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home2016 February Find the Online Copywriting Work You’ll Love Most

How to Find the Online Copywriting Work You’ll Love Most
By Nick Usborne


Nick Usborne

In yesterday’s article I told you why online copywriters are in the enviable position of being able to pick and choose the type of work they love most.

Today I’m going to help you identify the kinds on online writing projects YOU’LL really love to work on.

And yes, these are all in areas where you’ll be able to charge premium fees.

But being successful as an online copywriter isn’t just about the money.

Sure, the money is important. And when you hit six-figures, it’s great.

But … I wouldn’t want six-figures if it meant my every working day was a misery. Life is too short.

And believe me, I know what I’m talking about. Over the years I have taken on a few projects that made me miserable from start to finish. Why did I take them on? Greed. Every time it was because the money was so good.

But I regretted every one of those projects.

There’s really no need to make that kind of mistake, because you can find plenty of projects that are both profitable and enjoyable.

OK … now let’s figure out how you can identify your own “love interest” as an online copywriter.

First, let’s consider the industry …

What lights your fire?

Health and wellness? Money and investment? Fashion and jewelry? Travel and hospitality? Home and garden? Luxury goods? Consumer electronics? Automotive? Aviation? Sports?

Just pick an industry that really interests you. It could be on the consumer side — B2C — with your clients selling to the end consumer. Or it could be B2B, where your clients are selling to other companies.

Next up, figure out what kind of writing you’ll love the most.

This is what’s so wonderful about being an online copywriter. There is a massive amount of work out there for every kind of writer.

Go through this list and put a check mark next to the kinds of writing projects you think you’d enjoy most.

I would love to write …

  • Online long copy sales letters
  • e-Newsletters
  • Blog posts
  • Web content pages
  • Lead generation pages
  • Promotional emails
  • Product reviews
  • Buyers’ guides
  • Video scripts
  • Social media content

The kind of online writing work you choose will depend on your natural aptitude and personal preferences.

Maybe you’re a hard-core sales copywriter. Maybe you prefer to write serious editorial content. Or perhaps you’re more of a conversational writer, ideally suited to writing blog posts and content for social media. If you’re more of a technical writer, you’ll find a home writing product reviews, buyers’ guides, case studies, or white papers.

The point being, the online environment offers work for every type of writer.

And that means YOU get to choose. My advice is to choose the industry you feel drawn to, and the type of writing you really love to do.

For me, this is the true magic of being an online copywriter. This is what has kept me so excited about my own work online for 20 years now!

I love what I do because I get to choose the companies I work for, and the kind of writing work I enjoy the most.

That’s it for today.

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the kind of income you can expect to make.

In the meantime, be sure to scroll down and share any thoughts or questions you may have in the comment box.

The Digital Copywriter's Handbook

The Digital Copywriter's Handbook

Learn how to become an in-demand online copywriter for companies big and small. Online copywriting expert Nick Usborne shows you how to write web copy that converts. Learn More »


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Published: February 9, 2016
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43 Responses to “How to Find the Online Copywriting Work You’ll Love Most”

  1. Hi Nick,

    First of all, congratulations on the new addition to your family!

    In the summer of 2015, I accidentally obtained a client as the result of a mistaken Adwords PPC campaign set up when I was enrolled in your MMW program. Unfortunately, Google wouldn't return the money spent, but I did write a few Web content pages for a client and was paid for it. I enjoyed that project very much. :)

    I also agree with you that money isn't everything.

    Sheila –

  2. Hi Nick,

    How about I just log in here and tell you how terribly nervous I am about getting started; and I haven't even had that much tea today! I have no idea how I am doing, or, if it would please anyone!

    I love the list! Any helpful hints on taking the dive in the deep end, please assist...if anyone reads this at all.

    Thank you for all that AWAI does to help writers!

    Nerveeeousssly,

    Doralyn Bigelow

    Doralyn –

  3. Great advice. I would like to write for sewing magazines like Threads or Sew News. Will you write another post about how to approach businesses for work? Thanks

    Guest (Harikleia) –

  4. I am a readaholic, (my term) and this work is very interesting. I have been in the gardening industry for over 25yrs. I have a passion for the home and garden. Recent complications have put me out of work and I was looking for something to from my Laptop!! Thank you.

