Table of Contents
If You’ve Been Thinking About Starting a Copywriting Business, This is Your Sign (and Your How-To Guide)
Updated March 28, 2024
You know those stories you hear about how starting a copywriting business means living a life of freedom and creativity?
All of those things you’ve heard about how you can start a copywriting business without a college degree, and actually make a real income?
It’s all true.
Every single bit of it.
Why Should You Start a Copywriting Business?
Copywriting is one of those unique careers that’s always in demand, provides the opportunity to make GOOD money, and you can do it from anywhere you can get an internet connection (shoutout to all you digital nomads!).
Plus, the freedom that comes with a copywriting business makes it worthwhile tenfold.
In fact..
Launching your freelance copywriting business is the proverbial key to autonomy.
Because owning your own business means owning your own time, which means owning your own LIFE.
You can pursue copywriting full-time or part time and still make good money.
You can choose when you want to work, how much you want to work, what kind of work you want to do, and who you want to work with.
You’re in control of your own income because YOU determine your prices.
No more asking your job for permission to take a day off or to leave early for your sister’s wedding.
No more panic and fear when you’re running late to work and you know you’re going to get written up. No more worrying about what to wear to the office because it might not be “professional enough.” No rushed lunch breaks. No office gossip. No more worrying if you’re going to get laid off.
When you own your own copywriting business, you’re the boss. You make the rules.
Can a Copywriter Earn 6-Figures? Absolutely. And I’m Going to Show You How to Do It.
One thing I’ve learned as an entrepreneur:
It’s easier to build a 6-figure business than it is to land a 6-figure job.
And even if you do manage to land a 6-figure job, chances are you don’t get the location independence and time independence that comes with having your own business.
So really, becoming a copywriter and starting your own copywriting business is a win-win.
If you’ve been thinking about becoming a copywriter and earning 6-figures or more, I’m going to give you the low-down on how to get it done.
A Day in the Life of a Copywriter
Before we get into how to become a copywriter, let’s take a look at what you’ll actually be doing as a copywriter, and what exactly you’ll be charging your clients for (and here’s a hint: you’re not charging for just writing!)
Who Does a Copywriter Work For?
Copywriting is a B2B service, meaning, your copywriting business will be providing services to other businesses. As a copywriter, you’ll get paid to write sales pages, email copy, sales letters, social media captions, advertisements, and any other writing that has the purpose of making a sale.
You might work for an agency, work in-house for a brand, or freelance. All of these afford you the opportunity to make six-figures as a copywriter, but we’ll go into more detail later on what each of these options looks like.
What Copywriters REALLY Get Paid to Do
Anyone can write.
Yep. Anyone.
But can just anyone write copy? And write copy that moves the needle?
Nope.
Copywriting is a highly specialized skill. A good copywriter knows not only the right words to say, but what order to put them in. This takes knowledge of marketing psychology, consumer behavior, emotional intelligence, and a good command of whichever language you’re writing in.
And, don’t forget, tons and tons of research.
As a copywriter, you’ll often spend more time researching than you do actually writing. Market research, competitor analysis, customer profiles––all of this plays a role in excellent copy.
Copywriters aren’t just paid to write: they’re paid to know HOW to write.
Freelance vs. In-House vs. Agency Copywriters
So, you want to become a copywriter: but you don’t know whether or not to start a copywriting business and freelance, join an agency, or apply for an in-house copywriting position.
Let’s break down each of these three and weigh the pros and cons:
Working as an Agency Copywriter
What it means to work as an agency copywriter: Working at a copywriting agency means that you’re one of many copywriters on a team. A copywriting agency is a B2B agency that focuses on one specialty: writing copy. If you join a copywriting agency, you’ll likely be working on multiple accounts at once, and might write in a variety of different niches.
The pros: Some of the best things about working for a copywriting agency are that you don’t have to source your own clients, you don’t have to worry about discovery calls, contracts, client management, and often there are editors on the team so you don’t have to worry about your own editing. You’re simply there to write, and if you’re a contractor, you can still control your own schedule.
The cons: Agency copywriting can be lower-paying than if you were working directly with a client, because there are multiple people that are involved in each project. And, you may not have as much creative control as you would if you were sourcing clients and managing the project yourself.
Is working at a copywriting agency right for you? If you want the benefits of freelancing (like time and location independence), but you don’t want the hustle of sourcing clients, managing relationships, and project management, working at a copywriting agency might be the best route for you.
