r/copywriting Feb 22 '21

Resource/Tool "What the FAQ?" - What is copy? How do I start? Can I do X? Where can I read copy swipes? - CLICK HERE IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION

1.5k Upvotes

"What is copy?"

Copy is any written marketing or promotional material meant to persuade or move a prospect.

This material can include catalogs, fundraising letters from charities, billboards, newspaper ads, sales letters, emails, native & ppc ads, scripts for commercials on radio or TV, press releases, investor and public relations pages, blog posts, and lots more.

Copy is divided into two(ish) camps: Brand and Direct Response.

Brand, or "delayed response," advertising is meant to build a prospect's engagement with and awareness of a company or product. These ads are designed to build a sense of trust and legitimacy so prospects will be more susceptible to promotions and more willing to buy advertised products in the future. (Check out this swipe file/collection of ads for examples: https://swiped.co/tags/) r/advertising is a good community for copywriters of this variety.

Direct Response (DR) is any advertising meant to motivate a specific, measurable action, whether it's a sale, click, call, etc. (Check out the Community Swipe File for examples.) This is frequently called "sales in print." If you've ever seen commercial asking you to "call now"--that's a direct response ad. Email asking you to schedule a call with a life coach? Direct response ad. Uber Eats discount pop up notification? Coca-Cola coupon in a mailer? Also direct response.

Businesses need words for the kinds of ads listed above. The person who writes these words writes copy... hence: "copywriter."

Large companies tend to focus on brand advertising and smaller businesses tend to focus on DR (but not always). Ad agencies and marketing departments will often hire writers who specialize in brand ads, direct response, or both.

There are also niches like content creation, UX copywriting, technical copywriting, SEO, etc. These are not ads, per se, but they all fall under the big copywriting tent because it's writing that serves a marketing purpose.

"So it's like... blog articles?"

That's content, or r/ContentMarketing. Some of it can be veiled copy that leads to sales copy, and this is called "advertorial."

"Oh, so it's clickbait?"

Clickbait is meant to get clicks. Brand and direct response copywriters use clickbait, but not all advertisements are clickbait.

Clicks don't drive sales or build brand awareness, so this is a narrowly focused marketing niche.

"Spam? Is this spam to scam?"

Spam is an unsolicited commercial message, often sent in bulk (that's the legal definition). Spamming involves sending multiple unwanted messages (spam) to large numbers of recipients for the purpose of commercial advertising, or just sending the same message over and over.

A scam is, legally, a discrepancy between what is promised in an ad and what is fulfilled. Something is a scam if it takes your money promising you a thing, but then provides something else or doesn't provide anything at all.

Just because you see an ad with hyperbole, that doesn't mean 1) it's a scam or 2) that every ad is like that. Copywriting runs the gamut from milquetoast to hyper-aggressive, very short to very long, and there's room in this town for all approaches, though some might disagree.

"How much $$$ can I actually make from doing this? How long does it take to make money from copywriting?"

Copywriting has become the get-rich-quick scheme du jour. So let's dispel some myths:

The average newbie copywriter earns closer to $0 than $1. That's because the vast majority of wannabe copywriters never get clients or get a job. They quit too soon or never develop the skills needed to succeed.

Of the people who succeed, the vast majority of people actually working as a copywriter for a business or as a freelancer earn less than $6500 per month.

In the brand copywriting world, the people who make insane amounts of money are executive creative directors and agency owners.

This is usually after many years, and these salaries are typically reserved for people who know how to climb the corporate ladder or network. Many copywriters are the anxious/nervous/introverted sort, and so many brand copywriters hit an earnings ceiling within a few years regardless of how good they are.

In the direct response world, the people who make insane amounts of money are people who can 1) sell and/or 2) scale.

For people who can sell, big money usually comes in the form of "residuals" or "royalties" you earn based on the profit performance of the ads, and you can usually only get residuals if what you write is very close to the point of sale. (So "sales letters"? Yes you might get a cut if the business likes you and wants you to keep writing for them. "Emails?" Typically not.)

For people who can scale, big money usually comes from being able to manage and serve multiple high-paying clients , whether that's providing email services, conversion-rate optimization services, PPC ad management, etc.

