Top Life Lessons I Learned from Copywriting

After losing my job in the consumer electronics field during the "Great Recession," I struggled to find another job. After almost two years of searching, even for employment in other industries, I was still unemployed. Frustrated, I decided to parlay my skill with social media, my experience with topics like personal finance and travel, and my hobby of writing, and create my own job as a freelance copywriter.

Self-employed for two years and following my passion and talents, I am currently clearing at least what I made when I had a regular paycheck working 40 hours a week for someone else. I've learned the following five life lessons from this experience; and these lessons apply in both my professional and personal life.

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail

While it is impossible to foresee every contingency, it certainly pays to plan ahead. A large part of my success at being able to make a living at my dream job came down to planning for a "rainy day." When I was still working for a traditional employer, I planned for the eventuality that something would happen and I might not have that job. 

I watched my expenses and saved for several years so that I would have some savings to draw on should something come up. Without this planning, I would not have had savings to live on and pay my bills while I built my business. No matter how talented you are, or how many connections you may have, if you want to be self-employed in any business, there will be lean times, especially when you first start your business.

Reconnaissance is a Key Part of Any Successful Plan

Whether you are the CEO of a Fortune 500 company that's getting ready to develop and market the next "gotta have it" hit product, a general that's conducting a war, a job seeker looking for a new career or are a self-employed entrepreneur, doing the research, or "reconnaissance" is the key to the success of any plan or plans.

I knew several months before I lost my job that my company was facing a downturn in sales and tough market and that my job was in jeopardy. I also knew that it would be tough to find a new job in my area and I didn't want to relocate, and I had dreamed of being a published author. I didn't want to lose my job, but I told myself that if I did, and couldn't find another one, then I had no excuse to not take a chance on my dreams.

I didn't just leave my dreams in the planning stage or just "floating out there" in the ether of my thoughts, I started researching professions in the writing and communications industry and opportunities for freelance writers well before I lost my traditional job. I researched markets for information about how to get my foot in the door writing for publications. While I originally wanted to be a fiction writer, I soon realized that this was a risky proposition. 

I found through research that there is a great need for original, well-written content for technical publications as well for websites, blogs, and other content providers. From there it was merely a matter of finding potential clients that needed content in areas that I have unique or extensive knowledge, and writing and submitting my work.

Never Give Up

When I first started, my work was more like a hobby than a regular business, and I was lucky if I cleared $50 to $100 a month. Luckily I had built up some savings while I was previously employed, that tided me over until I built up my reputation and clientele. Even though it was difficult, deep down inside I believed in myself, and my dream, and I knew that if I kept giving it my all I would reap what I had sown for my efforts.

"Showing Up Consistently" is Also a Key to Success

In both our business and professional lives, a key part of being successful is keeping our word. If you say you are going to do something, then you should do it, consistently. This means that you under promise and over deliver to your clients, regardless of the circumstances, and perform your work to the highest standards. A loved one isn't going to think you are very thoughtful if you stand them up for a date, and an employer or client will be even less tolerant. 

I found that planning and setting realistic goals was crucial to accomplishing this, as in the beginning I did make some commitments to produce content within certain time frames, and then due to circumstances was unable to deliver. Luckily, this happened after I had been writing for one client for a while, and I offered an extensive discount to make up for the shortfall. I then made more realistic projections when accepting assignments so that this did not happen again. If I had not learned this lesson and made adjustments, it would have cost me a lot of goodwill and ultimately led to the failure of my business. 

It doesn't matter how creative, talented or attractive you are, or how good your reasons are, if you can't deliver and stand up a client or friend often enough, they will walk away.

If You Don't Enjoy it, it's Not Worth it

As I built my reputation and clientele, I started getting several offers from various new clients that paid a lot more money than some of my earlier clients and assignments. Some of these opportunities were a good match for my knowledge and skill set, but others had me slaving away at the keyboard and researching and writing about topics I disliked. While it did cost me a bit of a monetary set back, I did learn that sometimes the best way to have a good life and enjoy one's work is to say "no" to clients and assignments that were too costly in terms of time and effort. 

