How to Work as a Freelance Copywriter

If you have technical writing experience and want more flexible working hours, becoming a freelance copywriter can be an attractive option. You will write different types of texts with marketing purposes, and be able to participate in multiple projects at the same time.

But, what does it take to be a freelance copywriter? Liking to write isn't enough, it's essential to be a grammar expert and know how to use marketing techniques to create texts for advertising for different media channels. Check out the article to know more.

What Is a Freelance Copywriter?#

A copywriter is someone who works writing texts in multiple formats, such as blog articles, newsletters, and social media posts, to convince readers to take a specific action. Different from a full-time copywriter, a freelancer can work by contract, and they have to manage their own business, setting their prices and prospecting clients.

A freelance copywriter can choose the projects they want to participate in, for example, by applying to job offers on freelance website platforms. They aren't attached to one company, need to emit invoices, and deal with the companies they work for as customers.

This type of professional is often hired to create content for social media channels, websites, e-mails, e-books, and magazines. There are freelance copywriters specialized in specific fields like finance, fashion, and technology. Some of them charge by the hour while others define fixed prices based on what each project requires.

What Does a Freelance Copywriter Do?#

The main tasks of a freelance copywriter are:

• Write texts with marketing purposes
• Edit texts
• Conduct market research
• Publish content on social media platforms and websites
• Track content analytics
• Create marketing strategies
• Manage their own company
• Deal with clients

How to Become a Freelance Copywriter?#

Before becoming a freelance copywriter, it's important to notice if you have the skills required for this profession, which includes deep knowledge of marketing techniques, grammar, and writing skills. If you have them, it's time to understand what needs to be improved and move on to finding job opportunities.

1. Choose Your Niche#

Copywriting is a vast field, it's necessary to narrow down your interests and choose what niche you want to work with. This way, you can focus on becoming an expert in your area and developing the skills that will make you stand out from the other freelance copywriters.

Choosing your niche will be useful to find clients as well. Once you have a niche, you can study it, define who your target audience is, and how you can create strategies to draw their attention and promote your work.

2. Become an Expert#

Determine what are the most important skills in the niche you chose to work with, and identify the areas you need to enhance your knowledge. Then, start studying, take copywriting online courses, read articles from renowned authors in your field, and keep yourself updated with the latest changes and trends.

As you begin taking projects, you will learn with practice as well. It's important to always evaluate your work, and track key performance indicators to understand what you can do better. Self-improvement is a continuous process to become a successful copywriter.

3. Create a Copywriting Portfolio#

How are people going to hire you if they don't know your work? It becomes difficult to convince them. That's why it's essential to have an online portfolio. It can be a website where you publicize your articles, for instance.

The portfolio is a space to showcase your writing pieces and prove you have the skills you mention in your curriculum. Use a website builder to create a portfolio and don't forget to add your personal brand to it.

4. Promote Yourself#

Finding clients can be challenging, but it will be easier if you know how to promote yourself as a brand. You need to develop marketing strategies to reach your target audience. First, get to know their behavior, try to understand their pain points, and show them how your work will help solve their problems.

Identify the social media platforms your target audience uses the most, and create specific content for each one. You can also invest in advertising, for example, for LinkedIn and Instagram. Define your goals, vision, and values, and create brand guidelines based on that. This way, you can create content that's aligned with your personal brand's image.

5. Search for Job Opportunities#

Search for potential customers on different platforms. You can start with freelance websites. In many of them, it's possible to create a free profile where you will present your work and publish your portfolio. Then, you can search for the job opportunities published on these websites and apply for the ones you fit better.

Freelance Copywriter Required Skills#

1. Self-Management#

To become a renowned freelance copywriter, you need to know how to manage your career. It's fundamental to have organization skills to keep track of multiple projects and deliver the best results. You will organize your schedule, so you need to know the time each task takes, and how to conciliate your obligations with your personal life.

