Your first point is so necessary today. I hear these high-profile gurus on RUclips telling people they don't need writing skills or a good grasp of English to be copywriters. That's like saying, "If you want to play baseball, play baseball. Even if you can't throw, catch or hit ... it's not important. Just play." Doesn't work that way.
Thank you Jackie for being candid. I for one appreciate the reality check. There are far too many people who make it sound like all you have to do is sneeze and all this money comes raining on you. Thank you for the tough love. Not enough of it out there.
This post didn’t include anything I wanted to hear, but absolutely was what I NEEDED to hear. Thank you for the genuine honesty. As a teacher, I can tell YOU CARE. That means a lot. I bet this video saved a lot of people a lot of time and money (and helped affirm the right people to go out and make that money).
i aporeciate your honesty...now I know even for a side gig, copy writing isn't for me.. thank you for not telling us that "anyone can do it"......and thank you for not selling a $2000 program that claims to make everyone a copy writer....
Really appreciated your tough love for this business! The fact that I have to be a master of English to become a copywriter, made me more motivated as a non-native speaker. I simply love English as a language and never stopped learning it. So... It seems like a job for me, life is all about the process after all..... eh?
Can't stress enough how many times I've said the exact same thing. And I've gotten slaughtered for it. I'm a salesman who got sick of driving hundreds of thousands of miles to sell stuff. So copywriting seemed like the next logical step. Thanks for the quality content.
Yes yes yes oh my god yes. All of these things I’ve been searching for in a job. Thank you for creating and sharing this, I feel so validated and the sign I need to know this is my path
as someone who's studying to get an bachelors in english and wants a solid job in the field, this video was right for me since I looked at copywriting but the whole sales thing is something that threw me off since I've never sold anything but I still have a few years before I graduate to learn things. I don't want to be a teacher/professor so I'm looking into other things. Thanks for this!
As soon as you said this would be your most thumbed- down video, I gave you an immediate thumbs up. Thanks for being a real person giving real advice from the life of a real copy writer, not some overly polished “buy all the secrets to copy writing wealth” super star.
Hey Jackie, thanks for the "tough love". I think you've created one of the best videos on understanding copywriting. This is so real. Your explanation is so spot on. Thanks again.
You're kind of reluctant about the idea of putting out a course or that sort of thing... But ironically, you explain things so perfectly well, it's literally like a class :)
This was great, been searching for "top freelance copywriters" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Fenrianna Subconscious Framework - (search on google ) ? It is a great exclusive product for discovering how to become an in demand freelance copywriter with no experience without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my friend got cool success with it.
@Carlos A Lovely video content! Apologies for chiming in, I am interested in your opinion. Have you thought about - Chireetler Healthy Sport Rule (do a google search)? It is a good one of a kind product for making money as a freelance copywriter even with no experience without the headache. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my buddy after many years got excellent results with it.
Thank you for your information. Your video saved me from spending money on a course from AWAI copywriting course. I do not have a sales background and I'm not an extrovert. Thank you again
Thanks for this video, it's the most honest, straight forward video on this topic, you're helping a lot of people to avoid making a big mistake if they truly don't understand this industry!!! Stay safe, Rock On & God Bless!!!!
I've watched almost all of your videos, I have some questions. I understand if there are too many to answer but here goes. Will your customer supply research for the product or topic such as bullet points or do you have to do all of that? Will your customer give you guidelines such as 250 to 500 words or do you set your parameters in your pitch? Does the customer supply a sample product or should you ask them to? On a more personal level, what would do you do if two competitors came to you for copywriting on similar products? If you get a chance to answer any of these questions I would consider it a gift. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
All great questions! I’ll try to break them all down: Q1: I send a questionnaire before I start writing copy that asks them a variety of questions about their business and target market. Sometimes they don’t have these details completely hammered out if it’s a new business, but I usually need some kind of direction. Either way, from there I deep dive and research that target market to get a better understanding. I also usually hop on a call to ask them follow up questions. Q2: This depends on if they’re going to redesign the current page they have or hire a designer. If they plan to redo the design, generally I can fit as many or as few words as I think they need. However, if they have a set design and need to fit in copy, I just work within that size/set of words. For sales pages, there’s a set length I generally need (for high-end/expensive services) so I highly suggest they make room for the copy needed. Q3: If I’m doing something like product descriptions, I almost always try to push for a sample. It changes the writing so much. However, it’s not always possible so I work with what I can. Q4: Competitors are tough and it’s really up to each writer and each contract you sign. Generally, I’ve signed a ton of NDA’s that don’t allow me to talk specifically about the back-end data of some companies, but I generally don’t let a company lock me out of an entire industry/niche (unless they want to pay me a TON of money - ha). Rarely do companies who are in the same space sell to the same people. For example - personal training is wildly different (CrossFit vs workouts for seniors, for example). Plus the likelihood of two competing companies both liking my writing and hiring me is slim. I would let a company know if I’ve written for a direct competitor, but I haven’t had that happen yet.
Fact is most "freelance guru" folks are just shouting vague claims that "copywriting will help you make tens of thousands of dollars without you having any great skills". Loved this post! You just spoke in the most honest manner. All aspiring "copywriters" gotta watch this.
