Leniency In Copywriting

Grammar mistakes are almost impossible to avoid entirely but a good copywriter takes time to scrutinize their work and make sure it conveys the message well and in a comprehensible language. However, depending on your audience, you can take liberties with the language and break a few formal grammatical rules to [get your message] across more effectively.

This is often very effective with copy that is designed to speak to an audience informally. In one sense, you are breaking free from the constraints of formal grammar, but if you look at it another way, you're following the grammatical rules (albeit not codified) of the particular slang/jargon/idiolect that you choose to use.

That being said, in the copywriting world, we tend to be a little bit lenient when it comes to the strict application of grammar rules. One reason for this is the need for clarity. Sometimes, strict grammatical conventions like avoiding ending a sentence with a preposition can result in sentences that don’t sound like natural spoken language. You also need to consider your readers.

Sometimes, it is very helpful to break complicated sentences into one-liner phrases ending with a period that shouldn’t even exist if you were to ask a strict grammarian. Other times, it’s just easier to forgo using a semicolon and using a comma instead. Or maybe start a sentence with “and” or “or” like I just did here. It is cringe-worthy for us writers and editors, but it’s almost always easier for readers.

One last point about this leniency is that it allows more inclusivity in the copywriting industry. Many aspiring copywriters don’t use English as their first language so they may commit a few errors here and there. Even native speakers do the same thing. Leniency allows them to focus more on the most important part of copywriting, which is engaging an audience to pay attention, understand a product or service, and take action resulting from that understanding.

Mistakes Are Unacceptable In Copywriting

Although nobody is safe from common grammar mistakes, quality should always be a priority when it comes to writing. Even great copywriters maintain a delicate balance between following grammar rules and writing attractive copy. Therefore, it is not acceptable to make grammar mistakes in copywriting. Such mistakes will only show carelessness and lack of revision.

Errors are OK if they Connect You with the Reader

In copywriting, following grammatical rules is not always a good idea. Copywriting is meant to persuade or compel the audience [to do] something, and effective copy should cut through the noise to connect with the reader emotionally. Breaking the grammatical rules can provide better ways to play through words and concisely connect with the readers. Therefore, effective copy should ultimately be connecting to the end reader regardless of whether it is grammatically sound or not.

It all Depends on Which Type of Copy You’re Writing

As an experienced copywriter, I think that minor grammar mistakes are totally fine – but in a way that does not affect the reading experience. The grammar of the English language is widely known as one of the hardest to master for both natives and learners, so I think it's nearly impossible for an article or content to be 100% compliant with the grammar rules. However, this statement depends on what type of copywriting you create.

Minor grammar mistakes are acceptable for blogs or social media posts that allow a more casual tone of writing. However, it is a different case for content like a business website or press release, which require a more professional tone of writing. Copywriters should ensure the grammar and sentence structure for this business content are free of errors to showcase their professionalism.

Proper Grammar Reflects on Your Professionalism

The purpose of copywriting is to convert readers into paying clients. As long as your copy has successfully done that, then technically you've done your job. However, as an editor myself, proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling are very important for copywriters. It shows the level of professionalism in your brand and ultimately, that is passed on to your reader (and client), which can make or break a sale.

Copywriting Need Not be Perfect

The grammar is constantly changing so there can never be a truly ‘perfect' use of it. Copywriting isn't about grammar. It's about creativity! It's all about energy! It's about breaking the rules!

Copy-writing should not be perfect, but seductive. You don't have to flip through English textbooks to write decent copy. Copywriting does not require a degree in linguistics or literature. The goal here is to write copy that would entice readers [and] sell your products. Copywriting is all about seduction through prose; it involves manipulating words into attractive, irresistible writing.

Double Check your Work

Grammar mistakes are not acceptable in copywriting. Specifically, even though some copywriting teams have an editor, you should perceive your work as a final edit that will go live immediately. Specifically, I recommend revising + double-checking your work a couple of hours after finishing. This will ensure that you have some separation from the task and are fresh and rejuvenated. I also recommend using a tool like Grammarly, which can help you quickly identify errors and show you how to fix them.

Grammar Errors can be a Dealbreaker

Grammar errors are not acceptable for copywriting because of the mistake's ability to change how the readers interpret the sentence. For example, there is a significant difference between “Let's eat, Grandpa” and “Let's eat Grandpa.” Some readers may not notice this subtle difference, but those who do will remember the copywriting for the wrong reasons. This lack of attention to detail may upset potential clients and be a dealbreaker when deciding if they should purchase a product or service from the business.

