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Each client likely has preferences on how they want their content written, and a copywriter often must adapt to meet those needs. Occasionally, you may find a client to be difficult and realize that working with them is no longer worth your time. When this happens, you may have to drop a client, which can be an intimidating process.

Knowing when to drop a client

The thought of dropping a client, which will directly affect your income, can be stressful. You may worry about not being able to find new clients to replace the ones you stopped working with, but sometimes, working with a difficult client is not worth the impact it can have on your mental well-being. If you find that a client is asking too much of you, whether that means not paying you for your time, adding to, or continuously changing project guidelines, it may be time for you to step away. Before walking away completely, respectfully communicate with your client about the issues to see if they wish to make changes and continue the working relationship. If not, it’s probably time to end it.

How to end your relationship professionally

One of the most important things to a copywriter is their reputation. When dropping a client, you want to do so with respect and professionalism. Give your client notice before ending the relationship. Unless the client is extremely toxic, it’s best to complete any projects you’re already working on, and fulfill any contracts you have, before walking away. There’s usually no need to explain in detail why you’re ending the relationship. Simply tell your client that you’re making some changes in your career, and you can no longer take on their projects.

Dropping a client is difficult, but sometimes it’s necessary. If a client has unrealistic expectations, you may never be able to please them, which can cost you both time and income. If you do have to drop a client, be professional and choose your words wisely when ending the relationship. This will help protect your reputation so you’re able to find new clients to work with, moving forward.  

When you work as a freelancer, you will likely go through income fluctuations throughout the year. This is one of the downsides of doing gig work. While income fluctuations can’t always be predicted, you can prepare for them so you’re able to support yourself when work is slow. Job availability may fluctuate seasonally, depending on what you do. If you’re aware of these changes and plan ahead, you can have enough money put aside to pay your bills when there aren’t as many jobs available. 

Take on extra work when it’s available

Set up an emergency fund that you only use when you’re experiencing a downturn in your income. Add to this fund whenever you can by taking on extra work when it’s available and you have the time. You may need to look beyond your normal clients and sources of work to find extra jobs, but you’ll be thankful for that money when work slows down. This also helps you plan better for vacations and time off. You can relax and enjoy your time away from work knowing that you saved up the funds beforehand. 

What to do when work is slow

If you’re lacking jobs and your emergency fund is quickly dwindling away, you may have to look elsewhere to find income-earning opportunities until your normal jobs pick back up. There are many opportunities for short-term work that would allow you to earn some cash. Check online job postings for temporary work or ask around to other freelancers to see if they know of available jobs. Consider working for a delivery service or taking on part-time retail work. Be sure to update your online career profiles and availability so clients can find you. You never know when a temporary job could turn into a long-term working relationship.

Working as a freelancer gives you freedom and independence, but with that often comes regular fluctuations in your income. Be sure to save up an emergency fund and take extra jobs when you can so that you’re prepared for low-income seasons. Don’t be ashamed to have to take on extra work when your normal work is not available. Be open to new opportunities and always be on the lookout for ways to expand your skills, which can go a long way in advancing your career as a freelancer. 

Artificial intelligence is here and it’s likely here to stay. While it can’t replace many jobs, it is already taking a lot of work away from copywriters. Even though AI-generated content doesn’t have the same feel as content written by humans, some clients are choosing to use it because it’s simply cheaper. If you work in copywriting and you haven’t lost work yet due to AI, count yourself lucky. The only way for copywriters to continue to get work is to learn new skills and try to stay ahead of technology by providing content that AI can’t.

Finding success in an artificial world

While AI can create content quickly based on client-provided prompts, the content generally has a robotic vibe. The best way for human writers to get clients is to showcase their creativity. Build relationships with your clients where you understand what they want, and they know you’re available to make changes or come up with new ideas. You may need to shift to a niche market or look for new clients who prefer human writers. They are out there and the demand for human writers may return once the shiny newness of AI-generated content has worn off. 

Artificial intelligence has many flaws

AI cannot do what the human brain does, and it’s unlikely that we will see technology that can exactly replicate content written by human writers. AI mimics human writers, but it cannot understand what is being written. Humans have the advantage in that they can communicate with a client, ask questions, and write content specifically geared toward what the client wants.  As a writer use what you have that makes you superior to artificial intelligence. Human emotions add warmth to writing that a computer program cannot replicate. 

