How to Start Copywriting (The No-BS Guide)

You want to start copywriting. Good choice. It’s one of the most valuable, high-leverage skills you can possibly learn in business. It’s the engine behind billions in sales, and mastering it can give you incredible freedom and earning potential.

But where do you actually begin?

The internet is flooded with gurus selling thousand-dollar courses, promising secret formulas and ancient wisdeom. Forget all that for now. You don’t need a fancy certificate or a mountain of debt to get started.

What you need is a clear understanding of the goal, a willingness to learn the fundamentals the smart way, and a relentless focus on practice and building proof.

This isn’t about academic theory; it’s about getting results. Let’s break down the practical steps to get you started as a copywriter, drawing on the core principles I’ve used and taught for years.

First Things First: Understand What Copywriting Actually Is

Before you write a single word, get this straight: Copywriting is salesmanship in print (or pixels).

It’s not about flowery language, clever puns, or winning literary awards. It’s about using words to persuade someone to take a specific action – buy a product, sign up for a mailing list, book a call, click a link. Every word serves that purpose. If it doesn’t contribute to the sale or the desired action, it’s wasted ink.

If you need a deeper dive into the definition of copywriting and its importance, I’ve covered that extensively before.

Understanding this core function – persuasion driving action – is the foundation for everything else.

Step One: Forget Fancy Courses, Learn the Fundamentals Resourcefully

You absolutely need to learn the core principles of good copy. But you don’t need to spend a fortune doing it. The best knowledge often comes from studying the masters and the market, not from overpriced PDFs.

Here’s how to learn without breaking the bank:

• Read the Classics: Get your hands on books by the legends – Ogilvy, Caples, Schwartz, Hopkins, Collier. Their insights are timeless because human psychology doesn’t fundamentally change.
• Become a Student of Ads: Don’t just skim ads; dissect them. Why did they choose that headline? What promise are they making? Who are they targeting? How is the argument structured? Save examples of ads that grab your attention (online sales pages, emails, social media ads) and figure out why they work.
• Hand-Copy Great Ads: This sounds old-school, but it works. Take proven, successful ads (especially long-form sales letters) and literally copy them out by hand. It forces you to slow down and internalize the rhythm, flow, and persuasive structure. It burns the patterns into your brain.
• Follow Reputable Free Resources: Find blogs, forums (like Warrior Forum back in the day, or niche communities now), and YouTube channels dedicated to direct response marketing and copywriting. Absorb different perspectives, but always filter them through the lens of “Does this actually drive sales?”

Focus on learning the principles – headlines, leads, offers, proof, calls to action, understanding customer psychology. You can get an incredible education this way. You can become a master copywriter without spending a cent.

Step Two: Practice Like Your Income Depends On It (Because It Does)

Reading about swimming doesn’t make you a swimmer. You have to get in the water. Theory is useless without application.

• Rewrite Existing Ads: Find ads you think are weak and rewrite them. Improve the headline, clarify the offer, strengthen the call to action. Find great ads and try writing them in your own words, hitting the same persuasive points.
• Do Spec Work: This is crucial. Don’t wait for permission or a client. Create work. Pick a product or service you understand (or one you want to work with) and write sample copy for it – an email sequence, a landing page, a Facebook ad. Pretend they hired you. This builds skill and gives you portfolio pieces (more on that next).
• Write for Free/Cheap (Strategically): Offer your services to a local nonprofit or a small business owner you know specifically in exchange for a testimonial and the right to use the work in your portfolio. Don’t do endless free work, but a couple of initial projects can provide invaluable experience and proof.

You need to write, get feedback (even if it’s just comparing your work to controls), and refine. Volume and iteration are key.

Copywriting is a skill, just like riding a bike. The only way to get better is to spend time peddling on a wobbly bicycle until you get better.

Step Three: Build Your Portfolio – Your Actual Resume

Nobody cares about your copywriting course certificate. Clients care about one thing: Can you get results?

Your portfolio is your proof. It’s non-negotiable. If you followed Step Two, you already have pieces to include (your spec work, any initial free/cheap projects).

• Showcase Variety (If Possible): Include samples of different copy types if you can (e.g., email, social ad, landing page headline/lead).
• Focus on Clarity: Make it easy for potential clients to see your work. A simple website or even a well-organized Google Drive folder can work initially.
• Explain Your Work: Briefly describe the goal of each piece and the thinking behind your approach.
• Spec Work is Fine: Don’t pretend spec work is for a real client, but present it professionally as a demonstration of your skills for that type of business or product.

Building a solid portfolio is arguably the most critical step in turning your learning into income. It’s what bridges the gap between practice and paying clients. I’ve detailed exactly how to create a flawless copywriting portfolio step-by-step.

Step Four: Go Get Paid – Finding Your First Clients

With fundamentals learned, practice logged, and a portfolio ready, it’s time to find paying work.

• Freelance Platforms (Use Strategically): Sites like Upwork can be a starting point. Don’t compete on bottom-dollar prices. Look for clients who value quality, write strong proposals highlighting your understanding of their needs (not just your skills), and point to your relevant portfolio pieces.
• Direct Outreach: Find businesses whose marketing copy you genuinely believe you can improve. Send a concise, personalized email pointing out a specific area for improvement and suggesting how you could help, linking to a relevant sample from your portfolio. This takes guts but can land great clients.
• Leverage Your Network: Let people know you’re offering copywriting services. Past colleagues, friends, people in your industry – your first client might be closer than you think.
• Start Small: Don’t expect to land a massive sales page project on day one. Be open to smaller gigs – email sequences, social media ads, product descriptions – to build experience and testimonials.

Be persistent. Getting the first few clients is often the hardest part. Focus on providing value and demonstrating how your words can solve their business problems (usually, making more sales).

Step Five: Consider Specializing (Down the Road)

Once you have some experience and income, think about specializing. Do you enjoy writing emails? Long-form sales pages? Social media ads? Are you particularly good at writing for SaaS companies? E-commerce? Health and wellness?

Specializing allows you to command higher rates and become the go-to expert in a specific area. But don’t rush this – get broad experience first to figure out what you enjoy and where you excel.

You can specialize in a particular niche, a type of client or a type of copywriting. Many great writers focus only on emails, long form sales letters or video sales letters. You don’t need to be a master of all of them.

Action Trumps Everything

Starting copywriting isn’t mystical. It’s a skill built through deliberate learning and consistent practice.

Forget the expensive shortcuts. Focus on:

1. Understanding that copy = sales.
2. Learning the fundamentals resourcefully.
3. Practicing relentlessly.
4. Building proof with a portfolio.
5. Taking action to find clients.

It takes work. It takes persistence. But the rewards – financial freedom, location independence, the power to influence – are immense. Stop reading about copywriting and start doing it. Take the first step today.