Here's how you can start a copywriting business & earn 6 figures:
- Learn the copywriting business model.
- Seek long-term copywriting niches and high-paying clients.
- Develop valuable writing skills and offer in-demand copywriting services.
- Create your brand and legitimize your copywriting business.
- Build your copywriting website and portfolio.
- Initiate modern omnichannel marketing.
Starting a copywriting business can be lucrative for creative, dedicated, and strategic copywriters. Following these steps allows copywriters to have efficient, structured workflows and achieve 6-figures. Using tools like Grammarly, Canva, and Semrush helps you make effective copies. Together, these help copywriting businesses create copies that sell, create connections, and scale.
A copywriting business creates copies that help clients sell or communicate with audiences. This business model is profitable as it's tied to online sales and marketing on a global scale. For example, Katrina McKinnon's CopySmiths provides blogs for e-commerce and affiliate sites. She noticed blogging's impact on organic traffic and sales for clients. In 2020, she closed her 20-year-old agency to create CopySmiths. Today, her business has over 100 clients and earns $480k yearly. This shows how experience and understanding a market's pain points lead to profits.
Starting a copywriting business is challenging. You'll need to find clients, manage workloads, and stay updated with industry trends. It's an industry where your work is always judged and has a direct impact on clients. Agility PR Solutions says copywriting errors increase bounce rates by 85%. You can overcome these challenges by having structure and learning the business model. Doing this right, you'll create copies that businesses want and connect with audiences. This gives you a chance to succeed and be profitable without relying on luck as a factor for your success.
In this article, we'll cover how to start a copywriting business that earns six figures. We'll provide money-making tips, the pros and cons, and essential skills to earn six figures. Finally, we'll also discuss a different business model for making money online.
1. Learn the Copywriting Business Model.
The first step to starting a copywriting business is understanding the business model. This involves assessing basic concepts, pros and cons, and potential risks you'll encounter. By mastering these, you'll make informed decisions before you make investments and commitments. This helps you save time, money, and effort and avoid the mistake of thinking copywriting is easy.
Copywriting demands creativity and strategic thinking to fit a client's needs and sell. Alex Cattoni on LinkedIn says 90% of aspiring copywriters will fail because they lack structure, dedication, and mentors. This stresses the importance of preparing yourself before going into copywriting.
To fulfill this, leverage resources like books, online courses, and blogs. Platforms like Udemy and Coursera offer free and paid copywriting courses. Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway help you create error-free writing. Blogs like Copyblogger and Copy Hackers are great resources for copywriting advice. Using these resources and honing your skills will give you a strong foundation. This will help you succeed in copywriting.
6-Figure Money-Making Tip
Find reputable mentors and use reliable platforms when learning about the copywriting business model.
Reputable mentors on reliable platforms let you learn copywriting from vetted experts. You'll receive insights from your mentor's years of experience in a well-structured manner. This helps you learn the habits and skills necessary to succeed as a copywriter.
There are many free resources online, which often provide great insights into copywriting. For example, Copyhackers' Joanna Wiebe provides free copywriting guides on their YouTube channel. However, they may lack depth and not fit your needs. It also takes time to find and curate which materials are relevant and up-to-date. Paid courses often invest in reputable instructors and update their course content. Consider your available resources and desired learning outcomes. This leads to a positive and fruitful learning experience.
2. Seek Long-Term Copywriting Niches and High-Paying Clients.
The second step involves identifying niches that have high demand and continuous growth. Copywriting is in the business of selling. It takes years to have the knowledge and experience to create copy that works for your niche's audience. And your skills and interests may not align with the niche you want to get into. Doing this step helps you get into a market that wants and needs your copywriting services long-term. This gives you a clearer path in copywriting that you'll thrive in for years to come.
To fulfill this step, research and target niches that fit your skills and interests. For example, fashion, health and wellness, tech, and finance are great to get into. These markets need consistent, quality content to remain competitive and dominate their sectors. Use platforms like LinkedIn, Rocket Reach, and Upwork to find potential clients. You should focus on clients who need your skills and are able to pay the rates for your services. Tools like HubSpot and Salesforce help you manage client relations and workflows. Using these together ensures you maintain and grow your copywriting business.
6-Figure Money-Making Tip
Identify copywriting markets with less saturation but have high buying power.
