Build Your Copywriting Business

Grace Nelson, and her business partner Charlotte, have spent the last 4 years working with women globally in corporate to start and grow businesses. Their unique model, Think. Create. Initiate, provides an accelerated pathway by taking away the overwhelm of what appears with a simple Google search: "how to start an online business." This method helps business owners hit their first 1K month before...

When Dorothy became disable by a chronic illness, she not only had to learn to manage her symptoms, but she had to leave her job. That upheaval lead her to copywriting and creating the job she needed for herself.  When Nicki first talked with Dorothy, it was early 2020 when she was just starting to pitch. You'll hear that conversation first where she shares what led her to copywriting, how she tak...

As a copywriter, you may interact with several types of roles within organizations. Collaboration is everything when working in a creative team environment, so knowing who to ask what question is important! Nicki and Kate break down these roles and the types of questions you may ask each role during the course of a copywriting project. Whether you are working full-time, part-time, or freelance, yo...

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.  Jack asks for tips on working through mental roadblocks, Blessilda talks about some of her first pitches and discovery calls, and Chris...

"Do I need business insurance?" is a question that plagues many entrepreneurs, including copywriters. Nicki and Kate are here to dig into common insurance types and why, as a copywriter, you most likely do not need it. Listen now to put to rest any worries you may have about needing business insurance for your copywriting business. Note: We are  not  legal advisors and this does not substitute for...

What can you do to start your day as healthy, productive, and positive as possible? Nicki and Kate take time to discuss the importance of a strong morning routine, including creating good habits, and breaking bad ones. Drawing from personal experience, they take us through productive ways to kickstart your day and set yourself up for success, both personally and professionally. Plus, get an inside...

Before Dori joined the  Comprehensive Copywriting Academy , she had a thriving career as a travel journalist. When the coronavirus hit, she decided to pursue copywriting. On this week’s episode, we’re getting a little before/after glimpse at Dori’s career. What you'll hear first is Nicki talking with Dori in Fall 2020 when she was just starting her copywriting career. Then, you'll hear Nicki, Kate...

In this episode, Nicki and Kate talk about the most important part of writing email copy: the  subject line.  The rest of the email does not matter if the email recipient doesn't even open it. They discuss what to include (and what not to include) in the subject line to get potential customers to interact. Along with some actionable advice about how to use your own inbox to learn, Nicki and Kate o...

Society right now is very pro-college education. There is nothing wrong with college and there are plenty of wonderful benefits it can provide for many careers. But this emphasis on higher education raises the question of “do I need a relevant degree to get started in copywriting? Do I need copywriting certification?”  “Bachelor’s Degrees are good for Jeopardy,”  but not necessary for copywriting....

How much can a copywriter  really  earn? Nicki and Kate are asked this question all. the. time. "Writing jobs don't pay well" is something probably everyone has heard whether they have been interested in the field or not. Nicki and Kate break down the myths about writing careers when it comes to freelance copywriting and with a little quick math show that it is far from impossible, if you are will...

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. Cleo asks for feedback on some of her pitch emails. Angela asks for some feedback on product descriptions for a super cool client that w...

What happens when a pandemic hits and you're furloughed from your job? For Stuart Tarn it meant taking advantage of some additional time and learning an entirely new skill. Stuart has been in his current job in the airline industry for nearly 17 years. He shares why he pursued copywriting, the ways his past experiences help his copywriting, and some of the mindset shifts he's had to make from full...

Deciding to go freelance instead of working a traditional 9–5 can be incredibly anxiety inducing. In this episode, Nicki and Kate discuss how job safety is an illusion and the only way to truly be “safe” is to be in control of your career yourself. Freelancing allows for control over practically every aspect of your livelihood.  Listen to this episode to hear some hard truths about job safety and...

Sitting down and knocking out a portfolio site can be a daunting task, but completing it will inevitably move your business forward. In this episode Nicki and Kate discuss why it is imperative for every copywriter to have their own online portfolio. From what most copywriting portfolios are missing to what copywriters should keep off their portfolios, they provide actionable tips on how to make yo...

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.  Terry asks for feedback on one of his pitch emails and his follow-up email. Jessica, who just moved, asks about finding focus and pitch...

We talk so much in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy, and as copywriters in general, about what it's like to collaborate with a designer, when to collaborate with a designer, and how to collaborate with a designer. But while we can answer these questions all day long, it's even more helpful to hear it from a designer. Nicki and Kate sat down with Yoav Broum to talk about what it's like to coll...

Adele joined the CCA in July 2020 when she decided to make a career change after burning out in the public sector. Nicki originally talked with Adele in the Fall of 2020 to hear about her journey to copywriting. But, like many CCA students, work started to snowball fast. Adele landed a full-time contract covering a maternity leave in addition to taking on freelance work on the side. So, Nicki and...

Spec ads are one of the most important tools copywriters have to show their abilities to potential clients. Not only do spec ads show that you can write great copy and how you strategize your work, but it also shows you are connected and can collaborate with talented designers who make your copy pop. You read that right, the number one mistake copywriters make is not working with a designer for th...

You might be thinking, “Land clients without experience? You are crazy!” But there is a valuable tool to show your potential clients what you can do, even if you have never had a paying client before: spec ads. In this episode, Nicki and Kate discuss the in’s and out’s of spec ads, including their many benefits and some common misconceptions. Landing clients without experience is not an impossible...

Everybody hates pricing their services. That's because there is no exact science for pricing your services. There's no perfect formula that is going to work every time and be exactly right. It's as much art as science. Nicki and Kate dig into why online calculators are wildly inaccurate (one told Kate, based on her experience, to charge $13,800 for a homepage). Instead of relying on faulty math, t...

We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but if confidence is not an issue for you now, it will at some point in your life. We  all  face situations that challenge or even shake our confidence, whether it’s in the form of self-doubt or fear. Now here’s the good news: there are ways to overcome it. On this episode, Nicki and Kate sat down with Sheri' DuMond, who has mentored business and sales leader...

Karisa started her copywriting career the way many of our students do: while working another full-time job. She started pitching just a few months after joining the CCA during Pitch-a-Palooza, an annual student-only event designed to get everyone writing and sending their first pitches. Karisa received a response to one of those first pitches, officially launching her freelancing career. But it wa...

Before you make a decision about choosing or changing a career, you want to have some indication that you’ll actually be successful at it, right? While great copywriters can come from any gender, race, age, and more, there are a number of traits that the most successful copywriters share. In this episode, Nicki and Kate go through their list of top traits that have helped them, and thousands of ot...

As a brand new copywriter venturing out into a new career, it's understandable that you might be curious as to when you might be able to make money. While you might not love our answer, we are excited to share it with you because it's a simple one: how soon you make money is up to you. Nick and Kate discuss where you can start, what factors contribute to how fast someone can start earning money, a...

You’ve probably heard us say before that there is so much more work that requires good, skilled copywriters than there are good, skilled copywriters to take on all that work. It's never been more true. And no matter how long we have this company, and no matter how many copywriters we train, that will remain true. Why? Because there are SO MANY companies and organizations out there. And copy is ess...