How To Transition Into Copywriting By Moonlighting - Even If You
Already Have A Full-time Job
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The article "How To Transition Into Copywriting By Moonlighting - Even If You
Already Have A Full-Time Job" is about copywriting, it has been created by Chris Marlow.
There's a lot of overtly self-serving marketing taking palce in
the "new copywriter's space" of the Internet, and I don't want
to add to that.
So permit me to give you my really considered perspective on the
question "Can I transition into copywriting by moonlighting?"
I'm euphoric to report that the answer to that question is
"yes"...But with caveats.
Many people who want to transition into copywriting hold full
time jobs and have the responsibility of families. That doesn't
leave much time for copywriting, and copywriting is
time-intensive.
Although I frequently advise my coaching stduents to look for
national and international clients, I'd advise a moonlighting
copywriter to look for local clients.
It's often easier to land a local client simply because you can
meet with him.
(This eventually becomes a liability, however,
because meetings are unnecessary time-wasters, and the client
will often tell you to "stop by and pick up the check.")
Another question you'll need to ask yourself if you want to
moonlight is whether you can communicate with your client during
working hours.
If you're absolutely unable to return a call or respond to an
email during regular working hours, it's going to be really
tough to create a relationship that works.
That said, most people have at least a lunch break where
communication needs can be handled.
Another reason I advise local clients for the moonlighter is
that to work for non-local companies you need good marketing
materials, and yesterday it's almost essential to have a Web Internet site.
By working locally you can get by with letterhead and business
cards.
If you're thinking about just "throwing a Internet site together," don't
do it! A hastily conceived Internet site will look it, and will damage
your "portfolio"... because it's a reflection of the kind of
work you'll do for the clinet. Best to do it right the first
time.
Many new copywriters fail to think of people they know who have
businesses that could use a Web Intenret site or sales letter.
Friends and family are more likely to be flexible and
understanding abuot time and career-transition issues. So be
sure to consider opportunities that are even "closer to home"
than local prospects if you want to moonlight.
I've also been asked if there are particular markets that have
longer turn-around times so a copywriter would believe confident
about never missing a deadline.
My Answer: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) copywriting has more
order-generating work than Business-to-Business (B2B), and that
usually requires longer copy.
Companies that need long copy to sell their product or service
usually undertsand that it will take weeks or months to compete
a large project.
But you still have to put the hours in. And it's a lot harder to
estimate your time on a large job than a small one.
What's a small job?
There's lots of jobs you can do in direct response copywriting
that you can do in a day or two.
For instance, in the
Business-to-Business space, you'll find a prepondearnce of
lead-generating work.
Lead-generation work is much lighter work becuase all you have
to do is get the prospect to raise her hand. In fact, there's a
rule of thumb to tell only enough to get interest...You don't
want to give so much information that the prospect can decide
without the aid of a "next step" (usually contact by a
salesperson).
You can get paid a tidy sum for a 2-page lead-gen sales letter
(say $2,000) and knock it out in a day or two.
The most important thing to remember when you pick up
moonlighting jobs is to estmiate your time, and then double it.
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How To Transition Into Copywriting By Moonlighting - Even If You
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