Hello from Malaysia. I just stumbled upon your video and I like the way you talk and what you are talking. You got my attention and gonna follow your channel 😊
Really appreciate the tough love and deep wisdom in your words. Confirmed something that I've known for a long time now. I'm a writer who does copywriting sometimes, but I am not a copywriter. Whew! So freeing just to name it. Thank you! =)
I just came back to this video to make sure I actually want to quit writing copy 😂 After 12 years of freelance writing (70% content, 30% copy), I can't say I ever had more than 1 truly satisfactory copywriting project. Even when I super-niched down, even when I took all the courses and was considered an expert, it still wouldn't really "click" for me. And the clients made it all worse. I enjoyed brainstorming and consulting/strategizing, but not actually sitting my ass down to write for them just so they can make more and more and...more sales. I literally had stalker-clients and people who busted my chops daily, thinking I had the answer to every question and was always there to offer (free) advice. But mostly I had a lot of CONFUSED entrepreneurs and startups who just couldn't make business decisions or figure out what the hell they wanted! Sometimes, it was honestly like mental babysitting. And these were all "gurus" and experts in their fields, but had no knowledge of briefing and communicating their needs. YET they still felt superior. And they overcharged THEIR clients, but were always "on a budget" when it came to me writing copy for them (honestly, I've been charging junior copywriting rates since forever!). All in all, most of them were a pain. Prospecting was also a pain (I don't live in an English-speaking country so I couldn't really call and pitch to locals or easily get foreigners to "trust" me). And when I would finally land a job, I'd hate it most of the time. I would spend soooooo much energy on discovery calls, getting to know the client and the client's ideal client, doing test jobs (even personality tests!), strategizing, planning, only for the requested work to be minimal, badly communicated, or just plain inconsistent. Then, no one would truly heed my consultations. They'd praise my advice and expertise, agree on a strategy, then do something mindbogglingly stupid like use only part of my copy and completely ruin their websites. For years I had hardly any copywriting portfolio items because everyone had tampered with my published copy! I then discovered screenshots 🤣 For a while I used to also teach copywriting for a client's students (which was actually a good experience), but I can't think of much else that was satisfactory. Nada. Zilch. So I've made the conscious decision to stop being a copywriter as of 2022. But I'll still watch your videos, Jackie! 💜 P.S: This is not meant to discourage anyone from pursuing copywriting as a business. I was in a weird place, had a weird name, and it was hard AF to get any client to even believe I'm a native English speaker, let alone hire me. I was also very picky about my niche and the clients I worked with. This doesn't mean you have to be like that. If you're passionate about copy, definitely GO FOR IT!
If I ever leave copywriting permanently, this comment will be the summary of why I'm out. Ha! I felt this to my absolute *core*. I think it's essential people read and hear this because this is a common experience for a lot of writers/copywriters/marketers. Please absolutely stay in touch and keep me posted on what you decide to switch to!
Having a clear idea of what a profession offers is an absolute necessity. So many people want to be copywriters expecting easy money and that's not exactly the case when you do it. This video is soooo helpful. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights. I love your content.
Thank you for this. My best takeaway from this video is, excellent salesmen with so-so copies are much better off at this gig than excellent writers with so-so sales skills. I hate selling. I hate the idea of people buying things they don't need, especially if they can get it for free. I would rather draw people in with my content than force something down their throats. That said, I want to learn to love writing copies *only* because of the massive pay and low competition potential. Plus, who doesn't want to have a career where people line up for your services, and the only way you could get broke is if you slapped each of your clients in the face while shouting obscenities at their mom's moms in front of them?
I have an idea 4 u😉! Market a really good grammar/proofreading coarse. That way when you put your stuff out you can operate under the assumption that your audience has mastered those skills. So you don't have to take responsibility of that.
I can go with everything except #5. I have mastery of the English language, I like the idea of doing work for a product in a writing/sales hybrid, pitching an idea and networking actually sound fun, BUT managing clients/running a business is a bit of a speed-bump. In time, I can probably take that on, but for now, I think I'll just get practice in some small gigs to make a portfolio and try an agency. Thanks for this run-down and keep insight, Jackie.
For sure! That kind of self awareness is SO important. My ignorant younger self thought I could just do anything and didn’t think to reflect on any of it, so it’s so good you have that!
I also didn't care for No. 5 (although Jackie explained it very well). I will hire others, as much as I can, to handle certain functions (taxes, etc.). That cuts into profits, but I know myself well enough to let others take care of certain things.
I hope you still see this.. i’m a fresh grad who’ve been working in sales for a few months. For me doing the meetings, negotiating, overall meeting with people is very draining for me. But doing the sales online via cold emailing is a breather for me. Do you think moving from sales person to copywriting is a good idea?