2. Reliability and Accountability#

You must show you are a reliable professional who takes accountability for their actions, so your customers will believe in you and choose to hire your services. Show the clients you value and respect them by following the deadlines and dedicating yourself to each project.

3. Communication Skills#

Knowing how to communicate with customers is fundamental. First, you must show why you should be hired, therefore you need to know how to present yourself, highlight your skills, and explain how they meet the client's purpose. After you get hired, good communication is necessary to run the project, for example, to express your ideas and lead a team.

4. Good Writing#

Being a good writer is the basic requirement to work as a freelance copywriter. This means you must know how to structure sentences, convey different emotions in different types of texts, implement persuasion tactics in written content, use time tenses, and conjugate the verbs correctly.

Besides, it takes technical skills in writing for marketing purposes, for example creating calls to action. You must also know how to optimize a text for SEO, use keywords, and write texts aligned with a brand tone of voice.

5. Research Skills#

You also need to have research skills to be a competent freelance copywriter. This is necessary because you must know how to look for information about the topic you are going to write about.

This may include researching online in multiple sources, finding credible sources to ensure you won't give wrong information, conducting interviews, and assessing your competitors to make your content stand out.

6. Creativity#

With so much content available on the internet, creativity is primordial to being a copywriter. You need to use your creativity to write attractive content for your target audience compel them to consume your texts and take the actions you suggest.

Benefits of Working as a Freelance Copywriter#

1. Gain Experience#

If you have just finished college, and have only experience as an intern copywriter, working as a freelancer can help you gain more experience. You can find projects that match your skills, and build a portfolio to grow and get more opportunities.

2. Create Your Own Schedule#

Balancing the personal and professional aspects of life can be challenging sometimes. Working full-time in a company office may make things even more difficult. That's why many people opt for self-employment options and become freelancers.

When you are a freelancer, you can make your schedule and choose how many projects you want to take at a time. If you feel you work best at night, you can do that instead of following office hours, for instance.

However, this flexibility doesn't mean you can have as many days off as you wish and have as minimal work as possible. Being a freelancer requires commitment, discipline, and respecting the deadlines agreed with your customers.

3. Opportunity to Participate in Interesting Projects#

Another advantage of becoming a freelance copyright is you can choose the type of projects you want to participate in. If you feel the need to be constantly challenged and get easily bored when working on the same thing for too long, freelance work can fit your profile.

You can work with companies of different sizes and sectors at the same time and constantly learn more about innovation and the latest trends in marketing. It's possible to take part in short and long-term projects.

4. Freedom to Set Your Rates#

As a freelancer, you will define your rates and how you want to get paid. For example, some professionals charge by hour while others establish a fixed price based on the type of project and what they need to do. You can change the prices according to each project to meet your and the client's requirements.

9 Best Websites to Find Freelance Copywriter Jobs#

1. Upwork#

Upwork is an international platform where you can find freelance opportunities in multiple areas. With an intuitive website, you can create your profile for free. This is the first step to finding jobs that match your interests.

It's important to add your work skills, and previous experiences, and write an eye-catching title to drive attention to your profile to increase your chances of being hired. You can look for job opportunities, bid for jobs, and pitch your projects. Besides, you can choose how you want to get paid, and use Upwork to invoice clients and track your earnings.

Highlighted features:

• Create your profile for free
• Get paid securely
• Talent marketplace
• Create easy-to-buy projects
• Multiple freelance opportunities

2. Toptal#

"Exclusive network of the world's top talent in business", that's how Toptal describes its platform. You can join as a freelancer and find job opportunities in several categories, including finance, marketing, design, and software development.

Present in more than 140 countries, Toptal has served more than 25.000 clients until 2023. To be hired through Toptal, begin by clicking on the option "apply as a freelancer", then create an account and complete your profile.

They will evaluate your resume, and analyze if you meet the network criteria, after that your profile will be available for companies that use Toptal to hire employees.

