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With the rising prices of commodities, it is not surprising that people are looking for other ways to earn money. Many people have turned to having multiple jobs, but this can be time consuming and harmful to your personal life and hinder your ability to do both your jobs well. Those in a well-established career, such as copywriting, have an even more difficult time holding multiple jobs. But there is an alternative.
Freelancing has become a successful option for many copywriters who need to make more money. Unlike taking on a second job where you have to learn new skills, freelance copywriting allows you to practice your current profession in a new setting. This way, you are able to use the skills you learned as an employed copywriter to earn more money.
Freelance copywriters can earn more money because they no longer work for a company or firm, meaning that all the income from a project goes directly into their pockets and not to the advertising agencies. Freelance copywriters can also acquire more simultaneous work than employed copywriters because they control their project load. Also, if copywriters work hard enough and really practice improving their product, they can work more efficiently, finish projects quicker, and take on more projects in a given time period than regular copywriters.
Freelancing also allows you to have a much more flexible schedule than regular employment because you dictate your own hours. As a freelancer, you do not have to "clock in" like regular jobs; you merely have to get the job done. So you can work whenever it is convenient for you without being locked into a fixed schedule. You must be able to properly budget and manage your time, but you have final control. You won't find this kind of freedom in many other career options.
Another great benefit to freelance copywriting is that you can work from anywhere that has an Internet connection. The World Wide Web and high bandwidth allow people to telecommute, meaning they can "commute" to work via the Internet. Therefore a copywriter doesn't have to be in the same area as their client. Which means freelance copywriters can work from anywhere in the world.
But like anything, switching your career to freelancing will take some work. Here are a few pointers to help you see what a freelance copywriter has to do in order to make a career move:
Build A Good Reputation
Freelance copywriting differs from other jobs in that your workload is completely dependent on your ability to market yourself and do good work. So one of the most important things you have to do as a freelancer is to get your name known in the industry. Do whatever it takes: attend copywriting seminars and workshops, give business cards to people as you meet them, and offer your services to existing clients. Ask for referrals from previous clients and other copywriters you know in the business. Network with other copywriters and team up on projects. You should also build a portfolio containing examples of your best work and testimonials from past clients. You can then post this portfolio on a website and make it available for viewing.
As important as it is to get your name out there, it is more important to produce good work consistently. Your end product will lay the foundation of your career. If you write bad copy, then you won't have many clients. Therefore, you need to consistently do your best work in order to establish your credibility as a freelance copywriter. You should also continue learning how to improve the quality of your copy. The better you get, the more successful you can be. Search for "copywriting tutorials" and read some books by copywriting experts. Dan Kennedy is a great example. Studying and learning will help your career greatly.
You need to be a good businessperson as well who is personable and consistently meets deadlines. People like to hire copywriters that are easy to work with. They also like to get their products by the deadline. Failing to meet project deadlines is one the most powerful ways to severely damage your career.
Hopefully you found this article illuminating. Switching to a freelance career can be very freeing and lucrative. If freelance copywriting sounds like something you could do then do some more research to learn more about it and to see what you would have to do in order to make the switch.
Freelancing has become a successful option for many copywriters who need to make more money. Unlike taking on a second job where you have to learn new skills, freelance copywriting allows you to practice your current profession in a new setting. This way, you are able to use the skills you learned as an employed copywriter to earn more money.
Freelance copywriters can earn more money because they no longer work for a company or firm, meaning that all the income from a project goes directly into their pockets and not to the advertising agencies. Freelance copywriters can also acquire more simultaneous work than employed copywriters because they control their project load. Also, if copywriters work hard enough and really practice improving their product, they can work more efficiently, finish projects quicker, and take on more projects in a given time period than regular copywriters.
Freelancing also allows you to have a much more flexible schedule than regular employment because you dictate your own hours. As a freelancer, you do not have to "clock in" like regular jobs; you merely have to get the job done. So you can work whenever it is convenient for you without being locked into a fixed schedule. You must be able to properly budget and manage your time, but you have final control. You won't find this kind of freedom in many other career options.
Another great benefit to freelance copywriting is that you can work from anywhere that has an Internet connection. The World Wide Web and high bandwidth allow people to telecommute, meaning they can "commute" to work via the Internet. Therefore a copywriter doesn't have to be in the same area as their client. Which means freelance copywriters can work from anywhere in the world.
But like anything, switching your career to freelancing will take some work. Here are a few pointers to help you see what a freelance copywriter has to do in order to make a career move:
Build A Good Reputation
Freelance copywriting differs from other jobs in that your workload is completely dependent on your ability to market yourself and do good work. So one of the most important things you have to do as a freelancer is to get your name known in the industry. Do whatever it takes: attend copywriting seminars and workshops, give business cards to people as you meet them, and offer your services to existing clients. Ask for referrals from previous clients and other copywriters you know in the business. Network with other copywriters and team up on projects. You should also build a portfolio containing examples of your best work and testimonials from past clients. You can then post this portfolio on a website and make it available for viewing.
As important as it is to get your name out there, it is more important to produce good work consistently. Your end product will lay the foundation of your career. If you write bad copy, then you won't have many clients. Therefore, you need to consistently do your best work in order to establish your credibility as a freelance copywriter. You should also continue learning how to improve the quality of your copy. The better you get, the more successful you can be. Search for "copywriting tutorials" and read some books by copywriting experts. Dan Kennedy is a great example. Studying and learning will help your career greatly.
You need to be a good businessperson as well who is personable and consistently meets deadlines. People like to hire copywriters that are easy to work with. They also like to get their products by the deadline. Failing to meet project deadlines is one the most powerful ways to severely damage your career.
Hopefully you found this article illuminating. Switching to a freelance career can be very freeing and lucrative. If freelance copywriting sounds like something you could do then do some more research to learn more about it and to see what you would have to do in order to make the switch.
About the Author:
For an inside look at the techniques of a top direct response copywriter, check out the membership site of Copywriter Ray Edwards. There you'll find a podcast, video tutorials and copywriting advice.
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