The Equation for Paid Writing Success
It’s my favorite mistake to confess: I got into writing for the dream and romance of it all, plus the money. But there was a missing link between the two...
Early in my writing career, I learned (was forced to learn) the HUGE disconnect between loving the craft and raking in the dough.
The missing link? Basic business know-how.
I’d been smitten by the idea of getting to write for a living. I hoovered every element of proof that writers could make excellent money.
So I dove into the craft of copywriting, got decent at it, and then…
Crickets.
What I completely missed was the ‘how to land the clients’ part. Which is why the money came slowly at first.
It wasn’t till I flipped my thinking and got support that the money began to pour in.
Fadila Ali explains the process below, distilled down into an easy formula you can follow. It worked for me, and if you stick with it, I have no doubt it’ll work for you, too.
—Mindy
P.S. Read to the end for Fadila’s shortcut on how to make your first $1K as a freelance writer. 😊
The 4 Powerful Attitudes You Need to Jump-Start Your Writing Business This Year
By Fadila Ali
One important thing most beginning writers (myself included) seem to miss when you decide to become a freelance writer is the reality that you’re also signing up for the role of business owner. It looks something like this:
You know you love to write…
You can’t shake off your excitement at the kind of money you could be making…
You’re beyond-the-sky determined to take whatever course — and read whatever book — necessary to make this dream life possible…
Yet, somehow, your mind completely skips the reality that you’re also becoming an entrepreneur… and that your success requires more than writing effectively.
Smile if you can relate…
… The Thinking Woman?
Do you know the famous sculpture Le Penseur — The Thinker — by French sculptor Auguste Rodin?
That was me just three months ago when I realized that there’s more to the moneymaking side of copywriting… and that’s the business side.
Somehow, I’d dumbly anticipated that mastering the writing skill was the height of it.
The fact that I’d be running an actual business never really “stood out” to me.
Of course, I knew I had to make money somehow…
But I never deeply considered the realities of being a business owner: figuring out an accounting system, client calls, effective time management, and so on.
It was my first business, after all... which meant I felt confused, lost, afraid, inadequate — and stupid.
Brace Yourself for Yet Another Joyride
Eventually, I asked myself the all-important question:
How do I get people to pay me for this skill?
Here’s what I now realize that question should’ve been:
How do I present myself in the most valuable way — to those who need me?
Whether you create a LinkedIn profile, website, cold email pitch, spec article… anything —
You’ve got to go in value-first… and not the other way around.
You might be excited about how awesome your skills are… but truly, clients are focused only on how you can help them… so make that your mission from the get-go.
The Equation for Copywriting Business Success
To succeed, you need this: a positive mindset + a fiercely consistent process + an unkillable appetite for learning.
With that said, here are four powerful attitudes to augment that equation… and to avoid screwing up your success (as I almost did) from the start.
1. Run away from complacency.
Never be satisfied until you’re hitting your desired income.
It’s easy to relax when you score your first paying client…
And although this is great news, it can be counterproductive if you slow your efforts.
Your goal is to keep grinding until you’ve secured a steady flow of nicely paying projects.
Then you can breathe.
2. Uncertainty is scary, but your skills are in demand.
If you’re not yet getting the kind of paid work you really want… the uncertainty of it can put you in a chokehold.
But remember, if you’re a copywriter… you’re always needed.
In fact, you’ll find that the more you put yourself out there… the more your uncertainty will wilt away.
3. Embrace patience.
Time is ingrained into everything we do. Overnight success is not a reality.
If you don’t give things time, you’ll get frustrated, and when you get frustrated, you can’t think clearly enough to make progress in your business.
Consider this quote by William Shakespeare: “How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”
4. Make some noise.
Michal Eisikowitz was once a newbie copywriter who turned to LinkedIn to get noticed.
She consistently posted simple but helpful and relevant content that garnered a large following.
The result?
More clients and a fantastic monthly income of $15K… That’s a succulent $180,000 a year!
You don’t have to do exactly what Michal did. You can find your own way.
Just “get active” with your skills… and do so consistently.
The Best Approach? Free Tips from Those Who’ve Come Before You
I made some seriously dumb mistakes in my early business days — like crafting an ocean’s worth of words for an email pitch… and complaining about dead silence only a week after sending them.
Luckily, with the right help, you can avoid many unnecessary pitfalls on the road to success.
This is a good place to start — with AWAI’s free Inside AWAI webinar on How to Make Your First $1K as a Freelance Writer. They cover everything from the best paid projects to get you started quickly to how to get clients to say yes and how to build from there.
Remember… you need not take this life-changing walk alone.