Build Your Copywriting Business

Claire always dreamed of going into marketing and fell into a job in a completely different industry. While she loves her full-time job, she still held onto her dream of breaking into marketing. She decided to join the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy (CCA) in February of 2021, landed her first client three weeks after pitching, and now has a consistent workload from several clients. On this epis...

The last episode on our three-part series on how to nail your copywriting interview is perhaps the most overlooked. A lot of copywriters hang up the phone after an interview or discovery call and then sit around waiting to hear back. That's not you. You go the extra step. In the final episode of the series, Nicki and Kate talk about what you can do after the interview that will set you apart from...

If you're exploring copywriting and wondering "is copywriting right for me?" this episode is for you. Nicki and Kate dig into how this question stems from our desire to find the perfect career, when really we should be asking, "am I committed to getting something out of learning copywriting?" Learning a new skill has plenty of benefits (only one of which is finding a career you love). There are ma...

No matter if you're going for a full-time or contract role or you're hopping on a discovery call with a potential freelance client, a copywriting interview is your time to show a prospective employer why they should hire you . In the second episode of this three-part series, Nicki and Kate cover common copywriter interview questions and how you can prepare for them. Plus, they share the types of q...

A well researched job application and interview preparation is just as important as how you answer questions during an interview. Whether you're applying for on staff jobs or prepping for a call with a potential freelance or contracting client, you'll want to listen int to make sure you're doing the right prep work. Join us for part one of this three-part series! Related Links: Questions to Prepar...

If you think other copywriters are your competition, think again! Working with other copywriters is not only a great way to bounce ideas off another creative, it’s also bound to happen, especially if you work at an agency like Comprehensive Copywriting Academy students Jen and Julie. In today’s episode of the Build Your Copywriting Broadcast, Nicki and Kate sit down with these CCA classmates turne...

Some copywriters will tell you putting prices on your website makes you more transparent. When phrased like that, it sounds like a no-brainer, right? However, as Nicki and Kate dig into in this episode, no two homepages or emails or any other project are 100% alike, so how can you put a price on your website if you don't even know what the project entails? Listing prices can prevent you from landi...

American workers leave an unprecedented number of vacation days on the table ( 54% at the end of 2019 ). So, as a freelancer, will you be able to take vacation? And what about healthcare?  In this episode, Nicki and Kate talk through benefits you may typically get at a full-time job, including healthcare, vacation time, and even perks like a snack wall, and how you can build those benefits into yo...

Have you been pitching freelance clients but never getting a response? You'll want to listen as Nicki and Kate break down how not to pitch. On this episode, they dive into the biggest mistakes to avoid when pitching freelance clients and why those mistakes are hurting your business. Nicki and Kate provide insight from a client's perspective on how to make your pitch stand out and be well-received...

For all the moms and dads out there building a copywriting business alongside raising a family, this episode is for you. Peta, who was originally in charge of administering exams, joined the CCA in the midst of 2020 when schools in the United Kingdom stopped exams. She shares how she got into copywriting, as well as how she balances being a mom and building her copywriting business. From mom guilt...

Often introverts and extroverts are cautious about jumping into copywriting as a career. For introverts, it’s because talking and dealing with people on a regular basis can be draining. For extroverts, it can be daunting to be alone in their office and not getting the socialization they need. But neither of those is necessarily how your copy career needs to play out. Whether you’re an introvert, e...

When a client responds to a pitch or a discovery call goes well and a client wants to work with you, there’s a feeling of excitement … followed quickly by “oh no…now I have to  talk  to this person!!” If you’ve ever had that feeling of excitement followed quickly by mild panic, this episode is for you. Nicki and Kate walk through tips to help you reframe the situation and calm your nerves for disc...

Military spouses face a 22% unemployment rate and a 26% wage gap compared to non-military spouses—prior to the pandemic. Organizations predict rates have increased due to COVID-19. In this episode, Kate shares her experience building her copywriting business as a military spouse. She describes the unique challenges military spouses face when seeking employment and how freelancing created the flexi...

While in the military, Tyler knew he had a knack for writing and decided to take the first step into a new career. He joined the CCA while still working his full-time job and, through some ups and downs, landed his first clients before leaving the military and landing a full-time job as a communications director. In this episode, Nicki and Kate talk to Tyler on how he came to build his copy busine...

Your copywriting portfolio is crucial to landing work, so you need to treat it like the important project that it is! Whether you’ve already created yours or are just starting, you’ll want to listen as Nicki and Kate break down some of the most common mistakes copywriters make on their websites. On this episode, they’ll dig into four key mistakes they see on the homepage, about page, portfolio pie...

If the idea of negotiation freaks you out, you'll want to listen to Susie Tomenchok's tips for getting more comfortable and effective at negotiation.  Susie is a negotiation guru and breaks down the stigma associated with negotiation, offers tips for asking more (if you're not hearing "no" enough, you're not asking enough), and explains how we can use "no" as a start of a conversation versus an en...

While every copywriter's journey is different, it always helps to know what's possible, right? On this episode, Kate is digging into her own numbers. From what she made her first year of freelance copywriting, to what she made as a full-time freelance copywriter in 2020.  But it's not just about the salary. Kate shares the average number of clients she had each month, the average project price, an...

When Ashley joined the CCA in May 2019, she struggled to take the steps she knew she needed to take to get her business off the ground. But come 2020, she came back at it determined to use her skills to make a difference for BIPOC businesses. In this episode, Ashley reflects on how copywriting changed her life, the hurdles she faced as a Black and Hispanic business owner, and inspiring insights sh...

You sent a pitch to a client and the client is interested. Now what?! Nicki and Kate walk through a typical project process, from the first call with your client all the way through sending your invoice, and every step in between. Even if if you're a copywriter who has been working for awhile, you'll want to listen to this episode to get tips for how you may be able to improve your project process...

If you're interested in copywriting or you've begun your business, you may be curious about how much you'll need to invest to get your business off the ground. Good news: you do not need to shell out a lot of money to start a copywriting career. In fact, there's only 1 thing you need as a copywriter: your website. On this episode, Nicki and Kate dig into all kinds of free tools available to copywr...

Working with clients, we're in charge of managing tons of little requests coming in on calls, via email, on Slack, and any number of other platforms your clients may use for communication. It's  crucial  to your long-term success (and landing repeat work with clients!) that you have an effective system for managing all these requests. Nicki and Kate dig into tips and tricks they use to ensure noth...

When Kate Kosydar first discovered copywriting, she had been working full time in the faith-based nonprofit world for more than a decade and was ready for a change. She talks about why she continued to pursue copywriting, even after taking another copywriting course she didn't find valuable, and how she realized her original definition of copywriting (being "salesy" or selling out her values) was...

In this episode, three CCA students each sit down with Nicki and Kate to ask their most pressing questions. These 10-minute laser coaching sessions are designed to help students overcome their biggest roadblock so they can continue making progress on their goals. First, Nicki and Kate talk with Abigail about pricing and the feast or famine cycle. Then, Lindsey asks about the best way to approach a...

The reason why some copywriters fail isn't because of any inherent characteristic. Usually copywriters who "fail" fall into one of two camps: they don't have training or a system for landing clients, or they have training, but are afraid of failure. If you fall into the first camp, you'll want to first get training. If you fall into the second camp, you'll want to listen to today's episode. Nicki...

Whereas copy is designed to get your audience to take action, content is designed to entertain, inspire, or educate. Of course, many copywriters also write content for their clients.  If you're a copywriter looking to add content, or a content writer who is learning to write copy, this episode is for you. Find out why copywriting makes you a far more effective content writer, why you can charge yo...