Work to get work

Get ready: Is your CV up to date? And your portfolio or website? What about your profile? You’ve got one right? On The Dots, LinkedIn, Creativepool, Working Not Working? Get on one of those - or all of those - so people can find you.

And do you know where you want to work? Or who you want to work for? Why? Do your research. Sign up to all the industry newsletters like Little Black Book, Ads Of The World, Adweek, Creative Review, Creative Brief, Creative Moment. See who’s doing what where. Sign up to brand and agency newsletters too – the ones you want to work for – so you always know what they’re up to.

Get informed: See where you fit in and compare your salary or rate expectations - I like the Major Players annual salary review (others are available). And Ross Campbell's brilliant book on freelancing - Good Scary - is so helpful.

And if you think it'll help, get a mentor or business coach. Most people are happy to be asked so find someone who inspires you and see if they have time to talk.

Get going: There’s no time to waste and there’s no need to wait. Take control of your career. Write to the people you want to work for – tell them why them. And why you. Do a quick search on Google, LinkedIn, The Dots and agency websites to find email addresses. Not the generic ones – the specific ones. You want someone to actually get your email.

And email anyone who inspires you. Be interesting and interested. You never know, you might contact someone just as they’re looking for someone like you.

Here's how Emily Ash Powell got to where she is.

Here's how Nikhil Rajagopalan got noticed.

And here's Nathalie Gordon 's brilliant advice to junior creatives - although a lot of it applies to anyone at any level.

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Get social: I know, I know. You don't want to go out. You don't want to go to events or meet-ups where you don't know anyone. It can be awkward. But it can be awesome too. You never know who you might meet. And most people will be in a similar situation to you so you won't feel alone for long. Keep an eye on The Dots x Apple's freelance mixers, see when the next Creative Lives in Progress meet and greet or portfolio review is, and look up #CopywritersUnite on social for copy nights near you.

Can't get out? Or can't afford to get out? Get social online. Look up event listings on The Dots - there are always plenty of free things to go to remotely. And if the event has a live chat, you can be social there - or connect with attendees after.

Get noticed: Write posts, articles, blogs - hell, even write a joke. And share it. Become known for what you know. Talk about your specialist subject, the area you work in - or want to work in - and share it with all the tags and hashtags relevant to that community or category so others see you.

Don't feel ready to write stuff like that? Comment. People are talking online all the time. Join in. It's never been easier to connect with people of all levels, in all areas of business, all around the world.

Get together: Find your community. For example, Sonder & Tell has a Slack chat called The Wordsmiths, Felicity Wild recently created Writers Against The Algorithm and Dan Scott is setting up a group called Creative Brummies.

There's more so spend some time searching for people to connect to. Copywriters support and celebrate each other all day every day all over social - use the #CopywritersUnite hashtag to find them. And Freelancer Magazine is full of UK event listings (and a load of other resources for freelancers). The Dots lists global events too.

Get learning: Got some time on your hands? Maybe you're between jobs or projects. Take the time to keep learning. D&AD Masterclasses and 42 Courses Copywriting Course are some of the best around.

Can't afford anything right now? Learn for free. Watch Copy Cabana talks on YouTube, join The Marketing Meet-Ups and sign up for emails from Tone Knob, Sonder & Tell and Marketing Examples. Listen to Stuff From the Loft, Social Minds, Behind the Billboard and Sweathead wherever you get your podcasts. And follow industry leaders and legends on social.

More resources here.

Get busy: We have all the tools, resources and channels we need to make something. Now. We don't need to ask for permission, respond to a brief, or wait for a job. We can just get on with what we want to do, what we want to create and what we want to show for ourselves.?

So make something. Make the thing you've always thought about making. Write the article you've always thought about writing. And share it with the world. Or look into the campaigns you love, develop them further and share your work with the person, team or agency who worked on the original. Show them what you've got and what you can do.

Get commenting: There are loads of ways to work, network and learn - please add your recommendations in a comment. Perhaps, together, we can create one great resource for whoever needs it.

And let's make it global - most of what's in here is more for copywriters in the UK than anyone anywhere else but with your help, we can make it relevant to everyone everywhere.