How Do You Become a Copywriter the Right Way?
You know what’s wild? When people think copywriting is just “writing words”.
After being the Creative Director of a multi-million dollar company for years, then a freelance copywriter for over 10 years after that, then starting and growing my own 7-figures business after that and teaching thousands of students around the world the skills they need to ignite their copywriting careers from scratch…
I can tell you that’s like saying a surgeon just “cuts people open.”
Copywriting is not just writing.
In this blog post, I’m going to walk you through the exact blueprint I’d follow if I had to start over as a copywriter in 2026. And I’m talking about the real path. Not some get-rich-quick nonsense where I tell you you’ll make $10K your first month.
But how to learn the skills that set the foundation for a long and successful career.
Because I’m telling you, once you know how to communicate with more confidence, share persuasive stories and write copy that inspires people to take action, you’ll be able to powerfully pivot in any career, sell any service, start any business, and forever future-proof your income.
That is the true definition of freedom.
By the way – I’m Alex, and over the past 15 years, I went from a brand-new copywriter with zero clients, zero dollars, and zero clue, to making over $300,000k a year as a freelance copywriter, before building my own 7-figure brand and business, the Copy Posse.
I’ve been doing this for a long time. I’ve written for many different types of clients and offers, and I’ve helped my students build successful businesses of their own, so I know a little thing or 2 about what it takes to be successful in the world of copywriting.
If you would like to learn exactly how to get started copywriting, then check out my 8 week intensive coaching program called The Launch Pad.
So let’s dive into the copywriting blueprint…
Level 1: Learn Copywriting Fundamentals
First, let’s get clear on what we’re actually talking about. As I mentioned earlier, copywriting is NOT just writing.
A “real” copywriter is a strategic marketer who understands how to write hooks that grab attention, tell stories that evoke emotion, design funnels that build trust and craft messaging that inspires action.
Now I don’t have time in this blog post to get into all of the many highly paid skills a copywriter possesses, but you can check out this blog post next if you want to go deeper.
So, assuming you already know what a copywriter does, here’s the realistic blueprint to starting a successful copywriting career.
There are two paths you can take…
Path 1: Employee
You can get hired as an in-house copywriter.
According to Built In the salary range for a copywriter extends up to about $230K in the US, with an average of around $73,660 a year and being hired in house also means added benefits, bonuses and the security of a more consistent paycheck.
I have many many students who have shifted into copywriting careers as a stepping stone before going all-in on path #2…
Path 2: Freelancer
This is when you are your own boss. You usually work with multiple clients and you set your own rates, schedule and “office.” You get to work wherever and whenever you want.
This is the path I took and it’s the one I’m going to focus on today because…
Not only is the freelance industry currently booming…
But when you’re a freelancer, you truly have unlimited income potential.
You’re no longer trading time for money; you’re trading ideas, strategy and availability for money. And results can compound in ways that hourly work never can.
The Long Game
Now before we get into the tactical step-by-step blueprint…
We need to first talk about mindset. Because I’m a big believer that the correct mindset is crucial before you start any new side hustle, business or career. Building a copywriting business or career from scratch isn’t a sprint – it’s a marathon. A lot of new copywriters treat this skill as the easy button to more money and freedom – and that’s exactly why they fail. They want clients immediately, they want $5K months immediately, they want to quit their job immediately.
And while I’m not saying that can’t happen, I am saying that is the exception – not the rule. Changing your whole life takes time, energy and dedication, obviously.
The good news is the copywriter path is so much faster than most other careers because you don’t need any fancy degrees, and you can learn the skills relatively quickly. And I can show you how how to become a copywriter without a degree.
But the most successful students in my community are obsessed with learning the craft first. They focused on building a solid foundation. They learned the fundamentals and developed the systems they needed so that they could confidently find clients and start making money.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Alex, this all sounds great, but how do I actually learn these fundamentals? Where do I start?”
Well, my YouTube Channel is a great place to start. I’ve got hundreds of free tutorials right here to help you master copywriting, marketing and branding fundamentals.So if you’re not already subscribed, hit the subscribe button and ring the bell to be notified when my next video goes live.
But if you want the fast-track and expert guidance through this process, check out my 8-week copywriting program – the Copy Posse Launch Pad. It’s designed specifically for people who want to build a real, long-term and sustainable copywriting business from scratch.
Inside those 8 weeks, you’ll master the psychology, frameworks, and the business systems I talk about in this blog post.
But more importantly, you’ll end the program with the most important asset you’ll need to start landing clients: a portfolio.
That brings me to…
Level 2: Write Your Copywriting Portfolio
A portfolio is a collection of your best copywriting work – it showcases your skills and experiences to potential clients or employers.
