When I first thought about how to get started as a copywriter, I’ll be honest—I felt completely lost. I had always loved writing, but I didn’t know how to turn that passion into a career. Most job listings asked for a portfolio, which I didn’t have. Additionally, I lacked fancy graphic design skills, which I believed could hinder my progress.
If you’re feeling the same way, don’t worry. I’ve been there—and today, I’m going to walk you through everything I did to get started. You’ll learn practical steps, beginner-friendly strategies, and personal lessons from my journey into copywriting.
How to Get Started as a Freelance Copywriter
When I began, the first thing I realized is that no one hands you projects right away. You have to create your own opportunities. I started by writing for free. My first project was rewriting my parents’ company website. Later, I offered my skills in exchange for services—like designing my logo or getting brand photos.
If you are serious about becoming a freelance how to get started as a copywriter, do not hesitate to take action:
- Write spec projects (fake but realistic samples) to showcase your skills.
- Reach out to small businesses and offer affordable or free services to build credibility.
- Use freelance marketplaces like Upwork, Fiverr, or Freelancer.
Remember, your early goal is not money—it’s experience, testimonials, and portfolio pieces.
Necessary Skills That You Require to Start off as a Copywriter
Becoming a good how to get started as a copywriter requires more than just being a good writer. The art of persuasion is that copywriting is the skill of persuasion and achieving that is done by combining clarity with research and marketing expertise. What are the central skills that every novice has to consider? Let us take a closer look.
Eloquent but Convincing Writing
It is not copywriting using fancy words; it is writing in an effortless and yet effective way. The message needs to come across to your readers in an immediate fashion and compel the reader to act (e.g., to buy, sign up or click on something). Write short sentences, use strong verbs, and have an emotional voice that appeals to the reader.
The studies and Knowing Your audience
What is at the core of copywriting is being aware of who you are writing to. The mark of a good how to get started as a copywriter is the time he/she takes to research the target audience – what they need, what problems they have, what they desire, and what language they use.
Knowing your audience allows you to write a copy that uses words directly related to them, builds their trust in your message, and offers practical solutions.
Basic SEO Knowledge for Copywriters
In today’s digital world, how to get started as a copywriters must know how to make their content search engine friendly. This doesn’t mean stuffing keywords, but using them naturally in titles, headings, and throughout your copy. Basic SEO knowledge — like keyword research, meta descriptions, and on-page optimization — helps your writing rank higher and reach more people online.
Copywriting Tips for Beginners
Here are some copywriting tips for beginners. I wish someone had shared these tips with me when I first began my copywriting journey:
- Read more ads than you write. Study Facebook ads, Google ads, and website copy.
- Learn the psychology of persuasion—why people buy what they buy.
- Write in a conversational tone, just like you talk to a friend.
- Always add a call-to-action (CTA), no matter how small the project.
For inspiration, I often turned to Copyblogger and HubSpot’s marketing blog to sharpen my skills.
Types of Copywriting
When I was starting out, I didn’t realize there are many types of copywriting:
- Digital copywriting – Websites, email marketing, landing pages.
- Blog copywriting – Writing SEO-friendly blog posts that attract readers.
- Social media copywriting – Social media copywriting are those text snippets composed to fit into social media sites such as Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Brand copywriting – Brand copywriting- building the voice of a brand on different mediums.
Exploring different types early on helped me figure out what I truly enjoyed.
The importance of Copywriting Why
I was unable to comprehend the essence of the importance of copywriting until I had been asked to work on the first project of my client. All these were my words, and therefore it applied directly to the way the customers would respond to these words by clicking on the buy now button or closing the page.
Copywriting is more than writing; it is about convincing, selling and building confidence. Each company requires it, and this is how to get started as a copywriters are in demand.
The book of tools and resources will support you to start as a copywriter
The fact that you begin how to get started as a copywriter does not imply that you have to be a one-person team. There are ways that you can use to improve your writing, adapt quicker, and develop content that positions and converts using the right tools and resources. These are some of the fundamental areas that a beginner how to get started as a copywriter ought to be aware of:
Writing Tools (Grammarly, Hemingway and so on)
Copywriting is about strong writing. Tools such as Grammarly make it easy to detect grammar, spelling, and stressors, allowing you to refine your writing and ensure it is error-free. Hemingway Editor makes your writing simple by pointing out complex sentences and passive voice to make your copy easy to read and attractive.
Such tools are not meant to substitute your creativity but serve as support to smooth the form of your work before being sent to clients or posted online.