How long does it take to earn lots? I've met one person who earned over a million dollars from copy and marketing, but it took him 2 years of practice and study to earn his first dollar from it. I've also met a copywriter who went from learning what copywriting is to securing his first paid gig in 3 weeks.

It depends on the jobs you apply for, whether you go freelance or in-house, your willingness to put yourself out there, your knowledge and skillset, and the competence of your writing.

"What does X word mean?"

There are plenty of marketing glossaries out there:

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/inbound-marketing-glossary-list

https://www.copythatshow.com/glossary

https://www.awai.com/glossary/

"Can I be a copywriter with a degree in X?"

You don't need a degree, but it depends on the businesses or agencies you want to work for. Read this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/ln4e4j/yes_you_can_succeed_as_a_copywriter_with_any/

"Can I be a copywriter if I'm not a native English speaker?"

Yes. But also read this post and the intelligent responses/caveats to it: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/ln4e4j/yes_you_can_succeed_as_a_copywriter_with_any/

"Is copywriting ethical?"

If you think advertising in a society under the hegemony of capitalism and the ideological state apparatuses that perpetuate consumerism is ethical, then yes.

Misleading people, lying, being hypocritical, taking advantage of the desperate, etc. is not ethical, and the same goes for ads and businesses that do this stuff.

"Is it possible to do this freelance, part time, from home?"

I mean, yeah, but copywriting is a craft. Crafts need to be practiced and honed. Once you get good, you can do this work from practically anywhere, but it's usually better to start in house, learn the ropes for a few years, and build a network of contacts/future clients.

"But the ad for this course/book/seminar/mastermind said..."

Don't be enticed by the "anyone can do this and make money fast!" crowd. They want your money, and they'll promise you a lot to get it.

(There's a great post about not getting taken advantage of as a newbie, here: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/k5fz68/advice_for_new_copywriters_how_to_not_get_taken/.)

Some advanced courses & masterminds are useful once you have the basics under your belt, but not before.

(Full disclosure: I also own part of a business that has a free copywriting course: https://www.copythatshow.com/how-to-start-copywriting. You absolutely do not need to give us any money for anything--the whole goal of this page is to give you everything you need to learn the basics and get work without spending any money.)

There are SOME beginner courses are decent, even if they do charge money. I've seen and heard good things about the following:

https://copyhackers.com/

https://www.awai.com/

https://www.digitalmarketer.com/certification/copywriting-mastery/

https://kylethewriter.com/

For other types of copy, I know there are these resources but I know nothing about their quality (shoot me a DM if you know of better stuff or think the following is trash):

Content Marketing: https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/content-marketing

Ahrefs SEO Tool Usage: https://ahrefs.com/academy/marketing-ahrefs/lesson-1-1

YT Videos: https://www.udemy.com/share/1013la/

Branding & Marketing for Startups: https://www.udemy.com/share/101ywu/

Small Business Branding: https://www.udemy.com/share/101rmY/

Personal Brands: https://www.udemy.com/share/101Fgy/

But you don't need a course or guru to get started. And you shouldn't take advice from me alone--you'll find a wide variety of resources shared in this subreddit. Search by flair to find it!

"So how do I get started?"

Everyone has a different opinion. Here's mine.

Step 1: Read between 2 and 10 books about copywriting, such as those mentioned below.

Step 1b: Spend 30-60 minutes each day reading and analyzing successful ads and the types of copy you're interested in writing.

Step 2: Pick a product from a niche (not THE niche) you’d like to work in and write an ad for it for it as if you were hired to do so. This is called a spec piece. When you’re finished, write 2 more spec pieces for other products.

Step 2b: These spec pieces are going to be for your portfolio. Having a portfolio to show off is necessary for acquiring clients. If you have a relationship with a graphic designer or have the funds to hire one, ask them to lay out your spec pieces in web page format. Or use Canva for free. It’ll add to the perceived value of your piece.

Step 3: Start prospecting. I recommend UpWork or Fiverr for anyone who’s starting out. Eventually, you’ll get your first few jobs and you can leverage those to get more/better/higher-paying jobs in the future.

"What books should I read?"

