Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you may know, I've been a freelance copywriter for nearly two years and love every minute. I can't lie, running a freelance writing business isn't easy and it's not for the faint-hearted, but the rewards outweigh the hardships. I'm writing this on a cold January day and I'm in the midst of a tricky period, like many other freelancers I know.

I want to write an honest post, stepping away from the glossy 'get rich overnight' statements I see all over social media from other freelancers. There is money in running a successful online business and you can 'make it', yet it takes years of hard work, networking and building relevant and useful connections. 

Here's your reminder: being a freelance copywriter is HARD and you're not defined about how good you are by a low/quiet period.

If you're considering starting a freelance writing business or feel alone in a quiet period, here's my guide to the realities of a business owner. 

The realities of being a freelance copywriter 

Running a business can be challenging. It isn't always celebratory moments and highs. There are risks, challenging moments and following up on emails time and time again before work comes your way. These are my top realities and reminders:

You'll constantly be following up on enquiries/previous connections

I don't know how much time I spent emailing previous people I've connected or worked with to check in, see how they are and if they have any opportunities. As a freelancer, you'll see loads of opportunities on social media, in-person or land in your inbox but it doesn't mean they're yours or the time is right to book you in.

With that in mind, you'll spend a lot of time sending emails to enquire and to previous connections, asking for updates or seeing if they have opportunities. I'm terrible in sorting out a better process to save time and follow up on relevant opportunities'. I keep a list on my Trello board of previous enquiries I've had or past projects/retainer clients and email every few months to check in and see if there's any update.

LinkedIn posts 'looking for a copywriter' will have a million replies

If you're a freelance copywriter, you'll understand the pain when you see a 'looking for a copywriter' opportunity on LinkedIn and notice that there are 100+ replies and likes. This can be heartbreaking, especially if it's an opportunity you love the sound of and can see yourself working on that project. 

It is one of the biggest, hard-hitting realities but don't let it put you off. I try and search every morning and even if the posts have an insane amount of replies, I still comment and connect with that person, as you never know, you may get a reply. It is best if they add an email address as you can bring that enquiry away from the platform, but most of the time that doesn't happen.

The freelance panic is REAL.

Freelance panic isn't the one but it is a real thing. Even friends who run their businesses for years still experience this level of panic. It is normal, especially during quiet times, such as January. I would describe the freelance panic as worrying (probably too excessively) that no work will come in again or I'll find no opportunities. 

It's normal to experience this but please try not to let it overwhelm you. You will find work, it's about knowing where to source it and building up a community around you.

It's not normal to always be available.

The reality of running a freelance business is you think you need to be available at all times to gain opportunities and make the most money. This is untrue - yes, being available all the time can help you find work, but it can lead to burnout and losing respect for yourself. You need to have boundaries and limits to how you work, and the right clients will respect that.

You are still being productive if you're not doing client work

There's more to running a business than client work. Consider the admin, dealing with enquiries, searching for work,  accounting, marketing, networking and building a community. Most of the time, the only thing you'll be paid for is the actual client work you complete. This is why it's important to have rates high enough to reflect your work quality, but also account for the days you spend doing all these other tasks. Just because you're not doing client work it doesn't mean you're not productive. Every little thing you do adds to your overall business success.

Getting reviews can seem impossible

One of the ways to gain new clients is to have glowing reviews from previous work by people who have hired you or you've collaborated with. In reality though, gaining reviews is hard. Some clients will be willing and some, will ignore your emails for weeks and still never write a review. Keep pestering and following up with this though as it can help with your credibility and overall recognition as a fab copywriter. 

Avoid guaranteeing enquiries until a contract is signed 

This is a toxic trait of mine but a massive reality as I think many freelancers like myself get over excited when a big enquiry lands in our inbox and we assume it's already ours. I say avoid this as much as you can but honestly, it's hard. You want to book that job and succeed and it feels like every enquiry you get, deserves to be yours. 

How you're not defined by a low period

Low periods in freelancing are normal.

Being a freelancer is a constant rollercoaster and you're not always going to be in a high period and that's okay. 

Even the most successful freelance copywriters have low periods. They'll have moments with open slots in their books and need a new project to come in.

You're not alone and it will get better. It doesn't define you.

The main thing to do is consistently show up in person, search for opportunities and stay active in the community, online and in person every day. 

You are not a failure. You're experiencing a blip right now. It doesn't define your career.

(Kind of an AD - my e-book from my freelance writing business) If you're starting out as a freelance writer, I've written an E-book, 'How to start out as a freelance writer', sharing my best advice and step-by-step guide on what to do. 

I hope you enjoyed consistently this post. What advice would you add?

Thank you for reading <3