This involves finding markets with less competition and clientele that pay premium rates. Most copywriters get into popular niches without considering the existing competition. This leads to intense competition with established copywriting businesses and more effort to compete. Focus on specific, high-demand niches where you can stand out and maximize earnings. Then, you can niche down to find hyper-specific markets with high buying power. This establishes your authority and ensures your efforts are impactful and profitable.
3. Develop Valuable Writing Skills and Offer In-Demand Copywriting Services.
This involves developing and offering skills and services that clients want and need. Learning the right skills helps you create high-quality copy that attracts premium clients. You can start by learning the basics of copywriting. This involves understanding your audience and niche and practicing crafting headlines and CTAs. Then, you can move on to more advanced and specialized skills like SEO and business writing. Use platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and Copyhackers for copywriting courses and resources. Finally, leverage tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, and ChatGPT to streamline your copywriting workflows.
To fulfill this, customize your service offerings and prices to meet market demands. Services like email copy, social media posting, website, and sales copy are in high demand. Once you've chosen the services you want to offer, look at the industry's current pricing. You should adjust your prices to reflect your skill level and resources invested. Doing this right leads to developing an in-demand and versatile skillset that sells.
6-Figure Money-Making Tip
Learn technical copywriting skills that fewer individuals/businesses offer and create the best pricing models.
Learning technical copywriting skills differentiates you from competitors and attracts premium clients. Specialized skills like SEO and legal copywriting are in high demand. Learning and being able to do this right sets you apart and positions you as an expert. This attracts clients that are willing to pay a premium for your expertise. With enough experience, you can create bundles, packages, and promos to maximize earnings. For example, you can create a blog package for a law firm that includes social media posts. This ensures a steadier flow of clients, income, and longer-term client relationships.
4. Create Your Brand and Legitimize Your Copywriting Business.
The fourth step involves creating your unique brand and legitimizing your copywriting business. You'll create a unique brand identity, VMGs, and business and financial systems. Finally, you'll register your copywriting business to follow the relevant laws. Doing this ensures your business is in compliance with the law and avoids issues. You'll get a unique business that stands out to competitors and potential clients.
To fulfill this step, define your brand's core values and how it can help your target market. Linearity says brands with a clear purpose grow twice as fast as those without. Use tools like Canva to create a logo and branding materials for your business. Platforms like QuickBooks and Excel help with managing and tracking finances. Websites like LegalZoom help you create and draft legal documents and contracts. Then, register your business with relevant authorities to legitimize and protect your brand. This creates an engaging brand with efficient workflows that comply with the law.
6-Figure Money-Making Tip
Make sure to conceptualize a copywriting brand that offers value to clients and non-clients alike.
Your brand should offer value to clients and sets you apart from competitors. Conduct an in-depth competitor analysis and study your chosen market. This gives insight into what your competitors are doing well and lack, and what the market needs. Doing this right lets you see opportunities that let you surpass the competition. Additionally, you'll find gaps in the market that you can provide value to. Resulting in service offerings that solve its problems and build your credibility.
5. Build Your Copywriting Website and Portfolio.
The fifth step involves creating a website that showcases your services and portfolio. This gives you a platform to show off your skills and ability to deliver results. Aspiring copywriters need this to establish their credibility and attract more clients.
To fulfill this step, use platforms like WordPress, Square Space, or Wix to create your own site. Use tools like Canva to create your own custom graphics and portfolio layouts. Digital Intelligence Today says 92% of consumers trust genuine reviews over ads. Include sections that highlight your services, previous work, testimonials, and case studies. You'll get a site that shows off your skills and the results you've achieved for clients.
6-Figure Money-Making Tip
Create a professional-looking copywriting website and portfolio that features your best works.
Your website acts like the face of your copywriting business. It gives prospective clients a preview of your copywriting skills and results. You should show samples of your best work and how your services solve problems. This can make or break a client's willingness to choose you over competitors. You can show off your versatility or USP to help win clients over and secure their trust in you.
6. Initiate Modern Omnichannel Marketing.
This step involves getting clients and building your presence on various marketing channels. It aims to enhance your online presence to connect with and attract more clients. You can use various content formats like videos, images, and written content. Then, use appropriate platforms like YouTube or LinkedIn to reach your audience. Tools like Hootsuite and Sprout Social help track audience response to your marketing. This helps streamline and ensure consistent branding and communication with your audience.
