Most Efective Way to Get Copywriting Clients

Great thread idea.

I'd appreciate it even more if those who respond could also include the answer to the following question: how did you find your *first* client?

I'm looking forward to hearing your answers!

I offered free article samples and picked up my first clients that way. On elance, I will write a sample that is geared toward the position listed and send it along with my bid for the project.

I got my first copywriting clients on forums like this one, my first was on WHT I think.
Put your blurb and website link in your email signature and anywhere else you can.
Do direct sales and lead generation.

There have been two methods that have gotten me like 90% of my work...

Networking and referrals.

For the first two years of my career, the only reason I got work was because I was good and worked my ass off... and people higher up the food chain than me respected that.

Of course, as you move higher up the ladder and demand higher fees, you get less referrals. That's because...

1) When you're cheap and decent, EVERYONE sends you work
2) The higher your fees get, the fewer people attract the kind of client you would consider taking, and
3) The higher your fees get, the more likely a client of similar value will be taken on by a peer. In essence, the majority of your referrals come from guys you know very well, who are simply way too busy to take on more work. It's also when you get into doing more partnerships, "helping out" other writers, etc.

At least, that's been my experience.

So as you build your business and hone your selling skills, you need to look at other methods of client generation.

For me, it's networking. In the last year or two I've discovered I have a lot of natural charisma in person. There's no real secret - just be a cool dude/dudette to hang out with. You can get in all sorts of awesome circles even if you don't have anything to offer business-wise.

As a HUGE introvert/shy dude (though you wouldn't know it if you met me in real life), this was hard. I used to hate to even get on the phone with people. let alone actually leave the freakin' house.

But I worked hard on building those skills - introducing myself, following up with people, connecting other people together, etc - and now I walk away from any event I go to with a ton more work.

Of course, that's just what works for me. Other people are brilliant at getting work in other ways. I was speaking to Mark Pescetti the other day and his leads come mostly from his blog and this forum - neither of which have been hugely successful for me (though admittedly I don't spend a lot of time updating the blog!)

Ultimately, it comes down to what will work for YOU. But hopefully this gave you some ideas.

-Daniel

The Law of Attraction!!!! Kidding, networking haha... Pretty much what Daniel said. Though I haven't written copy for anyone for a long, long time.

Though there are two types of networking. One is YOU putting in the work of introducing yourself to whatever circle you want to be a part of, and the other more powerful one is when others do the networking for you, via word of mouth, based on how wonderful you are.

Ideally you want to get to the third level, and sustain a solid position there, but it does take some work until you get there.

Good luck pal.

I focus mainly on local offline businesses. You have to have a marketing plan or at least some sort of strategy to market your copywriting business.

I started off by joining Business Network International (you should have one in your area). Got my first deal within a week i was there.

I currently feed on referrals. But I have also expanded my scope of marketing to building a list (I learn all my marketing techniques here in WF). Joining trade organizations is another way to get your word out to your target audience.

Just recently, i published my first report. It was a lead gen mechanism that allows me to drive paid traffic to my landing page and capture those leads.

Well - I find conventions and networking helpful. Putting out an 'authority piece' is also a fantastic way to get your name around.

When you talk with potential clients, don't 'pitch' in the conventional sense. Be a real person, chat with them about what they're cooking, see what troubles they're encountering, and give them some solutions.