Why Are So Many Writers Struggling To Succeed At Freelancing?

And what if you could…

Learn how to write truly exceptional copy that drives REAL SALES, excites clients, and puts money in your pocket?

Learn how to land new clients ON DEMAND while building a stream of high quality leads that come directly to you?

Learn how to run your freelance writing business like a TRUE PRO and become a sought-after authority in your niche?

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There are a TON of freelance and copywriting courses out there. There’s a virtually endless collection of blog posts, podcasts, ebooks, white papers, memberships, masterminds, webinars, workshops, and every conceivable form of training.

So why are so many writers still struggling to succeed?

Over the last few years, this question has weighed heavily on my mind, and I’ve talked with hundreds of writers, trying to identify what has helped them the most and what seems to be left out in the wide array of available training.

It’s what I looked for as I tried 1-to-1 mentorship, group mentorship, short form training, a general membership group, and even direct training through employment.

And it’s what I looked for as I reviewed my own journey to six-figures, as well as the journeys of my friends who had hit that milestone as well.

I discovered a few things.

Most copywriting courses and training programs are strictly conceptual rather than practical and instructional.

You know what I’m talking about.

  • “Tell a story”
  • “Give your audience what they want”
  • “Do more research”
  • “Develop a marketing plan”

How? How do I develop a marketing plan?

“Well… guest post and pitch and stuff”

Okay… but how?

“Well you can also comment on blog posts and social media posts and [insert 20 more time-consuming tips that won’t move the needle on your business]”

Which leads us to the next problem I discovered.

Most copywriting courses and training programs are designed to be comprehensive rather than targeted and efficient.

Frankly, I’m being nice here. What it’s really designed to do is provide such a high volume of low-value tips that you are tricked into feeling like a lot of value has been provided to you.

And this is really harmful to new writers.

For example, saying, “Start a blog” might seem like an innocent, helpful piece of advice. After all, having a blog CAN be very beneficial to writers.

But here’s what happens when a new writer sees “start a blog”. They stop working on stuff that is actually going to earn them money today, and they start wasting tons of time going down the rabbit hole of figuring out how to blog.

It’s counterproductive, and that is the biggest problem with most writer training today. It’s not targeted or efficient. It’s not designed to help you get from $0 to $2,000 per month as quickly as possible and then $2,000 per month to $4,000 per month, and so on…

It’s designed to list out every possible piece of advice the author has ever heard, discovered, or created.

And that style of training is hopelessly counterproductive.

But it gets worse…

Most copywriting courses and training programs are overly focused on one area while barely addressing other critical areas.

This is why calling it “comprehensive” was being nice. Because in reality, I have not come across a single copywriting course that was truly comprehensive.

Instead, numerous courses do an amazing, comprehensive job in one area while completely neglecting other critical areas needed to succeed as a freelance copywriter.

Most commonly, courses do a great job of teaching you how to write good copy… but that’s it. Just yesterday, someone sent me a link to a course with 8 modules. 7 of those modules covered writing styles. 1 module dealt with building a business.

You can be the best copywriter in the world, and that’s not going to make you six-figures. If you can’t get clients, you won’t make any money, and the process and skillset involved in landing clients is completely different from writing great copy. Same goes for running a freelance business.

There are non-writing courses out there that do a great job of teaching you how to get clients, but they aren’t designed specifically for writers, because it’s too small of a niche to focus on when teaching lead generation.

So that’s where we’re at.

After years of seeing writers struggle and having nothing to offer them that solves all these problems at once, I’ve decided it’s time to solve them myself.

Introducing…

The Internet’s Best Copywriting Course

Get my proven, step-by-step system for building a freelance copywriting business from scratch and replacing your fulltime income in the next 12 months.

Learn How To Write Copy That Sells

Learn how to write exceptional copy that drives sales, excites clients, and puts money in your pocket.

Learn How To Land High-Paying Clients

Learn how to land great clients immediately AND build a stream of high-quality, high-paying clients that come straight to you.

Learn How To Freelance Like A Pro

Learn how to launch your business, run it like a professional, and become a recognized authority in your niche.

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Hi, my name is Jacob McMillen, and I’m a six-figure freelance copywriter, content strategist, and writing mentor.

