From Corporate to Copywriting–How I Got Here
There I was, making my 45-minute commute on I-355’s six-lane highway. I had yesterday’s homemade coffee re-heated in a thermos, my laptop bag, and a Quaker Oats chocolate chip granola bar.
At 21, I felt like I was doing pretty well for myself. I had my first “big girl” job in a corporate office with my very own cubicle. I also had a salary, PTO, and a 401K. It all felt so… adult-like.
I was thrilled to be among the 30 and 40-something-year-olds in the workplace. I loved the corporate speak–it felt like a secret code created for just me and my colleagues (I was obsessed with the word “bandwidth” for some reason.) I also loved that people took me seriously, something I didn’t feel often as a young person.
But, after the glitz and glamour of my American dream wore off, things started to get old—not just old but existentially stale. I had no complaints about my boss, coworkers, or the company. It was just the idea of the whole thing. “Why exactly do I need to be confined to these walls from 8 to 5?” I started to think. “What greater purpose am I actually serving?”
The more I dug for an answer, the more dissatisfied I became. I didn’t want to believe that this was all there was. My job started to feel more like a chore every day.
I knew there was more inside of me. My ideas and creative energy no longer fit neatly inside my 6x8 cubicle. I began craving more independence, autonomy, and freedom.
Thus, my search for something new began.
How I Stumbled Upon Copywriting
Fast-forward a couple of years, and I had just moved from Illinois to Virginia. It was time for a fresh start. At the time, I was still climbing the corporate ladder, but I knew I wanted out.
I started seriously exploring my options and used these two questions as a filter for whether I should pursue a new career path:
“Will it give me the freedom and autonomy I’m looking for?”
“What is the best possible end result of this path?”
I started with counseling. I’ve always been empathetic and in tune with others, and I’ve had counselors who have made a big impact on my life. I first asked myself what the best possible result would be if I followed this career path to its end. I decided that I might help a lot of people. Then, I asked myself if it would give me the freedom and autonomy I desired. Not as much–my pay, hours, and location might still be determined by the company or practice I worked for.
Later, I considered becoming a pilot. I thought, “Total freedom, right? Flying a plane is almost the complete opposite of working a corporate job.” But then I learned that in the long term, most pilots have to spend multiple days (and nights) a week away from their families. You still have a boss. You are still at your airline’s beck and call. It’s basically just an office in the sky.
Eventually, I stumbled upon the idea of writing for money. Reading and writing were things in which I always naturally excelled. Occasionally, I even did them for fun. One day, a coworker jokingly asked me if I’d write their school paper for $50, and a light bulb went off.
I went home and googled “How to write college essays for money” and signed up for some website (a sketchy one, no doubt). No hits. Then, I poked around on the web and discovered the term “freelance writer.” I searched it into Instagram. Bam, there was a gal, not much older than me, who had all kinds of posts and videos about how to become a freelance copywriter.
She explained how copywriting had allowed her to work on her own schedule and how, six years later, she’d been able to create a strong, sustainable income on part-time hours. Check and check.
I studied her videos and began copying what she said she had done. I made a portfolio, created a website, and started searching for clients.
I haven’t looked back since.
What is Copywriting?
If you’re wondering what copywriting is, you’re not alone. The simplest way I can explain it is that copywriting = writing words that sell things. There’s also content writing, which is under the same umbrella but slightly different. I do both, but for the sake of this article, we’ll focus on the first. (I explain more about content writing–specifically SEO content writing–in this post).
Virtually every kind of business requires copywriting. Words on a billboard? Copy. Restaurant menus? Full of copy. Online stores? There’s copy describing every item. Good copywriting captures people’s attention, communicates a product or service clearly, and converts “lurkers” into buyers.
Copywriters usually work within a single niche. Instead of becoming a jack-of-all-trades (which is time-consuming and not as lucrative), they’ll pick one industry and specialize in it. Many copywriters choose an industry they’re passionate about, already knowledgeable in, or both. I’m a lifestyle copywriter, which means I write for companies in the health and wellness, coaching, dating, travel, and self-development space.
What Does It Mean to Be a Good Copywriter?
Over the last several years, I’ve learned what it means to be a good copywriter and do great work for my clients.
It’s more straightforward than you might think. To be a good copywriter, all you need to do is:
Be reliable, communicative, and pleasant to work with
Meet your deadlines
Set strong boundaries that allow you to do your best work
Foster positive client relationships
Personally, I don’t think you need to be the best writer in the world to do it professionally. If you can string together a coherent sentence (we’re talking C+ writing) and you’re reliable, you can start. You’ll grow, learn, and enhance your writing along the way. I am a significantly better writer than I was five years ago. Like anything, it takes daily practice to hone this skill.
How You Can Become a Copywriter
If you’re thinking about becoming a copywriter, I have a few suggestions. First, don’t quit your day job. Start it on the side. I know it kind of sucks to hear that, but I promise in the long run, you’ll be much better off.
Second, make sure you understand the cons just as much as the pros. Yes, copywriting can give you flexibility and freedom in your career, but it requires time, hard work, and patience. It won’t happen overnight, and it might take years to build up a sustainable client base. The reality is that doing something on your own will always be more difficult than working for a company.
Third, know that copywriting isn’t just writing. Like every other business, it has a marketing, admin, and accounting side, too.
As far as specific first steps, here’s what I recommend.
Think about the niche you want to write in. What are you passionate about? What industries are you already knowledgeable in? Consider whether companies in this niche even have a budget for copywriters. For example, tech companies in Silicon Valley will probably have more of a budget for freelancers than your local dentist's office.
Once you choose your niche, pick one or two services to offer your clients. Do you want to write landing pages? Blog posts? Product copy? Work on getting really good at one or two kinds of services, and then expand your offerings later.
When you’re pitching to potential clients, you’ll want examples of your writing to show them. Create a portfolio of at least three pieces you can share. If you offer blog posts, your portfolio should include a blog post. If you offer product copy, your portfolio should include a page full of product copy samples. You don’t need clients to create a portfolio. You can write “on spec” which means writing as if you were creating a piece for a company that hired you. As long as you specify on the page that it’s on spec, you’re good to go.
Set your rates. Freelancing Females has a great rate database you can reference when deciding how much you want to charge.
Start looking for clients on freelancing platforms such as Contra and Upwork. You can also try cold-emailing or reaching out to people you know personally. This is arguably the hardest and most time-consuming part. It’s all about consistency. I tell people, “If you do a little bit every day, you never have to do a lot!”
How You Can Work With Me, a Freelance Copywriter
If you’re a company in the lifestyle space and you need extra writing support, you can reach out to me here. I offer a variety of writing packages for a flat rate, or we can work together on an hourly basis. We’ll schedule a free discovery call to discuss your project and then determine whether we’re a good fit!
Thanks for reading my story about how I became a copywriter. If you have any questions about copywriting, feel free to reach out to me via email or through my form submission!