If you’re a freelance copywriter, you know the rewards of being able to control your work schedule, but you’ve probably also crossed the line where you feel like it’s controlling you at times. Read on to get tips from fellow freelancers who have walked in your shoes and found ways to balance work and personal life successfully.

Listen to Meditation Podcasts

It's hard to shift from hustling to the off button. It seems counter-intuitive to survival. But as I age, I realize the importance of downtime, as well as connected time and playtime. When I was younger, I was such an energy powerhouse. As I age, I notice that when I don't take these moments each day to balance my energy, I'm not a very fun person to be around. And internally, I notice that I can start resenting all the wonders of life.

So, I intentionally listen to meditation podcasts on the way to meetings. I intentionally take my Powerbeats out on a 10-minute daily walk to nowhere. I fill 30 minutes with something creative that gives me a non-important yet integral purpose, like cooking, coloring, or cultivating a new playlist. I set my daily time blocks to allow for fruitful freelance work at the right times, and daydreaming, creativity and connection with others.

It ain't easy. I heartily lean on the Reminders, Alarm, Notes and Calendar Apps on my Mac devices to schedule downtime.

Schedule Downtime in Your Calendar

As a freelancer, a great way to take downtime is to realize the importance of downtime as a business tool for better productivity and plan weekly, monthly, and quarterly events in your calendar.

Every week, this could look like an afternoon of inspiration (visiting a museum, seeing a movie, taking a meditation or fitness class, etc.).

Every month this might be a day completely offline for networking, a family outing, or a day trip to another city.

Every quarter, perhaps a long weekend away. For maximum effectiveness, leave your laptop at home and don’t check your mail until you’re back in the office.

Give Yourself One Day Off Every Week

• I often will schedule ‘down time’ into my week by blocking off a few hours in a day and setting an alarm. This is a reminder to me to step away from my computer and do something active and/or non-work-related. I almost always find this helps my focus and productivity when I do sit back down to work.

• I schedule one day a week off so that I can see friends, catch up on hobbies, or just take it easy at home. I am pretty committed to this, even if it means working a few extra hours other days of the week to accommodate the day off. Having one day where I don’t touch work gives a reset to my whole week!

• For scheduling larger breaks or vacations, I reach out to my clients ahead of time, giving them as much notice as possible. I will set my email auto-responder to OOO so it helps manage expectations if clients do send me messages during that time.

Go Out and Have Fun

When I first started freelancing, I rarely took any days off. I was young, and let's be honest, arrogant. I didn't think I needed them. I quickly learned that I soon burnt out. I wasn't producing great quality work. I wasn't able to think outside of my business. I was too stuck in the day-to-day.

Now, it's different. Taking downtime is important. You need it; otherwise, you won't produce magic in your business. When I do take downtime, I make sure I get out and do things for myself. I spend money on myself because I'm worth it, and I need to keep on doing it to make myself happy and pursue my business.

Write it Into Your Planner

Downtime is a must for anyone who is a freelancer. Otherwise, you will experience burnout very quickly. With more people working on a freelance basis, it is important to set rules to protect yourself, both physically and mentally.

We all know that employees benefit from the fact they have holiday entitlements and get paid annual leave, but freelancers do not enjoy the same luxury – if you don’t work, you don’t get paid! A good way to ensure you have downtime is to diarise it, just the way you would plan out your week's work for a client.

Some of the things you can do to ensure you get downtime are:

• Book a weekly exercise class, which means you have to leave your office/home regularly.

• Arrange to meet other ‘work from home/freelancers’ for coffee and a catch-up.

• Take lunchtime leave –go buy your lunch at your favorite shop.

• Schedule as much work as possible – things such as tweets can be planned to automatically update, leaving you a bit of time to relax.

• Don’t feel guilty about taking time off – if work comes you can honestly tell your client that your diary is full and provide them with an alternative date for completion.

• Move money to a separate account regularly and make sure you have a ‘slush fund’ so you can enjoy your time off!

Whatever you do, remember that if you don't schedule in some downtime, you will ultimately pay the price of not being able to work at all. Burnout, fatigue, reduced concentration, poor mental health – all these things can lead to major health issues – YOU are your business so treat yourself with care.