 

I made $80k net my first year as a full time freelancer, $130k the following year, and $220k the year after that. This income wasn’t from selling courses or running Facebooks ads or any other tactics that won’t be included in this course. While I added some additional revenue sources in that third year, I was able to average $15k per month solely from writing gigs.

But my success isn’t all that important. What’s important is whether or not I can help YOU succeed, and for that goal, my own journey and success simply aren’t enough.

That’s why I’ve been experimenting with ways to help writers succeed for the last three years. It’s why I’ve reviewed numerous trainings, membership groups, and resources. And it’s why every time I make a new friend doing six figures as a freelance writer, I interview them and figure out how they do it.

As a result, I’ve managed to reverse-engineer a process that will give anyone with baseline writing talent and entrepreneurial ambition a viable path to six figures and beyond.

And by anyone, I mean YOU, assuming you meet you the following criteria:

  • You are already a decent writer (or better)
  • You are a decent problem solver with some level of self-initiative
  • You are going to invest at least 10 hours per week into your copywriting career.

If you struggle with words, writing as a career probably isn’t for you. If you get overwhelmed by any roadblock or challenge that pops up, freelancing definitely isn’t for you. And if you aren’t going to invest at least 10 hours per week into your freelance copywriting career, that’s okay, but growth is going to happen much slower and six figures won’t be attainable for a few years.

If you said yes to all three criteria, perfect!

Here’s what the course covers.

Learn how to write exceptional copy that drives sales, excites clients, and puts money in your pocket.

The first step to becoming a successful writer is learning how to write.

You know this. Everyone else knows. This type of training makes up the majority of most copywriting courses.

BUT

Where most courses will give you tips, tricks, and techniques, I give a complete, exhaustive system for writing copy in three key areas:

  1. Website copy
  2. Email copy
  3. Blog content

These are the three most lucrative writing services you can offer online, and I take you through the process, step-by-step, of writing each type of copy within the context of offering it as a service. To PROVE how serious I am about “step by step” training, I published my lesson on website copywriting for free on my blog. Check it out here.

The other issue that most training doesn’t address is that it’s not enough to just write good copy for the end user. At the end of the day, your client is the one paying your check, NOT the end users it’s written for. I’ll show you how to involve the client in a way that gets them excited about what you are writing while also driving sales and putting money in your pocket.

Learn how to land clients immediately AND build a stream of high quality leads that come straight to you, month after month, no cold pitching or prospecting required.

There are only two ways to land clients. By going out and pitching to them or by having them come to you directly.

Setting up a system that brings them to you takes time…. like 6-12 months time. Pitching brings them in NOW.

The problem I see with most freelancer training is that it only really focuses on one of these areas. Either you learn how to pitch, make some decent money now, and then three years later, you are still having to constantly pitch and barely making any more than you were at the beginning.

OR, you learn how to build a lead system, but you aren’t making any money in the short term and you burn out.

I’ll show you how to do both. With my system, you’ll be able to land clients now, AND you’ll be investing a small portion of your time each week building a channel that will eliminate your need to pitch within the next 6-12 months.

The channel I used for this was SEO. I was able to rank on the front page for stuff like “website copywriter”, “professional copywriter”, “expert copywriter”, etc. You’d be surprised at how easy this was, and the opportunity is still WIDE open, because so few copywriters understand SEO. I’ve gotten so good at it, that I’m now ranking front page for much more difficult search terms like “copywriter” (Don’t take my word for it. Go check).

If I had been teaching you this earlier in my career, I just would have taught you SEO, but I’ve learned that everyone has different strengths, and SEO isn’t for everyone. After interviewing all of my six-figure writing friends, I’ve realized there’s actually three different ways to build a six-figure recurring leads channel, and the one that works best for each person will be different.

I’ll teach you all three… step-by-step.

Learn how to setup and launch your freelance writing business, run it like a true professional, and become a recognized, sought-after authority in your niche.

If I’m being honest, the previous two topics are really all you need to hit six figures… but they aren’t everything that goes into being a successful freelancer, and my goal for this course is to teach you EVERYTHING you need to know.

That’s why the final topic area I cover is setting up, running, and evolving your business.

I’ll show you how to setup your business (including your brand, website, etc). I’ll show you all the key processes you need to run your business, onboard clients, and manage client relationships. And I’ll show you how to evolve your business over time to become a recognized player in your niche.

