Sunday, December 21, 2008

Insights Into Freelance Copywriting

By Ray Edwards

More and more copywriters are looking into freelance copywriting because of the freedom it offers. If you're interested in freelance copywriting, then here are some ideas to help you see what's involved in freelancing.

1. Learn when to say "no." Freelance copywriters have to know when to say "no." At times you will have to say "no" to new projects because your schedule won't allow for more work, and knowing when that point has come is very important. Otherwise you can jeopardize your entire business by taking on too much work and inhibiting yourself from meeting your deadlines. Other times you have to say "no" to the suggestions your clients offer. Remember that you are the advertising expert and they are not, that is why they are hiring you. You must be able to say "no" and offer a better alternative in a gentle way.

Sometimes clients will insist on a particular point, if this is the case then you have to learn how to compromise without surrendering. Learning how to manage persistent clients will make your life a lot easier. There are also situations from which you just need to walk away. These kinds of clients are not worth the money or the time.

2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always communicate professionally with your clients. Listen intently to your clients and be persistent with your ideas if you must. Your persistence must be two fold: You must constantly look for work, and persistently stand by your ideas on how to market your clients' products. This will help improve your success dramatically.

3. Educate yourself. There are always new things to learn and the most successful copywriters see themselves as lifelong students. Learning new ways of writing copy will help your business stay competitive. There is plenty of material out there, so go ahead and start learning.

4. Make sure to relax. It doesn't make much sense to go from one stressful job to another. Therefore take time to relax. Rest is so important that you should even write it into your schedule to make sure you do it. This will not only help you be happier, but it will also help you write better copy. In the end, if you take time to relax, you'll be happier and more successful.

5. Keep a positive attitude. Loving your profession is one of the keys to success. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then eventually you will come to hate your job and lose out on all the benefits freelancing has to offer.

6. Actively nurture your personal life. Your life should be well rounded. You need to take care of your personal health and spend time with your friends and family. Even though you're working to become more successful, what will it profit you to gain the whole world but spend your life alone? Your work is an important part of your life, but not the most important.

7. Always practice honesty and good ethics. This is really important, you need to be a person of honesty and integrity. Don't make any promises you can't keep. Tell your clients if you're failing to live up to your agreement and try to make recompense. Never compromise on your integrity just to get a project. And always be ethical in conducting your business arrangements.

8. Learn to manage your business. Freelance copywriters run every aspect of their business and need to know how to do it well if they are going to be successful. Read up on how to effectively run a small business and know the laws that can protect you.

Be up to date on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also aware of the current pricing structures. Learn new effective ways of negotiating and looking for better ways to keep your business organized.

9. Don't take rejection personally. Your value as a person does not reside in what you do or how much money you make. Remember this when clients reject your bids. Keep a professional composure and know that there are plenty of reasons outside of your ability to write copy that someone would reject your bid.

10. Never miss a deadline. As a freelance copywriter you cannot afford to miss deadlines. Failing to miss deadlines will severely hurt the success of your business, so make sure to manage your time well.

Hopefully you found these pointers illuminating and helpful. If you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting, there is plenty of information out there that can help you become a successful freelancer. Just search the Internet for tutorials on copywriting, and start digging in. - 15431

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