Hello Hive,

First welcome.

Secondly when you enter the forum you will see a series of 7 topics at the very top. Each topic begins with this word, "Sticky". This is where newcomers, such as yourself are directed to go to first.

Every question you asked are answered in the "Sticky" topics plus more.

As a copywriter research will be the most taunting task, but the most rewarding. So for your first assignment go through each "Sticky" with a fine tooth comb approach. If there are links inside any of the threads dig through them.

This should take you several days but once you emerge from it, one of two things will happen.

1. You will leave copywriting behind
2. You will write your first piece of copy for us to review and critique.

Now that you have your first assignment we will wait to see what you do with this simple assignment.

When you say moving people with the power of words...reminds me of every guy that's had his girlfriend tell him his love letter was awesome. Straight BS when it comes to copywriting.

I was one of the original marketers that worked with NASCAR...back when they were trying to build an audience. The things we experimented with and tried helped make it what it is today. So many brands I've worked with...yet I don't attribute it to just words. It was ideas.

I've posted many times on this forum about the need for imagination and creativity.

You need to be creative.

Dumb ideas often work because they're creative. Smart ideas fail a lot of the times because they're ho hum.

Don't assume because you have a degree in something you understand the market. Madison Avenue and even people like Makepeace and all the other top people are still trying to understand the market. It changes daily and with each news story.

I was talking with an agency copywriter out of SF yesterday. He's making about $90,000-a-year, but desperately wants to break away on his own.

He's been mostly writing ads and short commercials for the last 5 years or so and feels like his skills are atrophying. He asked same basic question, "How do I get hired?" (His portfolio is NDA.)

Here's a keypoint to adopt as a copywriter...

You. Are. The. Leader.

So step one: Develop your confidence and leadership skills.

If you're asking other people how to do something, how the hell are you ever going to be taken seriously when you tell a product owner, "You've gotta retool the ebook. I'll write the copy to convert... you need to make sure the product reflects it."

When clients hire you, your services aren't their only investment. There are a lot of moving parts to make a campaign, direct response or not, convert. (They're following YOUR lead. So make sure you know what you're talking about and speak it confidently.)

Step two: Brand & positioning

Okay, now...

Everything you do to advertise yourself demonstrates what you can do for potential clients.

It's not a matter of just throwing up a website or For Hire thread here on the forum. You've got to really think about who your ideal client is, what's their budget, how much experience do they have in marketing, have they been successful in selling products before, how deeply do they want to collaborate with you, what's their mentality about copywriters, do they produce extremely unique and valuable products?

All these questions are answered in the way you brand and position your copy.

Step three: Develop your own product, receive mentoring... and document your rise.

Your story is also something people will likely want to know about.

So if you feel like your story is lacking, start telling a new one RIGHT NOW.

For instance...

You need experience writing copy, right?

Here are a couple options...

Create your own product, write the copy for it, design it all (or outsource,) and market it on cold traffic (Facebook and Google Network.)

What are you initial conversions? What did you tweak to start pulling in a profit?

Make sense?

Or...

Approach some copywriters on this very forum and get some mentoring. You could be given an assignment to write an email swipe for a popular control... or the chance to help him or her develop a hook for a new campaign. Whatever it is, it'll give you a quantum boost in your skillset - if you can take, digest and apply blunt criticism.

Either way...

Your story is revealing your tenacity to learn and grow as a copywriter.

Now...

The way I created a career was two-fold...

I created my own product, marketed it and brought in six figures in less than a year... from nothing. Not a dollar spent on advertising (except website hosting.)

My 2nd technique... and one I still use to this day to get high-quality, long-term clients is something I won't give away here. It's actually covered in Rick Duris' latest product for copywriters.

Hope that helps...

Mark

P.S. There's a lot more to it. But these are, IMO, critical steps to be aware of. I could write a book on this.

Hi,

Okay, hopefully this advice will help launch your career. Don't be discouraged by some of the posts you read here. Everybody started somewhere.

Your questions:

1-How does one build a career in copywriting? There should be more than just practicing and learning, there's a point where one has to earn a living.

My son was considering a career in music and had a similar question. Here's the deal. If you can write reasonably well, like doing it, and can get into the minds of prospects you can most likely make it as a copywriter.

