Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Freelance Copywriting 101

By Ray Edwards

More and more copywriters are looking into freelance copywriting because of the freedom it offers. If you're interested in freelance copywriting, then here are some ideas to help you see what's involved in freelancing.

1. Learn when to say "no." Freelance copywriters have to know when to say "no." At times you will have to say "no" to new projects because your schedule won't allow for more work, and knowing when that point has come is very important. Otherwise you can jeopardize your entire business by taking on too much work and inhibiting yourself from meeting your deadlines. Other times you have to say "no" to the suggestions your clients offer. Remember that you are the advertising expert and they are not, that is why they are hiring you. You must be able to say "no" and offer a better alternative in a gentle way.

Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the time or trouble.

2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always be polite with your client and listen to their desires intently. You need to be persistent on two accounts: Looking for work, and sticking by your ideas. This will help your success greatly.

3. Educate yourself. There are always new things to learn and the most successful copywriters see themselves as lifelong students. Learning new ways of writing copy will help your business stay competitive. There is plenty of material out there, so go ahead and start learning.

4. Remember to relax. Most people switch to freelancing to escape their stressful work environment, so it doesn't make much sense to make your new work environment as equally as stressful! So make sure that you relax, put it in your schedule if you must, but just make sure to do it. Consistent relaxation also helps you write better and faster. So in the end, you'll be happier and more productive if you take time to relax.

5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.

6. Actively nurture your personal life. Your life should be well rounded. You need to take care of your personal health and spend time with your friends and family. Even though you're working to become more successful, what will it profit you to gain the whole world but spend your life alone? Your work is an important part of your life, but not the most important.

7. Always practice honest work ethics. You need to be a person of love, honor and integrity. Therefore, don't make any promises you can't keep. Be honest with your clients. Tell them if you're failing to meet a requirement and try to make it up to them. Never give moral ground in order to gain economic prosperity, and always be ethical when conducting business arrangements.

8. Learn to manage your business well. Freelance copywriters are their own bosses and run their own businesses. Make sure to read up on how to run a small business and manage your accounts well.

Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business more effectively.

9. Do not take rejections personally. Your personal worth and intrinsic value is not determined by what you do or how much money you make. Therefore try to keep a professional composure when clients reject you and do not take it personally. There are plenty of reasons that a client can reject your bid that has nothing to do with your ability to write good copy.

10. Do not miss deadlines. This is very important. Missing deadlines will crush your chances at success. Therefore you have to learn to manage your time well.

Hopefully this article helped you better understand the word of freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there if you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting. - 16089

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