Schedule Your Downtime Like It’s an Official Meeting

As a freelancer, it can be easy to end up with meetings and tasks at all hours of the day. To make sure that I still take downtime to live a life outside of my work, I schedule my downtime each week as if it were an official meeting. Depending on the needs of the week, that time may change but once I’ve established when my downtime will be throughout the week, I honor that time as if it were a work event.

When people ask for meetings at that time, I simply say that I am already booked. Additionally, I leave behind any connection to work during those hours so that I am not tempted to sacrifice my time for a quick work task. This strategy has helped me make the most of my time and ensure that I don’t experience burnout.

All direct response copywriters are chasing conversions, but there are some things that will drive them away…far away. Want to know what to avoid in your next piece of copy? We asked readers to chime in. Read on to see what they had to say. And if you’re looking to crush direct response copywriting, make sure to sign up for our RMBC online copywriting course. You’ll learn how to write consistently high converting copy, faster.

Write Without Research

To write the worst copy, I would probably just open a blank document and start writing. I would do that without:

• Understanding the purpose of the copy
• Understanding the audience
• Initial research
• Secondary research
• Writing an outline
• Communicating with experts
• Keyword research
• Including recent statistics and reports
• Editing & proofreading
• Promotion plan

Boom, the worst copy is ready.

Confusing Headline, Weak CTA

If you want to write copy that doesn’t drive your readers to take action, here are a few ways you could do it:

Don’t write with the customer in mind
Your audience wants to feel understood, and they want your writing to paint a picture of how your product or service can benefit them. So, to write the worst copy in the world? Ignore your audience completely. Just tell them about yourself and how great you are.

A confusing, long-winded headline
A headline that gives no inkling of what’s in store or – worse – a completely misleading headline is a sure way to lose your readers early. Overly long headlines won’t help either (likewise with long sentences and paragraphs throughout your writing).

No CTA
If they’ve soldiered through to the end of your long-winded, one-sided piece of writing, what do you want them to do? Without a strong call to action, they’ll have no idea, and that will lose you conversions.

Go Technical, not Emotional

The worst copy ever would be created to talk about my business. I would not show any interest in my target audience. I [would] fail to highlight the pain point and not position myself as a solution.

Secondly, I would lack creativity in my words. It would be highly educational and have no emotional connection in my text. I would be super lengthy, cramping long sentences together. Although the average reading level is Grade 7, I would ignore that. Rather, I would use super technical texts that are difficult to understand.

Lastly, I would not have any call to action. Not only would the viewers not clearly understand what I offer. They would not know what to do next with the information. I would keep them guessing and confused.

An NPR study released in 2020 showed that 2 million Americans had started freelancing in the prior year, fueled largely by the pandemic. Today, more than one third of the workforce performs freelance work. Even though we specialize in training freelancers to write direct response copy, we are aware that that there is a core skillset that increases your chances of success as a freelancer in any industry. We asked freelancers to weigh in on these critical skills.

Communication and Organizational Skills

Freelancers have been more in demand amidst the pandemic. Since the competition is much tougher than before and there are lots of experts in a niche market, how can a freelancer become a preferred candidate?

One skill that will always be relevant no matter what the industry is great communication skills, whether written or oral. How can you ace an interview with the client if you can't express your thoughts well?

Another one is the ability to organize tasks. Clients will always be willing to rehire a freelancer if he is efficient in his tasks.

Sales And Marketing Skills

As a freelancer, the most important skill is being able to sell yourself. To be able to pitch to clients and find work, you have to be a salesperson and a smart marketer. Sales and marketing skills can be useful in literally any field of life, and not just work.

Additionally, time management and discipline play a very important role if you are a freelancer. You can't be a successful freelancer without the discipline to finish work on time. Discipline bridges the gap between goals and achievements.

Microsoft Office Skills

Microsoft Office expertise will always be helpful. I think this is a very important skill that every freelancer needs to learn as almost all tasks revolve around using Word or Excel. Knowing how to navigate Microsoft Office will allow you to finish more tasks at a faster pace so it is an important advantage whatever your industry.

Reliability, Consistency, Attention to Detail

Regardless of what freelance work you do, the qualities that will make you stand out are reliability, consistency, and attention to detail. A huge number of freelancers fail to tick these basic boxes.

When clients hire a freelancer, they want the work done to a high standard with no aggravation, and they want the work completed at the time agreed. Many freelancers underestimate the importance of these things.

Communication Skills

I have seen it in the workplace and with clients. One who communicates well will often get rewarded. As freelancers, you won't always get the results for clients you wish. When that is the case, the only thing between them firing you and giving you a chance is the communication you had with them. Communication instills trust, and trust is one of the most [important] factors with freelancers.