I appreciate your honest words! Jackie, if i am not a charming, smiling person, then becoming a succesful freelance copywriter is not realistic for me? Even if i feel talent, ambition and love for copywriting? Thank you
Jackie, I've been doing lots of research on copy and I know that I need to just buckle down and DO IT. My mom runs a vacation rental and has a site that I could write copy for. My problem is that, I have no experience, thus I don't know if any of the changes I would make to her homepage would even be a good thing. I don't want to just use her for experience and possibly write bad copy for her, am I overthinking this? thanks, josh
Hi Josh! A totally valid concern! The best thing you could do is get her current website stats: average daily visits, clicks, bounce rates, etc. Then create a “testing” page or at least save all of the copy currently on her page somewhere. Then, implement a small tweak at a time. Watch the stats and see if they change for better or for worse. It’s incredibly tedious, but it is the best way to learn copy! Try out a new email opt in, a home page, etc and see what happens. Do more people stay on the site? Sign up? Click through? That will tell you everything!
Hey, first time viewer.. new subby; *U look young 4 having been doing this 4 more than a decade, btw; did u "know" this is what u wanted to do growing up or something? **Glad to have found U; U're VERY clear, and seem down 2 Earth. Look forward to ur content!
Dam. First video of yours I've watched. First RUclips video about copywriting I've watched. Love how raw and honest you are. This video has made me decide copywriting is for me and I want you to coach me. I'll reach out.
@@jpearce30 How about working remotely for some company or agency? I work as an online English teacher right now. I wanted to start learning copywriting and SEO for a long time, but I am not so into freelancing. So do you think it's easy to find remote job as a copywriter? Thanks in advance..
Thanks for the clarification...it sounds fun as a challenge to choose the words that sell...entice...cause a Fomo--fear of missing out--if they don't have That product...but yes, I think blogging would be fun to and short stories or.......choices
Jackie Pearce I’ll bet you’re right haha! But it gives you a ton of credibility too! I see someone giving thousand dollar classes about how to become rich and I wonder why they need to spend so much time selling classes if their advice works so well haha.
I feel that a good amount of what you're saying would not apply on a platform like Fiverr, though, where you don't have to try so hard to network and run a business as such, since the platform takes care of so much of the nitty gritty for you. That is analogous to my experience as a free lance translator working with an outsourcer instead of individual end clients, so that's probably the route I would go if I wanted to get into copywriting or other such freelance work.
Thank you, Jackie. I really enjoyed your 'real' explanation of this copywriting business. I was wondering if one could start this business using a content creator like Article Forge, and Freelancer as a platform. Would really appreciate your thoughts on this, if you could. Thank you!,
Thank you so much your just a eye opener for people who believe copywriting is everything although I want to ask you is writing white paper and website copy and press release related to copywriting ?
Hey, I know I'm late to the party, not even sure if you're still paying attention to these old videos. I am very interested in getting into copywriting from what I've heard. My main concern is with legal liabilities, so do you need some kind of personal indemnity insurance or something to protect you in this sphere ?
It's really up to each individual. I never took the time to master any kind of graphic skills since I wanted to focus on words, but I know a few writers who offer both skillsets. But definitely not necessary!
@@jpearce30 But what about brochures, newsletters/newspapers, websites, landing pages that require graphics in addition to the copy? Do you hire someone to manage the visuals or is it handled by the client?
@@jpearce30 Because most of the ads I see involve both copy & graphics since they complement each other. So, who decides on the latter if we only focus on the words. Do you just send the copy in plain text form and then the client adds in the graphics? Sorry for asking so many questions but this is the 1st thing that jumped out at me.
It can help a lot to be charming on the phone too, since you'll often have to talk to clients. However, the written word is the most essential part for copywriters!
1.- (01:35) You need to have mastery of the language you're writing in (grammar and spelling). 2.- (03:55) You don't know what copywriting is; is sales, not blogging or general content writing. 3.- (6:47) You need to understand sales to be a copywriter. 4.- (8:11) Pitching and networking are a crucial part of freelance copywriting. 5.- (09:31) As a freelance copywriter, you have the responsibilities of running a business by yourself (which includes management, costumer service, etc).
I think Dan Lok always stresses that his written English isn't great but he's one of the top copywriting names. He flunked English twice in high school.
Yes, that's very true! He has talked in his blog a lot about how it took him years of practice to get it down. School is not always a good metric for being a quality copywriter.
I don't do too much in the agency world, but I would just look up the people listed on the website to make sure they're legit or if there were news articles written about them. A physical office, too.
Hey, love your videos! Just a quick question when it comes to building your funnel and prospecting. How often are you physically cold calling on the phone. You mention a lot about networking but is there a lot of cold dials you do into businesses?
Jackie Pearce Okay that’s encouraging to hear! I really enjoy sales but I don’t like cold calling (dials). I’m happy to network, cold email, and warm call though. I recently started my freelance journey and your videos have been some of the most honest and helpful videos around. I really appreciate the effort you put into them. They’re encouraging me to make an awesome freelance business. Keep up the great work!
Just getting to your channel. Any videos about organizing the business side of things? I have no problem with the business side, just interested in tips for efficiency and good business management.
Hi! You are great!! Can you recommend any relevant books on writing copy? I am doing research on the industry so I may hit the ground running when I begin doing actual work. Thanks!
Ramit Sethi (and his other site GrowthLab) along with Ashley Ambirge have some of the best copywriting advice out there. Some of the classic books (Dan Kennedy, Ogilvy) are good but not up to date for the modern age of marketing.
