I Asked Thousands of Copywriters How They Land Clients (Here’s What They Said)…
Looking for your next client?
Tired of hearing the same old advice?
Sick of browsing Fiverr and Upwork for hours on end?
I asked thousands of copywriters in my community to share the weirdest or most unexpected way they found a client.
Here’s what they said…
If you’re looking for clients but not having luck with the more “traditional” methods…
You know, Iike using Upwork, Fiverr, sending cold emails, and stuff like that…
Then this blog is for you!
Because I’m sharing dozens of unique ways real copywriters in my community have found clients…
I even put together a MASSIVE list with over 101 ways you can find your next copywriting client…
And I’ll tell you how you can get your hands on it for FREE at the end of the blog, so stick around for that.
Now, if you’re feeling discouraged – or down in the dumps right now – because you’re not having any luck finding clients.
I’m here to tell you:
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU!!
Seriously.
This is a very common struggle that just about ALL brand-new copywriters face.
And even if you AREN’T brand new…
It’s totally normal to have ups and downs in your business…
Maybe you were crushing it and fully booked 3 months ago…
And now all you’re hearing is crickets…
🦗🦗🦗🦗🦗
It doesn’t mean you aren’t cut out for this…
It doesn’t mean you suck…
It doesn’t mean you should just give up.
It might just mean that you need to start thinking outside the box and get a little more creative with your client acquisition methods…
This blog is going to prove to you that clients are literally everywhere.
Even in the most unexpected places…
And I’m here to be your client-finding-wing-woman every step of the way.
For more blogs and in-depth tutorials like this to help you ignite your copywriting business…
Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter to be first to know when my next tutorial goes up.
Alright, now let’s get into it.
40 Weird Ways to Find Clients
Straight from the Posse Community.
Each idea on this list is categorized into one of my 4 proven methods for finding clients – Hunt, Gather, Play & Slay.
You might find success with all 4 methods OR you might find that one works better for you based on your personality type!
Method #1: Hunt
This method is all about getting strategic and searching for clients that are a fit for you.
Ask yourself what brands you admire and what products you love… follow them on social media, get on their email lists and watch what they are doing.
You can try reaching out directly…
By sending emails and making an irresistible offer….
Searching their jobs pages… or waiting for job opportunities to pop up that you can apply for.
And remember – in the beginning – it’s OKAY to apply for jobs that aren’t technically “copywriting” roles.
You can try applying for a related role and use it as a way to get your foot in the door and work your way up.
Like this Posse YouTube Community member did…
YES. I love this so much.
With the hunt method, your goal is to get your foot in the door with a company you really want to work with.
It may start as a smaller project or another role related to copywriting.
But once you’re in, it’s a lot easier to work your way up to high-paid copywriter status.
Method #2: Gather
This method is all about good old-fashioned networking and relationship-building…
And it should start with connecting with WHO YOU ALREADY KNOW.
Share what you’re doing with the people who are most likely to advocate for you and refer work to you…
Even someone you haven’t spoken to since the 8th grade can send you a client…
Friends of friends…
Even your friend’s NEIGHBOR.
Don’t be afraid to tell everyone you know, meet and cross paths with about what you do and WHY…
I’m talking friends, family, colleagues, current and previous bosses, anyone you pay for services and yes – even complete strangers…
In fact, and I LOVE THIS…
A ton of my students have turned their 9-5 boss or colleague into their first freelancing client…
By simply telling them what they’re learning and what their goals are.
Which I think is pretty awesome.
Also, think about what you do day-to-day and the business owners you meet all the time…
Hair stylists, personal trainers, dog walkers… you name it!
Are you bartending right now to make ends meet?
Every single person you serve has the potential to become a client OR refer you to someone they know who needs a copywriter.
In addition to connecting with the people you know, get out there and meet new people!
Go to marketing seminars, workshops, or local meet-ups in your area… I met my first high-paying retainer client at a marketing conference.
The WORLD is literally your oyster, and potential clients are EV-ERY-WHERE-YOU-GO.
