How to become a copywriter—booked and busy!

If you’re Googling for things like “how to become a copywriter” you’ve probably heard a lot of advice before landing here. Some of that advice is probably really good! And some is probably overwhelming or not so great.

Something I can promise you is that I never teach BS. I like to share actionable advice—stuff that you can actually do and implement ASAP. So that’s what this is.

If you’re wondering how to become a copywriter, keep reading.

1. Shift your mindset.

Call yourself a copywriter. You’re not just a freelance writer—you write copy for businesses, and that copy helps them make more sales. I used to think of myself as the starving artist type, and that manifested in my bottom line at the end of each year. When I shifted again from “freelance copywriter” to “copywriting + marketing studio owner” everything changed.

2. Start Copywriting.

Study copy. Practice. Say yes to all kinds of projects at first. Pitch people you want to work with. You can’t become a copywriter if you don’t just start writing copy. Immerse yourself in this world and use what you learn from practicing to land your first few copywriting gigs.

When I first started, I found my writing gigs from job boards and cold pitching. Eventually, I realized that wasn’t a sustainable marketing strategy long term. But it works at first until you’re ready for bigger and better. Then you have the option to either pitch for bigger fish, or develop a holistic attraction marketing strategy.

Because it’s not just clients you get to write for—it’s yourself. Market yourself as the expert you are and use your copywriting skills to land dream clients. The more you practice and experiment, the more you learn. The best way to move forward is to just do the thing.

3. Choose a type of copy.

In the beginning, you’re going to want to try things. You won’t know what you like best until you try things… So do that. Take on projects that are totally different from each other. But only do this for a while.

If you want to grow faster, the best way to do that is to be known for something. One way to niche is by choosing a specific deliverable. Choose what kind of copy you want to write and focus on that. Do you want to be known as a website copywriter or email copywriter? REMEMBER this doesn’t have to “define” you forever. Choosing a “niche” is less about being super into one thing and more about choosing a direction to focus on so you can move forward.

4. Create a home base online.

Ultimately, you’ll probably grow to the spot in business where you want dream clients to come to you. At the newbie stage, you’re not quite there yet BUT you can do things NOW that will set you up for that to happen later.

Essentially, you want to create a digital home base for your business—a foundation that makes it easy to grow from. This could be your website and a simple marketing plan. You get to decide. It also doesn’t have to be perfect at first… Just good enough for now to get you to the next level.

Focus on the actions that will bring sustainable changes, and little by little, you’ll see growth.

5. Grow + scale from there.

If you become a copywriter, you’re going to realize at some point that you’re ready to level up. If you’ve done things the right way—methodically and intentionally building foundations to grow and scale from—you’ll get there faster.

The best part of this is you get to decide what leveling up—what growing and scaling means for you.

For me, that meant growing my done-for-you copywriting and marketing studio to a sweet spot where I only work up to 15 hours per week, but the business brings in 5-figure months. I lead a small team, and together we work with clients who inspire me every day.

It also meant going all in with the education and coaching side of my business, offering resources in The Biz Bar and supporting other copywriters, freelancers, and marketers inside The Inner Circle Mastermind.

Your version of success could look totally different from mine.

Become a copywriter and get clients consistently.

There are so many possibilities when you choose to become a copywriter. You have the flexibility and freedom to decide what you want from your life. Of course, it requires intentional, focused work to build and grow a copywriting business. But it can also be fun and easy along the way.

It’s not just about reaching some buzzy monetary milestone either. But building something that consistently supports and fits around your life. You get to live life on your own terms, and becoming a copywriter is a career path that definitely allows for that.

If you want to learn more about how to build a freelance copywriting business, and get booked and busy… You might want to check out my free course. 4 Steps to Profit is a free, 4-day course that teaches you how to position your brand, stake your claim on the internet, and so much more. Learn more and enroll here.