    KATEVA88 –

  5. Nick. Again, you're deceiving your readers. The fact is, when you're an online copywriter, you don't get to choose. You have to take whatever work comes to you.

    Being an online copywriter means you have the freedom to starve wherever you want. You're constantly looking for work, and finding very little of it.

    I'd love to do regular blog posts for my clients. But those jobs come very rarely, and don't last too long. The rest of the time, I'm scrambling to find work. That's the reality of it.

    Guest (Robert Lindsay) –

  6. Thank you for sharing Nick! I really needed this article. TODAY!!. I'm new to copywriting and I'm really struggling with the direction I should take. I have hobbies, but it's not areas I'd be passionate to write about.

    Would it be wise to choose something you are interested in but have no experience?

    I'm beginning to feel a bit stuck!!

    Thanks again Nick.
    MR

    MR –

  7. Now I'm interested in what advice you may have given to Circle of Success member June. Could you include advice you've given to her?

    Pat H –

  8. Hi Nick, I really appreciate your willingness to help us "newbies"... my problem is, I'm not even sure what the difference is between all the categories you listed, so I have no idea whether I would like them or not! Am I too old to do this? I don't really think so, but how do I get a crash course in online media?

    HappyCat –

  9. Nick. I never said the life of a freelance copywriter has to be miserable. I'm saying that's the reality, from my experience.

    Your articles are all positive. "You'll have so much fun, and make so much money." But the reality is, you're constantly searching for new clients, and not finding many who have a need for your services.

    I'll read your other articles. But I've used methods offered by copywriting gurus like you and have yet to find one that got me a steady stream of work & income.

    Guest (Robert Lindsay) –

  10. Nick. First, I very much respect your talent, background, and genuine encouraging personality. Very real... that's awesome! Some pro writers say pick a niche industry and work in it as a one-stop shop because clients prefer not to deal with multiple writers. Others, as you've mentioned, say niche in an industry and media style. Do you think the difference is the size and complexity of the client? Or maybe it is personal experience doing the talking?

    Brad Dunse –

  11. First, I greatly respect your talent and genuineness. Some pro writers say to niche an industry alone, because clients look for one-stop shop writers as to not deal with more than one writer. Some, as you've stated, say to niche an industry and also a media type(s). I like what you've said. I know passion matters. Do you feel the advice difference is client size? Or maybe just personal experience?

    Brad Dunse –

  12. Hi I like all of the list. Just I have a hard time to find time for doing freelance writing. However I hope you can somehow help me with this. Can you give me some pointers on how to write my OWN copy? I write my own ebooks and pattern books but don't know how I would go about writing my own copy to sell my own stuff. Any pointers? Any help with this is most appreciated.

    Jeannine

    Jeannine –

  13. Hey Nick,

    Thanks for the articles, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of them this week.
    I'm interested in writing; Online long copy, Sales letters, e-Newsletters, Blogging, Lead generation pages, Promotional emails, Product reviews and a mess of other things that I can't think of at the moment. I'm very interested in the local art scene here in Newfoundland and Labrador being a fledgling artist and writer. I'm also interested in helping adults suffering with childhood trauma. Cheers!

    Ricardo –

  14. Hi Nick,

    Got lots of exciting ideas from your last webinar. Currently I am absorbing as much as possible from Katie & Rebecca in the Accelerate Copywriting course while trying to plot my future.

    I am a storyteller, I love research. B2B interests me most; white papers, product reviews, buyers guides seems to fit my style. e-Newsletters are a close 2nd. I know what appeals to me.

    Now I need some ideas on how to narrow my niche. Or can e-Newsletters be a niche?

    Tony B –

  15. I'm so excited about this opportunity, my mind and my heart go in several different direction. I wrote in college,a thesis and two dissertations. I'm a Christian and still have a hard time focusing on what area that would not be to techical. I want my reader's to becited and want more! your thoughts

    Guest (Dr A J Jackson PHD PSYD) –

  16. Hi Nick, I have taken your 2.0 course, so I know about your strategies for success. I have questions similar to Brad's. From the client's perspective, they need numerous products and do not want to hire different copywriters for each need. This calls for copywriters to have many skills and to be skilled across numerous media. Any comments about this?

