The life of a freelance writer is always intense.
(That line cheerfully ripped off and mangled from the ’80s cult film Repo Man.)
You’re balancing craft, strategy, your clients’ business interests, your own business interests, and maybe even a little bit of art thrown in there.
We love freelance business writers, and we strive to give you lots of resources that make you more effective. (Our advice applies to writers working for companies as well, and many marketing writers move back and forth between freelancing and in-house roles.)
On Monday, Stefanie Flaxman gave 30 steps to becoming an in-demand freelance writer. No, it’s not “3 steps” or “5 steps,” because building a successful freelance business is complicated. But each of these steps is well within your power. You can use this post as a road map for staying on track to a rewarding and lucrative career.
On Tuesday, Nick Usborne shared a new way of describing ourselves as copywriters. It doesn’t just help other people “get us” — it helps us understand the value we create for businesses. And that helps us create meaningful results for the clients and companies we serve.
And on Wednesday, I wrote about one of the cornerstones of business-building copywriting. It might be an old standby, but it still gets missed too often in conversion-oriented copy.
Whether you’re an old hand or an enthusiastic newbie, it’s always a good time to brush up on the difference between copywriting benefits and features.
Are you a writer who wants to work in content marketing?
Our Certified Content Marketer training program was created to teach writers with strong voices and solid techniques how to use their words to sell, both for themselves and their clients.
The four-week content marketing strategy course, taught by me and Brian Clark, honors where you are today, while helping you grow into the writer you want to be.
Once you’ve completed the course, you’ll have the chance to submit your own work for Certification. There are plenty of programs out there that will give you a badge for completing a few multiple-choice quizzes. This isn’t one.
Each application is carefully reviewed by a member of the Copyblogger editorial team — and not everyone who applies will receive Certification.
We only open our doors to new students about once a year. If you’d like to learn how to join us when the program reopens soon, enter your email address below.
Chief Content Officer, Copyblogger Media
Catch up on this week’s content
30 Sure-Fire Steps to Become a Successful Freelance Writer
by Stefanie Flaxman
How to Explain Your Job as a Copywriter (and Feel Good about It)
by Nick Usborne
Boost the Relevance of Your Content with Benefits and Features
by Sonia Simone
Challenges on the Writer’s Journey with Prominent Book Editor Peter Guzzardi: Part Two
by Kelton Reid
Why Connection is the New Content Marketing
by Brian Clark