If you want to break into advertising/brand advertising in general, read these:

  • Ogilvy On Advertising
  • Made to Stick
  • Zag
  • Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
  • Hey Whipple, Squeeze This
  • Contagious: Why Things Catch On
  • Alchemy

If you want to write direct response, read these:

  • Breakthrough Advertising
  • How to Write a Good Advertisement
  • The Ultimate Sales Letter
  • The 16-Word Sales Letter
  • Triggers
  • The Architecture of Persuasion
  • Great Leads

If you want to write webinars, read One to Many.

Funnels? Read Dot-com Secrets.

"That's a lot of reading. Can I get the TL;DR?"

You have to read a lot to learn how to write.

"How do I practice writing copy and get better if I don't have a job?"

Look no further than this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/mt0d27/daily_copy_practices_exercises/

And this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/duvzha/copywriting_exercises_my_personal_favorite_ways/

And this post, which will also teach you how to build a direct response portfolio: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/t0k3bx/how_to_learn_direct_response_copy_and_build_a/

"Do I need a mentor to succeed?"

No. But having a mentor CAN (not "will") help.

Read this excellent post for some insight: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/ldpftc/nobody_wants_to_be_your_mentor_but_heres_how_to/

Basically: Getting a mentor is hard and you usually have to demonstrate some serious competence before anyone will give you the time of day. Also, getting mentorship without a mastery of the basics will not help you at all.

"How do I select my niche / what niche should I start in?"

Everyone disagrees about this... but in reality you discover your niche as you work.

New copywriters will often start with a broad base of clients and jobs until they find a lot of success or aptitude in a particular market or with a particular kind of copy. Then it becomes a feedback loop, with referrals leading you to new clients in the same niche.

Unless you have a very good reason for going into a specific niche, don't try to niche down in the beginning. Cast a wide net. You might fail and get frustrated if you don't... or completely miss a market you're more passionate about.

"Can someone please critique this copy?"

Yes. But read this post, titled "You don't need a copy critique. You need a better process" first: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/mheur7/you_dont_need_a_copy_critique_you_need_a_better/

If you still want a critique, read this post about "Thought Soup" before you post: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/lu45ie/want_useful_feedback_on_your_copy_then_dont_post/

Then, if you still REALLY REALLY want a critique, please keep these two things in mind:

If you're very new, you'd probably be better off writing 20-30 pieces of copy on your lonesome, putting them aside, rereading them later, and thinking about what YOU would do to improve what you wrote -- revising or deleting accordingly. You'll learn and grow the most if you take your own writing as far as you possibly can and legit can't think of anything you can do to improve it.

The Second Thing: If you ask 10 copywriters for their opinion on a piece of copy, you WILL get 14 different opinions. Expect the critiques to be harsh... possibly even discouraging. You need thick skin to succeed in this business, and the only way to get that is to get torn apart a few times. We all had to go through it.

In the future, I might restrict copy critiques to a specific day of the week. But for now, just be cool and respectful and take constructive criticism in stride.

"How do I find clients?"

Read these threads... if you don't find your answer THEN you should ask the sub in a new post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/7lkb3l/how_to_find_clients/

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/jokhhs/finding_those_ideal_potential_clientswhere_to/

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/cu5pu5/how_to_get_clients_for_copy_writing/

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/gstyiv/how_do_you_find_potential_clients_as_a_freelance/

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/8rune6/if_youre_having_a_hard_time_finding_paying/

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/jy91qd/cant_get_clients_to_save_my_life_cold_email/

https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/dkoe28/how_can_i_find_clients_as_a_freelance_copywriter/

"What should I charge for X project?"

The real answer: whatever amount the market will tolerate for your work. (Or what this dude said.)

The fake answer: Just google "copywriting pricing guide" to get a billion websites like this: https://www.awai.com/web-marketing/pricing-guide/

"Long-form copy or short-form copy?"

Porque no los dos? Copy needs to be exactly as long as it takes to be effective. Every long-form writer I know also has to write short form (emails, native ads, inserts, etc.) and every short form writer I know would benefit from picking up tactics and rhetorical tricks from long form.

"How do I do research?"

