Where to Find Freelance Copywriting Jobs as a Beginner

Are you a new copywriter wondering how to find freelance copywriting jobs? Searching for opportunities when you have little or no experience can be daunting. However, with the right knowledge, you can find your dream copywriting job even if you are new to the industry.

Today, we’ll share some insights on how to land a freelance copywriting job as a newbie. Specifically, we’ll:

• Recap what copywriting is
• Explore some of the best avenues to find copywriting work as a beginner
• Give you some tips for staying positive and motivated during your job search

What Is a Copywriter?

Before we uncover how to find copywriting jobs, it’s worth recapping what copywriting is and what a copywriter does. A copywriter specializes in writing persuasive, compelling copy that convinces readers to take a particular action (known as a conversion). A conversion can take many forms – from purchasing a product to downloading a resource to signing up for a newsletter. 

Copywriters can work on a wide variety of content, such as:

• Website copy (e.g., home pages, landing pages, and product descriptions) 
• Social media content
• Digital and print advertisements
• Email campaigns
• Slogans and taglines

It’s entirely possible to become a copywriter without any previous experience or specific qualifications. The most important thing is to work on developing the right skills and building a portfolio of your work. 

If you enjoy writing and want to build a flexible freelance career, it’s worth the hard work. According to Coherent Marketing Insights, the global copywriting market could reach $42.22 billion by 2030 – meaning there will be plenty of demand for copywriters!

To learn more about the many benefits of freelance copywriting and whether copywriting is a good career choice, take a look at our blog post. 

How to Find Copywriting Jobs as a Beginner

It’s time to look at some of the best ways to find copywriting jobs as a beginner. We’ve highlighted some of the advantages of each method to help you decide which ones will work for you. Generally, it’s best to approach your job search from multiple angles.

1. Join Job Boards

Job boards are a popular way for copywriters to find freelance opportunities. Some job boards are specifically tailored to freelance writers, such as Freelance Writing Gigs, Peak Freelance, and Contena. Others cater to freelancers more generally. Popular freelance websites in this category include Upwork, Fiverr, and PeoplePerHour. 

Whatever options you choose, the idea is to make finding and applying for freelance jobs simple. All you need to do is set up a profile on the website of your choice, and you’ll be ready to go. Other benefits of using job boards include the following:

• Having access to a multitude of job opportunities from all over the world. This is ideal if you want to gain experience with different projects and client types.
• Many platforms offer administrative support, such as handling payments. This can take some of the stress out of working with clients. 
• Some, like We Work Remotely, screen job postings for legitimacy and quality. This can help protect you from potential scams.

One downside of job boards is that they can be very competitive. To mitigate this, we recommend investing some time in perfecting your profile. To do this, write an engaging bio and upload a portfolio of your best work. 

You could also consider narrowing down your niche. Rather than trying to compete for every job, choose a niche that suits your skills, interests, and experience. Then, you can really tailor your client pitches and position yourself as an expert in that field.

2. Use Social Media

According to Statista.com, 67% of the global population uses social media. While many people use social media for entertainment, it can also be a great way to network and find freelance opportunities.

Popular platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok provide a space for you to demonstrate your expertise, connect with like-minded people, and develop your personal and professional branding. Even a quick post can help people better get to know you and what you offer. Other social media benefits include: 

• Potential for increasing your visibility to employers and recruiters who actively search for candidates on social media
• Connecting and engaging with professionals in your niche who might provide job leads or valuable insights
• Staying up-to-date with current trends in your copywriting niche, allowing you to refine your services

To make the most of your platforms, we recommend getting informed on social media best practices such as how to write captions and incorporate hashtags. This will ensure you reach the right people and increase your chances of finding work. 

3. Try Cold Emailing

Also known as cold pitching, cold emailing is a tried-and-true way to find copywriting jobs. It involves emailing someone who you think would benefit from your services and pitching yourself to them. There are several pros of cold emailing:

• You can seize the opportunity to land a job before it is widely advertised.
• There’s no need to wait for relevant job postings to appear on job boards; you are in control of your pitch.
• Even if you don’t get an immediate positive response, cold emailing can be a good way to build relationships with potential clients. If they need someone in the future, you might just be the one they contact!

To make cold emailing worthwhile, you need to tailor your message to each recipient. While it’s okay to start with a rough template, you’ll need to edit it each time – a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work here! You need to ensure that each recipient can clearly understand how working with you will benefit them. 

For more tips on perfecting your cold emails, take a look at this post: 10 Tips to Write a Cold Sales Email From a Copywriter.

4. Prioritize Networking

You can’t ignore the importance of networking, especially as a freelancer! According to research by LinkedIn, 80% of professionals believe networking is crucial to career success. Networking has many benefits, including:

• Opening up potential project opportunities or client referrals through your connections
• Expanding your professional reach by building a robust network of contacts
• Allowing you to gain new insights and refine your skills (e.g., by staying abreast of industry trends and developments)

Networking might sound ambiguous or overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. You could start small by asking friends, family, or other connections if they know anyone who might need your services. Once you build confidence, you could try: 

1. Attending in-person networking events (try finding ones related to your niche or industry)

2. Utilizing the power of your LinkedIn profile

3.    Joining relevant online groups and forums catered to freelancers

4. Striking up conversations with strangers (just make sure you have your business cards on hand!)

5. Perfect Your Website

Instead of going after clients, have them come to you through your professional website. A professional website can turn heads for good reason. According to an article by Forbes, 56% of hiring managers are more impressed by a candidate’s website than any other branding tool. 

Creating a website is easier than you think. You can use free blogging sites such as WordPress to set one up. Alternatively, you can turn to simple-to-use website builders.

A website offers the following benefits:

1. Placing all the information potential clients might need about you in one place (e.g., services offered, qualifications, and example rates)

2. Showcasing your work for prospective clients and employers (e.g., samples of previous work or testimonials)

3. Distinguishing yourself from competing copywriters who don’t have websites

4. Showing clients and employers that you take your work seriously

5 Tips for Staying Motivated

As a freelancer, being persistent and resilient in your job search is key to success. We recommend the following steps to combat job search burnout:

1. Set yourself up for success by setting specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals (commonly known as SMART goals).
2. Indulge in self-care to help keep your morale up.
3. Set a specific time for job searching, and take frequent breaks. Go outdoors, drink water, sing, dance – do whatever works so that you can return to your search with a fresh pair of eyes and a clear head.
4. Connect with family, friends, and other freelancers who can support you.
5. Celebrate even small achievements, such as arranging a call with a potential client.

Becoming A Copywriter

Are you new to copywriting or looking to refine your skills? Consider our Becoming A Copywriter course. You can learn at your own pace, free from deadlines, with support whenever you need it. Try some free lessons today. 

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