4 Key Assets

Listening
It’s much easier to build trust and foster solid relationships if you have great listening skills. It shows that you’re an excellent communicator and it’s something that every company across the board is looking for in an employee.

Empathy
Just like listening, your ability to connect with other people makes you a huge asset. If you’re in sales or customer service, it helps you understand and build a better relationship with the people you’re dealing with. It also works well if you’re a manager handling a team.

Social media management
This is one important technical skill that any company values. These days, most companies have social media accounts for easier communication with their customers. Having the expertise to manage social media will make you valuable to anyone.

IT Security
Every company needs to secure their sensitive data and provide that extra layer of protection from any potential breach. As an IT security professional, your services will be much needed.

Advance With These Skills

Communication skills
Communication skills are important for freelancers irrespective of the industry they work in. It would be even better to say that good communication skills are essential for every professional. It is only with good communication skills that you can interact effectively, help people understand what you are saying clearly, and influence your clients. So, as freelancers, we should develop excellent communication skills.

Time management skills
Freelancing provides you with a lot of freedom, but if you don’t manage your time well, you may end up losing your clients. This implies that time management skills are crucial for your success in any industry.

Active listening skills
Active listening is an important skill that is crucial for your success as a professional. If you can make your clients feel heard, they’ll choose you over and over. Why? This is because today, there are not many people in the world who practice active listening. Everyone is waiting for their turn to speak, creating different answers in the mind, and all this prevents complete listening. As a result, clients feel unheard.

Confidence
Being confident is important in every profession whether you are a freelancer or a full-time worker. If you are not confident of your skills and abilities, how can your clients trust you? So, confidence is a skill that you need to develop sincerely. For this, two things can help you. The first is inculcating confident body language and the second is self-improvement. You have to keep growing better and better in your wor,k and as you keep undertaking your journey of self-improvement, your confidence level will naturally increase.

Reliability skills
Being a reliable person means that your clients can trust you to fulfill all their expectations sincerely and diligently. So, cultivating reliability skills is important. If you are reliable, your success will be certain. But, to become a reliable person you’ll have to ensure that you meet all the expectations of your clients without any faults.

Problem-solving skills
Your clients will come to you with various kinds of problems depending on your choice of career. So, cultivating good problem-solving skills is a must. If you can solve any problem your clients come up with, you will certainly climb the ladder of success. Further, the development of critical thinking skills can help you solve problems with ease.

Decision-making skills
At times, you’ll be faced with hard decisions in your career. For example, you may have to choose between assignments when they have close deadlines. Under such circumstances, you’ll need decision-making skills to take the right path. Moreover, even while working on certain assignments, you’ll have to make some important decisions. So, the development of good decision-making skills can help you succeed in the professional world as a freelancer.

Sales and Networking Skills

I believe that regardless of your industry, you need to master your sales and networking skills. It can be a bit intimidating, and let's not talk about the thoughts that go on in between our ears in battling self-doubt or imposter syndrome. Learn to communicate the value your service provides. It is important to be persuasive and not pushy when it comes to sales. Customize your conversation to the needs of the individual. Position yourself as a solution.

When it comes to networking, it is better to be interested and not interesting, to be intentional in making connections and listening. Ask questions and practice associating unique pieces of information to an individual. People appreciate when you recall conversations; it could be as simple as remembering their names. Networking is about learning how you can add value to other people's personal or professional lives. Discussions do not have to be mechanical; you can add your personality to the process.

Practice always makes progress. Every interaction is an opportunity to work your skills. And over time, you can build your confidence. Start today, even if your voice is shaking. There is always room for growth.

Start with Sound Decision Making

Decision-making and good judgment
This involves analyzing any situation and deciding which path to take. The problem can have any outcome, and making a decision shows confidence and sound judgment.

Initiative and motivation
Taking the initiative to perform tasks is a highly sought-after skill.

Good communication skills
Having good communication skills is essential as it will help you convey your point precisely. Proper articulation helps in getting your message across without any ambiguity. Good communication helps you in getting things done if you're a leader.

We’ve all been there. Our brain’s on empty, and the words just won’t flow.  We asked fellow copywriters to share how they move beyond the dreaded writer’s block.  Read on to learn more and check out the The RMBC Method, a proven framework for writing better copy, faster.