If you’re a copywriter, you may have already felt the effects of artificial intelligence at work. It’s cheap, it’s quick, and it’s easy to use. But AI can’t replace human writers completely. If you want to continue to be successful in copywriting, play to your strengths as a human writer. You can form relationships with your clients and provide that human connection that no program can offer. Shift as needed and learn new skills so you can promote yourself as a copywriter that exceeds what can be offered by artificial intelligence programs.  

Self-employed workers have many advantages, but employer-paid sick time isn’t one of them. Not to mention, when you work for yourself, you may be tempted to try to work through an illness or injury because you feel guilty taking time off. The financial implications of unplanned sick leave can be significant, especially if you’re working against a deadline. But sometimes, you just need to take a day off to recover, or to care for a loved one who needs help. So, as a self-employed worker, you can try to plan ahead so that you’re able to take unexpected time off when it’s needed.

Prepare for the financial implications

When you’re self-employed, you don’t get paid if you’re not working. This often leads to people working when they really should be resting. The only way to really be prepared financially for sick days is to set aside funds to cover your expenses when you have to take time off. Consider setting aside money each month that goes into a fund that you only touch in case of an emergency where you can’t work. 

Be transparent with your clients

When you’re sick, you may be tempted to try to catch up with your work before your clients know you’ve taken time off. Not only does this put a lot of pressure on you to work when you should be resting, but it can also cause you to rush through a project to try to meet a deadline. Most clients, especially those you’ve worked with before, will understand if you need to extend a deadline. 

Take advantage of self-employment benefits

As a self-employed person, you have the option to buy disability insurance. If it’s within your budget, this can be very helpful if you have an extended injury or illness. It’s also beneficial to be aware of any tax deductions allowed to those who are self-employed. You may be able to deduct expenses related to healthcare, especially costs that you pay out of pocket. 

When you’re self-employed, you may feel like you can never take time off. But if you get sick or suffer an injury, taking time to rest can help you recover more quickly. Prepare for unexpected time off by setting aside money to cover your expenses when you can’t work. Let your clients know what’s going on if you’re not able to work and be sure to take advantage of any benefits offered to self-employed workers.  

When you’re a freelancer, creating a resume that shows your talents can be challenging. You may not be able to list specific dates when your employment starts or ends because you work with many clients and your timing could be sporadic. But just because you work in a non-traditional way, doesn’t mean you can’t create a resume that shows your talents and experience. It may not look like a standard resume, but if it looks professional and is well-executed, it will do the job of presenting you to future clients or employers. 

What to include in your freelance resume

If you’re writing your resume with a particular job opportunity in mind, be sure to tailor the information based on that job. Employers or clients want data that shows your past work experience related to the position you’re applying for. Include anything in your work history that could be related to the position. 

References 

As a freelancer, you may have concerns about who is best to use for references. If you’ve not had traditional employment for several years or longer, you can use clients or other freelancers you’ve worked with as references. Include people who you have a good working relationship with and who have enough knowledge of your skills so they can speak highly of you as a worker. 

How best to sell yourself

Your resume is usually the first contact you have with a potential client. It’s important to lead with a strong objective that shows what you can do. Market yourself as a freelancer, which shows that you have the determination to get things independently. Showcase your skills in a concise and direct way that tells a potential client what you’re capable of. 

A good resume can open the door to many opportunities, which is especially valuable to freelancers who are looking for new clients. Your resume can be a useful tool when you want to get into a different writing niche, or you have the time and desire to take on more work. While your resume as a freelancer may not look like a traditional resume, it can still be an effective way to show your skills and experience to potential clients. 

To make it as a self-employed individual, you must have certain skills. While some people innately possess these skills, they can also be learned by those who are determined to succeed as their own boss. Many self-employed individuals start out with little more than a strong desire to reach their goals. Working for yourself is not easy, and most people will want to give up at some point, but if you stick with it, being your own boss comes with many benefits. 

