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Some FAQs for Aspiring CopywritersI get an email at least once a week from aspiring copywriters seeking advice on how to get a foothold in the industry. It's obviously a popular topic, so I thought I'd put some of the more common questions and answers on paper in the hopes that it might provide a bit of an insight.Q: What does a copywriter do in a typical day? A: This question is very comprehensively answered in http://www.divinewrite.com/adayinthelifeof.htm , to summaries, copywriters do some or all of the following: „X meet with prospective clients ("prospects") or talk with them on the phone to sell your services to them (freelancers only) „X liaise with clients to take a brief (learn what the client needs from the copy, who the audience is, what benefits the client offers their customers, etc.) „X research the subject matter „X plan the structure and approach of the writing „X write the piece „X liaise with the client through the review process (the client reviews the work and the copywriter fixes whatever needs fixing - so long as it's not out of scope, e.g. a new requirement) „X get the client to sign off (approve) the job „X invoice the client (freelancers only) „X chase payment of invoice (freelancers only) „X process the payment using an accounts package (freelancers only) „X keep detailed records of all correspondence and activities throughout the process „X manage the business (freelancers only - including manage your IT systems, accounting, create and maintain a website, create advertising materials, writing proposals, generate a search engine ranking, maintain a database of contacts, etc.) Q: What are the working conditions like? A: Most copywriters work either for themselves ("freelancing") or for advertising or web design agencies ("employees"). Freelancers tend to work from home, but may sometimes work at the client's workplace. Employees almost always work at the client's workplace. Conditions for freelancers tend to be pretty relaxed (they're at home, after all!!!). I haven't worked at an agency, but I suspect things are a little different there. Q: What is the pay like? A: I've heard of freelance copywriters being paid by the article at a rate of USD $12 per 600 word article (seems ridiculous to me!). I believe these people were college students looking for a way into the copywriting industry. At the other end of the spectrum, talented freelancers who treat writing as a serious business can earn in excess of USD $100,000 per year. I think that agency copywriters tend to earn somewhere in between these figures, maybe averaging between USD $35,000 - $70,000. Q: What skills do I need? A: A copywriter needs to be able to write very well in many different styles (from short 1-2 line ads through to long 3000 word articles). They also need to be able to adapt to heaps of different subjects (from IT to kitchen surfaces to accounting to nutritional supplements to cars). They need to be organized and hard-working, with an eye for detail and an understanding of writing for different media (website, brochures, radio, TV, etc.). Freelancers need good business sense, an understanding of search engines, some ability with IT systems, and patience. They also need to accept that they're gonna be poor for the first 2 years! Q: What education do I need? A: Formal education never hurts, and often helps. But it's no guarantee of success. If a copywriter has all of the above skills, they won't need formal training in writing. Also, in my humble opinion, you can't train to become a writer; you're either a writer or you're not. Training can sharpen certain skills, and teach new styles, etc., but if you don't have 'the flow' when you start the course, it's unlikely you'll have it when you finish. Q: Do I need a website? A: Yes! The best place for any freelance advertising copywriter or website copywriter to start is to fork out for a website. A website is invaluable because when you cold call and email prospects, you¡¦ll need to direct them somewhere that gives them more information. Q: What should I include on my website? A: Keep it simple, include a portfolio page, add any samples of any sort of copywriting you've done, talk about the places you've worked, the clients you¡¦ve written for, and include any testimonials you¡¦ve received. Make sure you include your address and contact details as well, so people don't think you're a fly-by-night operation. Of course, it doesn't hurt to include a photo either. If you can't say much about your experience, don't say much. It doesn't even really matter if you don't say anything. Remember, just like any other form of advertising copywriting, writing about yourself requires the art of subtlety. If you lack experience, but you¡¦re confident you can do the job, you can be very clever in what you don't say, and most people will read it the way you intended. Q: Should I target agencies? A: If you¡¦ve never worked as an advertising copywriter or website copywriter before, don¡¦t target advertising agencies and web design agencies. They know exactly what they¡¦re after, so if you don¡¦t have a portfolio, you won¡¦t stand a chance. Target end-clients directly. Q: Should I cold call? A: Yes. One of the best ways of generating business in the early days is to cold call potential end-clients. It¡¦s