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This post was written by TCCS member, Andrew Lau

Over the years, a lot of people have told me they want to become freelance copywriters like me. They want to free themselves from the 9 am to 9 pm rat-race. They want time flexibility. And they want the freedom to pick and choose clients they really want to work with.

And yes, this dream is achievable.

You can do all these things as a freelance copywriter. You can say goodbye to horrible 12-hour days in a corporate cage because you’re the boss. And if you just happen to hate the colour of a potential client’s tie, you have zero obligation to service them.

But here’s the discombobulating reality that most copywriters don’t talk about:

You’re a business person first, and a copywriter last

You probably think that sounds bonkers, or even stupid. After all, a copywriter’s job is to write copy, isn’t it? Isn’t their role to generate words that persuade everyday punters to spend their hard-earned cash on services and products?

Isn’t the job about being creative with language?

Nope. At least not yet. Let me explain.

Before you write a single word…

— you’re a marketer, a salesperson.

You see, you’ve gotta get out there, let the world know who you are, what you can do, and the value you add to a client’s business. Otherwise, you’ll never write a word of copy.

To be more accurate, you’ll never be paid for a single word of copy you write. Let’s face it: you’re not interested in writing copy just because you love words. Survival is the driving force here.

You’re trying to make some bacon.

A lot of people want to become writers so they can escape the icky grossness of business-wank chatter. But the reality is, nobody’s handing out copywriting coupons. Especially not to Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss Hidey-Hole.

Copywriting is a business, and in business you have to sell yourself. You need to draw some attention to yourself. You need to show clients you’re so creative with words that you’re worth hiring for money you can actually live on.

Again, it’s about makin’ bacon. Which means it’s business!

So you’ve sold yourself and won a project

Good on you! But you’re still not a copywriter. In fact, you’re not even in the vicinity of being a copywriter.

You’re now an accountant, business manager, information interrogator, researcher and notetaker — all at the same time. But you still don’t get to be a copywriter yet.

How’s this possible?

Let’s say a client has nominated you, the ‘chosen one’, to write their next 5,000 Twitter posts.

It’s time to put your accounting hat on. Punch in those numbers and make that invoice. You have to charge your client a deposit (or ‘commencement fee’) of some kind. It’s madness to start work if they haven’t made a monetary commitment.

Think about it. What if you start writing and the client cancels the project? That’s time down the toilet. And time equals money.

Put your business manager hat on and get them to sign the damned, dotted line of that contract. Protect yourself legally from getting bent over backwards and snapped in half. Remember, A – B – C. Always. Be. Closing.

Only closers get coffee around here.

Can you be a copywriter yet? Nope. Now you’ve got a pile of client meetings to attend, a ton of notes to make, and even more research to do.

You need to ask the questions that must be asked. What are the services and/or products that must be sold? What tone of voice is needed? What’s the core of your message? Who are your competitors? Have you got any business intelligence and statistics that can be used?

What do you, my beautiful behemoth client, really want to say and achieve?

If you’ve elicited all this info, you’re getting closer to writing the copy.

Can I write the damned copy yet?

No, you cannot write the copy. Not just yet. You still need to do a few things before you type that first word or put pen to paper.

You need to be smart.

Start by controlling expectations and mitigating risk around delivery of deliverables (try saying that five times fast). You need to manage your time, because who knows? You may have won a few other projects in the meantime. And you can’t do all the things at once.

So put your project manager hat on. Get your calendar out and mark down when your Twitter campaign of 5,000 posts begins and ends, as well as where your other projects will fit into the grand scheme of your beautiful freelance copywriter life.

When does the client need their work delivered? Does it need to go through their legal team? How long will the approval process take? If the workload is too big, can the delivery be made in phases over an extended period of time?

Get the answers. You got ‘em? Good.

Writing the copy (finally)

Okay, now you can get creative with those ideas and words.

But can you see how much you need to do before you get to the work implied by the glorious title of ‘copywriter’?

Having time flexibility and being able to cherry pick your clients is awesome.

But make no mistake. If you think a freelance copywriter just sits on white sandy beaches with crystal blue water lapping at their feet while smashing out words on their shiny, golden MacBook Air (oof, take a deep breath), read this blog post again.

Whether you’ve been a copywriter for 30 days or 30 years, the same rules apply as when you jumped into the freelance game for the first time.

You’re no longer surrounded by a cushy corporate infrastructure made up of accountants, business managers, researchers, statisticians, project managers and other creatives.

You’re on your own. And as a freelancer, all that responsibility is now on you. That is, at least until you make your first zillion bucks and can afford to hire copy minions to do your bidding.

Discombobulated yet? Great. Now go make some bacon.

Editors note: Veggie bacon!

PS — It’s okay to be discombobulated. Now say ‘discombobulated’ ten times really fast.

BIO: About Andrew Lau

Andrew Lau is a copywriter, partly obsessed with deep fried chicken drumsticks but wholly obsessed with the movies. What a nerd.

