How I Make $5K Monthly—2 Months After Becoming a Freelance Copywriter
Want to know all my secrets on how I went from being a brand new copywriter to bringing in $5,000 consistently per month in just two months? I’m here for you.
Because I’m beyond thrilled that one $500 online program changed the course of my life within months (and allowed me to earn back that money more than 34 times over since I joined), I want to help you get there, too.
How I Make $5,000 Consistent Monthly Income As a New Freelance Copywriter
You may be wondering:
What are your secrets to being successful?
How and where do you find and land clients?
How do you make your sales pitch during your discovery calls?
How did you get started?
How are you making $5,000 per month already?
Where do you focus your lead-gathering efforts?
I will cover all of these questions in this post.
My Journey Into Full Time Freelance Copywriting
Here’s a little backstory of my journey: I joined the Filthy Rich Writer’s Comprehensive Copywriting Academy (CCA) course in early April. At the time, I was making only about $500 per month with my side hustle. I was set to resume my full time job as a Senior UX Designer after a personal setback. At the last minute, I decided to quit my long standing career and dive into full time freelance copywriting at the beginning of May.
If you’re reading this and it isn’t 2020 anymore… let me remind you that this is deep in the heart of the global Covid-19 pandemic… so both of my kids (1 and 4) are home running wild.
However, within 4 weeks I landed my first 4-figure client. By the end of the month, I pulled in more than $3K. In June and July, I pulled in more than $5K each. I’m well on my way to achieving my goal of $10K months by the end of 2020.
What’s your goal with freelance copywriting? Whether your goal is to get your marketing materials in place (like, finally launching that portfolio site), land your first client, increase your prices, build a sustainable side-hustle, leave your full time job, or some/all of the above, I hope this post helps you.
But first, let me assure you you’re not alone. I definitely faced my own set of struggles when I got started.
The Struggles I Faced As a New Copywriter
So yes, changing careers is hard. Saying, “I’ll write your website copy, guaranteed to convert” is difficult when you’ve literally been writing copy as part of your homework for CCA and not much else.
I went through a decent percentage of the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy. My website was launched with great design and compelling copy and all (if I do say so myself). My spec portfolio was live. I was ready to take on new clients.
I tried everything the course teacher, Nicki Krawczyk, recommended we try to gain clients. To name a few, I did the 4-week challenge, sent out cold emails, contacted recruiters, and networked in Facebook groups. I networked, I pitched, I offered help everywhere.
Crickets.
I spiraled quickly. These are the thoughts that went through my head:
Oh crap, did I quit my high-paying, full-time job too soon?
It’ll take me months before I make back the cost of the course.
Maybe I’m just not cut out to be a copywriter.
Maybe I should try something else. Let me sign up for 2,385 free webinars.
As a result, within one week I went from offering heavily discounted introductory offers to just trying to get people on a call so I could do some of their copy for free. Yes, for free. 😭 There are pros and cons to this approach. Keep on reading!
How I Built My Copywriting Portfolio with Real Work
Let me share this: writing copy for free when you’re just getting started is NOT recommended by CCA. And honestly, if I were doing this again, I can’t say that I would write for free again. Because I could write an entirely separate post about offering services for free, versus a discounted price, versus full price… I will digress for now. But here are some benefits of doing work for free when you’re getting started as a copywriter:
You get real pieces to display in your portfolio so it isn’t just filled with spec work.
You get to practice doing discovery calls.
You get to practice doing kickoff calls.
You get to test your desired niche to see if it is truly a good fit.
As a result, those freebie clients may convert into paying clients for further work. (Some did for me.)
How I Landed My First Paying Copywriting Clients
Facebook Groups, Facebook Groups, Facebook Groups.
I know this isn’t working for everyone. But there are things you can do to optimize your profile, your business page, and your networking tactics so you use these strategies to their fullest potential.
My very first paying client came from a Zoom coffee chat. There were no expectations of working together. At the end of the call, she offered me a small paying gig to write a summary email for a webinar they were hosting. I was elated.
My second paying client was my 4-figure client. I never got on the phone with her (a relief for an introvert), and I still work for her—and with her—today.
How I Make $5,000+ Per Month Copywriting
At this point in my career, I’ve worked with 10 paying clients. Yes… only 10 clients in 6 months. My income breakdown for the past few months looks like this:
April (when I joined CCA): $615 - 8% copywriting
May: $3,455 - 80% copywriting
June: $5,072 - 86% copywriting
July: $5,751 - 88% copywriting
August: $5,916 - 89% copywriting (I didn’t have the amount of growth I wanted, but I was busy this month focusing on a side project.)
I have a lot to say about value-based pricing. But what does it really come down to? The confidence to ask for higher prices.
So you see, the answer isn’t more clients, it’s about higher-paying clients.
And per my minimalist marketing strategy, it’s also about
Providing exceptional service,
Not being too shy to ask for more work,
Asking for referrals and testimonials, and
Focusing on the lead-generation strategies that work for you.
Ok, so I know I didn’t answer all of your questions. Honestly, I’m out of steam for now, and I have client work to get to this morning, but I have a lot more to say.
Have questions? Email me or send me a DM on Instagram!
Cover photo by Sarah Dorweiler