Next time you’re working from your local cafe…
Try to make small talk with the people around you.
You never know what connection you might make as you go about your day-to-day…
I once met a client (and actually a former boyfriend) that way!
Or maybe that person you’re awkwardly sitting next to at a wedding or on an airplane can be your next client…
Actually, strangers you meet ANYWHERE could be your next client…
- While on a daytime party boat cruise…
- Getting a tarot reading…
- In an Uber ride…
- At a cooking class…
- A meditation retreat…
- Sitting at the bar on a beach…
- Breaking moves on the dance floor…
- At your kid’s art club…
- Or maybe your kid’s teacher has a side hustle they need marketing help with…
- Getting your hair or makeup done at the salon…
- On the acupuncture table…
- While you’re learning and practicing a new language…
- Waiting for your car to get fixed at the mechanic shop…
Or hey…
Maybe that date you went on didn’t turn into a romantic relationship…
But it just might turn into a client relationship!
Or maybe just chat up the person standing next to you in the bathroom… lol.
And even eavesdropping – when done tactically, of course – can land you a new client…
“The word blog from a nearby table interrupted my convo with a friend at a cafe. I stopped, looked at them, and said: “Sorry, I’m a copywriter so the word ‘blog’ is a trigger.” Everyone laughed and we started a conversation…”
Just remember – when it comes to networking…
Whether you’re at a networking event or meeting strangers on the street…
NEVER start a conversation with the intention of “selling yourself”.
That’s annoying and no one will want to talk to you.
Let it be a natural conversation.
Ask questions and make genuine connections and friends.
People want to work with people they know, like, and trust. Period.
Method #3: Play
This method is all about showing up actively online and building your personal brand, audience and authority.
Show up on LinkedIn, be on Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, have an Upwork profile, Fiverr, and so on…
And make sure your profiles are OPTIMZED.
Say what you do, how you do it, and who you can help.
Remember, potential clients are reading your profile.
Give them a reason to reach out to you…
And hey, you might even get a Fortune 100 client reaching out to hire you.
Find the communities, find the groups, find the hashtags, find the Reddit threads and truly connect and engage with people. Have fun with it, it doesn’t have to be serious, it doesn’t have to be heavy.
Start by having conversations and connecting with your ideal clients on topics they care about, post relevant content and showcase your skills.
Like this Posse member on YouTube who shared…
“Someone raised a common problem to which I posted my experience and challenges and it opened a whole new set of opportunities”
Or this person who commented on a LinkedIn post and got connected with someone right there in the comment section…
As long as you’re showing up in communities and having genuine conversations… not just blatantly selling your services or begging for work…
This can be such a great way to showcase your expertise and connect with clients.
And hey… You could even give someone a compliment in the comment section and land them as a client…
LOVE IT…
Method #4: Slay
This method is all about building your business through results and referrals.
Do what you do, do it well, stay in your lane, get clear on what you offer, never stop learning and improving, take feedback, and continue to cultivate your skills…
Maybe this means you get an email that looks and reads like a scam…
So you decide to reach out and offer your expertise (without any expectation of being hired)…
Or you’re booking an Airbnb for your next vacay and you just can’t help but give some pointers to help them market their place better…
Or maybe it just means you do what you do REALLY WELL and get referrals.
While it can take time to find these “super connector clients,” by showing up and doing great work, you can build your referral network without ever needing to create a website, post on social media or send a cold email.
Now of course – this won’t be the way you land your very first clients…
But it IS the fastest and easiest way to grow and scale your business once you get going.
Referrals and old clients coming back for more is how I took my business from low 5-figures to multiple 6-figures back when I was a freelance copywriter.
Remember: Every single business on the planet needs copywriters. You just gotta find out how to connect with the ones looking for YOU!
Alex Cattoni
The possibilities are ENDLESS.
I hope this inspires you to go out there and do the damn thing.
And don’t forget to grab a copy of my FREE GUIDE: 101 Ways To Find Your Next Client.
I’ll see you next week with a brand-new blog. Until then, I’m Alex. Ciao for now!
