Copywriting Jobs—What Your Client Expects & How to Get Noticed
Apart from great writing skills, clients have an expectation from you when they hire you to write their copy.
They are expecting you to write for a potential buyer in a way that will motivate and influence them to buy. This means going beyond simply describing a product or service.
You have to make it relevant to the reader, as in, they cannot live without it.
Clients are also interested in your level of expertise and confidence when it comes to writing copy. If they ask for a white paper, for example, they are going to expect you to know what a white paper is.
They will also expect you to take initiative with certain aspects of the project. This kind of goes hand-in-hand with expertise and confidence. You should have the confidence to make small decisions without questioning the client.
Clients don’t want to work with high-maintenance freelancers. They want to hand the project to you and let you do your thing.
Don’t worry, though! That doesn’t mean you have to be an expert on copywriting overnight. You can easily turn to Google or online communities of freelancers for advice.
Or you can take a course on how to freelance write!
Overall, the client just wants to have a good experience working with you. As long as you’re friendly, positive and willing to put in the work, you’ll make a good impression.
Quick Tips: How to Get a Good Start with Your Client as a Copywriter
Apart from obtaining the necessary information from a client in order to complete a copywriting job, there are a few other aspects of the job you need to consider.
Turnaround Time
First, you need to establish the turnaround time on the project. When does the client want the content completed? Can you work within this timeframe?
Yes, it's a red flag when a client presents you with unreasonable expectations—and vice versa. However, copywriting clients are often not writers and may not understand how long it takes to produce well-written copy.
If you are given a deadline you feel is overreaching, let the client know. Tell them you will try to finish the copywriting job as soon as you possibly can and provide them with a more appropriate due date.
Be open to negotiating this term. As long as the client is assured that they are going to receive high-quality content, they should be flexible with a reasonable turnaround time.
Contract or No Contract?
Another one of those red flags was if a client refuses to sign a contract.
Honestly, when it comes to smaller blog writing projects, many successful remote writers do not find them necessary. Instead, you can do a writing agreement that details what is to be written, when it is due and the cost for the service.
However, bigger projects should require a contract. Contracts are important in protecting both the client and the copywriter to ensure that services are delivered as detailed and paid for. For my bigger brand clients, it's highly recommended to always use a contract with them as that is their expectations when hiring content writers.
Having a crystal-clear contract will protect you from the following:
Clients that demand more and more of you as the project goes on – and not paying for it.
Clients who do not give you complete information and then complain that you didn’t deliver what they asked for.
Clients who pays late.
Whether you use a simply agreement or a contract, always remember to proofread and be realistic with your availability to complete projects. Communication is key! Your client will expect you to communicate any changes in a timely manner—and you deserve the same respect in return.
If you’re ready, it’s time to jump into the copywriting pool and land some amazing copywriting jobs! Check out the RemoteWriterJob "FIND WORK" forum for the latest remote writer job ads. (Select "Newest" in the Sort-by Filter.)
We also recommend extending your remote Copywriter job search to the following platforms for an optimized experience:
While you can hop on Indeed and Upwork to find all kinds of freelancing jobs, the competition there can be pretty high.
Their popularity means that many freelance copywriters are sending applications to prospective clients (that’s a lot of applications to sift through!).
Instead, check out these job sites where you can land some copywriting work:
Contena
Writers Work
Problogger
LinkedIn
Facebook Groups (Such as GUAVABEAN and more!)
Twitter (simply enter hastags, such as #remotework or #joblistings)
ClearVoice
Remote.co
These are just a few job boards out there where you can find paid copywriting work. No matter where you search, always be vigilant!
Ready to pitch to clients? Great! Let's highlight the most influential points you'll need to execute:
Research the company. Clients need to trust that you understand their business. How else can you write copy to sell their product/service? Make sure you research the company and include how you feel about their values or vision in your pitch.
Keep it short and sweet. The people you are pitching to are busy and likely receive tons of emails every day. Keep your pitch short and to the point to avoid being looked over.
Avoid templates. Again, potential clients are looking through a lot of emails. When each email starts to sound like the other, they are likely to skip over them. Make your pitch unique.
Explain your results. This can be tricky when you’re a beginner but it’s possible to highlight the results your writing can achieve. Use your own blog as an example of how you are able to drive traffic to a site.
Be confident. Avoid bringing attention to the fact that you’re a newbie to the copywriting game. Again, clients want results and they don’t really care how “experienced” you are at getting them – as long as you can.
Follow up. While clients will turf pitches that disinterested them, sometimes good pitches get lost in the fray. Be sure to send a follow-up email to ensure that your pitch was seen.
Last but not least—networking!
One of the more surprising ways to find copywriting jobs is to network with other freelancers and potential clients.
The more people you interact with online, the more chances you have at landing copywriting jobs.
These people that you network with may have contacts with large brands or know a lot of contacts that require a copywriter.
This opens the doors to referral business.
Many of us remote writers have made quite a bit of money simply from referrals – from both clients and other writers!
Making connections is definitely a worthwhile way to open doors for paid writing opportunities. Here are some ways you can begin networking:
Start a blog. Not only is this a great way to showcase your copywriting abilities, but it gives people a chance to get to know you. Clients can see right away if you are the writer they are looking for.
Comment on company blogs. This indirect method is a good way to gain exposure as a writer. Try to be the first to leave a relevant comment on a post and be sure to include the fact that you’re a copywriter in your name (for example: “ Jane Smith | Copywriter”).
Follow potential clients on social media. Following and sharing companies on social media is a great way to connect – and get noticed!
While these tips are common suggestions, you will find them to be more than basic strategies when you place them into action in the right way for your particular goals...especially for the new remote writers out there. It is most critical to understand what these clients expect from the beginning, as it helps you (the copywriter) remain in control of selecting a good client—and being a good selection yourself. Stay consistent and always look for ways to improve your skills...and you WILL go far!
RWJ Contributing Author, Mel D, is a freelancer, retro fashion enthusiast, old school video gamer, techie, and the world's most wanted volunteer cello teacher.