SEO Tools (SEMrush, Ahrefs, Ubersuggest)
SEO Copywriting without SEO is like yelling in a vacuum. Keyword-finding tools such as Ahrefs and SEMrush assist with identifying profitable keywords, scouting competitors and refining your text to boost your ranking in search engines. Another affordable and easy-to-use alternative is Ubersuggest,
which can provide keyword suggestions as well as content and site audits. Through the use of SEO tools, you will not only make your copy engaging, but you will also make it discoverable.
Blogs, Courses, Books (Learning Resources)
Successful copywriters are life-long learners. The blogs, such as Copyblogger or HubSpot, are both free and paid and provide useful tips and case studies. Courses found on websites such as Coursera, Udemy, or Skillshare can be step-by-step training courses at entry level.
Older works, such as those by Ogilvy or found in how to get started as a Copywriter Handbook, provide timeless advice. Development of learnings allows you to keep your skills honed and keeps you in the lead in the competitive world of copywriting.
Copywriting Services I Offered in the Beginning
I made my copywriting services uncomplicated in order to develop trust:
- Website copy
- Blog articles
- Email newsletters
Over time, I expanded into more advanced services like sales pages and ad campaigns. If you’re new, keep your list short but focused, so potential clients know exactly what you offer.
How to Get Started as a Copywriter in Pakistan
Since I’m based in Pakistan, I often get asked, ‘How to get started as a copywriter in Pakistan?’
The truth is—you can compete globally without leaving home. I landed clients from the U.S. and UK simply by building a powerful profile at Upwork and then writing regularly on LinkedIn.
Tip: Create a simple personal website with your portfolio. With the help of such platforms as WordPress and Wix, it is easy.
Where to start as a copywriter online?
- You want to make money online how to get started as a copywriter, but how can you achieve that? This is how it worked out for me:
- Develop an individual brand on social media.
- Tell your stories – share your writing experience, hints and outcomes.
- Engage in communities like Reddit’s copywriting subreddit.
- That’s how I found my first paying clients.
How to Get Started as a Copywriter for Beginners
If you’re wondering how to get started as a copywriter for beginners, here’s my step-by-step plan:
- Soak up the fundamentals: Read something like how to get started as a Copywriter Handbook.
- Practice daily: Rewrite ads, product pages, or even social media posts.
- Collect testimonials: even from free work.
- Create a portfolio site: Showcase both paid and spec work.
- Apply: Apply for entry level copywriter jobs.
Some of the Mistakes that first time copywriters make
How To get started as a copywriter can be an exciting start, yet there are some pitfalls that can slow down the progress in the beginning. Aware of these pitfalls before writing your copy, you can avoid them and produce powerful, conviction-generating copy.
Making the Writing Style too complicated
One typical error that novices make is trying to sound professional and smart by introducing long sentences and difficult words. But it is the ease and clarity that constitute good copywriting.You want to be understood by your audience. If readers need to reread your sentence, you’ve already lost them. Always remember: simple, clear, and direct writing sells better than complicated language.
Not Paying Attention to the Audience Research
The other wrong move is to write a copy without knowing the target audience. Copywriting is not only writing; copywriting is about persuasion. Unless you know the needs, wants, and pain areas of your audience, you will not be able to connect with them through words.
New learners forget to carry out such research and instead write general pieces of copy. Rather, invest your time in getting to know who your audience is, the problems they are having and how your product or service is the solution to them. Writing to the audience will always have a higher conversion.
Lack of concentration on Conversions
This is a habit that many beginners adopt, where they get so concerned with writing beautiful sentences that they turn their attention away from the actual goal of copywriting, which is to induce action. Each and every line of copy must convert, regardless of whether those conversions are clicking a button, signing up to a newsletter, or buying a product.
When you fail to demonstrate how your shared information can lead to action, the business value of your words diminishes. Don’t forget to accompany creativity with strategy by including clear calls-to-actions (CTAs) and having conversions at the back of your mind.
Freelance Copywriter Income (The Honest Truth)
When I started, my freelance copywriter income was $50 for a website project. Today, projects pay anywhere from $500 to $2000 depending on complexity.
Now here is the thing – you are paid by what you bring, not how many hours you clock in.
Good sites to get starting copywriting jobs
Launching a copywriting career may be an intimidating experience that makes the uninitiated fear that they cannot find their initial projects. Fortunately, this is not the case, because there are numerous sites and ways for the novices to find their first jobs. There are opportunities regardless of what medium you prefer to work on, whether it is freelancing sites, contacting the businesses directly, or establishing a presence on social media. There is an opportunity regardless of which source you choose.