Check the responses in this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/ucjh45/how_do_you_do_research_for_a_new_project/

"Anything else I should know?"

Ummmmmm... oh yeah, get outta here with grammer and speling pedantry. Go to r/Copyediting for that.

Every month there will be a new thread for newbie questions and critiques. Make sure to post there or I'll probably remove your stuff.

And if you want some tough love about getting started, pitfalls you should avoid, and how to behave in this subreddit, read this: https://www.reddit.com/r/copywriting/comments/ltzirg/6_things_i_learned_in_6_days_as_the_new_mod_of/

Beyond that, have fun, be supportive of others, help folks but take no gruff, learn, grow, share, discuss.

We do have a Discord, if you want to hang out and chat with other working copywriters. (Though really it's mostly just bad jokes and worse pitches.)

[Sean's (that's me!) Note: This is a living document. If you see a question that should be included or something that should be added to the answers, please mention it in the comments below.]

(Edited 010924 based on some additional questions I've seen and feedback I've received. Also provided some additional links to resources and courses.)


r/copywriting May 02 '25

Free 22-hour "Copywriting Megacourse" 👇 (NEW)

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213 Upvotes

For beginner copywriters AND working copywriters who want to boost their career & copy skills!

Copy That!'s Megacourse is finally out after 7 months of production and $60,000 of costs.

We try not to self-promote here, but I'll make this ONE exception because we made this to be as VALUABLE as possible for beginners (without being TOO overwhelming...)

This course is everything you need to get started.

From persuasive principles to how to find work. Research. Writing copy. Editing copy. Career paths. Portfolio recommendations. Live writing examples. Fundamental concepts. Etc etc etc.

There's a TON.

And to be ultra-transparent: There's also a link to sign-up to our email list where we sell things. THIS IS NOT MANDATORY. You can watch this whole course on its own and launch a career without paying a penny.

We are extremely open about who are paid products are for.

If you're a beginner, this free course has been designed to give you everything you need so you don't have to buy a course from a guru.

If you make money from copywriting and decide you want even more from us, great!

But this Megacourse is a passion project that we've poured everything into so beginners can avoid being conned into mandatory upselling.

Alright, cool.

This project has been planned since 2023 as an expansion of my original 5-hour video... So if you got any value from the first one, hopefully you will get 5x more from this new version.

We started filming in October 2024 and it took us far longer than we expected to finish.

So... If this Megacourse does help you (or if there are any other kinds of content you want to see in the future) let us know!


r/copywriting 4h ago

Discussion My views on Content Writing

1 Upvotes

So I joined as an intern in an company to know the future of writing and thank god finally I know that most of the people on reddit just blame Ai and told me Copywriting and content writing is dead.

The company I joined is hiring 5 more content Writers ..

3 will work online and 2 will on site.

And I'm not Even kidding we have soo much work.

Today I made a landing page and I was soo happy because this one was my first landing page and tomorrow i will show the manger and will tell his comments..

Btw people on reddit told me my English is bad and should not work as writer..

I'm Open to feedbacks


r/copywriting 4h ago

Question/Request for Help Do you subscribe to any paid copywriting newsletters?

2 Upvotes

I'm curious if anyone here has subscribed to any paid copywriting newsletters, either now or in the past. For example, I know John Carlton has one and I imagine several others do. It doesn't necessarily have to be a physical newsletter, it can be digital too.

If you subscribe to one, what is it about it that keeps you subbed?


r/copywriting 9h ago

Resource/Tool How do you create/manage your own swipe file?

4 Upvotes

I'm tired of using swipe file sites that do not refresh content/exampels often. It's the same old examples, barely updated.

