Can you really make 6 figures as a freelance copywriter? Or is it all hype?
If you are thinking of taking a copywriting course, or took one in the last year or so...the questions in the headline above will probably ring some bells.
There are a number of courses and programs that are sold quite aggressively to aspiring freelance copywriters. Some of these courses are very good.
And on their sales pages they all make the same kind of promises: “Become a freelance copywriter, work from home, make a 6-figure income, and live life on your own terms.”
These are big, attractive promises...and they inspire a lot of hopeful freelance copywriters.
But is it possible? Can a regular person without a career background in writing or copywriting actually succeed as a freelancer?
Or is it all hype?
Yes, it is definitely possible to make that kind of money as a freelance copywriter.
I have been making an excellent living as a freelance copywriter for 25 years now.
And there are thousands of other freelance copywriters around the world who do the same.
But it won’t work out for everyone.
There is a fair amount of hype in this business. And selling courses to aspiring freelance copywriters is a very big business.
What does it actually take to succeed?
A few things.
1. You need a spark of talent.
However good the course is, it can’t help you if you don’t have a little natural talent when it comes to writing. You don’t need to have a ton of experience in commercial writing. Nor to you need to be some kind of prodigy. But you do need a little talent. You need to enjoy writing. You need to be able to express yourself clearly in writing.
2. You need to want it.
To be a successful freelance copywriter takes a lot of work. It’s a business like any other. Success won’t just fall in your lap. You have to work at it. And to make all that work worthwhile, you have to really want it.
3. You need to want to learn.
If you don’t already have a career background in commercial writing, you’re going to have to read a lot of books, take a course or two and study the work of great copywriters.
To succeed, you’re going to have to be good at what you do. And to be good, you’re going to have to climb a steep learning curve.
If that sounds like a drag, then your chances of success are slim. But if climbing that curve sounds exciting, your chances of success are excellent.
4. You need to choose the right niche.
To succeed, you need to establish yourself as an expert in a particular industry sector, or medium.
You can’t be a Jack or Jill of all trades. You need to pick a niche in which you become an expert.
Choosing the best niche for yourself is not an easy task and takes a lot of thought and research.
You need to get this right, or you’ll be building your business on shaky foundations.
5. You need to market your freelance business effectively.
You can be the best copywriter in the world, but you won’t make a penny if you don’t market your services and value effectively to your prospective clients.
It is in the area of marketing that most freelance copywriters fail.
6. You need to run your business efficiently.
This means you need to price your services correctly, you need to handle the administrative side of running your own business efficiently, and you need to make sure the time at your desk is being spent productively.
Concluding thoughts...
There is a lot of hype out there.
If you truly want to build a successful freelance copywriting business, you need to address each of the six points above.
This is like any other business. You need to get the fundamentals right.
If you are just starting out, or are already building your business right now, you may need some expert help to get these fundamentals in place.
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