this process to be productive and for the result to be decently paid, copywriters try different formats of work.
Work as a Copywriter: What Format to Choose and What to Pay Attention to for Beginners?
Working on content is not a matter of a couple of minutes. Regardless of what copywriters write about - about tonybet.co.uk or ...tourism, it takes a deliberate and long time to work on texts. And for this process to be productive and for the result to be decently paid, copywriters try different formats of work.
Below are the formats that beginners and experienced copywriters use, as well as golden tips that beginner copywriters should take into account.
Option 1: One-Time Orders and the Exchange
Occasional orders and the exchange - for those who are just looking for yourself in copywriting or doing this business as a hobby.
The exchange for copywriters - the easiest way to find the first customers. But the competition is also high. Often more than 20 people respond to one project.
Occasional Orders and the Exchange Suits You If:
You are a novice copywriter - get your first experience and create a portfolio.
You want to try yourself in a new sphere of copywriting (storytelling, sales texts, PR-texts, articles, posts in social networks, etc.). Having experience in any other sphere or in one of them you can make a one-time order in an interesting but new sphere of copywriting.
You are an advanced copywriter, and you want to diversify the number of niches, in which you have examples of work, or to expand your client base - it will be easy to make a one-time order in a new niche, decorating your portfolio with it, or to find a new client, standing out by your experience among the many beginners.
To Get the Most Out of This Format of Work, You Need To:
Present yourself clearly when responding to a project, attaching a link to your portfolio and testimonials (if any).
Do not expect to make a full-time income, but use the exchange as an additional source of finding clients.
Try to respond to long-term projects to provide yourself with a steady stream of new tasks, rather than wasting time on another search for clients, as it happens after one-time orders.
Option 2. Working on a Project
Working on one project on a freelance basis or in an agency on a remote basis is for those who want more freedom and self-fulfillment in the profession.
This is probably the most interesting and convenient format of work for copywriters.
Let's see why:
First, you choose who you work with, for how much, and when. You manage your earnings and increase them if you decide to work on a promising project. You can also increase your visibility in the marketplace by working for big clients through the agency.
Second, you get a variety of experiences by taking on new tasks from the agency in a wide range of niches and directions. In hiring, you usually work in only one niche - the one in which the company operates.
Third, working for a long time on one project, you can take it to the next level and pack the results into a case. And having cases for a copywriter is the very trigger that encourages clients to start working with you.
Working on One Project or in an Agency Remotely Suits You If:
You want varied experience in many niches without worrying about having to find new commissions to get that experience - a large agency will give you different projects on a regular basis.
You like to work with different clients, and you like to spread out your workload on your own without being tied to anyone or anything - it's very easy to do so remotely.
You are ready to fully immerse yourself in one project, "grow" with it as a specialist and eventually package the experience and results into a case. In this case, working on a specific (most importantly, interesting to you) project will lead you to this goal.
Professional growth is important to you. With each new project, good feedback, worthy case, you increase your expertise and recognition in the market. And that means you are free to increase the check for your services.
To Get the Most Out of This Format of Work, You Need To:
Have a self-package (a personal website with a portfolio, a clear social media profile, a cover letter when you respond) - all of which affect a potential client's bottom line decision to work with you.
Be a self-organized and motivated copywriter. You can encounter procrastination on a remote job, and here you have to have the power to overcome yourself and make the work more productive. And if you want fast professional growth, you need to apply the skill of setting goals and achieving them.
Be prepared for both an unexpected influx of tasks and prolonged idleness in the absence of orders from the agency. Freelancing is, after all, those same waves that come and go. And so on in a circle.
Option 3. Working in an Office
If freedom-loving copywriters don't like hiring because it doesn't give them a choice of projects and clients, then copywriters who are afraid of being without clients, on the contrary, are eager to work in a state.
And indeed, the office guarantees a constant flow of orders and timely payments to the specialist. You don't have to worry every day if you will have a job tomorrow. That is, the worst pain of freelance copywriters - the need to constantly monitor new jobs and projects - is solved by working for hire.
But Is Everything So Good? Let’s Break Down the Disadvantages of Working in an Office:
There is no way to manage your income. You get fixed pay for an extended period of time. But at the same time, there are employers in the market who are willing to increase the rate as the specialist's skills grow.
Sometimes you have urgent tasks that need to be done in 30 minutes, or even less. Anyone who has worked for hire remembers those very urgent articles by 6:00 p.m. when it's 5:40 p.m. on the clock. Well, you have to deal with those surprises.
Let’s Dig a Little Deeper. An Office Job Is Right for You If:
You want stability and stability. In freelancing, the copywriter is searching and communicating with the client, plus he spends his own money on advertising, while in the office new orders are regularly brought to him on a silver platter.
Communication and socialization are important to you. We all know that colleagues like to talk during lunch breaks or right in the workplace. If you can't live without such conversations, then welcome to office life. By the way, if you will, for example, work in the marketing department or IT, then in addition to writing texts, you will be surrounded by a bunch of new words. That is, self-development and increasing your vocabulary will be assured to you.
You are ready to become a "jack of all trades. After all, you will be entrusted with sales pitches, and landing pages, and articles, and PR texts, and scripts, and mailings. It's important to the employer that you complete any task required, regardless of your preferences.
To Get the Most Out of This Job Format, You Need To:
Be prepared for a large volume of tasks. Full-time is just a term, and in reality, there are times when a copywriter has to work more than 8 hours to complete the required amount of work. Although it's the other way around. If you have to work overtime in the stock exchange to reach the 50 000 a month target, there are days at a relaxed pace in the office, for which the copywriter is still getting paid.
Have certain preferences in niches and areas where you plan to work. After all, in the office, a specialist is niche and casts his or her expertise. That is, for example, if he works in the pharmacy network, he will be able to tell the difference between prescription and over-the-counter drugs in a year.
He or she should be calm about those unproductive meetings and unproductive meetings. In companies, managers are used to this kind of interaction with employees, but the copywriter often needs only a detailed ToR to fully perform his duties.
Three Important Tips for Beginners That Are Sure to Help You Succeed
Constantly Analyze and Take Notes
To make writing easier, make a habit of writing down all your thoughts on paper. Very quickly you will realize that this way it is many times easier to read, and most importantly memorize.
Study New Directions
Do you have no idea how to lay tiles yourself or what will be fashionable to wear in the new season? That's no problem! In your free time, read various reference books, study terminology, and look through analytical articles. All this will help you gradually learn a new topic and if suddenly you get an order for an article with an unfamiliar subject, you will be more or less aware.
Write, Write and Write
Whenever you have something on your mind, sit down and write. Don't be afraid to experiment and write a lot. It's always good to have a dozen articles you can sell at any time.