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If you think copywriting conferences are only for grammar geeks waving red pens, it’s time to change the colour of your ink.

Here are ten reasons why attending CopyCon19 is a no-brainer if you’re a content creator.

As Australia’s only dedicated conference for copywriters and content creators, CopyCon is now in its third year.

In 2019, the event has moved to Melbourne and is being held at the wonderful Arts Centre from May 4–5.

Tickets are selling fast as the well-penned word travels quickly on what great value the weekend is for anyone who writes for a living.

The brainchild of Australia’s SEO expert and copywriter Kate Toon, CopyCon was established to give a dedicated online community the chance to meet in person and gain invaluable knowledge from expert speakers.

In doing so, it has become a conference for anyone looking to grow their copywriting business, learn about content creation, or connect with other creatives in a collaborative space.

If you’ve been wondering whether CopyCon19 is the conference for you, here are ten reasons why the date should already be in your calendar and the tickets in your inbox.

1. A conference that’s not just for copywriters

Okay, let’s get this out of the way first up.

Yes, it’s called CopyCon. And yes, it’s a conference for copywriters. But it’s not only for copywriters. CopyCon has been created for anyone who needs to write well in their business or work.

In an age where great content is vital yet so hard to find, you’ll learn the tips and tricks that will make your words heard among the noise.

If you’re a social media manager, marketing manager, inhouse or freelance content creative who needs to connect with an audience (and what business doesn’t?) then it’s time to become a part of a community that can take your engagement to the next level.

“It’s about finding your tribe. It’s about going with half an idea or no idea and coming out with a better idea.” — Steve May, Rockatansky

2. Speakers who deliver relevant information, not a sales pitch

There’s nothing worse than spending a day listening to speakers who are so disconnected from your reality you feel they must come from another dimension.

They’ve become so successful on the speaking circuit, they’ve forgotten the day-to-day struggles to fit everything in.

You don’t want to hustle, hustle, hustle, and you certainly need more than four hours’ sleep to function.

You want more than five minutes talking to the topic before an unsubtle segue has them recapping their well-told story or pitching their latest offer.

At CopyCon, each speaker is chosen because they bring honest value to the stage.

When you have a group such as The Clever Copywriting School, you can go directly to the members and ask them which guest speakers they want to hear, what topics they want to learn, and what help they need to grow their business.

As a conference participant, what you get in return is speakers who tailor their content to answer relevant questions.

This year’s line-up includes:

• Kate Toon: Suriving the client dating game
  Ryan Wallman: Making taglines work
• Rob Marsh: Writing the perfect sales page
• Bernadette Schwerdt: The 7 secrets to writing copy that gets results every time
• Suzanne Chadwick:Building an unbeatable brand for you and your clients
• Aaron Agius:The secrets to advanced content marketing and SEO

Here’s the full speaker line-up and schedule.

3. Practical advice and easy-to-implement actions

How many times have you attended a conference and left full of enthusiasm to make changes for personal or professional growth, only to be completely overwhelmed by everything you need to do when you sit down at your desk and don’t have the hype of the presenter in your head?

It happens. A lot.

When you leave CopyCon you’ll undoubtedly want to make changes to your business.

But unlike other conferences, there’s no smorgasbord of expensive options you need to commit to with discounts if you sign up in the next 27 minutes.

CopyCon gives you delicious bite-sized morsels of goodness you can act immediately. The take-aways are manageable, with enough leftovers for another day.

They’ll give you a return on your investment – whether that be your time or your money –but without that awful feeling of biting off more than you can chew.

“I walked away with half a dozen insights that I put into action in my business. Those actions helped me streamline my processes and feel more confident and in control as a small business owner.” Anna Rogan – Copywriter

4. Keep yourself accountable with video access

You’re listening intently, completely focussed on what everyone has to say.

You’re entirely present and not bothering to take notes.

Why? Because you know CopyCon has your back. You know the entire day – speakers and panel discussions – is being recorded.

You know you can go back and listen to the recordings, take note of the key points and upload them directly into Trello or Asana for quick action.

And it’s all included in the price of your ticket.

5. Connect with the best copywriters in Australia

When you attend Australia’s only dedicated conference for copywriters, you’ll find the best Australia has to offer.

Not only do you get to hear from them on stage, but you get to talk with them during the day, at lunch, and even in the coffee queue.

If you’re a web developer, graphic designer or marketing manager, this is your chance to be a kid in a candy store.

You get to meet the people you’ve been talking to in Facebook groups and forums.

You get to make real connection out of a virtual one.

You can ask the questions you’ve been afraid to ask but in a face-to-face conversation. And the good news? Copywriters by nature are people pleasers.

They’re only too happy to answer your questions and talk your ear off about the things they know and love — SEO, keywords, site audits, tone of voice, USPs and ideal target markets, just to name a few.

6. All right stop! Collaborate and listen.

So, there are more than 100 copywriters and content creators in the same room.

