilyn Woodhouse · 07-26-2009, 07:00 PM

Your connections, both with copywriters and marketers, are your biggest asset. However, I would start with contacting fellow copywriters. Offline work is usually a lot more rewarding, they usually pay better (unless you can get into the upper echelons of the old boys' club, but even then, it is almost a flavor of the month kind of thing...), and if you have any kind of professional background outside of IM they'll appreciate your insight into other aspects of their business more.

But, as Loren said, read up everything you can about salesmanship and running a consulting business. Not just before you start, but constantly for the rest of your career. It will pay off big later.

MikeHumphreys · 07-26-2009, 07:54 PM

Put your thinking cap on. If you truly are a strong marketer then it's not a question of how to market your copywriting business but what ways do you want to market it.

What works best for one copywriter may not be a strength of yours or may not work as well for you. Play to your strengths and use what assets you have available to you.

At the very least, I highly recommend you set up a copywriting website so you can show prospective clients your work, writing style, and give them a way to contact you to talk further.

Good luck,

Mike

P.S. I've posted this in another thread here but I'll share the free resource anyways. Here's a link to the interview I did with A-List copywriter Doug D'Anna for my Market Your Copy website. It's no opt-in and a 100% content pitch-free interview.

Market Your Copy and Doug D'Anna Exclusive Interview

jmarketer · 07-26-2009, 08:13 PM

The short answer is to do what you do best---be creative and come up with creative ways to market yourself. Think outside the box and do what everyone else is "NOT" doing! You have to stand out from the thousands of other copywriters.

Kyle Tully · 07-26-2009, 08:16 PM

Hey Jack

I would just go onto a couple of popular Internet marketing forums and post my credentials... a few of my previous results... maybe a subtle name drop or two... and throw in some indirect persuasion for good measure... then wait for the PMs to start.

Oh, wait you already did that

Hehe
Kyle

Cherilyn Woodhouse · 07-26-2009, 08:19 PM

Hehe - Kyle, you had the guts to say what I was thinking

Jack Bastide · 07-26-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

Hey Jack

I would just go onto a couple of popular Internet marketing forums and post my credentials... a few of my previous results... maybe a subtle name drop or two... and throw in some indirect persuasion for good measure... then wait for the PMs to start.

Oh, wait you already did that

Hehe
Kyle

Good Advice

I may just try that

and Yes i am a master at Indirect persuasion

Jack

Jack Bastide · 07-26-2009, 09:07 PM

You know I just re read my original post and
it did come off a bit braggadocious

(I'm not sure if thats a word but you know what
I mean)

Anyway its the New Yorker in me .. its just the
way we are

Nice to meet everybody!

Jack

Raydal · 07-26-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

Hey Jack

I would just go onto a couple of popular Internet marketing forums and post my credentials... a few of my previous results... maybe a subtle name drop or two... and throw in some indirect persuasion for good measure... then wait for the PMs to start.

Oh, wait you already did that

Hehe
Kyle

And just to think that I normally pay $20 for these kind of post when
I could be just as creative--and I even lived in NY city!

-Ray Edwards

Jack Bastide · 07-27-2009, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raydal

And just to think that I normally pay $20 for these kind of post when
I could be just as creative--and I even lived in NY city!

-Ray Edwards

LOL

Where in NY did you live?

I was born and raised in Brooklyn

Got a problem with that?

Jack

AlanCarr · 07-30-2009, 04:21 AM

"braggadocious" -lol

Well you managed to piss me off on the other forum enough to take a bite - sorry about that.

I think I was still smarting over being let down by 2 other 'professionals', so a bit trigger happy when you swaggered in saying you were the copywriter's copywriter but didn't know how to find work.

Anyway, best of luck

B.

(Alan Carr. I don't use a sig line here as I don't touch the "IM" market)

Kyle Tully · 07-30-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigsofty

(Alan Carr. I don't use a sig line here as I don't touch the "IM" market)

You might want to rethink that strategy.

