Michel Fortin has a post up on his blog titled “Disillusioned Copywriter Demands The Truth”. Michel explains the background…
A disgruntled copywriter wrote me demanding clarifications. He believes most copywriters lie and exaggerate their claims of wealth. Let’s call him “Chuck.”
I understand where Chuck is coming from. Because I’ve been where he is. So I responded, not because I wanted to acquiesce to his demands but because I wanted to give him hope, ideas, and, dare I say it, a million-dollar education.
Now, Michel’s reply is comprehensive and contains excellent advice for any copywriter on how to make money. There are also a number of excellent comments from copywriters such as Ray Edwards and John Anghelache.
Couple of quick observations from my own experience…
1. Firstly, if you’re a freelance copywriter you are NOT in the business of writing copy! You’re in the business of selling your copywriting services! That means continual, shameless self-promotion! You need to market yourself and your services strongly.
2. Secondly, what you’re really selling your clients is not sales copy, or even marketing advice, but money and results! If you know what you’re doing, then the results your clients get should be many multiples of what they pay you (Assuming the clients have a real business, of course).
One of the key points Michel makes is that to make big money as a copywriter you need to get a “piece of the action”. Either royalties, a percentage of sales or have a partnership with the clients. Other copywriters such as Clayton Makepeace say the same.
Of course, another alternative is to market products yourself. That way you get to keep all the profits, but you have to bear the risk of course. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the great copywriter Claude Hopkins lamented that his biggest mistake was not having a business of his own until very late in his career.