So you want to be a copywriter with Bernadette Schwerdt

How do two Israeli brothers with no money, basic tech skills and patchy English build some of Australia’s most successful online businesses, with a combined exit valued of more than $1 billion?  You may not know their faces but you’ll certainly know the brands they build – Catch.com.au, Menulog, Scoopon and Luxury Escapes. What’s more, they did it on a budget and spent virtually zero on marketing.   How did they do it? With great copywriting, an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion to create a successful business. In this episode, the co-founder Gabby Leibovich reveals: How he built multiple businesses without spending any money on advertising  What he looks for when hiring copywriters How to turn humiliation and failure into the fuel for success The secrets to innovation when you’re up against competitors bigger than you The power of PR and how to get it, even when you’re just starting out How you can make your own luck when everything is going wrong The power of networking (even if you’re an introvert and hate going out) Fun fact:  You never know where copywriting will take you.  After interviewing Gabby for my first book, Secrets of Online Entrepreneurs, he contacted me four years later to ask if I would ghost-write his business book. I did, the book is out, went to #1 on Booktopia and Amazon one week after launch and the rest is history. The lesson? Writing books is great fun, lucrative and as a copywriter, you are the perfect person to help others do it! Just think of it as one long copywriting job. Mentioned in this episode: Catch.com.au Menulog Scoopon Gabby’s book, Catch of the Decade Read the show notes Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People love being a copywriter for lots of reasons – it’s portable, you can write from anywhere, you don’t need a degree in writing and it doesn’t matter how old you are. But the real reason why people like writing copy is because it’s so well paid, especially when compared to traditional writing work like journalism, creative writing and feature writing. And that’s what I’ll be talking about today – money, and how to make lots of it from copywriting. Make no mistake, the way you charge for your copy is a skill in and of itself, but it is a learnable skill and I’ll be sharing with you today the tricks of the trade that I’ve picked up over my 30-year career. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Charge for your work Convert queries into paid work Avoid charging by the hour Cope when the client doesn’t like what you’ve written Get paid upfront You’ll also get suggested price points for web writing, emails, fliers and detailed scripts you can follow to manage the client conversations about pricing. Mentioned in this episode: Download Bernadette’s copywriting rate card. Read the show notes Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Keenan is one of Australia’s leading brand strategists, creative directors and copywriters. He also happens to have got his start in advertising by completing my copywriting short course over 15 years ago! Which just goes to show what can happen if you hang in there and persist! He called it ‘the gateway drug’ to a life in advertising. That’s one way of looking at it! He is the former head of Award School Melbourne, the former Interactive Creative Director of Clemenger Advertising, the Digital Creative Director at M&C Saatchi, and now runs his own private freelance consultancy. He works in the big agency, big brands, and the big TVC space.  In this episode, Ben reveals: How he got started and top tips for getting work at a big-name advertising agency  Hints and strategies on how freelance copywriters can find work quickly Why everyone needs to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and why so-called ‘secure’ jobs are no longer secure  How to make working for free work for you Tips on managing impostor syndrome  How to overcome overwhelm and crippling doubt (and why it’s part of the creative process) The role of constraints/failure/errors in the creative process Agency life versus freelance life – the pros and cons. Mentioned in this episode: The Thought Police D@AD: The Copy Book Ogilvy on Advertising. Read the show notes Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is copywriting? Why are so many people interested in becoming one? What does it take to become a successful copywriter? Is it possible to make a living from copywriting? How can you get started as a freelance or ad agency copywriter? In this episode, Valerie Khoo, CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre chats to Bernadette Schwerdt, founder of the Australian School of Copywriting about:  Why copywriting is a great occupation for creative people Where you can find copywriting work The qualities and training you need to be a successful copywriter The benefits of living the freelance life Success stories from her students who’ve found work quickly Her 5 top tips for getting started as a freelancer ...and much more If you’re a budding or experienced copywriter, this podcast is a must-listen. Read the show notes Join our community of copywriters at CopyClub.com.au.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.