How do you guys create/update your swipe files? Do you guys even have a personal swipe file that you control & update at will? If yes, what do you use for a personal swipe file?


r/copywriting 5h ago

Discussion how to write a script for product launches....been staring at a blank page for an hour

1 Upvotes

so i have been staring at a blank google with those pointed edges for like an hour now

it not because i dont know about my product or what it does. but everytime i try to write the first line it sounds kinda wrong..

like  i wrote something like we are building a tool that helps teams, but this sounds generic

then i wrote imagine if you could.. this is cringe and an obvious phrase used in gpt

then i tried starting with a number like 87 percent of teams struggle with and then felt fake even  tho the number is real

still i cannot figure out how to start

and the first line is the whole thing right. if it went wrong, all hard work will go into vein. have already watched a lot of launch videos now to know that the ones that blow up you are hooked before you can even realize it. and the ones that often flop you feel it in the first couple of seconds..

so how do people write these. like is there a structure. is it problem first then a solution. is it a story first or is it just a crazy claim and then you back it up.. it genuinely does not know what the formula is..

i tried looking this up. found some stuff on yt. watched a few videos about copywriting and hooks. also came checked all the launches done by thelaunchvideocompany and flowjam.. tried creating a framework for their scripts but those are pretty random to formulate.. seems like scripting is the most difficult part of what they do… but i want to understand it myself first before i hire a script writer

what does a good launch script actually look like. is there a structure that works. or does every founder just figure it out themselves.


r/copywriting 6h ago

Discussion I rewrote the same piece of content 5 different ways and only tracked one variable here's what happened

0 Upvotes

Wanted to actually test something I'd heard repeated a lot: that the headline/title matters way more than the body.

Same underlying content, five different opening lines. Nothing else changed same length, same platform, same posting time (staggered across days, same account).

The spread in engagement between the best and worst opener was bigger than I expected bigger than any change I'd made to the actual substance of the piece in months. The ones that did best weren't the cleverest they were the most specific about what the reader would get and how fast.

It made me rethink where I spend my editing time. I used to polish the body for an hour and dash off the first line I thought of. Now it's basically reversed.

Anyone tested this in a structured way? Curious if others found the gap as big as I did.


r/copywriting 1d ago

Question/Request for Help How do you stop writing from sounding "AI"?

26 Upvotes

My communications team works in higher education, and although none of us are native English speakers, we write professionally every day.

A board member who is a native English speaker recently told us our writing sounds robotic and follows "AI patterns." The interesting part is that we've been writing in this style long before AI tools became common, so I think it's more about our writing style than AI itself.

The feedback really hurt my team's morale, but I'd like to turn it into a learning opportunity.

For experienced copywriters and editors, what are the biggest signs that a piece of writing sounds robotic or AI-generated? Are there common habits that non-native English writers tend to have?

More importantly, how do you train yourself (or a team) to write in a way that feels more natural and engaging without becoming too informal?

I'd really appreciate any practical advice, examples, or resources. Thanks!


r/copywriting 16h ago

Question/Request for Help Any tips for LinkedIn/building a portfolio with no official experience?

2 Upvotes

I have creative writing experience and I've created ads/emails but for my little art business. I did create a handful of spec examples for a mortgage company I'm interested in applying to for a portfolio but I'm not sure the best site for hosting it (I was looking at Copyfolio but noticed it seemed weird on mobile which I assume you'd want mobile friendly).

My actual job experience on LinkedIn however is primarily customer service/sales so I'm not sure how to have it lean more copy. I'm also not sure if for the portfolio it would be acceptable to post not only the mortgage ads that I created, but ones covering my art business and an ad for a grooming company my friend owns to just provide more examples or nor necessary.


r/copywriting 1d ago

Question/Request for Help Cold email: book a call or not?

0 Upvotes

I'm doing cold outreach for the first time, and not sure how to phrase the CTA.

I was taught to get them on a call, because "that's just how it's done". But I've never done a sales call before, and I imagine that some businesses might not commit to a call right away.

Should the call be the CTA, or just ask them to write back if they're interested? I was worried it'd turn into a QA and it'd be easier for them to just ghost than if they committed to a call as soon as the email peaked their interest.

I wanna find the right balance between making it easy for them to respond, and moving things forward with confidence.

What do you think is the best way to solve this?


r/copywriting 2d ago

Question/Request for Help Is getting your first copywriting client always this hard?

28 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I genuinely love copywriting and have already gained experience by building my own project, writing website copy, educational content, brand messaging, and social media content.

I’ve tried Fiverr, Freelancer, Contra, Upwork, and several Facebook groups, but getting that first paying client feels like fighting through hell. I apply consistently, personalize my proposals, and have a portfolio website, but I still haven’t managed to land my first client.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this normal when starting out? I’d really appreciate honest feedback, especially from copywriters who have been through the same stage.