Meditation, Reading, and Mindful Exercise

Creative blocks can be debilitating. Oftentimes, creative blocks stem from a mental block or an internal struggle. A fun and easy way to combat that is to free your mind through meditation and mindfulness practices. Especially while spending more time in solitude, you should invest personal time into elevating your energy, spirit, and mind.

Meditation, reading, and mindful exercise are great ways to better yourself while the distractions of outside life are somewhat distanced from your everyday life. You must remove yourself from screens and detox from social media so you can better align with yourself, your wellness, and your creative energy.

Stimulate your creative flow by freewriting about something you have a personal connection to. This will inspire your creative juices because it is usually easy to reflect on something you intrinsically care about. When you are reflecting on a topic you hold close to your heart, you will begin to generate the best phrases and words to encompass the emotion and esteem you have behind it. This will help you hone your writing skills for other topics.

Take A Break for A Day

Whenever I hit a wall when it comes to my writing, I take a break. Based on my experience, it is counterproductive to keep on pushing when you’re exhausted and your creative juices are no longer flowing.

By resting, even just for a short while (e.g., one hour or a day), I am able to put my thoughts at ease and let my mind recuperate from all the stress and demands of copywriting. Most of the time, writer’s block is caused by tiredness, particularly not getting enough sleep. If you’re sensing that you’re not able to write, cut yourself some slack and take a much-needed rest.

Watch A Movie

Taking a break is usually the trick to overcome writer’s block. While taking a break, I do things that excite me and my imagination such as watching a movie of a genre I enjoy. I also try to engage in intellectual talks with my friends. After some time, I feel like all the inspiration comes rushing back to me, and I go ahead and continue what I was working on.

Write a Target Word Count Everyday

Approach writing like a regular job to overcome writer’s block. For me, it’s an everyday endeavor complete with a targeted minimum number of words to write per day. I write when inspired and as a matter of duty to keep the creative juices flowing.

Reading extensively is another sure way of beating writer’s block. You get to broaden your vocabulary, get exposed to different writing styles, and develop critical thinking skills to help overcome the problem.

Map Your Mind

Mind mapping is useful for overcoming writer’s block because you can take general ideas and branch out into niche subjects, formulating an outline and generating more content. It’s ultimately an exercise in creativity. If I don’t mind map, I like playing word games on mobile.

Get Moving

I believe that to overcome writer's block I need to take a break and refresh my mind to proceed. If the work isn't urgent, I usually just take a break, then complete it the next day. But if not, I play sports or exercise. Through my experience, I can tell that this is one of the best ways to refresh the mind and thoughts and a proven way to get new thoughts.

Get Your Hormones Checked, Audio Write, and Other Tips

• Relocate to a new location or venue for a long weekend or week – solo.
I often take a week solo at the beach to find the energy or inspiration to write. I find that having no distractions and a new view can be all it takes to get me in the mood again.

• Take a spa day and disconnect from writing.
I have learned that if I walk away and do something relaxing it re-charges my batteries. This only works for me if I disconnect – so leave the phones and computers at home. Think of it as a well-earned day off.

• Consider audio writing.
I often find it easier to talk my thoughts (text to type). This way I can capture random thoughts as they come and then cobble them together with real context and good writing skills later.

• Scope out your competition.
If you have an ounce of competition in you – this will re-motivate you to write. It does me – it often forces me into the zone.

• Get your hormones checked.
I know this sounds silly but your hormone levels are a huge factor in how you feel overall. If you've had prolonged episodes of writer's block you may be suffering from a change to your body's hormones.

You may be wondering whether to take the plunge and join a mastermind or attend a mastermind event. Will it be worth the time and money? Read on to get opinions from other freelancers.  And if you’re ready to give a copywriting mastermind a try, click to learn how Copy Accelerator is turning good copywriting freelancers into truly great ones who are producing some of the highest- grossing copy in the biz.

Masterminds Help Your Professional Development

Masterminds are a great way to do professional development. While I have had other jobs and bosses to help me build my professional career, when you are a freelancer, you don't have a boss to help you do this. You are on your own, so your development is on you.

Masterminds are a great time for [development]. The one thing I think could make them better, is for more of them to have an open Q&A at the end. This way, if there is a question that we as participants/viewers might have, we can ask them. Makes it more personal.

A Great Way to Network

As a graphic design freelancer, I am a fan of Masterminds. I find them to be a great way to spark new energy and ideas into my work. They are also a great way to network, and I get a lot of value from the discussions both from people in my field, graphic design and people in other industries that would be considered unrelated.

