Interested in becoming a freelance copywriter? Our thorough guide will show you what skills you need, what you can earn, and how to find work.
Deciding to become a freelance copywriter, or in fact starting a business, can be a daunting undertaking, particularly if you’re used to the security of a guaranteed monthly salary.
To maximise the chances of success, preparing carefully by researching the market and competition, deciding what services to offer, and making key contacts are essential parts of the pre-work.
This article will outline the key steps involved in becoming a freelance copywriter, including how to decide if copywriting is the right job for you. It’ll also cover how much you can earn, what skills are required, and how to improve your writing skills to adapt to different businesses and industries.
Is freelance copywriting right for you?
Beyond requiring excellent English and language skills, there are several questions people considering starting their own business as a freelance copywriter should ask themselves.
- Are you prepared to work mainly on your own?
- Do you enjoy researching subjects to find new ways to explain important information in different contexts?
- Can you cope with the stresses of irregular income and the impact that can have on household cash flow?
A freelance copywriter is a job well-suited to working remotely or as a digital nomad and requires specific skills to research, write, and edit copy for clients. This may include producing marketing copy to promote a brand or help sell products or instructional copy to explain how to conduct a task.
Understanding the parameters of the role of a freelance copywriter and comparing that against other similar options can help you decide if becoming a freelance copywriter is the right choice.
If you aren’t sure whether freelance copywriting is right for you, remember that it’s just one option within the wider journalism, publishing, and online content sectors.
Other roles within these sectors can require different skills. For instance, a news reporter for a newspaper requires interviewing expertise whereas a production journalist needs a range of skills to be able to put a TV show, website, or newspaper together.
How to become a freelance copywriter
Before you can get into the nitty-gritty of establishing yourself as a freelance copywriter, you first need to get yourself set up. Below, we’ll go through the key steps you’ll need to take to start your freelance copywriter journey.
Step 1. Find your niche…or not
Consider what subjects you have a passion and knowledge for, but also research what work is available in these areas. You may be an authority on a niche subject, but if that only generates two commissions a year, the idea will be a non-starter.
You could also be a generalist. You can have your favourite niches, but limiting yourself to one or two subject areas can restrict avenues or opportunities. Being a generalist allows you to take commissions across several areas, using transferable writing and marketing skills.
It’s good to ascertain if you are a specialist or an all-rounder from the very beginning.
Step 2. Consider training, qualifications and work placements
You can become a freelance copywriter without this, but if you have a journalistic qualification such as NCTJ, A-Levels, or a degree in a related subject, it can help win that first commission. A week or two at a newspaper or an agency on a work placement can help get your foot in the door and confirm your interest or commitment to the industry.
Step 3. Build your portfolio
Practice writing different types of articles before you get your first article published. Local newspapers and many websites will accept free articles if they are of a reasonable standard. Use these to build a portfolio to help get paid commissions.
Step 4. Start networking
Finding copywriting organisations such as Contena and Upwork, as well as journalist and copywriter databases and freelancer websites like Freelancer.com, can help to get your name out there. Setting up profiles and interacting with others at events to learn tips as well as find new work opportunities can also go a long way to building a portfolio.
Step 5. Learn how to pitch ideas
This is a vital skill for a freelancer. You need to be able to present good ideas to an editor in a structured way that highlights the topic, what readers will learn, and what you will cover. Make sure to include examples in your pitch, too, alongside a topical news hook, and any relevant data or case studies.
Ensure you send it to the right person and that they see the pitch and your creative, critical thinking.
Step 6. Set your rates
Research current freelance copywriting rates. Start low to build your business and gradually increase your rate as you acquire greater experience. Rates can be by word, by hour, or by day, depending on the task being performed.
How much do freelance copywriters earn?
The amount a freelance copywriter can earn varies depending on their experience, expertise, what subjects they cover, and who they are commissioned by.
Sources such as content marketing agency, TJ Creative state that the average freelance copywriter day rate is between £350 – £500 or £50 – £70 per hour. Of course, this depends on the amount of experience you have secured before being booked.
Some freelance copywriters who work on technical subjects for large companies do earn this, and sometimes much more. Most freelance copywriters charge a lower rate than this, particularly to start with.
If they do receive a high rate, new entrants to the profession should understand it is unlikely they will earn this amount each day. They should factor in days when they don’t earn anything or a much lower amount.
An industry survey from March 2024, found full-time freelance journalists in the UK earn an average of £27,000 per year. It also found that the top 10% of freelance earners take 37% of the total earnings pie. According to Indeed, the average hourly rate in October 2024 in the UK for a freelance copywriter was £21.33.
To understand how much freelancers make, factor in that freelancers typically spend about a third of their time on unpaid work looking for, pitching and arranging new work, and researching new opportunities and subjects.
Let’s break it down:
Daily rate = £400
Weekly earnings: £2, 000
Weeks worked: 46 weeks
Total earnings = £2000 x 46 weeks = £92, 000 per year
However, earning this much is very rare for the average worker… just to manage expectations!