They’re all giving each other side eyes and clutching their notes close to their chests.

The breaks in the day are quiet affairs, with no-one really talking about what’s happening in their business.

It’s a room full of people competing for the same jobs, the same work. It’s a dog-eat-dog world, right?

WRONG.

CopyCon is a room of more than 100 copywriters and content creators encouraging each other to succeed.

They view each other not as competition, but as co-workers and colleagues.

They may not work in the same office, but they hang in the same space, and the online friendships transfer to the real world.

It’s where you get to take time out of your busy schedule to talk about future projects, sub-contracting opportunities, and joint venture partnerships.

It’s where a finance writer speaks with a beauty writer and sets up a referral network. It’s where collaboration is key, and magic happens.

7. Networking for people, not pitches

Conferences and networking. Two words that strike fear in the heart of any introverted writer.

It conjures up images of standing in a room full of strangers, desperately thinking of things to say to fill the deafening silence. Or trying to escape the seen-it-all, done-it-all, know-it-all who insists you must buy their latest e-book/course/webinar/product/service.

Not at CopyCon.

This is the conference where you have like-minded people coming together to meet, talk, chat and listen.

There are introverts and extroverts, omniverts and ambiverts. Everyone’s there to have a good time and get to know the person, not make a hard sell. Because we all know you have to know, like and trust someone before you sell to them, right? That’s just Networking 101.

Here’s what attendees from last year’s conference had to say:

“It’s a douchebag-free zone – no sales chats, no upselling, onselling, just clever creatives coming together to do clever creative things.”
Emma Gilmour – Emma Writes Copy

 

“The only conference you need to attend all year. Practical, generous advice without the fluff or hard sell.”
Beck Cofrancesco – Marketing Goodness

 

“Your brain will be buzzing with the new ideas and the audience is one of the friendliest bunches you’ll meet.” Rashida Tayabali – Copywriter

By the time the networking event rolls around on the Saturday evening, you’ll have made firm friends you’ll want to have a few bevvies and a bite to eat with.

8. Hear from business owners at different stages of their career

Let’s face it: we’re not unique snowflakes.

No matter where you are in your copywriting career, there’s always somebody ahead of you on the leaderboard, and somebody behind you learning the rules of engagement.

It’s great to look forward to what you can achieve while looking back at how far you’ve come.

One of the keys to CopyCon’s success is the presenters aren’t overnight successes who made their millions living the laptop lifestyle.

They’ve worked hard for their reputations – they’re leaders in their field who are known for their willingness to share their knowledge, their successes and the occasional failure.

The schedule also contains ten-minute slots that showcase copywriters at different stages of their business building, talking about the lessons they’ve learned so far. Some are starting out, and some are seasoned veterans with wise tales to tell.

Either way, the speakers give an honest insight into what it takes to run a copywriting business in 2019.

9. Family friendly for new mums and dads

We all know that when you’re in business, personal and professional development is essential to your success.

You need to continue upskilling yourself and keep in the know with the latest the industry has to offer.

Having a small human who is dependent on you for their very survival shouldn’t stop you from gaining knowledge. After all, it’s 2019.

It’s also why CopyCon welcomes new parents with babes-in-arms.

You’ll be comfortable knowing your little offsider is a welcome member of the CopyCon team.

Facilities are provided for feeding and changing (no hiding in the bathroom), and there’s a good chance your little one will get a head start in their own personal branding.

10. And then there’s the icing on the CopyCon cookie

Yep, there are cookies. And there are massages. And delicious food.

There’s the community, comradery and possibly karaoke.

In a beautiful venue close to all Melbourne has to offer, it’s a weekend away to immerse yourself in words and wisdom.

CopyCon isn’t like other conferences. It’s been designed that way.

Until you’ve experienced it, you can’t really describe the feeling of welcoming and warmth it offers.

But once you’ve been, you’ll know you’ve attended something very special.

So, there you have it – ten reasons to attend CopyCon19

It probably sounds too good be true.

But believe me, it’s not.

If you’re still sitting on the fence, undecided about whether you should attend, you can always watch the video reviews from CopyCon18.

But don’t wait too long. Numbers are limited. Tickets are selling fast. And we don’t sell false scarcity.

It really is the conference for copywriters that delivers quality content.
Make sure you’re a part of it.

Did we nail it?

We’d love to hear your experience if you’ve attended CopyCon previously.

Thinking of attending, or know somebody who should? Feel free to share away.

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This post was written by TCCS member, Rose Crompton

How to get the most out of your first week as a member of The Clever Copywriting School

Wondering if you’ve made a good decision for your copywriting business can be exhausting at the best of times. But when you’re new and trying to grow, it can easily spiral into a thought pattern of Should I really do this?, Will it be useful to my business? and How do I make the most of it?

Having all that whizzing round your head is distracting. But it’s exactly what I had to wrestle with when questioning whether to join a copywriting community.

Right now you’re probably in one of two camps.

