I was my own first client.

I developed a lead generation system for business brokers and then wrote a sales letter to sell it.

Made sales, learned a lot.

Creating a product and then writing copy for it is one of the best ways a new copywriter can start out.

Alex

I contacted my first sale personally through facebook. I showed him my portfolio and didn't hear back. I moved on and a few weeks later He messaged me saying he'd been trying to contact me to hire me.

Myself I am not a writer but I do hire writers on a weekly basis. I can share my knowledge of where you can get clients for writing. This is a great way to meet long term clients with simple writing jobs. When I say long term I say that because after I have hired a great writer there is no need for me to hire another one from the same site. So I usually hire the same writer Over & Over again. This guarantees me a good job when I need one. So below is where you or any good writer can simply get easy writing jobs & maybe some long term clients.


1st Fiverr.com
2nd iwriter.com

My first client was an advertiser in Odesk. That was 3.5 years ago and I am still writing for her. Not bad results.
Since then I have picked up clients through this forum and others, as well as a few of the bidding sites, ads on Gumtree and Craig's list, through referrals and word of mouth and various other sources.

If you want to know more, send me a pm.

I wrote a letter for someone I knew socially who was releasing an e-course.

So the teachable moment is: think about anyone you know socially who is releasing an e-course.

--- Ross

My first client was also myself.

And I continue to be my best client.

I always wanted to make a living as a writer. And at the time I started this, I had a booming massage business and a good amount of money in the bank from my own ebook sales and network marketing.

I hustled to pimp myself out and took on pretty much everything that came my way - just to keep challenging myself to become a better writer and salesman. There were only a few negative experiences. For the most part, my interactions and results grew my desire to keep moving forward as a copywriter.

My advice to anyone starting out:

While focusing on a niche is always profitable. Don't limit yourself - just because you're more knowledgable in a certain market space. Some of my biggest successes were niches that I knew absolutely nothing about before taking on the gigs. And I continue to enjoy taking on projects that challenge me to grow as a writer and marketer.

Mark

My first client was a whiteboard animation studio. They were looking for writers, and requested writing samples. I mimicked their style, and landed my first gig. They ended up paying 90% of my income for the first 6 months.

I got some really great advice from some awesome people on this thread and I just wanted to say thanks so much.

If anyone else has a successful methods of gaining clients for ad copy writing, please add to this thread. You don't know what a tremendous help it will be.

God Bless!

ELMO

My first client I found on about.com a few years ago. He really liked my work and I worked with him for almost a year.

my first paid gig was through a connection I made 7 years ago in the IM industry. We became friends and she referred my to a lady who needed a squeeze page. Made $1500 for my first ever gig.

At the same time I was in a high end course Mike "Million Dollar" Morgan had going. We also became friends and he referred me to a long term "IM Guru" client that lasted 5 years and a lot of money made later.

Your own stuff is great and I agree with those who say do that. I do it as well... but I still work with a select few top IM guys just because I like working on projects with other people, it's fun, and can't complain about the money.

I know a lot of stones get cast about high ticket items and coaching. But because I went that route not only did it help land gigs, I made connections and friends that are more valuable than anything else.

You know how they ask "How do you get into the "Inner circle" or "Good ol' boys" club... Well buying their stuff is one way, and then of course you've got to be able to stand out and deliver the goods. Worked well for me.

And one avenue I've never taken that many top guys do is going to high end events. You can drum up a ton of business that way, I just personally hate going to events.