For new copywriters, the wealth of information and techniques one needs to remember to write decent copy is often overwhelming. The best way to overcome information overload is spaced learning: Learn things is small chunks.
Today, I have 5 important tips for new copywriters. These tips can be put into action immediately.
Free Tip #1: Yes, you do need a webpage
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You may not find your first client until you have a webpage up on the Internet. The reason for this is clear after you put yourself in your prospect's shoes. Think about this:
If you wanted to hire someone for a high-cost project, wouldn't you expect them to have a website? Perhaps you wouldn't expect the boy down the street who wants to cut your grass to have a website, but you would at least expect your lawyer, real estate agent, and Internet provider to have a website, right?
A website cannot hurt you; it can only add to your professional image, increase your prospects, and boost your eligibility for projects in the *digital* world.
Free Tip #2: Your clients are not your employers
When prospects start contacting you, you may feel that the natural response is to ask them what they need done. In general, your prospects won't usually know what they need, exactly. In many cases, they want to improve their conversions and sales, but aren't sure how to go about it.
To put it succinctly, they came to you for your professional help. They are not hiring you, they are coming to you for assistance. In this case, you have to take the lead.
Don't respond to a client with a simple "what kind of copy do you need done?" Instead, give them a marketing evaluation. Pinpoint their weaknesses and tell them what needs to be done. In many cases, you will be acting as a market consultant before you get the copywriting part.
Free Tip #3: Draw up direct mailing designs
When creating a mailing package, you are going to find that many of the copywriting programs out there recommend to use descriptions of how the direct mailing package should look when finished. You may be able to give clear descriptions, in your own opinion, but many clients will misinterpret your description. This is especially true when working with foreign clients.
Here's my solution: Draw it up.
As long as you draw it well, no one will make the mistake of mislabeling an envelope or putting the package contents into the envelope in the wrong order. If you know that a specific package design will boost sales but suspect that your client may not understand your description, then it is your responsibility to sketch the package out.
Free Tip #4: Niche yourself
If you are a "copywriter," then the whole field of "clients who need copywriters" is open to you. Or so logic should go...
In fact, this is a misconception, especially for new copywriters. You may think that niching yourself narrows the market. However, this could not be further from the truth. Niching yourself opens the market. And here's why:
Before you niche yourself, you are competing with every other "copywriter" out there, including the big names. Why would a client choose you? Because you're cheap? Cheap means low quality and poor experience. Because you try hard? Does try hard mean you are going to produce high conversions? Why should a client take a risk with you?
But niching yourself opens you up to a market of clients who need specific types of copywriting. When you niche yourself as a pet copywriter, you've set yourself apart from the "beginning copywriter." Clients may choose you over experienced copywriters, simply because you know the topic at hand.
In addition, after you niche yourself, you are only competing with copywriters in your field, which tends to be a lot less than the generic copywriter. If you haven't niched yourself yet, you are losing leads.
Free Tip #5: Treat your clients as people, not companies
Although your pay probably comes from the company's budget, your client is typically a single individual. This individual could have chosen from the myriad of other copywriters out there, but he chose you. This makes a relationship.
While you may (and probably should) be introducing and signing a contract with your client, this does not make your client a business. Your client hired you because he wants to boost his company's sales, sometimes for the sake of making himself look good. Help him in this. Happy clients are repeat clients.
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