You’ve taken a big leap and finally launched your own copywriting business. But now you’re wondering:
“Where the heck do I find copywriting clients?!”
If you’ve ever Googled “how to find clients for copywriting,” you’ve probably come across a ton of advice, and some of it ended up being prettyyyy confusing & contradictory.
The truth is, there’s never been a better time to become a copywriter.
The demand for copywriting is almost endless, with more and more businesses realizing the value of good emails, website copy, sales pages, and more.
→ The job market for copywriters is projected to grow by 7.6% by 2026, and there are more potential clients circling around the Internet than ever before.
But if you’re just dipping your toes into the freelance copywriting world and working hard to get your business off the ground, it can feel scarce & scary.
As a result, some new copywriters can start following fear-driven advice and making decisions that stagger their growth.
In this article, I’ll share common deadly 💀mistakes that freelance copywriters make when trying to find clients, and what to do instead.
1. Spending Too Much Time on Upwork and Fiverr
You may have heard that job boards, such as Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, and the like are easy places to find freelance writing clients.
There are thousands of potential clients looking for someone to write copy for them. Plus, the platform typically ensures that you’re protected from clients ghosting you & not paying your invoice.
Sounds like a great deal, right?
The truth is, the convenience of a freelance platform like Upwork comes with significant downsides.
❌The majority of clients on Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, and the like offer ridiculously low rates.
It’s not rare to see copywriting jobs offering $5 or less for an hour of your time, which can feel…well, discouraging.
This is not to say that it’s *impossible* to make good money on Upwork or Fiverr, but…
→ It’s important to remember that high-quality clients who value good copywriting exist, and most of them are not on freelance platforms.
So, be strategic about how you spend your time.
Upwork and Fiverrr can be a good way to dip your toes in the world of freelancing and improve your copywriting skills, but remember that these are not the ONLY places to find clients.
2. View Other Copywriters as Competition
If you’re been Googling “how to find freelance copywriting clients,” the answer may be closer than you think.
Building strong relationships with other freelance writers and copywriters can be a great way to get referrals & sign new high-quality clients.
In fact, 81% of freelancers refer work to each other, and good copywriters are in such high demand that they’re often booked out months in advance and need to send new leads somewhere…
…and that place can easily be you!
It’s tempting to view other freelance copywriters as competition, but the truth is that collaboration makes everyone stronger.
Your fellow copywriters get a consistent referral they can rely on, and you get leads who’re already sold on working with you because you came highly recommended.
→ Spend some time networking & improving your connections with other freelance copywriters, especially those who’ve been at it for a couple of years longer than you.
You may also consider offering a referral reward to fellow freelancers who send leads your way. It can be a certain percentage of the revenue you make off that project or a fixed amount.
3. Put All of Your Eggs into One Marketing Channel
As a freelancer, it’s important to market your business across multiple channels.
It maximizes your opportunities to find qualified leads and means that you don’t have to worry as much about something happening to one of your marketing channels.
Imagine this scenario —
You have an active Instagram account and get regular leads from this social media platform.
And then one day, your account gets shut down and you can’t find copywriting clients on Instagram anymore.
While losing access to a marketing channel is a difficult situation for every business owner, if you have other ways to bring leads in, such as email or other social media, it’s not going to break your business.
But if Instagram was your only way to find clients, you’d have to make a new account and start from scratch.
→ Prioritize diversifying your marketing channels and creating multiple ways of bringing leads in.
That said, don’t try to do everything at once. You DON’T need to be on fifteenth different platforms. Get really confident with one channel, and build up from there.
4. Never Share with Friends & Family That You’re a Copywriter
When you’re just starting out, it can feel awkward to share with your family and friends that you’re looking for copywriting clients.
Maybe you’re worried about them not supporting you or feeling judged, but the truth is…
→ Friends & family can be a great source of referrals, especially when you’re in the beginning stages of building a copywriting business.
Your network likely spreads over different industries and people tend to trust personal referrals significantly more than advertisement or other forms of marketing.
In fact, 84% of people from 58 countries say that they trust recommendations from friends and family, and 90% of people are more likely to buy from a brand recommended by a friend.
The bottom line is that it’s important to be vocal about the fact that you’re available for copywriting projects. The more people know about it, the more likely you are to get referred.
Plus, the fact that you can use this as an opportunity to reconnect with friends or family members that you may have lost touch with is an added bonus!
5. Keep Waiting for the Perfect Time
Fear of rejection is real, and it’s tempting to wait to start reaching out to potential clients until everything — your website, portfolio, and every single Instagram story — are, for the lack of a better word, perfect.
→ It’s normal to want your leads to see your business in the best light, but there comes a certain point at which you need to stop worrying about the “what ifs” and take action.
The truth is, nothing will ever be perfect. There will always be something to fix or improve, but there’s no better way to grow & build better skills than to just start.
So, stop obsessing over the details and start ACTING! Reach out to that dream client, tell your network that you’re on the hunt for copywriting projects, and just keep going instead of chasing after perfection.
Want to break into the copywriting world in style? Grab your Words Matter crewneck and start taking imperfect action.