I'd venture a guess and say the majority of big earners here are NOT in the IM niche, or at the very least are in multiple niches outside of their IM business

colmodwyer · 07-30-2009, 05:49 AM

Quote:

(Alan Carr. I don't use a sig line here as I don't touch the "IM" market)

AND, the other forum is for copywriters (name gives it away)... So you're probably less likely to find folks there with a need for your talents.

On another note, I'm sure I had a Jack Bastide e-mail in my swipe file about Fortin getting married, big discount for product etc... I can't seem to find it though (the e-mail, not my swipe file).

Think it was for PowerWords. E-mail was getting bigged up on a forum for making mucho moolah.

In any case, I think I'll do alright for yourself Jack. Your marketing friends would be my bet for the easiest to land clients and the biggest paychecks.

But of course you don't want to put all your eggs in one basket.

Colm

Quote:

I was born and raised in Brooklyn

"Hey, I'm writing here!"

Midnight Cowboy anyone?

MikeHumphreys · 07-30-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle Tully

You might want to rethink that strategy.

I'd venture a guess and say the majority of big earners here are NOT in the IM niche, or at the very least are in multiple niches outside of their IM business

Agreed. Then there's the benefit of getting your site's webpages indexed by all of the search engines very fast. This forum gets indexed by the major search engines, probably at least once per day. I've posted stuff here and gotten a Google Alert later the same day.

Musa_Aykac · 07-30-2009, 08:28 AM

I think one of the best ways is to prove your skills by creating a successful blog.

Then I would look at getting some small clients and work your way up the corporate ladder and eventually start charging and earning more

AlanCarr · 07-30-2009, 09:50 AM

I don't want to hijack Jack's thread but most of the people here are into IM, with many of them are looking to pay even less than my rates.

I mentioned awhile ago some problems I was having with Hostgator, gave my link and immediately got two, then later a third, salesletter jobs from here. Sounds nice but involved a lot of hand-holding; for one of them I had to explain what PPC meant... One went great - until the client ruined the thing with fancy graphics and pantsy formatting, coupled with fingers-in-ears syndrome.

Not to mention all the $97 'salesletters', free critiques handed out like candy (along with some bad advice from noobs) and it's just not a place I'm seeking business really.

As for Bruce's board, it's a mixed bag. I posted for some time without a link, out of politeness. Since linking I get a lot of time-wasting enquiries, with the odd gem.

I dunno, you certainly can get clients from forums but I prefer bigger companies, for various reasons. Besides, I'm cheap. Why drag things down? for the $5k CWs?

The SEO bit sounds good though. Here ya go:

www.copywriter-ac.com

B.

07-26-2009, 04:07 PM	#1
Jack Bastide Handsome ... but Humble : War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: , , USA. Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 65 Thanked 153 Times in 69 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting Hey Guys, I wanted to introduce myself and ask a little advice My name is Jack Bastide. I've been on the Warrior Forum for years but this is my first time on the copywriting Forums. I used to hang out on Michel Fortin's copywritersboard awhile ago My Primary Income believe it or not is from Network Marketing. Yeah I'm one of those MLM Guys. I have been a Full Time MLMer for many years I have lots of free time and I am looking for a challenge. I have been doing Copywriting for myself for years and am now looking to do a little Freelance copy writing for others I Have already done some Freelancing with excellent results I did a Squeeze page, a Series of Emails and a Long Copy Sales Letter for the personal product of one of the Most Well Known Online Copywriters in the business He RAVED about it and it had a Sales conversion rate of 8% I have done some work for some other pretty well known Internet marketers as well and it pulled very well I have also taken Shaune Clarkes Copywriting Course a few years back So I know how to write Copy that converts well I have a good amount of friends in the Marketing world ...(I'm not gonna drop names here) I'm also friends with some very well known Copywriters So here’s my question ... What’s the Best way for me to break into Freelance Copywriting? 1 - Should I talk to my marketer friends and see if they need some copy? 2 - Should I talk to my copywriter friends and let them know I am available for work if they get too busy? 3 - all of the Above? 4 - None of the above? Thanks in advance for any advice Jack Bastide Jack (at) JackBastide.com
	STOP BUYING WSO's! - It's very easy to spend a lot of money and waste a lot of time chasing MAGIC BULLETS. I make thousands of dollars every month with a business that costs less than $300 to start. I can help you do the same - FREE UNLIMITED ONE ON ONE COACHING - PM ME

