Copywriting qualifications and travelling requirements

[candyflossqueen]

I have spent the past few years building up a successful translation business and am now considering extending the services I provide to include copywriting as I have a flair for writing. I am considering gaining a qualification in copywriting (preferably by distance learning) as a starting point. I have been looking at the Diploma in Copywriting from the Institute of Copywriting. Does anyone have any positive or negative experiences of this?
Also, is it necessary to travel to face-to-face client meetings as a freelance copywriter? This might be a bit of an obstacle at the moment as I fit my working day around the DCs' school and nursery drop-off and pick-up times and live in a rural area. TIA.

Hi candyflossqueen, I work in marketing, not copywriting, so can't help much, but there is an organisation called 26 www.26.org.uk which a lot of writers/ copywriters are members of - there is a forum over there, maybe someone there might know more about the diploma? I think you have to pay to join 26 but as far as I know it's only £26 a year so might be worth it if you are thinking of going into that line of work anyway.
Have you offered copywriting services to any of your regular clients, if they have a need for it? It would be a good way to build up a portfoilio, and new clients would, I think, be more likely to want to see examples of your work than to know you have a qualification. Just wondering if the diploma would be really worth it, especially if it is pricey. Sorry if these are things you have already thought of or are doing, like I said, I don't know much about it, that's just my tuppence worth.
Good luck!