Friday, November 21, 2008

A Few Pointers About Freelance Copywriting

By Ray Edwards

Many people have found that becoming a freelancer was one of the best moves they have ever made. Why? Because that way you become your own boss, you get to determine your work schedule, and you can work from anywhere that has an Internet connection.

BECOMING A FREELANCE COPYWRITER

Copywriting is one of the more successful freelancing industries. Many copywriters have discovered the freedom and the benefits of freelance copywriting on the Internet. Freelance copywriting as either a full time or part time career can be demanding. If you are already familiar with copywriting, or if you're just starting out, here are some things to consider when becoming a freelancer.

1. You need to build a website. This will give you an advantage over the other copywriters that don't have websites. It also acts as your storefront window to potential clients.

It should be cross-browser compatible, easy to read, and professional looking. Don't use pre-existing personal sites. You should build a new site that is dedicated to promoting your services as a freelance copywriter.

2. Construct a portfolio. Your portfolio will function as your resume to potential clients. They will use it to help determine if they hire you. Therefore it should be professional looking, contain examples of your best work, a sales letter explaining your skills, and testimonials from past clients.

3. Advertise yourself. It doesn't matter if you're the best copywriter in the world, if no one knows about you then you won't have any clients. Marketing is vital; therefore invest time and money into it.

4. Don't expect much at the start. If you're already an established copywriter with a client base, then it might not take long for your business to take off. But if you're just starting out you need to know that it might take a while before you start to see any real money. You might want to do some work for free. That way you can get your name out there and start building up your body of testimonials. As long as you put a lot of effort into your business, you will see success. It just may take a while.

5. Constantly learn. It doesn't matter how long you have been a copywriter, you still need to learn how to improve your copy. You could study all the information on copywriting all your life and still not finish it, meaning that you can always learn something. You need to stay competitive, as long as you keep learning your success will grow. The best freelancers out there are constantly studying how to improve their product.

6. Stay with your day job for a while. You're going to need your regular job as you start out to meet your financial needs. You may have to work double time, but it will be worth it. You only need to keep your day job for a little while, as soon as you can you should quit. This way you can focus all your resources on your freelancing business. You won't see real success until you're solely focused on your freelancing career.

These points were supposed to give you a general idea about freelance copywriting. Hopefully this article helped you see what was included in freelance copywriting. You never know, freelance copywriting may be the career move for you. You should do some more research to find out. - 15275

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