How can you land your first copywriting client as a beginner?

Know thyself. What real problem can you actually solve and for whom? Whose brand does your voice work with/for? It’s important to identify the wrong opportunities so you can avoid them and instead focus your time on the right ones.

There can be 2 ways to look at this bullet. One defines niches by industry, such as health, wealth, relationship, personal development, etc. Again, you can go deep inside each of those broad categories. Another way to define a niche is the "form" of copy you write. For example, you may start with an email copy or an Amazon product description copy. In-app/ mobile notification copy. When you can define your niche by the form of copy, you can widen your client base, and then eventually, you can find out what is the best industry that gives you fulfillment and you truly feel connected with.

My personal experience is all that I’ll share because this is no one size fits all- let that be the take away. A few “general” points: -work on grammar/readability -take a free online class/classes -don’t work for scraps and don’t start this without savings or start it as a side hustle My experience started by writing web copy in every niche for the first few years. By year 2.5, I landed my first big client in Public Relations, and then finally expanded into what I consider to be my niche - healthcare- with 2 more clients. That took time and effort building a portfolio of work from all corners of the Earth, including my own blog. Worth it! Not easy. Don’t listen to anyone who says that it is.

Think about that thing that when someone asks you about it, you could go on and on about. The thing you love talking about and offering advice about. What do you find yourself reading about the most? Don't fall into shiny object syndrome just because you see a successful writer who writes about *their* preferred topic. Be your own voice and write about that which aligns with your values and passions.

I slightly disagree in this I know niche is important but when one is just starting off they don't have to think about niche. They have to focus on just building a habit of writing and doing that they can get client's. Obviously you will not get high paying gigs but you will get clients from different industries and you can take those projects just to build a portfolio and to build your habit of writing. Just focus on forming good readable sentences, try to write in active voice, try connecting one subheading to other and yes use Grammarly. I have got projects done internship from different fields from travel, food to fashion everything then ended up taking tech as a niche. Let your niche naturally come to you figure out what works for you.

Without having had any clients your portfolio will be light but the way to beef it up to to do some pro bono projects and/or mockups for prospects and put them in your portfolio as though they’re existing deliverables.

Here are some helpful tips for building your copywriting portfolio as a beginner: - Write 3-5 spec ads or copy samples for brands you admire. Analyze their voice and messaging and create mock headlines, social posts, landing pages, etc. - Start a blog on Medium/Substack focused on copywriting tips, case studies, and examples of your work. Share and promote it. - Post regularly on LinkedIn and Twitter, sharing copywriting advice and insights. Include #samplesunday posts with draft copy. The key is demonstrating your skills through real or mock client work. Leverage your network and online platforms to build and promote a compelling portfolio!

When starting the journey, you don't have a portfolio, but you have the skills. So, when reaching out to someone, consider writing a piece of copy FOR them, which will showcase your skill and act as a customized portfolio from scratch. Plus, clients will be able to see your work crafted for them and not a random portfolio that may not apply to their business or industry.

Your portfolio will make or break your ability to get hired to write content -- and it's my go-to when deciding whether to include a guest post or when hiring a writer. Here's what I suggest: 1. Research the types of sites you want to write for. Look for shared characteristics like topics, tone of voice, target audience, and readability. 2. Write sample articles on related topics that showcase your ability to deliver on these types of articles, and don't skimp on article length, structure, or SEO. 3. Add-in articles on topics that get you fired up to showcase your own unique POV (point of view) and demonstrate how you can write with a unique voice. I guarantee you there's a brand looking for a voice like yours!

Create a Medium account and start writing about the topic or niche you specialize in. You can also post articles on LinkedIn. You don't need clients to build a portfolio. You just need to start writing and creating different types of content to show a potential client.

Pitch in your posts, in your featured section, gently in comments on others’ relevant content, and more generally just become known in the circles your prospects also participate in.

When it comes to pitching, don't be self-centered and rather think of concept WIIFM ("What's in it for me") from your prospect's point of view. Initially, it may be challenging to get clients but when any of your communication sounds "desperate", it will immediately break the trust of the prospect and they will NEVER respond you.

