As a copywriter, how do you overcome the most common challenges in your work?

Feeling uninspired is something many creative individuals, particularly copywriters, can relate to. Staring at a blank page or Word document can be quite disheartening. During these moments, having a swipe file filled with our favorite copies can be incredibly beneficial. I find it to be a great source of inspiration. By rearranging headlines or sentences to fit our products or services, we often gain fresh perspectives on how to approach our writing. Watching some interesting ads or web series also has the power to get us new ideas. Another inspirational area is Reading. I take some interesting lines from the books I read. And also write some aspects I can use.

Brainstorming Sessions: Engage in brainstorming sessions to generate ideas. Change of Environment: Move to a different workspace or take a break to refresh your mind. Freewriting: Write without any specific goal to stimulate creativity. Inspiration Boards: Create visual inspiration boards to spark creativity. Read Widely: Explore content from various genres and industries to fuel your creativity. Mind Mapping: Use mind maps to visually organize ideas and connections.

Reading is the key to getting inspiration. It may sound odd, but when you start reading the work of other relevant writers in any particular niche, your brain starts producing ideas related to your work. Initially, it feels as if you are copying someone else, be patient and give some time to your thought process. It is the time when your brain will guide you on how you can extract a new idea from that old stuff.

We all experience a lack of inspiration once in a while. What I usually do in a situation like this is to imagine that someone is sitting right in front of me and I need to speak to her. Like this, I'm able to write the way I speak which allows me to flow freely. This is not the time to think about grammatical errors, I just write. Then, I would drop my pen and move to a completely different task or just play a game. By the time I come back few hours later, I would get my creative juices flowing again. I think this method can work for anyone.

When you're stuck, get curious about your audience. What do they like or need? Look at what others are doing, but be different. Use simple tools like mind maps or lists to think of new ideas. Don't worry about making it perfect at first. Just start writing and see where it takes you.

It is one of the most common issues that every writer has to face, i.e. facing tight deadlines. But this is how everyone works. Without setting any deadline no work can be completed. If you do not give yourself any target to achieve, you will never do anything. Break big work assignments into small and achievable pieces. It will give you a sense of accomplishment after completing every piece of work and a feeling that you are going nearer to your target

Setting a deadline that precedes the actual due date by two days has proven to be a valuable practice for me. helps me review the copy thoroughly. Choosing the right projects is crucial. Avoid taking on tasks beyond your abilities to prevent becoming overwhelmed. It's essential to match your skills and capacity with the work you accept to ensure successful outcomes. Communicate with the clients if we need more time, as it is a creative process if we work quickly, quality might get compromised. I allocate specific timeframes for research, analysis, writing, and editing, ensuring a systematic approach. Minimizing distractions by turning off notifications and disconnecting from Wi-Fi helps me focus better and meet deadlines effectively.

Copywriting is always a skill of improvement. So being open to feedback is a must to create a high-quality copy. But only engage in constructive criticism. Feedback and review are integral parts of the copywriting process. Viewing them as opportunities to enhance your work not only benefits the client, potentially leading to increased compensation but also strengthens your expertise and credibility. In instances where differences arise between your perspective and the client's, attentive listening is key. Communicate your stance with factual evidence to foster understanding and alignment. This collaborative approach ensures that the final product meets both the client's objectives and your professional standards.

Admit it or not, we all face the problem of imposter syndrome. Self-doubt is real and hits you hard when you see people doing great in their respective fields but that does not make you less capable of what you can do. Instead, take it as a motivation to keep working on your skills. No one in this world is perfect or becomes the best overnight, consistent hard work and persistence towards your goal is the key to success. Keep reminding yourself that you will be better after persistently following your set path

Feeling like you're not good enough is common, but don't let it hold you back. Remember what you're good at and celebrate your wins, no matter how small. Ask for feedback from people you've worked with... They'll remind you of your impact. Keep learning to get better and find a group of writers to share the ups and downs with. You're not alone; even the best have doubts. Just keep going!

No lie, when I’m stuck, I ride my bike. I’ve talked to other writer/cyclists about this and they say the same thing. 25-30 minutes into a bike ride, the answer or inspiration comes. Then you stop, send yourself the ideas in a frantic email, and enjoy the rest of the ride. I’m sure running or walking or other physical activity similarly spurs the idea mill.

When in doubt... write! If you find yourself stuck in any aspect of copywriting, the simple act of putting words on a page, even if those words are never going to be a part of your final draft, can give you the spark you need to actually make progress.

Some common copywriting challenges: Imposter Syndrome - years of experience will alleviate this, but in the meantime immerse yourself in others' stories whether it's a TED talk or having drinks with another creative Not Having a Clue What You're Doing - chances are you're actually doing fine, and if you're missing the mark the client will let you know (Which is great news! Now you have super clear direction.) Wishing You Were a Novelist Instead - Also great news, you can still do this! Write one word at a time during your lunch break, after dinner, or steal 20 minutes at 2 a.m.