Camp #1 – You’re thinking about becoming a member of a copywriting community, and wondering if it will:

• be a good investment of your time and money
• arm you with the copywriting skills you want to work on
• be populated with “your kind of people”
• (most importantly) deliver the type of work you really want

Camp #2 – You’ve just joined TCCS and you’re a bit like, “What the badger is all of this? Where do I start? And when do the jobs happen?”

In the past 18 months I’ve shimmied from camp one to camp two. But wherever you’re currently sitting, I hope I can unburden your mind with some insight into what to expect if you join TCCS, and how to make the most of your first week in the community.  

#1 Write your directory listing

Pop this at the top of your to-do list as soon as you join. Getting your name, face and business blurb into the directory is a big step towards landing work. Plus, if you find writing about yourself and what you do tough, completing your listing will be a useful exercise.

Once it’s live, keep an eye on the number of views. Use this opportunity to experiment with your business messaging and test whether the changes attract more or less attention.  

#2 Get stuck into the FB community

Prepare to sink your feet into the warmest welcome mat on the whole of social media (IMHO). When you join the Clever Copywriting community on Facebook you’ll be introduced in a tagged post. Be prepared to engage.

It’s a busy, warm and welcoming group. There’s no judgement, and there are no silly questions. Spend some time reading past posts, offering thoughtful responses to current discussions, and taking up any challenges that might push you out of your copywriting skill comfort zone (such as doing a Facebook Live intro for the first time).

#3 Check the events

Working solo is hard, especially if you’re an extrovert like me. TCCS combats loneliness with regular events such as Coffee Chats and regional get-togethers.

In your first week, commit to joining a half-hour Coffee Chat. It’s a really easy way to pick up new copywriting skills and chew the business fat with folks going through similar experiences. There’s a loose discussion topic, but honestly the interaction is worth it’s weight in guava coffee beans.

#4 Watch the New Member Makeovers

This is where I found most of the gold in my first week. Questions I’d been procrastinating over for months and copywriting skills I didn’t even consider working on were tackled during these 40-minute videos.

To give you a taste, here’s what I learned:

• How to think about packages
• How to add personality to your brand
• How to keep a constant flow of work
• Setting financial goals and
• How to sort out guest blogging.

And that was from just three of the videos. (There’s plenty more.)

#5 Be brave and apply for jobs

Can you really find jobs in The Clever Copywriting School community?

Yes, yes, a million times yes. Before I joined, I didn’t believe it when current members said, “There are so many jobs.” Yeah, maybe one or two a week.

via GIPHY

Jobs from a rainbow of industries are posted daily, so there are heaps of opportunities for everyone. Get a handle on the format by watching a couple, and then just go for it. Be bold. Be brave. And believe in your copywriting skills.

Update: I scored my first job subbing for another copywriter at the end of my second week of membership. Yup, that quick. 

Ultimately, do what’s right for your business

Hopefully this has given you the straight-talking answers you need if you haven’t yet become a member of The Clever Copywriting School. Or some clarity if you’re new here and feeling a tad overwhelmed with what to watch, download, complete and engage with in your first week.  

Which camp are you in?

If you’re in the first camp and still sitting on the fence about joining a copywriting community, hit us with the questions and concerns that are holding you back.  

For those who are already TCCS members, what do you remember about your first week in the community?

If you liked this article, please share.

About Rose

Rose Crompton is a website, blog and email copywriter for small B2C and B2B businesses. Knowing no-one hooks up with boring brands, Rose uses her tip-top writing skills to stop her client’s copy from sounding run-of-the-mill.

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This post was written by TCCS member, Joh Kohler

It’s almost the end of the financial year (EOFY) in Australia. And you know what that means, freelancers. Yes, you can celebrate with Tim Tams instead of Milk Arrowroots in your morning cuppa. Woo-hoo!

Let’s be honest. Without a corporate drinks budget the EOFY isn’t as much fun as it used to be. But that’s about to change.

Because starting now, the EOFY means it’s time for your annual business check-up partay. Let’s see how you’ve gone this year and plan for where you want to be next year.

I know you’d rather be drinking Prosecco on the boss’s dime. Unfortunately, these days the boss’s dime is your dime. But don’t worry, you can still party like it’s 30 June.

Just grab this excellent annual appraisal template and your slightly-less-sad tea-dunking biscuits and let’s get to it!

To get the party vibe going, I’ve created this EOFY party playlist just for you.

Stop. Collaborate and listen

Track: Ice Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice

First, stop and check your goals and expectations. Let’s see how you went against the plans you had for yourself this year.

Are you on track? What goals did you smash? What goals didn’t you quite get there with, and why?

Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t tick them all off. Things happen. Plans change. But this is a chance to ask yourself why, and see if you need to do anything differently next year. (Or you might decide those goals don’t suit your business anymore, which is fine too.)