And here’s the thing…
Without a portfolio, you will have a very difficult time finding clients willing to hire you.
And in many cases, your application won’t even be looked at. Because brands and businesses want to know that you’re a serious candidate – not some rando who is aimlessly applying for copywriting jobs on the internet.
A portfolio is essential if you are serious about becoming a copywriter. To quote Nicky Lorenzo, Creative Director and copywriter at Ogilvy (one of the biggest ad agencies in the world), “You have to have one. It’s not even a question. If you don’t have a portfolio, what are you even doing?”
But that statement should come with a big ol’ disclaimer.
Because not all portfolios are made equal.
Many copywriters make the mistake of putting together a hodge podge of different stuff they’ve written to show off their broad range of experience. Or worse, they cram in absolutely everything they’ve EVER written because the more the better. Right? Wrong.
A bad portfolio is the #1 reason new copywriters fail.
Your portfolio isn’t just about proving how well (or how much) you can write. Your dream clients want to see that you understand how to craft a cohesive marketing campaign and sales funnel. Using strategic storytelling, open loops, attention-grabbing hooks and persuasive messaging.
And they won’t spend more than 10 minutes reviewing your portfolio.
You want to make a great first impression with only the best assets to showcase your skills. And that’s what makes the Launch Pad stand out from any other copywriting course out there.
Because I don’t only teach you how to write in-demand copy assets like emails, landing pages and sales pages. But I’ll show how all these assets work together in a cohesive and strategic marketing funnel.
Then, I’ll help you structure and display your work in a professional and impressive portfolio that will wow future clients.
And I’ll help you with pricing your services too (yup, you’ll get a full price list to know what to quote your new clients).
Click the graphic below to check it out.
But for now, let’s keep going with the blueprint…
Level 3: Get Your First Client
Alright, now let’s get tactical. How do you actually land your first paying client?
Well, I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s easy. But I will say it’s a lot more simple than most people would have you believe.
One Customer, One Service, One Channel
This is the simplest formula for getting to your first client – and keep them coming.
One Customer: Pick one specific type of client. Not “small businesses” – that’s too broad. Think specific, like “e-commerce supplement brands doing $500K-$2M annually.”
One Service: Pick one thing you do for them. Not “all their copywriting needs” – that’s too vague. Think “email sequences that turn subscribers into customers.”
One Channel: Pick one way to find clients. Not “networking and cold email and social media” – that’s too scattered. Think “LinkedIn marketing.”
Most people don’t follow this formula because they are terrified of ‘limiting’ themselves. And as a result, they are all over the place and that’s why they can’t find a client.
Narrowing your options and methods down is actually freeing and helps you find clients faster. Because when you know exactly who you serve and exactly how you help them and exactly where you’re going to find them.
Your strategy becomes clearer.
Craft a Value Statement
Now, here’s where most copywriters mess up. They think their value statement is “I’ll write your emails for $500.”
That’s not a value exchange, that’s a transaction.
A value statement ties your service to a business result. Here’s the framework I use:
“I help [SPECIFIC AVATAR] achieve [SPECIFIC RESULT] through [YOUR METHOD] so they can [BIGGER BENEFIT].”
For example:
“I help e-commerce supplement brands increase email revenue through strategic welcome sequences so they can reduce their dependence on paid ads.”
See the difference? You’re not selling words – you’re selling results.
Now of course this doesn’t mean you only work with those types of businesses, as a newbie, take any work that comes your way.
As I like to say, first get paid, then get picky.
But having a clear value statement gives you a clear direction to point your sales. And here’s the key: You need to make it low-risk for your client to say yes.
Some ways to do this:
- Offer a small test project first.
- Provide a performance guarantee.
- Show case studies from similar clients.
- Give them a detailed strategy before they pay.
You only job at this level is to get a client — any client. Then 2, then 3. Yes, it takes time, grit, repetition and action, but if you stay at it, you will get there.
Remember, it takes 80% of a rocket’s fuel to get into orbit, and once it’s in orbit it uses almost no fuel.
If you give up too soon here, you won’t make it out.
Finding your first client takes effort, but it’s a lot easier when you have a Launch Pad.
Alright, on to level 4…
Level 4: Get Better Clients
So once you’ve landed your first few clients, and you’ve created a consistent pipeline of projects, now what?
It’s time to get better clients and move up.
THE PRICING LADDER
A lot of copywriters get stuck working for peanuts, burn out completely and claim that copywriting is “unsustainable”.
But that’s because they think they need to keep finding more $500 clients to make more money. Nope. Once you work with multiple clients for one-off projects, you realize something:
It’s the same amount of work to close a $500 client as a $5,000 client. Same time spent on invoicing, onboarding, meetings, etc.
