Top 12 Freelance Copywriter Skills to Put on Your Resume

In an increasingly competitive freelance market, distinguishing yourself as a copywriter requires not just creativity but a diverse set of skills that appeal to potential clients. This article highlights the top 12 skills you should feature on your resume to stand out and secure more projects in the field of copywriting.

Freelance Copywriter Skills

1. SEO Optimization
2. WordPress
3. Google Analytics
4. Content Management Systems (CMS)
5. MailChimp
6. Adobe InDesign
7. HTML/CSS
8. Social Media Marketing
9. HubSpot
10. Keyword Research
11. Ahrefs
12. SEMrush

1. SEO Optimization

SEO Optimization for a Freelance Copywriter involves strategically creating and enhancing written content to improve its visibility and ranking on search engine results pages, by incorporating relevant keywords, ensuring readability, and aligning with search engine algorithms and user search intent.

Why It's Important

SEO optimization is crucial for a freelance copywriter as it enhances the visibility of their content on search engines, driving more traffic to their work or website, potentially increasing client engagement and opportunities.

How to Improve SEO Optimization Skills

To improve SEO optimization as a Freelance Copywriter, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find relevant, high-search-volume keywords. Incorporate them naturally into your content.

2. Engaging Content: Write compelling, high-quality content that addresses your audience's needs. Tools like Hemingway Editor can help ensure readability.

3. Meta Descriptions and Title Tags: Craft unique and keyword-rich meta descriptions and title tags for each page to improve visibility.

4. Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly with Google's Mobile-Friendly Test.

5. Backlinks: Increase your site's authority by obtaining backlinks from reputable sites within your industry. Guest blogging is a good strategy.

6. Local SEO: If applicable, optimize for local search results by creating a Google My Business profile and generating local citations.

7. Monitor Performance: Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your website's performance and make data-driven improvements.

Remember, SEO is an ongoing process. Continuously update your content, monitor your site's performance, and stay updated with SEO best practices.

How to Display SEO Optimization Skills on Your Resume

2. WordPress

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) used for creating and managing websites, offering a user-friendly platform with customizable templates, ideal for freelance copywriters to publish and manage their content online.

Why It's Important

WordPress is crucial for a Freelance Copywriter because it provides an easy-to-use platform to publish content, showcase their portfolio, attract clients through SEO, and manage their online presence efficiently, enhancing their visibility and business opportunities.

How to Improve WordPress Skills

To enhance your WordPress site as a Freelance Copywriter, focus on optimizing content, SEO, and user experience. Here’s a short guide:

1. Use SEO Plugins: Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO to improve your content’s visibility.
2. Optimize for Speed: Use a caching plugin like W3 Total Cache to boost site speed.
3. Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure your theme is mobile-friendly for better user experience. Astra is a highly customizable theme that is mobile-responsive.
4. Quality Content: Produce engaging, valuable content regularly. Tools like Grammarly can help improve writing quality.
5. Use Analytics: Incorporate Google Analytics to track visitor behavior and refine your strategy.
6. Social Media Integration: Add social sharing buttons using plugins like Social Media Share Buttons to increase engagement.
7. Security Measures: Protect your site with security plugins like Wordfence Security.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly enhance your WordPress site's performance and appeal to your target audience.

How to Display WordPress Skills on Your Resume

3. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic, providing insights into visitor behavior, which helps freelance copywriters optimize content for better engagement and performance.

Why It's Important

Google Analytics is important for a Freelance Copywriter because it provides insights into website traffic, visitor behavior, and content effectiveness, enabling tailored content strategies that improve engagement and conversion rates.

How to Improve Google Analytics Skills

To improve Google Analytics for a Freelance Copywriter, focus on the following steps:

1. Set Up Goals: Track conversions by setting up specific goals (e.g., form submissions, downloads, contact page visits). Learn more about Goals.

2. Monitor Referrals: Keep an eye on referral traffic to understand which external links are driving visitors to your site. This helps in evaluating the effectiveness of guest blogging or backlink strategies. Referral Traffic Insights.

