What’s the secret to good copywriting that will earn you loads of money? Can you become a copywriter if you have no experience?

Those are not easy questions to answer, but you probably know of people that are able to generate a good income from writing copy. 

How do they do it? Do they know some secret that you don’t?

Yes, they do! Actually, they know quite a few secrets and I know all of them. And today, I’m going to share them with you. Keep reading and you will realize that the fantastic income that copywriters earn can be yours too.

Before we get to how you become a copywriter without experience, let’s make sure that you know what you need to become a copywriter.

You need:

1. Excellent copywriting skills
2. Copywriting clients

Skills a Good Copywriter Needs

Every copywriter needs certain key skills to be able to write copy that converts prospects into buying customers. Let’s look at the skills you will need on your way to becoming a paid copywriter.

• Excellent writing skills – successful copywriters are skilled language practitioners who can craft compelling messages that captivate consumers and persuade them to take action.

• Creativity – this is maybe the one skill that you can’t learn: how to be original. Copywriters are able to think out of the box and come up with unique messages that touch and inspire others.

• Understanding people and what motivates them – the best advertising and marketing copy is written by people who understand the target audience in and out.

• Excellent Research skills – copywriters need to find all the relevant background information, including accurate and up-to-date facts to support their writing and give it legitimacy. 

• Meticulous – a copywriter must have an eye for detail. When it comes to editing and proofreading, the buck stops with the copywriter.

• Marketing knowledge – a copywriter should know where copywriting fits into marketing. A copywriter must understand marketing strategy and know how to write messages that will drive sales.

• Time management – copywriters often work on different projects, each with their own deadline. It can get very overwhelming if you don’t work out a schedule so you don’t miss deadlines – a no-no for copywriters.

• Adaptability – this is an important point. Copywriters must not only be able to write different marketing materials for different industries; they must also be able to adapt to every client they work for. 

Now that you know what will be required of you, let’s see how you can get there from here. 

How To Become A Copywriter With No Experience

Learn the Basics of Copywriting

If you have not studied copywriting, you can get all the knowledge you need online. There are a number of helpful blogs, podcasts, YouTube videos, and courses that teach the basics of copywriting. 

Study the masters. In particular, study the works of legends like Dan Kennedy and Gary Halbert. 

Dan Kennedy earns a 7-figure income from copywriting for clients. He is the founder of Magnetic Marketing® and has published 32 business books. That’s enough about him. Find him, study him, and emulate him and you will become a great copywriter. 

Gary Halbert was the highest-paid copywriter in history. He is renowned for his brilliant sales letters that earned him and his clients countless millions. If you’re serious about making a living from copywriting, don’t give Gary Halbert a miss.

Copywriting Tips From Gary Halbert To Make You A Good Copywriter

Know your audience – the first step in effective copywriting is to understand your audience. You need to understand their needs, wants, desires, and preferences to be able to craft a message that resonates with them.

Focus on benefits  – always focus your writing on the benefits of the product or service for your audience – what is in it for them? Answer this question in your copy.

Use emotional triggers – emotions are what drive purchasing decisions. The emotional triggers like fear, greed, envy, or desire to touch your audience.

Use storytelling – stories always work because people can relate to them. Stories make the issue real for your audience and help them connect with the product or service.

Make a strong offer –  according to Halbert, this is the most important part of your copy. Your offer should be clear, irresistible, and sure to solve your audience’s problem.

Use curiosity –  don’t give everything away in your headlines – create a sense of promise that compels your audience to keep reading.

Make use of conversational language – the copy should be straightforward – easy to understand and relate to.

Use testimonials –  testimonials by customers that have used your product or service is the best way to create a basis of trust with your audience.

If you can implement these steps, you basically know how to write sales copy that sells.

Books to Help You Write Award-winning Copy

Here is a list of the best books on the art of copywriting. I know it’s overwhelming and I can imagine you just throwing your arms in the air, saying: who still reads books?

Well, just reading what you find on the internet is not going to give you enough in-depth knowledge to become a good copywriter. Just pick three books and spend time absorbing the information. You can even pick only one book, but then, read it a few times to really absorb the content.

The list includes some of the best books on copywriting – you’ll notice Dan Kennedy and Gary Halbert among the writers.

