Finding Work

Copywriting work typically comes from several sources:

Direct clients

Businesses that hire you directly. Typically offer higher rates, more control, longer relationships — but you need to find them yourself and these clients may require more management. 

Agencies

Marketing, branding, advertising and digital agencies. Can provide more consistent work but possibly lower rates. Good for steady income and exposure to variety.

Platforms and job boards

Freelance platforms (Upwork, PeoplePerHour) and job boards. The quality of work is highly variable and usually attracts lower rates, but can provide starting opportunities.

Referrals

Recommendations from satisfied clients and contacts. These can be the best source of work because the contact already trusts you.

Your network is your most valuable marketing asset:

Who to connect with:

• Other copywriters (for referrals and subcontracting)
• Designers, developers, marketers (complementary services)
• Agency contacts
• Past clients and colleagues
• People in your target industries (e.g. marketing managers within B2B, content leaders in SEO)

How to network:

• Join ProCopywriters and participate in the community
• Attend industry events and meetups
• Be active, helpful and encouraging on LinkedIn 
• Help others without expecting immediate return

Maintain relationships:

Networking isn’t just collecting contacts. Stay in touch with people. Check in occasionally. Be genuinely helpful.

As a copywriter, you’re in marketing, so apply those skills to yourself:

Your positioning

• What makes you different?
• What types of work do you want?
• Who is your ideal client?

Your online presence

• Portfolio website with clear contact details
• LinkedIn profile that sells your services
• Consistent professional presence

Content marketing

• Blog posts demonstrating expertise
• LinkedIn articles and posts
• Guest posts in relevant publications

Direct outreach

Identify potential clients and reach out with value. Don’t spam; send thoughtful, relevant approaches that show you understand their business.

Agencies can be a reliable source of work:

Getting on agency rosters:

• Identify agencies that use freelance copywriters
• Send a brief introduction and portfolio
• Follow up (once) if no response
• Stay in touch without being pushy

What agencies look for:

• Reliability — delivering on time, every time
• Quality — work that doesn’t need extensive revision
• Flexibility — adapting to their processes
• Professionalism — easy to work with
• Agility — being able to respond quickly is often a plus 

Pros and cons:

Agency work may be lower-paid than direct client work, but it’s more consistent. It’s also a good way to build experience and portfolio pieces. Agency work is also usually less onerous from a client-management perspective, as the agency handles contracts and project management. 

Freelance gig platforms like Upwork have a mixed reputation, but some copywriters swear by them.

Realistic expectations:

• Competition is fierce and often global
• Rates tend to be lower than direct work
• Building a reputation takes time
• The platform controls your client relationships and visibility; your business is reliant on their systems

Making them work:

• Niche down — specialise rather than competing on everything
• Write strong proposals that show you read the brief
• Build reviews from quality work
• Raise rates as reputation grows

When to move on:

Many copywriters use freelance gig sites to start their career, then transition to direct clients. Use them as a stepping stone, not a permanent home.

Finding work consistently requires multiple channels and ongoing effort. Build your network, market yourself professionally, and deliver great work that generates referrals.

The best long-term strategy is building a reputation where good work leads to more good work. That takes time, but it’s sustainable.