| There are certain things you need to have to be able | | | | business but it's not a necessity. Once again if you are |
| to effectively do your work as a professional | | | | runningunder a tight budget then you can go with less |
| freelance copywriter. Now, some of this stuff is | | | | expensive options. There are manydial up services |
| expensive, so if you're running on a tight budget then it | | | | that cost less than 20 dollars and some that are free. |
| would make sense for you to try and buy some of | | | | The mainproblem with the free services is that they |
| these items used. As long as it is functional then you're | | | | tend to run constant advertisingmessages across your |
| alright. Once you begin to pull in more clients you'll be | | | | screen while you are connected. This could be |
| able to afford an upgrade. | | | | verydistracting. |
| As a Freelance Copywriter You're going to need: | | | | 3. A Telephone. You need a phone to make and |
| 1. A Computer. You can buy a laptop or a PC. These | | | | accept calls to and from yourclients. I think that's fairly |
| days you can find a prettyreliable laptop for cheap. | | | | obvious. I have two phones--a cell phone and a |
| Most places even offer some sort of monthly | | | | homephone. I use the home phone when I'm doing |
| paymentplan. I know my first laptop cost over $1,000 | | | | business from my home office andwhen I'm out during |
| but I only ended up makingmonthly payments of about | | | | business hours (at a coffee shop or library) I have my |
| $27. PCs are no different. The big retail electronicchain | | | | callsforwarded to my cell phone. That way I don't miss |
| stores have reliable PCs for less than $500. And I'm | | | | any important calls. |
| sure they also offerpayment plans. The computer is | | | | 4. A Fax Machine. A fax machine is optional. But if you |
| your life in this business. Without my laptop | | | | decide to purchase one itcan help you be more |
| I'd probably just waste away. It is the core. And | | | | productive. If you plan on using a copywriter's contract |
| always make sure to back upyour information. I had a | | | | (discussed later in the manual) that you want signed by |
| computer crash on me and I lost about 7 months | | | | the client then it reallyhelps to have a fax machine to |
| worthof work because I hadn't backed it up. So make | | | | send and receive it. Plus some clients haven't |
| sure you back it up. | | | | fullygrasped attaching documents to emails so they |
| 2. The Internet. I prefer high speed internet access | | | | insist on sending them via faxinstead. If you have a |
| because I do a lot of myresearch online and with | | | | document store nearby you can always use their |
| anything less I feel I wouldn't be able to be | | | | faxmachine, but it is a slight hassle to have to go there. |
| asproductive. However as budget allows, you may not | | | | It takes away from time youcould use to be more |
| be able to afford it at first. | | | | productive. |
| Some cable providers have specials where you can | | | | 5. Various office supplies:o Desko Papero Penso File |
| sign up for so many moths at adiscounted rate. I | | | | Cabineto Folderso Envelopeso Pads of paper (I like to |
| suggest you check and see. DSL is also an option. It's | | | | use legal pads to take notes while on the phone with |
| cheaperthan cable (in most areas) and is more widely | | | | aclient. |
| available. Faster internet access isgreat for my | | | | |