Are you a talented writer? You may be able to put that
natural talent to work as a "Copy Writer". With the millions
of small businesses (and new one opening their doors every day) -
you
will be providing a service to theses millions of small business people
that do not have the time or talent to do on their own. You will be writing
professional, effective copy for promotions, marketing collateral and corporate
documents including specifications and supporting documents. You
may even be involved in writing technical manuals or training
documents. As a copy writer you may even be asked to perform
"ghost writing" services for a professional that would like to
have their expertise put into appropriate copy. As well
think of the new-media source for the 2000's and beyond - content
for the millions of corporate and business websites that now
exist on the Internet! The sky is the limit.
Your
Unique Skills
You should be a very effective writer with the ability to save time
for your clients and sell their ideas and concepts better than they
would be able to do themselves. You will not only be
transcribing their words to the page but you should have the
unique ability to turn prose to poetry to convey their message
effectively. You must be flexible and
creative and willing to gather the information for the required
assignment with little impact on your clients daily operations.
Remember you are providing fresh insight to your clients
business. They will be willing to pay for an enhanced image,
time saving or a business with a new or improved definition of what
they are about.
Tools
of the Trade
You
will need a computer, printer and a fast online connection to
communicate to your clients. The greatest part of this home
based business is that you can do it from any location and you can
have clients that are located anywhere in the world. You will
determine where and when you do business. Once you have an
assignment then the completion and delivery are negotiated between you
and the client. You should be equipped with reference materials
to edit your documents for spelling and errors in grammar.
Getting
Your Foot in the Door
You
may want to investigate placing a small advertisement in a trade
publication or a direct mail campaign to your target audience.
Put your words where they can be seen. Create a portfolio
and place it on the Internet. Link to works you have created
- don't forget to include Customer Testimonials from noteworthy
clients. You will constantly be seeking new clients to
maintain a consistent database of customers so make sure to go the
extra mile for your client. Your marketing documents and
business collateral should show your unique skill so create your own compelling copy
to promote "your" business.
Show
Me the Money
A
professional copywriter can make from $50 to $100/hour creating
professional copy. Many charge by the project so that clients can
determine up front the cost for an entire project. You need to be
able to price a project and provide a timeframe for completion which
will be outlined in a professional proposal to prospective
clients. Your success will be determined by your ability to
successfully market yourself as a professional. Your client must
see the worth in your service. A successful full-time copywriter
can make up from $50,000 to $100,000 a year.
For more information:
"Secrets
of a Freelance Writer : How to Make $85,000 a Year" By Robert
W. Bly.
Organizations:
The National Writers Union
113 University Pl. 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10003
Web site: http://www.nwu.org