Highlighted features:

• Global network
• Collaboration with leading brands
• Opportunities in multiple industries

3. Jooble#

If you are looking for jobs in the United States, Jooble has more than 500,000 vacancies all over the country. But, it isn't only in the USA that the platform connects talents with opportunities, Jooble is present in 67 countries, including India, the United Kingdom, and Brazil, for example.

You can create a free account, and apply for the jobs you find interesting. Mark the opportunities that caught your eye as favorites, and keep track of them.

Highlighted features:

• Job opportunities in 67 countries
• Easy to use
• Sign in for free
• 300,000 new jobs are added every day
• Career guide

4. Freelancer#

As the name suggests, Freelancer is a website where you can find job opportunities as a freelancer in different areas, such as software development, marketing, and logistics. You can create your professional profile on the platform, add your skills and previous work experience, and then look for jobs that suit your interests.

When you find an opportunity you want to apply to, you can write a proposal, and send a bid. It's important to show the company that you understand what they want and explain why you fit their needs. You can set alerts to be notified when there are new opportunities and count on 24/7 support.

Highlighted features:

• Sign up for free
• Send bids
• Job alerts
• 24/7 support

5. We Work Remotely#

With over 1000 new positions posted every month, you can enjoy We Work Remotely to find remote jobs from different industry sectors. To begin using We Work Remotely, you need to create an account and pick a plan, the basic one is for free.

In both plan options, you can search for jobs in categories like programming, customer support, sales, and marketing. Refine the searches by setting the region, timezone, and company size. Set up your interests, and receive a curated list of job opportunities in your email.

Highlighted features:

• Advanced job search
• Easy to use
• Remote work resources

6. LinkedIn#

LinkedIn is a social media platform focused on the professional aspect of life. With more than 830 million members, it's used by companies to find new talents, and you can enjoy it to get more job opportunities.

In the LinkedIn Jobs section, thousands of companies publish job opportunities and even enable the "Easy Apply" feature, so you can apply using your LinkedIn account. Another advantage LinkedIn offers is that you can showcase your projects, and network with professionals from different countries.

Highlighted features:

• Easy Apply
• Professional social network
• Easy to use
• Personalize job notifications

7. SimplyHired#

SimplyHired is a job search engine that allows you to find freelance opportunities in several countries. It offers tools like salary estimator, and company reviews to help you on your search. You can create an account for free.

Highlighted features:

• Salary estimator
• Company reviews
• Easy to use

8. PeoplePerHour#

PeoplePerHour is considered one of the best freelance websites because it works as a freelancer community. Companies from all over the world publish their projects, and the freelancers registered on the platform can apply for the jobs they find interesting.

First, you have to complete an online application at the PeoplePerHour website. The moderation team will review your application to ensure you fit the community criteria. Once you are approved, you can access the project proposals available on the platform.

Highlighted features:

• Create your profile
• Thousands of project opportunities
• Easy to use
• AI-powered
• Send 15 proposals per month for free
• Create bespoke packages

9. Guru#

Guru allows you to find freelance jobs with just a few clicks. You can browse the opportunities by categories, such as programming and development, writing and translation, business and finance, and sales and marketing. Refine the results by setting the minimum you want to receive for the job.

Used by more than 3 million people, Guru verifies freelancers who register to the platform and publish their feedback scores. You can enjoy SafePay payment protection and count on 24/7 customer support.

Highlighted features:

• Easy to use
• 24/7 customer support
• SafePay payment protection
• WorkRooms
• Find and apply for jobs

Start Investing in Your Career#

As you can see, being a freelance copywriter offers many possibilities. If you want to trace your own path in this area, stop waiting for the right moment, and start by setting your career goals. Create your curriculum, and study the market.

The marketing copywriting area is in constant change, therefore it's important to keep track of new trends. Analyze your project results, identify your weak points, and work to improve. This way you can stand out as a freelance copywriter and become a reference in the sector.