If you want to start your career as a copywriter, you need to have some experience in writing persuasive and engaging content for different audiences and platforms. But how can you gain that experience without landing a job first? Here are some of the best ways to practice and improve your copywriting skills before you apply for your dream position.
One of the most important things you need to showcase your copywriting abilities is a portfolio of your work. You can create your own portfolio by writing samples of different types of copy, such as blog posts, landing pages, emails, ads, social media posts, and more. You can either write for fictional clients or use real ones as inspiration. Make sure to include a variety of niches, tones, and formats to demonstrate your versatility and creativity.
Portfolio first or job? The answer seems to revolve around that chicken egg dilemma. Well, you can’t create a portfolio if you don’t have a job, and you can’t have a job without a portfolio. This might seem like true, but doesn’t need to be in your case. I have a 10 day plan for you: - Go out there and examine at least 100 copies in 10 days. - Take these ten days and set a target to create at least 10 copies every single day. - Find out the ten most dominating industries in the market and dedicate each day to that. - Break down every single industry into at least 5 subcategories or niches and dedicate each piece of copy, or 2 copies, to every subcategory. Tada, you’ll have a portfolio ready!
Gain copywriting experience by freelancing on platforms like Upwork, interning at agencies, and creating content on blogs or social media. Take online courses, participate in challenges, and seek feedback for continuous improvement. Network with professionals, attend workshops, and offer your services to non-profits. Build a diverse portfolio showcasing various formats. Read extensively, stay adaptable, and be persistent. These experiences will hone your skills, boost your confidence, and prepare you for a successful copywriting career.
Write online. Use LinkedIn, Medium and your own website's blog as your portfolio. That's how I grew my freelance writing experience long before I ever got a client. You will also naturally build up your own skills as you market your business. Never do pro bono / free work. You'll only cheapen your value. If anything, charge for outcomes, not hourly rates when you begin. Building your portfolio doesn't have to be difficult. Just get writing.
If you are a beginner, doing spec ads is a great way to create a portfolio. Be as creative as you can, go wild, showcase your range. Before you know it, you’ll have a portfolio as a beginner, even without having your first job.
For polishing copywriting skills well and to be aligned with market trends, an "internship" would be my top choice. Internships make a person, witness every norm with a very keen eye.
Another way to gain copywriting experience is to start your own blog or newsletter on a topic that interests you. This will help you develop your voice, style, and personality as a writer, as well as your research, editing, and SEO skills. You can also use your blog or newsletter as a platform to share your insights, opinions, and tips on copywriting and related topics. This will help you build your authority, credibility, and network in the industry.
If you do your blog correctly, and it performs well, you'll also be able to show the data of how your writing performs online. Having a blog also gives you a space to practice and test SEO and marketing techniques at low risk. For example, I have a blog that I started a 10 years ago. I used it to practice SEO techniques I learned from my current roles to see if they worked. Today, my site gets thousands of monthly visitors. I was able to use that data and those developed techniques as a selling point for employers looking to hire me.
Launch a blog or newsletter on a topic you're passionate about to hone your copywriting skills. Develop your unique voice, style, and personality while refining research, editing, and SEO abilities. Share insights on copywriting and related subjects to establish authority and expand your network, showcasing your expertise and building credibility in the industry.
If you love writing and establish yourself in copywriting industry, you don't need to enroll yourself in any course. Just make an account on LinkedIn and blog on Medium. Update it regularly. Share your stories and write about topics in which you have interest. The more your write, the better writer you'll become with time.
Starting your newsletter is a good way to build your copywriting skills and expertise. And it's also an essential skill component of email marketing. If you have been writing for some time and want to start your newsletter, start by choosing an email marketing platform. Research on platforms like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit and more. Choose the one suitable for you and roll with it. Start writing weekly newsletters (even if you only have a few subscribers). This is ESSENTIAL to build your writing skills. Create organic content on platforms like LinkedIn, X or Medium. Then, slide in your newsletter opt-in link. It will be a long process, but a worthwhile one too.
If you want to learn from the experts and get feedback on your work, you can take online courses or workshops on copywriting and related skills. There are many free and paid options available, depending on your level, budget, and goals. You can learn the basics of copywriting, such as how to write headlines, hooks, benefits, calls to action, and more. You can also learn advanced techniques, such as how to write for different media, audiences, and purposes, how to optimize your copy for conversions, and how to test and measure your results.
There are so many mediocre courses. When enrolling in a copywriting course, ensure the mentor has the experience and a portfolio that indicates their expertise. Choose courses from the top 1% in the industry.
Enroll in online courses or workshops to learn from experts and receive valuable feedback on your copywriting. Choose from a variety of free and paid options based on your level, budget, and goals. Master the basics, including crafting compelling headlines, hooks, benefits, and calls to action. Advance your skills by learning to write for diverse media, audiences, and purposes, optimizing for conversions, and implementing effective testing and measurement strategies. These courses will equip you with the knowledge and techniques needed for a successful copywriting career.
