I've collected over $1,000,000 in fees from client projects in my copywriting career.
Here's the five strategies I used to get clients...
Here's the five strategies I used to get clients...
When I first started, I had no idea what I was doing. But I knew I had to "get the car moving" before I could steer in the right direction.
So...
I started building momentum by doing a lot of “free work.”
Which is fine.
Totally fine.
In fact...
So...
I started building momentum by doing a lot of “free work.”
Which is fine.
Totally fine.
In fact...
I think starting off by working for free helps you prove (to yourself) that you are capable of creating advertisements that sell.
Getting reps in helps build this confidence.
You don't only have to prove it to yourself, though.
You also need to prove it to your clients.
Getting reps in helps build this confidence.
You don't only have to prove it to yourself, though.
You also need to prove it to your clients.
Once you’ve proved the concept and realize that “Holy crap… people actually want to hire me to do this for them” then life gets a lot better.
My early mentor helped me get the ball rolling.
My early mentor helped me get the ball rolling.
He challenged me to do an "outreach challenge."
So, for the next 30 days, I had make contact with 50 clients.
He told me to go through someone’s sales page and identify some things I think could be improved.
If they liked my suggestions, they might ask me for help.
So, for the next 30 days, I had make contact with 50 clients.
He told me to go through someone’s sales page and identify some things I think could be improved.
If they liked my suggestions, they might ask me for help.
At the time, I didn’t have any cool tools like Loom.
I had to go out and buy Camtasia.
Then I had to film each video (some of them were 20 minutes long).
Then I had to crawl through the websites to find a contact email.
(Most of the time their contact email was hidden.)
I had to go out and buy Camtasia.
Then I had to film each video (some of them were 20 minutes long).
Then I had to crawl through the websites to find a contact email.
(Most of the time their contact email was hidden.)
Then… I had to export the video from Camtasia… upload it to my google drive or YouTube. Which took close to an hour for each video.
Then I sent it in…. and waited.
And waited.
And waited…
I didn’t hear back from many people.
It kind of sucked.
Then I sent it in…. and waited.
And waited.
And waited…
I didn’t hear back from many people.
It kind of sucked.
My parents would always ask me what the hell I had been doing down in their basement on the computer for all those hours.
And after sending out my first 20 and not hearing anything back… I kind of felt like an idiot.
And after sending out my first 20 and not hearing anything back… I kind of felt like an idiot.
What the hell was I doing?
Was this going to be worth it?
Was this really what it was like to be a freelance copywriter?
Would I have to keep filming these videos until the day I died?
Was this how every freelancer got their clients?
Was this going to be worth it?
Was this really what it was like to be a freelance copywriter?
Would I have to keep filming these videos until the day I died?
Was this how every freelancer got their clients?
What I didn’t realize at the time, was that this was more of a “test of will” than anything else. It was an exercise in habit-building. It was meant to test my mettle.
Was I going to quit?
Or would our young hero prevail, against all odds?
Was I going to quit?
Or would our young hero prevail, against all odds?
*One Day, I Finally Got A Client*
He had a product on Clickbank that was not selling well, and he said he’d give me 30% of all future sales if I could improve his conversion rate.
Hot.
Diggity.
Dang.
You can bet I started doing the math.
I was about to make some BANK BRO!!
He had a product on Clickbank that was not selling well, and he said he’d give me 30% of all future sales if I could improve his conversion rate.
Hot.
Diggity.
Dang.
You can bet I started doing the math.
I was about to make some BANK BRO!!
Little did I know that if a client ever approaches you and gives you an offer this outrageously generous… run for the hills.
Most times such offers translate to “I have no idea what I’m doing, but hopefully you can work a miracle.”
Surprise, surprise:
Most times such offers translate to “I have no idea what I’m doing, but hopefully you can work a miracle.”
Surprise, surprise:
This client eventually ghosted me when I reached out asking for my payment.
Lesson learned.
Anyway...
This did teach me a valuable lesson
Lesson learned.
Anyway...
This did teach me a valuable lesson
*The Big Problem With Cold Outreach*
What I didn’t understand was that cold outreach was not the way to go at that point in my career.
Coincidentally...
It’s also the #1 strategy most freelance copywriters revert to for most of their early copywriting careers.
What I didn’t understand was that cold outreach was not the way to go at that point in my career.
Coincidentally...
It’s also the #1 strategy most freelance copywriters revert to for most of their early copywriting careers.
Cold email (or even cold calling) will always be a numbers game.
A numbers game you might never win.
Maybe you *can* win.
But it's tough, because...
A numbers game you might never win.
Maybe you *can* win.
But it's tough, because...
You never know who wants help!
There are over 28 million businesses with another ~18,000 being formed every day.
How are you supposed to know who wants to hire a copywriter?
There are over 28 million businesses with another ~18,000 being formed every day.
How are you supposed to know who wants to hire a copywriter?
You gonna cold email every single one of em until you find a few good clients?
I didn't have time for that.
Now, listen...
I know the field of "cold email" has come a long way.
I didn't have time for that.
Now, listen...
I know the field of "cold email" has come a long way.
There are some people out there who have it dialed in.
(For example, someone like @alxberman has the process down, he's a good guy to learn from.)
BUT...
(For example, someone like @alxberman has the process down, he's a good guy to learn from.)
BUT...
@alxberman It didn't work well for me. And I thought there had to be a better way.
I wanted to build a pipeline, instead of carrying more buckets.
So...
After I passed this first "test" my mentor started exposing me to other methods of getting freelance copywriting clients.
