How to Become a Freelance Copywriter

You want to learn how to become a freelance copywriter but have no idea where to start.

I’ve been there, and thankfully, you don’t have to be.

It’s not easy becoming a freelance copywriter. In fact, it can be downright daunting if you don’t even have a roadmap to get there. You might feel like you’re up against insurmountable odds like you need years of experience, a deep portfolio, and a full roster of clients before you can even think about starting.

But what if we told you that wasn’t the case? That anyone could become a freelance copywriter with the right tools and resources? That all it takes is some basic knowledge and a willingness to learn?

You came to the right place! Consider this your high-definition roadmap on how to become a freelance copywriter.

What is Copywriting?

Copywriting is the art of writing persuasive copy and ad copy. That may sound intimidating, but it’s a skill that you can learn. If you have the proper guidance, tools, and resources –– I estimate you can become a freelance copywriter and land your first client in about three months.

If you like the idea of learning how to sell an idea, product, brand, or service with persuasive words, this may be the perfect gig or side hustle for you.

What is Freelance Copywriting?

Freelance copywriting is the act of writing persuasive copy and ad copy for clients on a contract basis. This may include writing website content, email marketing content, or even sales letters. Unlike in-house copywriters (which may be a full-time or part-time position), freelance copywriters are typically self-employed and work with various clients simultaneously.

Examples of Great Copywriting

Have you ever been browsing Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or Snapchat and been totally sucked in by the description or title of a picture, video, article, product, service, or piece of content?

Congrats! You were just won over by someone’s stellar copywriting.

How to Become a Freelance Copywriter

Let’s make what may sound like a hellish process as simple as possible. How to become a freelance copywriter isn’t as hard as you think. Just follow these steps…

Begin with the End in Mind

Before you start jumping through hoops to become a copywriter, what’s your why? You should be asking yourself these questions.

Why do you want to start writing?

Most of the time, people aren’t successful in achieving their goals due to a failure in goal design. A well-designed goal is

Specific
And time-bound

Here’s a poor goal for a copywriter: I want to make a ton of money as fast as possible.

Here’s an excellent goal for a new copywriter: I want to make my first $1,000 in copywriting in the next 90 days.

Choose an Industry, Niche, or Specialty

Now that you’ve decided why you want to learn how to become a freelance copywriter, start copywriting and make money, it’s time to choose your industry.

You may already have an industry that you’ve worked in, enjoyed, or specialized in the past. That’s a great start.

However, your existing field of expertise might not be the highest paying for copywriters.

To make choosing your niche and industry easier, you can sign up for my free report on the Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs and Industries for Freelance Writers.

Start Writing Copy for Your Own Website or Blog

You don’t need a ton of pieces in your portfolio to be considered an “expert” or “expert copywriter” in a niche. “Expert” is such a relative term anyway.

What does it mean to become an expert?

Put 10,000 hours into a craft?
Getting interviewed with a trade publication?
Writing a best-selling book?
Getting on a national podcast?
Winning an award?
Getting a degree?

Not in today’s economy. In fact, one of the best parts of being a freelance writer (or any type of artist) is that excellent work speaks for itself.

Some of the most celebrated and revered writers to walk the planet weren’t even high school or college-educated. Others got degrees and became professors.

Today, none of that matters. If you can showcase great writing, people will pay you good money to do it.

how to become a copywriter with no degree

I could write my own guide for becoming a writing topic matter on any subject, but this interview between Tim Ferriss and Michael Ellsberg does a better job than anything I’ve seen:

Read: “8 Steps to Getting What You Want… Without Formal Credentials”

If you don’t have time to read the whole article now (which I highly recommend you make time for in the next 24 hours), use Ctrl+F and skip to “Step 1: Choose Your New Field of Learning.”

Spoiler Alert: The next few steps here are wildly similar, condensed versions of the article above.

Build a Portfolio

Creating a portfolio –– now that’s something that sounds intimidating, right? Nope!

Once again, it’s way easier than you may think.

This screenshot is straight from the above blog:

8 Steps to Getting What You Want... Without Formal Credentials

All you need to do is

Launch a cheap or free blog/portfolio using WordPress and Bluehost or JournoPortfolio
Pick up 4-10 professional books or how-to books about your chosen niche or how to write in your niche.
Read one book per week.
Write one blog post per week detailing what you’re learning and your journey to becoming a writer in your niche.
Start sharing your posts and what you’re learning on social media to make your network aware that you’re becoming a [insert industry] copywriter.

Voila! You did just what Ellsberg said you would do: “killed ten birds with one stone,” and now you’re off to the races.