• The Boron Letters by Gary Halbert
• The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
• Scientific Advertising by Claude Hopkins
• The Halbert Copywriting Method Part III by Gary Halbert
• Breakthrough Advertising by Eugene Schwartz
• Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy
• The Copywriter’s Handbook by Robert W. Bly
• Cashvertising by Drew Eric Whitman
• Tested Advertising Methods by John Caples
• Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan

These books cover various aspects of copywriting, including writing killer headlines, creating sales letters that convert and social media messages that resonate. You will find practical advice, real-world examples, and proven techniques that will teach you all you need to know about copywriting.

Reading books will not be enough to turn you into a great copywriter. You need training to build a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that you can call upon when you start working as a copywriter.

Check out our article on What Is a Freelance Copywriter.

Get Training in Copywriting

The world of copywriters is inhabited by amazing professionals who are eager to share their expertise with anyone interested to learn and improve their earning potential.

Here are some of the resources available online – most of them are free. But don’t be fooled: the content is by some of the world’s top copywriters. 

• The Gary Halbert Copywriting Seminar available on video

• The Simple Writing System by John Carlton – free training course available on video

• Shortcut Copywriting Secrets by Scott Haines, recommended by Gary Halbert

• The Need for Speed by David Garfinkel – free video or audio

• Clayton Makepeace Course – free resource available online

• Enrol for CopyHour. The course is not free, but it teaches you writing by letting you write for one hour for 90 days.

Build Your Copywriting Skills – practice, practice, practice

No one is born with expertise – you have to practice and practice for endless hours to hone your writing skills. 

1. Follow the Gary Halbert way

The Halbert way boils down to copying, by hand, proven sales letters and advertising copy. Yes, you read it right: copy out, with a pen, on a piece of paper, the exact words written by acclaimed copywriters. What does this exercise remind you of?

Now, this may sound archaic to you, but it is a proven method designed by the highest-paid copywriter in history, so you can be sure it works. This is how to become a copywriter. 

It works because the brain is malleable. You have heard about neuroplasticity, right? It’s the ability of the brain to change. Painstakingly writing out sales copy day after day for an hour every day, creates new pathways in the brain – pathways that understand the exact structure of a winning sales letter.

This method is not difficult to apply, but it takes commitment. It is hard work. You have to set aside one hour every day to write out sales letters. The idea is to do it every day, including Saturdays. And Sundays if you missed a day during the week. 

Your work is not done once you’ve written for an hour. Spend time reading what you have written and analyzing it. Try to internalize the principles of a good sales letter. 

Do this for 90 days. This is how to become a copywriter with no experience.

Important note: Because this is hard work and is reminiscent of writing out endless sentences promising not to forget your homework again, most people won’t do it. They will just think to themselves: I’ll just read a few of these letters. That should do the trick.

It won’t. If you plan to follow the method and put in the hard work, stop reading now.

2. Create a Swipe File

To round off your personal training in preparation for your career as a copywriter, start a swipe file. A swipe file is a collection of marketing and copywriting examples to use for inspiration.

You can create a physical swipe file with examples of newspaper ads, product packaging, brochures, etc. You can supplement it with a digital file of examples that you collect online, or photographs of ads you see on buses and buildings. 

The aim is to collect examples of effective marketing and advertising materials that you can use as inspiration or reference when creating your own content. 

This can be an extremely useful exercise for copywriters. The examples you gather can help you improve your writing skills and develop your own unique style. You can gain insight into the techniques and strategies used by successful copywriters. 

Another great bonus is the time it will save you. You will have a ready source of inspiration when you receive an assignment. You can refer to your swipe file for ideas for headlines, calls to action, and the most effective words to use in advertising copy.

3. Create a Portfolio of Copywriting Examples

You need a portfolio of writing examples when you approach your first client for work. Here is why you need a portfolio.

• Your writing samples are proof of your abilities as a writer. Your writing gives prospective clients an insight into the style and tone of your writing – a very important aspect for most brands. 

• A portfolio of work gives you legitimacy. It is proof that you can produce the work that is demanded of copywriters.

• A well-rounded portfolio with diverse writing samples illustrates that you’re capable of writing for different channels and audiences. Your samples should illustrate your ability to write compelling copy, inspiring headlines, media posts, engaging emails, and so forth.

• A strong portfolio is an excellent marketing tool. Use it to full effect to market yourself as a copywriter.

• You can put your portfolio together in such a way that it clearly shows your interests and values. It may be easier to land a job if you can illustrate that you have an interest and experience in a specific topic or industry. 

4. Write Spec Ads For Prospective Copywriting Clients

In addition to a killer portfolio, writing spec ads and campaigns is one of the most effective ways to convince prospective employers and clients that you have what it takes. It’s a lot of work, but success is virtually guaranteed.