Clients can be tricky, tricky, tricky, tricky

Track: It’s Tricky, Run-DMC

Clients are what it’s all about. You’re here for them, but it can be a rollercoaster ride. Some clients are sweet little dreams.

They give excellent briefs, provide specific feedback, and pay on time. (Gotta love that.)

But others are… well, we’ve all had a PITA or two. How have your clients been this year? Did you pick up some dreams, or a bunch of nightmares?

What lessons have you learnt from those PITA clients? Was it you, or them (or both)? There’s a lot to consider and review when it comes to how you manage your client relationships.

Check yo self before you wreck yo self

Track: Check Yo Self, Ice Cube

As a copywriter, your approach to your work can make or break you. If you let yourself get too distracted or deflated when things don’t go to plan, you’ll start to feel that running your own business is worse than gainful employment. (It’s not. Okay, it is. But it’s really not.)

Checking in on yourself is essential. You need to understand your motivations and your way of working. You need to find a way to run your business and have a life. (Yes, it is possible.)

And if things are feeling a little out of control, use this business check-up party to set better plans and processes for next year.

Can your copy dig it?

Track: Whoomp! (There It Is), Tag Team

Ugh. Reviewing your actual copywriting is H.A.R.D. It’s fine to say you could do better at your processes or your financial management because that’s not what you do, right? What you do is write. You communicate.

You put your heart and soul into every last letter.

So it’s hard to admit maybe you didn’t write beautifully all the time. Maybe there was that one client whose brief was so thin you tried to pull it out of the air, only to have the project turn pear-shaped.

Or perhaps you need to admit that without Grammarly, your work would be full of typos. But it’s important to review your actual work. Is your writing process working? Are you a better copywriter this year? They’re hard questions in this part of the appraisal, but there’s gold in the answers.

Push it real good

Track: Push It, Salt-N-Pepa

For people who write marketing words for a living, us copywriters can find it hard to put ourselves out there. Sadly, clients won’t just appear out of nowhere.

So you need to market your services. Now’s the time to check in with your marketing, brand and presence. You know what you need to be doing, so use this opportunity to give yourself the kick up the behind you need to start doing it. Celebrate your marketing successes, and set a few goals for your brand over the next year.

Makes me wonder how I keep from goin’ under 

Track: The Message, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Talking financials might make you want to crawl under the blanket with a spoon and a tub of ice cream*, but it’s got to be done.

You may be a copywriter because you’ve always loved writing, but you know you love writing more when someone’s paying you cold hard cash to do it. Be ruthless when you review this section.

If your revenue is lagging, this pricing course might help you decide if you’re charging enough. Put actual numbers on actual paper (I know you prefer words, but go with it). Your next-year-EOFY-self will thank you, I promise.

*I have never crawled under the blanket with a spoon and a tub of ice cream. (It was Nutella.)

You’ve got the power

Track: The Power, SNAP!

Give yourself a loud round of applause. The hardest part of your annual appraisal is over. Yes, you’ve almost finished your EOFY business check-up. And you survived.

Now it’s time to put it all together and think how you did overall. What were your biggest wins and most significant areas for improvement? Once you can answer those questions, you’ll have the power to move forward and take your copywriting business where you want it to go.

On your mark, ready set, let’s go

Track: Getting’ Jiggy Wit It, Will Smith

Last song and last task. This one’s the fun one. It’s time to set your action plans and business goals for the next financial year.

Look at what you’ve discovered about your business, and design your goals to improve the areas that need a little help and make the most of the stuff you’re doing well. Don’t forget to make your goals SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. Because a goal that isn’t smart is a goal you won’t achieve.

Operation Grown Up Business

Encore track: Bust A Move, Young MC

Today was my EOFY business check-up party (rock on). I used the annual appraisal form to honestly and thoughtfully review my year as a copywriter.

As a result, I’m launching Operation Grown Up Business #OGUB. It’s aimed at improving my part-time business and getting it ready to go full-time. I need to improve my processes (and set up a grown-up business bank account). While partying to the music of my youth, I’ve been planning the business of my future. Now I know what things I want to do, learn, get rid of, and keep in my business over the next 12 months.

To keep me honest, here are my top five goals for Operation Grown Up Business:

1. Achieve a set revenue goal each month

I’ve come up with a challenging, yet attainable monthly amount I want to (and need to) achieve next year.

2. Launch a new product/service

I’ve been playing with the idea of launching a new service to help my clients. It’s not entirely new—I already do it occasionally. But next year I’m going to do it (and sell it) better.

3. Publish one blog per month on my website

This is going to be tough. I always feel like I’m too busy writing content for clients to write content for me. So I’m going to become my own client and plan a strategy and schedule for my blogs. (Why can’t we do for ourselves what we do for our clients?)

4. Refine my processes

I have processes. But they could be better. A lot better. By the end of the next financial year (hopefully earlier) my processes will be refined, documented and followed to a tee.

5. Complete a course or attend a conference

This one’s easy. CopyCon 2019 here I come.

How did your EOFY business check-up party go?

