Becoming a freelance copywriter: 5 lessons I’ve learned from 2 years in business
Ahh, 2020. The year everyone would rather forget holds a special place in my heart, because it’s the year I became a freelance copywriter.
It all started at a desk in my parents’ box room. 2020 had thrown up quite a few surprises (I’m sure I don’t need to remind you), and it felt like the perfect time to follow my gut and do what I really loved: writing. How? I had no idea. But I figured the first step was to register my business. And on that chilly December morning, with no clue what was ahead of me, I took my very first (baby!) steps towards becoming a writer.
Fast forward two years, I’m still freelancing – and loving it!
I’ve worked with some dreamy clients. I’ve honed my skills and diversified my services. But above all, I’ve learned so much about myself. It goes without saying that two years is still rookie territory, but hey, it’s enough to have learned some pretty valuable lessons along the way. So if you’re starting out as a freelance copywriter and feel like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders: trust me, I’ve been there. I hope these lessons can guide you and teach you how to weather any storm.
1. Get ready to wear a whole lot of hats
I was laser-focused on becoming a freelance writer. So much so, that I didn’t even consider all of the other tasks I would need to do to keep this business afloat.
I would love to say that it’s all about getting the deliverables delivered (on time and within budget, obvs). But in my first year, I wasn’t just a copywriter. I was also:
I quickly learned that I was better off outsourcing many of these things ( I’m not sure if I’ll ever forget all the tears I shed trying to do my own taxes). But I’m so glad I had the opportunity to try my hand at social media marketing. I was blown away by how much I loved it, and it’s something I probably wouldn’t have tried out, if it wasn’t for my freelancing biz.
The bottom line: Freelancing opens you up to a world of brand new opportunities – but you can’t do it all! Is your time well spent tinkering with WordPress, or is it faster, cheaper and less headache-inducing to hire a web designer? Only you can make that decision. Be selective about the extra tasks you take on.
2. Diversify your skills
Did you know that I started out as a Spanish to English translator? I spent a few years in Spain and studied translation at university, so it was a natural career path. As I worked on more marketing texts, I fell in love with copywriting – and hey, the rest is history!
I began taking courses on copywriting, SEO, digital marketing, content marketing… You get the picture. I was super curious about these sectors, and I wanted to offer my clients the best service possible.
But there’s another reason I’m suggesting this: you never know when work might slow down in one sector. When some months were quiet with translation work, I was thrilled to have another trick up my sleeve to keep me busy. Now, I’m a copywriter, transcreator, and SEO specialist. Copywriting took up most of my time in 2022. But a few months into 2023, and translation is picking up again.
The bottom line: You absolutely can be a freelance copywriter, and leave it at that. But in my case, I was glad to have a diverse set of skills to keep me going during the quieter months. Think about what skills you could learn to set you apart from the others, and limit your quiet periods.
3. You’re nothing without your network
Is freelancing competitive? Yes and no. When it comes down to it, my fellow copywriters and I are up against one another to land those projects we really want. But they’ve also encouraged me, supported me, and referred me to clients.
It’s really not as cut-throat as you think. In my experience, at least, I’ve found the greatest community of like-minded people who are supportive, helpful, kind and readily available to share their wisdom.
I’ve met incredible colleagues through LinkedIn and Instagram, and also through local networking events. To be honest, I’ve grown so close with some of them that I now proudly call them my friends.
The bottom line: Freelancing can be lonely, so it’s extra important to have a solid crew to rely on. My colleagues are not my competition – they’re my cheerleaders. Having a network is great for venting, support, chatting about common interests, cheering each other on, and of course, referrals.
4. Always celebrate the little things
The amount of times something amazing happened – I landed a new client, or a super interesting project, or I was asked to go on retainer – but I didn’t celebrate. There was always something missing – I should have done more, I should be making more money, X person is doing Y.
We often dwell on the not-so-great things – why didn’t I land that project? How did I make less money this month than last month? While it’s good to be self-aware and figure out how we can improve things, we should be giving as much time (if not more!) to celebrate our wins.
One tip that helps me is to speak to myself the way I’d speak to a friend. Be kind to yourself, focus on the good, and for God’s sake, put the stick down! Freelancing isn’t easy, so give yourself some credit and think about how far you’ve come.
The bottom line: It’s a cliche, but comparison truly is the thief of joy. Get into the habit of celebrating your achievements, no matter how small.
5. Just keep going
People often compare freelancing to a rollercoaster, and honestly, they’re not wrong. You experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (and if you’re anything like me, often within a few hours of each other).
It’s hard not to panic when you lose a client, or don’t know where your next paycheck will come from. Sometimes when things weren’t going well, I’d convince myself it just wasn’t worth the tears and stress, and that I was delusional to carry on.
But hey, sometimes a little delusion can be a good thing, and stops you from throwing in the towel. Now, I have a rule: just give it one more day. Bad days are inevitable, so make sure you’ve got support around you.
Looking back on my experience so far, I can safely say that the rollercoaster never stops – you just learn to manage it better.
The bottom line: Don’t let a bad day end your business. Figure out what your absolute limits will be, and squirrel away some savings to keep you going during the hard times.
It’s not easy, but it’s worth it
Freelancing looks different on everyone, but one thing’s for sure – it’s a constant learning process. It’s a role that will teach you so much about life, and how you deal with the good and the bad.
Becoming a freelance copywriter has been (and will continue to be) such a journey, but I’m so glad I took that leap of faith that December morning. And I can’t wait to see what the next few years have in store.
2 thoughts on “Becoming a freelance copywriter: 5 lessons I’ve learned”
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I love it! I relate to it so much. I felt every word you said
Thanks so much for sharing your perspective, Agatha! You are absolutely not alone in this.