10 sources of profitable orders for the aspiring copywriter. No exchanges!
By: Alex Koma
Tags: Copywriting, Writing, Blogging, Writer, Writing Tips

10 sources of profitable orders

The rule of the moment of force

Usually, a copywriter doesn’t need to know physics. But I want you to know this useful rule: it will come in handy more than once in life. It’s very simple. The same effort can produce different results. The question is, what are you making these efforts for? By choosing the right point of application of force, you get the best result.

Let’s look at this idea with an example. Let’s say I need to write the text “About the company”. If I received an order on the stock exchange, I would be paid for it at best $1. But I know where to apply force, so I get at least $100 for such a text (100 times more). In this case, the efforts and time in both cases are spent the same. See the difference? Find the right point of application of the force and you will have a more tangible effect.

10 sources of orders and points of power for them

Now we will consider with you 10 sources of orders that a novice copywriter can get.

1. Your own customer

The simplest and at the same time the most difficult source. On the one hand, a copywriter will never be left without a piece of bread. For at least 3 reasons.

He can sell his services through his texts.

He can sell other people’s goods and services with the help of his texts.

He can launch his content project.

The first two methods allow you to get money quickly. The main thing in this business is to understand that the text itself will not sell from scratch. In addition to the text, you need an audience, attracting which is a separate issue.

In the first case, you are selling yourself as a specialist. Everything is simple and clear here: we created the text, brought the audience, and are waiting for orders. In the second case, the system is more complicated but more interesting. It can be broken down into 4 easy steps.

Step # 1: Choose a niche that you are well versed in.

Step # 2: Create a sales copy or sales page.

Step # 3: Accept applications (warm potential customers).

Step # 4: Sell applications to those who do business in your chosen niche.

This technique is called “selling leads”. Alternatively, you can simply rent out the page. If it generates targeted applications, then any real business will gladly rent it from you.

The third way will take time. And strength. In my observation, 8 out of 10 copywriters who create their own content project fail because of faded enthusiasm. When I created this blog, I lost my hands not one, not two, or even five times. And much more. It helped me that in those days I worked as an engineer and could switch between projects.

It’s good to generate orders for yourself. However, most novice copywriters have difficulty with this: they have not yet formed their marketing thinking, and it is unusual to work in this format. Again, basic sales skills are needed here. However, even if you don’t have them yet, it doesn’t matter. There are at least 9 alternative sources of orders.

2. SEO studios

In 95% of cases, SEO companies need content. Nice, helpful, and high quality. Adapted to your needs. If you can offer them such content and know the basics of search engine promotion, then your services will be in great demand. Of course, you need to offer these services.

A separate plus — if you are well versed in some kind of commercial niche. Even now, when dumping is flourishing everywhere, such specialists are highly valued and always in demand. Of course, SEO studios will not give you stars from the sky, but it is quite possible to earn $ 3–5 per 1000 signs there, especially if you specialize in some area. Another plus of companies, although not all of them, is a conditional career growth with an increase in the size of payment (it is also often called the grading system, or the gradation of authors).

The disadvantages of this source of orders include the fact that you will not be allowed to develop as a real copywriter here. However, if you specialize in SEO content, then pump your skills to the fullest.

Important: When offering services to SEO companies, remember their interest. They are interested in effectively promoting their clients’ sites at a minimal cost. Therefore, in the offer, focus on compliance with the terms of reference, possession of SEO copywriting skills at an above-average level, and knowledge of the specifics of in-demand niches.

3. Single optimizers and webmasters

As practice shows, you most likely will not work for an SEO studio for a long time. Of course, if you are a good content producer. The fact is that SEO-specialists, as a rule, have their own projects, and they willingly lure good authors to themselves, providing them with a large amount of work.

If we abstract from SEO companies, then single optimizers and webmasters can be found on thematic optimization forums (searchengines.ru, webmasters.ru, cy-pr.com, etc.), as well as on forums of various affiliate programs, where these webmasters earn money (forum.profit-partner.ru, etc.).

The practice of receiving an order is, as a rule, the same everywhere: you perform a test task, receive positive feedback from an old-timer with a high rating, and then you are loaded with work in full.

Disadvantages similar to the previous point: sharpening for the article format, at least a commercial component. When making an offer to SEOs, remember: they are interested in getting good content at the lowest price. If you want to make more money, add value in the form of advanced search engine optimization knowledge, a perfect match of technical specifications, or expertise in a specific niche.

4. Corporate sites

This is a bottomless source of orders, which for some reason few people use.

And there are most of such sites requiring text processing. There are hundreds of thousands of them. All you need to do is offer your services to the owners of these sites and redesign the texts so that they work for sales.

Please note: here you are already working in the corporate (B2B) segment. The main value: the maximum result for the money invested. Also, please note that most companies prefer to pay by bank transfer, so if you have a sole proprietorship or limited liability company, this will be an additional plus.

When offering services in the corporate segment, focus on attracting additional customers and additional sales, rather than on texts. Then the value of your proposal will be an order of magnitude higher, and along with the value — and payment.

