A Day in the Life of a Freelance Copywriter

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I started my freelance copywriting business in August 2002, which means I’ve officially entered my 22nd year.

How the heck did that happen?

At the time I embarked on this journey, I was approaching 30—and “pivoting” before “pivoting” was such a common thing. I’d been working in Radio Land since 1994. And even though it was a fun gig, the itch to write never went away.

For me, writing meant writing FICTION. But I quickly learned that I needed something to pay the bills. And so I started looking into this copywriting thing.

Man, I was GREEN.

I made mistakes. ALL THE MISTAKES.

But s l o w l y, I began to figure things out.

It took several years (six to be exact) to build a sustainable copywriting business, one that paid the rent and kept me in wine and Doritos.

Recently, someone asked me about a day in the life of a copywriter. What’s a typical workday like for me? What time do I get up? How many hours do I devote to work-work? What other stuff do I work on? When do I take breaks? Etc.

While this has changed dramatically over the years—and is likely different for every copywriter—I thought it would be fun to record one of my days.

So here it is: A Day in the Life of a Freelance Copywriter (along with her sidekick, a plush sloth named Stewie).

Got a question for the Copy Bitch?

That’s me! I’m the Copy Bitch. No doubt, you’ll have other questions. Hit me up in the comments section on my YouTube channel, or email me.

 

How to Start Copywriting: What Beginners Should Do

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How to start copywriting is one of the most common questions I get as The Copy Bitch. 

Watch my video on this topic. Or scroll past it for my written take.

How to start copywriting: What beginners should do

Before you start copywriting, make sure you have solid writing “chops,” as I like to say. 

Make sure you understand the fundamentals of good writing  (punctuation, grammar, paragraph construction, etc.). You can start by testing your assumptions: Take a free assessment test like this one. This online resource offers free business writing tests as well as online courses.

Make sure you have a reliable computer, Internet access, and software to write the copy.

Google Docs is fine (and free), or Microsoft Office 365 is another good option. (I use both.)

Be a sponge. Soak up everything you can about copywriting. 

Here’s the good news: Plenty of online options exist, including free ones. HubSpot Academy is free. I recommend starting with the Inbound Marketing and Content Marketing certifications. You could bang them out in a weekend.

Practice what you learn. 

Subscribe to a bunch of emails from businesses. (Set up a separate Gmail account strictly for this purpose.) Analyze subject lines. What works? What doesn’t? Challenge yourself to rewrite the subject lines. Ask ChatGPT to rewrite the subject lines and see what you think of what it comes up with—and you could do the reverse. Share your list of subject lines with ChatGPT (after explaining what the business is, etc.) and ask it to provide feedback. (This is a great way to use ChatGPT.)

Do the same with direct mailers, billboards, radio spots, print ads, and business websites. Analyze, analyze, analyze. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Learn, learn, learn. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Also, check out other copywriting exercises for beginners here.

Network online and in person. 

Follow other copywriters. They can be a huge source of inspiration. Follow them on LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and their blogs. Attend networking functions (for writers, marketers, or small businesses, like your local Chamber). Another option that helped me early in my career was Business Networking International.

Be creative in landing your first clients. 

Getting your first copywriting client can feel daunting, but every copywriter once had to land their first paying client. Here’s my video on landing clients. 

Create a simple online presence for your copywriting business to show who you are and samples of your work.

When clients are looking for writers, they want to see examples of good writing. So I highly recommend having a website portfolio, even if you fill it with “fake” copywriting samples (like some of your practice assignments) until you have real client work to showcase. (Because, again, everyone has to start somewhere.)

Consider working with a writing coach.

I follow copywriter Colleen Welsch on social media, and I’ve been impressed with her content. She coaches new copywriters, so she might be someone to chat with.

Got other questions about how to start copywriting? Ask the Copy Bitch!

That’s me! I’m the Copy Bitch. No doubt, you’ll have other questions. Hit me up in the comments section on my YouTube channel, or email me.