Recession: Why Copywriters Must Diversify Their Income NOW
I was casually browsing the Googs (aka Google) this morning when I came across a pretty sad article.
It featured a TikTok video from a ‘former’ Shopify worker who was just let go from her job.
If you haven’t already seen the viral video, the basic gist is that this gal — who was a super committed employee — woke up early to plan for a whole day of meetings.
And then, during one of the meetings, they just … laid her off and logged her out remotely.
She said “They just hit the kill button on my computer.”
The worst part … she had been with the company for 3 years!
This is the worst feeling as a copywriter.
I know, because it happened to me.
I was laid off from my copywriting job (with a travel company) right at the beginning of covid.
The Friday before I was let go, my coworkers and I were watching case numbers rise — with staggering speed — at all the destinations where we operated.
Management assured us that our jobs would be safe.
Then, that Monday, they laid off half the company … myself and the other copywriter included.
I ended up being okay after a few difficult months, as I eventually went on to become the “go-to” freelance ad copywriter for the Hustle, where my ads were seen by over 2 million readers regularly.
And it opened up the pathway for the career I have today (which I love.)
But a few things I learned from the experience:
If you’re let go, everything will be okay. Seriously.
No matter how much you like or trust your employer, you’re still an employee … and they may still let you go … even if they promise not to.
Constantly level up your copywriting skills so you become more valuable to your employer or clients. I.e., be a ‘lifelong learner’ of your craft.
Diversify your income streams and opportunities for income. It’s one of the most important things you can do for job security, especially in a recession.
On that last point, I currently have a great full time job.
But I also have one client who I do a lot of hours with each month.
And I have a growing network of business owners who would absolutely throw projects my way if I wanted them.
I’m also working on my own brand and email list, which I plan to turn into an income stream, too.
Because of this, I know that if I was let go of my job tomorrow, I would probably be okay because I’ve built (and continue to build) these diverse safety nets into my career.
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David Patrick