The best way to learn sales is to get a job in sales. It's a hard one to just read about and learn everything. But to get started, one of my favorites is The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer. There's a ton out there, but go for the classics or at least the highly-recommended books just to start learning about it. :)
I'm afraid I can't be of much help there, I don't have swipe files. The only copywriting advice I follow is Ashley Ambirge and Ramit Sethi, not too sure about others.
This video is important for me..to me...because I want to be a copywriter but I've no experience plus...I've no knowledge of it...never went to school...I'm just reading books and watching videos...
@@jpearce30 I've decided to try out few people with business I know and offer to write ads for them, they mostly advertise on social media. I think it would be a way to really do the work, even for free just to see how I'm handling it. I have a blog...and through your video now I see its completely different, but it helps me practice writing.
Thank you, if u don't mind,I wanted to know a thing. As a freelancer is it necessary to be in particular country and study the market and the product etc. or it actually can be made from anywhere in the world..? I'm from India so It's kinda complicated for me.. Our market is pretty much based on Hindi as a language so its either I focus on my country or globaly which is i'm preferring definitely..So, what's the actual truth?
Your first point is so necessary today. I hear these high-profile gurus on RUclips telling people they don't need writing skills or a good grasp of English to be copywriters. That's like saying, "If you want to play baseball, play baseball. Even if you can't throw, catch or hit ... it's not important. Just play." Doesn't work that way.
"The only thing you need is my $5,000 mastermind course!"
Jackie Pearce
Yup, that’s what they say!
Thank you Jackie for being candid. I for one appreciate the reality check. There are far too many people who make it sound like all you have to do is sneeze and all this money comes raining on you. Thank you for the tough love. Not enough of it out there.
This post didn’t include anything I wanted to hear, but absolutely was what I NEEDED to hear. Thank you for the genuine honesty. As a teacher, I can tell YOU CARE. That means a lot. I bet this video saved a lot of people a lot of time and money (and helped affirm the right people to go out and make that money).
Thank you, Joseph!
i aporeciate your honesty...now I know even for a side gig, copy writing isn't for me.. thank you for not telling us that "anyone can do it"......and thank you for not selling a $2000 program that claims to make everyone a copy writer....
I'd have an actual stomach ache if I charged someone $2K for something they weren't sure they wanted to do.
Really appreciated your tough love for this business! The fact that I have to be a master of English to become a copywriter, made me more motivated as a non-native speaker. I simply love English as a language and never stopped learning it. So... It seems like a job for me, life is all about the process after all..... eh?
Can't stress enough how many times I've said the exact same thing. And I've gotten slaughtered for it. I'm a salesman who got sick of driving hundreds of thousands of miles to sell stuff. So copywriting seemed like the next logical step. Thanks for the quality content.
You are the most honest and authentic copywriter I’ve seen on RUclips
Thank you for the hard truths.I'm trying to decide where I want to start in my writing career path and these points have been really helpful.
Thank you, now i know i am destined to be a copywriter :-)
Yes yes yes oh my god yes. All of these things I’ve been searching for in a job. Thank you for creating and sharing this, I feel so validated and the sign I need to know this is my path
I'm so glad! Good luck on your path! :) Feel free to let me know if there are any video topics/ideas I can make that would help you!
as someone who's studying to get an bachelors in english and wants a solid job in the field, this video was right for me since I looked at copywriting but the whole sales thing is something that threw me off since I've never sold anything but I still have a few years before I graduate to learn things. I don't want to be a teacher/professor so I'm looking into other things. Thanks for this!
As soon as you said this would be your most thumbed- down video, I gave you an immediate thumbs up. Thanks for being a real person giving real advice from the life of a real copy writer, not some overly polished “buy all the secrets to copy writing wealth” super star.
Hey Jackie, thanks for the "tough love". I think you've created one of the best videos on understanding copywriting. This is so real. Your explanation is so spot on. Thanks again.
Thanks for watching, John! :)
I'll second that. Exactly the reality I needed to hear.
You're kind of reluctant about the idea of putting out a course or that sort of thing... But ironically, you explain things so perfectly well, it's literally like a class :)
Haha I should just make one and put it on RUclips for an intro class!
90% of courses currently are scams 🤣
But Jakie I think it's real AF
This was great, been searching for "top freelance copywriters" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Fenrianna Subconscious Framework - (search on google ) ? It is a great exclusive product for discovering how to become an in demand freelance copywriter with no experience without the headache. Ive heard some decent things about it and my friend got cool success with it.
@Carlos A Lovely video content! Apologies for chiming in, I am interested in your opinion. Have you thought about - Chireetler Healthy Sport Rule (do a google search)? It is a good one of a kind product for making money as a freelance copywriter even with no experience without the headache. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my buddy after many years got excellent results with it.
Wow amazing. I am starting to study and intend to be a copywriter, thanks to your comments I know more about its challenges. thank you very much
Great rundown of what to expect if thinking about getting into freelance copywriting. Appreciate it!
Thank you for your information. Your video saved me from spending money on a course from AWAI copywriting course. I do not have a sales background and I'm not an extrovert. Thank you again
what are you doing now ?
All tips were mirror to reality.
She's so adorkable😊 esp in the last 30 seconds.