I’m not a celebrity, but people in the marketing niche know who I am. They know my friends as well. If you follow my training, within a few years, they’ll know your name too.

How The Course Works

I’ve broken the entire freelancing experience into 5 pivotal modules:

Module #1: Learn How To Write Copy

In this module, I’ll teach the fundamentals of persuasive copywriting AND show you exactly how to write the three most lucrative forms of copy: website copy, email copy, and longform blog content. I’ll take you step by step through the process of writing the copy itself AND delivering the copy as a service to your clients.

Module #2: Learn How To Launch Your Freelance Business

In this module, I’ll walk you step by step through choosing your brand, niche, and service, launching your website, and creating your freelance workflows and processes. If you’re on a tight budget, I’ll show you the cheapest ways to get this all done while maintaining a high level of quality. If you have some additional capital to invest, I’ll show you where spending a bit more now will give you ideal results and save you a ton of time and money in the long run. 

Module #3: Learn How To Get Clients NOW

In this module, I’ll show you the RIGHT way to pitch. Pitching is the ONLY way to get clients now, but most freelance writers make it way harder than it has to be and shoot themselves in the foot at every step in the process. I’ll show you where to pitch, how to pitch, how to close sales when you get an opening, and how to upsell small projects and “bad clients” into large, recurring contracts. 

Module #4: Learn How To Bring Clients To You

In this module, I’ll show you how to build a marketing channel that brings a steady stream of high-paying clients straight to you, month after month, no pitching, cold calling, or prospecting required. This is the ONLY difference between copywriters making $50k per year versus $100k per year. I’ll teach you three different ways to do this, and you can choose the one that best fits your personality and strengths.

Module #5: Learn How To Become More Than A Writer

In this module, I teach you how to transition from freelance writer to niche authority and marketing consultant, allowing you to command higher rates, land larger gigs, and have the freedom to do whatever you want with your career. The only reason writing is such a reliable way to make six figures today is because it’s an integral part of online marketing and sales. By learning how your writing fits into that ecosystem, you can essentially promote yourself within the ecosystem and occupy whatever role you desire.

These modules have been completely updated and overhauled for 2022 and now include video lessons, written lessons, and “homework” that takes you step by step through the process of building a real, tangible business.

While the course has everything you need to succeed RIGHT NOW, I am an active freelance copywriter working in the field myself AND closely observing the results and challenges of over a thousand students, so I’m always looking for ways to improve and add to the training, and you’ll get all those updates and improvements at no additional cost.

Summary: Here’s What You Get When You Order Today

Here’s what you get with The Internet’s Best Copywriting Course:

  1. The full copywriting course: 5 modules with 23 in-depth lessons
  2. “Homework” that guides you through building a real business
  3. Both video and written lessons for better learning & retention
  4. Lifetime access, updates, and improvements

There is no faster, more efficient way to become a successful copywriter than through the pathway my course will take you on.

I’ve personally spent over $40,000 on courses, coaching, and consulting over the course of my career, and I wouldn’t be even close to where I am today if I had simply attempted to figure things out on my own.

If you’ve been trying to make freelance writing work for awhile now but struggle to consistently land clients and hit your goals, this is your chance to make a change.

If you’re just getting started and can’t afford to stumble around with no income over the next year, this is your fast track to full-time income.

If you’ve been thinking about copywriting for awhile but can’t motivate yourself to get started, now is your moment – the chance to take that first big step that changes your life.

If you are ready to stop wishing and dreaming about being a successful copywriter and begin building a copywriting business TODAY, click below to order my course, and let’s build it together!

Everything You Need To Build A Lucrative Writing Business

Only $997

Get my proven, step-by-step system for building a freelance copywriting business from scratch and replacing your fulltime income in the next 12 months.

Playment plan available: get started for just $108.

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

I know how tight money can be when you’re just starting your freelance writing career. I also know how many courses out there promise a staircase and deliver a footstool. That’s why I want to make this as risk-free for you as possible.

Dive into my course for 30 days, and if it doesn’t give you the tools you need to grow your freelance writing business, just send an email to [email protected], and I’ll give you all your money back.

I’ll try to pepper you with questions if you’ll let me, because I want to know how the course failed you and how to make it the absolute best it can be, but you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. If you want your money back, “no questions asked”, that’s exactly what you’ll receive, as well as a big thanks from me for giving my course a try!

