Blogs. Are they still worth it? In 2024, these website workhorses get a bit of a bad rap from people. “Do they work?” “Are they worth it?” “What’s the point?” Well, according to Semrush, “blog posts are still one of the most effective ways to connect with your target audience.” And they know a thing or two. In fact, after video content, long- and short-form blog posts are the content formats that perform best. So, when Google E-E-A-T focuses on Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust for websites and their content, having a regular blog can set you apart and rise above the generic content ..read more

Misplaced punctuation, grammatical errors, and typos can let down the pages of your brochure, blog, or website, making your business look bad. And you don’t want that, right? If you’ve written your own content, having it checked by a proofreader and copyeditor can be the best money you spend on your project. But, proofreading vs. copyediting – which should you use and which do you need? It’s usual for people to interchange these terms without realising the function each performs in refining and polishing a piece of copy. Both are vital to creating engaging content, yet they have different rol ..read more

As a freelance _____________ (enter your role here), how do you find clients? I would say ‘win’ clients, but that sounds unnecessarily competitive when us freelancers are all about collaboration. Do you find clients as a freelancer? Or do they find you? Either way, it can often be a source of worry. Well, maybe ‘worry’ is the wrong word. But it can often be challenging, let’s put it that way. A big – and vital – part of freelance life is finding clients. And clients are what you need to make money, hone your skills, and do your thing. But the question of where you’ll find clients as a freelan ..read more

If you’re new to copywriting, the chances are you’ve got a reading list as long as your arm to get through. But even if you’ve been copywriting professionally for years, there’s always another one to add to the list. Following on from my blog, 7 Of The Best Books For Freelancers, I’ve now curated this new one: 8 Of The Best Books For Copywriters. So whether you’re a freelancer or an in-house writer, here’s my pick of the best books for copywriters. Having clamoured to get my hands on as many copywriting books as I can over my six years as a freelancer (and several before that), it’s fair to s ..read more

NOW UPDATED   New to being a freelancer? Need some help from people who have ‘been there, done that’? Luckily, plenty of recommended books are available to help you through, whatever your profession. Here’s my pick of 7 of the best books for freelancers. Being a relatively experienced freelancer with 6 years of hard labour under my belt (at the time of writing),  you could say I’ve learned a thing or two. Through a mix of tenacity,  persistence, and eye-opening realities – and a lot of actual work – it’s all come together to get me where I am today. But there’s been anothe ..read more

Writing an About page can be the hardest – some might say the worst – part of writing your website. While any freelance copywriter will summon the copy gods to nail an About Us page for their clients, writing your own can leave you feeling frustrated – or just too far out of your comfort zone to get it done at all. But don’t let it put you off. Your About page is a key selling tool and it’s all about knowing what to include – and what you shouldn’t. So this article is about how to write an About page you actually like – and one that works. What is an About Page? Your About page should explain ..read more

Being a member of the Pro Copywriters Network – an association that represents almost 1,000 pro commercial copywriters across the UK – comes with a lot of benefits.  For an annual subscription, it gives me a whole lot of support as well as webinars, workshops, and a whole load of guest blogs with other copywriter’s who have ‘been there, done that’. It’s certainly excellent value for money and a subscription worthy of keeping up. But it also means I can get to shout about my story and how a copywriting life really works. One of the areas on the PCN site is the Member Spotlight page ..read more

  Copy is a direct conversation with the consumer. A tidy little quote that neatly sums up what copywriting is. But many businesses don’t use a professional copywriter because they’re not entirely sure what a copywriter actually does or, more importantly, the value one can add. Which might lead you to ask “Do I need one?”. Well-written and engaging words are important to every business. There’s the big stuff like your brochures, blogs, and brand messaging. There’s also the smaller stuff like product descriptions and social media posts which are just as valuable though often overlooked. B ..read more

Being a member of the Procopywriters Network, the UK’s largest association for commercial writers, comes with a lot of benefits.  For an annual subscription, it gives me a whole lot of support as well as networking and work opportunities. But it also means I can get to shout about my story and how a copywriting life really works. One of the areas on the PCN site is the Member Spotlight page. Here, copywriters get to answer a set of questions that shed some light on how they became a copywriter, their process, and their life as a freelance or agency copywriter. Not long after I joined PCN ..read more

Best Freelance Copywriter Of The Year – Winner! Award season is getting into full swing once more. And many of our social timelines are erupting with friends or colleagues attending an event, or even celebrating a win. But one set of awards I look forward to each year are the SME News Awards. And this year I’ve picked up the ‘Best Freelance Copywriter Of The Year (Devon)’ award – again! Despite all the good things they achieve, SMEs are often overlooked by more established business or industry awards. But SME News looks at specific regions or industries to celebrate “the success stories of on ..read more