Here is how to go about it:

1. Choose a brand or product that you are passionate about or interested in. This will keep you motivated throughout the process.

2. Research the target audience to gain a thorough understanding of their needs, desires, and preferences.

3. Analyze existing campaigns for the brand or product you have chosen to understand how you can improve on them. 

4. Use the research and your swipe file to come up with an original spec ad or campaign. Take time to brainstorm some ideas.

5. When you have come up with a concept, start playing around with taglines, headlines, a unique selling proposition, the visual outlay, etc.

6. When you’re satisfied with the concept, it’s time to start writing the copy. Focus on your target audience and what you learned about them. Make sure your message gives them what they want in the form of arresting headlines, persuasive body copy, and strong calls to action.

7. Design your ad or campaign. Make your copy part of visual elements to make a complete ad or campaign. Don’t let this step be a stumbling block for you. Get help if you need it. It will be worth it when you land the job and can pay the person for their help.

Any aspiring copywriter who can pull a spec ad off will differentiate themselves from the competition and prove that they know how to be a copywriter.

5. Build Your Own Brand as a Copywriter

Most people are so focused on the idea that they must be great an outstanding writer to become a copywriter, that they forget about the importance of building their own brand as a copywriter.

The thing is, in today’s world, if you want to be successful and noticed, you can’t afford to be one of the crowd. It’s imperative to build a brand to establish yourself as a professional in your field and attract potential clients. 

That is how influencers do it and look how successful are they!

First of all, differentiate yourself with a unique voice and style: The only way to do this is to write, and write some more. Practice writing different formats and about different topics to discover what resonates with you and keep doing it. There is no other way. 

If you want to learn how to write: write.

Also, if you want to develop your own style and tone: write.

If you want to gain experience as a copywriter: write copy. 

You will already know this, and you have probably done it already, but I mention this step for those who have not realized the importance of online presence: establish your own website and choose your social media accounts. 

Given that, you can use your website to feature samples of your work, blogs, articles, and testimonials from clients.

You will be following the example of many businesses and individuals who write blogs to showcase their expertise, establish themselves as thought leaders in their industry, and provide useful information to their target audience. 

Maybe you can use your blog writing to practice all the elements of copywriting, such as a strong headline, a clear message, and a call to action (to read more of your writing).

You can use your social media platforms and website to:

• Tell the world about you and what you do
• Showcase your work
• Post a blog to demonstrate your writing skills and industry knowledge
• Connect with potential clients

Offering free resources has become a recognized strategy to build a brand. Think about resources like an e-book, or a guide that would be helpful for your target audience. It’s a way to start building trust in the industry.

Attending conferences and workshops for writers and content developers is a great opportunity to mix with other professionals and get your name out there. 

If you plan to write for a specific industry, start attending industry events so you can get up to date with industry trends. You also stand a chance to network with potential clients at these kinds of events.

Here is a great tip: other professionals are your gateway to work opportunities.

Make it a point to meet professionals like graphic designers and web developers – their clients probably also need a copywriter and your clients likely need graphic designers and developers. In practice, these professionals often collaborate and pass work on to each other. Start building relationships with other professionals as soon as you can, knowing that you can collaborate and open doors for each other along the way. 

Now you have honed your writing skills, you have built your brand, now what?

You need clients! Without clients, the best copywriting skills in the world will come to naught. 

How to Find a Copywriting Job 

Before we dive into job-finding strategies, let’s first find out where you can find work as a copywriter with no experience. 

Who Needs and Employs a Copywriter?

When looking for a copywriting job, you can approach organizations directly, and search for job listings on job boards or company websites.

Of course, you can also approach recruiters that specialize in placing copywriters for relevant clients. 

You will be surprised at the number of organizations that hire copywriters. We mention some of them here.

Corporations – large companies have in-house marketing departments that need a copywriter or two. You may not feel confident to approach them yet, but keep this possibility in mind.

Small to medium-sized businesses – your local pizzeria, hairdressing salon, or favorite restaurant are all candidates for copywriting expertise. You can definitely approach them as a copywriter with no experience. Just show them your impressive portfolio!

Advertising Agencies – advertising agencies specialize in ad copy and marketing materials for big clients. An advertising agency needs a copywriter to write ad copy, slogans, and other marketing materials.

Marketing Firms –  marketing firms specialize in helping firms with their marketing strategies and may hire copywriters to write content for websites, social media, and other marketing channels.

