How to Get Copywriting Clients as a Beginner
So, you’ve created your freelance writer portfolio. Now what? It’s time to get some freelance writing clients so you can get PAID. Here’s how to get copywriting clients with zero experience.
I was lucky when I started my freelance writing career because I already had my first writing client, Church & Dwight, set up before I left my job. I had been working as a contractor at their LA office full-time. But when they closed their LA office, I was laid off without a severance package. Ouch! However, they did agree to keep me on as their blog writer for their Toppik and Viviscal brands. Unfortunately, the income from that client just wasn’t enough to pay the bills. I was deep in credit card debt and needed to make more money STAT. These are the exact methods I used to find my first copywriting clients.
Do you know where to look to find your first copywriting client?
4 SIMPLE WAYS TO FIND COPYWRITING CLIENTS
1. Job Boards
Most new freelance writers begin their careers by applying for positions on freelance writing job boards, such as:
Prospective clients pay to post their ads on freelance writing job boards in hopes of finding the perfect writer for them.
PROS:
You already know that these potential clients are looking for writers, which could potentially save you the hassle of emailing a lot of companies who aren’t looking at all.
In most cases, the prospective clients will describe the work in detail so you know exactly what to expect. This means you won’t need to hash out all the details yourself. When you’re a new writer and aren’t comfortable taking the reins on a project, this can be very helpful.
Every once in a while you find a real diamond in the rough: a great client who pays well!
CONS:
A LOT of freelance writers are applying for these jobs. Depending on your niche and experience, it may be difficult to stick out from the crowd and convey your value.
Since demand for these jobs is so high, the pay tends to be low.
It might be worth it to accept jobs at $.10/word or less when you’re just starting out and need to build up your portfolio, but this is not a feasible long-term strategy for most career writers.
If your niche is very specific, you are unlikely to find a job posting that matches your skills and interests.
Personally, I’ve only ever gained one freelance writing client from job boards. I feel like they are a waste of time since the pay is usually terrible.
You’re going to need some chemical aids to spend this much time on Facebook.
2. Facebook
Some clients prefer to post on Facebook freelance writing job boards such as:
As with traditional freelance writing boards, these postings tend to receive a lot of inquiries and the pay is often low. But you never know! If you are in need of clients, it’s worth it to check back every day and apply to relevant postings.
Upwork follows the 80/20 rule: 80% is bullshit, 20% is actually pretty good. On second thought, maybe it’s more like 90/10.
3. Upwork
Upwork is a platform that connects clients and freelancers. Upwork often gets a bad rap in the freelancing community because they take a sizable percentage of your profits when you’re paid through the platform.
However, this is often where the big fish hang out. Upwork makes working with freelancers safe and easy for big corporations, so a lot of them prefer to use this platform over job boards. Some of my biggest clients, including Olay, Marc Jacobs Daisy, Tiffany & Co., and Gucci Bloom have originated from Upwork.
PROS:
BIG clients use this platform to hire freelancers.
Upwork guarantees that your clients will pay you.
Having an optimized profile and great reviews mean that clients come to you, and you need to do very little to attract work.
CONS:
It can take a long time to establish yourself on Upwork.
Upwork takes 20% of your earnings.
It now costs money to apply for jobs on Upwork.
Get ready to look at this screen a lot.
4. Cold Pitching
In my opinion, cold pitching is the best way to get copywriting clients. So what is cold pitching? Basically, you email potential clients that you don’t know at all and pitch them your services.
When I began my freelance writing career, this is how I found the majority of my clients. I looked for beauty companies who had a blog that hadn’t been updated in a while, then I sent them an email to offer my help. Most of the time I received no response, but every once in a while I got a new client that made it totally worth my time.
PROS:
You have very little competition, so you can ask for higher rates.
You’re in control. As long as you can find new potential clients, you can pitch. You don’t need to wait for a relevant job posting to show up on a job board.
CONS:
Most likely, you will only receive a small number of answers to your emails. Many of the answers that you do receive will be a no. This type of rejection can sting at first, but it will fade with time.
Cold pitching requires you to take control of the onboarding process, which can be scary for new freelance writers. However, don’t think you need to have all your processes set in stone. You can make it up as you go along!
Listen to your intuition. If a client seems shady or the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
A WORD ABOUT SHADY CLIENTS
As a freelance writer, you’re mostly conducting your business through the internet. And as you probably know, there are many shady people on the internet.
If you get into contact with a new potential client and something doesn’t feel right, respectfully disengage. Save your bandwidth for clients that you are excited to work with who truly value your skills.
I know from experience that that’s easier said than done. When your bills are due, it’s difficult to say “no” to potential clients, even if they aren’t a good fit for you. But the more you grow your business, the more say you’ll have in who you work with. You’ll make more money and you’ll be much happier!
If they truly seem shady, just ditch them. The last thing you want is to do work for someone who isn’t going to pay you. Listen to your gut!
Create a daily goal and stick to it to get your first copywriting client.
THE # 1 REQUIREMENT FOR FINDING YOUR FIRST COPYWRITING CLIENT? GRIT.
Now that you know how to get copywriting clients, here’s the hard part. You need to go all in and dedicate hours each day to applying for jobs, finding freelance writing clients, and cold pitching. I wish there was a shortcut, but there really isn’t. This is your job now and you have to treat it accordingly!
Set a daily goal for yourself and stick to it. For example, when I was trying to build out my client roster, I made it my goal to cold pitch five potential freelance writing clients each and every day. I also checked for new listings on job boards and Upwork.
Here’s the good news. If you are consistent with your efforts, you WILL get clients. This is the part where most people give up on their freelance writing dreams. It’s hard, but you CAN do it. But if you feel like something is wrong and you need a helping hand, contact me!
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