One career that has always been in demand is writing. If you work in this field, opportunities will be abundant. In fact, according to several surveys, 90% of companies depend on freelances to help them hit their targets. So, if you launch a freelance copywriting business, you get a proverbial key to autonomy. That means it’s up to you when you want to complete tasks, which topics to choose, and under which terms you want to work. However, if you still don’t know how to start your freelance copywriting business, this article will be useful for you.
Plan Your Freelance Copywriting Business
Before launching the business, we recommend you check out other platforms like EssayPro to analyze your competition, know which services they offer and how much they charge clients. Then you can start creating a plan of action. This plan should outline your goals, target clients, business strategy, and promotional strategy for growing your business over time.
Choose Your Freelance Copywriting Services
The next step is deciding what services you want to offer customers. If you have experience with a certain type of writing, you can focus mainly on that niche. However, to get your copywriting business off the ground, we recommend expanding the areas of services. They can be:
- Public relations copywriting
- Content marketing
- Business-to-business copywriting
- SEO copywriting
Establish Your Freelance Copywriting Rates
One of the most important steps in launching a freelance copywriting business is setting the rate you will charge the customers. It is especially challenging for newcomers since they tend to lower the price of their services.
In order to set the right price, you need to check how much other copywriters in your area charge their clients. Then, check the rates of other competitors who offer similar services with the same experience level as you.
In fact, setting both an hourly rate and a per-word rate is a brilliant idea, as you will offer customers some flexibility.
However, there are a few expenses that must be covered by your salary which you should take into account before setting the rate.
- Rent
- Health insurance
- Utilities
- Maintenance
Of course, it can be tempting to set a low rate to attract as many customers as possible. But, if you do so, make sure the amount you earn is sustainable in the long-run and will be enough to support a comfortable living.
Gather Your Writing Samples
If you have work experience in copywriting, it can help attract more people. So, you should showcase your talent to demonstrate the variety of industries and clients you’ve written for.
If you don’t have any previous experience and don’t know how to attract potential customers, you should consider doing spec work. It basically includes creating ads on behalf of companies without a job contract.
Promote Yourself and Create a Digital Presence
After you have set the price and prepared samples, it’s time to promote yourself in the media. For this step, you need to make maximum use of your creativity. Here is a list of vital digital assets you should create:
- A website where you can sell your services
- Social media channels where you can advertise yourself
- An email address
- A calendar link so potential customers can schedule with you
You can also create a YouTube channel or a podcast where you share useful copywriting tips or discuss your personal experience launching a freelance copywriting business. Alternatively, you could expand to other social media sites to create an even larger digital presence for recognition.
Sharpen Your Skills
To become a copywriter, you don’t necessarily need a degree. However, you should always focus on improving your writing skills. You can watch YouTube videos to find tips on crafting better articles or learn new skills from other online articles. If you are interested in technical writing, SEO, or another area, consider taking online courses or enrolling in on-site classes.
Create a Legal Contract
In order to sell services safely, it’s essential to create a templated contract you can send to potential clients. By doing so, you will protect yourself and your customer from misunderstandings and other problems that could occur. In a contract, you need to clearly outline at least three things:
- Services you will provide
- The amount your client needs to pay
- Timelines for completing the work
Of course, this document must be signed by both you and your client.
Establish an Accounting System
When your clients buy your services and their payments start rolling in, you will need an accounting system to manage invoices. Furthermore, this system will need to file and record payments. To manage this properly, you should study all the basics of small business accounting. Also, you need to find an accounting system that meets your preferences. Excel and Word can come in handy when tracking payments and creating invoices. But you could use any cloud-based accounting service.
Attend Networking Events
Networking events are the key to success when launching your own business. Attending such events is a great opportunity for all copywriters to get acquainted with potential customers. Especially in the early period of your business, it helps keep your company afloat.
Such events should not necessarily be connected with marketing or advertising. You can even attend networking events for tech startups, for example. Because this is a great opportunity to meet several founders who might be in need of your services.
Ask for Referrals
If you want to promote yourself, don’t be shy to ask your clients to refer you to their acquaintances. Besides, when you deliver services of high quality and your customers are satisfied, they’ll be happy to do so without you asking. The thing is, if a person receives a recommendation of your services from someone they know, they will trust you more.
If you want to develop and expand a client base and attract as many clients as possible, you can offer your potential customers a reward for bringing new people. For instance, you can offer referral discounts on their next invoice.
Blog guest written by Robert Chapman.
Last updated March 23, 2023