Freelance Platforms (Fiverr, Upwork, etc.)
Easy ways in are through freelance market places such as Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer. Using these platforms, you can easily make a profile, present your competence, and find clients seeking the service of how to get started as a copywriters.
There is competition; however, by ensuring you have the right keywords for your gig, offer competitive pricing, and deliver quality work, you can easily gain reviews and build trust. In the long run, these reviews will attract more profitable customers.
Business-to-Business Direct Contact
Rather than hoping that clients will come to you, go out there and contact small businesses, startups or internet shops and stores. LMany companies require assistance with their website text, email campaigns, and product descriptions, but they do not know where to seek help.
An individual email with a presentation of your services and a demonstration of ways to increase their content will often open the door to long-term opportunities. Face-to-face marketing can be hard work, however, it yields that much stronger, enduring relationships with the clients.
Networking and Social Media Opportunities
Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter (X), and Facebook groups are powerful tools for finding copywriting jobs. By sharing writing tips, posting samples of your work, and engaging in conversations with business owners or marketers, you can position yourself as a skilled how to get started as a copywriter.
Networking in professional groups, participating in discussions, and building connections often lead to referrals and inbound job offers—sometimes even better than freelance marketplaces.
How to Get a Job as a Copywriter
If freelancing isn’t your style, you can also get a job as a copywriter through:
- Entry level copywriter jobs on job boards.
- Copywriting internships with agencies.
- Networking on LinkedIn.
Having a copywriting certificate from platforms like Coursera or Copyhackers also helps.
Tips On How To Expand Your Career Once You Are Already a Copywriter
After you make your initial steps how to get started as a copywriter, the next thing which has to be learnt is scaling your career. It takes more than just writing well to achieve success; it also takes strategy, specialisation, and the accumulation of credibility over time. These are three effective methods of uplevelling your copywriting career.
Focus on a Specialty ( SEO, Email, Ads)
At first you are able to write anything you want but as you develop experience, the more valuable you become and the more you specialize in one area. As an example, you might specialize in SEO copywriting to assist companies with obtaining higher positions in Google or become a master of email copywriting to drive sales via newsletters or ad copywriting on Facebook or Google Ads.
A niche is a way to build a position of authority, stand out as a specialist among a crowd of generalists, and attract high-paying clients in search of highly qualified experts.
Developing Long Time Client Relationships
It is wonderful to have one-off projects that practice makes perfect, but long-term clients are the backbone of a thriving copywriting career. Rather than always going out there seeking new jobs, strive to earn the trust of clients and provide consistent outcomes so they can keep coming to you. This may involve continued blog writing, monthly email campaigns, or ongoing SEO optimisation. Good client relations not only bring you stability but also bring referrals and larger projects as well.
Raising Your Rates as You GoExperience
Your income should increase with the increase in your skills. Another error that newcomers can commit is the fact that they continue setting their rates low despite experience. The more projects you do, the more proof of your value you can show, like a portfolio, case studies, and client testimonials. Increase your rates over time in accordance with your expertise.
You can charge what you are worth as clients always want to buy what is tested and they are usually willing to pay a higher price as compared to clients who you undersell to.
My Final Tip
The initial beginning was really intimidating. The more I practiced and exposed myself though, the more opportunities came along. Copywriting is not about words but connecting with people.
When you pursue these steps and remain consistent, you will not only pursue a career but also confidence in yourself how to get started as a copywriter.
FAQs
Must I be a degree holder in order to be a copywriter?
No. Although having a degree served me well in communication and media studies, there are lots of successful copywriters who did not have an education. Skill and portfolio are what count.
How can I create a portfolio without clients?
Consider creating spec projects (mock assignments) and ensure they are clearly labelled. Potential clients care more about your skills than where the project came from.
Do I have a chance to work as a copywriter in Pakistan and earn money around the world?
Yes. With platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn, location doesn’t matter. I’ve personally worked with clients abroad without leaving home.
What is the timeline to make your first client?
For me, it took about 3 weeks after posting consistently online. For some, it may take longer. The key is persistence.
Should I choose freelancing or a full-time job?
It also depends on what you intend to do. Freelancing is flexible and allows greater earning capacity, and full time jobs are stable. I began as a freelancer and then extended.
Conclusion:
Learning how to get started as a copywriter is not about perfection; it is about progress. With some theory, a portfolio and daily practice, you will become confident and attract clients. Be consistent, and copywriting may not only be a skill but also an effective career.