Sometimes, 2 or 3 smaller clients that are easier to deal with are better for your business and sanity than 1 large client that is always difficult or a hassle to deal with, even if they pay more money. If you are able to meet your expenses and operate at a profit, sometimes it really is best to say no to the money if you are being paid to do work you just don't enjoy. 

Life is too short, and our time too precious, to spend it by working in a job or for a client that leaves us frustrated or unfulfilled.

How to Make a Living Freelance Writing - 5 Tips to Get Started Copywriting

By Lyn Brooks, Contributor

Do you love writing, but are perhaps under the impression that it's too difficult to make a living doing something that you enjoy? Read this article for tips on how to get started making a living as a freelance copywriter. 

In the past, owning up to your friends and relatives that you are employed in one of the "creative professions" was a guaranteed way to inspire eye-rolls and head shakes. After all, everyone "knows" that being an artist or worse- a writer- is just code for being a bit of an underachiever and living off of the kindness and largess of others.

At least, this is the attitude that I was confronted with when I was growing up. Long ago I lost count of how many times I was admonished to "be practical" and go into a field that was "steady and reliable."

You can, however, make a decent living as a freelance writer, even if you don't manage to produce the next big screenplay or fiction novel. The following are 5 tips to get you started.

Portfolio

Building a portfolio of your published work is the number one requirement that you must work towards to be successful at freelancing as a writer. Regardless of one's profession, we've all heard this frequent refrain, "how can I get hired to gain experience if I don't already have experience?" This is especially true in the writing field.

It can be tough to break into the field of copywriting, and everyone is seemingly "from Missouri" and expects you to "show" them, up front, that you have the skills and experience necessary to do the job. To be successful, you need to actively seek opportunities to build a portfolio of your published work.

While there is little to no pay in the beginning, starting a blog can be a great way to hone your writing skills and build your portfolio. When you start a blog, you will want to pick a topic that you know well, and regularly post original, unique and interesting content. This will build your readership.

Posting comments on other blogs that allow you to list your website is also a great way to build your readership, and you may even attract the attention of the site's owner or editor and be invited to guest post on their site, which is another opportunity to build your portfolio.

Many sites also offer writers an opportunity to post short pieces around specific topics. While most of these also do not offer upfront payment, some offer performance pay and are also a great way to build a body of work that displays your talents and abilities.

Network

Once you have started to build your portfolio, let others know that you are available for writing projects. You would be surprised at the number of people that you may already know that need someone on a temporary, contract basis to rewrite some content or even create the content for their landing pages, sales circulars or brochures.

Look into sites such as Elance, Odesk, Fiverr and others that offer writers an opportunity to list their services and to bid on jobs. Craigslist also posts writing opportunities, and if you have a favorite website, research them to discover whether or not they accept submissions.

Be on Time

Being successful as a writer is like many other types of employment, you need to be on time. Missing deadlines is a surefire way to lose clients, so whenever you get an assignment, make certain that you complete it on time. Most editors use editorial calendars with short lead and turnaround times, and most will remember if you are late or fail to turn in an assignment.

Set a Regular Writing Schedule and Stick to It

While writing offers a certain amount of leeway when it comes to setting your schedule, if you want to earn enough to make a living in this field, you should treat it as an actual job and work as diligently as you would if you worked in an office for another employer. Set a regular schedule for when you will not be available for errands, chats or hanging out, and make certain that your friends and family help you stick to your schedule by not interrupting your work.

Be Persistent and Keep Trying

The most important tip to becoming a successful freelance writer is to not give up. Regardless of how many times you are rejected, or how many times a client may ask you to rewrite a piece, don't give up. Be determined. With organization, networking, and persistence, you can build a portfolio of your published works and regular clients that will enable you to make a decent living as a writer.

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