Want to escape the brutal 9 to 5 loop and cherish your morning coffee without rushing to the office? If you have a knack for writing, choosing freelance copywriting jobs can make give you that very flexibility.
In today’s innovative marketing landscape, modern businesses depend on high-quality content to establish a brand and drive sales and revenue. A copywriter fills this need by creating strong copy that acts as an automated sales machine and stays relevant long after its creation.
Since almost every thriving business is focusing on its online presence, they need persuasive copies. So, copywriting skills are in such high demand.
Apart from high rates, a freelance copywriter enjoys flexibility. You can have a thriving career without stepping a foot out of your door — all you need is a strong flair in persuasive writing.
Wondering how to become a freelance copywriter? Here is a beginner’s guide with everything you need to know to embark on your journey in the growing field of copywriting.
Table of Contents
What is copywriting?
Copywriting is strategizing and creating persuasive content or copy aiming to drive conversions and sales. A copywriter writes content for marketing materials and helps brands boost their visibility and drive interest in their products.
What does a freelance copywriter do?
Freelance copywriting is a varied career that involves different aspects of content marketing. A freelance copywriter works independently with different clients on a contract basis.
The foremost responsibility of a freelance copywriter is to create SEO-friendly and engaging content that drives visitors to a particular site or page and pursues them to opt for the client’s products or services. Copywriters conduct the initial research, source images, outline the copy’s structure, and strategize content marketing ideas to enhance the brand’s online presence.
While writing catchy copies is the primary focus of the job, thorough research takes up a significant chunk of the time. They may also need to interview, proofread and edit content to fit clients’ requirements. A freelance copywriter also incorporates keywords and looks after formatting while maintaining the natural flow of the content. The clients may also seek their expertise to execute creative marketing campaigns.
If you want to become a successful freelance copywriter, developing an adaptable voice is of utmost necessity. Figuring out your own style is important. But you must also be capable of molding your writing to fit different client needs.
Typical copywriting projects may include:
- Social media posts
- Email marketing
- White papers
- Website copy
- Blog posts, etc.
Difference between a copywriter and a content writer
Source: Kaleigh Moore
Businesses use both content writing and copywriting for effective digital marketing. While the terms may seem synonymous, the purposes are starkly different.
A content writer drafts and polishes engaging content that informs consumers about a particular brand and its products. It involves long-form content that showcases facts and statistics and sheds light on the product’s value.
A copywriter’s job involves crafting effective texts that persuade the audience to take action and increase sales. They focus on converting website visitors into buyers through catchy phrases and effective CTAs. They create the text we see in digital ads, billboards, websites, brand emails, etc.
Here are some basic differences between a copywriter and a content writer:
A content writer informs while a copywriter persuades
A content writer works to engage, inform, and entertain the audience. It establishes the brand as an expert and a reliable source of information in its industry. It attracts the audience, addresses pain points, showcases its problem-solving capabilities, nurtures trust, and lays the groundwork for online visibility.
A skilled copywriter sells the client’s brand to the target audience. It acts as a sales rep in print, creating a sense of urgency and convincing the audience to take immediate action. An effective copywriter acts as the last nudge and bridges the gap between a site visitor and a paying customer.
Content writers are more focused on SEO
A copywriter’s focus lies in creating instant gratification. But brands hire content writers primarily to drive and enhance inbound traffic. Besides writing informative content, a content writer also takes measures to rank them among the top search results. So, they are more focused on SEO than a usual copywriter.
Long-form and short-form copies
Another vivid difference between a freelance content writer and a copywriter lies in their writing format.
Content writers usually create long-form copies, like:
- Informative blogs
- Case studies
- E-books
- Print magazines
- Articles
- Newspaper reports
- Newsletters
- Press releases
- Magazine features, etc.
However, a copywriter typically focuses on creating content for:
- Online and offline ads
- Slogans and taglines for brands
- Email marketing campaigns
- Webpage content
- CTAs
- Billboards
- Social media posts
- Jingles, etc.
Content writing involves long-term strategies
We can easily measure the success of a copy through metrics like open rates and click-through rates. But the efficacy of content strategy takes time to drive results.
As discussed, content writers focus on establishing the audience’s trust in the client’s brand. You need to produce a series of well-written content diligently and focus on long-term results.
Copywriters mostly focus their efforts on specific campaigns. Whereas, informative content contains facts and knowledge, has a better shelf life, and thus benefits your marketing initiatives in the long run.
Content writers drive traffic, copywriters turn them into leads
Content writers bring organic traffic to the client’s websites through relevant solutions and effective SEO strategies. Copywriters then turn this traffic into quality leads and sales.
What are the freelance copywriter rates in 2023?
Freelance copywriting is not a job with a specific monthly salary. So, as a beginner, settling on fair freelance copywriter rates for your work may seem overwhelming. What pay range you deserve depends on your expertise, experience, and portfolio.
Here are some general freelance copywriter rates to help you negotiate your payment.
You can charge your clients in three ways:
- Pay per word
- Hourly rates
- Project rates
As an entry-level writer, you can charge $0.3 to $0.7 per word. However, as a freelance copywriter, it is better to prepare hourly rates or quote a payment plan according to each project.
As a beginner, you can charge your clients anything between $15 to $25 an hour. With time, your speed will increase and you can raise your charges accordingly. An expert copywriter typically charges $100 to $150 an hour.
If you decide to charge a flat rate for each project, consider the following aspects:
- The estimated hours you need to complete the project
- Average word count
- How much research is required
- The complications
- The project’s scope
Expert copywriters charge $1,000 to $1,500 for campaign ads, around $5,000 for books and e-books, about $2,000 for landing pages, and between $3,000 to $3,500 for website copies.
Keep these standard rates in mind, make sure you understand the commitment required in freelance copywriter jobs, and quote your rates accordingly.
Conclusion
Copywriting is one of the most flourishing career options with lucrative earning potential. A flair for creative writing is important to have success as a freelance copywriter.
The demand for skilled copywriters is at its peak, which makes it a fairly competitive field. To grow and sustain your success, constant learning is paramount in this career path.
Focus on honing your skills as a writer. Read as much as you can. Make writing a daily habit, whether or not you have ongoing projects. If you want to learn from the experts, there are several online courses available for you to check out. The certificates will boost your credibility with your clients and give you confidence in your abilities.
Lastly, invest time in creating a string portfolio to market your copywriting skills. With dedication, discipline, and patience, you can earn yourself a thriving career as a freelance copywriter and enjoy the independence and flexibility it provides.
FAQs
How to become a freelance copywriter?
The steps to becoming a successful freelance copywriter include:
- Developing your writing skills
- Building a portfolio of work
- Finding clients through networking and job boards
- Setting your rates based on experience and industry standards
- Continuously improving your skills and staying up to date with industry trends
What does a freelance copywriter do?
A freelance copywriter writes content for businesses, such as advertising copy, website content, product descriptions, and more, with the goal of persuading the target audience to purchase.
Is copywriting easy?
No, copywriting is not easy. Picking up the necessary skills is not difficult. But, implementing them to capture the target audience’s attention comes with a learning curve. Also, understanding the market you are writing for may take some time.
What is the average freelance copywriter salary?
A freelance copywriter’s salary averages $61,389 per year according to Indeed and $60,210 per year according to Glassdoor.
How to find freelance copywriter jobs?
To find freelance copywriting jobs, you can search job boards, reach out to potential clients, network with other professionals in your industry, and create a strong online presence through your website and social media profiles.
What pays more: content writing or copywriting?
Copywriting generally pays more than content writing, since it directly affects sales and increases a company’s revenue. However, content writers can also earn well.