To fulfill this step, create engaging content tailored for each platform and audience. For example, you're aiming to target a B2B audience. Social Media Examiner says LinkedIn is the best platform to reach B2Bs. 40% of marketers use LinkedIn to reach out to B2B clients, and has a 43% conversion rate. HubSpot says B2Bs best respond to content that gives insight into their business. You can use blogs and case studies to reach out and compel this audience. This ensures you use the right content and platforms for audience reach and impact.
6-Figure Money-Making Tip
Launch marketing campaigns using the latest trends and gimmicks.
Using the latest marketing gimmicks and trends shows your creativity and ability to capture attention. It shows your awareness of their niche and lets clients see your creativity. This lets you make a good first impression and shows you can create compelling copy. Your clients must see that you understand how to market and create copy for their niche. This increases the odds that they'll get your services and leads to sustainable income for you.
Boost a 6-figure Copywriting Income by Avoiding These 7 Mistakes.
Plagiarism is when you use someone else's work or ideas and use them as your own without adding value. Using plagiarized content can lead to legal issues and lawsuits. It harms your reputation as clients pay and expect original and high-quality content. Your audience will also notice if you're using other people's content, leading to a loss of trust. Search crawlers are able to detect and penalize sites that use plagiarized content.
To avoid this, use quotations and citations and add your unique perspective to your copy. Double-check your work using tools like Grammarly, Copyscape, PlagScan, and Unicheck. This lets you create unique copies that your audience and clients want
Spelling and grammar mistakes show a lack of attention to detail and professionalism. They make your business look careless and lead to audience and client mistrust. Your audience may misinterpret the content of your copy. These mistakes undermine your credibility and discourage clients from working with you again.
Agility PR says people are 70% less likely to click on ads with spelling and grammar mistakes. Google charges ads 72% more for grammar and 20% more for spelling mistakes. These errors will harm your reputation and profitability. To avoid this, take the time to proofread your work or hire someone to do it for you. Tools like Grammarly and Hemingway help detect and reduce these errors. This lets you create error-free, effective copies that engage and sell.
Confusing or spammy CTAs can mislead potential customers. Clear and concise calls-to-action guide readers to take actions that result in sales. Unclear or pushy CTAs can lead to poor user experience and lost conversions.
To avoid this, ensure your CTAs are clear and simple. Hubspot says personalized CTAs increase conversions by 202%. Use plain language and avoid jargon. Test different CTAs to see which ones work best and ensure they are relevant to the content. By creating clear and relevant CTAs, you'll improve user experience, engagement, and conversions.
Copying others' UVP or offerings shows a lack of originality and niche understanding. Clients seek unique perspectives and solutions that solve their pain points. Copying another business's offerings and identity can result in a lawsuit. It makes it harder for you to differentiate yourself from competitors. Your profitability and reputation suffer as clients realize you're not offering anything new.
To avoid this, you should develop your own unique value proposition and offerings. Linearity says unique brands increase revenues by 10% compared to those that aren't. Conduct market research to understand what competitors are doing and market needs. This lets you identify market gaps where you can offer something different. Leverage your skills to create a unique offering that solves the market's issues. This builds trust with clients and establishes your copywriting brand's expertise.
Not optimizing business and marketing strategies means you'll miss out on opportunities. This can dissuade clients from choosing you over your proactive competitors. Failing to adapt to trends leads to ineffective copies that don't engage audiences.
To avoid this, you should always refine your business and marketing strategies. Stay updated with industry and copywriting trends. Platforms like Copyhackers, AWAI, and Copyblogger provide resources and networking opportunities. Tools like Google Analytics and Hootsuite help track and identify areas for improvement. Feedback from clients helps you understand their needs and meet their expectations. Being proactive and adaptable enhances your services, attracts more clients, and competitiveness.
Using the same content on your website and portfolio can make you seem dated and inflexible. It can show that you don't get new projects or never learn anything new. Updating your portfolio with fresh work and content showcases your skills and adaptability. This lets prospective clients see that your copies work and achieve results.
To avoid this, you should schedule regular updates to your website and portfolio. Showcase recent projects and highlight new skills or services you have developed. Use case studies, client testimonials, and best writing samples to show your effectiveness. This attracts more clients and shows your commitment to improving your current skill set.
