Debunking the Myths of Copywriting Course

What does it take to make a good freelance copywriter? You can learn the ropes by taking copywriting courses or perhaps you are a gifted writer.

According to copywriter Jason Leister, one can be the world's greatest copywriter but without clients you will probably be starving. For those starting out as a freelance writer, it's prudent not to try to run before you can walk.

In this guest article, Jason hands out five copywriting course myths that you should know before jumping into the water.

Five Things Every Freelance Copywriter Must Know

by Jason Leister

Almost 12 months ago, I began my career as a freelance copywriter. When I started, I had zero clients and zero income. To develop my skills and get a fast start, I bought most of the copywriting courses available on the market.

If you haven't noticed, there are a lot of them.

And while most of them are pretty good--filled with proven secrets for turning words into wealth--virtually all of them were missing something huge.

They were missing any helpful advice about HOW to make money as a copywriter. As I quickly found out, it doesn't matter how good your writing skills are if you can't make money using them.

Over the past 12 months, I've learned a lot about what it takes to make it as a freelance copywriter.

Here are a few things I wish I had known when I got started. These are some of the things that most copywriting courses don't talk about. I call them, the 5 Copywriting Course Myths.

Myth #1: If Your Copywriting Sells, You Will Make a Lot of Money Making money writing copy has a whole lot more to do with HOW you deal with clients than how to string words together. 

You could be the world's greatest copywriter. But without clients to pay you, you'll be hard pressed to put food on the table.

As a business owner, your number one priority is to sell your product. And your product is your copywriting service. Without knowing how to attract clients, you'll never even get the chance to put your skills to use.

Work on your copywriting skills. But more importantly, work on your business acquisition skills.

Myth #2: You Need to Start at the Bottom and Work for Peanuts 

You will hear this a lot from old school copywriters. The ones who put in years as a copy cub for a big name. Or the ones who honed their chops in an agency working for well known copy chiefs.

Most of them started at ground zero and worked their way up. But you don't have to. What do you have they don't have?

They didn't have the internet.

And since the internet has come along, the demand for copywriters has gone way, way up.

And the fact that there is DEMAND means you can potentially charge more for your services. Because they are more valuable.

Your copywriting income has little to do with experience or the number of years you've "put in." Your ability to make money as a freelance copywriter comes down to your ability to communicate the value your services deliver to your client.

Sure you have to deliver, but the first step is to get the order.

Myth #3: You Need to Work for Free to Get Started 

If you need to work for free (or on spec as they call it), then it's not your copywriting skills that need work, it's your selling skills.

If someone is selling you on the idea of writing copy for them on "spec," then chances are, they're a much better salesman than you are.

Don't do it. Not because you won't get experience. But mainly because it's just not necessary.

Myth #4: You Can Get Wealthy Working for Clients 

You can make a very good living writing copy for clients. But chances are, you won't become wealthy. Not really wealthy.

Wealth comes from income that requires little or no work. That's leverage. And with it, you can grow your income without investing an equal amount of time or effort.

Remember, the only reason your client can pay you $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 for a promotion is because they're making a whole lot more than that.

That's a clue about where the real money is hiding. Become your own client.

Acquire or create your own products and use your copywriting skills to build your OWN business.

Myth #5: Writing Copy is Easy

Being a freelance copywriter is real work. Often times a lot of work. Add to that the fact that a majority of the promotions written by even the most experienced copywriters either break even or lose money.

It's a little like baseball.

Copywriting is about a whole lot more than writing. You've got to connect the demand of your market, to the product you are selling. A promotion that worked 2 years ago might bomb today, and vice
versa.

Copywriting takes time, effort and a whole lot of guts to stick with it through thick and thin. The payoff can be huge, but there is a price you must pay. Just be sure you know that before you get started.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jason Leister is a freelance copywriter and author of the copywriting course, "The Independent Thinker's Guide to Becoming a Six-Figure Copywriter in 365 Days or Less" For a free sample of the copywriting course, visit his website at http://www.businessofcopy.com

Five Industries that will Hire Freelance Writers

Freelance writers who want to grow their freelance writing business will be excited to know that in 2011, certain industries will be growing and hiring. These industries will need web content writing, copywriting, blogs, article writing, newsletters, and other writing. It's up to you to take advantage of the opportunity to market you and your writing services.

Here they are:

TRAVEL. You may not believe that tourism is increasing but it is thanks to baby boomers. This group won't give up travel. They have the funds to travel wherever and whenever and like to get a good deal. If you're interested in travel writing, now is the time to get started.

If you have prior experience as a travel writer, start marketing your writing services to travel agencies and your local tourism office. You could find fun writing opportunities such as adventure travel, food and wine writing, and other niches.


DOCTORS. The health care industry will experience growth because baby boomers are getting older and will require more medical attention. This means doctors will expand their offices move to new and additional locations. They'll need to market their new (or improved) offices and freelance writers can help them do this through copywriting and web content writing.

NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES. Believe or not, some baby boomers will be entering nursing homes and assisted living facilities. More and more of these facilities will be built now and in the future. They'll need freelance writers to help them market these businesses.

EDUCATION. Colleges and universities are not going away. In fact, they're adding more teachers as are public school systems. Schools wanting to attract students will need help with this. Freelance writers can write the copy for brochures, newsletters, and websites. Freelance writers, who love education, take advantage of this area.

STAFFING AND RECRUITING. Many businesses will be employing more office workers and need help finding intelligent office workers. Businesses will turn to staffing and recruiting companies to help them find the employees. Freelance writers can help staffing and recruiting agencies by writing copy for brochures, print and radio ads, and web content.

Freelance writers who want to grow their writing businesses will take advantage of the growth within the industries listed above. If you want to become wealthy freelance writers, you must get out of your comfort zone. Start approaching medium and large businesses and stop looking on certain job boards that post low paying writing opportunities.

Make a commitment to work with clients that understand business and will pay your writing fees. You'll have to occasionally negotiate your rates, but it's not a good idea to accept assignments just for the money. You won't be happy and it will show in your work.

If must make ends meet, you may consider getting a 'temporary' job that will pay the bills while you build your freelance writing business. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day." Don't get discouraged if you don't make $10,000 or more a month straight-away. It will happen if this is what you truly desire.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rebecca Sebek is the owner of Savvy-Writer.com, a website dedicated to freelance writing. You'll find information on blogging, screenwriting, client relations, publishing, how to gain web traffic, eBooks, keyword research, social media, and much more. Rebecca is a freelance writer for industries that include but are not limited to travel, personal and professional development, health care, health and wellness (includes fitness) holistic, beauty, finance, internet, and much more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_Sebek