What helped you land your first client?


r/copywriting 1d ago

Question/Request for Help How much does your headline process actually change between industries?

0 Upvotes

Been working across a few different verticals lately and noticing something that feels obvious in hindsight but still trips me up. The fundamentals carry over, but the threshold for what counts as a strong hook shifts a lot depending on the audience.

Writing for a B2B software client, the bar feels almost clinical. Lead with the outcome, strip the personality, keep it tight. Then switching to a DTC brand, the same instincts feel wrong and flat. The audience wants something with more texture, a little tension in the language.

The actual writing mechanics are the same, but the calibration takes time every time. That recalibration period is where I lose confidence in a draft before I even know if it's actually working.

Curious whether people here treat that as a muscle you develop or a research phase you just have to budget time for. Some writers seem to jump industries without much friction, and I wonder if that's skill or just a lot of trial and error they're not mentioning.

Also wondering if there's a point where specializing in one vertical gives you a sharper instinct for what lands versus staying a generalist and keeping the range.


r/copywriting 2d ago

Question/Request for Help How many of you feel like you spend a good amount of your 40 hour/week job with nothing to do?

8 Upvotes

This has been a common thing for me at almost every job I have had now and I have been in this line of work for 10 years now. It’s probably been the worst it’s ever been with my latest role though. I’m at close to 2 years in this role and I go weeks or even months at a time with virtually no work and have to resort to creative methods to keep myself appearing online (I’m remote).

It makes me feel all kinds of weird when I don’t have work, even though it is pretty clear my whole team is in the same boat. On some level it makes me feel guilty for getting paid to do nothing, but also bound to my computer and unable to feel truly free. And it makes me feel purposeless and anxious, because if I frequently don’t have work, how can I expect to have job security?

Is this something many copywriters go through? Or is it my own unique experience? If you are dealing with the same thing, how do you cope?


r/copywriting 1d ago

Sharing Advice, Tips, and Tricks AI can automate your content. It can't automate how you #think.

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0 Upvotes

r/copywriting 2d ago

Question/Request for Help Any discord clubs for copywriters?

12 Upvotes

Copywriters advertising discord clubs


r/copywriting 2d ago

Resource/Tool Got tired of pasting sensitive client drafts into random word counters, so I built a 100% private, client-side alternative (its free)

3 Upvotes

Hey People!

I constantly need to check character limits, keyword density, and readability for different formats (Meta descriptions, LinkedIn, long-form).

The problem: Most free online word counters are either plastered with ads or, worse, send your text to a server. Pasting unreleased client copy or sensitive drafts into them always felt like a massive security risk.

I built https://www.freewordtool.com/ to solve this.

Why it’s different:

  • Zero Server Uploads: It runs entirely entirely via local JavaScript in your browser. Nothing is ever uploaded, stored, or logged.
  • Instant Platform Presets: Tracks hard character limits for Twitter (280), Meta (160), LinkedIn (3000), etc.
  • Deep Analysis: Instantly calculates Flesch Reading Ease, speaking/reading time, and filters out stop words for accurate keyword density.

It’s completely free. I built it to scratch my own itch, but I want to make it the standard baseline tool for writers.

Lemme know what you guys think.
What features are missing that would make this your default bookmark?


r/copywriting 2d ago

Question/Request for Help Looking for help in finding London copywriting stints

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone,
I’m(26f) a copywriter with 4+ years of agency experience(mumbai) who recently relocated to London. I’ve been applying for roles every day but feel like I’ve exhausted LinkedIn.
Where do agencies actually hire from? Are there recruiters, Slack groups, job boards or networking events that people recommend?
Any advice would honestly be appreciated. Thanks!


r/copywriting 3d ago

Question/Request for Help Tips for outreach?

12 Upvotes

I'm about to start doing cold outreach for the first time, and am looking for advice from people who have been through this.

My background:

I'm starting from scratch. I've spent over a year studying copywriting and digital marketing - read books, took the 24 hour Copy That! course, a few different certifications including Google Ads/Analytics. I made a few mock funnels. I learned a few ESPs so I know how to set up an email campaign. I'm already proficient at HTML/CSS/CMS/graphic design, so I can also build custom websites and implement things myself if needed.

