Can you make good money copywriting as a side hustle? The truth.
We’ve noticed a trend developing while scrolling through TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The ‘rise-and-grind’ crowd has placed copywriting in their sights, claiming it’s easy to make a lucrative side hustle out of it. How much you can make ranges from anywhere between $1,000 and $30,000+. One young man claimed to have made himself a millionaire by teaching himself the noble art of copywriting with the help of ChatGPT, which immediately set the BS alarm bells ringing.
If you’re reading this, you’ve likely seen these claims on social media, too. You’re probably wondering if you can make good money copywriting as a side hustle. The answer is slightly complicated, so let’s break it down.
Is it easy to get into copywriting?
This is where we will agree with the charlatans on social media. Technically, it is easy to get into copywriting. All you need is a computer and the ability to write well. You don’t always need a relevant qualification, but it helps. Companies worldwide are looking for words for their websites, press releases, whitepapers, and more.
Sites like Freelancer.com can be an excellent way to find your first client(s). Our recommendation is to look for a niche that you are comfortable with. For example, if you’re into bird watching, scour these job sites for ornithology projects. Writing about something you already have a passion for is much easier.
Entry into the industry is practically free and easy, but standing out against thousands of other hopefuls is not. Which leads nicely on to…
Can I do copywriting without any experience?
Yes, you can. But who would you trust to fix your car – the person standing in their garage covered in oil and equipped with loads of tools or the person walking by said workshop who says they’ll have a look?
These clowns on social media make everything sound so simple. However, some of the “advice” we’ve seen offered up is bordering on moronic. We watched in horror as one of these successful copywriters said that you can “start a blog where you write about any products of your choice” to make up for a lack of portfolio.
This advice is innocent enough to show your creative writing skills on its own. But the first question a client will ask in this situation is, “Did [insert company/brand] commission you to do this?” When they’re told “no,” you’re unlikely to hear from them again. Most want a professional, not an intern.
Building up a portfolio will take time. Small gigs will help to flesh it out, but they won’t make you a great deal of cash, and this is where your tenacity levels will help you continue or quit.
Can you do copywriting as a side hustle?
A side hustle is something that most people do alongside their full-time job. The most consistent thing these side hustle gurus preach is that it takes no time to get up and running. This is a blatant lie. It also belittles the skillset of the army of freelancers who have been trying to make ends meet every year.
To earn $1,000 – even $500 – per month, you will be putting in full-time hours for part-time work. We’re not talking about writing here; this is about finding clients who will give you a chance. One TikTok copywriting specialist who was making a supposed fortune said you “need to DM and email 100 people per day to get one or two clients” for your side hustle. This doesn’t sound like part-time work to us.
From our experience, being a successful freelance copywriter is a full-time gig that is 30 per cent writing and 70 per cent wooing and retaining clients in an oversaturated market. You technically can do it as a lucrative side hustle, but you can kiss goodbye to any sleep or downtime to achieve this.
Can you make a lot of money from copywriting?
To provide some context, $30,000 per month, which one YouTube Shorts claimed is attainable from a standing start, is the type of contract an established copywriting agency would get from a single mid-tier client. Think networks of schools rather than global soft drink brands.
The chances of a newbie bagging this amount in one go are like winning the lottery—it could happen, but it most likely won’t. To make this type of serious cash as a novice copywriter starting from scratch, you must apply for every single job you find. And even then, you might not get any of them. It’s a constant grind with an unpredictable hit rate.
Yes, it does get easier as your network expands. But the harsh reality is that potential clients won’t be willing to offer this kind of money to someone just starting. You only have to check Upwork and PeoplePerHour to see how little some established companies are willing to pay for copywriting.
Pulling magical numbers out of the air on social media only seeks to dupe followers into engaging with their content. The person who says they’re making a fortune from copywriting is almost certainly lying, and they’re looking to make money from the unsuspecting public by selling them a questionable eBook or online course.
Can I use ChatGPT and AI to do my copywriting?
No. We’re tired of fake entrepreneurs claiming that ChatGPT and other AI like it can do the work for you. They’re great for digging yourself out of a creative slump, as you can ask them for ideas around a subject. But writing a passage of text? Not a chance.
Beyond the fact it’s dishonest, ChatGPT loses the run of itself after 200 words or so. It needs constant fact-checking for inaccuracies. There’s no personality to it, either. These clowns claim that long-winded prompts can turn it into Shirley Polykoff or David Ogilvy and pump out written copy as well. It can’t. We’re constantly performing tests with ChatGPT, and although it’s getting more sophisticated, it’s clear when it has been used.
Clients are becoming more adept at identifying it, too. So, if you submit something from ChatGPT or the like and you’re found out, you can expect a one-star review and a cancelled contract.
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If any of the social media “advice” we’ve listed here seems far-fetched, we recommend checking out YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok and typing in “copywriting”. Unfortunately, many people prey on the financially vulnerable and lie about copywriting being able to generate a passive income.
Can you become a copywriter? Sure, as long as you have the drive and writing skills to make it work. Just don’t expect it to be as simple as some people on social media claim.
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