Want to make your first $1000 as a copywriter? In this blog, Iām sharing 4 PROVEN STRATEGIES for finding copywriting clients ā fastā¦
Including real-life stories of how some of my students landed their very first clients.
Hey Posse, whatās up? Itās Alex.
If youāre new to new to copywriting and looking for your first paying client, this blog is for youā¦
Make sure to join my newsletter to get the latest tutorial from the Posse right in your inbox.
So, if youāre new around here, you might not know that I was a freelance copywriter for over 10 yearsālong before I started teachingā¦
And over those years, I discovered 4 of what I think are the most effective client acquisition strategies.
I call these methods Hunt, Gather, Play & Slayā¦
And I teach them, along with all of my copywriting templates, formulas, and best practices, inside my 8-week copywriter program, the Copy Posse Launch Pad that launches JUST once a yearā¦
ANDā¦ to show you exactly how simple these methods can be, Iāll share some real-life stories of how some of my students landed their very first clients.
And if you want to know the #1 fastest way to grow your business and find high-paying clients, make sure you pay extra attention to Method #4ā¦
Because thatās where the real magic happens.
Now letās dive into each oneā¦
Method #1: Hunt
This method is all about getting strategic and searching for clients that are a fit for youā¦
You are quite literally putting yourself out there and HUNTING for clients.
Ask yourself what brands you admire and what products you loveā¦ follow them on social media, get on their email lists, and watch what they are doing.
You can try reaching out cold via email or DM, but honestly ā cold outreach has never been my favorite strategy because itās 100% a numbers game. So if youāre willing to send 100 messages without taking it personally when you get 99 ānoāsā or simply no response, then go for it!
Personally, I like to be strategic and personal with outreachā¦
This might look like scouring these companyās career pages and/or waiting for them to share or post job opportunities that you can apply for…
My student, Chi, from Season 2 of the Launch Pad got her first client by following them on social media and regularly checking out their posts. One day, they posted a copywriting opportunity, and she applied and got the job.
With the hunt method, your biggest goal is to get your foot in the door with a company you want to work with.
It may start as a smaller project or another role related to copywriting ā like social media, project management, or community management.
In fact, a writer on my team first started working with me as a community manager. Even though she was technically a copywriter and didnāt necessarily āwantā to be doing community managementā¦
But she loved my brand and was excited to work with me NO MATTER WHAT THE ROLE WAS.
She happily came on board, started at just 5 hours a week, and was paid hourlyā¦
She did a great job, proved herself, was willing and eager to learnā¦
And it didnāt take long at all before she got on retainer and started taking on additional roles.
Now she has been working with me for 4 years and is one of two writers on my team.
This goes to showā¦
Once youāre āinā with a brand, itās a lot easier to work your way up to high-paid copywriter status.
Alright, letās move on the method #2ā¦
Method #2: Gather
This method is all about good old-fashioned networking and it should start with connecting with who you already know.
Share what youāre doing with the people who are most likely to advocate for you, support you and REFER youā¦
Friends, family, colleagues, and even bosses.
The number of success stories of my students who used this method to find their clients is HUGE.
Iām talking about new copywriters who did the simplest thing ever ā posted on their social media account about the copywriting course they were takingā¦
And then had clients reach out to THEM.
Like Samantha ā who mentioned she was taking a course with the Copy Posse and had someone reach out asking if she could write their emailsā¦
And Michaela ā who posted on her social media that she just joined one of my programs and had her first client reach out to her.
I have other students who told their current bosses what they were up toā¦ and their bosses hired them and became their first clients!
And others who simply had a conversation with friends and strangers ā which led to a referral for their very first client.
Like Linda ā who told a friend of hers that she was learning copywriting and within 2 weeks that friend referred her to a client.
Or Evelyne ā who told all her writer friends what she was up to and got a referral to one of their old clients.
Or Rob ā who told an old colleague of his that he was getting into copywriting, looking for clients, and immediately got 2 referrals.
But in addition to telling people you KNOW about your new career path, get out there and meet people you donāt yet know!
Go to marketing seminars, workshops, or local meet-ups in your areaā¦ I met my first high-paying retainer client at a marketing conferenceā¦
But please please please do not show up with a stack of business cards asking people to contact you.
Instead, go with the intention of making genuine connections and friends.
And donāt let your ālack of experienceā stop you from connecting with business owners or potential clients or applying for jobs that may be seem a bit over your heardā¦
My student, Misi, got her first client through a referral after graduating from the Launch Pad.
The problem was this client wanted 2 years of experience, proven metrics, and all the things that typically scare new copywriters from applying for a jobā¦
But I love what Misi said so much. She said this:
I wasnāt going to be the one to tell me ānoā. Iām going to bet on myself, apply anyway, and let THEM tell me ānoā.
Misi, Launch Pad Student
Well, they told her YES despite her inexperience because they loved her portfolio and personality. They hired her for a full-time copywriting role as her first client ever.
This goes to show that people want to work with people that they like.
Period.
Your skills are important YES, but that is not why they will hire you. Theyāll hire you for YOU.