    Nora King –

  17. Hi Nick, I've responded once already but I'll make another comment in response to Robert's comments.
    We hear next-to-nothing of the people who do not complete the AWAI programs and of those who fail in their efforts to implement what they have learned. Just as with anything else in life, there are going to be those who succeed and those who don't. AWAI is no different that other marketers in that they place their success stories front and center as they promote their programs.

    Nora King –

  18. Hi Nick I'm new to copy writing. I am an unpublished children, teen and adult author. I love to write stories of Supernatural/horror, mystery and romance. I don't want to run a copy writing business but I am interested in doing copy writing. I'm doing the Accelerated program and I want to find my niche. I've worked with children that's all I've done for almost twenty years beside working for AT&T for a couple of months. I love video games, anime, manga and cartoons and movies. Where do I fit? Can you please help me? Thanks.

    Guest (Janice) –

  19. Nora King. I have completed two courses offered by AWAI. For example, I completed Steve Slaunwhite's "Practically Painless Prospecting" course.

    I am using the techniques Steve advocates to reach out to prospective customers using targeted emails. It helps me to make connections. What it doesn't do is get work for me.

    I'm doing everything that AWAI recommends doing in order to find clients, and it isn't paying off. That's why I take issue with Nick's sunny attitude sales pitch.

    Guest (Robert Lindsay) –

  20. Hi, Nick I would like to write promotional sales.
    On the other hand, I am interested in health and wellness. Even though I am very new and inexperience, I am excited about the possibility of learning copy- writing. It is intellectually stimulating. I hope to be good at it.
    Rita.

    Rita –

  21. Thanks. I hear persist until balance of "life on my terms" and a niche--industry or media or both-- gives lift-off. Just needed grounding. I'm good with that. I've gotten one client before finishing Accelerated Copywriter ;D. Fortunately, I've had success at things others didn't, with the same opportunities. Life is funny that way. People have different reactions and attitudes towards unsuccessful outcomes. Those two have more to do with success or fail than any skill itself, IMO.

    Brad Dunse –

  22. I want to be a copy writer but, do I have to make it out of a business? I'm new to copy writing so maybe I'm not understanding this. All the things I had mention in the comment before this one about being an unpublished author, working with children for nearly twenty years is all I know. Where do I fit? Thanks.

    Guest (Janice) –

  23. Okay thanks, you answered my question about the copy writing part. And I do apologize for not making it clear enough. Now, about the niche part. I have worked for nearly twenty years with children in a before and after school kids environment and I was a teachers aid. I'm an unpublished author for children teen and adult books. I love writing fiction. My interest is children and what they like. Where would this fit? Thanks.

    Guest (Janice) –

  24. Once snagged by the Medici, second-to-none talent Michelangelo was in the driver seat. He was able to leverage his B2B (i.e., Medici to Vatican) appeal with his B2C (i.e., shepherd to sheep) inspiration.

    You see? Maintaining Augustine's 'City of God' required BOTH the wealth of the Holy See AND the paid-for indulgences whence sinners could streamline their journey to heaven. And art was the best enabler of both; the only means by which the Reformation could duly be countered.

    Ca-CHING!

    Guest (Chris Morris) –

  25. The problem I'm struggling with is weird. What's keeping me from going all out as a copywriter is I feel I'm just working another job. Yes I can choose who to work with but I'm still looking for work and doing it for someone else. Wanting to create passive income is my desire. Even royalties can run out after a while. What is the way to create a platform to build upon? I don't do mlm anymore so that's not an option.

    Guest (Martin ) –

  26. Nick, I'm relatively new to AWAI,and would like your recommendation on the best approach to take for a beginner. I'm interested in email newsletters, white papers or case studies. Is it realistic to be able to pursue this directly, or would you suggest a different approach, say taking a copywriting course first,then pursue a niche such as the ones I mentioned above? Thanks alot for your opinion!

    Guest (Steve Heisinger) –


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