In-House Copywriting Jobs
What it means to work as an in-house copywriter: An in-house copywriting position is part time to full time at a single company. You might work for the business as their only copywriter or on a team with other copywriters.
The pros: As an in-house copywriter, you will either be paid hourly or on salary, meaning that you’ll have a consistent income. You’ll be paid as an employee, meaning you don’t have to worry about self-employment taxes at the end of the year. And, you won’t have to worry about finding your next client.
The cons: If you choose to work as an in-house copywriter, you’re an employee of that business. That means that more often than not, you’re limited when it comes to days off, and may have to report to an office. You have to follow the rules and SOPs of the job, meaning attending meetings when required and adhering to set hours.
Is working as an in-house copywriter right for you? If time independence and location independence are not factors for you and you enjoy the stability and structure of employment, an in-house copywriting position might be your dream job.
Starting a Copywriting Business
What it means to have your own copywriting business: When you start your own copywriting business, you’re working as a freelancer. That means you work with a variety of clients on a temporary basis. The duration of your contracts can vary; you can work with clients short term or long term, depending on the scope of the work and your contractual agreement.
The pros: When you own a copywriting business, you are the boss. You source the clients, you manage the projects, you decide who to work with, you set your prices. You are location and time independent. Your time belongs to you, the direction of the business is your responsibility, and you make all of the decisions.
The cons: While starting a copywriting business is an empowering, freeing experience, it doesn’t come without its own stressors. Starting a copywriting business can be a slow climb; building your client base (and your reputation) can take time. And, until your copywriting business grows, you may need to wear a lot of hats.
Is starting a copywriting business right for you? If you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, are self-motivated, and crave the freedom to write from wherever you want, whenever you want, and you’re willing to put in the work to get to that point, starting a copywriting business might be the best decision for you’ll ever make.
A Deep dive Into the Copywriting World
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics, it’s time to take a closer look at what it means to work as a copywriter (plus, we’ll get into that “how to make six figures as a copywriter” stuff).
How Many Types of Copywriting are There?
There are a LOT of types of copywriting, but let’s talk about some of the most common ones that you might find an affinity with.
Brand Copywriting
Brand copywriting is all about the experiential part of the brand. A brand copywriter typically works with other members of the creative/marketing team to develop campaigns, messaging, and advertising that creates a sensory experience as opposed to direct marketing campaigns.
A brand’s personality, tone, and language all play a role in brand copywriting. Is a brand playful? Irreverent? Passionate? Quirky?
For example, let’s take a look at the Starbucks tagline that’s on all of their cups: “That first sip feeling.”
If I ask you how you like your coffee, your tea, or whatever, or, specifically, what’s your Starbucks order, there’s a pretty good chance you know exactly what you want and how you want it.
And that first sip of morning coffee is ALWAYS the best.
This tagline isn’t pushing for an immediate sale: it’s creating a feeling, a vibe, an emotion. The simplistic design and the copy work together to create an alluring advertisement for their ideal clients: those who want a pleasurable, uplifting experience.
With this tagline, Starbucks wants you to associate their brand with happiness. And it works.
Direct Response Copywriting
This form of copywriting is what people mostly associate with the role of a copywriter. A direct response copywriter creates copy in a variety of different formats, such as landing pages, sales pages, or advertising copy..
A direct response copywriter writes the words that are meant to make the audience take an immediate action.
Social Media Copywriting
Social media copywriting isn’t to be confused with social media content writing, although someone who specializes in social media copywriting may do both.
Social media copywriting is exactly what it sounds like: writing with the end goal of the audience taking an action, whether it’s to click on an ad, go to a landing page, or make a purchase.
Keep in mind that social media content writing has the goal of educating, informing, or entertaining an audience (think content that is designed to position a business as a trusted authority) while social media copywriting is meant to sell.
UX Copywriting
With UX copy, WHERE and WHEN you say it is just as important as HOW you say it.
UX copywriting, or user experience copywriting, is copywriting that encompasses the entire user experience. UX copywriting involves structuring copy in a way that moves an audience seamlessly towards the action.
Structure, user journey, and design all play a role in great UX copy.
If you find that you would prefer to create the “path” a user takes when visiting a website for optimal experience, you might find UX copywriting is where you excel.
Email Copywriting
While email copywriting can be part of marketing copywriting, writing email copy is an entire skill set on its own.
Email is still one of the number-one ways to connect with a warm audience, and email copywriting skills are in high demand.