So show up. Be you. Let your personality shine through.
I love this story shared by student Abdelā¦
I had a revelation during Posse week day 2. PEOPLE HIRE PEOPLE! First, when I saw that during the live session, I said to myself : “Yeah this is obvious, is Alex on drugs or on something else?“
And then Alex talked about showing your personality and I was like: “Oooooooooooooh, I see” with my mouth open for one minute.
I went back to my cold emails I sent recently. I clearly noted that I couldn’t sense my personality, my style, my way of expressing myself.
Why? Because I wanted the email to be professional AF! So I kept a very boring style but very professional, maybe too professional!
Okay, let’s write a cold email with no filter AT ALL, NO FILTER, I put words on a paper as it came in my brain. Then, I deleted some bad words because there were too many F words, bullshit…
I sent this email to a prospect I would like to work with for email marketing. Guess what?! After 4 hours, I got a reply from him!
He said:” You made me laugh!” and he wants to set up a call with me to discuss how I can help him.
I was just hiding my personality because I was afraid that potential clients reading my emails would find me crazy, not serious! But I was wrong! It feels so good to be myself!
Abdel, Copy Posse Student
How freaking POWERFUL is that?
Never underestimate the power of being YOU.
And youād be surprised how easily you land your first client!
Alright, letās move on to method #3ā¦
Method #3: Play
Yup ā engage with brands you love, find Facebook groups where your dream clients hang out, and truly connect, and HAVE FUN.
This method is all about planting seedsā¦
Plant seeds OFTEN and EVERYWHERE and, eventually, they will sprout.
While you donāt need to be present on EVERY single social platform, my advice is to pick the 2 that work for you and go for it.
Maybe itās LinkedInā¦
Maybe itās Instagramā¦
Maybe itās Facebook Groupsā¦
Now, Iām not suggesting you go nuts sending cold outreach pitches to everyone left and right.
No!
All you have to do isā¦ wait for itā¦ have conversations with people.Ā Drop the agenda.Ā
Chat with people on topics they care about, post relevant content, showcase your skills, start genuine conversations and share value in online business communitiesā¦
Youāll be surprised how far this can go for you.
I have students who had someone reach out to them MONTHS after a conversation they started.
And if you can, join a community where you get access to a job board.
Trust meā¦
THIS IS A GAME-CHANGER.
And itās one of the biggest perks my students get when they join my LIVE copywriting program, the Copy Posse Launch Pad.
We have a job board that is updated frequently with new job opportunities ā many of them are exclusively for my community.
In fact, Mel got her very first client through the Copy Posse Job Boardā¦ and then later landed a 6-figure A YEAR client ā yep, also through the job board.Ā
Alright, now on to the fourth and final methodā¦ SLAY.
Method #4: Slay
This one is exactly what it sounds likeā¦
Once you start getting clients ā no matter how small ā show up, do the work, overdeliver, be flexible and available, never stop learning and improving and be open to feedback.
Do this and your clients will continue to pay you time and time again AND refer you to other clients in their networkā¦
And THIS is the #1 fastest way to grow your business.
This is how I took my business from low 5-figures to multiple 6-figures as a freelancer back before I ever started the Copy Posse.
And itās how so many of my students took the portfolio they wrote as part of the Launch Pad programā¦
And used it as THE launch pad for building fun, fulfilling and lucrative copywriting businesses.Ā
Something that makes the Launch Pad super unique is that I donāt just teach you how to write good copyā¦
During this once-a-year program, I also GIVE YOU YOUR VERY FIRST CLIENT to write copy forā¦
Yup! Itās something I call my āA-listā.
In Week 1 of the Copy Posse Launch Pad, your job is to select a product to write your Launch Pad portfolio onā¦
But rather than write for a mock product or a big inaccessible brand that may never even see your portfolio copyā¦
I give you the option of writing your Launch Pad portfolio for an actual business that is looking for a copywriter RIGHT NOWā¦
Yup, you get to pick from my A-list of real products by real companies that are looking for copywriting supportā¦ for realā¦ right nowā¦
Which means you get to add real client copy to your portfolio PLUS get your work in front of a brand that is ACTUALLY looking for copy help and just might hire you for ongoing workā¦
OR refer you to another business they know who is looking for copy support.
Listen – finding clients and building a successful copywriting business isnāt āeasyā…
Iāll be the first to tell you that.
It takes hard work and persistence.
You have to be willing to hear more ānosā than āyesesā ā especially in the beginning.
But the truth is that clients are EVERYWHERE.
I promise youā¦
If you follow these 4 methodsā¦
And you stick with itā¦
If you put yourself out there, consistently plant seeds, and donāt get in your own wayā¦
You WILL find your first client.
And if you want to fast-track your progress, make sure you check out my 8-week coaching programā¦
Where Iāll teach you everything I know about copywritingā¦
Help you create a portfolio that makes you stand outā¦
And makes it SO MUCH EASIER to find clients.
Now, Iām curious, which method are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments below!
Iāll see you next week with a brand new blog. Until then, Iām Alex. Ciao for now!