The main advantage of the corporate segment is that you can offer it a lot: a selling page, texts on the site, content marketing, email marketing, and a lot of other tools. If the proposal is submitted in the right way, then one order may be enough for a month of work. The most profitable option is to agree on the provision of services with a monthly fee.

5. Infobusinessmen

Another gold mine if you know how to write sales texts. Tens of thousands of people are now entering the info business. And they all need sales copy for their products. All you need to do is find an info business person who is interested in your services. As a rule, they inhabit thematic forums (eg info-forum.ru) and conferences.

I know copywriters who worked for only one customer, information business and were provided with work (and money, respectively) to the eyeballs. Such copywriters are also called personal.

When making an offer to information businessmen, remember that they are primarily interested in the sales volume of their product. Place the right accents and you will receive your order.

6. Information sites and mailing lists (magazines)

There are tons of thematic magazines out there that need quality articles. If you feel the inclinations of a journalist in yourself, then it’s a sin not to try to make money on it. An indisputable plus of working in thematic magazines and portals is that you choose the topic that interests you, and work not only for money but also for pleasure. An alternative to thematic magazines is the increasingly popular email newsletter

Few people know, but in my student years, I also moonlighted as a journalist at one game portal. In those years I was fascinated by the topic of the gaming industry, and the work itself aroused keen interest, and the payment for it was a pleasant addition.

When you offer the services of a journalist, remember that for the owner of the publication (or the editor-in-chief), the most important thing is the audience. She should be interested in your materials, and as long as you satisfy her information hunger, you will have a job.

7. IT companies

Companies working in the field of information technology are constantly releasing new services and programs. All of these products require datasheets and manuals. Authors who create such content are called technical writers and are greatly appreciated.

The main value for IT companies is the attractiveness and competitiveness of the product. By creating quality white papers and manuals, you improve the product, making it accessible and understandable for the end-user.

The problem with most IT companies is that they are full of techies. They are great at solving technical problems, but making a description for them is difficult. And here you will be very useful to them. By the way, the IT industry is one of the most profitable, so a good technical writer starts at $ 1000.

8. Video studios and game developers

A profitable source of orders for creative people with well-developed abstract thinking. The task is to create scripts and descriptions of staged scenes. Kind of a variation on the duties of a technical writer, but with a more creative twist.

This job requires good writing skills (which, by the way, develop through reading fiction). The key factor here is the detailed study of the little things and the creation of an atmosphere of maximum viewer involvement. The requirements for scriptwriters are high, but their pay is more than decent. At the very least, it’s worth a try if you are confident in your abilities. To get this job you will need sample scripts or, better yet, case studies.

There are studios, the main direction of which is the creation of selling videos and promotional videos (video presentations). For such work, you need the skills of creating selling texts and knowledge of the main selling models.

9. Creative and marketing agencies

The main difference between this source of orders and SEO companies is that marketing agencies work not only to attract traffic but also to increase sales. The effect is achieved with the help of selling pages and a customized advertising campaign. If you know how to create selling texts for landing pages, then your services will be in great demand.

Creative and branding agencies create image advertising (outdoor advertising, banners, signs, slogans, etc.). If you manage to sell yourself to them (and for this you need to correctly place accents), they can delegate some of the work to you. Although, I must admit that such companies prefer to keep copywriters on the staff, but what the hell is not kidding. Be prepared to be asked to complete a test task.

10. Groups in social networks

Social media marketing is at its peak right now. Groups with a lot of subscribers always need new content. If you can provide such content, offer your services to the group administrator.

As in the case of journalism, you are free to choose those groups to which you have a heart. As a rule, the administration of groups is interested in high-quality content from people who are interested in the topics of the community.

By the way, social networks are another good source of orders, if used correctly. So, for example, I quite often receive various offers of cooperation from the LinkedIn network.

+1 bonus source of orders

There is another way to get orders — a resume. The principle is simple: you create a resume, post it on HeadHunter, and wait for employers to find you. The main thing is to write your resume correctly.

In some cases, you may be invited for an interview and offered a job on the state. Look here for the situation and possibilities. Working in the state deprives you of your freedom (to some extent), but gives you a lot of invaluable experience, having received which you very quickly (after 3–6 months) will no longer be a beginner.

You can combine different sources until you either find your way or until you get a surplus of orders that you physically cannot fulfill. For you, this will mean an increase in the level and will become an occasion to think about organizing a workflow or raising prices.

The reverse way of finding orders is also fair: go through the list of copywriting jobs and offer your services to those who need them. If you want to stay out of state, focus on solving the problem, and use arguments:

Saving at the workplace (additional savings on office equipment and room rental).

Savings on taxes and contributions to the pension fund.

Savings on vacation and sick leave payments, etc.

Work on weekends

The ability to be online at a specified time to interact with employees, etc.

In this article, we’ve covered 10 sources of ordering for aspiring copywriters. I deliberately did not list content exchanges and freelance exchanges among them, since they are overwhelmed with competition and dumping. Customers actively use this, and it is almost impossible for a beginner to get a normal order with good payment.

For the future, remember: when you sell your services yourself, you can sell them at an order of magnitude more expensive than when the customer chooses you from a dozen other performers.

And let you have as many orders as you need. Plus another 10%.