Take it from legendary marketer Seth Godin. When I asked him what advice he’d give to copywriters who are looking to get ahead, this is what he said:
“The only way to move up is not by working more hours, but by getting better clients.”
The best clients are not just looking for a copywriter. They’re looking for a thought partner.
These clients want more than just copywriting. They need your wisdom, your ideas, your availability. This is how you climb the pricing ladder.
This is why good copywriters are able to charge what they charge.
When you understand this, you’ll realize that your opportunities to support a business go through the roof.
Sure, a client might already have a sales page, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need copy help. Think outside the box and offer assets and services that most businesses—and copywriters—tend to completely forget about.
Here’s what a typical pricing ladder might look like:
Rung 1: $500-$1,000 = One-off projects and basic copy
Rung 2: $1,500-$3,000 = Strategic projects with research
Rung 3: $3,000-$7,500 = Complete campaigns with strategy
Rung 4: $5,000-$15,000 = Ongoing retainers with performance bonuses
The secret isn’t just raising your prices, it’s increasing the value you provide at each level.
At $500, you’re just writing copy.
At $1,500, you’re providing strategy, too.
At $3,000, you’re delivering complete campaigns.
At $5,000+, you’re becoming a strategic partner.
And here’s where things get interesting…
Once you’re consistently landing higher-level clients, you start facing different challenges.
You’re not worried about finding clients anymore – you’re worried about delivering quality results at scale.
This is exactly why I created SPARK, my membership for freelancers and service based business owners.
Because the skills that get you to say, $3K months, are different from the skills that get you to $5K, $10K and above months.
Inside the membership, we focus on the strategies that fast-track your success – things like building systems, creating scalable processes, and positioning yourself as a strategic partner rather than just a freelancer.
Level 5: Build Simple Systems
Here’s what nobody tells you about scaling: It’s not about just working more hours. At some point, you’ll hit a ceiling. And that ceiling isn’t your skills or your prices, it’s your time.
And that’s when you need systems. Here are the systems that changed everything for me:
Client Onboarding System – Every new client goes through the exact same process. No more reinventing the wheel.
Research System – I have templates and checklists for understanding any business quickly.
Writing System – Frameworks and formulas that speed up my writing without sacrificing quality.
Feedback System – Structured ways to get input and revisions that don’t turn into endless back-and-forth.
Again, this is all the kind of stuff we talk about inside SPARK.
Once you get your systems down and you start bringing in more money consistently, you can focus on the most important level of becoming a highly paid copywriter.
Level 6: Master the Craft
Okay, we’ve talked about the business side. Now let’s talk about what separates good copywriters from great ones.
PSYCHOLOGY OVER TACTICS
Most copywriters focus on tactics. “What’s the best subject line?” “Should I use urgency?” “How long should my emails be?”
But great copywriters focus on psychology. They understand why people buy, not just how to get them to buy.
Here are a few of the psychological principles you might have heard of:
Loss Aversion – pain is more motivating than pleasure. People will act quicker to avoid immediate pain than to gain immediate pleasure.
Social Proof – When people around us use or purchase a product, it serves as a powerful psychological trigger. That’s why copy that highlights testimonials and real-life user-submitted proof and advice can do wonders.
Authority – Experts with credentials (i.e. PhD) or celebrities with cultural and social capital automatically garner more authority and legitimacy. Their words simply hold more weight and credibility.
Reciprocity – People feel obligated to return favors. Be it a “complimentary” 30-minute coaching call or a “free” trial.
Commitment – People want to be consistent with their previous actions and statements.
I actually teach 23 psychological triggers inside the Launch Pad.
When you understand these principles, you can apply them to any type of copy in any industry.
Here’s another thing that’s rarely talked about…
Let me share the mistakes that can destroy a copywriting career:
Mistake #1: Overpromising and Underdelivering
Never promise results you can’t control. Promise great copy and strategic thinking – never promise specific revenue numbers.
Mistake #2: Not Understanding Your Client
You can’t write effective copy if you don’t understand the business you’re writing for. Copywriting should not be lazy – you have to do the research if you want to produce good results.
Mistake #3: Not Being A Strategic Partner
Don’t just blindly write whatever your client asks for or rely too heavily on AI. Yes at the end of the day, they are the client and they hired you to write what they want. But, understand what they actually need and recommending the best approach is what elevates you as a partner.
Mistake #4: Not Staying Current
Marketing changes fast. What worked two years ago might not work today – that’s why it’s so important to keep a pulse on the industry and what’s working now.