07-26-2009, 04:21 PM	#2
Loren Woirhaye Who'm I kidding? War Room Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Easthampton, Massachusetts Posts: 4,542 Blog Entries: 15 Thanks: 117 Thanked 904 Times in 651 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting Get some books of how to run a freelance writing career: Bowerman, Slaunwhite and Bob Bly all wrote well-reviewed, and overlapping, books on the topic. Like any business - promote what you can do, work to improve your skills, work on developing your consultative selling skills. Yada-yada. Most books or courses on how to run a consulting business will be of use too. Come to think of it I haven't read a book on salesmanship yet that hasn't in some way contributed to my skills as a copywriter and marketer. In the end to be a writer you need to be a reader. Stephen King wrote that in different words in his book "On Writing" - which is wicked good for any writer to digest.
	HOT! $25,000,000/yr Copywriter's Secret Book—FREE! \| The "Automated Free Traffic Formula" ArticleBot Secrets Revealed! Breakthrough Marketing Blog (+ goodies) CopyWriting Services

07-26-2009, 07:00 PM	#3
Cherilyn Woodhouse Formerly Cherilyn Lester War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada Posts: 2,215 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 78 Thanked 257 Times in 67 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting Your connections, both with copywriters and marketers, are your biggest asset. However, I would start with contacting fellow copywriters. Offline work is usually a lot more rewarding, they usually pay better (unless you can get into the upper echelons of the old boys' club, but even then, it is almost a flavor of the month kind of thing...), and if you have any kind of professional background outside of IM they'll appreciate your insight into other aspects of their business more. But, as Loren said, read up everything you can about salesmanship and running a consulting business. Not just before you start, but constantly for the rest of your career. It will pay off big later.
	Take your product from idea to profit in less than 90 days! Work with me to develop and implement a step-by-step plan for success! Coaching & Consulting @ BCWebMedia.com

07-26-2009, 07:54 PM	#4
MikeHumphreys Copywriter and Marketer War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Philly Suburbs, USA Posts: 2,785 Thanks: 787 Thanked 696 Times in 373 Posts Social Networking	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting Put your thinking cap on. If you truly are a strong marketer then it's not a question of how to market your copywriting business but what ways do you want to market it. What works best for one copywriter may not be a strength of yours or may not work as well for you. Play to your strengths and use what assets you have available to you. At the very least, I highly recommend you set up a copywriting website so you can show prospective clients your work, writing style, and give them a way to contact you to talk further. Good luck, Mike P.S. I've posted this in another thread here but I'll share the free resource anyways. Here's a link to the interview I did with A-List copywriter Doug D'Anna for my Market Your Copy website. It's no opt-in and a 100% content pitch-free interview. Market Your Copy and Doug D'Anna Exclusive Interview
	Kick-A$$ Seven-Figure Producing Copywriting Gun For Hire \| Easy Multi Tracking Copywriters: How To Get More Clients FAST! \| Marketing & Copywriting Blog

07-26-2009, 08:13 PM	#5
jmarketer Active Warrior Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 30 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting The short answer is to do what you do best---be creative and come up with creative ways to market yourself. Think outside the box and do what everyone else is "NOT" doing! You have to stand out from the thousands of other copywriters.

