Ok, so i heard there is a lot of money in copy writing if you language is good...so i wanna know where should i start...i have no idea abt copywriting at the moment... and also wats the average pay rate for a writer?
There's no such thing as an average pay rate for a writer, because there are far too many types, and far too many markets within each type to give fair estimates. For instance, let's talk content writers - while you may see most writers on DP advertising rates in the $.02 and lower range, in reality $.10 per word is considered extremely cheap to the bulk of folks in the writing profession who don't focus on this particular kind of market. Here are a few generalities though: 1. Copywriters generally earn more than content / article writers, because it involves a more specialized skill set. 2. Before jumping into it, it would be a good idea to spend some time on freelance writing sites and blogs, learning the ups and downs so you know what to expect. www.FreelanceWritingGigs.com and www.AboutFreelanceWriting.com are decent places to start. 3. One of the worst things you can do when starting a freelance writing career is to set your rates solely based on what other people are charging. In other words, don't look at the DP marketplace and then set your rates as low as possible to get a few clients. Instead, you should start off by calculating what you realistically need to charge to make a serious go of things, and then choose what kind of market you want to work with (meaning, choose a market where you can earn that minimum rate you've already set, and ignore markets and clients who don't come close to being able to afford you). Here's a post of mine that can help you calculate that minimum rate correctly - http://allfreelancewriting.com/2007...etting-freelance-writing-rates-the-right-way/
I agree on the no. 3 point. I fell into the same trap. Good thing Jenn's advice saved me. Jenn, I think you should start a religion of sorts for freelancers or something. LOL
Perhaps you should ask yourself a few questions before you even think about how much money you can make. 1. Has anyone ever complimented your writing abilities? Has anyone ever said after reading your work that you should be a writer? 2. What do you think qualifies you to call yourself a copywriter? Are you able to to speak with a prospective client and help them to determine who their target audience is and to craft a message designed to appeal to that audience? Can you then create a compelling argument why someone in that audience should buy whatever your client sells? 3. Do you have any marketing or business skills that provide you with the skills needed to be an effective copywriter? What credentials or certifications do you have? Why should someone entrust their marketing campaign and budget with you? 4. Do you understand the difference between typical web content/essay writing and true copywriting? 5. Are you viewing copywriting as a career or as a short-term, quick and easy way to make some money? There's a reason why good copywriters can demand more for their writing. Don't expect to be able to command a high rate simply because "you language is good". Copywriting and writing in general seems to have become one of the latest get rich quick things on the web. Suddenly everyone thinks that they are a writer. If you truly have a passion for writing and think you can write persuasively, then go for it. If, on the other hand, you see this as an easy way to make a lot of money, you are looking in the wrong place.
Ok first of all, copywriting doesn't pay you just for you good english. You need to go trough a tough training of months to sometimes years to be able to write compelling copies, and there are a lot of different kinds of copies, so that's extra training for every new kind of copywriting you wanna tap into.
I wouldn't get into something strictly because you've heard that you can make good money. If it's not suited to your natural abilities, you probably won't make much money. To research it, you could buy some books or go to copyblogger as others have suggested.
My point is you can't just go write professional articles to sell out of thin air, you need a lot of baggage before even thinking about going about selling them.
Oh my, they are coming out of the woodwork. Might be that the recession is driving them all this way. If you're in it for just the money, you will fail and any who engage you will suffer horribly. And like the others said, language alone won't get you anywhere in the copywriting biz. It demands many skills. Anyway, my suggestion is that you first focus on improving your grammar and language before you even think of copywriting. Or better yet stop bothering with copywriting and do something else that is more appropriate for your current skillset.
If you want to learn what copywriting is, read anything by Robert W Bly. He is a legend in the copywriting world and has put out many books on copywriting and the business of becoming a copywriter. Also, writing is definitely not something that you should get into because you hear there is "good money" in it. There is more to writing professionally than simply putting a bunch of words on a piece of paper. It would be akin to somebody saying "I know how to use a calculator so I'm going to open a bank!"
I got a chance to write an article for somebody at the agreed price of $2.50, she paid me $3.00, I thanked her for the overpayment but I was not satisfied about the deal. I didn't have the chance to feel if she was satisfied with my work. I did not so much as worked for the money, I expected something more important out of it, appreciation for 'a job well done", or something like that (unless, of course, she didn't find my work upto her expectations). I continue to hold the principle of writing not for the money but primarily for the love of it, and in the process, to let out the truth, impart knowledge, inform, communicate, interact. The financial rewards will come only as a consequence.
Copywriting is part sales, part writing. Language is only one aspect of the skill set. No average rate, as Jenn said. Just like in sales (and writing for that matter) the Pareto principle applies, so the top 10-20% make most of the money, while the majority of the industry makes squat.
Welcome to the real world. You don't always get a pat on the back. I'd rather receive a neutral response than a negative one. But then again, I'd rather get a negative response with a suggestion for improvement than a neutral one. Then again...
Campolar, personally I would take some suggestions others have imparted to you in this thread and secondly, I would seriously suggest you start with how you present yourself on a forum. The way you write can be improved a hell of a lot and that is a serious suggestion. It's all good and well if you want to be a copywriter, but start with the basics.
It all depends on the job, but you have to ask yourself, how much are you worth? Each job is going to be different, and you have to look at the overall picture of how much time and dedication you are going to give it.
Maybe you should try choosing a few sites then offering them some guest articles for free. Once you've got a bit of a portfolio people will be more likely to pay for your services. Look at the guys here . . . they've been doing it for years. Show them a bit of respect . . . read and learn.
I ll join the club with you brother. A while back, i wrote a couple of 500 word articles for $ 3... in the end, i could nt belevie how stupid i had been in doin that ! Now, i have started hikin my prices a little, frankly, because i know i have an excellent command over english, and i darn well deserve more than many here in the market !!