In addition to looking for writing jobs or pitching guest posts, keep in mind that there are content platforms that are always looking for good writers that have subject matter expertise. You can create a good supplemental income writing for brands that use services like Contently and Skyword (among others). And don't discount gig-related boards. Upwork and Fiverr (and Fiverr Pro) are great sites to showcase your work and land short and long-term writing projects with brands of all sizes.

Provide value. Share what you already know about copywriting that you think will help others. For example: "How to write zippy email subjects that increase your open rates." Do a post on LinkedIn that shows value, which fosters trust.

Pitching is often the hardest bullet on this list. Marketing yourself can be hard! Frame your pitch as how you can help your potential client solve a problem. How is your copywriting could to help them? Often when it's easier for me to think of how I'm helping someone than trying to promote myself. It also helps you to think about what niches you can specialize in, and where you can help others succeed so that you can identify your best clients.

AI can be leveraged in every part of delivering the work. Yes, don't be dependent on AI to get the most brilliant work but use it as your VA. As a non-native speaker/ writer, consider using AI to ensure grammatical accuracy, etc.

DON'T rely on AI! Research the company and its content to understand the brand voice. Set up a questionnaire and understand their goals, systems, procedures, and formatting. Don't be afraid to ask questions or ask for more clarity.

If you can get some testimonials about your work, or if work-related testimonials are not available, see if you can get testimonials that talk about you, such as work ethic, personality, trustability factor, etc. When you are new, people know you may not have good work testimonials, but when they hear what others say about you as a person, it builds trust. Plus, feel free to seek referrals from your first client so that you can get a second client.

If you have had previous employment that had elements of copywriting or transferable skills in that area, ask someone to write you a referral noting your experience in that area.

Over the last 15 years I've spent almost $10,000 on coaching and courses from successful copywriters. I learned more from the Gary Halbert Letters, which you can read online for free (Google it). Read copiously about copywriting, psychology, and marketing. Study email marketing in the wild by putting yourself on every mailing list you can find. Soon you'll develop a bullsh*t detector that will filter out the cheesy garbage that doesn't work. Then make sure you obliterate all of that junk from your own copy. Practice this for six months, and you'll be better than 80% of the people out there who call themselves copywriters.

When you’re a beginner, you don’t need clients, you need a JOB. Go work at an agency where you can get some experience and mentorship. The agency gets the clients, not you. When you’re a junior, they pay you like crap, but you learn the craft. That’s the way it works.

I started freelancing full-time 5 months ago and my top tip is to build your personal brand on LinkedIn. But how? 1. You gotta find your niche, know your stuff, and target the right audience. But, don't hyperniche. For me, I'm into copywriting and AI art. But, I believe in keeping my options open and exploring different creative opportunities. 2. Create. Drop valuable info, tips, and solutions that'll make your target audience go, "Whoa, this person gets me!" 3. Get in the mix with fellow creators and build your tribe of like-minded peeps. Dive into discussions, be an active participant, and put yourself out there. 4. Optimize your profile. Make it easy for people to understand how you can help them. Good luck!

Work your network! Whether you're at an official business event, or having lunch at the local pub, talk to people, tell them what you're doing and why. People love to support smaller businesses and people who know you will already have built that trust bond that is part of the decision process to choose you as a supplier. My first self-employed copywriting job was rewriting the website for my beautician. We got chatting while I was having a treatment and she asked me to do it right there and then. Be confident, be bold, and trust in your abilities.

If you're starting from zero and you want to both learn and build your portfolio FAST, try this: Come up with your own product, and then write ads, social media posts, emails, and a landing page to sell it. Don't spend too much time creating a product. Just sell an ebook you can write in a weekend, a service you already perform, or a random object taking up space in your garage. Years ago, I sold a PDF about yerba mate. I didn't make a lot of money, but I learned a ton about marketing and instantly had a portfolio I could show to prospective clients.

Strongly agree with John Kovacevic: don't go freelance before you have solid work experience in a PR agency, press agency, corporate PR department, publishing house, whatever. These not only allow you to hone your craft and broaden your skills, they also show you the end-to-end processes that copywriting feeds into, which are vital to understanding what clients need.