Make a Living out of Writing : How to Make it as a Copywriter
Writing for a living is the dream. You can work from anywhere, you just need a laptop and an internet connection.
But then, is it possible to make it? Like, really? It was difficult before and now AI has joined the frame.
Well, yes and no.
Yes, it’s more difficult to live from copywriting because a lot of potential clients are choosing to use AI instead of paying a copywriter for their needs.
But at the same time, AI is not that smart. I’ve used AI, a lot. And what it lacks is the most important aspect of the job of copywriting: creativity.
If you want a good copy, AI is not the way to go. Big brands know that, copywriters know that too. Clients are understanding that more and more.
So what’s the secret? Simply be good, and know how to market that fact.
Sounds meta right? Copywriters having to market themselves.
Well that’s the biggest issue in this field: selling products is not the same skill as selling your expertise. A bit like your friend that has been single for years but is super good at giving relationship advice.
The cheat code to live off writing is to know what to write, and where.
I’ll explain everything in this article, tag along.
Learn the Trade
No one knew how to write and read at birth. It’s a skill we learned, but then we discovered that it wasn’t the end of the path. Some people had super powers: they knew how to write so well they could electrify our skin, make our brains spread soothing chemicals, or terrible ones. How great the effects of writing are.
How could this guy on the web make me want to buy something useless just by writing about it?
Learning never ends when it comes to getting creativity out of us through a channel. Be it painting, sculpting, singing, writing. It’s amazing and depressing at the same time, we won’t ever achieve perfection. But one thing we can be perfect at is learning.
Life is a lesson and living is a contract. We accepted to keep learning until death. We are made for that. Our brain is wired a certain way to produce dopamine for it.
If you want to learn, I advise you to check my article on psychological levers, that is pretty much everything you need to know when it comes to the psychological side of copywriting.
The best way to get better is practicing, writing again and again. A useful exercice is trying to sell stuff to yourself, a lamp, a digital product, a song. Go for different goals, but most importantly: go for weird ones. Try to sell a glass that can’t hold liquid, a table that is always moving, an alarm that only rings when you ask politely…
Why would you? Because you need to force creativity out. It doesn’t want to come out of you because it believes the world sucks. That’s why you need to use fantasy to bait it.
Anyway, enough marketing esoterism.
As a copywriter, and more generally as a marketer, you need to have culture. The more you know on every subject, the more tools you have to let creativity loose. Creating connections between things that have nothing in common is a very powerful tool when it comes to storytelling.
I once created a pitch for a well-being course where I quoted a conquistador from the conquest of Mexico. But! It wasn’t forced, at all. It was a smooth insert. It’s a very important detail.
If you read the article I wrote about psy levers, you’d know honesty is essential, if something feels forced in, it’s bad. Just bad. Never force knowledge into your copy, we are not at school. The only person reading your copy - that matters - is a potential client. You are not here to outshine the product. Everything you write needs to serve the product. That’s why, whenever you proofread your copy, always have that in mind: Is this sentence useful to sell this product?
A last advice to grow into a great copywriter: write different genres. Fiction, in my opinion, is king of kings when it comes to writing. Poetry is a close second.
The hardest thing there is, when it comes to creativity, is keeping the course without losing the plot or being boring. What makes a story great? Emotions. It makes you feel *with* the characters, as if the story was real. And emotions can’t be felt if the story isn’t believable and relatable.
You owe your readers a good time, they don’t owe you anything. Their ‘payment’ is their attention.
So learn how to write in a long format through fiction, as well as writing in an effective and short manner as done in poetry.
You’ll be one of the best if you master those two qualities.
Understand The Market
How high can a frog in a Dry well jump? Who cares.
You need to put yourself out there. If no one reads you, no one will buy your services.
If no ones knows you exist, they don’t fear to miss out on your content.
Simple, really.
Medium, LinkedIn, social media, a personal website… There are so many places on the internet that welcome good content with open arms.
The key is consistency. Don't just post once and expect miracles. Regularly share your thoughts, insights, and examples of your work. Each platform has its own quirks:
LinkedIn is great for professional networking. Share industry insights, case studies, and snippets of your best work. Of course that’s one of the best place to do networking, finding clients or people in the same field, fishing for tips and advices.
Medium allows for longer-form content. It's perfect for in-depth articles about copywriting techniques or your experiences in the field. They also have a way to monetize your articles.
A personal website serves as your digital portfolio. Make it clean, professional, and easy to navigate. Include your best work, client testimonials, and a clear way for potential clients to contact you.
Social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram can be used to show your ability to write concisely and engagingly. Use them to find potential clients and also to connect with other marketers.
Comment on posts, participate in discussions, and build genuine connections. Check my article on how to grow on X.
The copywriting world is smaller than you think, and networking can lead to great opportunities. Last thing you want to do is being shy. Don't be afraid to show your personality. Yes, professionalism is important, but clients also want to work with real people.
Lastly, be patient. Building a strong online presence takes time. It won't happen overnight, but with persistence and quality content, you'll start to see results. That’s why you need to make sure to have a good amount of articles before starting posting. Write 10-20 articles and then start posting them one by one, a few days apart. Motivation usually plummets shortly after you start posting, when you feel like all your efforts are bringing close to no result.
Post, and keep posting, and keep writing. You’ll see results, believe me and believe in yourself.
Trade Carefully
Be careful, always put quality first. Quantity is a trap, when you force yourself to put stuff out that you don't feel proud of, it's a risk that potential clients that would have wanted you to work for them will not. Your reputation is based on your worst piece.
Use AI for brainstorming and to help proofread, nothing else. Keep your writing traditional in the sense of making it human. Relying on AI will have two effects: your writing will become dull and you'll lose your capacity to write. Sounds crazy but it's true, we become so easily dependent on tools that we become unable to work by ourselves. Your unique voice and creativity are your most valuable assets - don't let them go to waste.
Don't stop posting where it doesn't work to focus only where it works. If tomorrow you see that your Medium posts are working super well but LinkedIn is dead, it might be tempting to give up on LinkedIn. Don't. Keep posting everywhere even if it seems like it will never take off. I've done that mistake in the past, some platforms are simply slower to get going, but those are often the ones that give the best results long term. So keep posting everywhere, force yourself to if you feel the motivation is gone. Consistency across platforms leads to opportunities. You also need to take into account how dangerous it can be to rely on one platform only, you can have a good example of this on my article about ReblogMe.
Write on the subjects you like, but don't forget there is a market, and you need to position yourself on it. Specialize yourself into a niche and write about it. It's way easier to find work when you have a specialty than when you stay a ‘general’ copywriter. This doesn't mean you can't branch out later, but having a niche helps you stand out in a crowded market.
Remember these additional points:
Engage with your audience, don't just post and ghost. Respond to comments, participate in discussions, and build relationships within your niche.
Stay updated. The copywriting world evolves rapidly. Keep learning about new trends, techniques, and industry changes to stay relevant.
Showcase your process. Sometimes, sharing your thought process or how you approach a writing challenge can be as valuable as the final product. It gives potential clients insight into how you work.
Be authentic. While professionalism is key, don't be afraid to let your personality shine through. Clients often choose writers not just for their skills, but for who they are as people.
Use analytics tools to understand what content resonates with your audience. Use these insights to refine your strategy, but don't let numbers dictate everything.