The reality of earning as a freelance copywriter is that, often, the rate is outside of your control.
You will be working with companies that have their own budget restraints. It’s more normal to be given a rate and then decide if you are willing to accept it based on the work and time involved.
What skills will I need as a freelance copywriter?
There are several key skills you will need as a freelance copywriter, including:
- Excellent written English (or other language you work in)
- A genuine interest in words and being able to flex them to add variety to copy
- The ability to interpret client briefs and get to the nub of what the client wants
- Flexibility to adapt your style to a particular brand voice
- Accuracy with grammar and punctuation
- Ability to jump between topics – you can be writing about holiday destinations one week and explaining the vagaries of capital gains tax the next
- A quick learner, who is responsive to feedback
The key to copywriting is to embark on each assignment with a curiosity and desire to explain subjects in an interesting way that caters for the client’s audience.
How to create a copywriting business plan
A copywriting business plan should be a working document that you amend as your career as a freelance copywriter develops. Free business plan templates can be found online.
Initially, it should set out:
- What sectors you want to cover
- Where and how you will work
- Who your potential clients are and how to reach them
- Who your competitors are
- What type of copywriting you will take on
- What you will charge
Writing a business plan helps keep your focus on your new business. Use it as a resource for finding clients and pitching for business, including setting up a business email address.
It also allows you to consider how you want to work as a freelance copywriter. Will you work remotely or in client’s offices? Will you only focus on editorial work, or widen your options by pitching for work from marketing, commercial, or specialist industries?
Many copywriters come to the industry after working in a different area or continuing to work full or part-time alongside building up their experience. This experience can be useful to help minimise a common problem freelancers face…late payments. Here are our top tips to avoid being paid late:
- Ensure your invoice total accurately matches the price offered by the client
- Get all other invoice information correct, such as date, purchase order number etc. Don’t give a client a reason to delay payment
- When you gain a new client, find out and agree on payment terms, i.e. how many days they pay from receipt and approval of your work
- If a client regularly pays late, insist on guardrails. Confirm they have received each invoice, find out who authorises payments, and include their name on the invoice. It’s even worth considering asking for a booking deposit upfront to confirm the seriousness of the brief or proposition. You must protect yourself and your business at all times – it’s a two-way street, and it can be costly if you don’t iron out these key details in the relationship early on
- Get relevant contact details, ideally phone numbers for accounts, and confirm the client has received your invoice, approved the cost and agreed that your unpaid invoice will be paid
- If you can afford it and really don’t feel comfortable managing the financial side of your business, use a trusted accountant, but usually you can manage this yourself
How to find freelance work
One of the biggest challenges of freelancing is finding work to pay the bills. However, there are tons of opportunities out there if you know where to look and you’re prepared to be patient and persistent when making contacts.
- Prepare and update your CV
- Draft a selection of cover letters tailored to the type of freelance work you are trying to get work for and send or email them to the appropriate people at relevant organisations
- Use the internet to find out the names of companies that you may be able to write freelance copy for across your areas of expertise and start contacting them
- Systematically contact them, send them your CV and cover letter and record who and when you contacted them, the result and if you need to follow up
- Register on freelancer websites, copywriter forums and online groups to find contacts and work opportunities
How to improve your skills as a freelance copywriter
Copywriting is a fast-paced industry and it’s important to make sure your skills are up to scratch. Below, we’ve listed some Dos and Don’ts when it comes to levelling up your copywriting acumen.
- Read regularly and widely: this will help you stay abreast of topical changes in your industry
- Learn from other copywriters: studying what others do well – or not so well – will sharpen your own writing skills
- Research brands and clients: this will help you mimic the appropriate tone
- Welcome feedback: feedback from editors will help you spot common mistakes to avoid in the future
- Focus on the ABC rule: accuracy, brevity and clarity.
- Get complacent: the freelance industry is highly competitive, so you need to be honing your skills at all times
- Spread yourself too thin: focusing on a few topic areas rather than many will allow you to build more expertise
- Get defensive: feedback isn't personal and it'll make you a better writer in the long-term
Conclusion
When considering becoming a freelance copywriter, you should research the market and your competitors carefully. Decide whether to focus on specific areas or cover a wider range of subjects. Decide where and how you want to work, if you are suited to working on your own, and whether you and your household can cope with the possibility of an unpredictable and irregular income.
There are many opportunities to build a successful career as a freelance copywriter. The range of subjects you could write about is endless. Organisations from almost every sector require skilled copywriters, meaning that the job is varied and can be very rewarding, but like any job, it will have its frustrations. AI is gradually increasing as a threat to the volume of work in this area, but most clients still want and recognise the human touch freelance copywriters can bring to content.
Find out more in our article where we round up our best tips for starting a business.
Benjamin Salisbury – business journalist
Benjamin Salisbury is an experienced writer, editor and journalist who has worked for national newspapers, leading consumer websites like This Is Money and MoneySavingExpert.com, business analysts including Environment Analyst, AIM Group and written articles for professional bodies and financial companies. He covers news, personal finance, business, startups and property.
