I accept any kind of copywriting work right now. But it’s just temporary.
Sure it is.
Recently I have had a few coaching clients say something like this to me:
“Nick, I get it about becoming a specialist in a freelance niche. I know it makes sense and that I can make more money that way. But that feels a little scary right now. So I think for the time being I’ll just accept any kind of freelance copywriting that comes my way. Once I have a portfolio of projects, then I’ll specialize.”
OK. But that kind of reminds me of those stories you see in the movies, or read about in books...
Someone is eating in a restaurant in LA and is served by a good looking young man or woman. A conversation starts and the young man or woman says something like, “One day I’ll be a movie star. This job is just temporary. I’m doing this to make ends meet while I get my name out there.”
Well, we know how that story ends.
I’m not saying that things can’t work out as planned, in either scenario. But the odds are stacked against you.
Here’s the thing...
In both cases the plan, such as it is, is self-defeating.
If we went back to speak to either person a few years later, we would likely find them doing the same kind of work. And if we asked them what happened, they might say something like, “I never caught a break.”
Well, they didn’t catch a break because they didn’t put themselves in a position to catch a break.
A growing portfolio of freelance work from a mish-mash of different kinds of clients doesn’t put you in a strong position to become a specialist. Just as years of waiting tables doesn’t put you in a strong position to become a movie star.
It’s not that I don’t sympathise. I do.
But if you want to become a specialist in some area of freelance copywriting, and earn a lot more than the generalists round you, you have to put yourself in a position to make it happen.
This means finding the courage to jump in and get on the right track from day one.
If you want to specialise in writing sales copy for the self-help industry, start doing it from day one. Start with smaller clients and work your way up.
If you want to specialize in writing e-newsletters for B2B companies, focus just on that, starting now.
That’s what I did when I decided to become an online copywriter back in 1998.
From January 1st that year I worked ONLY on online copy. Easy for me? Not at all. I turned my back on a 6-figure income as a direct mail copywriter and, during my first year writing online copy, I grossed a total of $11,000. And I had four kids at home at the time.
It wasn’t easy at all.
But I wanted to become a specialist as an online copywriter.
So I put myself in a position to make it happen.
I didn’t have to catch a break. I made my breaks.
Easy? No. But that’s how success happens.
End of lecture. : )
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