Freelance Copywriting 101

The opportunities afforded to freelance copywriters are attracting a lot of attention these days. If freelance copywriting interests you, then you should take a look at what it takes to be a freelance copywriter.

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 a client will persist on a particular idea; if they don't budge then you need to learn how to compromise without surrendering. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience. But there are always going to be clients who do not compromise and it is best to know when to get out of these situations. They are not worth the money or the trouble.

2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always be polite with your client and listen to their desires intently. You need to be persistent on two accounts: Looking for work, and sticking by your ideas. This will help your success greatly.

3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.

4. Take time to relax. Getting away from a stressful work environment is one of the main reasons copywriters switch to freelancing. So make sure not to make your new work environment equally as stressful! Set aside time to relax, write it into your schedule and stick to it. Not only will this help you lead a happier life, but consistent relaxation will also help you write better. So in the end, you'll be more productive, happier and writing better copy if you take time to rest.

5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.

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 honest work ethics. You need to be a person of love, honor and integrity. Therefore, don't make any promises you can't keep. Be honest with your clients. Tell them if you're failing to meet a requirement and try to make it up to them. Never give moral ground in order to gain economic prosperity, and always be ethical when conducting business arrangements.

8. Be a good businessperson. Freelance copywriters run their own businesses and therefore have to manage their business well. Make sure to read-up on operating a small business and learn about your rights as a small business owner.

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. Do not take rejections personally. Your personal worth and intrinsic value is not determined by what you do or how much money you make. Therefore try to keep a professional composure when clients reject you and do not take it personally. There are plenty of reasons that a client can reject your bid that has nothing to do with your ability to write good copy.

10. Do not miss deadlines. This is very important. Missing deadlines will crush your chances at success. Therefore you have to learn to manage your time well.

Hopefully this article helped you better understand the word of freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there if you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting.

For an inside look at the techniques of a sought-after web copywriter, visit the site of Copywriter Ray Edwards. There you'll find a daily podcast, video tutorials and free copywriting advice.