So, you're ready to bite the bullet and leave your 9 AM-5 PM to set out and become a freelance writer. Or, perhaps you're simply looking for a part-time side hustle.
Whatever your reason for wanting to become a freelance copywriter, there's one thing for certain. Freelancing can be a difficult career if you don't know how to secure clients.
Don't let this fact deter you from getting started, though! Once you get the hang of marketing yourself as a freelance copywriter, it'll be smooth sailing.
Review and apply our top tips for how to get copywriting clients with no experience!
Know What You're Doing
Rest assured that you are one out of millions seeking freelance work. According to Statista, "In 2020, there were 59 million people doing freelance work in the United States."
That means that millions of people are finding value in working for themselves as freelancers!
As long as you have a solid skill base and are capable of learning, you'll do just fine. Knowing how to write well is one thing, but knowing how to write copy is a whole different talent. At the end of the day, clients can easily detect when you don't know what you are doing. Don't worry, though! If you have a talent for writing, copywriting is something you can pick up on quickly. Essentially, copywriting is the focus of creating content for marketing purposes.
To easily impress and onboard clients, you'll need to be able to sell yourself as a capable copywriter. To enter this niche, you'll need to have a solid understanding of how to write content that sells. Check out our article about Copywriting Versus Content Writing. This will give you a clear view of how copywriting stands apart from other forms of writing. For more solid advice on how to get started, you can read this blog about Copywriting Tips for Freelancers!
Sign Up on the Right Platform
While there are quite a few prominent freelance platforms on the Internet, it is important to pick the right one on which to focus your efforts. Some freelance platforms are "buyer-centered," which means their rules and regulations are focused on appeasing buyers.
This means that freelancers often get the short end of the stick when it comes to being treated fairly. Furthermore, freelance platforms of this nature often take a large cut of the money earned by their freelancers. For many reasons, Legiit is a wonderful freelance platform for freelancers of all categories, niches, and levels of experience.
Legiit Freelance Benefits:
- Easy-to-Use Freelance Platform
- Only Collects 15% from Freelancers
- Fair and Quick Customer Service
- A Genuine and Supportive Community
- Many Opportunities for Advancement
In addition to the attributes, Legiit takes pride in supporting freelancers who offer services that are truly valuable to their business buyers.
As such, everyone has a fair chance at having their services featured on the "Top-Rated Services" or "New and Trending Services" section of the Legiit homepage. If you haven't signed up for a free freelance profile on Legiit, that should be the first thing on your list to get started!
Consider Starting At Low Prices
Remember, you'll only become better if you are able to get some valuable experience under your belt. This doesn't mean you have to work for free, though. However, it does mean you may have to work for a lower wage at first than your end-goal dream wage. Do some competitor research on the Legiit Copywriting Category to determine a good starting point for your prices. Keep in mind that you don't have to match with the lowest freelancer in your niche.
Pick a price point that's closer to the bottom of your category, and focus on making your services as appealing as possible. Pay close attention to the quality of your graphics and the way you describe your service. As a copywriter, you should be especially good at selling your services! When looking for quality copywriters, buyers pay close attention to how sellers use English conventions. Therefore, using proper grammar, spelling, punctuation, and even capitalization is important when selling your copywriting services.
How To Sell Yourself On The Internet
Write Guest Blog Posts
Writing a guest blog post with the intent to promote a service, website, or product is an excellent way to get your feet wet! In addition, guest posting on someone else's blog will give you credible material to show clients inquiring about your services. Many freelancers view guest posting as doing the blog host a favor. However, as a new freelancer, you should be looking at it the opposite way.
In fact, some blogs charge freelancers for the privilege to post blogs on their websites. While this is expected, it can be hard on the wallet— especially if you're just starting out. Conveniently, Legiit offers freelancers the ability to flex their writing skills and post guest posts for free!
Benefits to Guest Posting on Legiit
- Exposure to Target Audience
- Practice and Experience
- No Charges or Fees
- Connect with Legiit Leadership
- Establish Credibility as a Freelancer
Leverage Your Social Media Accounts
Once you've signed up as a freelance copywriter on Legiit, you can begin promoting your services on social media.
Now, this doesn't mean you have to go out and start fresh social media accounts just for your copywriting business. Of course, you can start new accounts if you absolutely want to, but it isn't recommended. After all, starting with a new account means starting with zero followers! Begin promoting your services to your friends, family, and acquaintances on the social media accounts you already have.
That's right; you'll have to get over the shyness around your friends and family knowing that you are a freelancer! Create content that can be utilized across all platforms. For example, an image or story clip you create on Instagram can be recycled and posted on Twitter or even Facebook. A TikTok, with the right finessing and expertise, can be used for Instagram Reels. If an image or video goes viral, that's a plus! However, going viral doesn't have to be your overarching mission. Consistently showing your current following that you are a freelancer offering copywriting will bring attention to your Legiit profile.
Social Media Platforms for Freelancers:
- Twitter: Many freelancers who offer writing and graphic design services find success in reaching clients on Twitter. Don't forget to use hashtags to make yourself more visible to your target audience!
- Instagram: As you can imagine, Instagram is best for freelancers in the graphic design or video creation field. Many freelancers are taking advantage of the Instagram Reels feature to gain credibility and authority in their field.
- TikTok: Similar to Instagram Reels, TikTok is a wonderful app to reach a younger audience while showcasing your true personality.
- Facebook: Most of us have our biggest following on Facebook. Push past any phobia you may have about self-promotion and tell your friends, family, and acquaintances all about your freelance business!
- WhatsApp: Many freelancers across the world use WhatsApp as a way to connect and stay in touch with their clients. It's definitely worth downloading if you want to reach international audiences.
Join Freelance Support Groups
While freelance support groups can be filled with negative chatter about the industry and buyers, they can be extremely useful in obtaining new clients. Many freelancers will head to freelance support groups to outsource their work.
So, keep an eye out for more experienced freelancers trying to find other writers to help them with their workload! The Legiit Official Facebook Group is unique in the way that it allows freelancers to effectively promote their Legiit services while connecting to other freelancers. For a complete overview of the Legiit Official Facebook Group, check out this article about the Best Facebook Groups for Freelancers.
Get Started Today
Earning your first copywriting clients as a new freelancer requires you to take the first steps to get started. While getting started can feel intimidating, it is important that you push past that fear to give yourself a fighting chance at doing what you love. So, what are you waiting for?
Sign up on Legiit today, and join the Facebook Group for a supportive gathering of freelancers ready to answer your questions.
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