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LinkedInCan freelancers REALLY make 6 figures a year?
I won’t keep you in suspense. The answer is yes.
There’s a lot of hype about this, of course. And unfortunately, the hype has caused many would-be freelancers to be cynical about their earning potential.
Some years ago, while speaking to a roomful of writers at a local conference, I encountered one young man who kept rolling his eyes during my presentation.
When I asked if he had a question or comment, he told me that he just didn’t believe that you could earn lots of money from freelance copywriting. He said it all sounded like a scam.
I can’t blame him for thinking that. I see all those get-rich-quick ads on the Internet too, and they make me roll my eyes.
5 simple ways to become a confident copywriter
Confidence plays a big part in freelance copywriting success, or anything else in life for that matter.
It influences what you do, how you do it, and how others perceive you.
It’s not something you’re born with, though it does seem to be something that sticks with you through life if you develop it early.
But what if you don’t? What if you’re the stereotypical writer who’s an introvert? What if you lack the confidence you need to speak to people boldly, ask for the pay you’re worth, and take the risks your career requires?
Well, I’ve never been the cheerleader type, full of chirpy advice about how to feel good about yourself. Actually, I can be something of a curmudgeon. But I have learned a few things over the years about confidence.
When I started out, I was a typical creative writer type. I didn’t have any more confidence than anyone else. Today, I’m often described as a Type A personality.
So what happened? Where did all the confidence come from?
How do you know what a client expects to pay?
Recently in a post where I talked about writing a freelancing book, I got an interesting question.
Stacy from gemcopywriting.com asked me about how to know what a client expects to pay on a project.
How do I get them to tell me what they expect to pay before I waste a lot of time on talking with people who aren’t realistic? I always worry that if I outright ask their budget, they think I’m asking just so I can charge the maximum amount.
Or can I just say something like, “My fees start at $XXX.” or “I typically charge $XXXX for project Y.”
Good question. And it’s one every freelancer faces.
PR copywriting: an interview with Kathleen Hanover
I work with hundreds of people and rarely get to meet them in person.
But I met Kathleen Hanover recently at the local Panera Bread shop and was blown away by her expertise on public relations know-how.
So I twisted her arm and got her to agree to an interview on PR copywriting.
***
Dean: You’re a public relations copywriter. What do you do, exactly?
Kathleen: I’d describe myself as a marketing expert who frequently uses the tactic of PR to help my clients reach their business goals. I see copywriting — all forms of marketing copywriting — as a marketing tactic as well. But here’s where the PR flavor of copywriting is different. It’s most successful when you serve multiple masters.
What do I mean by that?
Well, when I’m doing direct marketing copywriting — writing a sales letter or web content, for example — I’m communicating to my client’s target audience in my client’s voice. It’s very clear who my client is. My client is the person signing the checks.
How to write product descriptions that appeal to the senses
I’m really starting to like Sally Bagshaw.
She has a knack for writing about writing in a way that’s fun and helpful.
Here’s Sally’s latest contribution to Pro Copy Tips for those of you who want to polish your product descriptions.
***
Writing product descriptions can be fun. It can also be mind numbingly boring, especially when you have a heap to do.
Products that are generic, or can be used by anyone, tend to be the most difficult to describe.
How do you tailor a message that speaks equally to a teenager, a stay-at-home mother and a granny?
B2B copywriting: an interview with Pete Savage
Pete Savage is an example of why I always say that freelancing is more secure than having a job.
Pete turned losing a job into a freelance business in record time, as you’ll see in a moment.
When we talked, Pete shared his thoughts on the unique world of B2B copywriting.
***
Dean: How long have you been a freelance copywriter? What’s your story?
Pete: I’ve been a freelancer for about 8 years now. I tell people I was pushed “backward and blindfolded” into the world of freelancing … which means I got fired. 
Turfed on a Friday morning, and by Monday I had my first freelance gig. And the market for freelancers is even better now that it was then. I was a copywriter in a small ad agency — that’s the place I was let go from. Prior to that, I had worked in the corporate world in sales and marketing jobs.
Dean: Fired on Friday and freelancing on Monday? That must be a world record! So now you specialize in B2B or Business-to-Business copywriting. Just in case someone doesn’t know what that is, can you give us a brief definition?
Okay. Okay. I’m writing a freelancing book.
For what seems like eons, people have been asking me to write a book on freelancing. From Bob Bly to colleagues to fellow freelancers, I’ve been hounded for years.
And now, I’m finally giving in.
I AM writing a book on freelancing. And it’s going to be big. How to start, build, and run a freelance practice. Soup to nuts.
Here’s the story.
Years ago, even before the Internet was a big deal (we’re talking mid 1990s here), writers would contact me about how to start and build a freelance business. I tried to answer their questions as well as I could, but it became time-consuming to write and send emails every week.
I noticed that a lot of the questions followed a pattern, so I pulled together all those emails, filled in a few details, and created a little 30-page ebook. I just sent it to anyone who contacted me and didn’t charge anything.
How to write for public sector clients (without going crazy)
Many people think the government does all their own work. Surprise! They actually hire subcontractors to do most things.
And yes, they need help with copywriting.
This isn’t an area I know much about, but Arvid Westfelt does. So here are his sanity-saving tips for working with public sector clients.
***
Writing for the public sector can be lucrative. Public procurement accounts for a whopping 10 percent (or more) of a country’s economy — and some of that money is used to pay copywriters like you and me.
But public sector clients can be hard to work with. In fact, their seemingly odd and irrational behavior can drive you crazy. Here are a few tips for working with them while staying sane.
Be patient. Your writing assignment is often the last stop in a project that has taken your client months, or even years, to complete. They will show little understanding if you demand immediate feedback on your first draft. So be patient and don’t let their super-slow work rate frustrate you.
Are you gambling with your freelance future?
This last weekend, I went to Las Vegas to visit family and enjoy a little R&R.
I’m not a gambler and have no illusions about winning a jackpot, but I do enjoy some of the games there.
While feeding money into a slot machine at Bally’s, I started thinking about freelancing. (Slots don’t take any brain power, so the mind naturally wanders.)
It occurred to me that many of the freelancers I talk to are gambling with their future because they just don’t know how to intelligently play the game.
So here are a few of the things that popped into my mind as I doubled my money, then lost it all over the weekend.
How do you guarantee something that’s free?
I get a lot of questions from readers of this blog. So I’ve decided to start an occasional feature called “Ask Dean.”
First up, a question from Joseph about guarantees. Specifically, how do you guarantee a free product?
Hi. I just read your article about offering guarantees to allay customers’ doubts about purchasing products. The article was great. However, I have a question: how would this relate to a company that offers their product for free?
I volunteer with a non-profit organization that gives away study Bibles for free. When people order these Bibles, they have certain doubts that have to be answered before they will order the Bible, even though the Bible is free.
Is there any kind of similar “guarantee” that can be offered to people when a product is free?
Thanks for any help.
Joseph
That’s a great question. No one has ever asked me that before.