3. Analyze Site Content: Use Behavior reports to analyze which content performs best, understanding what engages your audience the most. Behavior Reports Guide.

4. Track Events: Implement event tracking for clicks on email addresses, download links, or external links to understand user interaction beyond page views. Event Tracking Setup.

5. Custom Dashboards: Create custom dashboards focusing on metrics relevant to your copywriting goals, such as user engagement, conversion rates, and most visited pages. Custom Dashboard Creation.

By focusing on these areas, a freelance copywriter can gain valuable insights into how users interact with their content and optimize their strategy accordingly.

How to Display Google Analytics Skills on Your Resume

4. Content Management Systems (CMS)

A Content Management System (CMS) is a software platform that allows freelance copywriters to create, manage, and modify digital content on websites easily without needing specialized technical knowledge.

Why It's Important

Content Management Systems (CMS) are crucial for freelance copywriters because they streamline content creation, management, and publication, enabling efficient workflow, easy collaboration with clients, and the ability to update content quickly without needing technical skills.

How to Improve Content Management Systems (CMS) Skills

Improving Content Management Systems (CMS) for freelance copywriters involves enhancing usability, collaboration, and content optimization features. Here are concise recommendations:

1. Usability: Implement a user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation and editing tools. Simplify the content uploading process and offer customizable templates for various content types (WordPress).
2. Collaboration: Integrate real-time collaboration tools and version control to facilitate teamwork between writers, editors, and clients. Consider systems with built-in commenting and track changes features (Google Docs).
3. SEO Optimization: Incorporate SEO tools that suggest keywords, analyze readability, and optimize meta tags. This helps copywriters create content that ranks higher on search engines (Yoast SEO for WordPress).
4. Content Scheduling: Feature a content calendar for planning, scheduling, and automating publication. This helps freelance copywriters manage deadlines and distribute content efficiently (CoSchedule).
5. Analytics: Embed analytics to track content performance. Understanding reader engagement and traffic sources allows for data-driven improvements (Google Analytics).

These enhancements make a CMS more effective for freelance copywriters, fostering productivity, creativity, and success in their projects.

How to Display Content Management Systems (CMS) Skills on Your Resume

5. MailChimp

MailChimp is a digital marketing platform that allows users, including freelance copywriters, to design, send, and analyze email and ad campaigns, helping them effectively communicate with their audience and promote their services.

Why It's Important

MailChimp is important for a Freelance Copywriter because it enables targeted email marketing, allowing for personalized communication with clients and prospects, efficient distribution of content, and the ability to track the effectiveness of campaigns, which can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.

How to Improve MailChimp Skills

To enhance MailChimp for a Freelance Copywriter, focus on these key areas:

1. Segmentation: Create targeted campaigns by segmenting your audience based on their interests, behaviors, or previous interactions. This allows for more personalized content. Learn More

2. A/B Testing: Test different subject lines, email content, and send times to see what resonates best with your audience. This data-driven approach can significantly improve open rates and engagement. Start Testing

3. Automations: Set up email automations for welcome sequences, follow-ups, or educational courses. This ensures consistent engagement with your audience without manual effort. Explore Automations

4. Analytics: Analyze campaign performance to understand what works. Focus on metrics like open rates, click-through rates, and conversions to refine your strategy. View Analytics

5. Content Optimization: Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to refine your email copy for clarity, grammar, and engagement. Strong, clear writing can significantly impact the effectiveness of your campaigns. Grammarly | Hemingway

By focusing on these areas, you can create more effective and engaging email campaigns that resonate with your audience.

How to Display MailChimp Skills on Your Resume

6. Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software used for creating and designing layouts for print and digital media, such as flyers, magazines, e-books, and interactive PDFs, offering robust typography and design tools suitable for producing high-quality content.

Why It's Important

Adobe InDesign is crucial for a freelance copywriter as it allows for the professional layout and design of documents, enhancing the presentation of written content to better engage clients and readers.

How to Improve Adobe InDesign Skills

To enhance Adobe InDesign skills for a Freelance Copywriter, focus on mastering text handling, layout design, and collaboration tools:

1. Text Handling: Learn how to efficiently manage text through styles and threading text frames. Adobe's guide on working with text is an excellent starting point.