How’d you go? Got some goals set? Feeling ready to wrap this financial year up and move onto the next? Rediscovered your love of ‘80s and ‘90s hip-hop? Tell us what you learnt from your EOFY business check-up party in the comments. 

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About Joh Kohler

Joh Kohler creates compelling content and copy for small businesses, big brands and government agencies. When she’s not writing, she likes to dance (badly). You can follow Joh on Facebook at Compelling Copy.

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This post was written by TCCS member, Dean Mackenzie 

When it comes to winning copywriting jobs, freelance platforms generally get a bad rap.

But, that doesn’t mean you should shy away from them, like you would a dead mouse in a Mountain Dew can. (Yeah, that was a thing.)

There are some good reasons to use freelance jobs sites, especially when you’re starting out. 

In this post I’m going to share five reasons why the Upworks of the world could actually help you break into the wonderful world of copywriting, along with three easy ways to establish yourself on these websites.

When most copywriters hear the words “Upwork” or “Freelancer”, they generally have one thought:

But I’m here to say that ,while freelance job websites aren’t a sparkly dreamland of rainbows and unicorns, they’re not all bad either.

“We get no respect”

To paraphrase the comedian Rodney Dangerfield, freelancing websites get no respect from ‘true’ copywriters and content writers.

Why not? Well, let’s look at some of the popular perceptions:

• Only new, desperate or sub-standard copywriters float around such sites
• These copywriters desperately scratch for whatever pickings they can find
• The jobs they fight over are usually the out-of-their-mind “ten dollars for a thousand words” type

And to some degree, that’s all true.

There are a lot of new and under-performing copywriters hanging around freelancing platforms.

They do ‘low ball’ to score whatever job they can.

And clients are often looking for jobs that are cheap and fast, with scant regard to nasty.

But guess what? For most genuine copywriters, that’s a good thing.

Working in this kind of environment, as icky and unpleasant as it sounds, delivers some great experience and lessons. Lessons that are starkly relevant once the copywriter breaks out of their cocoon and emerges into the real world.

But let’s dig a little deeper.

Why freelancing websites don’t completely suck

1. They’re a perfect place to build experience

As a new copywriter, it can be hard to get clients.

You might have read books, done courses, and snagged the odd job off a friend or family member. But you still end up hearing this:

What’s a copywriter cub to do?

Well, you’re going to need practice. Lots of it. As quickly as you can.

Freelance writing platforms are positively bulging with opportunities to sharpen your copywriting skills.

One of my first jobs on Upwork was writing bi-weekly insurance blogs (yeah, fascinating subject) for ten dollars an hour.

Looking back, those posts weren’t my greatest work. But working on them for a couple of months improved my glacial writing speed no end.

Almost every job I did during my first 6-9 months on the platform taught me something. And I carry those lessons with me to this day.

Bonus experience benefit

Many clients don’t hire people sight unseen. If they come to you, they’ve either checked out your blogs, know of your work elsewhere, or will ask for some samples. Deliver first-class copy and content with those first jobs and you’ll quickly build a portfolio you’ll be proud to show prospective clients.

2. It lets you develop your business

Upwork (and other freelance writing websites) have a particular policy that’s gotten more than a few freelancers in trouble:

You can’t steal clients from Upwork and into your tender bosom.

Doing so will get you ingloriously booted off their site as soon as they find out.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t be working on your business in practically every other way.

Platforms such as these let you develop almost everything you’ll need when you strike out into the brave new world beyond:

• Processes: How will you get the info you need from a client? How do you handle unresponsiveness? How do you tackle feedback?
• Clients: Who are your ideal clients? What traits do you like in them? How do you deal with ‘pain in the you-know-what’ (PITA) clients?
• Marketing: How will you stand out from the competition? (More on that in a mo.)

3. You can practice your pitch

When you’ve got oodles of current clients or referrals flooding in, you’re set.

But when you need to hunt for clients, you’ll be pitching.

A lot.

As a new copywriter, you need to sell yourself.

On Upwork, this takes the form of proposals. If you see a job that sounds like a perfect match, you write a ‘proposal  (i.e. an eloquentified message that’s basically, “Pick me, pick me!”) and hope they get back to you.

A lot of copywriters hate proposal writing because:

1. a) it takes time
2. b) there’s no guaranteed return
3. c) it’s freaking hard to do

Fortunately, a lot of writers lazily use a copy/paste approach. So if you’re prepared to put in a little work and refine your proposals over time, you’ll start winning work.

The truth is, until you’re established on Upwork you have to do a lot of pitching.

The nice part is this can and does turn around. When you have the experience and the results, clients will start to approach you.

When I started, my pitch wasn’t much more than:

 “I’m a copywriter. Your job sounds great. Why don’t you hire me?”

I’m actually surprised it won any jobs at all.

But as I slowly worked out how to market myself, these proposals became more conversational. I asked more questions, and talked about how I’d theoretically go about doing their job.

