Monday, December 29, 2008

The World of Freelance Copywriting

By Ray Edwards

Copywriters work in a multitude of markets, such as: television, radio, magazines, brochures, direct mail ad campaigns, and many others. In fact, copywriters probably wrote most of the written content of the ads you see. It has been said that copywriters are merely salesmen behind typewriters; they write the written content of advertisements. Up until this point, copywriters were normally employed by advertising agencies or kept in-house by other companies. Now, with the advent of the Internet, copywriters are able to freelance their services and make more money doing it.

Freelance copywriters can customize their work to their lives. Most of the time you're restricted to a regular work schedule and have to split your profits with your parent company. On the other hand, as a freelancer you are your own boss and completely dictate your work experience. You can determine when you work, how much you work, and the size of your paycheck. You can also work from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection. That's freedom!

With all its benefits, freelancers also have more responsibility as well. Freelance copywriters have to sell themselves, meet a deadline, and properly budget their resources and time. Freelance copywriters must also know their audience well, so most do research into their target audiences. They also need to be able to effectively and creatively sell a client's product. But this increased level of responsibility is certainly worth it when you consider the freedom you get over your life when you switch to freelancing.

HOW TO START BEING A COPYWRITER

There are as many copywriters as there are markets. Some copywriters specialize into a small market like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) copywriting, while others generalize their abilities and write for many different areas of the market.

Today, freelance copywriters are expected to write different kinds of copy and produce great work. Even though it can be a bit demanding, freelance copywriting can be a lot of fun and really rewarding if you have the skill, connections, and the drive to succeed.

Here are some helpful tips that will illuminate what is involved in becoming a freelance copywriter:

1. Educate yourself. Good copywriters never believe they have learned "it all." Successful copywriters recognize that there are always new things to learn and see themselves as lifelong students. It?s really important to learn new things and improve your skill set. You can start out by going online and searching for "copywriting tutorials."

2. Do some work for free. This is a great option if you lack any real experience as a copywriter. Doing some initial work for free allows you to build a client base and get your name out there.

3. Look for coaching courses. You can usually enroll in some sort of coaching course or workshop with successful copywriters. These are great because you get to learn from the best and learn how to mimic their success.

4. Look for work vigilantly. In order to stay on top of your business, you need to be constantly looking for work. Log onto freelance Internet marketplaces and keep an eye out for local businesses that may require your services.

5. Have a website. This will give you a great advantage over the many copywriters who do not have websites. Your website should allow your clients and customers to easily browse through examples of your work and credentials. It will help you win projects. Therefore it should be neat, well organized, and professional looking.

These were just a few pointers on how to become a freelance copywriter. Freelance copywriting is a great career that offers many benefits and exciting challenges. If freelancing excites you, then you should do some more research to see if this is the right career for you. - 16759

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