2. Layout Design: Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of layout design to improve the visual appeal of documents. Explore InDesign's layout design tutorials for practical tips.

3. Collaboration Tools: Utilize InDesign's collaboration features to streamline workflows with clients and other freelancers. The Share for Review feature is particularly useful for gathering feedback without leaving the application.

4. Templates and Assets: Leverage InDesign's vast library of templates and assets to speed up your design process. Adobe Stock offers a wide range of templates that can be customized to fit any project.

5. Shortcuts and Efficiency Tips: Improve your workflow efficiency by mastering InDesign shortcuts and efficiency tips. This shortcuts guide is a great resource to start with.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly enhance your InDesign skills, making your workflow more efficient and your output more professional.

How to Display Adobe InDesign Skills on Your Resume

7. HTML/CSS

HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the standard code used to create and structure web pages and content. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is used alongside HTML to design and control the presentation, layout, and styling of these web pages. Together, they form the foundation for building visually appealing and functionally robust websites.

Why It's Important

HTML/CSS is crucial for a Freelance Copywriter because it enables them to create and customize engaging, visually appealing content for web platforms, enhancing readability and user experience, thereby increasing the effectiveness of their written communication.

How to Improve HTML/CSS Skills

To improve your HTML/CSS skills as a Freelance Copywriter, focus on the following concise steps:

1. Learn the Basics: Start with understanding the foundational concepts of HTML and CSS. Mozilla Developer Network (MDN) offers comprehensive guides and tutorials.

2. Practice Regularly: Apply what you learn by coding regularly. Use platforms like CodePen or JSFiddle to practice and share your work.

3. Use Frameworks: Familiarize yourself with CSS frameworks like Bootstrap or Tailwind CSS for rapid, responsive design.

4. Stay Updated: Follow blogs, forums, and newsletters like CSS-Tricks or Smashing Magazine for the latest trends and techniques.

5. Build Projects: Create real-world projects or contribute to open-source. GitHub is a great place to explore projects and collaborate with others.

6. Seek Feedback: Join communities on Stack Overflow or Reddit to get feedback, share knowledge, and learn from peers.

7. Learn SEO Basics: Understanding the basics of SEO and how it relates to HTML structure can be crucial. Google's SEO Starter Guide is a solid starting point.

Incorporate these steps into your learning process to enhance your HTML/CSS skills effectively.

How to Display HTML/CSS Skills on Your Resume

8. Social Media Marketing

Social Media Marketing is the process of promoting products, services, or brands through social media platforms to engage audiences, increase visibility, and drive sales, tailored by a Freelance Copywriter to craft compelling content that resonates with target demographics.

Why It's Important

Social media marketing is crucial for a freelance copywriter as it amplifies their visibility, showcases their skills to a broader audience, and facilitates direct engagement with potential clients, significantly enhancing their opportunities for growth and collaboration.

How to Improve Social Media Marketing Skills

To improve social media marketing as a freelance copywriter, focus on these concise strategies:

1. Know Your Audience: Understand your target audience's preferences and pain points to tailor your content effectively. Sprout Social offers insights on audience analytics.

2. Create Compelling Content: Craft engaging and valuable content that resonates with your audience. Use Canva for visually appealing designs.

3. Utilize SEO Techniques: Incorporate relevant keywords in your posts to improve visibility. Google Keyword Planner is a useful tool for keyword research.

4. Engage with Your Community: Respond to comments, messages, and mentions to build relationships. Tools like Hootsuite can help manage interactions.

5. Analyze and Adjust: Regularly review your social media performance and adjust your strategy accordingly. Google Analytics can provide comprehensive insights.

By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your social media marketing efforts and connect more effectively with your audience.

How to Display Social Media Marketing Skills on Your Resume

9. HubSpot

HubSpot is a comprehensive inbound marketing, sales, and service software platform that helps businesses attract, engage, and delight customers. For a freelance copywriter, it offers tools to create and manage content, optimize it for search engines, and analyze its performance to improve marketing strategies.

