Hi, I'm a professional writer with 30 years in the business. I'm also a professional cartoonist having worked for such companies as America Online, Gannett News Service and in the comic book industry, science, and comedy. I've been online since before it got popular and know pretty much what copy sells and what doesn't. First of all for us writers, know your craft. That means not only do you need to pass the litmus test on the use of the language but also your work's effect on the targeted audience. If you're going to write about fishing, know something about it and if you need to brush up on it, study it. There are numerous dictionaries and other tools that are readily available and without them you'll make glaring errors that can smudge your client's credibility. Blogging is huge and continues to grow. Smart clients keep their blogs and blog networks popping with fresh content that relates to the theme of their blog. The smart marketing blogger has several blogs covering several subjects so as to maximize their profit potential. That means they need writers who can hit home runs for them every time at bat. Courtesy and proficiency are a must. If the deadline is on Friday then Friday is when your work had better be in or earlier. Use the spell checks and other grammar tools in your programs. Keep in contact with your clients. As for pay goes, you can make several thousand dollars a month writing for websites and blogs. It's all a matter of finding the right clients, meeting their needs and being professional. Get critiques from people whenever you can. You may be surprised that you're more potent than you realized. You might find that you're lacking in diction or structure. Don't be too tight though. We're not all writing for an "A" in English Literature but we do need to remember that one must balance flexibility with standard discipline. Don't undersell yourself. Far too many copywriters sell their services for such a cheap price that they not only damage themselves and their customers but undermine this growing industry. Things are changing for copywriters as more companies are hiring and some offer benefits like group health insurance at very affordable rates, discounts on software and appliances and more. Do your business right and take advantage of the cool business perks out there for the small business person. I'll write a more detailed list of practices and perks in an ebook soon. Simple procedures and strategies that will cover your basics so that you can have a more profitable and pleasant working experience.
The most important thing is perhaps being professional. Tips and pointers are nice, but unless you treat your customers as they should be treated, no matter how bizarre or crazy they may seem, you should consider a career change. Copywriting is customer service, in some sense.
Great post wth good info. Probably the most important point in the entire post is about the deadline. Personally, I try to deliver before the deadline; but depending on the workload, sometimes it doesn't happen. However, never miss a deadline; and you'll continue to get repeat work. I use an Xcel spreadsheet that has my job info and deadlines input so I can sort by deadline and know exactly what I have due and when. Helps keep me organized, and may help other writers as well. Just my two cents...