In music, sports, and every field there are people making a living at all levels. For instance, some musicians make it big and play sold-out stadiums, others make a living playing bars, still others as studio musicians. Copywriting is the same. There are various tiers and types of copywriting where people of various ability make a living.

If you want to start getting paid you have to start approaching people. Peter Bowerman wrote an excellent book for freelance copywriters called "The Well Fed Writer." Follow his advice and you will find work.

Personally one approach that has worked for me is...specialize in a certain type of writing. Google "________(type of copywriting) copywriter" for instance "white paper copywriter".

Go to each of the pages you find and look at their client lists. Then simply contact the companies, locate the person who hires freelance copywriters, and ask if they would consider you the next time they have a need.

This works for agencies too. Contact the agency, let them know your specialty, send them samples, your press kit, etc... and ask if they have any pending projects or would keep you in mind for future projects. If not, ask if you can follow up in a month or so. This really works and a couple of agency or corporate clients can keep you busy beyond full time.

2-Once I have some skill... Where can I get hired, besides here?

As I said, I advise being a specialist rather than generalist. Once you have a type of copy you like writing and are good at find the type of companies looking for this type of work and contact them.

Don't worry about being a burden. I have been on both sides of the phone line. Managers who are under deadline to get projects done, short staffed, lacking specialist writers, or who need fresh creative ideas will likely be open to discussing your services. Don't stress, it's no big deal. You are offering a valuable service.

3-Which companies hire copywriters to work online?

PM Me and I will send you a copy of a book I wrote with "101 Places to Write for Money."

4-How was your story getting into this profession?

People always told me I was a good writer. After working some years as a Park Ranger I felt I needed a change. I attended grad school for Journalism. I ended up working for a company that did a lot of direct marketing and ended up creative director. When the company experienced some financial problems I jumped ship and struck out on my own with zero clients.

With a lot of hard work, calling, networking, following up on leads, and doing everything I could to let people know I was out there I managed to earn slightly less my first year as a freelancer than I had as a CD. The following years much more.

At one point I took a break for a year and decided to start again. This time I contacted agencies and clients in the markets I specialized in using phone calls and direct mail. The results within three months I was earning more than I ever had and considerably more than I would in equivalent salaried positions.

Keep in mind though, I wasn't lazy.

5-What are good things to have in your curriculum in order to get hired?

After doing this for a while now, and having hired a number of writers over the years, things in your CV are less important than A.) Being able to do the work and show samples B.) Having specialist knowledge and a client base of similar clients in my industry. C.) Obviously good references help.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Doug,

Outstanding Ideas!

Mark

There's like a million bajillion ways. You could get a job at an ad agency. You could sign up for a site like Elance or Odesk. You could cold call. There's no one size fits all package.

Ad agencies. Info marketing companies. Other copywriters. Yourself.

The list of potential clients is honestly way too long to name. The big ones for Direct Response Copywriting (the kind of stuff we discuss here) are Agora, Boardroom Inc, and others like that. But there are literally thousands of agencies around the world that hire copywriters of one kind or another. And a lot of copywriters don't even work with dedicated "employers," many just present themselves as "marketing consultants" and pitch services cold to random businesses. Financial advisers, real estate agents, and mobile app developers are just some businesses that could have a need for copy services.

I started off as a journalist but I eventually branched out into writing copy for businesses. I just cold-called and sent out emails, there was no magic formula to it.

This isn't really one of those things where people want to know where you went to school. It probably helps a little with brand agencies to have some kind of bachelor's degree. For IM type stuff, look into AWAI courses like the Six Figure Copywriting Course.

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My advise.

Buy some lube. The first 5 years you are going to be walking around with a sore butt as people are going to try to shaft you on jobs. Including those who know what they really should be paying.

Once you have a body of work. You can start commanding a decent pay and the game is reversed.

My greatest mistake as a copywriter was underselling myself. I thought my writing skills were average.

I would advise you to stretch yourself and charge professional rates for your writing.

Also - you will discover that reading about every topic will enhance your writing. The library offers endless possibilities without filling your office with stacks of books.

I wish you the best.
-- Mialei