An email copywriter can create power-packed copy in fewer words, knows how to A/B test headlines, appreciates that a user could click “unsubscribe” if the value isn’t there, and is up-to-date on email deliverability practices.
You can pursue copywriting full-time or part time and still make good money.
Liz Slyman Tweet
SEO Copywriting
It’s important for ALL copywriters to have an understanding of SEO, but copywriters who specialize in SEO stand in a league of their own.
A business with an SEO copywriter on their side has a competitive advantage: copy that has what it takes to scale the ranks of search engines AND converts an audience into customers.
SEO copywriters understand how to create copy that appeals to both search engines and their users simultaneously, which is more difficult than it sounds.
How To Start a Copywriting Business and Become a Copywriter
Launching a business of any kind requires drive and effort, so get ready to put in the work.
But, one of the key differences between starting a copywriting business and starting another type of business is that you can start a copywriting business with minimal upfront cost. As long as you’re willing to do the work, you can start your copywriting business from scratch for less than a couple thousand dollars–and you can do it pretty quickly.
Take a Copywriting Course and Learn the Basic Skills
You don’t need to spend four years (and multiple thousands of dollars) to learn copywriting. Taking a copywriting course can help you develop the skills you need, turn on your “copywriter brain” and learn how to write copy that sells.
Everything and everyone starts with the basics. You can’t start writing amazing copy and charging big bucks if you don’t even know the fundamentals.
To become a copywriter and earn six-figures, you need to have your foundational skills in place.
If you haven’t yet mastered the following skills, take copywriting courses, listen to copywriting podcasts, and ready copywriting books until you’re confident in your skills.
Writing Skills
It should go without saying: A copywriter needs to have writing skills. And I’m not just talking about good spelling and grammar (although those are equally important). I’m talking about the ability to write in an engaging way that flows like conversation.
If you’re not a good writer, copywriting probably isn’t a good career fit.
But, if you’re inherently good with words and writing is second nature, you can take the skills you already have and apply them to writing copy.
Research Skills
Remember earlier when I mentioned that working as a copywriter means a lot of research? I meant it, and I can’t reiterate it enough. You need to know how to perform adequate research on an audience. You need to know how to analyze the customer journey. You need to understand–in depth–how to gather information, how to translate it, and how to apply it.
Empathy
Even if empathy doesn’t come completely natural to you, you can learn how people’s emotions influence their purchase decisions. If you want to become a copywriter, you need to know what makes a consumer tick, so you can write the words that make them click. You need to be able to tap into the consumer’s psychology, dig deep into their core desires, and bring them to the surface.
Persuasion
Once you can figure out what someone wants, you can compel them to make a purchase.
Here’s the thing: You don’t want to convince someone they need a product or service. Instead, you want to compel them so they’re making that decision on their own. To do this, you need to master writing with persuasion.
What persuades someone to buy?
At the core of every purchase is emotion. No matter what it is.
Even the least emotional purchases you can think of (like tax preparation services) are driven by emotion (in the case of tax preparation, the core emotions would be peace of mind or relief).
Critical Thinking
Copywriting uses both sides of your brain. When it comes to copywriting, applying critical thinking might look like dissecting the user experience of a sales page and figuring out where best to apply calls to action, where to use urgency, and where to use negative and positive future pacing.
Choose Your Path
The niche and format you choose will determine everything else in your copywriting business, from the portfolio you build to how you market yourself.
Think: What do you LIKE to write about? Would technology copywriting be your jam? Writing for coaches or service providers? Health care copy? Choose something that you don’t mind spending hours and hours researching; copywriting is a LOT of research.
As for choosing s copy format, copywriting is a diverse field. You can choose to specialize in web copy, email copywriting, brand copy, ad copy, social media copy, SEO copy, and more.
To start your copywriting career, choose one format and master it. Remember, you can always add to your skill set and write in other copywriting formats as your copywriting business grows.
Build and Create Your Copywriting Portfolio
Now, create your copywriting portfolio. This is where it all begins! You can’t effectively pitch yourself without it.
I know, I know:
But, Liz, I’ve never even had any clients! How do you create a copywriting portfolio with no experience?!
Easy. You create your OWN experience.
You can absolutely, 100%, create a portfolio with absolutely no copywriting experience.
Copywriting is unique in that you don’t necessarily have to have clients to create a portfolio. You can create a copywriting portfolio with no experience at all.