Thanks for this video, it's the most honest, straight forward video on this topic, you're helping a lot of people to avoid making a big mistake if they truly don't understand this industry!!! Stay safe, Rock On & God Bless!!!!
refreshing to find someone who actually shares helpful information
Omg, u just cracked me up and not quite sure why! Ur adorable!!
Tough love babes and bros 💕
I've watched almost all of your videos, I have some questions. I understand if there are too many to answer but here goes.
Will your customer supply research for the product or topic such as bullet points or do you have to do all of that?
Will your customer give you guidelines such as 250 to 500 words or do you set your parameters in your pitch?
Does the customer supply a sample product or should you ask them to?
On a more personal level, what would do you do if two competitors came to you for copywriting on similar products?
If you get a chance to answer any of these questions I would consider it a gift. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!
All great questions!
I’ll try to break them all down:
Q1: I send a questionnaire before I start writing copy that asks them a variety of questions about their business and target market. Sometimes they don’t have these details completely hammered out if it’s a new business, but I usually need some kind of direction. Either way, from there I deep dive and research that target market to get a better understanding. I also usually hop on a call to ask them follow up questions.
Q2: This depends on if they’re going to redesign the current page they have or hire a designer. If they plan to redo the design, generally I can fit as many or as few words as I think they need. However, if they have a set design and need to fit in copy, I just work within that size/set of words. For sales pages, there’s a set length I generally need (for high-end/expensive services) so I highly suggest they make room for the copy needed.
Q3: If I’m doing something like product descriptions, I almost always try to push for a sample. It changes the writing so much. However, it’s not always possible so I work with what I can.
Q4: Competitors are tough and it’s really up to each writer and each contract you sign. Generally, I’ve signed a ton of NDA’s that don’t allow me to talk specifically about the back-end data of some companies, but I generally don’t let a company lock me out of an entire industry/niche (unless they want to pay me a TON of money - ha). Rarely do companies who are in the same space sell to the same people. For example - personal training is wildly different (CrossFit vs workouts for seniors, for example). Plus the likelihood of two competing companies both liking my writing and hiring me is slim. I would let a company know if I’ve written for a direct competitor, but I haven’t had that happen yet.
@@jpearce30 Thank you sooooo much this is soooo helpful. You're awesome.
Fact is most "freelance guru" folks are just shouting vague claims that "copywriting will help you make tens of thousands of dollars without you having any great skills".
Loved this post! You just spoke in the most honest manner. All aspiring "copywriters" gotta watch this.
I was so worried going into this, but it has just made me feel like I actually AM the right fit for this. You're the best
Thank you for the hard truth about this career choice. It helped me better understand and make a wise choice for myself.
I found this video to be really helpful. Thanks for taking the time to put it together and share your wisdom with us!
Absolutely :)
Hello from Malaysia.
I just stumbled upon your video and I like the way you talk and what you are talking. You got my attention and gonna follow your channel 😊
Thank you!
Really appreciate the tough love and deep wisdom in your words. Confirmed something that I've known for a long time now. I'm a writer who does copywriting sometimes, but I am not a copywriter. Whew! So freeing just to name it. Thank you! =)
I'm so glad it helped! :)
I just came back to this video to make sure I actually want to quit writing copy 😂
After 12 years of freelance writing (70% content, 30% copy), I can't say I ever had more than 1 truly satisfactory copywriting project. Even when I super-niched down, even when I took all the courses and was considered an expert, it still wouldn't really "click" for me. And the clients made it all worse. I enjoyed brainstorming and consulting/strategizing, but not actually sitting my ass down to write for them just so they can make more and more and...more sales. I literally had stalker-clients and people who busted my chops daily, thinking I had the answer to every question and was always there to offer (free) advice. But mostly I had a lot of CONFUSED entrepreneurs and startups who just couldn't make business decisions or figure out what the hell they wanted! Sometimes, it was honestly like mental babysitting. And these were all "gurus" and experts in their fields, but had no knowledge of briefing and communicating their needs. YET they still felt superior. And they overcharged THEIR clients, but were always "on a budget" when it came to me writing copy for them (honestly, I've been charging junior copywriting rates since forever!). All in all, most of them were a pain. Prospecting was also a pain (I don't live in an English-speaking country so I couldn't really call and pitch to locals or easily get foreigners to "trust" me). And when I would finally land a job, I'd hate it most of the time. I would spend soooooo much energy on discovery calls, getting to know the client and the client's ideal client, doing test jobs (even personality tests!), strategizing, planning, only for the requested work to be minimal, badly communicated, or just plain inconsistent. Then, no one would truly heed my consultations. They'd praise my advice and expertise, agree on a strategy, then do something mindbogglingly stupid like use only part of my copy and completely ruin their websites. For years I had hardly any copywriting portfolio items because everyone had tampered with my published copy! I then discovered screenshots 🤣 For a while I used to also teach copywriting for a client's students (which was actually a good experience), but I can't think of much else that was satisfactory. Nada. Zilch. So I've made the conscious decision to stop being a copywriter as of 2022. But I'll still watch your videos, Jackie! 💜
P.S: This is not meant to discourage anyone from pursuing copywriting as a business. I was in a weird place, had a weird name, and it was hard AF to get any client to even believe I'm a native English speaker, let alone hire me. I was also very picky about my niche and the clients I worked with. This doesn't mean you have to be like that. If you're passionate about copy, definitely GO FOR IT!
