Sunday, December 28, 2008

The Benefits of Freelance Copywriting

By Ray Edwards

The Internet has created a lot of new opportunities for freelance copywriters today. If you are a copywriter looking to make more money then you should look into freelancing your services. Freelance copywriting frees you from the confines of a full-time job and allows you to dictate your own work schedule, load, and paycheck.

Copywriting requires some skill; you must understand your audience, which marketing avenues effectively reach them, and you have to be able to write something that actually sells your product. Many copywriters go to seminars, attend workshops, and do personal research in order to help improve their copywriting abilities.

Freelance copywriters have a lot of opportunities not found in other vocations. Freelance copywriters can work in the world of commerce, web marketing, publishing houses, direct response mail ad campaigns, and many others. Freelance copywriters work on a project-to-project basis and are hired by clients in these fields in order to help them more effectively sell their products.

SOME POINTERS ON BECOMING A FREELANCE COPYWRITER

Freelance copywriters can choose their projects, handpick the jobs that are in their area of expertise, and bring in more money. Since you are your own boss as a freelancer, most experts agree that freelance copywriting is one of the best fields in which to work.

You must know how to give your customers what they want in a the most effective and creative manner. Here are a few pointers if you're considering starting a new freelancing career:

1. Set goals for yourself. Goals are very important, without them you're like a ship setting sail without a heading. In order for your goals to be effective, they have to be tangible and attainable. This way you have something to shoot for and a practical way of measuring your success. Take a look at your skills and try to develop a business plan to help you achieve your goals.

2. Build a portfolio. Your portfolio is your resume in the freelancing world. It shows potential clients your past work and what they can expect from you. It should have examples of your best work, a sales letter explaining why you're the best for the job, and testimonials from past clients. Your portfolio needs to be neat, organized, and professional looking.

3. You should also have a website. A website allows clients to easily access your portfolio and see your work. Websites give your clients something tangible to examine as they consider your bid, which increases your chances of winning the project. Also, for whatever reason, many copywriters do not have a website, which gives you an edge over some of your competition.

4. Create good relations with your clients. People like to feel like they are working with a real person, which is a feeling that is diminished when working on the Internet. There is very little person-to-person contact, so you must make an effort to build good working relationships with your clients. The more a client knows you, the more likely they are to hire you again and refer other people to you.

Talk to your clients on the phone and let them know you are always available for questions or concerns. If they live near you, then let them know that you can meet with them in person of they like. Try to make yourself as personal as possible, the more your clients feel like they know you, the more success your business will see.

5. Don't be afraid to educate your clients. It is very important that you listen to what your client wants from you, but don't let them necessarily dictate your end product. You're the expert on marketing that is why they are hiring you. So don't be afraid to explain why you think you might need to do things differently. Try to incorporate as many of their ideas into an effective marketing strategy. You don't want to be rude. You want to gently explain why you think you ideas will help better sell their product.

These were just a few pointers to help you get started in your new freelancing career. Hopefully this article helped you better understand freelance copywriting. Freelancing gives you the freedom to work whenever and where ever you want. You also get to choose whom you work for and how much work you take on. Freelance copywriting is a very rewarding and flexible occupation. - 16089

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