If you’re following these steps in order, you’ve determined your niche. You’ve decided what type of copy you want to write, and you’ve identified your dream clients.
Now, you’re going to create a copywriting portfolio for that dream client.
Think of who your client serves and what they offer. What kind of copy might they need? Create copy for your portfolio that would appeal to them.
Let’s break it down into three simple steps:
- Create a fictional business
- Roleplay as your client. What do you need? Create a brief.
- Write the copy as if it were a real, paid gig.
That’s it. Rinse and repeat until your portfolio is robust.
A few tips for creating your beginners copywriting portfolio:
- Create several different “businesses” to write for to diversify your portfolio pieces.
- Write copy for in different voices and tones (but remember, each “business” you write for should have a consistent voice.
- Write for different objectives (for example, a sales email and a welcome email)
- Don’t forget to edit and proofread!
Determine Your Niche
Once you’ve locked in your basic copywriting skills, you need to decide what it is that you want to write.
If you’re a new copywriter, it might be tempting to just write anything and everything to gain experience. But, if you don’t start with a focus, it’s likely you’ll get overwhelmed. I always recommend that new copywriters start their careers by writing both what they know and what they like.
For example, if you’re really into health and science, medical copywriting might be the best niche for you.
If you’re addicted to tech and can’t get enough of the latest advances in computer science, technical copywriting could be your jam.
You know the saying…
“The riches are in the niches.”
Here’s why:
Let’s say two copywriters approach a potential client. One copywriter specializes in the client’s niche, and the other is a generalist. The client is more likely to choose the copywriter who’s well-versed in their industry. And they’re willing to pay more for that type of experience.
Keep in mind that while some niches are more lucrative than others, don’t choose something that you hate researching or writing about just because you’ve heard it makes money. You’ll end up burning yourself out.
Nail Down Your Services
So, now you know what you want to write about. What’s next?
The next step in becoming a copywriter is to determine what you want your services to be.
Do you want to write exclusively sales pages?
Did you take an email copywriting course and decide that’s the route you want to go?
Is ad copy your jam?
Decide on your services, create your pricing structure (refer to those above tables!), and you’ll be on your way to making six figures as a copywriter.
Identify Your Dream Clients
Ok, so you know what niche you want to write for and what type of copy you want to write. Now, you need to figure out who you want to write for.
Who’s your dream client?
Do you want to work with startups? Do you want to work with solopreneurs? Do you want to serve exclusively women owned businesses?
Figure out exactly who your dream clients are and then research where they hang out online, what their pain points are that copywriting could solve.
What Should You Charge Hourly for Copywriting? Determine Your Rates
Knowing what to charge as a beginning copywriter is arguably one of the most challenging aspects of starting a copywriting business. But, I’m going to simplify it for you.
First, keep in mind that even though you’re a beginner, you need to absolutely charge for your work. If someone sees your portfolio and sees that there is value in what you offer, so should you.
Here’s how to calculate what you should charge as a beginning copywriter:
- Calculate the baseline of what you need to live each month (rent, utilities, bills, etc)
- Multiply it by three. Copywriting is a specialized skill. Charge accordingly.
- Divide that number by the number of working hours in a month.
- Estimate the number of hours it will take you to complete a project, whether it’s a sales page, email newsletter, or social media captions, etc.
- Charge that amount.
The great thing about owning your own copywriting business is that you can choose what to charge, and as your skill level increases, you can increase your rates as well.
One thing you should always keep in mind is that copywriting is a specialized skill, and what you do as a copywriter has a direct impact on revenue. Charge accordingly.
In the table below, you’ll see some average rates for copywriting for copywriting beginners, intermediate level copywriters, and experienced copywriters.
Beginning Copywriters(0-3 years experience) |
Intermediate Copywriters(3-6 years experience) |
Experienced Copywriters(6+ years experience) |
$60-$80/hour |
$80-$100/hour |
$100-$200/hour |
So, do the math using the breakdown above. You can make six-figures as a copywriter working less than a full-time work week–easily. And the more technical skills you have, the more education you have, and the more experience you have, the more you can charge.
And remember, that’s only an hourly breakdown. Let’s move on to project-based pricing.
How Much Should a Copywriter Charge Per Project?
Maybe you don’t want to charge by the hour, and instead, you want to charge by the project. Meaning, charging a flat-fee per sales page, per email-sequence, and so on.
