Some FAQs for Aspiring Copywriters
by:
Glenn Murray
I get an email at least once a week from aspiring copywriters seeking proposal
on how to get a foothold in the industry. It's manifestly a popular topic, so I thought I'd put several of the more common questions and answers on paper in the hopes that it strength
provide a bit of an insight.
Q: What makes a employee
do in a typical day?
A: This question is really comprehensively answered in http://www.divinewrite.com/adayinthelifeof.htm, to summaries, copywriters do several or all of the following:
meet with prospective clients ("prospects") or talk with them on the phone to sell your services to them (freelancers only)
intermediate with clients to take a brief (learn what the client of necessity
from the copy, who the audience is, what benefits the client offers their customers, etc.)
research the subject matter
plan the structure and approach of the writing
write the piece
intermediate with the client through the review process (the client reviews the activity and the employee
fixes whatsoever
of necessity
fixing - so long as it's not out of scope, e.g. a new requirement)
get the client to sign off (approve) the job
invoice the client (freelancers only)
chase payment of invoice (freelancers only)
process the payment victimisation an accounts package (freelancers only)
support elaborated
records of all correspondence and activities throughout the process
manage the business (freelancers only - including manage your IT systems, accounting, create and maintain a website, create advertising materials, writing proposals, generate a search engine ranking, maintain a information of contacts, etc.)
Q: What are the working conditions like?
A: Most copywriters activity either for themselves ("freelancing") or for advertising or web design agencies ("employees"). Freelancers tend to activity from home, but may sometimes activity at the client's workplace. Employees simply about always activity at the client's workplace. Conditions for freelancers tend to be pretty relaxed (they're at home, after all!!!). I haven't worked at an agency, but I suspect things are a little several there.
Q: What is the pay like?
A: I've detected
of freelance copywriters being paid by the article at a rate of USD $12 per 600 word article (seems ridiculous to me!). I believe these folk were college students looking for a way into the copywriting industry. At the else end of the spectrum, gifted freelancers who treat writing as a serious business can earn in excess of USD $100,000 per year. I think that agency copywriters tend to earn somewhere in between these figures, peradventure averaging between USD $35,000 - $70,000.
Q: What skills do I need?
A: A employee
of necessity
to be able to write really well in many an several styles (from short 1-2 line ads through to long 3000 word articles). They likewise need to be able to adapt to heaps of several subjects (from IT to room
surfaces to accounting to organic process
supplements to cars). They need to be organized and hard-working, with an eye for detail and an understanding of writing for several media (website, brochures, radio, TV, etc.). Freelancers need nice business sense, an understanding of search engines, several ability with IT systems, and patience. They likewise need to accept that they're gonna be poor for the 1st 2 years!
Q: What education do I need?
A: Formal education ne'er
hurts, and often helps. But it's no guarantee of success. If a employee
has all of the above skills, they won't need formal training in writing. Also, in my humble opinion, you can't train to become a writer; you're either a writer or you're not. Training can sharpen certain skills, and teach new styles, etc., but if you don't have 'the flow' once
you start the course, it's unlikely you'll have it once
you finish.
Q: Do I need a website?
A: Yes! The better place for any freelance advertising employee
or website employee
to start is to fork out for a website. A website is priceless because once
you cold call and email prospects, you’ll need to direct them somewhere that gives them more information.
Q: What should I include on my website?
A: Support it simple, include a portfolio page, add any samples of any sort of copywriting you've done, talk simply about the places you've worked, the clients you’ve written for, and include any testimonials you’ve received. Do sure you include your address and contact details as well, so folk don't think you're a fly-by-night operation. Of course, it doesn't hurt to include a icon either. If you can't say more simply about your experience, don't say much. It doesn't even as actually matter if you don't say anything. Remember, simply like any else form of advertising copywriting, writing simply about yourself requires the art of subtlety. If you lack experience, but you’re confident you can do the job, you can be really clever in what you don't say, and most folk wish see it the way you intended.
Q: Should I target agencies?
A: If you’ve ne'er
worked as an advertising employee
or website employee
before, don’t target advertising agencies and web design agencies. They cognize exactly what they’re after, so if you don’t have a portfolio, you won’t stand a chance. Target end-clients directly.
Q: Should I cold call?
A: Yes. One of the better route of generating business in the early days is to cold call potential end-clients. It’s hard activity and really time consuming, but you can generate several really qualified leads. For more information on cold calling, take a look at http://www.divinewrite.com/coldcallingcopywriter.htm.
Q: Should I write samples?
A: Yes. If you’re targeting specific clients or industries, don’t be afraid to write a few samples and send them through. You can offer the pieces free of charge (everyone likes thing
for nothing) or at a discount, or you can use it as an incentive to sign them up for futurity work. It all depends on the type of activity and the type of client. The important thing to remember is that samples are virtually as nice as a portfolio to most prospective clients.
Q: Do I need an accounts package?
A: Yes! Don’t be fooled into thinking you can handle your accounts manually (or with Microsoft Excel). Even as if you only have a few clients, you NEED a proper accounts package like MYOB or Quicken (they several offer small business versions). You’ll understand why the 1st time you do your GST reports or annual taxes. In fact, you’ll understand why whenever you need to chase down outstanding invoices.
About The Author
Glenn Murray is a website copywriter, SEO copywriter, and article submission and article PR specialist. He owns article submission service Article PR and copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on State capital
+612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com. Visit http://www.DivineWrite.com or http://www.ArticlePR.com for further details, more FREE articles, or to transfer
his FREE SEO e-book.
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This article was announce on Gregorian calendar month 06, 2005
