I often speak at seminars and conventions. One of the most common questions I am asked by copywriters is, “How can I find clients?” It’s a question that plagues many copywriters.

Finding clients is the #1 problem for copywriters, new and experienced. Given our skills at writing, it seems odd that copywriters and marketers would be challenged by a lack of clients. After all, we are the advertising experts!

You can attract more clients and get all the work you can handle. That’s the good news. Of course, you will have to develop some new skills, skills that will help you to find and keep more clients. These skills aren’t difficult, but they could make all the difference in the world to your business.

As writers, we are skilled at writing clear copy that sells. If writing skills were all that was required to be successful, we would all be rich! In fact, attracting clients calls for new skills - personal skills, business skills, even sales skills.

The main skill you will need to attract clients is sales. If you are a skilled salesperson, you will find all the clients you can handle. Jeffrey Gitomer’s website, www.Gitomer.com, is an excellent resource. As the premier sales trainer in America, Jeffrey can provide you with great information.

Here is a simple 5-Step System to help you attract more copy clients:

1. Invest in your website. Spend time creating the best copy for your site. After all, your copy is meant to sell YOU. A common mistake made by copywriters is to neglect the copy on their own website, while concentrating on copy for clients. YOU are your most important client! Make your copy the best that you can possibly write.

2. Find a sales process that works. There are several tools to choose from. A lead-generation page can offer a forced opt-in page, an autoresponder, or even opt-in bribes (ethical, of course) to convince potential clients to join in. Make sure you have a plan that will lead your potential client right up to the point where he or she asks for a quote.

3. Screen your clients. There are several ways to do this. One of the fastest and most effective is sticker shock. By posting my rates on my site, I weed out clients who should go somewhere else. Don’t get me wrong - I like people, and I enjoy working with them. But not everyone can afford my rates. It is a fact that as your copywriting skills improve, you will be flooded with more jobs. If you get more work than you can handle, you have two choices - you can either politely refuse jobs (because of a lack of time), or you can raise your rates accordingly (to reflect your increased skills). Of course, this assumes that your work offers a great rate of return for your clients, which will be the subject of a different article.

4. Follow-up marketing is important! Use it all the time, every time. Theoretically, your autoresponder should go on and on, into infinity.

5. Network and attend seminars. The best thing you can do for your business is to seek new faces and opportunities by networking and attending seminars. Last year, I spent about $50,000 on travel expenses to attend seminars. Of course, you don’t need to spend this much! Search out a few key events, concentrating on those that will be packed with potential clients. Make it a priority to get there. In my opinion, Armand Morin’s Big Seminar is one of the best places for copywriters to meet and greet new clients. More information can be found on his website at www.NewBigSeminar.com.

Whatever your profession - web designer, marketing consultant, copywriter - you need clients to succeed. This simple 5-step program will help you to attract more clients and ensure the health of your business.