For sure, Taking online courses or workshops can be a game-changer when it comes to gaining copywriting experience before diving into your career. It's like having a personal tutor right at your fingertips, guiding you through the ins and outs of the craft. These courses are often taught by seasoned copywriters who really know their stuff. They'll walk you through the fundamentals of copywriting, from persuasive writing techniques to crafting attention-grabbing headlines. You'll gain a strong foundation that sets you up for success.
One of the best ways to gain copywriting experience is to join online communities and forums where you can interact with other copywriters, marketers, and entrepreneurs. You can ask questions, share your work, get feedback, offer advice, and learn from others' experiences and challenges. You can also find opportunities to collaborate, network, and pitch your services to potential clients. Some of the popular online platforms for copywriters are Copyblogger, Copyhackers, The Copywriter Club, and Reddit.
Become part of online communities and forums to enrich your copywriting experience. Engage with fellow copywriters, marketers, and entrepreneurs to seek advice, share your work, and gain valuable feedback. Learn from others' experiences, challenges, and success stories. Explore collaboration opportunities, expand your network, and even pitch your services to potential clients. Platforms like Copyblogger, Copyhackers, The Copywriter Club, and Reddit are excellent spaces for connecting with like-minded professionals and staying updated on industry trends. Active participation in these communities can enhance your skills and open doors to exciting opportunities in the field of copywriting.
If you want to gain real-world experience and make a positive impact, you can volunteer or freelance for non-profits or small businesses that need copywriting help. You can offer to write content for their websites, newsletters, social media, brochures, or campaigns. You can also help them with their branding, messaging, and strategy. This will help you build your portfolio, testimonials, and referrals, as well as your confidence and skills as a copywriter.
Gain practical experience and make a positive impact by volunteering or freelancing for non-profits or small businesses in need of copywriting support. Offer your services for tasks such as website content, newsletters, social media, and campaigns. Assist with branding, messaging, and strategy to contribute to their success. This hands-on approach allows you to build a robust portfolio, gather testimonials, and earn referrals while enhancing your confidence and copywriting skills through real-world projects.
In the beginning, you get clients who are not willing to pay much or want you volunteer them. I would suggest you write for them. Pitch local NGOs and ask them if you can write blog on specific topic or write social media copies for them. You can even be the part of their volunteer program and gain experience. Use that experience to build your portfolio.
Volunteering can be a fantastic way to gain some serious copywriting experience before diving into your career. It's like a win-win situation where you get to sharpen your skills while helping out organizations that could really benefit from your expertise. When you volunteer you're getting hands-on experience that you just can't replicate in a classroom. You'll be working on real projects, creating impactful copy for their websites, social media campaigns, or fundraising materials. It's an opportunity to see your words come to life and make a difference in the world. My advice to you is this: working on free projects takes a lot of effort. I want you to know that you can still become a successful copywriter without volunteering.
I started off at a local monthly magazine as a contributing writer. I didn't make anything, but I wrote 12 articles in the year I was there. I used them as references to my writing for a long time before getting paying writing gigs. Start looking for volunteer writing opportunities before you even graduate from college or start looking for paying jobs. Even though you're giving your free time, you're still getting the experience you need to get started in any writing role.
I started copywriting by publishing on Twitter every single day. Why is the best? - You get a platform to try out your learnings - You simultaneously observe big creators - You can get feedback from other creators Keep iterating until you've built a portfolio of your best pieces. Once you've grown a little audience, made a portfolio, start reaching out to land real gigs! Remember, no gig is too small or too big when you're starting out. Collecting experience and learning from it is all that matters.
I'd say start with picking one platform. Either LinkedIn or Twitter. I started with Twitter — It helped me write concisely without sacrificing the message because of the character limits. LinkedIn is good too, if you know how to tell more in less. The best part about starting on socials is the instant feedback. The distribution is free. The marketing is free. The reach is free. You don't have to pay anything. So, your getting better game starts improving.
Consider diversifying your writing portfolio by exploring various industries and formats. Experiment with different tones, styles, and mediums to showcase your versatility. Stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies, as this knowledge can give your copy a contemporary edge. Additionally, don't underestimate the power of networking; attend industry events, webinars, and conferences to connect with professionals and stay informed. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning, as the field of copywriting is dynamic and evolves with the changing landscape of marketing and communication.
Practice. Practice. Practice. Take the first step through imitation. You shouldn't straight out copy other people's copy. But, it helps to begin with trying to mimic the people who do it best. It'll help you improve tenfold. Keep doing it, and soon enough, you'll notice stark differences between your current work and your earliest attempts. I also recommend installing the free version of Grammarly for punctuation and spelling corrections. But don't keep it on while you write. It's best to limit the tool for editing only after you're done with a piece. Wishing the best of luck to you all!