How to Find Your First Freelance Copywriting Clients

So you want to be a copywriter? Great! Let’s get you some clients. Here are the steps you can take to start getting some names on the books.

DECIDE that you are a copywriter.

 

Your mindset is what’s going to determine your “success” and what that looks like to you. If you want to be a copywriter, all you have to do is decide that you’re a copywriter. You don’t have to take a million courses, get a degree in writing, or even have any professional experience. If that makes you feel more confident, by all means have at it, but don’t let the lack of those things stop you from moving forward with your vision.

 

JOURNAL EXERCISE: Create your own copywriter affirmations and write them down daily. For example, “I am an expert email copywriter and people love to pay me for my services” or “I have a successful freelance copywriting business full of dream clients who love everything I do for them.” …whatever sounds really exciting to you.

 

Updated all of your social media profiles to reflect your new endeavor.

 

Don’t ask me why, but proclaiming a new profession on social media seems like such a big deal! Embrace that excitement and update your bios to state to yourself and the universe that you are a copywriter. Consider this – what should you care about more… the person who might read your new “job title” and judge you for it, or the person who sees your title with no context of your background, who vibes with your energy and style, and who ends up hiring you? I know I’d care more about the person paying me the moneys, that’s for sure.

 

I know this can be tricky, especially if you’re trying to get out of a full-time job but still don’t want to rock the boat with your employers… but you can dip your toe in and little by little hint at your copywriting services, and when it’s time to leap, you’ll know. You can also create a brand new profile for your copywriting business, or explore a new platform where no one knows you and really let your copywriting freak flag fly high! (It’s actually super fun – I kind of did that on TikTok)

 

Build out your portfolio.

 

This is a sticky spot for a lot of newbies, but you’re overthinking it. Do you know how many times I send over work samples with no “proof” that it was actually published anywhere? A lot. Also, many times people don’t care about your other work and they will just send you a writing sample to see if you’re a good fit for them. To build your portfolio, just start writing! It can be as simple as on a Google Doc. Think of the types of projects you want to be working on, and make up your own projects! 

 

There’s also nothing wrong with taking on some portfolio-building projects that pay a bit lower than what you’ll ultimately be making. Or, you can ask the job you have now if you can work on some copy-related projects and use those. You can even pull some student work that you’re really proud of. There are no rules! 

 

And I know you’re going to ask next, “what about my resume?” Here’s my advice… if you’re a writer, you have the skillset to position yourself as an expert copywriter even if that’s not what your title says. Think about your work experience and figure out how you can position it to sound desirable to someone hiring you for copy. Attention to detail, ability to self-manage, creativity, project management, etc. There’s nothing wrong with some smoke and mirrors to get you in the door. Be overly confident. Underqualified white men have been doing it for decades – so can you.

 

Ask family and friends if they need any copy support.

 

Does anyone you know have their own business? Ask them if you can do a website copy audit or take over their social media posts for a while. Anytime you can get a little branding on your work, or show that it was used by someone is a great opportunity. Start putting it out there that you’re looking for work because you just never know… a friend of a friend’s cousin in Texas could be starting a dog grooming business and they NEED help with their copy.

 

Join online groups and forums for referrals and to get in the energy of other copywriters.

 

There are a lot of copywriting groups on Facebook. Obviously, mine is the best – The Copywriting Girls Club 😉 – but there are more that are strictly for referrals and job posting. Join them and start applying for jobs! It’s also really beneficial to just be a fly on the wall for a while and learn the “lingo,” see what questions other people are asking and gain perspective for a variety of different copywriters.

 

There are paid referral groups that are totally worth the investment, too. I belong to one that is $47 per month and have gotten a majority of my leads from it, so the investment has paid itself back many times over already.

 

Apply for jobs that you think you’re not qualified for.

 

Someone posted on Linkedin recently that job posts are really “wish lists” from employers and that really stuck with me. It’s easy to feel discouraged when you read the endless list of “requirements” that people have because they seem outrageous–and that’s because they are. Also, keep in mind that statistically men apply for jobs that they are WAY underqualified for significantly more than women, so there’s no reason we all shouldn’t do that.

 

You can also highlight the fact that you have less experience than other candidates by pointing out that you’re coming in with fewer “bad habits” and they can train you based on how they want to be trained. (That’s a lesson I learned when I thought I was a good server and would apply to restaurant jobs all the time lol)

Cold email brands and businesses and pitch yourself.

 

Write yourself a simple outreach template email and start cold pitching! You’re going to customize each email, but it’s easier to have a starting point. I like to create a simple spreadsheet to track my progress. 

 

You can find email addresses directly on websites, use a contact form, find the hiring manager or go directly to the prospective client on Linkedin. Play the numbers game – apply to 10 jobs per day for a month and see what happens!

 

Publish content regularly on social media to establish yourself as the expert.

 

Remember there are no rules here. You can start posting as the expert as soon as you want. Clients can potentially discover you on social media, and they might look you up on social media before they hire you, too. When you learn a new skill and feel confident in it – write a post that teaches it! Teaching something helps you to master it as well so it’s really a win-win.

 

DON’T pre-judge your prospective clients.

 

If you have a specific client in mind that you would love to work with, honor that. Catch yourself when you start to self-sabotage before you even give yourself a real chance to succeed. 

 

Worried that they can’t afford your rates? Maybe they’re independently wealthy and money isn’t an issue. Worried that you’re not experienced enough? Maybe they would rather give someone new an opportunity because they want a fresh perspective. 

 

What they choose is up to them, so focus on what’s up to you. Create great work, put yourself out there, focus on what you do want rather than what you don’t, and you’ll start to feel more and more confident each day.

 

Want to connect with other passionate female copywriters, grow your network to get new leads, improve your craft as a writer, and have a safe space to vent about clients? Join us in the Copywriting Girls Club! It’s our private girl gang on Facebook, and we would love to have you in there to share your zone of genius.

 

Want to connect with other passionate female copywriters, grow your network to get new leads, improve your craft as a writer, and have a safe space to vent about clients? Join us in the Copywriting Girls Club! It’s our private girl gang on Facebook, and we would love to have you in there to share your zone of genius.