I admit I’ve been admiring this girl from afar and for awhile. There’s a reason why I signed up to her newsletters and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Her and her team of refreshingly unique copywriters make writing oh so fun!
Who’s that girl?
It’s Holly Jackson of the innovative website Cottage Copy. And she’s making my day by participating in my new Writing Expert series. There’s so many reasons why I’m honored to have her join me here. I think Holly’s website’s super cool while her writing’s super hot. She’s got a lot to teach us. And boy am I excited for Holly to share and inspire us with her copywriting jewels of wisdom. Here she is:
1. Could you tell us a little bit about Cottage Copy and how it was created?
Cottage Copy is all about innovative copywriting for unconventional businesses. We specialize in selling high end products with no objective value (think art, graphic design, coaching, etc). In the past year, I’ve written copy for everything from hypnotist life coaches to lawyers. If it defies description, I can sell it.
Cottage Copy came out of a pretty typical situation: I hated my job. It was that kind of desperate hatred that makes you want to cry (which I did, a lot of the time) and I finally just up and quit one day. I knew that I could write websites that made people money, so I started one of my own to see if I could do just that. At this point, I wouldn’t do anything else. I get to work in my pajamas, spend tons of time with my darling dog, and work on projects that I love (as well as say no to ones I hate!).
2. How would someone who is interested in copywriting get started?
Start a website: get your own domain, not just a generic WordPress site. Avoid those awful crowdsourcing sites too. You’re better off building more slowly under your own name than throwing yourself to the low paying sharks. Submit tons of guest blogs, even to big sites (and email them a second time when they ignore you, which they probably will). Blog lots, and don’t worry about how many readers you have for the first six months or so. Just get comfortable with yourself and your writing; the rest will happen in time. Act bigger than you are, even when you’re scared and not making any money.
3. What do you think is the number one thing freelance writers can do to get more work?
I get this question in my inbox a lot, and one of these days I’m going to come up with a snappier answer than the one I have now. The number one trick to getting more work is to do your best on every job you get. I try and make every page I write as shiny and amazing as it can be, so then I can show it off happily to future prospective clients.
The real secret to doing this consistently is harder, and involves learning to say no (a hard skill for the most opinionated of us). Don’t take work that isn’t a good fit for you. Just say no. If you hate it going in, you won’t do an amazing job and it won’t land you other jobs. There are always other clients out there, and it’s worth working harder to find the right ones than just getting by on the so-so ones.
4. What has helped you/motivated you in your career as a copywriter/entrepreneur?
I’m a pretty private and reserved person, so I’m not someone who wakes up with visions of fame and fortune in her head. In the past year since I started the business, I’ve moved into a beautiful new apartment, gotten to eat out more, and gotten to buy the dog much better food. I think I’m still in the early stages of things so the fact that I can pay my bills at all seems like enough of a reward. I love my lifestyle, and I’m motivated to work hard to keep it. I could never go back to an office job after doing this for a year.
5. What’s next for Cottage Copy?
I’m opening some writing classes in the spring. They will be for very specific markets, and be very limited in size. The idea is to give people a place to learn the principles of marketing while developing their own written material for their website. I’m also doing a crazy guest blogging project where I give away 52 guest blogs on any topic that people ask for, which is currently keeping me pretty busy.
Isn’t she great?! Thanks so much Holly!! Remember to visit her at Cottage Copy on her website and on Twitter.