If I ever leave copywriting permanently, this comment will be the summary of why I'm out. Ha! I felt this to my absolute *core*. I think it's essential people read and hear this because this is a common experience for a lot of writers/copywriters/marketers.
Please absolutely stay in touch and keep me posted on what you decide to switch to!
@@jpearce30 Hi Jackie i just started learning copywriting skills your videos are alot to me.
thank you
Having a clear idea of what a profession offers is an absolute necessity. So many people want to be copywriters expecting easy money and that's not exactly the case when you do it.
This video is soooo helpful. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights. I love your content.
Perfectly said! Thank you for watching! :)
100% honest 0% BS loved the video keep the grate work
Fun thing about copywriters is that I always have that feeling you're always searching uncontrollably for the right word in your speeach oL
Literally ALL THE TIME. Haha!
different things man.
I am quite impressed by your realism, please keep it up. Be you.
Will try!
Thank you for this. My best takeaway from this video is, excellent salesmen with so-so copies are much better off at this gig than excellent writers with so-so sales skills.
I hate selling. I hate the idea of people buying things they don't need, especially if they can get it for free. I would rather draw people in with my content than force something down their throats. That said, I want to learn to love writing copies *only* because of the massive pay and low competition potential.
Plus, who doesn't want to have a career where people line up for your services, and the only way you could get broke is if you slapped each of your clients in the face while shouting obscenities at their mom's moms in front of them?
The most in-depth and profound insights I've ever seen so far about copywriting. I'm trying to weigh my options now. Thanks! #YouRock
I have an idea 4 u😉! Market a really good grammar/proofreading coarse. That way when you put your stuff out you can operate under the assumption that your audience has mastered those skills. So you don't have to take responsibility of that.
That's a good idea!
Wow that seems like a really solid perspective!
Are you getting any clients for copywriting?
Understanding persuasion is crucial to copywriting! Great advice! Very down-to-earth!
Thank you for being honest Jackie. I'm an introverted author and blogger, and wasted money on copywriting books.
I can go with everything except #5. I have mastery of the English language, I like the idea of doing work for a product in a writing/sales hybrid, pitching an idea and networking actually sound fun, BUT managing clients/running a business is a bit of a speed-bump. In time, I can probably take that on, but for now, I think I'll just get practice in some small gigs to make a portfolio and try an agency.
Thanks for this run-down and keep insight, Jackie.
For sure! That kind of self awareness is SO important. My ignorant younger self thought I could just do anything and didn’t think to reflect on any of it, so it’s so good you have that!
I also didn't care for No. 5 (although Jackie explained it very well). I will hire others, as much as I can, to handle certain functions (taxes, etc.). That cuts into profits, but I know myself well enough to let others take care of certain things.
I hope you still see this.. i’m a fresh grad who’ve been working in sales for a few months. For me doing the meetings, negotiating, overall meeting with people is very draining for me. But doing the sales online via cold emailing is a breather for me. Do you think moving from sales person to copywriting is a good idea?
I'd say it would be worth trying at least!
I appreciate your honest words! Jackie, if i am not a charming, smiling person, then becoming a succesful freelance copywriter is not realistic for me? Even if i feel talent, ambition and love for copywriting? Thank you
You can definitely succeed without any of the charm! Just have to be able to sell your services to clients. :)
IMO this cuts the lower effort undercutting Asian countries, which makes competition low.
Jackie, I've been doing lots of research on copy and I know that I need to just buckle down and DO IT. My mom runs a vacation rental and has a site that I could write copy for. My problem is that, I have no experience, thus I don't know if any of the changes I would make to her homepage would even be a good thing. I don't want to just use her for experience and possibly write bad copy for her, am I overthinking this?
thanks,
josh
Hi Josh! A totally valid concern! The best thing you could do is get her current website stats: average daily visits, clicks, bounce rates, etc. Then create a “testing” page or at least save all of the copy currently on her page somewhere. Then, implement a small tweak at a time. Watch the stats and see if they change for better or for worse. It’s incredibly tedious, but it is the best way to learn copy! Try out a new email opt in, a home page, etc and see what happens. Do more people stay on the site? Sign up? Click through? That will tell you everything!
Thanks Jackie!
thanks, this motivated me to start.
Off topic, refreshing to see actually nice people compared to the girls in music videos.
lol nothing wrong with girls in music videos :)
Congrats on hitting 1000 subscribers!
Thank you so much Linda! Ugh I saw the guy trolling you in the other comments. He's been banned and deleted. Zero troll tolerance here.
@@jpearce30 Thank you.
I tried to be a copywriter, so I copied someone else's writing. I got in big trouble for plagiarism.
Ha ha ha
Hey, first time viewer.. new subby;
*U look young 4 having been doing this 4 more than a decade, btw; did u "know" this is what u wanted to do growing up or something?
**Glad to have found U; U're VERY clear, and seem down 2 Earth. Look forward to ur content!
I definitely knew I wanted to be involved in writing in some way, but I had no idea I would end up in copywriting for so long. :)
Great REALITY check...Thank You Jackie !!!
