Easy Earning

There can be few things as infuriating for a copywriter, or for any creative type for that matter, as having the creation of your sweat and tears criticised by a client. Whilst the temptation is to throw your laptop out of the window or question whether they’ve fully appreciated the intricacy of your words, learning to respond objectively to criticism is one of the key skills a copywriter has to learn.

Writing is a deeply personal process in which you read through the brief, conduct your research and then carefully compose a message carved by your fingers and sculpted by your brain. When you think you’ve understood the benefits, identified the target and then delivered the message with laser guided accuracy, you assume that one run should be enough.

Editing is integral to great copywriting

Moulding a message in a style and form that the client finds attractive can take several attempts. Criticism will always feel like an affront to your ability as a writer, but it can be easier to cope with once you’ve accepted that editing is a natural part of the writing process.

Whilst you might have to go for a quick run to calm down, when you receive criticism of your copy look at it as an opportunity to find out what you can do to get it closer to what the client wants in the next draft.

Once your blood has returned to its normal temperature, respond by thanking the client for their feedback and asking what you need to do to get the copy right. As a writer you can adjust your style and tone at will, and working out how to fashion your message in a style your client will admire is an opportunity to show off your talent.

Tips for nailing copy early on

* After you’ve conducted your research, send the client a questionnaire to identify their key selling points and what differentiates them from the competition.
* Ask the client to provide examples of the style of writing they’re looking for, which competitors’ copy do they think hammers home the message and that they would like not only replicated, but improved.
* Provide drafts of the first sections early on so you know whether you’re on the right track and wont have to rewrite from scratch later on.
* If you’re asked to provide a slogan or headline, jot down as many ideas as you can and then ask the client to comment on which ones they’d like developed. This narrows you down to a particular pen, rather than an entire field to run around in.
* Don’t phone and ask for feedback but wait for an email. Criticism is like a knife to the heart, and you don’t want the client to hear your enthusiasm gush from your body when they first stick it in. An email also gives you the opportunity to be able to walk away from your laptop and breath into a paper bag before responding.

Follow these steps, ask plenty of questions and remember to thank the client for their feedback, because making them happy has to come before keeping your creative ego intact.

Copy writing is a lot like many jobs, it can be easily learned. All you need is determination, patients and a portfolio. Making a portfolio is the easy part, and will require you to choose some topics that you would like to write about, research the subjects, and write about them. Continue this, as many times as you like, the more work that you have in your portfolio the better your chances of finding work will be.

You may also want to submit some of the articles in your portfolio to free to submit article sites to get recognition and a place to send people to see your writing skills. When you submit your articles to free to submit sites they will always remain in your name, although they are free for other people to use on their websites, which means even more exposure for you.

What You Need To Know About Writing An Article

There are a few rules that seem to be universal over the Internet when you are copywriting. The number one rule is that your work must always be original, that means you cant copy or paste any one elses articles or content from their websites, and put your name on it.

Article size is also important; you should aim for articles over 500 words, and under 1,000 words. Some where in this range will provide the reader the chance to see your talent, but not get bored or eyestrain from reading your work.

Keywords are important in any writing for the web that you do. A keyword defines the entire articles meaning. So if you are writing about how to make Strawberry jam, your keywords would more than likely be Strawberry jam.

Keyword density is also important to some people. If you are not sure what keyword density is, then I will explain. Keyword density is the amount of times that a keyword (Strawberry Jam) appears per 100 words. If your density were 5% then you would need to use your keyword 5 times per 100 words. Beware of keyword stuffing, this is when the keyword is used too many times, and begins to make very little sense.

Where Can I find Real Paying Jobs?

There are places over the Internet that get clients in touch with copywriters. Most of these sites will offer you a free account, and allow you to bid on projects. When you are bidding on a project it is a quote for the cost to do the project, and the cost for you to accept the project. Just like a contractor who is building an extension on your home. When you bid on a project you can also submit some of your work from your portfolio for the client to see. The main thing to remember with these sites is that you are not allowed to share your contact details with the clients until you have been chosen for the project.

These sites are strict about not sharing your details for a number of reasons the main one is to protect you from not getting paid for your work, and the client from paying you and not receiving the work you promised to do. These sites offer a service called escrow, which allows someone else to hold the money until the project is completed. That way you are guaranteed your money, and the client is guaranteed their articles.

Mike Hooker is a rarity in his field: He knows cars and he knows how to write about them. He recently launched his own copywriting business, The Automotive Copy Pro, to help automotive high-performance and restoration parts manufacturers increase their return on investment (ROI). Because he has extensive experience with cars, he’s a one-stop shop for marketing, public relations, customer service, sales and direct response writing. Working many years in the auto repair industry, earning a college degree in automotive technology, and being a life-long hotrod enthusiast establish Hooker as an expert in his field. “Once a gearhead, always a gearhead,” he says. A car enthusiast’s desire for more automotive training, for more hands-on experience turning wrenches and for more association with other ‘hotrodders,’ is addiction at worst and infatuation at best. “It’s difficult to explain to those who aren’t hooked on horsepower.” He elevated his automotive knowledge by combining it with his writing practice. “It’s a way to be involved in the high-performance automotive world and the writing community at the same time,” he adds. “The best copywriter will make life easier for business owners and department heads by saving them money and giving them more time to focus on their business.” Hooker said. “The goal of any copywriter should be to help businesses communicate effectively with their target audience, to increase leads and to make sales.” The Automotive Copy Pro helps improve the written materials, online and off, for businesses that manufacture parts for the automotive high-performance aftermarket; i.e., hot rods, street rods, street machines, customs, muscle cars, custom pickup trucks, off-road vehicles, and restorations.