Pro tip: Clients love it when you give feedback on their projects from the get-go. It can be a lot of extra effort, but if you find a job you really want to win it’s a great strategy.

4. You can actually build relationships

On freelance writing sites, jobs are usually one-off affairs with little more than a “That’s great, thanks. I’ll close the job and complete payment”.

But sometimes a job turns out to be more. Much more.

I’ve built numerous relationships that started as a single engagement.

One of the best examples is a couple of e-commerce emails I wrote for an online furniture retailer. It turned into a series of weekly blog posts, and became a complete rewrite of their website. All up, a couple of thousand dollars of work.

If you’re improving your skills and business processes (points 1 and 2), these relationships develop without any extra work on your part.

Professionalism isn’t common on freelance writing platforms. It’s a semi-rare, valuable resource. And clients love it.

5. You can earn some extra cash

I left this one ‘til last, even though it’s usually the first reason people are on places like Upwork.

This one’s so far down the list because if you’re intent on becoming a copywriter and building your own business, cash at this point is almost secondary.

Sharpening your skills, improving your processes, knowing how to pitch and building relationships are all more important reasons to be spending time on freelance platforms.

In light of these, whatever cash you earn is effectively a bonus.

That said, whatever funds you bring in can be put to good use. If your full-time work is paying the bills, the odd writing job can boost your business with things like:

• Getting a website built
• Buying some courses
• Getting some coaching
• Grabbing a few tools (e.g. templates. And here’s just the place for that)

All without having to pay for them out of your own wallet.

But before you dive in…

Maybe you’re new or somewhat inexperienced in the great game of copywriting.

And maybe you’re thinking of jumping onto a freelance writing site right now and banging out blogs ‘til the cows come home.

If that’s the case…

The biggest trap people fall into on these platforms is thoughtlessly hurling themselves in—signing up in a flash, slapping together a profile, and sending proposal after proposal in scattergun style.

But you’re going to be different.

There are dozens of ways to give yourself an edge. Bu let’s zero in on three.

1. Prepare your profile

Your website (if you have one) is your sales page. Your LinkedIn profile is another.

And so is your profile page on any freelance writing platform you’re part of.

It’s something a lot of people don’t realise. They just dash one together and go hunting for work. By simply paying some attention to this, you’ll have an immediate advantage over a lot of your competition before you send out a single proposal.

Without going into too much detail, Here’s what you can do to stand out:

• Use a tagline that’s eye catching and specific
• Choose keywords to attract the types of job you want
• Structure your overview or description just like you would a sales page (e.g. open in an interesting way, spell out big benefits, use testimonials, end with a call to action)

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for the rate you want

There’s plenty of ‘race to the bottom’ competition on Upwork.

You don’t want to be one of them.

Sure, your first few jobs might not bring in the big bucks. That’s fine. Everyone has to start from somewhere.

But if you can do a job well, and demonstrate you do it well, set your price and show your value. There are clients who appreciate that on these platforms. And, if you deliver the results they’ll happily pay you for it.

If at first you don’t succeed…

When you first jump on Upwork and apply for some jobs, you might win some.

But you might not.

Freelance writing platforms are as much an exercise in persistence as anything else. You can do all the right things and not get a nibble some days, only to find two or three clients chasing you the next day without having done anything differently.

If you’re not winning many jobs early on, don’t give in to the temptation to quit. There are two big things you can do to turn the tide:

1. Keep refining your pitch: Are you writing proposals that would sound interesting or exciting if you were looking to hire?
2. Look at how you qualify jobs to apply for: Are you grabbing at anything, or only jobs you’re well-suited for? Target jobs that complement your specific skills.

Be there for a reason

As the poem goes, people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Upwork – or any freelancing website – won’t be part of your copywriting life forever. But they do serve a purpose, especially when you’re a fledgling writer uncertain of how to start.

Use these platforms wisely, and you’ll soon have the skills and experience you need to launch your copywriting business into the world.

Over to you

Have you ever used a freelancing website? What was your experience with them?

Bio

Dean Mackenzie is a Melbourne-based copywriter who specialises in direct response copywriting — that is, copy specifically designed to sell. His work focuses on landing pages, emails and sales pages, along with the odd website and blog. He’s also fond of a good cup of tea.

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It’s time to get organised people

We busy copywriters have a lot to do: clients to hassle, copy to cajole; and then all those Facebook posts that we just HAVE TO scroll through.

But there are only so many hours in the day.

And it sure ain’t easy trying to do ALL THE THINGS.

So, we asked our Clever Copy beasts to share their top time management tips that help them get through the day without slapping a kitten.

Here are 22 hot tips that might just save your sanity:

Tip #1: DING DING

Turn off the ‘ding ding’ social media notifications and turn the tomato timer on. It helps you get through deadlines. (Nerissa Bentley)

Tip #2: 3 THINGS

I do three things a day that are related to the big goals I set at the end of last year. And doing similar tasks together helps save time. (Rashida Tayabali)

Tip #3: BYE BYE FB

Close Facebook. Simple. (Eli Osh)
Psst: I recommend using KILL NEWS FEED Chrome browser extension. Kate.

