Helping copywriters build happy, successful businesses
Working as a copywriter can be exciting. You might get to pick and choose your clients and write about exciting topics such as guinea pig herding, pipe cleaners or a brand-new sex gadget. You might even have flexibility in the hours you work.
But it can also be lonely. Even if you work as part of a wider team, sometimes you just want to chew the fat (or perhaps your pen) with another writer. You know, ask for ideas, get some advice, or even just vent about… well, things.
That’s where The Clever Copywriting School comes in.
Not only does it give copywriters a place to meet and chat (a virtual watercooler), it also helps aspiring copywriters (and those more seasoned):
- hone their writing skills
- improve their business processes
- increase their confidence
- build a thriving copywriting business.
Who do we help?
We can help any writer improve at what they do. However, this group is invaluable if you’re:
- Taking the scary leap into freelance copywriting
- Starting a career in writing at an advertising agency
- Working in marketing
- Writing copy for your own business
- Ready to build a successful copywriting business.
Even if you’ve been writing for eons or working as a freelancer for some time, The Clever Copywriting School can breathe new life into a humdrum business. And when you become a member, you can network with other copywriters and maybe pick up a few new tips and tricks. You could even find a few more job leads.
How do we help?
Look, we’re not about to toot our own horn. (Well, maybe just a little.) But that’s because we offer unbelievable support to copywriters in Australia and around the world. And we know what we offer is helpful because we’ve seen so many copywriters build fantastic money-making businesses after joining our community.
In fact, we have ten different ways we help you towards copywriting awesomeness:
- Online courses, webinars and workshops
- Directory listings to help promote your business
- Our wonderfully supportive copywriting community
- Regular coffee chats and coaching calls with me and fellow copy folk
- Monthly Masterclasses run by members in the community
- Guest posting opportunities to build your profile
- Regular job leads and referrals
- A unique copywriter toolkit
- Free advice, tips and posts
- Downloadable resources and offers.
And because we know cash flow can be scarce when you’re starting out, we do our best to keep the cost of our copywriting courses affordable.
DIVERSITY
Everyone is welcome.
We’re an inclusive crowd, proud of the sense of belonging we infuse. Diversity brings us together to learn and grow. Every individual is respected, supported and appreciated for their unique contribution, diverse talents and for being themselves.
COPYCON: Make copy great again
We’re also the home of Australia’s premier copywriting conference – CopyCon. It’s the first dedicated copywriting conference in Australia and is designed to take your copywriting business to the next level.
It’s jam-packed with useful content from some of Australia’s most successful copywriters. Plus, you get the chance to mix and network with other copywriters in real life.
Who is Kate Toon?
Like a lot of people out there I always wanted to be a writer and began writing stories and articles as a little kid.
In my teens, I wrote music and gif reviews for the local paper. At university (in Leeds) where I studied English Lit I worked as Features Editor for the paper, and was a presenter on the student radio station. I was lucky enough to interview some big-name bands – Blur, Pulp, Radiohead – and discovered a love for writing snappy, engaging articles. It brought me sheer delight to see people reading them around campus.
After university I wanted to study magazine journalism at an exclusive course in London. I got accepted, but didn’t have the funds. Student debt (and a lot of partying) had hit me hard.
So, I got a real job. I started out in publishing, switched to events, and eventually found my way into the nascent industry of digital marketing working on website development projects for sites such as Marks & Spencer.
I moved to Australia in 1999 and scored a job as Executive Digital Producer at Ogilvy, where I worked on big brands including Qantas, Telstra, American Express, Pizza Hut and Commonwealth Bank. But I still wasn’t copywriting.
So, around 2002 I took a 70% pay cut to become a copywriter. At last I was concepting, writing, and sitting on bean bags having ideas. I moved back to the UK in 2003 and took a job writing copy for Microsoft, followed by another writing role at O2.
But agency copywriting just doesn’t pay as well as producing. So, I sold my soul back into product working at advertising.com on affiliate marketing and search engine optimisation.
When I moved back to Australia in 2005, I had a number of contract roles in Sydney agencies, working my way up to Digital Director at Mercer Bell, and then Executive Producer at the now closed Mass Media.
But I wasn’t copywriting.
I’d done a few freelance jobs for brands such as Isabella Oliver and Pedigree Chum in my own time. But I was too scared to make the leap into freelance life. I had a lifestyle to maintain.
But when I found myself with child in 2008 it was a case of ‘now or never’. So I took a leap of faith when I was five months pregnant, gave up the day job and started KateToonCopywriter.com.au.
I grew my baby business and my baby simultaneously, and the first year was HARD.
But two or three years in the work was flowing, my rates were increasing, and I had more clients than I could handle.
I also worked hard at forming communities of copywriters. The first was on Google+, where the community over competition mantra served me well. I’m still pals with all the copywriters from those days.
I wrote blogs about the templates and processes I’d developed, and soon other writers were asking if they could buy them.
So, I founded The Clever Copywriting School (TCCS) so other writers could find the support they needed (and the support I wished I had when starting out).
From just a few simple courses and templates, TCCS has grown into a global business with nearly 200 community members, countless templates, courses, training and resources. In 2007, I founded CopyCon.com.au – Australia’s first and only dedicated copywriting and content marketing conference.
TCCS has helped countless copywriters start and grow their careers, providing much-needed support, structure and accountability, as well as job opportunities. (We post upwards of 15 copy jobs a week).
I’m extremely proud of how this side hustle has become my main hustle. And I feel a genuine connection to my community members. I might not write much copy myself these days, but I always consider myself first and foremost a copywriter.
#IIsCOPYWRITER!
“I’ve learned so much by connecting with other great copywriters and feel that by sharing our highs and lows it makes us all better at what we do. I’ve always believed that we should see other copywriters as our colleagues not our competitors, and I wanted to encourage all copywriters to connect and share ideas, tips and know how.” Kate Toon.
