What To Expect As A New Copywriter

Posted on April 13, 2008

Copywriters wear many hats, especially those who go in for general writing and do not develop a specialization. There are merits to both specialized services and general copywriting services, but since most new copywriters do not come in with a specialty, this article will focus on those professionals who look to spread their writing in whatever way possible.

Expect to wait. The most frustrating part of beginning a copywriting service is the waiting game. The typical sales cycle takes several weeks, not days, so do not expect to land clients immediately. Do expect to communicate, a lot, with different prospective clients.

Expect to sell, sell, sell! You will have to sell your qualifications, your expertise, your services, and your budget. You will have to convince the client that you are worth risking their time and money on, and you will have to sell throughout the entire process to keep the client happy.

Expect to learn. As a general copywriter, you will work with companies as varied as real estate agencies to dating consultants and everything in between. Be prepared to research the industry of your client and the sites of competitors. While this is often the most time-consuming part of copywriting, it can also be the most useful in the long run. From my different writing projects I now know more about natural language processing and federal employee retirement benefits than I ever thought I would. That information comes in handy when you are selling a similar client on a project. If you are able to show that you truly understand their industry and their concerns, you are much more likely to get a project.

Finally, expect to be critiqued. Yes, you are the writing professional, but no one knows their own business better than your clients. Revision is part of the process, so expect to hear a client say, “This really isn’t what I was looking for. Try again.” Learn how to probe your clients for information about exactly what they expect and the message they wish to get across. Regard your copy as a separate entity, disconnected from yourself, so that when the criticism comes in, you can look at it as constructive and helpful instead of harmful and embarrassing.

You will always run into unexpected situations and new challenges as a beginning copywriter, but these tips should help frame your day-to-day expectations about the job. Realize that everything involves a learning curve and that you will have to come at the work with passion, energy, and perseverance every day.

Ashley Morris is the founder of Copywriting for SEO, a multi-purpose copywriting company that specializes in search engine optimization, website copywriting consultation, articles, marketing materials, editing services, and translation. Visit Copywriting for SEO at http://www.copywritingforseo.com

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