I’ve had great feedback on my business issues and client work, and I have benefited from helping problem solve for others. It breathes life into my own business in unexpected ways as it draws me out of my usual operating procedures and fires up thinking about things in new ways.

Part of freelancing is developing your skillset so that you’re at the top of your game. The other part is letting the world know what you have to offer them. We asked freelancers how they get the word out. Read on to learn more, and if you’re a copywriter, I would also recommend that you check out my mastermind, Copy Accelerator, which helps you write better copy, learn what's working in direct response right now, and network with high-paying clients.

Groups, Guest Posting, and HARO

Groups: LinkedIn groups and Facebook groups for freelance copywriters have been a great way to network with others in my line of work.

Guest Posting: Writing guest posts for other websites has been a great way to reach out to new audiences and also gain connections with other content marketers.

HARO: [Help a Reporter Out] has been excellent [for] making connections with journalists in a range of different fields and gaining a feature on other websites.

Build a portfolio, be communicative, and hustle for side gigs

Freelancers live thanks to their reputation. If you have a good one, it will be easier to expand your professional reach. But, how do you start expanding if you haven't landed your first job? Well, the best way to do it is to build a portfolio. In this case, it pays to write articles about anything you feel comfortable with. This way you will have something to show to a potential employee.

Once you land your first gig, you can add those new projects to bulk your profile. But that's not all. You must deal with every client as professionally as possible. Be polite, communicative, and fast in delivering your tasks. This is the only way you will earn a good reference from your employee, which will [help you] land other jobs.

Lastly, don't ever settle. Even if you are comfortable working for a single agency or client, try to seek more gigs. You never know what you are going to find. Besides, a copywriter should be comfortable writing about several things so it is wise to mix up your routine a bit.

Be creative with social media marketing

As a freelancer, I expand my professional network through creating strategies using branding and being creative with social media marketing, my website portfolio, reaching out to new people through informational interviews with people or companies that I want to work for, attending events to network, joining groups and being involved in my working community.

Utilize Twitter

I expand my network by showing up. For in-person events, that means engaging with the topic (or purpose of the event) as best I can. On social media, that means taking part in conversations, not just having an account.

Twitter is my biggest network builder lately, and I expand my network by:

• Joining Twitter chats (#FreelanceChat is my favorite)
• Posting questions on my feed to start a discussion
• Sharing my perspectives on other people's posts (when they post a question)
• Focusing my tweeting on one main thing (I tweet a lot about freelancing)
• Having open DMs so I can always continue the conversation with someone if we've connected on something

Leverage Upwork

I expand my professional network by using a freelancing site called Upwork. I've been able to grow my long-term client list for over 7 years now. By applying to interviews related to copywriting and content writing, I'm able to work with a lot of professional companies in Canada, the USA, and overseas. I write over 10,000 words per week and I love what I do! I am now able to write full-time from home.

Network online and create a digital brochure

For freelance work, I don't go to Upwork and Fiverr because I don't want to compete on price. I build relationships by networking in the real world, on LinkedIn, and now on Lunchclub.

I also publish an interactive multimedia digital flipbook brochure to showcase my work and send it to agencies who may be interested in what I do.

One of the things I enjoy most is sharing ideas and guidance to help other people in their freelance copywriting journey. I do this through my daily emails as well as my Copy Accelerator Mastermind, and Copy Accelerator Live events. I’ve been influenced by a lot of great thought leaders, and it means a lot to me to pay it forward.

If you’ve been shaped by a thought leader in your industry—someone who has inspired you, motivated you, and showed you how to get from point A to point B—you may find yourself wanting to help others as well. The challenge, of course, is speaking so that other people will listen. If you’re looking to be a thought leader in your field, here are some crowdsourced tips to help you get started.

Small steps towards giving bigger and bigger value

My approach to becoming a thought leader is all about small steps towards giving bigger and bigger value:

• For example, when I was starting my business, I was coming into a new industry where I didn’t have much direct experience (media and journalism)
• So I started by writing content about topics that intersected with my prior experience (technology, business development, and strategy) and the industry I was trying to build credibility in (blog posts on business models for journalism, marketing strategies, etc.)
• Next, I did a research project that I turned into a free report, surveying the technology of 100 different journalism websites
• Then I took another step by developing free tools that solve small problems for people in the industry (email templates and CMS themes)
• With the free report and free tools, I could then get involved in industry discussions without giving the impression that I’m trying to sell (I’m not, I’m just trying to solve problems in exchange for getting my name out there)
• Based on the learnings from those discussions, I took another step by offering a paid solution that solves bigger problems for people in the industry (an online publishing service)
• Now based on that solution, I can confidently express the direction that I think the industry should be taken as a thought leader – backed up by all the learnings of the previous steps.