What My Students Are Saying

“It all started, because I did my value prop homework.”

“This week I started working with my first client. They’re paying me $14,000 for a 14-week project that I estimate will require about 4 hours per day of my time. That’s roughly $50 per hour. Exactly the rate I was looking to start out at. It all started because I did my value prop homework.”

– Jonathan Kampen, Freelance Copywriter

“All of the advice you’ve given has helped me land my first clients!”

Thanks so much for your advice. Yes, you’re right, sales is a numbers game. So far all of the advice you’ve given (send out 20 pitches a week, do practice projects) has helped me find my first clients! I just got my first Paypal payment from writing today, actually! The client who I emailed you about wound up getting back to me- I sent a trial article and got paid for it! And I’m hoping they come through with some consistent work. But I am going to keep sending pitches. Thanks a million!”

– Cierra Loflin, Freelance Copywriter

“$8k (and counting)”

“Hey Jacob, just wanted to share this with you: 

  • May earnings – $500
  • June – $1000+
  • July – $8k (and counting)

When I see the numbers – I couldn’t believe it myself. From our conversation in April… to now July. Gonna work on retainers and charging more for them as this progresses over the next few months.

A big thank you!”

– Rusydi Arsyraf, Freelance Writer & Marketer

“Best money I’ve ever spent.”

Thank you, Jacob. I landed my first client from cold pitching thanks to your training. Best money I’ve ever spent. Thank you for all you do.

– Stella Inabo, Freelance Copywriter

“I’m on track to 2x my traffic this month compared to last.”

Totally forgot to say thanks by the way! I’ve been working on SEO this past 25 days and I’m on track to 2x my traffic this month compared to last – I used the on-page checklist in your course! I also landed two great copywriting projects worth $1800 about 60 days after I joined (during the pandemic). Thanks for a terrific program.

– Aske Christiansen, Freelance Copywriter

“Keep up what you’re doing… it’s saving lives!!!”

“I have always marvelled at how free you are in your writing. This, in addition to your cold pitching course that I had shelved due to a lack of confidence, have already gotten me two potential clients that want to hire me for the long-term. And it’s only been a week. Keep up what you’re doing man. It’s saving lives!!!”

– William Mutugi, Freelance Writer

“I bought your course and really like it.”

“Hey Jacob, I just wanted to let you know I found you by reading your blog posts and then bought your course on finding clients. I really like it and wanted to thank you.”

– Tyler Mayberry, Freelance Writer

“It was Jacob’s course that really got my writing career up and running.”

“What I like about Jacob’s course is that it cuts right to the point. Each training is bite-sized, yet full of value. I’ve taken other marketing and writing courses before (some cost as much as $10K), but it was Jacob’s course that really got my writing career up and running. If you want practical advice with no distractions, take this course!”

– Amy Masand, Freelance Writer

“So glad I invested.”

Hey Jacob, thanks to you, I was able to get freelance work from a former client using your warm lead reach out method. Crazy stuff!

Also, following your content has led me to my final interview tomorrow for a Content Marketing Manager position for a consulting firm. This is a huge deal because I would be THE sole marketer. And largely, at first, I didn’t *feel* qualified for it all.

Although it’s a bit daunting, reading your notes and emails on content strategy and marketing is the preparation I need.

So, I just want to say, I appreciate all the free information you provide. And thanks for opening that small section of your course — so glad I invested.

– Brandon Keith, Digital Marketing Specialist

“Your content blows away 99% of the marketing world.”

“Man… Your content blows away 99% of the marketing world out there. I don‘t know when and how I subscribed to your newsletter, but luckily I opened your emails and got your training. I’ve been a bit stuck in my copywriting business and your material helped me get clarity again moving forward. Thanks a ton.

– Björn Baumann, Email & Conversion Copywriter

“Your course is one that I come back to again and again.”

Your course is one that I come back to again and again. And trust me, I’ve bought a tonne of courses. Like I literally have 20 right now vying for my attention. Yours is one of the select few at the top of the pile. And there’s a reason for that…

It’s a good buy and delivers a tonne of value. I highly recommend it and this is coming from a guy who has bookshelves heaving with direct-response manuals. (And a hard drive crammed full of expensive online trainings).

Your course helped me get my first client at £1,250 a month. And the copy I write for them is the jet fuel which is helping me get them some pretty good results.

