How To Become A Freelance Copywriter [With Tips To Write A Great Copy]

So, you want to become a freelance copywriter?

Great! 

Interesting and a brave move.

Let’s see what you require to be successful in this career.

Remember, you just need to be good at basic English; no advanced English grammar required, and you also don’t need any formal certification for this coveted career. 

Some of the top-ranked freelance copywriters in this world never joined any formal writing course!

All right, let’s know how to become a freelance copywriter as a fresher:

Step 1 – Know What Freelance Copywriting is All About

Freelance copywriting is about creating a quality copy with the help of carefully picked words to promote a brand, product, or service.

A freelance copywriter works on a project on a contract basis. When you join the league of freelance writers, you get to choose which clients to work for, at what rates, when, and how.

It takes certain qualities like reading, researching, and organising your work schedule apart from the knowledge of skilful use of words to present engaging copy and pursue readers to click and convert into sales.

A freelance copywriter is more than a normal content writer. He/she has to follow human psychology to develop content that can induce more clicks.

Practise writing every day. Spend just 10-15 minutes every day writing out successful ads by hand, that’s going to help you internalise the process of copywriting. 

Step 2 – Refer to Some of the Best Copywriting Resources

Start reading some of the popular books like Advertising Secrets of the Written Word and Ogilvy on Advertising to quickly learn a couple of tricks and techniques of copywriting.

Boron Letters by legendary copywriter Gary Halbert is a must-read for any copywriter. 

You should also make your swipe file, for the samples you liked the most, which will act as a reference, whenever you will have to create content. Check out Swipefile for best copywriting samples.

Step 3 – Decide Which Kind of Copywriting Suits You?

Since you are about to start your journey as a freelance copywriter, there is nothing wrong to try on every opportunity that comes your way. 

Copywriting includes Emails, Newsletters, Sales Letters, Web Pages, Landing Pages, Ghostwriting, etc.

Just have a look at different options. There would be certain topics you would be more comfortable writing about; specialise in those domains of copywriting. After all, each domain of copywriting has a different style, tone, and agenda.

Step 4 – Write To Build Your Online Portfolio

Consider writing guest posts and creating your blog to show off your work and approach clients on different channels. Don’t forget to gather all the published links of your write-ups and create a simple portfolio for the client’s review. This will help you get a better response and leads in the long term. 

You can take existing products or services, it might be the local hairdressing salon or a restaurant, and you can write an ad for them and then you can use that in your marketing.

Business owners are people that are most likely to hire you as a copywriter, so go and meet those people by shaking hands and handing out your business card at business events.

Step 5 – Getting Freelance Copywriting Work Over the Internet

You need a website if you’re going to attract global clients. Build that website and have your portfolio examples and your contact details on your website.

Since a freelance copywriter operates online, you can dedicate a couple of hours to search for projects on popular platforms like Facebook, Craigslist, Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer, Truelancer, etc.

But projects will come depending on your hard work, patience, and standard of copywriting service.  

The first client may not come for days or even weeks for most freelance copywriters who have just started. But keep searching for gigs and apply continuously.

Tips To Write A Great Copy

Freelance copywriting can be a profitable career for you, but you should take your job seriously. You need to work continuously on your skill and craft while sustaining the ability to write a great copy.

Steps to write an effective web copy:

Know Your Audience

You can’t really influence or sell anything to anyone if you don’t really understand them; their likes and dislikes. It’s much easier to sell to a friend than it is to a stranger because we understand our friends.

Write Your Website for the Scanners/Scrollers

They are those people who are just scrolling and are not really reading. They’re wondering, “what is this website about?” So you want to write short paragraphs and have subheadings throughout your copy. This is going to grab their attention.

What’s In It For Me? (WIIFM) Formula 

Now, that’s a question you need to be thinking when you’re writing your copy. It’s all about your visitor and what you can do for them. So write with the idea in mind ‘What’s In It for Me’.

Use AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action) Formula

Catch the reader’s attention with your heading. Generate their interest with an introduction. Improve their desire by giving valid benefits and proofs of the product or service. Then add a call to action like call now, buy now, etc.

Use The Pas (Problem, Agitate, Solution) Formula

Inform the reader about the problem that you are going to solve. Provide details of the problem and how that problem is or can impact the reader’s life negatively. Then give the reader the solution to the problem. 

Use Transition Words

Use transition words to make your writing sound conversational. Transition words add flow to writing and increase its readability.

Some transition words: 

• That said,…
• Here’s why…
• That’s why…
• The point is that…
• Believe it or not,…
• Onward…
• In other words,…
• In fact,…
• Actually,…
• For example,…
• For instance,…
• As you know,…
• Think about…
• Imagine…
• Guess what?
• The truth is… (good to use in closing when wrapping things up)

Have A Clear Call To Action

Have a strong and obvious call to action whether it’s a button, a form or a phone number and repeat it throughout your copy at different intervals.

Conclusion

The more attentive and research-oriented you are, the better copywriter you may turn out to be.

Copywriting trends are ever changing, but one thing is enough to keep you going – the capability to write crisp and clear copy. 

So, go for it today!

If you need help with web content for your business, it’s always best to hire an expert freelance copywriter, USA. Copywriters can help you with email writing, landing page writing, web copywriting, sales letter writing, newsletters, etc. A remote writer or a digital writer can enhance the visibility and rank of your website through quality content.