Join Online Communities and Forums Related to Copywriting

There are hundreds of great communities where writers can gather online. This is an invaluable FREE resource for growing your network (clients and other writers) and continuing to sharpen your skills.

join online copywriting communities on social media

If you need references to specific groups, along with other tips on kicking off your freelance writing career, be sure to read my post on How to Become a Freelance Writer with No Experience.

Seek out Freelance Opportunities

Here’s another key that some of the best in the business will tell you: when you’re starting, it isn’t bad to start doing your first work for free.

It takes the pressure off the client relationship, lets you cut your teeth while building your portfolio, AND can lead to business with the free client or you getting referral business to others.

seek out freelance copywriting opportunities

Before you know it, you’ll have dozens of new pieces in your portfolio, and clients (free or paid) that will be asking you:

“What’s your availability for more work?”
“How much do you charge?”
“I’ve got a [friend, family member, coworker, client, acquaintance] that needs a copywriter and will pay. Can you help them out?”

Always Be Learning

Being a great copywriter (or writer in general) is committing to a lifetime of learning. Keep reading new books, news, and blogs about your industry or niche. Continue reading books, book notes, or book synopses on how to become a great copywriter.

Always Be Writing

Becoming a great writer is about committing to the practice and not being too hard on yourself. You’re not going to become a copywriting wizard overnight.

But if you stick to it –– especially in the beginning –– you’ll see exponential improvements in your writing every week! How awesome is that?!!

How to Become a Freelance Copywriter: Writing Software

Gone are the days of staring at a blank page and that menacing, flashing cursor. The writing software and application online today are insanely intuitive. For example, there are tools available on the internet today that can actually write world-class, unique copy and content for you.

If you are interested in closing clients faster, making money sooner, and shaving off 50-60% of your total writing time (AKA- doubling your hourly rate), be sure to read my posts on

How to Keep Sharpening Your Skills as a Copywriter

Here are some additional tips on how to keep sharpening your skills, pencil, and keyboard as a blossoming copywriter.

1) Copywriting is Everywhere. Start Observing It

In 2017, Forbes estimated that each of us sees between 4,000-10,000 ads per day. What do you think that figure is now?

I think active observation is the only difference between a consumer and a copywriter.

Consumers are getting sucked in by the gravitational pull of great copywriting and ads for brands, products, and services but never stop considering “why?”

Copywriters are constantly observing and asking.

Copywriters continually assess questions of the who, what, where, why, and how behind the ad copy they see.

Why did this catch my attention?
What made copy stand out from their competitors?
What makes this better or different?
Where is the company advertising? Why is that specific area/platform important?
Who is the target audience? What problem is that audience looking to solve? What kind of solution are they looking for?

Start noticing all of the copywriting and messaging around you — question the process and methodology behind it. Congrats! You’re already becoming a student of the craft.

2) Take Note of Attention-Grabbing Copywriting

Observing and asking questions bout copywriting is just the first step. Now, it’s time to start taking and capturing notes on them.

Take notes of the companies, copywriting, ads, images, videos, pitches, and techniques you see that grab your attention. That may sound time-consuming, but it’s way easier than you think.

I streamline the capturing process with my free Evernote account. So, for example, if I see an ad on social media that catches my attention, I use the Evernote web clipper (desktop) or their iPhone app to take a screenshot and add it to my “Writing” folder.

What if it’s a physical ad like a billboard, magazine, or poster?

I take a picture on my smartphone and file it in the same notebook.

If you stuck to this religiously for 30 days, you’d have at least 100 different ad examples that caught your eye or tickled your fancy.

Sweet! But how do I use it?

If you’re actively clipping titillating new copy and ads to this folder, you should be grabbing at least a dozen or more great copy examples every week. Here’s what I recommend:

Revisit your notebook at the end of each week.
Keep a notepad that aggregates your notes on the things you like: trends you’re seeing, designs, words, phrasing, etc.
Experiment by incorporating those tools and techniques into your writing.

Read Books on How to Become a Great Copywriter

The best books for copywriters give you a comprehensive understanding of the craft. They’ll teach you the basics of copywriting, how to hone your skills, and how to market yourself as a freelance copywriter.

Here are some of the best on the market (Warning: Incoming affiliate links).

In Closing

Now you have a fully-fledged guide on how to become a freelance copywriter. If you follow this guide to a T, you’ll graduate from Padawan to Jedi Copywriting Master before you know it. To keep yourself motivated, set a target to build your portfolio in 1-to 2 months and close your first client in month three.

If you missed this earlier, subscribe to get my free ebook on the Top 20 Highest Paying Jobs and Industries for Freelance Writers.