Mike,
If you want to get into copywriting these days, you have to do a lot more than write copy. You'll need page layout and graphics editing software and know how to use both to create professional results.
Depending on where you live, your clients will most likely be interested getting flyers, newsletters and brochures created for them. That's the way it is where we live.
To get a jump on creating those kinds of products, take a trip to the nearest large tourist shopping area, and make a point to collect as many brochures as you can find from the brochure racks. Also collect newspapers that include lots of ads (because those advertisers will be potential clients).
Build up a large library of these that you can use for inspiration and guidance when you do get a client.
In the meantime, use your page layout and graphics editing program and try to duplicate at least five of the brochures or graphic ads you find.
Until you are able to do that, you won't really know if you can deliver quality results to your clients.
Trying to find clients for advertising and copywriting requires knocking on a lot of doors, dealing with a lot a rejection, and fighting with a lot of competition over a small number of clients.
It's not a business model I would want to pursue. But if it is your dream and you don't mind the hard work, go for it.
When it comes to creating ads and brochures for local clients, you'll quickly discover you'll spend far more time finding clients than you will creating ads.
And when you do find a client, you'll find you spend a lot of time visiting the client to get approval or corrections on the work you're doing.
It will involve a lot of face-to-face time with the client, and will require you to stick with the job to the completion.
Most local clients will balk at paying more than a few hundred dollars for a complete brochure, and you may find yourself spending 30 or 40 hours of work and travel time to make $200.
You may discover that if you factor in cost of fuel, printer ink, glossy paper costs, photo licensing, you'll actually lose money on your projects.
A lot of this is due to your competition - print shops, Kinkos, Office Depot, and lots of smaller ad agencies willing to cut prices below cost in order to get business.
As I said before, it wouldn't be the kind of business I'd want to get into.
I prefer businesses where you can stay at home, set your own hours, and use tools to produce products that can be created once, and then sold thousands of times - without ever having to go out and do a sales call.
This is why the internet became so important to entrepreneurs. It meant we could reach the world of potential customers at almost no cost, and deliver products digitally without having to worry about manufacturing, packaging and shipping costs.
Products that can be created at home and delivered digitally include:
Books
Videos
Software
Templates (for popular software products)
Audio Files
Ringtones
Phone Apps
Video Games
Images (ie stock photos)
Royalty free music
Web site templates
Web site support
Web site themes and graphic elements
Web site plugins
There are many other opportunities for digital products in addition to the above.
Even simple things can sell.
For example, I just posted a template for Kindle fiction novels. Easy for me to create. Easy to deliver, and easy to sell to those who need one like it.
I provided this free to our members here. But I've seen similar templates for Kindle novels selling for $50 or more.
Selling something like that would be easy. And would only require a web page and paypal account to get into business.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting anyone resell my template. I own it, and reselling it would be a violation of our terms of use.
But creating and selling those kinds of digital products is a far better business model than having to do cold sales calls on potential clients, and then creating and selling a product only once.
Just my opinion,
Bill
If you want to get into copywriting these days, you have to do a lot more than write copy. You'll need page layout and graphics editing software and know how to use both to create professional results.
Depending on where you live, your clients will most likely be interested getting flyers, newsletters and brochures created for them. That's the way it is where we live.
To get a jump on creating those kinds of products, take a trip to the nearest large tourist shopping area, and make a point to collect as many brochures as you can find from the brochure racks. Also collect newspapers that include lots of ads (because those advertisers will be potential clients).
Build up a large library of these that you can use for inspiration and guidance when you do get a client.
In the meantime, use your page layout and graphics editing program and try to duplicate at least five of the brochures or graphic ads you find.
Until you are able to do that, you won't really know if you can deliver quality results to your clients.
Trying to find clients for advertising and copywriting requires knocking on a lot of doors, dealing with a lot a rejection, and fighting with a lot of competition over a small number of clients.
It's not a business model I would want to pursue. But if it is your dream and you don't mind the hard work, go for it.
When it comes to creating ads and brochures for local clients, you'll quickly discover you'll spend far more time finding clients than you will creating ads.
And when you do find a client, you'll find you spend a lot of time visiting the client to get approval or corrections on the work you're doing.
It will involve a lot of face-to-face time with the client, and will require you to stick with the job to the completion.
Most local clients will balk at paying more than a few hundred dollars for a complete brochure, and you may find yourself spending 30 or 40 hours of work and travel time to make $200.
You may discover that if you factor in cost of fuel, printer ink, glossy paper costs, photo licensing, you'll actually lose money on your projects.
A lot of this is due to your competition - print shops, Kinkos, Office Depot, and lots of smaller ad agencies willing to cut prices below cost in order to get business.
As I said before, it wouldn't be the kind of business I'd want to get into.
I prefer businesses where you can stay at home, set your own hours, and use tools to produce products that can be created once, and then sold thousands of times - without ever having to go out and do a sales call.
This is why the internet became so important to entrepreneurs. It meant we could reach the world of potential customers at almost no cost, and deliver products digitally without having to worry about manufacturing, packaging and shipping costs.
Products that can be created at home and delivered digitally include:
Books
Videos
Software
Templates (for popular software products)
Audio Files
Ringtones
Phone Apps
Video Games
Images (ie stock photos)
Royalty free music
Web site templates
Web site support
Web site themes and graphic elements
Web site plugins
There are many other opportunities for digital products in addition to the above.
Even simple things can sell.
For example, I just posted a template for Kindle fiction novels. Easy for me to create. Easy to deliver, and easy to sell to those who need one like it.
I provided this free to our members here. But I've seen similar templates for Kindle novels selling for $50 or more.
Selling something like that would be easy. And would only require a web page and paypal account to get into business.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting anyone resell my template. I own it, and reselling it would be a violation of our terms of use.
But creating and selling those kinds of digital products is a far better business model than having to do cold sales calls on potential clients, and then creating and selling a product only once.
Just my opinion,
Bill
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