Dam. First video of yours I've watched. First RUclips video about copywriting I've watched. Love how raw and honest you are. This video has made me decide copywriting is for me and I want you to coach me. I'll reach out.
The ending - omg what a sweetheart!!
Hi Jackie, great video! I'm starting now to watch your videos and I just love them!
Do you offer mentorship or copywriting classes?
Classes are coming soon! But mentorship is available :)
www.jackie-pearce.com/mentorship-program
@@jpearce30 How about working remotely for some company or agency? I work as an online English teacher right now. I wanted to start learning copywriting and SEO for a long time, but I am not so into freelancing. So do you think it's easy to find remote job as a copywriter? Thanks in advance..
This is the 1st video that I watched on your channel today and I subscribed you right away!
Thank you!
Thanks for the clarification...it sounds fun as a challenge to choose the words that sell...entice...cause a Fomo--fear of missing out--if they don't have That product...but yes, I think blogging would be fun to and short stories or.......choices
Thanks fir this, really enjoyed watching it. Really useful...
This video made me want to become a copywriter! I love words, sales, marketing and WORDS lol.
I'm glad! :)
I respect that you would not want to take someone’s money unless they would benefit from the product. That’s too rare, I think.
It probably prevents me from making a ton of money, but here we are, haha!
Jackie Pearce I’ll bet you’re right haha!
But it gives you a ton of credibility too!
I see someone giving thousand dollar classes about how to become rich and I wonder why they need to spend so much time selling classes if their advice works so well haha.
I feel that a good amount of what you're saying would not apply on a platform like Fiverr, though, where you don't have to try so hard to network and run a business as such, since the platform takes care of so much of the nitty gritty for you. That is analogous to my experience as a free lance translator working with an outsourcer instead of individual end clients, so that's probably the route I would go if I wanted to get into copywriting or other such freelance work.
That's fair! If someone wanted a whole business based just on Fiverr, that would be a whole different strategy.
Thank you, Jackie. I really enjoyed your 'real' explanation of this copywriting business. I was wondering if one could start this business using a content creator like Article Forge, and Freelancer as a platform. Would really appreciate your thoughts on this, if you could. Thank you!,
Probably! A lot of AI content is getting smarter and smarter. It wouldn't work for copywriting, IMO, but content writing, possibly!
@@jpearce30 Thanks so much!
Thank you so much your just a eye opener for people who believe copywriting is everything although I want to ask you is writing white paper and website copy and press release related to copywriting ?
Yes, generally. Website copy is copywriting but some of the skills overlap between all of them.
@@jpearce30 Yea you can just see... Only written word not even design of website counts as a copy.
Thank you! You saved me a lot of time and money.
Hey, I know I'm late to the party, not even sure if you're still paying attention to these old videos. I am very interested in getting into copywriting from what I've heard. My main concern is with legal liabilities, so do you need some kind of personal indemnity insurance or something to protect you in this sphere ?
Not really, unless you want to work for really huge companies, which I've heard can be a thing
@@jpearce30 thank you
such useful content, it really helps me understand more about copywriting, thanks for the sharing.
I needed to hear this. Thanks
This is so real. Thank you
I like your video! you give us value as it is not in the “magic pill” form that any average marketer out there is providing
Refreshing transparency makes me watch till the end.no lambos needed!
Also is this mostly needed with a skill in graphics?
It's really up to each individual. I never took the time to master any kind of graphic skills since I wanted to focus on words, but I know a few writers who offer both skillsets. But definitely not necessary!
@@jpearce30 But what about brochures, newsletters/newspapers, websites, landing pages that require graphics in addition to the copy? Do you hire someone to manage the visuals or is it handled by the client?
@@jpearce30 Because most of the ads I see involve both copy & graphics since they complement each other. So, who decides on the latter if we only focus on the words. Do you just send the copy in plain text form and then the client adds in the graphics? Sorry for asking so many questions but this is the 1st thing that jumped out at me.
@@vetiverose128 Yes, I leave it up to them to make it look how they want, but I will work with a graphic designer on my own if that's what they want
@@jpearce30 Thank you for the info :)
So helpful. Gave me permission to realise that this isn't for me. Thank you.
I was anxious when you said that you've to be charming, then you said ' with words' and now I feel better 😁
It can help a lot to be charming on the phone too, since you'll often have to talk to clients. However, the written word is the most essential part for copywriters!
Thank you for the hard truths. This was eye-opening and really useful.
1.- (01:35) You need to have mastery of the language you're writing in (grammar and spelling).
2.- (03:55) You don't know what copywriting is; is sales, not blogging or general content writing.
3.- (6:47) You need to understand sales to be a copywriter.
4.- (8:11) Pitching and networking are a crucial part of freelance copywriting.
5.- (09:31) As a freelance copywriter, you have the responsibilities of running a business by yourself (which includes management, costumer service, etc).
Thanks, exactly what I needed
Thank you 🙏🏽. Now I know this is what ima be for sure
Go get it! :)
I think Dan Lok always stresses that his written English isn't great but he's one of the top copywriting names. He flunked English twice in high school.
Yes, that's very true! He has talked in his blog a lot about how it took him years of practice to get it down. School is not always a good metric for being a quality copywriter.
