Terry Schilling - Copywriter

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This Freelance Insights interview features copywriter Terry Schilling.

I found Terry’s Instagram account when someone shared one of his training videos on stories. It turns out that these are a regular occurrence, sharing actionable tips for both copywriting specifically and marketing a business more generally.

Terry runs a Facebook group called the Copy Co-op, which is a community for creative small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs to discover proven copywriting tips and resources that help them get clear on their message and make money doing what they love. He does training within the group and interviews guests, so search for that on Facebook if you’d like tips to improve your copywriting.

Terry also offers a free 3-step guide on how to write what you do for a living so you sound confident, authentic and credible. Get that by clicking the button further down this page.

He also sells a bundle of templates to help you get and impress new clients. You can check that out here - it includes 11 templates and one video that will help you create a proven sales process to help you close more clients.

How do you describe what you do for work?

As a copywriter, I work with creative entrepreneurs and small business owners to really get their big ideas onto the screen and in front of their dream clients. I work with a lot of service providers - business owners who provide either consulting or coaching - and I focus on website copy and brand messaging. My goal is to take their ideas and craft a message that's going to resonate and attract their audience over and over again. I want it to feel genuine and like it sounds and looks and feels like them, but also for all their messaging and communication across all platforms to be consistent. I'm a big believer in the empathy angle and putting the customers first. I do my best to be a part of my clients' and their customers' business to learn their goals and help them achieve that.

What's your favourite thing about working freelance?

The flexibility! You have the freedom to work on the projects you want to work on, choosing your clients, setting your schedule and routine... Being your own boss is great, but I think the variety of people you meet is incredible - both clients and within the freelance industry all around the world. You also get to see how your clients are looking to make a difference in people's lives. Working at an agency in the creative marketing world, you don't always get that luxury of being face-to-face with the business owner. Being part of those experiences and meeting so many different people is my favorite part.

Where do you usually work from?

I usually work from a coworking space, and I made that transition for a few reasons... It was getting tiresome working from home or going to coffee shops and spending money all the time. That stimulus of being out and seeing new scenery is great, but for me coworking solved a lot of that. It felt like a designated creative space and gave me a routine where I felt I could go to an office. But being a freelancer, I was able to freely meet so many other businesses and people within those companies so it's a really great networking opportunity as well. It's led to a couple projects, which was maybe a small goal.

What does a normal working day look like for you?

When I get up, I walk my dog and have my workout. That's a space to myself where I can walk and listen to podcasts or music and randomly incubate some thoughts or creative ideas for the day! After I get adjusted, I always fill out a journal about 3 things I'm grateful for and positive affirmations. It sets that positive mindset for the day, knowing that there will be some challenges but I can overcome them - I find that empowering. I then write out 3 tasks for the day and I do my best to block out my schedule, although it doesn't always work! I try to do a big task in the morning and take some time for content before lunch, then get back to content and some designated time for emails. I do a lot of my personal content towards the end of the day when I feel there's low pressure and it's more enjoyable.

What one tip would you give other freelancers about running a freelance business?

Invest time in meeting other people and build a community. There are going to be times when you might feel lonely. People may see you as a freelancer and think you've taken a step back in your career, but just know that there are so many people around the world doing what you're doing! If you meet them, it can be really validating and empowering, motivating you to keep going. There are going to be times when you might feel like it's too tough to keep going, but community will help lift you up. It gives you people you can trust to ask questions of and get honest feedback from.