To sum up: start by solving small problems for free, get involved in industry discussions with the intention to help others, progressively solve bigger problems, and keep sharing your learnings in bigger and bigger forums.

3 tips to position yourself as an expert

Focus on a niche
Don’t try to be a jack of all trades. The first step for any thought leadership strategy is to find your unique niche. The best way to do so is to write down all your strengths, skills, and areas of interest. It will help you narrow down the niche that you would like to pursue.

Work on your personal brand
Your personal brand is basically your reputation, which, in today’s digital world, means having a strong online presence. Take control of that digital reputation and build a brand that works toward your goals. Find out what Google shows when someone searches for your name. Work on improving your website and social media and project the right image in front of your audience.

Leverage social media
Be active on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to connect with people in your industry and share useful content with them. Join relevant communities or create your own groups where you can have insightful conversations with other like-minded people. Try to answer their questions, engage with them, and help them with their problems. This demonstrates your expertise in your field.

Turn your passion into something unique

To become a thought leader in any industry takes an understanding of what you are truly passionate about. Then, you can turn that passion into something unique.

The best way to do this is to look for leaders in your industry and study what they do well. There are two criteria:
1) What makes them successful?
2) What do their customers rave about?

Remember, at the end of the day, it is about serving your customers. From there, look at what they do well and ask yourself, “What do I like about this and what would I do differently if I were their CEO?”

It takes a lot of self-belief to become a thought leader because you will need to look at a winning recipe and dare to change it to fit your passion and vision. To look at any recipe is simple, but to cook takes skills, and that's where you have to believe in yourself.

Believing in your unique outlook and being passionate about something are the true fundamentals of any thought leader.

One of the perks of freelancing is that you don’t have to answer to a boss—other than yourself. The challenge is to make sure that if you’re your own boss, you’re a great one! That may mean that you don’t overload your schedule, take unfulfilling jobs, or stand for low pay that doesn’t match your skill set. To make this happen, you might need to turn down some clients—even if it means missing out on income opportunities. As our crowd-sourced panel can attest to, some freelance jobs just aren’t worth it. The trick is being able to detect and avoid those jobs.

Out of my normal hours or scope of work

I have turned down clients in the past if they ask me to work past normal “work” hours. For example, I recently had a client ask me to join meetings at 7, 8, and even 9 pm. While I understand time zones can be an issue, if a client is asking me to regularly join meetings past my work hours, I usually turn them away respectfully.

I have turned down clients for asking for things I don't normally provide clients. For example, I recently had a client ask me to create a media list for them that they then were able to own and use however they saw fit. That is not normal practice in my industry, and thus I had to pass on working with them. There are businesses out there who want a cheap way to get the resources they need, without investing in a long-term relationship with you.

This leads to my next reason for turning down a client… if a client wants to continually work on an hourly or project basis. I don't mind working on a project or hourly basis for a new client, to begin with, and build trust. However, if a client wants to continue with that format, they aren't working towards creating a long-term relationship with you as a freelancer. You'll end up putting in way more time/effort than you're getting paid for.

It isn't the right fit

Yes, I know it's cliche, but there come times where a project just isn't the right fit for me. I've worked as a freelance copywriter for just over a decade and, while there are months where any money seems like good money, I've learned to nurture my quality of life and the enjoyment of my work over my bank account.

It's a great idea to ask your prospective clients just as many questions as they inevitably ask you. Find out whether your prospect's brand, message, and perhaps most importantly, their values align with yours.

Burnout is a pretty hot topic right now, though it's nothing new – it's been around for a very long time and I guarantee that being mindful of how well your prospect fits you will work to fight burnout better than any other solution you've found!

You don’t have to take every client that comes your way

As a freelancer of 8 years, I’ve definitely had to turn down a number of clients over the years. Before signing a client, you have to understand who your ideal client is – are they based in a country or time zone that works with your schedule and location? Can they afford your pricing? Are they a small 2-person business or a 100-person company?