Social Media Marketing Firms – these firms specialize in niche personalized campaigns to reach any target customers and convert them. These firms need top-rated copywriters. 

E-commerce Companies – e-commerce companies rely heavily on effective copywriting to sell their products. They often hire a copywriter to write product descriptions, sales pages, and other marketing materials.

Nonprofits – Nonprofit organizations often need a copywriter to write compelling marketing materials like fundraising appeals, press releases, and event invitations.

Freelance clients – Many businesses and individuals hire freelance a copywriter for specific projects or ongoing work.

I think you will agree, that this list represents a myriad opportunities. The question is: can you get a job with any of them if you have no experience as a copywriter?

Let’s see.

Networking Strategies for Landing Your First Copywriting Gig

Networking is an essential part of building any freelance career and a way to get copywriting work even if you have no experience. At networking events, you get to know the movers and shakers in the industry and you might just land your first copywriting gig.

Tip: don’t treat networking functions, however informal, as a social event. Remember, you are there to do business. Go prepared and go with a plan, for instance:

• To meet and speak to at least (number) people
• To deliver your elevator speech when the moment arises
• To hand out (number) business cards
• To get (number) business cards or contact details.

Make up your mind that you will leave the event with something useful for your copywriting career. Networking events are where many people find writing and other gigs.

For more networking opportunities, you can join one or two professional organizations, such as the American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) or the Copywriting Club, Some even have job boards for members.

Online forums and social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Reddit also offer great networking opportunities to build relationships with professionals in your field and potential clients. 

You can also attend writing workshops and classes. Spending a few days with like-minded people learning and practicing new skills can build lasting relationships. It can be the place where you meet your future work partner or a connection for a future job. And while you’re there, you get the chance to work some more on your writing.

Gain Valuable Experience: Offer Your Services For Free To Copywriting Clients

In the beginning, when you are still establishing yourself and have no experience, consider writing for free. Approaching a client for copywriting work when you don’t have any experience can be quite daunting, but it’s not impossible. 

Here are some tips to help you get the courage together to approach a potential client for work.

Start modestly. Approach a small business that won’t need an entire advertising campaign. If you start modestly with a project size you can handle, your chances of succeeding are better and if that happens, you’ll start to build your confidence as a copywriter.

Consider yourself competent to do the job and approach the interview with this mindset. If you are asked about your experience, show your portfolio. Take out the spec ad that you worked on to prove your competency.

You can offer to complete a small project for the client to demonstrate your skills. This can show the client what you’re capable of and may very well lead to you being hired.

Take references with you or phone numbers of people who are prepared to vouch for you as a trustworthy and hardworking professional.

Important tip: be persistent. You may be lucky and land a job quickly, but chances are that it will take time. Don’t be discouraged and don’t give up. Keep working on your skills and portfolio, and continue to approach potential clients and network with other copywriters. Providence favors the bold.

Gain Experience through Volunteer and Pro Bono Work

If you have been looking for work for a while and have not been able to find a paying position, volunteering your copywriting services might be an option. Many people with no experience have found work at non-profits and used the opportunity to gain valuable experience.

Admittedly, it can be disheartening to work for free, but at least you will be gaining experience, honing your writing skills, and doing something meaningful. And you never know, it might turn into a paying job down the line. 

The first step would be to identify a non-profit or small business that you would want to work with. Do some research to find out about their recent activities and see if you can garner what they need at the moment and how you can provide that for them. 

Then reach out and offer your services. Mention how you can meet their current requirements. Show them how they can benefit and be honest about what you hope to gain from working with them.

If they seem willing, make sure you come to an agreement that is clear to everyone – the scope of the work, timeline, and any other expectations. Be upfront about how much time you can commit to the project and what you can provide.

Treat the volunteer opportunity like a real job. Make sure your copy is perfect and that you meet all deadlines. 

Remember, the work you do will be part of your portfolio, so do work you can be proud of. If you do a great job, you are on your way to becoming a copywriter with experience.

Should You Work As a Freelance Copywriter for Private Clients?

If you’re considering a career in copywriting, you will be faced with this question at some point in time; Should I freelance and work for myself, or should I find a job? There are many aspects to consider when making this decision. Let’s look at some of them.

Freelancing offers greater flexibility and more control over your schedule. You can work wherever and whenever you want. But this freedom comes at a heavy price: you don’t get paid leave. If you get sick or go on leave, the work stops and you don’t earn any money. 