Posting fake testimonials can erode trust and is illegal in many countries. The FTC, ATC, and National Trading Standards consider fake testimonials false advertising. This will ruin your reputation and put you in legal trouble. Clients value genuine feedback from real customers. This can lead to losing credibility and clients and negative reviews spreading online.
To avoid this, you should focus on collecting genuine testimonials from satisfied clients. Unbounce says pages with reviews and testimonials converted at an average of 12.5%. Encourage clients to leave honest reviews through follow-up emails or dedicated review platforms. Highlight these authentic testimonials on your website and marketing materials. If you’re starting out, offer discounted services for honest reviews. Providing social proof helps build your reputation and expertise and improves sales.
What are the Pros and Cons of a Copywriting Business Earning 6 Figures?
Pros
High Income Potential: A 6-figure copywriting business provides financial stability and freedom for you.
Flexible Schedule: Owning a 6-figure copywriting business lets you set your own hours. This allows for a work-life balance that different industries don't have.
Diverse Clientele: A 6-figure copywriting business lets you work with various clients in different industries. It lets you enhance your copywriting skills and portfolio.
Creative Freedom: You can create copies in different styles and niches and express your creativity.
Scalability: You can scale your efforts by hiring copywriters and expanding your service offerings.
Professional Growth: Working on different projects and industries provides learning opportunities and professional development.
Cons
High Competition: Copywriting is a competitive and saturated industry. Its low barrier to entry makes it difficult to stand out to clients.
Work Overload: Managing multiple clients and projects can lead to long hours and burnout.
Client Management: having a 6-figure copywriting business means you'll work with many clients. You'll manage client relationships and tasks like invoicing, which are stressful and time-consuming.
Self-Motivation Required: Owning a 6-figure copywriting business means you're your own boss. You'll need discipline and motivation to stay productive and meet deadlines.
What are the Essential Skills Needed To Earn 6 Figures in Copywriting?
Is Copywriting Profitable Enough To Earn 6 Figures?
Yes, copywriting is profitable enough to earn six figures because it helps businesses sell and market themselves. Many businesses now sell and market online and need copies to compete and be profitable. This fuels the demand for copywriters who can push their marketing and sales efforts. But it takes years of experience to understand and create copies for the right audience.
This Reddit commenter says they earn $165k working for an agency in New York. They have 10 years of experience and work at a content director level.
Another Reddit comment says they made six figures in their first year, and it kept increasing. They cite that most of their income is from royalties, which reached $300k in 2020
You can't start a copywriting business and earn six figures with no money because it's unlikely you'll land high-ticket clients without putting some money into ads, freelancing platforms, and other promotional tools. Plus, you'll be competing with established copywriting businesses that have more experience and resources.
The US Bureau of Labor says copywriters in the US, on average, make $62,170 yearly. The top 10% of US copywriters make over $121,000 yearly. So, you'd need to be in the top 10% of copywriters to reach a six-figure income.
Local Lead Gen vs Copywriting: Which Business Model Offers a More Scalable Income?
Local lead generation's business model offers a more scalable income. This is because you own the website that generates leads for local businesses. Yes, you can make six figures in copywriting. But you'll need to build your portfolio, skill set, and client base and keep creating good copy that sells. In local lead generation, once your site ranks, you can rent it out for $500-$3,000 per month. It lets you earn consistent revenue with less effort and competition than copywriting.
Copywriting businesses face challenges that make it difficult to make a long-term commitment. They encounter issues like inconsistent income, the need for upskilling, and high-quality content. You must produce copies that attract and keep audiences engaged. Copywriters need to stay updated on market trends to meet audience and client needs. This requires consistent effort and results to remain profitable. In contrast, local lead generation offers a more stable income with less competition.
Local lead generation works by creating and ranking niche sites on Google. These sites generate leads, which you then rent out to local businesses. In a way, your sites are digital real estate, and you act as a landlord for businesses that want more traffic. It requires less maintenance, provides a more stable income, and is easier to scale. You can create more sites in other niches in different ZIP codes.
Copywriting is risky, and you might not get results with a copy that's shabby. Inconsistent income, content creation, and client demands are hurdles you'll face. If you're looking for an option that's compelling. Try local lead gen in its stead. Personally, I've created and rented out 50+ local lead gen sites in different niches. Together, these make me over $52,000 monthly.