I’ve mostly turned down potential clients who try to negotiate my pricing – and not because they’re negotiating, but because these clients are typically the ones who end up being the most difficult—the ones who bargain the most, and the ones who are messaging you at 8pm on the weekend. Of course, this isn’t always the case, but as a freelancer, you have to be able to recognize certain behaviors in your less-than-ideal potential clients.

As you get more experience as a freelancer, you tend to realize that you don’t have to take every client that comes your way.

I avoid high-complexity projects that aren’t commensurate with pay

I typically turn down clients if I sense that there will be more complexity involved with the project relative to the amount the client is willing to pay. While sometimes this can be difficult to gauge, I am learning more about what I can and cannot or am not willing to do. Being able to estimate the time sink of different tasks and project milestones is the key to creating that time versus value relationship.

I also turn down clients if I suspect that I can't deliver enough value to them, whether that's because the project is outside my current skill set, the project requires more than one person to [complete], or the client and I have differences of opinion on how the project should be completed. I try to get a sense of whether or not the client is communicative – projects are very challenging to complete if there isn't ongoing communication, and so I don't take on clients who seem distracted, disinterested, or less involved in the progress of the project.

Payment:

Sadly, there are still some people who think freelancers should earn less than a “formal” worker. Especially when I was starting, I received so many proposals offering full-time jobs with a payment that was less than minimum wage, and when I told them my prices they just left the chat! I remember seeing clients who were seeking freelancers abroad in Latin America and Asia because they could pay them way less than American and European freelancers.

The client is asking one freelancer to do the job of 3 people:

This is something quite specific, but it has happened so many times I now spot them immediately. There is this type of client who wants a freelancer to do everything. For example, they will ask for a social media manager to run their SM account and create content, and take pictures, and offer customer service, and do graphic design, and a long etcetera. Usually, they also offer terrible payment and tend to be extra bossy. Runaway from those!

Saying no is sometimes necessary

Considering that paychecks are not automatic when you’re a freelancer, it may be strange to talk about turning down potential freelance work. However, believe it or not, there will come a day when saying no will become one of the best decisions you will ever make.

As much as I’d love to take on every project that comes my way, I sometimes turn down a client when I’ve already got prior work commitments. While it’s tempting to always accept new work opportunities, adding new projects to my plate when I no longer have the time or energy to spare would only lower the quality of my work. Hence, as much as possible, I make it a point to simply focus on delivering my best work to my existing clients.

I also tend to refuse a freelance job when a client insists on quantity instead of quality. Not only do I disagree with this approach, but I also find little value—and absolutely no pleasure—in working for these kinds of clients.

There is a reason why I started freelancing in the first place, and that is to find freedom and meaningfulness in my career. While saying no isn’t easy, and rejection isn’t fun, I knew that taking on every project that came my way would only come to bite me in the ass someday.

To write copy that sells, you need to know your audience—their hopes, fears, pain points, and more. We asked writers how to put this in action. Read on to learn more.

Each platform demands its own tone of voice

The emotions and behaviors I try to trigger in my writing depend on the industry, the medium, the objective, and the goals of the copy. The first thing I take into consideration is the image and values of the brand because I want the customers to identify with the brand to build trust. The next variable I address is the objective and goals of the project. What does the client want the reader to do when they read the words? Where will the copy be used and where in the funnel is the reader likely to be?

If a brand wants a quick reaction to [encourage] a short-term purchase, then fear of missing out or appealing to one's ego as an early adopter might work.

If a brand wants to build a long-term, trusting relationship with its audience, then the copy needs to speak to the values, opinions, and ideals of the reader to show how they and the brand are aligned.

Say it with copy that really knows how to sell

Copywriting is both a science and an art. The goal is, “Say it with copy that really gets the point across!” and, “Say it with copy that really knows how to sell.”

AND to do it as both a science and an art… before you start writing anything, address these kinds of questions with your client:

1. What does the product do?
2. Who buys it?
3. Why, when, and where do they buy it?
4. How does that product compare to its competition?
5. What are the advantages or key selling points of using that product as opposed to any similar products?
6. In what kind of media will the ads be running?
7. What will the call to action be to get people to buy the product now?
8. Then, put your thinking cap on and start doing some writing.
9. After that, discuss the copy with your boss to see if it's going in the right direction and make any changes your boss suggests.
10. And then, get ready to discuss the copy with your client and make any changes the client suggests.
11. Then, discuss the copy with your boss and then your client.
12. ….and then…get ready to do it all over again if their opinion changes.
13. Go home and enjoy the evening because the same process will start all over again tomorrow.