I’ll just start by saying, we’ve all been there.

Googling, in the dead of night with a bag of potato chips in our lap, How much does a copywriter make?

And the results come out something like, Between $50 – $10,000 per project.

And you’re like…

Just not helpful.

But I want to come at this from a different angle, because the reality is, there isn’t a straightforward answer to that question.

Here’s what we all know: you can get a copywriting job on Upwork for $5, and you can do that right now. 

We have clients who started out doing just that and have grown to charge 2K, 5K, 10K per project.

We also have clients who are on retainer for multi-6-figure years doing done-for-you and messaging consulting for their clients.

And there are even people earning millions off their copy in royalties, working with fortune 500 companies.

What I’m saying is, there are lots of options and routes to take to make a lot of money in copywriting.

But where you need to start is asking:

How much money do I WANT to make?

And I know your immediate answer is “Uhh… As much as is humanly possible?”

But just know that the Copywriter making 7+ figures has a very different business model (and lifestyle) than one taking home a comfortable 150k per year.

So sit down and really think about this. When you dream up the life you want to live, realistically think about how much you would need to earn to make that a reality.

And don’t lowball yourself here. I see this happen all the time (especially as a woman) and all that does is keep you trapped in negative money mindset cycles, earning less than you could have if you allowed yourself to dream a little bigger.

Remember, your writing is a resource, something you’ve put a lot of time and risk into pursuing and it’s worth all of that + the value it’s providing your clients.    

Then, identify the business model you want to have that aligns with that.

Do you want to be doing more 1:1 projects with higher rates? Do you want to have more passive products bringing in revenue while you focus on growing your brand in other ways? Do you want to start offering Day Rates? Do you want to be working for bigger companies with larger scale projects? 

Not only do you need to look into which business model makes you the money you’re wanting to earn, you need to look at what you would actually want to spend your time doing and what you have the capacity to do. Once you figure that out, all you have to do is work backwards.

Reverse Engineering the Life you Want to Live

Let’s say you want to work exclusively with high caliber clients and focus solely on your 1:1 to projects with them. If that’s the case, you’re going to need to optimize + refine your website (which is your portfolio, something I talked about in my last blog post) and make sure your copy, offers, and testimonials are aligned with that CTA’s needs and how you can offer them the value they are looking for.

If it’s incorporating an ascension model product suite, think about what you want your entry, low, mid, and high level offers to be and put that together with pricing that aligns with your needs. 

If you want to achieve the life you desire, you can’t just sit around hoping for the best – Make a plan of how many of each product you’ll have to sell in order to get to your 5-year goal, then look at those numbers like the biggest damn-personal challenge you’ll ever face again. Reverse engineering requires you have that clear vision and are able to break it down into the tangible steps and quotas you’ll need to hit to get there. Like:

• What your ICA needs to see and hear to move them through the phases of awareness into conversion (then creating and scheduling out content that aligns)

• How many high quality leads it’ll take to get your desired number of signed clients 

• What you can do TODAY to sell x amount of products/services and what can help you sell those in the coming days, months, and years 

Really, this is as simple as identifying how much you want to make, a business model that aligns with those needs and is also something you have the resources for and can realistically accomplish, then working backwards and taking the steps you need to to create this business and model and run with it.

And you know what? It’s not going to be perfect the first time. This will take continued reflection, assessing how much you’re bringing in, what feels good and is showing traction,and what just isn’t working with your schedule/lifestyle/audience…

…And then adjust. Little by little, until you’ve found the model that works for you. This industry is always expanding and adapting, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t find the perfect flow right away. 

Just stay positive.

Be patient.

And remember that every “failure” is your market teaching you about what does or doesn’t work, so you can come back next time even stronger.

On the flipside, if you’d rather learn what’s working right now (skipping the money + energy intensive testing phase), you can learn everything you need to triple your revenue inside Freedom Found Collective. A 12-month, high-touch mastermind exclusively for female copywriters earning more than 6k/month + wanting to grow a flourishing, profitable business in the shortest time possible. Come get the clear, guided mentorship toward the lifestyle you thought was impossible a few years ago → Learn more about how FFC will change the face of your business.