As a copywriter, you need skills to write excellent copy, but you also need to learn how to sell your services to increase your copywriting salary.
Finding new copywriting jobs is challenging, and one of the biggest hurdles in that process is showing your value to prospective clients. A common mistake is to give away too much for free. This can often be counterproductive. Read on to find the right balance between showcasing your writing ability and getting paid for the value of your work.
What Is a Healthy Balance?
Demonstrating your value without giving away too much for free can be a delicate balance. On the one hand, you want to showcase your expertise and provide potential clients with enough information to entice them to work with you.
On the other hand, you don’t want to give away so much that clients feel they don’t need to hire you. One way to strike this balance is by highlighting your unique selling proposition and the specific results you’ve achieved for past clients. By focusing on your distinct skills and success stories, you can demonstrate your value without giving away too much of your intellectual property. Additionally, you can offer free consultations or samples of your work to give clients a taste of what you can do without giving away too much of your time and effort.
The best way to prove your value to prospective clients is to show them a portfolio of your work.
If you write on various topics or create different types of content, you should include all types of samples in your portfolio. This will help provide a prospective client with your entire repertoire.
Some writers specialize in a specific niche or type of content, which can also work great depending on the client’s requirements. The point is that your writing portfolio should have enough diversification so that the prospective client does not need a writing sample from you.
A possible alternative to a writing portfolio could be a strong reference from an existing or past client that is reliable. You could even include testimonials of your work in your resume or writing portfolio. All these tips can save you time and help you boost your copywriting salary.
What If Clients Insist on a Sample for Work?
In some cases, you must create a writing sample. Finding the right balance is key. You must consider different factors when deciding whether to write a sample. For example, writing a sample may make more sense if you are already at an advanced stage of interviewing for the project or position. Similarly, if the client is important to you, and the job feels like a good fit, you may want to oblige and write a sample.
A writing sample does offer some advantages for the client, so we can understand why they want one. The writing sample allows the client to compare multiple candidates on the same content. This makes it easier for them to decide on who to hire.
Be sure to carefully review the client’s project brief and consider the audience, tone, and style that would be most appropriate.
This writing sample can serve as a strong representation of your skills and can help the client feel confident in your ability to deliver quality work.
Research the company and industry you are creating the writing sample for.
By understanding the target audience and tone of the company, you can tailor your writing to fit their needs. This will help show potential clients that you are able to create content that aligns with their brand and speaks directly to their audience.
Make sure your writing sample is well-organized and free of errors.
Use headers, subheadings, bullets, numbered lists, and white space to break up the content and make it easy to read. Also, proofread your writing sample thoroughly to ensure there are no grammatical or spelling errors. These small details can make a big difference and help show potential clients that you are detail-oriented and professional.
Overall, writing a copywriting sample that showcases your skills and abilities can help you land high-value clients for whom this is a non-negotiable. By tailoring your writing to the target audience, highlighting the benefits of the product or service, and ensuring your writing is well-organized and error-free, you can create a standout writing sample that helps you stand out from the competition.it is also best to have clear communication about the details of the project or job, including deadlines, revision request policy, and copywriting salary.
Beware of Copywriting Scams
There are several types of copywriting writing scams to be aware of.
- Writers are required to pay a fee to access writing jobs or training materials. This is a red flag, as legitimate opportunities do not require upfront payments. These types of scams often lure people by offering a high copywriting salary.
- You’re promised a high-paying writing job without experience. If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. It’s essential to do thorough research on the company and read reviews from other writers to avoid being scammed.
- You’re asked to provide free writing samples in exchange for possible future work. This is not a legitimate practice. Legitimate companies will not ask writers to provide free work without compensation. To avoid copywriting scams, it is crucial to remain vigilant, trust your instincts, and do your research before accepting any opportunities. If an offer requires any upfront payments or free work, it is likely a scam. By staying informed and taking precautions, aspiring copywriters can avoid scams and find legitimate opportunities in the industry.
- Some scams target personal information such as social security numbers, bank account information, or credit card numbers. Legitimate companies will not ask for this information upfront, so be cautious of any offer that requests it.
- There are also scams that involve fake writing contests or awards. These scams may ask you to pay an entry fee or provide personal information in exchange for the possibility of winning a prize or securing a project or job with a high copywriting salary. Be cautious of writing contests or awards that require an entry fee or seem too good to be true. You can also search for copywriting scams on the Better Business Bureau website.
Point Them to Your Portfolio Before Writing Something New
You may encounter clients who insist on seeing a writing sample before hiring you for a project. However, rather than spending time writing something new, it is often more efficient to point them to your existing portfolio.
Your portfolio showcases your previous work and provides a glimpse into your writing style and abilities. By directing potential clients to your portfolio, you can demonstrate your experience and expertise without having to create something new from scratch.
Additionally, by pointing clients to your portfolio, you can set the tone for the type of work you are interested in. For example, if your portfolio consists of a lot of technical writing, this may indicate that you prefer working on similar projects. On the other hand, if your portfolio is more creative, this may indicate that you are better suited for projects that require a more imaginative approach.
Overall, pointing potential clients to your portfolio before writing something new can save you time and effort while also showcasing your previous work and setting expectations for the type of projects you are interested in. By presenting your best work upfront, you can make a strong impression on potential clients.
Looking for resources to help increase your chances of securing new projects and boost your copywriting salary? Come join the Copywriter Exchange today.
Author Bio
Ali Azhar is a contract copywriter with Content Workshop and a member of the Copywriter Exchange. He has 6+ years of experience in copywriting, SEO/SEM optimization, content writing, and technical writing.
At Copywriter Exchange, we’re a group of master content marketing pros who bring their diverse talents and backgrounds to bear on the art and science of creating high-performance content tailored to your needs. We exist to help copywriters thrive in today’s economy by connecting them with the resources they need to step up their game. Join now to access our templates, guides, and courses to help you grow your career, skills, and network.
