How to Become a Freelance Copywriter: Tips to Know About

econtentsol Published: November 1, 2022 19 min read

Start Your Career As a Freelance Copywriter By Considering These Tips

We all know that writing is a lucrative field and has got a very bright scope in the industry. The emergence of online marketing has also given a boost to writers around the world. Many of them are now moving towards the freelance career after looking at the vast opportunities available in the market. That is why the ratio of freelance copywriters is quickly increasing more in the world as compared to in-house writers.

Since the start of 2010s, the emergence of digital marketing has paved a great way for freelance copywriting services. They started to get better offers from the market, giving their online careers a huge boost. Meanwhile, the role of freelancing platforms like Upwork, Fiverr and more others are quite important in this regard.

These sites have helped them to get better clients and earn more money as compared to conventional writing jobs. That is the major reason why freelance copywriting is quickly becoming a lucrative field in the world. It has a lot to offer to the writers, provided they focus on the right path. 

Below, we will be taking a much deeper look into this field and why it has gained much reputation in the circuit. Let’s start from the basics of copywriting.

What is Copywriting?

what is copywriting

Many people who are new to the field often ask about how to become a copywriter. They want to know about the basics of copywriting and how it is different from conventional writing.

Well, it can be defined as a specialized form of writing done specifically for the brands. It differs from the conventional writing in many various types of ways. From tone to the usage of words, everything is chosen smartly in copywriting considering the requirements of a brand. 

Generally, copywriters are asked to write content for sales pages. This requires good knowledge about the product or services they are writing about. Besides that, copywriters are also asked to write content for official newsletters and emails. That is why it is said that a copywriter must need to know about all company details, so that he/she could define it properly in the words. 

The time to deliver any sales or email copy is also a bit lengthy. That is because writers require a decent amount of time to research and write content accordingly. Any mistake or glitch in writing a copy for any brand could result in loss of reputation. It is something that is read by the potential customers, therefore should always be written very precisely and carefully.

What is Freelance Copywriting?

With the surge of online marketing, the demand of experienced copywriters is rapidly increasing. Businesses are now looking to hire those people that have got a good knowledge about different types of copywriting. But, sometimes they do get stuck due to the limited number of writers available in the market. This makes it difficult for them to get quality copies and attract more online traffic.

Luckily, with the help of a freelance copywriter, their jobs become a lot easier. Though these writers work remotely, but they offer quality copywriting services as per the demand. Some of the companies hire them for a longer period of time, precisely after evaluating their work. 

Nowadays, freelance copywriting is getting more traction in the market. Many companies are preferring to get remote writers on board as compared to hiring conventional writers. These guys are quite easy to manage and can be given work as per the demands. 

That is what makes the freelance writers much preferable over the in-house writers. Their experience also plays a vital role in defining their dominance. It helps them to showcase their proven work in the field and why they are better than others.

What Does a Freelance Copywriter Do?

freelance writer

As defined above, a freelance copywriter works on different types of copies. These guys have the specialty to provide quality content on a variety of subjects. This includes web copies, emails, newsletters and more others. Writing on these niches requires in-depth knowledge about content and how to curate it according to particular brand requirements. 

Let’s take a look at different types of copywriting examples that are popular in the market.

B2B Copywriting

We all know the concept of a business to business model. It basically thrives on the dealing of different businesses with each other. Being a freelance copywriter, it requires you to take a commercial approach to copywriting. It requires a specialized corporate tone in copies that can precisely demonstrate the voice of a company.  

In B2B copywriting, you need to properly illustrate how your company can be beneficial to the other business. This could be done by having a complete knowledge about the products and services you are referring to. It is quite straightforward, but needs careful usage of words according to the background of a company. 

B2C Copywriting

B2C Copywriting takes an opposite approach as compared to B2B copywriting. This business model is connected with the customers; hence it requires a client-centric content tone. As a writer, you need to know how to create content that can persuade customers. This requires a good understanding of the products as well their consumers in the market. 

Basically, B2C copywriting is based on showcasing the advantages of your products. This requires you to tell people how particular products and services can come handy to them. You can use different types of stats and factual figures to bring weight in your copies. It allows you to put up a strong point that can attract customers towards the products.

Web Copywriting

Web copywriting is one of the core pillars of copywriting. It needs good knowledge about how to write content for websites and online audiences. Nowadays, many businesses are looking actively to hire web copywriters. They know that websites play a crucial role in attracting traffic from the web. But, that requires great content and impactful UI design.

As far as content is concerned, copywriters are tasked to create those copies that can engage people quickly. Many digital marketing companies rely heavily on these copywriters to find success in the market. Some of them often arrange specific gifts for writers to bring the motivity factor. They know that these guys have the capability to drive traffic from the web and increase leads for the business.

That is why the demand of web copywriters is also increasing briskly in the world. They can allow you to engage and convert traffic, provided you are targeting the right market. 

