So... now what?

by 7 replies
11
Hi there.

So I have been a Copywriter for 4 months. In that 4 months the majority of my work has come from bidding sites (peopleperhour, elance etc.), with some work for friends, friends-of-friends etc. Thus, most of the work has also been low paid, single-job deals.

I have made a website, from which I have obtained 0 jobs. (Admittedly, I need to spend much more time making it visible).

My original plan was to do the low-paid jobs to get some experience and references. I now have around 15 solid examples for a portfolio and I am starting to struggle with where to go next, along with getting a bit disenchanted with the idea of being able to make a living from freelance work.

I also find it hard to look beyond the bidding sites, as it feels the most proactive, immediate method for me to get work currently, whilst not advancing my career (or bank balance!) much.

Anybody else find themselves in the same position, or any advice out there?

Thanks in advance,

Craig.
#copywriting
  • I don't think a lot of copywriters rely on getting work from internet traffic, unless they also advertise via google ads and such (or publicize, like in links from marketing forums).

    Your website is mainly your online portfolio (plus a pitch), posted for eyes you actively direct to it.

    But also -- like I said in your other thread, you might want to keep in mind that Warrior forum threads rank high in the search engines. Should you decide to pursue clients actively, through cold calls or mailings, first thing they're going to do is google you. (Wouldn't you?)

    ... Then they're going to find you here in a funk in this post, and decide to take their business to a proven "winner" instead.

    I just googled "Craig Frame" and "CF Copywriting Services." I see your wf posts right there on page 1 of results, including this one.

    A big part of the copywriting business is image. Gotta make clients think they're picking a winner -- otherwise what are they getting for their money? They can write themselves -- so unless you can sell (including yourself), they're just making a donation.

    Number one client is you. Win or lose, you're going to have to sell yourself.

    ... So maintain your online image! Opening a separate warrior forum account for these kinda posts is a good first step...
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • This is a good point, though I don't read this as quite so doom and gloom.

      I see you being in a spot a lot of newer copywriters (if not most) find themselves in - how to transition from bottom of the barrel clients to top tier.

      I pose you a question - say you hang on to your bidding clients, knowing they're paying you peanuts. And suppose you manage to land a whale, a project you are really passionate about and that pays well, at the same time. What would you do?

      Would you drop the cheapskates, go after what really interests you, and let your reputation suffer? 'Cause trust me, those guys will raise hell at any perceived slight.

      Would you put the whale on hold, hoping they don't lose interest and search for someone else? Would you have the fortitude to push back against them, or require a hefty deposit so they're not tempted to shop around?

      Could you juggle both clients at the same time and really deliver something stunning for the whale if your energies are zapped by demanding clients?

      Some writers can do it. Some can't.

      You've got to weigh the options.

      I know years ago, a friend saw my struggle and how I was flirting with homelessness. She advised me to get a job, ANY job, and write after my shift was over. That's great advice for someone with zero income - first priorities always are food, clothing, and a place to sleep.

      But I had unemployment income. And I had bottom of the barrel clients. I had enough to live on, just not enough to afford a place in the Bay Area. I refused to get a job. I didn't want to spend my best efforts working a job I hated and leave my clients with the scraps.

      My stubbornness paid off. I do pretty damn well for myself. But that was a super hard choice. And it led to another super hard choice - eventually weaning off the cheaper clients. I had to quit them like I quit the job search...cold turkey. I turned all my efforts to landing bigger clients and that paid off.

      I had income though. If this is your only source, it's a long, hard conversation you need to have with yourself about where you are, where you want to be, and what kind of risks you're willing to take to get there.
      • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • Graig,

    First class advice from splitTest and angie.

    Here's a low tech, inexpensive but highly effective way of bagging the right clients.

    And if you need to you can do this if you have to work elsewhere for a while.

    Send Postcards (with some stunning copy, fused with a great graphic) to your chosen people.

    The ones you most want to work for.

    And wait for them to respond.

    Don't bother phoning or following them up (if they want you they'll call you).

    But, what if nobody calls?

    2 things have happened either you haven't sent enough cards or the copy is bad (or both).

    It hasn't cost an arm and a leg to find out.

    Improve the copy and or send more.

    When they are done well I've never seen them fail.


    Steve
    • [ 3 ] Thanks
  • Read Peter Bowerman's book on how to get copywriting work and several books by Steve Slaunwhite cover this topic as well.

    Best regards,

    Thomas O'Malley
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Try this per Brian McLeod:

    http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ml#post4568128

    "If I was hunting for clients, here's exactly what I'd do:

    Pick a market and choose an offer that's not living up to its full potential.

    Improve it. Write a new letter, create an email sequence, a direct-mail package - whatever it will take to make the marketing SING for this offer.

    I'd track down and mail the deliverables to the owner of the product with a letter.

    In the letter, I'd explain that I'm working on growing my freelance business.. that I believe my work will generate more profit for them... and that if they'll test it against what they're currently running, they can use it for free - with only one proviso - that they allow me to use them as a case study in the future. If they want to send me something spendable, that would be wonderful, too. But that my objective is to generate PROFITABLE RESULTS together and share our story.

    I would WIN that client by sheer determination (another lesson learned).

    Then I'd milk that case study for every drop I could squeeze from the udder.

    I'd use it to show prospects how I develop creative strategy. How I work well with others. How I take control of the process autonomously and deliver on the promise.

    I'd use it like a copywriter should - to project the prospect into the future experience of working with me as their copywriter and prove that I'm the only choice for them.

    Delayed gratification is a concept that's hard for newbs to understand - they see all these hot-shot guys raking in big bucks upfront and want a piece of that action.

    Understandable, but it's a siren song. The money follows the RESULTS.

    Make a bee-line for the results and you'll be blazing the fast-path to the money."

    http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ml#post4568128
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Craig,

    Speaking from experience, I went from zero copywriting clients to full-time copywriting business in 6 weeks. I've been full-time (9 years now) ever since.

    A big reason why I was able to do so was that I really knew the ins and outs of marketing. So instead of asking "How do I get clients?", I asked myself "How do I want to get new clients?" and then went out and did it. There wasn't one way I went about getting new clients... there was multiple ways I went about getting new clients.

    Joe Dietzel (aka Joe Golfer) put together a great sticky thread for new(er) copywriters, most of which are focusing on getting new clients. It's worth taking a few hours of your time and read some of the previous sage advice shared in those threads.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...pywriters.html

    Best of luck,

    Mike
    • [ 3 ] Thanks
  • Don't give up, keep at it. Why not give a discount first?
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    So... now what?

    Hi there. So I have been a Copywriter for 4 months. In that 4 months the majority of my work has come from bidding sites (peopleperhour, elance etc.), with some work for friends, friends-of-friends etc. Thus, most of the work has also been low paid, single-job deals.