How I got my first copywriting job with zero experience (and how you can too)

The world isn’t out to get you, but it can feel like that.

When you need copywriting experience to get a copywriting job, and you to get a job to get experience, it seems like the universe is set up against you.

But really, it just makes sense. Your potential boss or client wants to see that you can do the work before they risk their money on you.

I managed to break through this cycle thanks to a bit of luck, but if you intentionally pursue what I stumbled upon, you can shortcut the whole process.

I build a relationship and then offered my services when needed

My experience writing articles for websites (for low rates) helped me establish relationships with website owners.

They got to know me and the quality of my written work. I got to know them and the plans they had for their websites. Then one day in a slack group, an editor asked if someone could design a new newsletter landing page.

I jumped on the opportunity and got my first piece of portfolio work.

My foot was in the door, but I needed more.

I practiced my skills on my own side project

I was creating my own side project at the time — a website with resources on street photography — and I used it as a chance to practice copywriting skills such as writing landing pages and emails campaigns.

This provided more for my portfolio, but it wasn’t focused.

I created example work for my ideal clients

Although the likes of Canva and Mailchimp weren’t hiring me, I pretended they were.

Working on these example landing pages and nurturing sequences gave me a portfolio to share. But it also pushed me as a copywriter. I had to work out what these clients actually needed, and then I’d compare my ideas with their ones often revealing that they knew best!

I replaced the fakes with real experience

Over the next three years, I replaced my limited and fake client work with real examples.

These have the benefit of proving that I can work to a client’s brief and hit deadlines, unlike my fake dream client work.

A quick word of warning!

Always save a pdf copy of marketing materials you work on.

You never know if they will be updated or if the company will be sold off or go out of business.

This post was created with Typeshare