Thankful for my day job but working on plan B

welcome to Biznik Fran. Copywriting isn't that difficult, but it does take creativity. to start out in this field I would suggest working for someone else for a short time. get your feet wet and then decide if you want to venture out on your own. There are several web development firms that hire virtual copywriters.

Welcome to biznik, Fran. I am sure you will find a lot of support here.

I disagree with the statement that "copywriting isn't that difficult." I've been doing it for 18 years now and I have learned so much, but it took some time. I studied, I read the "masters" and I finally found my own voice, my own style. As I got more clients, I found what worked and what didn't. The bottom line is finding the emotional benefit, what motivates the prospect to buy.

You just have to practice, practice. practice.

My last weekly marketing etip was on finding that sweet spot, describing the EMOTIONAL benefit that will motivate the customer to buy. That is the secret of good copywriting.

Our weekly marketing etips are no-hype, no-strings attached and available here

I look forward to hearing more about you and your new business!

As with most things; practice, practice, practice.

One good way to get some experience is to just start writing copy for anything. Look at your tape dispenser on your desk. Imagine The Conglomerated Tape Dispenser Manufacturer of America has asked you to write new copy for their tape dispenser.

Open your word processor, and start writing.

Then do it for that can of tomatoes in the cupboard.

Then google Real Estate Agents in your area, and pick one at random. Take a quick look at her web site, and then write your own copy.

Give yourself a goal of writing 5 a day, and do it for a couple of weeks. When you get better at it, pick products you hate. If you are a vegetarian write copy for pork spare ribs, for example. Most of what you write will suck, but as you go through this exercise something will begin to emerge from your efforts. That will be Your Voice.

As you develop your voice over, say, six months, it will help you to determine who you want to write for. Then you can determine how to gain access to that market, and present them with Your Voice.

There is a common view now that it takes about 10,000 hours of practice to get really good at anything. Music, race driving, writing... anything, really. That's approximately 5 years, if you are diligent. So the more writing you do every day, the closer you get to that benchmark.

Best of luck with it!