hard work and very time consuming, but you can generate some very qualified leads. For more information on cold calling, take a look at http://www.divinewrite.com/coldcallingcopywriter.htm . Q: Should I write samples? A: Yes. If you¡¦re targeting specific clients or industries, don¡¦t be afraid to write a few samples and send them through. You can offer the pieces free of charge (everyone likes something for nothing) or at a discount, or you can use it as an incentive to sign them up for future work. It all depends on the type of work and the type of client. The important thing to remember is that samples are virtually as good as a portfolio to most prospective clients. Q: Do I need an accounts package? A: Yes! Don¡¦t be fooled into thinking you can handle your accounts manually (or with Microsoft Excel). Even if you only have a few clients, you NEED a proper accounts package like MYOB or Quicken (they both offer small business versions). You¡¦ll understand why the first time you do your GST reports or annual taxes. In fact, you¡¦ll understand why whenever you need to chase down outstanding invoices. About the author: * Glenn Murray is a website copywriter, SEO copywriter, and article submission and article PR specialist. He owns article submission service Article PR and copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com Visit http://www.DivineWrite.comor http://www.ArticlePR.comfor further details, more FREE articles, or to download his FREE SEO e-book. Circulated by Article Emporium Why Hire a Professional Transcriptionist to Convert Your Dictation or Audios to Typed Text? In a discussion forum for non-fiction writers (where I had posted my introduction of myself and my professional transcription business), another member replied and mentioned that for simple dictation, she uses a voice recognition software program. When what she had said r... 5 Ways to Generate Article Topic Ideas If you write articles frequently, you have probably found that sometimes you just don't know what to write about. This is a very common issue for even the best of us, however there are some quick tricks that can help. Here are what the top five: 1. Look at today's news --... Networking Gold Whether you're trying to find an editor for your book, or a producer to pitch your story to, sometimes it's all about networking. If you still have 999 of the 1,000 business cards you ordered, you're not getting out there enough. It's time to step out from behind that computer and ... How To Ramp Up Your Business With Sizzling Ad Copy What is the importance of Ad copy? Your ad copy, sales letter will make or break your business. You can have the best product/service but without a good sales copy, you cannot sell anything. Website visitors are becoming increasingly savvy, hype and hard selling no longer work, as ... So You Need Some Inspiration? Try Some RPC: Risk, Passion and Creativity! You want to write. You really do. But the passion you feel never gets translated into actual writing. And if it does, it doesn't last very long. You run out of steam. There are reasons for this. First, you may be writing out of your conscious mind. Another problem for many... Getting on Radio…. Tomorrow! Whether you're just starting your campaign or knee-deep into it, radio is a great way to promote yourself and gain valuable media exposure. When people begin working on their book promotion, most of the time names like The Today Show and Oprah immediately spring to mind. And while... Some FAQs for Aspiring Copywriters I get an email at least once a week from aspiring copywriters seeking advice on how to get a foothold in the industry. It's obviously a popular topic, so I thought I'd put some of the more common questions and answers on paper in the hopes that it might provide a bit of an insight.... The Top Ten Secrets of Successful Authors The Top Ten Secrets of Successful Authors Judy Cullins ©2005 All Rights Reserved. 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When You Have A Poem In Mind If you hav... Top Ten Ways to Write a Book That Sells Top Ten Ways to Write a Book That Sells Judy Cullins c.2004 All Rights Reserved. Is there a book inside of you? Yes? Then why don't you write it? Or, if you've already written a book, wouldn't you like to sell more? So many of you have a great idea for a book, even a... Profiting From Writing Your Own Ebook As you might have heard, the Internet is all about information. Millions of people logon to the Internet each day searching for information. They're searching for everything from health and wellness to love and relationships. People crave information and will pay to get the info th... Totally Healthy “U” – Part 1 by Judi Finneran “I would like everyone to introduce themselves and share something about their lives which has nothing to do with their weight. “ It was the first night of a new Optifast group and the leader wanted us to get to know each other better. I am rarely at a loss for words and ... Get Your Book Done … Now! I don't believe in writer's block. (I can hear the gasps of disbelief already.) Listen: If you hire a plumber to come to your house and fix a problem, do you expect him to say, "Sorry, I can't figure out what your problem is. I think I have plumber's block"? Probably not, and if he...
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