Outsource is the new buzzword in business today. Companies are beginning to realize all the benefits they can gain by outsourcing work to professional freelancers on an as-need basis, instead of paying salary and benefits to full time employees. This is good news to those who are passionate and skilled at writing. You can easily develop a home-based freelance copywriting business to meet the needs of businesses and build financial security for yourself. Below are some of the basic steps you will need to take to get your business of the ground. Keep in mind that before you begin planning for your freelance career, you must have a strong writing skills set and the willingness to learn and improve your craft. Writing isn’t rocket science, but it does take talent.
Research
Before you dive in, you need to do your research (a lot like what you’re doing here, reading this article). You can glean a mountain of valuable information from books right down the street at your local library. Check out books on starting a copywriting business, on the craft of copywriting, on marketing and advertising, and on small business operations. Those who tend to be shy and introverted (which a lot of writers tend to be) might want to spend some time reading books on improving public speaking and business communication skills.
There is also a ton of helpful information on the internet related to copywriting, building a copywriter business, and entrepreneurship in general. You may also want to look into some online courses, or classes offered in your community. Seminars and conferences are also highly valuable experiences.
Do a Google search for copywriters + your city. Check out the websites for everyone who comes up on your search, and gather as much information about them as you can. What do they charge? How do they work? Do they offer anything special? What services do they provide? What’s their edge? You need to match (or beat!) you competition in terms of uniqueness, or price, or services, etc.
Build a Portfolio
You will need examples of your work to show potential clients before they hire you. This can be accomplished in many ways. You can volunteer to write copy for a friend’s business, a local charity, or a group you are involved in. You can bid for copywriting jobs on websites such as Elance.com. The projects you complete on sites like these will probably earn you minimal money, but it is a good way to gain experience and clips for beginners. You can also write spec pieces. Spec pieces are fictitious ads, brochures, flyers, etc. that you create out of thin air. It isn’t for a real company or for real money, but it showcases your abilities with words.
You’re going to be in business, so you’re going to need normal business stuff like a website, letterhead and business cards. Today, you can design, purchase, and ship inexpensive but nice-looking business cards on a number of quality websites. You can do the same for letterhead, or (if you have a printer) you can create and print your own right at home.
You are also going to need a website. I’ve used GoDaddy.com to host and my site for some time now, and have been very pleased with the experience. However, there are a multitude of web hosts out there, so be sure to do your research and find the perfect fit. I would advise you purchase your own domain name (example: www.yourname.com) instead of signing up for a free-host site (example: www.yourname.hostname.com). It looks more professional, and with the inexpensive options available, it is definitely worth it. On your website you’ll need to include basic information about your services and skills, such as services offered, pricing (or pricing method, if you don’t want to give numbers), an online portfolio (examples of your work) a list of previous clients and/or client testimonials, contact information, etc. Remember- you’re a copywriter who is selling the service of creating persuasive and effective copy, so make sure the verbiage on your own website is a good example of what your clients can expect.
Of course, creating a successful copywriting business is not as simple as putting up a website and reading a few books. After you’ve laid the foundation you’ll have to be persistent and dedicated in finding clients. You will have to be committed to constantly learning about your field. And you will always be improving your craft. These steps, however, will help get you on the track to freelance success.
