Becoming a copywriter requires you to make several decisions as you begin to establish yourself.
- Niche or generalist?
- Short or long copy?
- Website or LinkedIn profile?
And there are plenty of articles, ideas, and content to help you make the best possible decision for those topics. (Like this one and this one.)
But what about the question no one seems to discuss?
As a copywriter, your options are freelance or copywriting job, right? We’ll discuss their pros and cons, and a third option for you to consider, too.
The Freelance Option
I love being a freelance copywriter.
It’s all true: I determine the project fees, set my work hours, and I am notoriously famous for taking most afternoons off, too.
(Oops, I just had to pause writing for a discovery call with a potential client.)
I’ve worked from “temporary offices” like Atlanta, Phoenix, Chicago, and Miami. In addition, I’ve been able to work while attending Bootcamp and even from a cruise ship sailing the Mexican Riviera.
So, everyone should become a freelancer and live the dream?
Absolutely!
Now that I’m about 18 months into my freelance career, I can say that. My business seems to be rolling along now. (Knock on wood.) As I finish one project, another appears via my website contact form or from another referral partner.
But it has taken the entire 18 months to get everything in place and working correctly.
That’s 18 months of worry and stress around:
- Setting up the business
- Website
- Social media
- Marketing my services
- Finding clients
- Working with clients
- Getting paid
- Contracts
- Taxes
- AWAI programs
And, of course, worrying about the income and finances while I changed careers during a pandemic.
That’s a bunch of plates to keep spinning for anyone, so maybe a copywriting J-O-B is a better choice for you right now.
The Copywriting J-O-B
One of my clients is a marketing/design agency, and I do the website rewrite or create new content for them. Even though they hired me on a freelance basis, the role is as close to a job as it can be:
- I must be available during their business hours
- They provide the topic, page titles, and keywords
- They turn a site every two weeks
- I don’t have to deal with the clients
- Minimal research time
- No social media posts
- No pitching involved
- They pay very quickly, usually within minutes
As their business continues to grow, so will my workload and potential income.
The biggest drawback to this scenario is I lose the right to pick and choose my projects. And I don’t get to flex my idea muscle; I write content per the creative brief and the new web design.
But not being responsible for any of the required business activities means fewer distractions and much more time for writing.
And typically with a J-O-B, there are employee benefits to consider as well:
- Paid holidays
- Continuing Education benefits
- Wellness or sick day allotment
- 401K fund or match program
- Health insurance
- Regular paychecks
- Work schedule/set business hours
Steady work and paychecks are the two most significant perks of going the J-O-B route, especially if you’ve got kids at home.
But the freedom that freelancing can provide is worth the time and hard work required.
(Update: My discovery call just sent me an email with a signed proposal… all while I was writing this blog. Yay!)
So, How Do You Choose Between Freelance or a Copywriting Job?
The first step is to understand what all is involved in setting up and running a business. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the process, and you might even recognize the author.
The next step generally involves reviewing all the financial data. So you’re going to have to deep dive into your bank statements, bills, and tax returns to find the correct answer for you.
Chances are, you like or need the immediate income that a copywriting job provides. But your ultimate dream is to go freelance for the money and freedom it provides.
A Third Option
I still peruse the job boards at least once a week, and I’ve noticed a bit of a trend. I see more and more positions for part-time copywriting jobs, and many of them allow remote work.
Hmmm.
This scenario could be a stepping-stone towards your freelance dream. A part-time copywriting job could provide enough income to keep the bills paid while you start setting up your freelance business.
Part-time work is usually a 20 to 24-hour work schedule, so start slowly with the business set-up chores like banking, licensing, and registering a domain.
Then move onto the website, LinkedIn, and writing samples. You can even plan it all out around the part-time job, and within 3-6 months, you could be ready to launch your copywriting business.
And you’ll do it without all the stress and worry that comes with “taking the plunge” into the freelance end of the copywriter’s pool.
But wait, there’s more!
If the math doesn’t work for you to take a part-time writing position, consider one more option.
Keep your day job to cover the monthly bills and expenses. Then take on a part-time copywriting position and stash the extra income away. Once you have a large enough reserve to cover your living costs for an extended period, you can confidently launch your freelance business.
Since I connected with AWAI back in May 2008, going freelance someday has always been my goal. Granted, I took the longest route possible to get to this point, and the last 18 months have lasted forever, but I’m finally here!
Have you wrestled with the freelance or copywriting job question? What was the critical determining factor for you? And how has your decision worked out so far?
I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas, and you can leave a comment below.
See you next week.