Social Media Copywriting

We all know the importance of social media in marketing. It has become a top platform where you can find consumers from around the world. The emergence of social sites like Facebook, Twitter and others have really raised the bar of social media marketing in the world. 

To take the best advantage of this marketing medium, companies have started to focus on the content. That is because it is the primary thing that can pitch relevant products/services to the consumers. Therefore, the need for specialized social media copywriting has also risen dramatically in the industry. It is written in a unique style, as it primarily adds interesting and fun elements in the content. 

The success of paid campaigns on social media depends heavily on the effectiveness of social media copywriting. It requires a bit of interactive and lively content that can hook the reader’s attention at first glance.  

SEO Copywriting

Everyone knows the importance of SEO and what wonders it can do in online marketing. Today, every company relies heavily on the success of SEO. They know that SEO holds the key to drive and convert traffic from the internet. But, it also depends on the perfection of written content. It requires a specific density of keywords in an article or page to rank properly.

That is where the need of specialized SEO copywriters arises. These professionals are not ordinary writers. They know how to write content for both Google and targeted audiences. Many people often relate this type of content with online writing. But, that is entirely wrong.

The technique of SEO copywriting is quite different. It requires deep analysis of the keywords and how they should be positioned in a web copy or article.

Technical Writing

Technical writing is yet another important part of copywriting. It can be termed as the hardest category of copywriting because it requires detailed knowledge. 

For instance, if you are given a task to write a page for a new Dell Inspiron laptop, then you will need to have in-depth knowledge about it. You must have knowledge about its specifications and how its functions are superior to others. 

This particular style of copywriting is mostly required by the tech companies. They want to demonstrate their products/services with full technical details, so that people can understand their functionalities. 

Therefore, technical writers earn more as compared to conventional copywriters. Their skill level fairly demands a higher price tag, showcasing the true worth of their work. 

Academic Writing

The demand for academic writing is also increasing swiftly in the world. It is a bit similar to technical writing, but requires lesser details. Meanwhile, you still need to have a proper understanding of subjects to make a perfect academic writing content.

Generally, academic writers are hired by educational institutions and colleges. They are asked to write whitepapers, books and other detailed material on given subjects. This is why their pay rate is also much bigger as compared to the other writers. They also earn more on certain specific subjects that are quite hard and require in-depth content. 

All the top freelancing platforms in the world offer great academic writing gigs. They offer a good amount of subjects that are demanded more like science, technology and more others. Being a writer, you can earn plenty of bucks by just focusing on academic writing, provided you’ve got the right subject knowledge.

How to Become a Freelance Copywriter?

how to become a copywriter

In order to become a good copywriter, you need certain skills in the repository. These traits are called necessary for the copywriters, as it helps them to succeed in this field. 

If you are also looking to know how to become a good copywriter, take a look at the specific skills defined below. 

Adaptability

The most important trait for a freelance designer is the ability to adapt. It can become quite difficult sometimes as it requires you to understand things in full. Many times, people get confused with different types of things and fail to adapt to them at the first look. This hampers their ability to write creative things and offer great copies.

Therefore, it is important for writers to make themselves adaptable to different conditions. They need to showcase the understanding of diverse topics and their importance in the content. It is one of those traits that can help them to write on a variety of subjects, that too with ease.

Organization of Content 

Content organization is the second most important thing you need to consider properly. As a writer, you should know about the copyediting and proofreading process. This is termed very important because it allows you to manage content in a perfect manner. It helps you to increase the content quality and provide more details in it.

Sometimes, people do not pay attention to this factor. They do not understand that content organization helps to make content structured. This provides a greater view of the content, allowing you to make the copies more engaging. 

For web pages, it is specially recommended to make your content organized. That is because these pages act as your sales funnels, which is why their organization is always termed necessary. It makes the content look user-friendly, allowing it to showcase its core points more easily.

Knowledge of Diverse Subjects

Another important point that will help you to become a great copywriter is the knowledge of diverse subjects. As a freelance writer, you can be given any type of topic from different fields. Therefore, you need to prepare yourself according to that.

From collecting ideas to writing skills, everything has to be on point when you are working for any client. Freelancers are mostly contacted by different companies from around the world. Therefore, these guys need to prepare themselves for any kind of job related to the content creation field. 

Web Copywriting

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How to Start as a Freelance Copywriter?

Many people always stay confused at the start of their freelance career. Sometimes, they don’t have any idea how to start in this field or find clients from the market. 

If you are looking to start your career as a freelance copywriter, here are some tips you need to know about.

Build a Content Portfolio

First, you need to build a portfolio that can showcase your profile and content writing skills. This is necessary because all the companies usually look at them before hiring any freelance copywriter. This portfolio can contain different types of content writing work as per your academic and background.

Having a portfolio allows you to show the quality of your work. This builds a trust factor in the minds of clients and then they start to show interest in your profile.

Join Freelance Copywriting Websites

Next, you need to join some freelancing websites to get online work. There are many platforms available on the web that could help you to find content writing work. Some of the top among them include Upwork, Freelancer and more others.

