Graduating soon - Freelance Copywriting?

[pjmurphy]

Hello all,

I am about to complete my studies in University. I hold a BA in Media Studies and English and am about to complete a graduate entry LLB in Law.

Looking to the future, it seems to me that getting employed in a company is more difficult than it was a couple of years ago. I opted for further study rather than entering the workforce.

Now I want to consider my career options.

Copywriting appeals to me, and I like the idea of freelance work, being my own boss, and running my own business.

I've no professional experience but I have written for the college newspaper regularly. I also designed and produced posters and flyers for college societies. I've also some experience of script-writing and program production in radio and television as part of my primary degree. I enjoy writing and I think I have what it takes to be successful as a copywriter.

Sadly, I also have to consider my finances - college has left them threadbare so I do need a regular source of income. Is it feasible to work a regular job and build a copywriting business up?

What have your experiences been? I'd appreciate any insights you may have.

Phil Murphy.

[jack8009]

If you have excellent writing skills and have copywriting experience, this could be the ideal business venture for you.

To start this , you would need excellent writing skills. Copywriting is now big business on the internet. Advertisers are increasingly looking to skilled copywriters to create their promotional copy. A highly skilled copywriter can earn thousands of dollars per month if he has got the time and skills to dedicate to such a venture

[MShaw]

My advice would be to work for a company for a little while first. Freelance work is not regular work, and there's a lot to be said for a regular salary when you first start out!

Working for a company will also help you build up experience, a portfolio and a list of clients for when you do make the jump.

Clients may also be a bit nervous working with you if they know you're new to it all.

Sorry for being so negative! I promise you that working for someone else really isn't all that bad!

[Miss Bee]

I've become freelance after being employed for five years in two companies. The first was a PR agency, the second a corporate communications department in a FTSE 250 company.

I developed a lot of very valuable skills working for both companies (even if I didn't particular enjoy the work in the agency). These include:

- Experience of working both for an agency and 'client-side';
- How to work with very senior internal stakeholders, such as directors, including the FD and CEO in my last company;
- Developing an understanding of where my particular offering (online) sits within an overall communications strategy;
- How to work with other people!
- Understanding how to promote myself, the importance of reputation and consistently high quality work.

Finally, you make contacts so that people share your details. The majority of my colleagues were more senior than me and know lots of people in the industry. They know what I can do and will hopefully pass on my name and vouch for me!

This is not an exhaustive list, obviously. Lots of people here have many more years' experience than me, in different types of work, but I hope I've outlined some good reasons for you.

[30secondsovertokyo]

I'm looking for some advice too...

I've been working for a magazine as a writer for around a year, and now I'm off to do an MA. I'm looking at freelance work to support myself while studying, and I was wondering how much copywriting work was home-based. It's not something I've done before, but diversification seems to be the way forward!

I won't be in a position to have much client contact, so will I struggle to find work in this area? I've got a reasonable portfolio of journalism/web-writing etc. but will this be any use?

If anybody can point me in the right direction, it would be much appreciated.