Copywriters - where does your work come from?

[emmajlh]

I'd be interested to hear where copywriters find their work. is it mainly online or via word of mouth? if online have you registered with an agency - can you recommend any websites etc?

How much work do you typically get per month? in hours?

Hi, I work for a publishers but I've done some work for websites freelance. It's very hard to get into if you don't have a portfolio with previous work and clients. I have done work for people I know but I don't think even I have enough to get taken on by an agency. They like you to have experience. I would ask anyone you know who has a business if you can do something for them for free and build up a portfolio then search for an agency and you will find people recommend you, so if you do a job for a friend for free they might tell someone and then you'll get a job. Good luck

If you're a copywriter already, or have a portfolio (for example from college), you should probably also set yourelf up with a website to show off your wares - that way it's easy for potential clients to see your work without having to send your book in to agencies every time you are looking for new business.

(I'm not a copywriter, btw, but my best mate is).

bump

I am a freelance writer, in Australia though. Have been freeancing for about six months, and I emailed every contact I had ever made, every business I thought might use a copywriter, told all my friends to tell all their friends, set up a Facebook page... I didnt spend a cent on advertising, and although it took a while, the work started coming in and now I almost have too much work, and my DP has gone part time so that he can help with our DS (15 weeks old) while I work.
Try universities, real estate agencies, the council, website designers, community organisations, PR firms... just email them, then a couple of days later call them.
If you dont have much of a portfolio, offer to write articles for lifestyle websites for free - that way you will have something to show potential clients.
I charge $50 an hour, work around 35 hours a week-ish. The wonderful thing is that there are no limits!
Best of luck.