I wanted to build a pipeline, instead of carrying more buckets.
So...
After I passed this first "test" my mentor started exposing me to other methods of getting freelance copywriting clients.
@alxberman I also started discovering a few of my own strategies along the way.
And now I’m at the point where I only use the following 5 strategies to get high-quality copywriting clients.
And now I’m at the point where I only use the following 5 strategies to get high-quality copywriting clients.
@alxberman 5 Ways To Get Awesome, High-Paying Copywriting Clients You’ll Love Working With:
1. In-person meetings
Live events, masterminds, meet-ups, conferences, seminars, workshops, and even bars.
These are all incredible places to meet clients.
1. In-person meetings
Live events, masterminds, meet-ups, conferences, seminars, workshops, and even bars.
These are all incredible places to meet clients.
@alxberman When you can shake someone’s hand, look them in the eye, and exchange stories – it gives you a shot at forming an emotional bond… which could one day lead to a copy project.
If they can’t hire you – they might even refer you to someone they know who could use your help.
If they can’t hire you – they might even refer you to someone they know who could use your help.
@alxberman 2. Paid acquisition
If you have a sales funnel, send emails to a list, or run ads that advertise your freelancing business, then you have a chance of attracting amazing clients.
The key is to make sure you are clear on who you are, the problem you solve, and results you get.
If you have a sales funnel, send emails to a list, or run ads that advertise your freelancing business, then you have a chance of attracting amazing clients.
The key is to make sure you are clear on who you are, the problem you solve, and results you get.
@alxberman Make sure you have the right kind of proof to demonstrate your offer.
The only downside is you need to put money upfront to get the machine going.
Most freelancers will never have the stomach for this.
The only downside is you need to put money upfront to get the machine going.
Most freelancers will never have the stomach for this.
@alxberman I had a paid traffic funnel for my agency. We were able to turn a $9 book sale into $9,000+ projects. It was badass.
BUT... it took a lot of work and upfront cash.
BUT... it took a lot of work and upfront cash.
@alxberman 3. Organic means
You go on a podcast, you write an article, you have an SEO-optimized website – and someone reaches out to you.
These are ways to attract high-quality clients if you’re going to go the organic route.
The best part is...
You go on a podcast, you write an article, you have an SEO-optimized website – and someone reaches out to you.
These are ways to attract high-quality clients if you’re going to go the organic route.
The best part is...
@alxberman These assets live on the internet forever, bringing you clients long after they were published.
@alxberman 4. Job Boards
There are a lot of job boards out there. Some are good, and some are bad.
Copy Chief (@copychiefteam) has probably the best one you’ll find. I can’t vouch for the efficacy of others.
There are a lot of job boards out there. Some are good, and some are bad.
Copy Chief (@copychiefteam) has probably the best one you’ll find. I can’t vouch for the efficacy of others.
@alxberman @copychiefteam Most big businesses post jobs (full-time, part-time, and freelance) on job boards like Monster and Indeed.
Most freelancers don’t look here, because they are somehow “above it.”
You will have to jump through some hoops, and probably go on a few interviews to land a job.
Most freelancers don’t look here, because they are somehow “above it.”
You will have to jump through some hoops, and probably go on a few interviews to land a job.
@alxberman @copychiefteam However, I've pulled some big clients from job boards.
I even pulled one in that wound up paying me $130K over the course of our working relationship.
Not terrible!
I even pulled one in that wound up paying me $130K over the course of our working relationship.
Not terrible!
@alxberman @copychiefteam 5. Referrals
My favorite method for landing clients is letting other people say nice things about me to someone else…
And then having that “someone else” ask to be introduced to me.
This always makes closing easier.
My favorite method for landing clients is letting other people say nice things about me to someone else…
And then having that “someone else” ask to be introduced to me.
This always makes closing easier.
@alxberman @copychiefteam I find about 80% of my clients through referrals.
The only drawback to this approach is that you have to not only build a network…
Here’s a detailed thread about how to build a referral system.
The only drawback to this approach is that you have to not only build a network…
Here’s a detailed thread about how to build a referral system.
@alxberman @copychiefteam My main goal with this thread was to help you narrow your focus down to these five areas.
It’s easy to go down the client-getting rabbit hole and convince yourself that there are millions of ways to find clients.
But really, these are five of the best ways I know.
It’s easy to go down the client-getting rabbit hole and convince yourself that there are millions of ways to find clients.
But really, these are five of the best ways I know.
@alxberman @copychiefteam And you don’t even have to use them all.
Just pick a few you like, try em out, and keep improving on what you’re doing.
If you put the work in…. and if you work hard enough, then you’ll be able to become a well-paid, well-respected, habitually booked-out freelance copywriter.
Just pick a few you like, try em out, and keep improving on what you’re doing.
If you put the work in…. and if you work hard enough, then you’ll be able to become a well-paid, well-respected, habitually booked-out freelance copywriter.
@alxberman @copychiefteam If you’re still clueless about the exact process of client acquisition, I’ve recently launched a book that’ll show you how to get copywriting clients ON COMMAND.
524 copywriters bought a copy within the first week.
You should grab a copy, too:
theemailcopywriter.com
524 copywriters bought a copy within the first week.
You should grab a copy, too:
theemailcopywriter.com
@alxberman @copychiefteam And...
If you enjoyed the thread:
1/ Retweet and share with your audience
2/ Follow me @chrisorzy for more on freelancing and copywriting
If you enjoyed the thread:
1/ Retweet and share with your audience
2/ Follow me @chrisorzy for more on freelancing and copywriting
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