Tip #4: ASANA RULES

I use Asana to rule the world manage work and home life. Its app and desktop functionality means that wherever I am I can create quick tasks so I don’t forget things or miss deadlines. (Heather Woods)

Tip #5: BLOCK IT

I’m a fan of blocking out time in my calendar (which I do in advance for the week ahead). Example: Tomorrow will be three hours of writing and three hours of marketing. (Dean Mackenzie)

Tip #6: FIRST HOUR FREE

Don’t look at your phone or computer for at least the first hour of your day. I find that on the days I do this, I have much greater mental clarity and am much more productive. (Sandra Muller)

Tip #7: FREEZE IT

I spend one day a month freezing meals so I don’t worry about cooking when I’ve got too much going on. It’s one less house task to deal with, and I can focus on work. (Marie-Pier Rochon)

Tip #8: WIP IT REAL GOOD

I use the fabulous Work-In-Progress Tracker — Kate’s best invention and my lifesaver. I can view all my projects in the blink of an eye, and I know which ones have priority. (Claudia Bouma)

Tip #9: SCRUNCH IT

Write your to-do list the night before so you don’t waste time faffing or thinking about what you need to do. These days, thanks to Amanda VanElderen’s fab system, SCRUNCHIT™, my to-do list is a pile of Post-its with an individual task on each one. I put them in order and start with the first, then the second and so on, never deviating from the order.
I take great satisfaction in scrunching up each little square of sticky paper and throwing it away. (Johanna Kohler)

Psst: Amanda is trying to make ScrunchIT a ‘thing’. Don’t encourage her. Kate

Tip #10: MUST DO

I close my email app and schedule times to check it. Then I start off with my must-do list of five items.  (Sandy Forbes Taylor)

Tip #11: RACE TO THE FINISH

I have an anti-procrastination day where I do the stuff that’s been on my list for more than a week. I put 15 minutes on the timer, then race to beat it. (Jasmine Andrews)

Tip #12: FLYING HIGH

I switch my phone to airflight mode so I don’t get distracted by notifications.
Then I add an alarm clock that goes off every hour and a half to check things. (Pauline La Cruz)

Tip #13: EARLY WORM

I love starting work at crazy o’clock (5 or 6am) so I can smash out a few hours before emails and phone calls start flooding in.  (Alicia Kacar)

Tip #14: COLOUR CODE

I have a spreadsheet for my to-do list with 3-5 items on it each day. I colour code everything in terms of urgency to know where I need to focus my attention. But the number one tactic is to give myself a stern talking to and just get down to work.  (Cath Fowler)

Tip #15: SUNDAY BEST

I write out a plan for the week on Sunday. It takes all of 15 minutes, and means I don’t waste half of Monday trying to work out what to do while worrying that I’m not actually doing it.  (Emily Rhodes)

Tip #16: WORK NAKED

Don’t waste precious minutes choosing your outfit for the day. Roll out of bed and get straight to work, even if you sleep naked. (Tegan Ang)

Tip #17: SMALL WINS

I make a list of big and small tasks. When I need to take a step back from a big task I try and complete some small tasks. It makes me feel like I’m still accomplishing something. I’m also trying to implement a ‘do it now rather than later’ approach.  (Jodie North)

Tip #18: TEN MIN TACKLING

If a task doesn’t take more than ten minutes, I do it then and there rather than marking it to do later. It gets those pesky little jobs off my desk. (Steve May)

Tip #19: LAY IT OUT

I leave a few tools open on my laptop that I’ll need for the following workday. The stuff is ‘laid out’ to save time (e.g. Airmail, And.Co, MS Word/Google Drive).  (Diana Gaffney)

Tip #20: TEMPLATES FOR THE WIN

Templates! I was always a big fan of templates, and of course the copy shop ones are next level. Saves so much thinking time for recurring tasks. (Jenny Lindsay)

Tip #21: BE FREE(DCAMP)

I use the Freedcamp app. But my favourite is actually a spin off from project days —writing on my wardrobe door. I have three columns: Must do today, what’s on for tomorrow, and ‘Yays’ (for the stuff that’s done). And I write the tasks on Post-it notes so they’re easy to move. (Beck Co)

Tip #22: COMMUTE

Even though I work in my back garden, I take my commute seriously. I pack a lunch, lots of fluids and all the bits I’m going to need for the day. This stops me heading back into the house to grab something and getting distracted. (Kate Toon)

Bonus tip: Bladder of steel

Weeing is for losers. Work on that pelvic floor people (do blokes have a pelvic floor?), and see how long you can work without popping to the loo. Or invest in an executive copywriting bucket. *

* Please do not follow this advice, it’s not medically safe.

Over to you

What’s your top time saving tip? Share it in the comments below:

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