You can hit six-figures as a copywriter even more easily than hourly using this pricing structure–especially if you’ve nailed down your copywriting process.
I’ll break down some of the most common copywriting projects and prices by beginner, intermediate, and advanced level copywriters**:
Project Type |
Beginning Copywriters(0-3 years experience) |
Intermediate Copywriters(3-6 years experience) |
Experienced Copywriters(6+ years experience) |
Short-form sales page |
$250 |
$500 |
$750-$1200 |
Long-form sales page |
$400 |
$650 |
$900-$1350 |
Email sequence (4-6 emails) |
$300 |
$1000 |
$1000-$1200 |
Web copy (home page, about page, etc)*price per page |
$250 |
$500 |
$650-$1000 |
Video scripts*for a 60-second script |
$300 |
$600 |
$750-$1000 |
Digital Ads (Facebook, Instagram, Google PPC)*price per ad |
$200 |
$400 |
$500-$750 |
Brand Copy(taglines, brand guidelines) |
$500 |
$1000 |
$1500-$3000 |
Product labels |
$500 |
$1000 |
$1500-$3000 |
**averages based on my experience in the field.
Those are some pretty impressive numbers, right?
And they’re totally achievable.
But, keep in mind that while you need to charge what you’re worth, it goes both ways: if you’re not experienced enough or haven’t developed your skills enough to be able to deliver excellent, effective, persuasive copy that generates real results, you’re not ready to raise your prices.
Copywriting Offers MASSIVE Growth Potential
Your pricing as a copywriter isn’t just dependent on your number of years in the field; you might excel quickly, create an awesome reputation, deliver top-notch client experiences, and generate massive revenue for your clients. You might want to charge more, and more quickly.
And really, in the end, it’s up to you.
When you become a copywriter and start a freelance copywriting business, you’re the boss. You set the rates and control your income.
And…
The best part?
If hitting six-figures isn’t your focus, you can work part time and still make enough money to live on (and then some) working as a copywriter. AND…depending on what you charge, you can still make six-figures writing part time.
Create Your SOPs
Having your SOPs (standard operating procedures) in place will save you a massive amount of time and effort. Take this advice: systematize everything and you won’t have to think about it.
The follow is a bare-minimum list of things you should standardize when starting your copywriting business:
- Onboarding
- Contracts
- Project management
- Payments
- Offboarding process
When a client signs with you, the process should feel automatic so you’re not wasting time doing the administrative side of things when what you REALLY should be doing is writing.
Promote Yourself and Create a Digital Presence
This (in my opinion) is one of the most fun parts of becoming a copywriter and starting your own business. You get to use the creative side of your brain to create your digital presence and market yourself.
Here are the fundamental digital assets you need to have when first launching your copywriting career:
- Website (even if it’s just from a template) with a blog to showcase your expertise.
- Social media channels (focus on where your dream clients spend their time)
- An email address (even better if it’s you@yourwebsite.com)
- A calendar link (make it easy for potential clients to schedule with you).
These are the basics. As your copywriting business grows, you can add other digital assets like a YouTube Channel, a podcast, or expand to more social media sites and go for omnipresence.
This, besides the writing itself, is the fun part! You get to go out there and market your services, position yourself as an authority in your field, and attract your dream copywriting clients.
Perfect Your OWN Messaging First
As a copywriter, you’re uniquely positioned to write the words that are going to attract your ideal client. Use those skills! Perfect your brand messaging and show them how you’re going to elevate their business.
Remember: If you can compel clients to work with you, you can compel THEIR clients to work with THEM–and that’s a huge selling point.
Networking, Networking, Networking
There’s no shortage of networking opportunities for copywriters. Literally every single business needs copywriting. In-person events, online networking events, or even platforms like Clubhouse and LinkedIn can help you find––and connect with––the right people.
Build Your Backend
Once you start getting clients, you need to know how to manage them. Create systems and processes for onboarding, project management (I use Monday.com for my agency), and offboarding.
The more organized your backend systems and processes are, the less time you have to spend on administrative tasks and the more time you can spend writing, making money, and growing your business.
Make it Official!
Get your legal stuff in order and make it official! Register your business, get your freelance copywriting contracts together, talk to a CPA and figure out how to file taxes, and get business insurance.
Pitch Yourself
Now’s the time to go out and find those dream clients. But how do you do it?
There are several ways to get your first copywriting client.
-
Reach out to people you know. Do you know anyone who owns a business? Reach out to them and ask them if they’d like help with their copy! Business owners are busy, and taking something off their plate can be a selling point on its own.
