Step 4

Now it’s time to write main copy for your home page. Imagine you are chatting one-to-one with your potential client. Tell them why they should choose your business over someone else.

Refer to your list of keywords as you write, and try to use at least one of them in each paragraph, with most important phrase in opening paragraph. Your home page doesn’t have to be long. About 250 words is enough at this stage, to get across essential facts.

Make sure you include vital information such as your contact details, street address and opening hours on your home page.

You should be able to complete this in 10 minutes. Total time elapsed, 30 minutes.

Step 5

Next, you’ll need to write a page about your products or services. Start by making a list. This should only take two or three minutes. Then, take each item on then list and say a bit about it. Again, remember you a talking one-to-one with your reader, so don’t be too formal, but try to weave your keywords into your copy.

This is page where you should also include prices, if appropriate.

If you get stuck for words here, don’t worry. You can come back later. But at least you now have basic framework of your page. Later, you can expand this page with more details. Don’t spend more than 10 minutes on this page.

Step 6

Next, write a page called “About Us”, or something similar. If you’re a one-person business, this can be similar to your curriculum vitae. If you’re a larger business, it will include history of company and its main achievements.

Again, don’t take too long over this. Just jot down key facts, which should only take a few minutes. You should include photos of yourself and your staff on this page, too.

Step 7

Next, write a page called “projects” or “clients” or “portfolio” or something similar, which outlines projects you have done. Make a list at this stage, without worrying too much about filling in details. Again, try to work in your keywords.

If you’re a well-established business, this list may be quite long and you can break it up later into several pages.

Step 8

Next, write a page called “Frequently Asked Questions” or “Questions and Answers”. Think of top three or four questions related to your business. Make sure one of these includes your prices. This should take another 10 minutes.

Step 9

Finally, write a page with all your contact details. This should take two or three minutes at most.

Step 10

Make sure you spell-check your copy. Read it through a final time and check for grammar. Double check that your main keywords appear on every page.

Now, you have framework for a basic six-page website, which not only tells your potential customers vital information they need to know about your business but also is well placed to rank on search engines.

You really can do this in 60 minutes. If you feel you need professional help to take your website copy a step further, you at least have basic framework that a website copywriter can polish up into really sharp sales copy.

Chris Mole is a freelance website copywriter based near Christchurch, New Zealand. He has more than 20 years experience writing for print, radio and Web media and now specialises in writing truly persuasive sales copy for small businesses.

I promote my services my writing numerous articles, promoting my book, Net Words, and appearing on stage to speak about copywriting.

Other freelancers find different ways to get themselves known and to promote their particular skills.

For unlucky few, who struggle but fail to find any way in which to market their services, they look for other work.

If you want to succeed as a freelance copywriter, you have to marketing yourself.

>> 4. You need perseverance

You need first three qualities in this list. But without this fourth one, all will be lost.

The life of a freelancer is paved with a thousand small failures.

We try a particular way to get some more work. It doesn't work.

We try to get more work from a favorite client. Nothing doing.

We try to get some articles published in an industry magazine. Refused.

We have a very cool idea concerning a project with a local entrepreneur. He or she says no.

We spend hours and days on a promotional idea which could potentially double our income or more. It falls flat.

And so it goes.

For myself, I probably try ten to twenty ideas that fail until I hit on one that works well. Does that mean I'm slow, or not very smart? No, I think it means I know how to persevere.

And what do twenty small failures really cost me, if twenty-first idea makes me thousands of extra dollars?

The cost is counted only in bruises to one's ego and self esteem.

In that sense, being a successful freelancer is a little like being a boxer. If you can't take hits, don't get into ring.

>> Concluding thoughts

If you have some writing skills, love business, are able to market yourself and can take a few slaps to ego, you can succeed as a freelance copywriter.

Is it worth struggle? I think so. I think it's a wonderful way to make a living.

There will always be work for freelance copywriters. And nobody can ever fire you.

You'll be your own boss - master or mistress of your own triumphs and disasters.