I tested the waters on Fiverr without any luck. I think my listings were pretty good, but my modest pricing attracted the wrong type of clients. Alas, I don't have any "warm leads". I also don't think agency jobs etc would work for me due to my location. So I've decided to double down on cold outreach and land some clients as a freelancer.

What I've done:

I picked a specific niche (within fitness), wrote a funnel to help gyms get more customers, and am currently making a list of who I wanna reach out to.

I can tell this is gonna be time-consuming, and that I'll have to learn a lot along the way. I'd love to hear from people who have done this; what I can expect, and how I can optimize my time, and stay focused now that I'm about to get real feedback (and inevitably rejections) on my copy.

Thanks!


r/copywriting 5d ago

Question/Request for Help Anyone Feel Like Copywriting is Becoming a 'Strategic Messaging' Job

43 Upvotes

As AI rolls out and time goes on, I've seen a big chunk of my actual writing being taken away (aside from more conversion-focused or persuasive writing), and when I'm pulled into meetings/projects now my role tends to be putting together strategy for messaging that the rest of the team can plug into AI (and I also have to review all the AI stuff they make).

Has anyone else felt this? It seems like a pivot I may have to make permanently to stay in this type of role. Was wondering if anyone else has seen something like this happening.


r/copywriting 5d ago

Question/Request for Help Is it hard to be a copywriter earning $500/mo nowadays?

24 Upvotes

I'm only saying this because $500 monthly in the country I live in is a life changing achievement... literally.


r/copywriting 5d ago

Question/Request for Help Direct Marketing Copywriter Needed (YouTube Ads)

6 Upvotes

I need someone with experience with YouTube ads to write a script for our offer in the real estate space.


r/copywriting 5d ago

Question/Request for Help What other freelance work alternative to copywriting is out there without the risk of losing money or even investing?

8 Upvotes

Investing meaning buying courses, tutor, etc.


r/copywriting 5d ago

Discussion How much does your writing voice actually change when you switch niches?

1 Upvotes

Been jumping between a few different client industries lately and noticed something that's been bugging me. The actual mechanics of what I write shift pretty dramatically depending on the niche, which is expected, but what surprises me is how much my sentence rhythm and word choices shift too. The version of me writing for a SaaS brand feels like a different person than the one writing for a direct response health product.

Part of me thinks this is just good craft, matching the audience and the medium. But another part wonders if losing that consistent voice is a problem long term, especially when you're trying to build a reputation or get known for a particular style.

There's also the client side of it. Some clients hire you because they want their voice, not yours, so your personal style is almost beside the point. Others seem to want something with a bit of personality baked in.

Curious how others handle this. Do you consciously protect some version of your natural voice across projects, or do you fully shed it depending on the job? And has leaning too far one way ever hurt you, either with clients or with the quality of the work itself?


r/copywriting 5d ago

Sharing Advice, Tips, and Tricks What to do from here?

7 Upvotes

Last week, I took a huge leap of faith and started cold emailing companies. Up until now, I've contacted 28 small businesses, most of which operate in the SaaS industry. What I want to tell you, good people, is that the numbers are encouraging at first glance: most of the emails were opened, and I even got two responses telling me that right now, they do not have a marketing budget.

In a way I feel relief, I feel joy; however, in another way, I feel scared and petrified.

While a voice inside me sincerely tells me to go on with my client hunt, another part of me keeps telling me that this will not work. This negative voice keeps telling me that companies aren't looking for copywriters and that the market has been overtaken by AI.

What do you think of all this? Is copywriting still worth it? Are my efforts worth the time and energy?


r/copywriting 6d ago

Question/Request for Help How BRUTAL is this job market?

61 Upvotes

I've been unemployed for over a year and, up until recently, I could count on their being a few new jobs that I could apply to whenever I went to the coffee shop to apply to jobs. Now, nothing. It's to be expected in middle of the summer quarter, but my god. What's driving this? Is it the economy? Is it AI? Is it both?

Someone please give me a job.