A freelance copywriter can earn a higher income than salaried people. Some of the highest-paid people in the world are freelance copywriters. 

But the potential to earn a high income is not the whole story. It comes with a drawback: you don’t have the perks that a full-time position offers. You don’t get paid leave, no health insurance, and there is no automatic debit order for a pension fund, Unless you are disciplined and save money regularly, you can end up with too little money in your old age.

Also, a high income doesn’t automatically arrive at the end of the month like a salary: you have to actively seek out and secure clients. Freelancing requires you to build your own network of clients and colleagues, and create your own opportunities.

Drawbacks

One of the biggest drawbacks of freelancing is an inconsistent workload, which can play havoc with your cash flow and your nerves. Freelancing doesn’t offer any job security. The workload is unpredictable, which makes income unpredictable. On the other hand, a position at an agency or a company typically offers greater job security and stability.

A freelance copywriter has more opportunities to work on a variety of projects for different clients and so develop a wide range of skills. A copywriter that works for an advertising agency and or a marketing department is not exposed to so much variety, so they may not develop a wide range of copywriting skills.

The biggest drawback of working as an employed copywriter is the fact that you are told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. You have way less control over your work if you work for someone else. If you are an independent self-starter, freelancing will be a good option for you.

Another major drawback of working for an organization is the inevitable office politics that detract from the work that must get done. 

The choice between freelancing and a paid job is a choice between independence as a professional and a dependable income. Freelancing is not for everyone. It takes a lot of self-discipline and a tolerance for uncertainty to be able to work as a freelancer.

If you need a team around you to deliver your best work and you want the security of a monthly salary, then a position at an agency or working for a large company may suit you better.

How Much Can You Earn As a Copywriter?

A copywriter can earn a lot of money. The average salary a copywriter earn depends on factors like years of experience, location, industry, and the type of copywriting.

According to data from PayScale, as of March 2023, the average annual salary for a copywriter in the United States is $58,000, with salaries ranging from $33,000 to $90,000 per year.

However, many copywriters work as freelancers or independent contractors and they earn quite a bit more. As a freelance copywriter, you can charge hourly rates or project-based fees that work out more than a salary. 

The freelance rates for copywriting vary widely based on the copywriter’s expertise, and the size and type of project. 

Some highly skilled individuals who work freelance can charge anywhere from $100 to $300 per hour or more.

Another thing to remember is the earning potential in certain industries is higher. A copywriter working in an industry like advertising or marketing may earn higher salaries than those working in other industries.

To sum up. Copywriting can be a very lucrative career, but it is not the case for everybody. Income can vary widely depending on several factors.

Check out our article on Content Writer vs Copywriter.

Does It Make Sense to Become a Copywriter in the Age of AI-generated copy?

Everybody is simultaneously fascinated and appalled by technologies like ChatGPTt. Does it mean that there will be no work for copywriters in the future? Should you abandon your plans to become a copywriter?

Not at all.

The future of copywriting is likely to be shaped by several emerging technologies, but it does not mean the end of writing copy for organizations. 

Artificial intelligence is already being used to generate some forms of content, such as news articles and product descriptions. But as it stands now, the copy generated by AI tends to be generic and devoid of a personal tone such as that produced by a human writer. 

So, brands that insist on a certain tone in their advertising messages will always need a human touch.  

That being said, as AI applications improve, its involvement in copywriting is bound to increase.

Trends That Are Creating Opportunities for Copywriters

There are other developments that may also impact the future of copywriting. For instance, the proliferation of interactive content. That is the development of content like quizzes, polls, and interactive videos as a way to engage audiences and generate leads. 

This spells a new opportunity for copywriters, who may need to gain experience writing more interactive and engaging content that gets consumers to interact with each other.

Another trend is the demand for personalization. Consumers are expecting more personalized experiences. Marketing departments will have to take this development into account and train copywriters to be able to do the data analysis and customer segmentation necessary to write more personalized messaging that speaks to individual customers.

More and more people are using smart speakers and voice assistants. This trend is leading to the need for copywriters to optimize their content for voice search queries. Since speaking is more informal than writing, it will probably involve more natural language and optimizing content for long-tail keywords.

Another trend that copywriters can take note of is the consumer demand for sustainability and social responsibility. Brands need copywriters to help them create messaging that resonates with environmentally and socially conscious consumers.

Overall, the future of copywriting is likely to be shaped by new technologies, changing consumer expectations, and emerging trends in marketing. Copywriters will need to stay up-to-date with these developments to remain relevant.