07-26-2009, 08:16 PM	#6
Kyle Tully ConsultingTycoon.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vaucluse, Australia. Posts: 2,343 Thanks: 98 Thanked 268 Times in 128 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting Hey Jack I would just go onto a couple of popular Internet marketing forums and post my credentials... a few of my previous results... maybe a subtle name drop or two... and throw in some indirect persuasion for good measure... then wait for the PMs to start. Oh, wait you already did that Hehe Kyle
	Thought About Offline Consulting? Fiona - $5,500 + $600/m 1st Week... Anthony - $7k + $594/m... Liz - $12k 1st Month... Rob - $7k + $800/ 1st Month... Scott - $45,000 in 3m... 20/yo Jock 6-Figure Client 2nd Month Don't you deserve the same unfair advantage?

07-26-2009, 08:19 PM	#7
Cherilyn Woodhouse Formerly Cherilyn Lester War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chilliwack, BC, Canada Posts: 2,215 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 78 Thanked 257 Times in 67 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting Hehe - Kyle, you had the guts to say what I was thinking
	Take your product from idea to profit in less than 90 days! Work with me to develop and implement a step-by-step plan for success! Coaching & Consulting @ BCWebMedia.com

07-26-2009, 09:07 PM	#9
Jack Bastide Handsome ... but Humble : War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: , , USA. Posts: 1,206 Thanks: 65 Thanked 153 Times in 69 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting You know I just re read my original post and it did come off a bit braggadocious (I'm not sure if thats a word but you know what I mean) Anyway its the New Yorker in me .. its just the way we are Nice to meet everybody! Jack
	STOP BUYING WSO's! - It's very easy to spend a lot of money and waste a lot of time chasing MAGIC BULLETS. I make thousands of dollars every month with a business that costs less than $300 to start. I can help you do the same - FREE UNLIMITED ONE ON ONE COACHING - PM ME

07-30-2009, 04:21 AM	#12
AlanCarr Ace Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tropical Island... Posts: 380 Thanks: 35 Thanked 48 Times in 36 Posts Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting "braggadocious" -lol Well you managed to piss me off on the other forum enough to take a bite - sorry about that. I think I was still smarting over being let down by 2 other 'professionals', so a bit trigger happy when you swaggered in saying you were the copywriter's copywriter but didn't know how to find work. Anyway, best of luck B. (Alan Carr. I don't use a sig line here as I don't touch the "IM" market)

07-30-2009, 08:28 AM	#16
Musa_Aykac HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 116 Thanks: 10 Thanked 187 Times in 8 Posts Social Networking	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting I think one of the best ways is to prove your skills by creating a successful blog. Then I would look at getting some small clients and work your way up the corporate ladder and eventually start charging and earning more

07-30-2009, 09:50 AM	#17
AlanCarr Ace Copywriter War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tropical Island... Posts: 380 Thanks: 35 Thanked 48 Times in 36 Posts Contact Info	Re: Breaking Into FreeLance Copywriting I don't want to hijack Jack's thread but most of the people here are into IM, with many of them are looking to pay even less than my rates. I mentioned awhile ago some problems I was having with Hostgator, gave my link and immediately got two, then later a third, salesletter jobs from here. Sounds nice but involved a lot of hand-holding; for one of them I had to explain what PPC meant... One went great - until the client ruined the thing with fancy graphics and pantsy formatting, coupled with fingers-in-ears syndrome. Not to mention all the $97 'salesletters', free critiques handed out like candy (along with some bad advice from noobs) and it's just not a place I'm seeking business really. As for Bruce's board, it's a mixed bag. I posted for some time without a link, out of politeness. Since linking I get a lot of time-wasting enquiries, with the odd gem. I dunno, you certainly can get clients from forums but I prefer bigger companies, for various reasons. Besides, I'm cheap. Why drag things down? for the $5k CWs? The SEO bit sounds good though. Here ya go: www.copywriter-ac.com B.