Whether you are a content writer or a designer, these freelancing sites are recommended best for everyone. They can help you get connected with clients from around the world. But, do remember to make your profile properly by adding up your previous work. This will give your profile a boost and will allow clients to take interest in it.

Contact Agencies

You can also contact a few digital marketing agencies to find freelance content writing jobs. There are many agencies working in the market that are actively looking to connect with freelance writers.  You can email them your portfolio to get connected quickly. This would allow to build your personal relations with them that will help you in the longer run. 

What Qualification is Required to Become a Freelance Copywriter?

Ideally, there isn’t any specific qualification required to become a freelance copywriter. All you need to have is spectacular English writing skills with flawless perfection. You can also do a Masters in English Linguistics to professionally acquire this skill. However, do remember that practical work still matters the most.

As said by experts, you must need to have some sort of experience in writing content for brands or agencies. This will enhance your copywriting skills and will take up your resume strongly in front of the employers. 

Most of the employers prefer practical experience more as compared to qualification. They want to see the work you have done for the companies and agencies in the market. This allows them to understand your capabilities in a perfect manner. 

Therefore, adding a bachelor or masters degree isn’t just enough to become a copywriter. Instead, you have to showcase your content skills in the real world. You need to demonstrate how your content writing can generate traffic and conversions from the internet. This is one of the major things that stays in the minds of clients when they are looking for writers. 

What is an Average Freelance Copywriter Salary?

Nowadays, freelance copywriting jobs are paying more as compared to in-house writing jobs. It also depends on the employers that are connected with you. Some offer minimum hourly rates, while some pay big depending upon the nature of work. 

On an average, a freelance copywriter can earn around $40/hour. This is not a final figure because these rates also depend on the type of subjects. For instance, if you are writing for an academic firm, your rates can go higher. You can easily cross $50/hour depending upon the topics given.

Similarly, if you are writing for a medical or law firm, these rates can spike more. It can go upto $100/hr or even more. That is the reason why the final payout of a freelance copywriter can be judged by looking at just one figure.

If you don’t have much idea about how to determine your pay rates, here are some tips that could help you to finalize them.

  1. Know about the nature of copywriting work and complexities involved in it.
  2. Analyze how much time the project will take to complete.
  3. Consider the number of expected revisions in content.
  4. Evaluate the total value of your content to the client’s business.
  5. Take a look at other freelance copywriter salaries and finalize the best rate for yourself. 

Popular Freelance Copywriter Courses and Books

As regarded by experts, the best way to learn anything is by taking help from professional books and guides. Same goes in the case of freelance copywriting, as well as other jobs that are related to remote work.

If you want to learn the best copywriting skills, try to read those books that have detailed knowledge about it. Here are some of our picks that could help you to master freelance copywriting easily. 

  1. The Creative Copywriter Academy – Course by Creative Copywriter
  2. Certified Content Marketer – Course by Copyblogger
  3. Write to Sell by Andy Maslen. 
  4. Write Copy, Make Money by Andy Maslen.
  5. How to Write Sales Letters That Sell by Drayton Bird.
  6. Valuable Content Marketing by Sonja Jefferson and Sharon Tanton.
  7. The Copy Book by D&D.
  8. Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy.
  9. The Adweek Copywriting by Joseph Sugerman.
  10. The Advertising Methods by John Caples.
  11. The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert W. Bly.
  12. Everybody Writes by Ann Handley.

Final Words

That concludes our entire article in which we have described all the details about how to become a freelance copywriter. Over the last few years, this remote job has come up on top of the list, as freelance copywriters are getting into demand regularly. Businesses around the world precisely look for those individuals that can take up their content work with complete professionalism. 

If you are aiming to become a professional copywriter, try to learn the tips and techniques that are defined above. Besides these, we have also listed some popular books that could help you to learn the art of freelance copywriting perfectly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why has freelance copywriting become important for companies?
There are many reasons why companies are regularly looking for freelance copywriters. But the one most important among them all is the ease of work. These writers can be swiftly managed and can be given work as per the project needs. That is why hiring them is beneficial, as it can reduce your in-house work load.
2. How to become a freelance copywriter?
To become a freelance copywriter, you need to learn the art of writing for brands. This is not a job for conventional writers as they don’t have the knowledge about writing content for pages or emails. You can become a freelance writer by focusing on the client’s background and generating content according to that.
3. How much does a freelance copywriter make?
The average annual income of freelance copywriters is around $85K. But, this figure can greatly vary due to the type of work. Furthermore, it can also show deviation according to the writer’s experience in the field.
4. How do I become a freelance copywriter with no experience?
Many people ask about how to become a freelance copywriter with no experience. As defined above, it doesn’t require much experience but needs your skills in writing content. You need to make sure that your writing is up to the mark and covers detailed information about the client’s products.
5. What skills do you need to become a copywriter?
To become a good copywriter, you need to gain certain types of content writing skills. This includes diverse topics of knowledge, content tone, persuasive ability and more others.
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