What Is a Freelance Copywriter?
One of the best decisions Iβve ever made in my life was going full-time freelance. As a freelancer, I donβt have one bossβrather, I have several clients. I get to set my own hours, choose whether or not I want to take on an assignment, and work from anywhere I want. Iβm a freelance copywriter and journalist who’s learned that understanding your skills, experience, and job expectations is critical to excelling in the freelance world.
And thatβs precisely why Iβm talking about what a freelance copywriter is and how to become one.
What Is a Freelance Copywriter?
Simply put, a freelance copywriter is someone who writes copy for work assigned by a person, brand, or companyβlike on a contract basis. Notice how I didnβt say βthey work forβ the company? Thatβs because, as freelancers, we donβt. Instead of clocking in 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, freelance copywriters work on our own time. And, as opposed to just doing what our boss tells us to do, we take on assignments using our own discretion.
As I mentioned earlier, freelance copywriters donβt have set hours. We choose when we want to work. Did you get a project on a Monday thatβs due in two weeks? You can work on it Friday at 3 p.m. if you want. Or you can work all day when itβs assigned so you can enjoy the next two weeks without worrying about that deadline. I also love that I get to decide what I get paid, instead of agreeing to a borderline mediocre salary (sorry, not sorry).
I am a full believer of pay transparency, so here goes: for most articles, requiring some reporting and chatting to experts, I charge $300. For more extensive essays, including personal narratives, that rate goes up $400. If Iβm doing a particularly meaty piece, Iβm charging upwards of $500.
In order to have a successful copywriting career, especially one thatβs on freelance terms, you need skills beyond writing. Of course, writing is critical, but you should also know how to manage your time, where to find appropriate clients, why youβre the best choice for said client, when you work at your optimal levels, and how to properly invoice your clients.
What Does a Freelance Copywriter Do?
In the digital age, there are so many ways to write up contentβwhich is good, because that means freelance copywriters can take their pick of gigs. Those types of copywriting are, but are certainly not limited to:
- Articles on websites
- Blog posts
- Brainstorming ideas for digital and social media content
- Case studies
- Conducting market research
- Content marketing
- Creating SEO-friendly content
- Digital marketing
- Email marketing
- Social media posts
- White papers (to inform readers, not to sell to them)
How To Become a Freelance Copywriter
There is no one right way to do anything in life. You can bowl like a pro or use both handsβeither way, if you throw it fast and accurately enough, youβre likely to get a strike. I say that because the steps Iβm outlining below are what worked for me.
Because weβre all so different, I realize this may not be the best path for everyone. I fully stand by my freelance writing tips and would follow this advice if I had to start my copywriting career all over again. That said, if you sense that a step isnβt for you, feel free to skip it. No shame!
Identify freelance copywriters you can informally interview.
This will always be the first tip I give to aspiring freelance copywriters. In my opinion (and experience), itβs important to know what youβd be getting into before actually taking the plunge. Freelance copywriters will tell you that itβs great to live life on your own schedule and work from wherever you want. We will also tell you, however, that itβs down-right anxiety-inducing to not know where your next paycheck is coming from, how much itβll be, or when itβll hit your bank account.
Once weβre done talking about the scary parts, though, weβll likely go on and on about the different things weβve learned as freelance copywriters. For me, thatβs the importance of time management and how to diversify your clients. Itβs also key, though, to understand that the day-to-day is much less glamorous than you might think.
For example, you may be under the impression that freelancers spend most of their days at the pool or beach. I spend the earlier part of my week in my apartment, working close to 12-hour days. That said, the latter half of the week, you can definitely catch me at the pool or beach. Itβs called ~balance~.
One note here: freelancers are busy people. Please donβt be discouraged if we donβt get back to you or if we say that we just canβt make the time. Keep reaching out to different folks and someone is bound to help you out.
Determine which writing niche youβll fill.
You canβt start finding clients if you donβt know which services youβll offerβthatβs where finding your niche becomes crucial. I always knew I wanted to be a wellness writer because that was something that I was passionate about and already practicing. For that reason, the writing itself came easy to me. The ideas for my pitches, too. The two earliest headlines I pitched: How My Relationships with Plants Inform My Relationships With People (Well+Good) and SeΓ±oras, Stop Asking When Iβm Having KidsβIβm Not (Refinery29).
Iβve never regretted my decision to focus on a wellness beatβand, honestly, I donβt think I ever will. However, that doesnβt mean you have to choose the same topics to cover. (Though I would encourage it because itβs fun.) If you want to be in the editorial world, you could cover commerce, news, celebrities, or international affairs. You could also decide, though, that your vibe is helping small businesses and go for those types of copywriting jobs.
Start with some part-time copywriting before moving into full-time.
This is one of those steps that might not be for everyone. If youβre the hustle-βtil-I-die type, then you may be extremely successful as a full-time copywriter right off the bat. If, however, you tend to proceed with caution (as I do), you might want to consider part-time copywriting first. I much prefer this approach because it allows me to still freelance and build my portfolio. It also, however, means that I have a full-time job that provides full-time pay.
Thatβs what I did for the first couple of years that I freelanced. I worked a full-time copywriting job at the local university and I did some freelance work (maybe one or two articles a month) on the side. This was awesome because I was able to familiarize myself with the freelance reporting processβcursory research, interviews, writing, and self-editingβwithout having to compromise my livelihood. I will say, though, that this led to tons of weeks where I worked around the clock. In the end, Iβd say it was worth it.
How To Get Freelance Copywriting Jobs
Even though writers now have to share the world with AI-generated copy, I have to admit Iβm not even remotely scared. Humans can always tell when things are just a bit off, making them question whether or not itβs real. AI-generated copy is that: itβs off. Thatβs all to say that copywriting jobs will be around for a while and if you want to learn copywriting, thatβs still a worthwhile investment. Now letβs get down to the nitty gritty.
Round up your very best writing samples.
I strongly suggest making a website to showcase all the writing youβve ever done. My writing website is on WordPress, which is easy to edit and update with my new bylines. The site contains four pages: home, about, writing, and contact, which makes it easier for potential clients to get to know me and become acquainted with my voice and work.
If, however, you donβt feel you need a website or canβt create one, I would definitely at least have a Google Doc or a Google folder where you compiled links to any and all projects youβve done. In that folder, you should only keep work that showcases your copywriting skills by displaying your writing samples.
Look at a jobs ad with “copywriter” in the title.
Oddly enough, Iβm not a huge fan of LinkedInβbut I have to admit that itβs a great place to look for copywriter positions. Some, of course, will be in the corporate space and not freelance gigs. However, there are still some freelance opportunities on the professional networking platform. If you see that keyword, apply for that job. Even if you donβt get it, youβre becoming more familiar with whatβs necessary and expected of a copywriter.
Reach out to people and offer your services.
This sounded so scary to me the first time I ever heard it. Now that Iβm well into my copywriting career, though, itβs laughable to think how fearful I was. Of course thatβs how Iβm supposed to put my name out thereβby reaching out to folks who could use my services. Similar to how some freelancers may say they donβt have time to chat, some business owners may say that they donβt need your services. However, maybe their friend does and theyβll give them your info.
Now that weβve gone through all the things, I hope you feel more empowered to start your copywriting career. Follow this guide step by step, at least the ones that feel good to you, and youβll start to see the fruits of your labor. Happy writing!
Natalie Arroyo Camacho is a first-gen Mexican American writer from the San Fernando Valley. Sheβs written for Byrdie, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, and Well+Good. Sheβs also the founding editor of Viva the Valley.
