Yes, it is! Without mincing words, copywriting is an excellent side hustle. You can pick up high-paying clients from anywhere and work with them on your schedule. It’s very creative, fun, and flexible.
However, it is at the same time, not a side hustle in how some people attempt to do side business. Some people choose to venture into side businesses in areas in which they are interested but are not necessarily “pros.”
And that’s perfectly fine if it is storekeeping, dog walking, house cleaning, or kids’ party planning; people can offer a reasonably high level of service in each area without being full-fledged professionals.
However, some side hustles demand more skill and experience, and copywriting is one of them.
For example, if anyone ventures into tax preparation as a side hustle, such a person should better know what tax preparation officers do, right?
The same is valid for bookkeeping services, legal assistance, copywriting, graphic design, and other careers requiring people to acquire and hone skills.
However, rather than dissuading you, this should better encourage and brace you up. After all, all the heads up, skills, and experiences you gain will enable you to use your copywriting abilities wherever and whenever you want.
It is also a skill that will help you in the future if you ever decide to start other online businesses (which there is a chance you will).
So,
What makes a good side hustle?
First off, the side hustle is now officially mainstream, but regardless of how it is helping you to make a lot of money, never mistake your side hustle for a full-time job.
A good side hustle can significantly increase your wages or monthly income with only a few work hours per week. It can also provide you with additional funds when unforeseen work circumstances arise.
At the start of 2021, more than one-third of Americans complemented their full-time job with a side hustle, with another 21% planning to start one before the end of 2022.
So, with tons of profitable side hustle business ideas available, it’s no wonder people are looking for ways to supplement their income.
That being said, one of the most profitable side hustles isn’t some novel concept. It’s traditional copywriting. Freelance copywriters earn an annual salary of $55,000 on average.
That’s a good wage for a full-time job and a fantastic side hustle. After all, a perfect side hustle is a business that allows you to earn extra money on the side and has the potential and ability to grow into a full-fledged business if adequately planned.
The following are, however, the requirements of a good side hustle:
1. Time: Before deciding on a side hustle, look over your calendar and have an open discussion about the amount of time you can devote to starting your business. If the side hustle requires a substantial amount of time, it is not a good side hustle.
2. Skill sets: Not all side jobs necessitate acquiring new skills. If you’re good at making activities for your children, you could perhaps turn them into a money-making side hustle by selling activity bundles on Etsy or Instagram. If you enjoy baking, you can start taking orders to bake on weekends.
3. Demands: Of what use is a side hustle without people’s wants or demands? Once a great deal of the audience craves particular skill sets, it is an ideal side hustle.
Does copywriting fit the requirements?
Since a side hustle is a small business or startup you operate in your spare time to supplement your income, copywriting fits the above requirements for a good side hustle.
People may start a side hustle to boost their income indefinitely, or they may begin with the intention of eventually transitioning to full-time work. In this case, copywriting is a perfect example of it.
Anyone can be a copywriter. This is not to say that everyone should be a copywriter. But if you are ready to learn the art and science of copywriting, then you are good to go.
A copywriter is required for any internet-based business. This implies that you have an endless supply of potential customers.
Plus, a copywriter doesn’t need to be in the workplace daily to carry out his copywriting tasks. You can pick up your laptop and write -conveniently- from any part of the world at any time.
Compared to other side hustles, copywriting rewards you for your efforts over time. Most copywriters maintain and own blogs, Twitter accounts, LinkedIn profiles, etc., where they share copywriting-related content.
Lastly, suppose you’re interested in entrepreneurship but want to be financially responsible. In that case, a good side hustle like copywriting combines the best of both worlds and can put money in your pocket.
Examples of successful copywriters making a killing
Deciding to become a copywriter is not as simple as waking up one day and coming up with the idea of wanting to write. While this is an excellent first step, copywriting is a distinct career path that requires much hard work and commitment.
Aside from practicing (a good and ideal way to hone your skills) and taking online courses, it is equally a great idea to look at the finest copywriters of the moment.
Many people think that in order to kickstart a career as a notable copywriter, you must either
- Take an infinite number of copywriting courses
- Work in an advertising agency;
- Or be mentored by a copywriting guru.
However, the reality is that a lot of copywriters begin their careers doing completely unrelated work. And their journey to copywriting leads them down a winding and fidgety career path.
Let’s cover some true and interesting life stories from the copywriting community in the hopes that they will motivate you to start – even if it is a side hustle.
The first copywriter making a killing in the industry to look at is Michal Eisikowitz, a copywriter and brand strategist.
Michal was a student when she decided to pursue a side hustle in copywriting. Then, she worked as a marketing assistant intern at a publishing company while reading her master’s in communication sciences.
Her journey as a freelance copywriter was not that bright to start with, but she was able to raise her earnings from the side hustle from 3k per month to 15k in the wake of two years. Inspiring, isn’t it?
There is also Alex Lewis of Lewis Commercial Writing. Lewis’s journey into the copywriting industry was completely by accident. His first gig for a nonprofit organization was like a miracle.
He never had any idea on how to write a website copy, blog post, fundraising campaigns, ad copy, or any other related content idea his first employer needed him to write. His lucky charm was only that he had a friend that recommended him.
