Advertising professionals looking to pursue an advertising career outside of an agency may be interested in a job as a freelance copywriter. Some job perks include: the ability to be your own boss, create your own schedule, and work from home.

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	Many freelance copywriters inaccurately believe that they must have a strong foundation in graphic design.

As any advertising professional can attest, an advertising job at a well-known advertising agency such as Ogilvy & Mather or BBDO definitely has its perks. With reputations for excellence, employment with one of these advertising behemoths proves that you are one of the best advertising professionals in the industry. Moreover, you are able to work daily on some of the most exciting and dynamic accounts the industry has to offer, gaining invaluable experience and maybe even an ADDY Award or two in the process.

However, such high-flying advertising jobs also have some drawbacks. Working in a stressful, fast-paced, and competitive environment such as this may ultimately push advertising professionals to look elsewhere for employment. Serving as a freelance copywriter, for instance, will enable you to work from the comfort of your own home, be your own boss, make good money, and write for a wide range of clients and companies. Sound good? Well, read on to more about being a freelance copywriter.

Education: A four-year college degree in a field related to advertising is not required, but it is helpful. Copywriting courses, either online of via mail, are also highly recommended. Regardless of someone’s educational background, however, the majority of freelance copywriters have at some point in their advertising careers worked at an advertising agency where they honed their copywriting skills.

Required Skills: First and foremost, freelance copy writers need to possess superior writing abilities. They must also have confidence in their work, the ability to multi-task, and the ability to work effectively under stringent deadlines. Organizational skills are crucial as projects often overlap. Additionally, freelance copywriters need to be flexible so that they can quickly modify an approach if a client requests a change. The ability to work independently and maintain a professional demeanor is also highly desirable.

A Typical Day: The typical work day for the freelance copywriter begins at 9:00 in the morning when he or she starts communicating with clients. These conversations usually revolve around the copywriter’s most recent work. The client may have requests that he or she would like the writer to implement or comments about the direction of the campaign. After talking with clients, a copywriter’s responsibilities are varied and can include brainstorming, developing new copy ideas, conducting research, revising scripts, or generating new business.

Misconceptions: Many freelance copywriters inaccurately believe that they must have a strong foundation in graphic design. Often, however, agencies or clients do not expect you to be a superior graphic designer; they simply expect you to be a great and innovative writer. Also, very few freelance copywriters have input when creative decisions are made. Usually, freelance copywriters are expected to create a campaign, or some type of other advertising material, only after the more macro decisions have been made.

Advantages/Disadvantages of the Job: Being self-employed means paying a lot of taxes. Nearly 40% of everything that you make will go directly to taxes. Also, working as a freelance copywriter means that while you have the independence you crave, you don’t benefit from working in a team as you would in an agency. Although some freelances have the luxury to work as many or as few hours as they would like, and to work with only clients that they want to, this isn’t always the case. More often than not, projects come from advertising agencies or in-house departments who do not have the resources to complete a certain project but are under a time constraint. Still, working from home is considered one of the best perks there is and offsets any disadvantages.

Compensation: The annual earnings of freelance copywriters vary significantly and are directly dependent upon how many projects they take on. Salaries can range from the low teens to $100,000 and beyond. In addition to the number of projects you take on, other factors that will impact your compensation include your level of experience, your predetermined rates, your clientele, and your ability to generate new business.

Getting Started: After deciding to venture out on your own, it is recommended that, at least initially, you keep your current advertising job. Creating business cards, a website, and other marketing materials to promote your business should be some of the first tasks accomplished. Determining what you will charge, and whether or not it will vary by client and project, also needs to be considered. After you have built up a sustainable client base and the income to support yourself, then you can leave your cushy 9-to-5 job. Remember: networking is key!

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