Once you master the craft and reach a level of your business where you are maxed out on clients and time, you move onto…
Level 7: Build Your Copywriting Business
This is where you start to think beyond offering services…
Maybe you start thinking about supporting clients at a much higher level, as a Marketing Director, Consultant or Strategist. I have many students who have gone on to build VERY successful 6 to multi-6-figure businesses as Fractional CMOs.
If you want to scale beyond $20K-$25K per month, you likely need the help of a team.
HIRING A TEAM
But here’s the mistake most copywriters make: They try to hire another copywriter right away.
That’s backwards. The first hire should be someone who handles everything that isn’t copywriting so you can stay focused on your craft.
My first hire was a virtual assistant who handled:
- Client communication
- Project management
- Research and data gathering
- Scheduling and admin
Do not underestimate how much time this will free up for you to start focusing on the high-value work like strategy and writing.
THEN, if you still need help, that’s when you start thinking about hiring additional copywriters.
THE AGENCY MODEL
This is when you start thinking like an agency instead of a freelancer. I know copywriters who now run agencies that do $50K-$100K per month.
If this is your goal, just make sure you have the systems in place to train them and processes to ensure the quality of copy stays the same.
This is how you can scale from 6 to even 7-figres because instead of selling your time, you’re selling your systems and your team’s expertise. At this level, you are not writing much copy anymore – you’re managing people.
Admittedly, this is not the path for everyone. Not everyone wants to run a team, have payroll, and all of that jazz.
And there is nothing wrong with your business “just” being you.
You can build a very lucrative career if you stick to the plan I map out in this blog post. I was making $300,000 a year as a solo copywriter and marketing consultant before I started my business.
And believe me when I say that I often miss those days when it was just me and a laptop, traveling the world.
Just remember… that growth takes time. You have to master the fundamentals first. You can’t skip steps.
Alright, let’s zoom out and make this super practical for you. Here’s exactly what I’d do in my first 120 days if I were just starting out.
THE 120-DAY ACTION PLAN
DAYS 1-60: FOUNDATION
- Learn copywriting and marketing fundamentals.
- Write something every day.
- Create a portfolio.
- Craft your value statement.
DAYS 61-90: OUTREACH
- Create a consistent outreach/application habit.
- Land your first 2-3 clients.
- Hone your skills.
- Deliver exceptional work.
- Ask for testimonials from happy clients.
DAYS 90-120: OPTIMIZATION
- Analyze what’s working in your outreach.
- Craft scalable systems and offers.
- Start crafting client case studies.
- Update your portfolio.
- Level up your clients.
REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Now because I know you want to know about money, I’m going to be 100% real with you about what to expect:
Month 1-2: You probably won’t make any money. This is when you are lerning, growing your skills and building your portfolio.
Month 3: You might land your first client or two. Maybe $500-$1,000.
Month 4: If you’re consistent, you could be at $2,000-$3,000.
Month 6: With good systems and client retention, $5,000 is realistic. I have many students who have made this happen, but they worked hard for it.
Year 1: $10,000+ months are definitely possible if you follow this blueprint and don’t give up.
But let me be very clear here…
These numbers change – higher or lower depending on how serious you treat this. The more you treat this as business and not an “easy way to make money online”, the more successful you’ll be.
THE LONG GAME MINDSET
Remember what I said about building foundations? This applies to your entire career.
The copywriters who make $20K, $30K, even $50K per month didn’t get there by chasing quick wins or looking for get-rich-quick schemes or taking shortcuts.
They got there by:
- Becoming genuinely excellent at their craft.
- Building long-term relationships with clients.
- Developing systems that scale.
- Staying curious and always learning.
I’m not here trying to convince anyone to get into copywriting who is just trying to make some quick or “easy” money online. But it is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in 2026. Every business needs great copywriting, marketing and storytelling.
Especially right now.
So if you’re willing to put in the work – if you’re willing to focus, to learn, to build systems, to think long-term…
Copywriting can give you the freedom and income that most people only dream about.
So that’s the blueprint. That’s exactly what I’d do if I had to start over as a copywriter in 2026.
If you’re just starting out and need to learn the fundamentals, my 8-week copywriting intensive is perfect. It’ll take you from complete beginner to landing your first client.
But if you’re already making $3K-$5K months and you’re ready to scale to $10K+ months, then my SPARK membership is where you want to be.
That’s where we focus on the advanced strategies, systems, and mindset shifts that separate six-figure copywriters from everyone else.
And honestly? My most successful students do both. They start with the intensive to build their foundation, then join the membership when they’re ready to scale.
If you want to dive deeper into any of these topics, check out my YouTube videos where I break down specific strategies and tactics.
Until next time, I’m Alex. Ciao for now!
