Digital Nomad Careers: An Introduction to Copywriting

When I tell people I work as a freelance copywriter, 90% of the time, they think I have something to do with protecting people’s inventions from theft. But copyright and copywriters are completely different!

Copywriters produce advertisements, articles, promotional material and ads. We’re the ones responsible for the text on billboards, those catchy advertising slogans, and the ones who write those ads you typically ignore, as much as we’d love you to click on them!

Becoming a freelance copywriter is a great career choice for a digital nomad, as it offers a location independent lifestyle, where you can work from home, or travel full time, while working from the road. And it typically doesn’t require and education.

Anyone with a computer and writing ability able to run their work through a plagiarism tool like Scribbr.com can copywrite and make money online. It takes a flair for writing, a creative mind, though you do also need some serious motivation to succeed.

Want to dive into the world of freelance copy-writing?

Here’s what you need to know!

Qualifications Needed as a Copywriter

One of the best things about online work is that you typically don’t need any formal qualifications to make good money. You do have to be good at your job, as it’s becoming an incredibly competitive space, but most clients will ask for writing samples as opposed to a degree.

So if you’re trying to break into the world of copy-writing, the most important qualification will be experience. Your first step should be setting up a portfolio of work.

If you’ve never been published before, or worked with clients in a professional capacity, start publishing examples of your writing. For this you can easily set up a blog, and include the link to your work when applying for jobs.

If you have been published before, compiling your work into a simple but visually beautiful web-page is a great way to present a portfolio. Highlight your best work though instead of necessarily highlighting it all.

How Much Can You Make as a Copywriter?

How much you can make as a copywriter will be up to you – with millions of potential clients, your earning potential is unlimited, and wholly dependent on the type of clients you land, and how much you decide you want to work for.

Some copywriters barely make enough to get by, though some earn 6 figures. If you’re just breaking into the industry you’ll likey start out small, but as your client base grows and you have the ability to charge higher rates, your earning potential will grow.

According to aggregated data from Payscale and Salary.com, the average copywriter earns $47,838 per year, with 80% of copywriters taking home a $35k – $65k annual salary. But you can absolutely make more than $10,000 a month.

Keep in mind that every industry needs copywriters, so start by approaching clients within your current industry with whom you already have a relationship and contact. It’s a lot easier to start this way than by going in cold pitching.

How to Become a Great Copywriter

While you don’t need a university degree to be a copywriter, courses or seminars that teach writing are a great place to start if you’re looking to hone and improve your skills. And there are many online mentors that teach the craft.

These don’t come free though, so if you’re aiming to hone your writing skills without spending a lot of money, one of the best ways to improve is to familiarize yourself with the work of others. Identify successful writers, and leaders within the field, and block off some time to read through their work.

When you absorb work from advanced writers you’re able to understand the craft behind it. A lot of the time copywriters aren’t attributed for their work, so if you have trouble identifying the actual writers, instead look to successful brands for the type of writing they publish.

Make sure that you’re not just reading one type of content though; exposing yourself to a range of different writing styles and topics means that you’ll pick up new techniques, and maybe even some fresh inspiration.

And the more you write, the better your writing will be. It can often take time to develop your unique voice and style, so the sooner you start writing, the sooner you’ll start producing good writing.

Thinking about writing for travel clients? Click here for my advice on how to improve your travel writing.