He did not let go of an opportunity that he knew nothing about. Lewis accepted the copywriting gig and – without any experience- and went ahead to learn more about it – even though he was still a high school student doing many odd jobs to settle bills.
At 23 and without a college degree, Lewis was earning $15 per hour on Upwork and Craiglist to settle bills. But with patience and determination, he was able to turn things around with the help of a friend who advised him to pursue a career in tech writing.
His first win later came from a gig he contracted on Upwork. Now, he is being hired by top companies and business organizations not for his writing but for his ideas. He turned the side hustle into a real business and, as such, took it to the next level.
Kat Boogaard is another top-notch copywriter earning six figures from doing what she knows how to do best.
She didn’t start out by making a killing right from the word “go.” According to her, “freelancing is not a get-rich-quick scheme and it is equally not a side hustle with low effort”.
Kat started her copywriting hustle with $5,300 for a good six months. She was so proud of it because she believed that nothing she earned was too small for doing what she loved doing. In her words, “Money isn’t everything!”
Kat was too bold to drop many clients along the journey to making six figures – because they didn’t pay her well, and she worked day and night (including weekends) too, to maintain consistency in the industry.
Similarly, there is Rashida Tayabali, a marketer turned copywriter. She started writing as a side gig while she was on maternity leave. That’s the secret of most copywriters that are making it real out there. They started the journey as a side hustle.
Rashida took a few courses online before she began submitting ideas to magazine editors. She got her first byline at the end, and she felt fulfilled. Subsequently, she started writing some copy for her friends (free of charge) and gradually got used to copywriting.
Currently, this marketer turned copywriter splits her time between feature writing and copywriting while enjoying the variety and freedom that come with working on her own hours on interests-driven projects.
Every successful copywriter starts out in the same way, with no prior experience. Be consistent and intentional, take on small gigs, but don’t be scared of saying goodbye to low-paying clients. Celebrate your small wins and don’t imprison yourself.
Copywriting as a career – how to get started?
1. Cover the basics
Before starting a copywriting service, you must fulfill the prerequisites for managing a freelance business as a side hustle.
- A personal computer (PC)
- Internet connection,
- Web front to promote your services
These are the first things you need to implement to be a copywriter. Please note that a web front doesn’t have to be a website, it could be your Linkedin account.
2. Select Your Services.
What kind of services will you provide to your customers? You should focus on writing specific types of copy, such as web content, advertisement copy, email marketing, sales funnel copywriting, and more.
When starting your copywriting service, concentrate on a particular niche if you have a prior experience in that field.
3. Decide on Your Prices
One of the most difficult tasks for newbie copywriters in the freelancing industry is determining the price you will charge your clients.
Setting this price is an essential step. Hence, to establish a reasonable range for the market in your area, look at what the established copywriters near you charge first.
Find other copywriters with comparable experience levels offering similar services, and find out their rates. To give clients some flexibility, it’s a good idea to establish a per-word and hourly rate.
When setting your prices, be sure to consider your utilities, health insurance, rent, and other business costs.
Setting a low rate when you first start to get as many clients as possible could be tempting, but you should ensure that your charges are viable in the long run.
4. Gather your portfolios
Create a portfolio that includes a list of your services, samples of your writing, and a biography so that potential clients can learn and understand more about you.
You don’t have to wait to get a client in order to prepare samples. You can simply “hire yourself” by writing sample content for your ideal client.
5. Network
To get your first set of clients, you can employ networking. Reach out to friends and colleagues to inform them about your new copywriting services. Set up your social media profiles (LinkedIn and Twitter) and build a network of fellow copywriters around you.
If there is anything I have learned from copywriting communities, it is the collaboration and partnership they provide to one another. Collaboration always beats the competition.
6. Establish Your Brand
With a strong brand, you can stand out from the competition and give your company a personality that customers can connect with.
Your brand encompasses your company’s voice and manner and its visual identity, including your logo, font choices, and color scheme.
You can establish your brand by creating thought leadership content for your target prospects on your Linkedin account, Twitter account, and business website. You can also accomplish this by guest posting.
Once you have a distinct brand, you will start getting requests from prospects.
7. Now, start writing.
After you must create a portfolio online, what is left in your copywriting journey is to land your first paying client. It’s time to start writing valuable content, land more and more clients, and create even more web or ad copy.
Wrapping up – Making your first dollar as a copywriter
By and large, this is where the real work of becoming a copywriter begins—securing a paying client and making your first dollar. All the skills you’ve honed over several months will be worthless without a paying customer.
So, to secure your first client and make your first dollar, you need to join as many freelance copywriting job listing sites as possible. These are excellent places for a copywriter without much experience to find work and earn a few dollars.
These freelance job boards may not provide jobs with high wages, but because they are well-liked by clients, they feature a large variety of opportunities that you can apply for.
Among these top freelance writing websites to consider are Fiverr, Upwork, Craigslist, Guru, FreelanceWriting.com, Freelancer, Blogging Pro,iFreelance, ProBlogger, etc.
To round off, I’d like to mention that there are now AI copywriting tools that can make the job easier for you (but you shouldn’t be totally dependent on them).
I wish you the very best with your copywriting career.