-
Network. Attend a local business owners networking event or find networking groups online.
-
Cold pitch. This is a common (and effective) way to get your first copywriting client. Cold pitching involves sending messages to people you don’t personally know that haven’t reached out to you first.There’s a right way and a wrong way to do cold pitching. Do it right!
-
Join freelancer sites. If you approach freelancer sites like a professional opportunity instead of a quick-grab for clients, these sites can be lucrative. Get familiar with sites like Upwork or PeoplePerHour and make connections with people actively looking for copywriting services.
And Pitch Yourself Again!
Don’t be afraid of rejection. Especially if you’re just starting out and don’t have any social proof like testimonials to share, it can take time to get your first couple of clients. Don’t get discouraged. Every single copywriter on earth started out as a beginner at one point.
Establish Your Brand Authority By Offering Value
If you’ve been looking into how to start your own copywriting business, you’ve probably heard the words provide value about ten thousand times. But what does providing value really mean?
It’s twofold:
You want to provide a takeaway for your potential client, and you want to show them you know your stuff.
For example, let’s say you’re a medical copywriter and you want to attract clients who own a private practice. You might write a blog post about 5 ways a doctor’s office can earn their potential patient’s trust online. One of these 5 ways includes the practice’s copywriting and messaging. This gives your potential client an immediately actionable takeaway and shows that you know exactly how to help them connect with their audience.
Perfect Your Outreach Strategy
An outreach campaign is more than finding businesses and sending cold pitches. You need to have your outreach strategy nailed down.
How are you finding clients?
What are the subject lines of your cold emails?
What’s the hook?
Do you have a calendar link in place?
Is your portfolio polished and send-ready?
What’s your follow-up strategy?
What happens if they express interest?
And, what happens next, on the discovery call?
If you don’t know the answer to ALL of these questions (without thinking), you aren’t ready for outreach.
Deliver Incredible Client Experiences–EVERY Time
So, what happens when you earn someone’s business? Client experience is huge, and every part of the process matters.
From the moment they sign your contract, you need to have a process in place for researching, writing, editing, project updates, revision requests, and delivery of the work. And remember, communication is key: Besides providing incredible writing, one of the biggest reasons your clients will continue to work with you is because you communicate well throughout the project.
Get a Copywriting Coach
Starting a new career as a copywriter and starting your own business can be an arduous process. But, with the right guidance, you can forego all of the trial-and-error and start seeing your business grow faster.
A copywriting mentor or coach can offer you expert advice on everything from writing copy to how to find and handle clients.
Frequently Asked Questions about Starting a Copywriting Business
You’ve probably STILL got a lot of questions about starting a copywriting business. Let’s answer some of them.
Can I Start Copywriting With No Experience?
YES. As mentioned above, copywriting is an extremely unique career. You can take copywriting courses to create a solid foundation, create your portfolio pieces, and start pitching yourself to clients.
Where Do I Learn How to Start Copywriting Fast?
I can’t say this enough: Copywriting isn’t a get-rich-quick type of career. You’re not going to be a six-figure copywriter overnight. But, if you take the right copywriting courses, you can expedite the process. Take a copywriting course that doesn’t just show you the basics of copywriting, but also gives you the rundown of how to manage your business, earn and retain clients, and grow your copywriting business.
Can You Actually Make Money as a Copywriter?
Definitely. Copywriting is a specialized skill that takes a LOT of time and effort to develop, You can charge accordingly. Plus, as a business owner, you set your own prices, so your income is entirely up to you.
What Does a Copywriter Do All Day?
Copywriting is a lot more than just writing. There’s a LOT of research, the writing process itself, editing, sometimes accompanying design or UX, communicating with clients, sending out cold pitches, answering emails, working on the big-picture of your business, and then MORE writing.
The best part? You can do ALL of this from a campervan in the Ozarks if you want to. Or a coffee shop in downtown LA. Or beachside in southern California. Or from a rooftop bar in Austin. Anywhere there’s internet, you can work.
Can a Copywriter Make Six Figures?
Absolutely. In fact, you can make multiple-six-figures, especially if you own your own copywriting business. The better your skills, the more money you can make your clients, and the more you can charge.
Is Copywriting In-Demand?
Copywriting will ALWAYS be in demand. I don’t care how many AI copybots are out there: absolutely nothing will replace copywriting. Every single business in the world relies on copywriting for some aspect of their business, meaning copywriting is a recession-safe career path.