I'm a new copywriter and I completely agree with you.
Jackie, is it possible to see an example of your writing? Id like to see that ;)
On my site! :)
Great content! Instant sub.
How can I choose a legit agency to apply to without getting scammed? What makes an agency a good one to work for?
I don't do too much in the agency world, but I would just look up the people listed on the website to make sure they're legit or if there were news articles written about them. A physical office, too.
so helpful! love ur videos
Hey, love your videos! Just a quick question when it comes to building your funnel and prospecting. How often are you physically cold calling on the phone. You mention a lot about networking but is there a lot of cold dials you do into businesses?
I've never done cold calling. Tons of cold-emailing and networking, but I don't prefer to call potential clients out of the blue, personally.
Jackie Pearce Okay that’s encouraging to hear! I really enjoy sales but I don’t like cold calling (dials). I’m happy to network, cold email, and warm call though. I recently started my freelance journey and your videos have been some of the most honest and helpful videos around. I really appreciate the effort you put into them. They’re encouraging me to make an awesome freelance business. Keep up the great work!
Thank you! :) Good luck on your journey!
Wow! Thanks a lot, after new video!
Just getting to your channel. Any videos about organizing the business side of things? I have no problem with the business side, just interested in tips for efficiency and good business management.
Can certainly do that! Anything in particular you want covered? :)
Great advice. But I stayed just to watch her talk 🙇🏾♂️ I love how she doesn’t look at the camera❤️ feels like she’s talking to me
great video to answer all my questions! thanks a lot
Hi! You are great!! Can you recommend any relevant books on writing copy? I am doing research on the industry so I may hit the ground running when I begin doing actual work.
Thanks!
Ramit Sethi (and his other site GrowthLab) along with Ashley Ambirge have some of the best copywriting advice out there. Some of the classic books (Dan Kennedy, Ogilvy) are good but not up to date for the modern age of marketing.
Helpful video! Thank you
Super sound advice. Thank you.
Hey, I write for a content mill and my English is rally good!
Now I just want to go learn sales! Where to begin?
The best way to learn sales is to get a job in sales. It's a hard one to just read about and learn everything. But to get started, one of my favorites is The Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer. There's a ton out there, but go for the classics or at least the highly-recommended books just to start learning about it. :)
Thanks very informative!!
The more you talked the more I realized I don't have a single trait in the list of requirements mentioned. Until you said agency. I lit up...
Agencies are great options for so many people!
@@jpearce30 what would be some of your favorite books on copywriting and according to you I guess sales?
I'll definitely be making a video on this!
@@jpearce30 So this maybe a dumb question but if I want to work with Fiverr, do i need to have an LLC or a high end laptop?
@@purplekitkatemily I don't know a ton about it, but I don't think so!
I just found your channel. I know the workshôp is session . But since I missed this one, when will the next batch start or is it not decided yet ?
My goal is mid-April :)
Awesome content 🔥 🔥
Now, watching this video I am more excited because I love businesses even I failed a lot in it.
This video was so much fun I'm going to get the bartender to play it for the patrons...I need to watch this trying to put a drunk on.
will you make a video about your swipe files? like, what made you decide to add a particular ad to your swipes?
also a video about the three direct response copywriters worth their salt these days? cheers
I'm afraid I can't be of much help there, I don't have swipe files. The only copywriting advice I follow is Ashley Ambirge and Ramit Sethi, not too sure about others.
This video is important for me..to me...because I want to be a copywriter but I've no experience plus...I've no knowledge of it...never went to school...I'm just reading books and watching videos...
It's still totally possible! Just make sure to try it out before diving fully into it. :)
@@jpearce30 I've decided to try out few people with business I know and offer to write ads for them, they mostly advertise on social media. I think it would be a way to really do the work, even for free just to see how I'm handling it. I have a blog...and through your video now I see its completely different, but it helps me practice writing.
That's amazing! Definitely let me know how it goes!
@@jpearce30 I will...thank you...I appreciate your replies...I know it's not easy...
how do you feel about writing assistant?
In what way?
Have you considered writing your thoughts down and reading them as bullet points to help you stay on point?
I already do, ha
Jackie Pearce you have a lot of good information and it's super appreciated, I'm just raising a flag on delivery, I don't mean any disrespect.
None taken! That was me more laughing at myself for my inability to stay on script haha
Can a non-English native speaker ( I am like a high school level I guess), becoming a copywriter? thanks
As long as it can pass for native level!
Thank you, if u don't mind,I wanted to know a thing. As a freelancer is it necessary to be in particular country and study the market and the product etc. or it actually can be made from anywhere in the world..? I'm from India so It's kinda complicated for me.. Our market is pretty much based on Hindi as a language so its either I focus on my country or globaly which is i'm preferring definitely..So, what's the actual truth?
I wouldn't say you need to be in a specific country, but you should definitely have knowledge of anything you write about.
@@jpearce30 Thank You so much.. I really appreciate it.. What would you suggest for better networking?
Never Eat Alone is a great book for that :)
@@jpearce30 Thank You so much I really appreciate it.. May God keep you happy!
Can u please tell me what is easy to learnable sales pages or landing page
Going to be covering those soon!