Adaptability is essential

When you work for yourself, you must be willing to make changes as you go. You may find something that works well for a time, but eventually realize you need to change the way you operate. It’s easier to remain stagnant because change can be scary. But when you live in a time where technology is advancing constantly, you must find ways to use that technology to your advantage. Successful self-employed people are constantly on the lookout for what’s next. 

Be stubborn 

Successful people, especially the self-employed, refuse to take no for an answer. Being stubborn is often seen as a faulty personality trait, and that may be true in your personal life, but professionally it can be beneficial. If you know you have a good plan, don’t give up on it. Keep trying until you succeed. You may have to take some side jobs for extra money during hard times, but a strong will can go a long way in helping you achieve your goals.   

Know your faults

Self-awareness can be hard to achieve, but knowing your faults is important if you want to be successfully self-employed. Everyone has faults but the key is to use them to your advantage. This may mean working with others who balance out your shortcomings or finding solutions to help you overcome your weaknesses. 

Self-employed individuals are admired by many, but not everyone has what it takes to work for themselves. If you want to find success on your own, you must learn to adapt and grow as technology changes. At the same time, stubbornness can be very beneficial as it keeps you on the path to success and prevents you from giving up. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and allow them to work for you instead of against you and you just might find the success you’re looking for.

As a writer, you probably realize that plagiarism is a big no-no. Not only does plagiarism steal someone else’s work, but if you’re caught, it can also significantly harm your reputation. Many writers would never intentionally plagiarize, but accidental plagiarism does exist, and some writers may not be aware of how to avoid it. Understanding unintentional plagiarism can help you avoid accidentally using someone else’s work without giving credit to the writer.

How does unintentional plagiarism happen?

Accidental plagiarism happens when you use someone else’s content without giving them credit, but it usually happens when you either forget to cite a source or you don’t cite sources properly. Some writers may copy and paste direct content from other authors using this information as a placeholder but then forget to change the information and include the source where it came from. Some inexperienced writers may think that simply moving a few words around makes an idea their own. But this can still be considered plagiarism in some cases. 

Avoiding accidental plagiarism

Citation rules differ based on what you’re writing. Direct quotes are useful, but as a general rule, they should make up around 10% or less of the whole article. When you use a direct quote, you should always use quotation marks and link or list the source where the quote came from. When paraphrasing, use footnotes to show where you got the information. When it comes to generally known information, citations and sources are usually not required. If you’re worried about unintentional plagiarism, you can use an online plagiarism detection program to check your work. 

Plagiarism is a serious problem and with instant access to information through online media, it’s easy to steal someone else’s content. Most writers don’t want to be accused of plagiarizing someone else’s work. But it can happen accidentally. Be sure to know when it’s appropriate to cite sources and follow the standard rules based on the type of writing you do. Avoid unintentional plagiarism as it could have a significant impact on your reputation and your career as a writer. 

When writing papers in high school and college, you may have found it necessary to be extra wordy just to reach the word count minimum. But when you work as a writer, being too wordy can be a problem. The age of constant social media usage has left many readers with short attention spans. To those who write online content, especially those who work in copywriting, adding too many words can cause readers to click away. Everyone has a different writing style, but for those who tend to be on the wordy side, learning to write more concisely can help enhance your writing skills.

Why too many words can be an issue

When a reader is looking for information online, they have so many choices, which can make it difficult to decide which content is worth reading. If your content has too many words, especially large words and flowery phrases, a reader may look elsewhere. Most readers are looking for quick answers to their questions and they want that sudden satisfaction of reading content that gets to the point quickly. For copywriters, this means being concise, but clear with the point you’re trying to make. 

Removing the unnecessary words and phrases

During the initial editing process, you may easily see what needs to be removed or changed. Look for uncommonly used words that an average reader would not be familiar with. People often become frustrated if they must look up definitions of words to understand the point of an article or blog. Avoid phrases that are used in the industry and try to stick with common and concise sentences with basic sentence structure. Sometimes, it’s as easy as removing extra adjectives and making your sentences shorter to create content that appeals to a wider audience of readers. 

Wordy writing works well for scholarly pursuits, but it’s not ideal in everyday copywriting. Your reader should understand your point without doing extra research about the meaning of the words and phrases you use. Online writers, and especially those who work in copywriting, can benefit from knowing how best to reach their audience with a clear and concise message.