– Tobias Allen., Direct-response copywriter

Everything You Need To Build A Lucrative Writing Business

Only $997

Get my proven, step-by-step system for building a freelance copywriting business from scratch and replacing your fulltime income in the next 12 months.

Playment plan available: get started for just $108.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I launch a freelance writing business even if I’m not an expert in any particular field?

100% yes.The only thing you need to launch your business is the ability to deliver one of the following services:

  • website copywriting
  • email copywriting
  • blog writing

You’ll probably suck at these at first. Everyone does. But you just have to be able to do it and then you learn as you practice on low paying gigs. To give you a feel for the depth I’m aiming for in this course, I published about 90% of what will be included in the website copywriting lesson (1 of 18 lessons) to my blog here.

If you find that blog helpful, you’ll love the course.

Is there followup and support during or after the course?

This course is DIY and intended to provide you with everything you need to succeed on your own. I am always available to answer questions, and I go out of my way to provide in-depth answers for students, but outside of that, there is no formal support system attached to this course.

The goal of this course is to supply the right information and focus for a low, fixed cost, and then once you’ve demonstrated you have the initiative by getting your business off the ground, we offer Write Minds for more ongoing support, learning, and camaraderie.

How much more is in the course versus what you already put out on your blog?

There’s two ways in which my free content and this premium course are different.

  1. Focus
  2. Depth

My blog, email, podcast, and youtube content are designed to attract people to my brand and answer the popular questions that people have about this field. I have to focus on what people WANT when creating that content, not necessarily what people NEED.

Most premium courses continue with this trend in the course content itself. My premium course shifts your focus from the 80% of activities that are going to waste your time and makes you focus on the 20% of activities that are going to put money in your pocket. This type of training is unsexy, but it works. In fact, it’s the ONLY thing that works.

The other difference is depth.

I spend a lot of time on my content. Some of my blog posts have taken 40-60 hours to create.

I’ve spent a combined 6 months FULL TIME creating this course. If you see me say, “Go send 20 pitches” in a blog post, that same directive in the course comes along with a full lesson on finding businesses to pitch, a full lesson on the exact pitches to send in different scenarios, a full lesson on closing the prospects who respond to your pitch, a full lesson on upselling them, etc. etc.

I completely eliminate the guesswork and make every single step simple and easy to follow.

How much time will I need to spend working on this course each week?

This is a DIY course that can be completed on your own schedule using whatever hours you have available.

That said, I think 10 hours per week is the optimal amount. The “homework” in this course takes you through the process of building a real writing business, so when I say 10 hours a week, I don’t mean 10 hours reading the course. I mean 10 hours total per week investing in your writing business.

I think you can still make meaningful progress with as little as 5 hours per week.

If you have less than 5 hours per week total to work on your writing business, I’d recommend waiting for a later season where you have more availability, but that’s just my opinion. Ultimately, it’s entirely up to you.

How long does it take to see results?

In Module #3, I will take you through a step-by-step process for finding, pitching, and closing clients. While some of my students land clients while completing the homework in Module #1, most land their first clients while following the pitching process in Module #3.

From the moment my students begin this weekly pitching process, they add an average of $750 in monthly income every 30 days.

In other words, an average student who starts at $0 can expect to be earning around $2,250 per month after three months of following the pitching process in Module #3.

I’ve had students land a $14,000 gig in their first week. I’ve had students hit $8,000 in Month #3. I’ve had quite a few students have a $10,000+ month by the end of their first year. Everyone’s progress is different.

I’m not a native English speaker. Can I succeed as an English focused freelance writer?

The answer to this will be based entirely on how well you’ve mastered the English language and what price point you are aiming for. The good news is that the best copywriting is very simple. It’s not grammatically difficult and it doesn’t use a large vocabulary. In fact, native English speakers with a literary background often struggle to simplify their writing enough to succeed in this business.

I’ve worked with numerous non-native speakers who are absolutely killing it, including several who are doing six-figures and more. So the answer is yes, it’s possible to succeed, but whether your English is currently good enough is something I wouldn’t be able to say for sure until I’ve personally assessed your writing.

Everything You Need To Build A Lucrative Writing Business

Only $997

Get my proven, step-by-step system for building a freelance copywriting business from scratch and replacing your fulltime income in the next 12 months.

Playment plan available: get started for just $108.

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