How Do I Get My First Copywriting Client?
There are multiple ways to get your first copywriting client. You can explore freelancer sites, reach out to potential clients on LinkedIn, find business you want to work with on YELP, pitch yourself to local businesses, and go to networking events.
The important thing to remember is to have your outreach strategy on point. You need to have a polished portfolio, a good hook, a calendar link, and use the right messaging to reach out.
How Much Does a Freelance Copywriter Charge?
Short answer: Whatever they want to.
Long answer: It depends. Beginning copywriters might charge $150 per page or $40 an hour, while an experienced copywriter might charge 4-5x that. It largely depends on the niche, the type of work, the time investment and project scope, and the expertise of the writer.
Do You Need to Go to School to Be a Copywriter?
Nope! I can tell you from experience, in my 12+ years of copywriting, no one has EVER asked me where I went to school. In fact, I didn’t. I learned copywriting on my own, studied hard, took some business courses online, and hit the ground running.
You can, too!
But, not needing a college degree to be a copywriter doesn’t mean you don’t need any education at all. Copywriting courses are a great place to start. And, learn everything you can about marketing. After all, copywriting IS marketing.
Can I Replace My Income as a Copywriter?
Definitely. You can replace your income and THEN SOME, depending on what you charge and how much time and effort you’re willing to put into it.
How Long Does it Take to Make Money as a Copywriter?
This is another “it depends” answer. If you’re currently working a full time job while building your copywriting business, you might not have a ton of extra hours to put into it.
And, there’s no set amount of time it takes to make money as a copywriter. Some people go 100mph from day 1 and quit their 9-5 job in a month, and some take longer.
But, the more time you put into it, the faster it’s going to go.
What Should Be in My Freelance Copywriting Contract?
Obligatory: This isn’t legal advice. Contact your attorney to create your contracts to ensure you’re protected.
This isn’t an all-inclusive list, but here are some of the main components of a freelance copywriting contract:
- The SOW (scope of work): What, exactly, will you be doing for your client?
- Any deliverables: What will you deliver at the end of the project?
- Timeline: How long will this project take?
- Payment terms (and any penalties for late payment): How much are you charging? Do you charge a late fee?
- Cancellation terms: What happens if your client needs to cancel the contract?
- Copyright/Ownership: Who owns the work once complete?
Contracts are complex, but you NEED to have a contract for every single client you work with. No matter how long you’ve known them or how much you trust them. Contracts protect all parties. If you have a client who is unwilling to sign a contract, this is a red flag and you should walk away.
You’re Ready. I’m Ready. Let’s Roll.
If all of this information actually got you MORE excited about having your own copywriting business and didn’t scare you away….that’s a good sign that this career might be for you!
So, what’s the next step?
If we haven’t met…
Hi! If we’re not already acquainted, hi! I’m Liz!
I’ve been a copywriter for 12+ years. I own an award-winning copywriting agency that serves some of the world’s boldest brands. AND, I teach copywriting courses and help new copywriters step into their new careers as a copywriting business owner.
So, You Want to Be a Copywriter: Where Do You Start?
You can start right here, right now.
If we haven’t met…
Hi! I’m Liz.
As someone who has dedicated their life to the craft of copywriting, I can tell you that copywriting is one of the most flexible careers in the world that actually allows you to make good money.
In fact, I went from the lucrative world of freelance copywriting to starting my own copywriting agency (which is even more lucrative!).
Not only do I own my own business, I own my own time, I own my own LIFE.
And I want that for YOU, too.
I have tons of tools, templates, resources, and copywriting courses right here on my website so that you can launch, grow, AND scale your own freelance copywriting business.
From my super-popular Ultimate Sales Page Kit to my Email Copywriting Accelerator Course, freelancer templates, and copywriting portfolio builder, I’ve got everything you need to get a jumpstart on your new life as a sought-after, highly paid copywriter.
And…
I want to be the first one to say congratulations on this new chapter in your life. You’re going to absolutely love it.
Get On The Road Towards Your New Career & Start Your Copywriting Business
Time is your most valuable currency, my friend. If you’re done with working on someone else’s dreams instead of your own, it’s time to make the shift.
If you’ve got a way with words and the desire to own your own time, starting your copywriting business should start TODAY. My biggest piece of advice? Don’t wait. There has never been a better time to launch your copywriting business.