How much business do you get through your personal copywriting website?

I get zero through mine. I don't really use it as a lead gen tool either.

All my business - literally all of it these days - comes from word of mouth referrals.

Most of them don't care whether I have a website, though it adds to the credibility factor. They know they'd like to talk to me because someone they trust recommended me. More often than not, they don't even ask for samples.

I will say this: most who currently find me through the web are price shoppers and tire kickers. Ain't nobody got time for that.

My personal website isn't used to generate leads. It's to give potential clients who are referred to me a place to check I'm a real person.

Like most working copywriters, I get my work through referrals from happy clients.

Anyone who isn't willing to get on a phone call with me and just fills out a contact form isn't worth following up. They want to be cheap, and cheap I ain't.

If you're trying to find clients, here's the best advice I ever got (that completely transformed my freelancing from a pitiful struggle to a full extra income in just a few hours per week): go offline. Call people you know who work for big companies and see if they need any writing done. Attend networking events. Then do a good job.

Anytime I'm introduced to someone online, I do my part to get in contact with them offline ASAP. A phone call or Skype Chat (technically online, but it's face-to-face) guarantees I'm working with someone who is actually worth my time. If they can't make time for a call, then they're not likely to pay real rates.

If you're just starting out, get on some forums where your target audience hangs out and do some work for free in exchange for samples and testimonials. Build up a rep for producing quality stuff, then charge!

It took me a while to figure it out, but now that I have, life is much better. I'm not even copywriting full-time – I have a day job – but at minimum I'm paying for my Silicon Valley rent (see: overpriced) in the first week of the month. It's all thanks to no longer trying to find clients online and getting offline instead.

No SEO. I design my sites myself with simple-to-use themes.

I've made really good money from my website... or websites.

Of course, writing the copy depends entirely on how you're gonna use it.

If you're going to do PPC or a Facebook marketing, it's just like any campaign. You've gotta make it convert on cold traffic.

On the other hand...

If you're using it as a way for people you network with to check you out, you can give it a different flavor. So how you're gonna drive traffic matters. Maybe not a ton. But it definitely matters.

Over the years...

I got a good amount of business just by putting my link in my signature here on the forum.

And as far as referrals go...

It's almost always good to have a place for them to see if they connect with the way you market yourself (above and beyond seeing or not seeing samples.)

Bottom line...

You gotta get eyeballs on the site. So make sure you're getting yourself out there - whether it's networking at seminars or driving traffic on social media.

Oh, and if you want to avoid tire-kickers, make sure you're positioning yourself out of their comfort zone.

Mark

P.S. Demonstrating you know what the heck you're doing DOES matter.

Over 90% of my business has come through my website.
In fact when someone reads through my website and fill
a form I know they are well qualified because that is the
way I have written my sales letter.

My site has earned it's keep. It has been copied a few
times by other copywriters and that's the highest form
of flattery they say.

-Ray Edwards

P.S. Sorry, not "copied" but "swiped".

Yeah, I'm sure one of these days I will get around to updating it and making it the best it can be.

For right now it's fairly low priority thanks to the corporate gig and the word-of-mouth referrals I get.

My work comes from word of mouth and repeat business and yes, my site. I try to keep it current (usually I fail) but it does have samples and links to my Amazon books and enough information so that people see me as an expert.

I think a good website is a must.