Freelance copywriters/writers/journos/PR people - Website, do you have one?

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I am setting up as a freelance copywriter (journalist for years) and I have a couple of clients that I got through a press agency I worked with years ago. I am now in a position to try for more. I am just wondering if I need my own website before I begin casting my net (both online and face to face)? I am quite good with WordPress but I don't know if this will look professional enough...

Do you have a website? Did you do it yourself or pay someone? Also, if you have one, do you use it to get new work/refer to it a lot?

Apologies if this question has been asked a thousand times before...

Yes. I think it's important to have a website because it shows you're not a fly-by-night or (worse) just freelancing because you can't get a 'proper' job.

I've done it myself. Wordpress sites look perfectly professional if you pick a decent theme. I've never got any work directly from the website (yet) but I know that people do look on it to check up on me, as it were.

I have a domain name registered to me but I've never got round to building the website! I have a good LinkedIn profile with a reasonable number of recent testimonials and a nice wee pdf package of my clips that I can zip and send or flick through on an iPad if I'm in front of someone. You definitely need to 'prove' your creds and have a way of showing your work, but it doesn't have to be on a website.

LinkedIn works well for me. Not interested in my website but have one to save saying same boring thing to people ...

I do but it's an absolute shocker! I think if you're going to have one it needs to be properly set up, professional and updated often, otherwise you're better off using LinkedIn and putting the effort in there.

Try setting up a twitter account too, they can help for networking.

Good luck

I am a legal copywriter and I receive all my work via visits to my website.

Wordpress is free and professional looking. I wouldn't spend loads of money on getting a jazzy website personally, diy with wordpress should be fine. It looks good enough and you could include client recommendations on there if you can. May be quotes or something recommending you. I've used a site called odesk before for getting graphic design help but I think they have writers on there too so it may be worth giving that a go. Personally I think that most people will be most interested in your work and in your ability to write well so giving links to where any of your text appears online from whatever site you set up could be a good start. Reaching out to people on Twitter could also be a good idea if you aren't already doing that but can take time. Hope this helps and good luck!

I'm a freelance copywriter and I don't have a website currently, I just use sites like peopleperhour and elance at the moment. Definitely going to be getting one soon though I'll probably just use Wordpress and do it myself. I'll get my husband to help with the design since he's a graphic designer.

Thanks for all your responses. Lonny can I just ask about your PDF package? How did you create that? A lot of my work is in print, so have scanned it on to my computer but after that I don't know what to do with it?! Like you, need a file I can just email to someone with some choice cuts of my work in it..thanks for your help..

I have a website but hardly use it. Most clients come from networking. I think a website can make you look more established and reputable. If I'm working with a new client who is overseas, then I refer them to my website as it gives them a better idea of my experience and portfolio.
I used a free website builder but I've html, cms and Dreamweaver experience so I actually love pulling websites together

I think it's vital to have a website of your own using a FirstNameLastName.com domain if possible (mine = AngelaAlcorn.com). That way, you can tell your own story of what you do, show off clips and testimonials, etc. And there are so many great WordPress themes that you don't need to worry about it not looking professional enough.

I agree that a website is essential as a way of communicating your 'brand', but there are some great packages out there which you can use to build your own without going to the expense of hiring a web designer.

I am a freelance PR and I used Squarespace to build mine. Really simple to use (this stuff is not my forte).

You also need to be across Linked In.

I do this as a sideline (second job) and from the start I set up a proper website which (I think) looks nice & professional. I haven't got work so far directly through the website, but when I've made bids for work I have used it and have definitely got more work because of it. For example, I got a PhD proofreading job directly because the student felt my expertise was relevant to what he was looking for (bec of what he read on my website). So yes I would advise it. And personally I would do it properly through somebody that's really good (I found a great web designer through a friend in another country who did it for less money than I would pay for a UK web designer).