Why It's Important

HubSpot is important for a Freelance Copywriter because it provides comprehensive tools for content management, SEO optimization, and analytics, enabling the creation of targeted and effective content that drives engagement and conversions.

How to Improve HubSpot Skills

Improving your use of HubSpot as a Freelance Copywriter involves focusing on content optimization, personalization, and analytics. Here are concise strategies:

1. Leverage SEO Tools: Utilize HubSpot's SEO tools to optimize your content for search engines. Research keywords and integrate them into your copy to improve visibility. HubSpot's SEO Tool Guide can help you get started.

2. Personalize Content: Use HubSpot's personalization tokens in your emails and landing pages to tailor your messaging to individual leads. This increases engagement and conversion rates. Learn how to personalize your content here.

3. Utilize Analytics: Analyze the performance of your content through HubSpot's analytics to understand what resonates with your audience. Use these insights to refine your strategy and improve future content. Start with HubSpot's guide on analyzing your marketing.

4. Automate Tasks: Implement automation to streamline repetitive tasks, like email sequences or social media posts, freeing up more time for content creation. Check out how to automate your marketing here.

5. Educate Yourself with HubSpot Academy: Take advantage of the free courses and certifications on content marketing and inbound marketing to sharpen your skills. HubSpot Academy is a valuable resource for continuous learning. Explore courses here.

By focusing on these areas, you can effectively improve your use of HubSpot, making your freelance copywriting business more efficient and impactful.

How to Display HubSpot Skills on Your Resume

10. Keyword Research

Keyword research is the process of identifying popular words and phrases people enter into search engines, tailored to create content that enhances a freelance copywriter's ability to rank higher in search results and connect with their target audience.

Why It's Important

Keyword research is crucial for a freelance copywriter because it helps identify the terms and phrases that potential clients use to search for services, enabling the creation of SEO-optimized content that ranks higher in search results, attracts more targeted traffic, and increases the visibility of their services.

How to Improve Keyword Research Skills

Improving keyword research as a freelance copywriter involves a strategic approach to identify and target the most effective keywords for your content. Here's a concise guide:

1. Understand Your Audience: Know the language and terms your audience uses. Tools like Google Trends can help identify the popularity of specific terms.

2. Use Keyword Research Tools: Leverage tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to find keywords with high search volume and low competition.

3. Analyze Competitors: Use tools like Moz to see what keywords competitors are ranking for and identify gaps in your content.

4. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords: These are longer and more specific keyword phrases. They are easier to rank for and attract more qualified traffic. Tools like Answer The Public can help you find these.

5. Evaluate Search Intent: Understand the intent behind searches – informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial. Tailor your content to meet these needs.

6. Keep Content Relevant and Updated: Ensure your content is up-to-date and relevant to the keywords you are targeting. This increases its usefulness to your audience and its visibility in search results.

7. Monitor and Adjust: SEO and keyword effectiveness can change over time. Regularly review your keyword performance and adjust your strategy as needed.

By adopting these strategies and utilizing the recommended tools, you can enhance your keyword research process and improve your overall content strategy as a freelance copywriter.

How to Display Keyword Research Skills on Your Resume

11. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that helps freelance copywriters analyze website traffic, research keywords, monitor competitors, and optimize content for better search engine rankings.

Why It's Important

Ahrefs is important for a freelance copywriter because it provides powerful tools for keyword research, competitor analysis, and content optimization, helping them create SEO-friendly content that ranks well on search engines and attracts more traffic.

How to Improve Ahrefs Skills

To enhance your experience with Ahrefs as a freelance copywriter, focus on:

1. Keyword Research: Use Ahrefs Keyword Explorer to identify low-competition keywords with high traffic potential. Tailor your content around these to improve visibility.

2. Content Gap Analysis: Utilize Ahrefs Site Explorer to perform a content gap analysis between your website and competitors'. This identifies opportunities for topics that haven’t been covered yet but are generating traffic for competitors.

3. Backlink Analysis: With Ahrefs Backlink Checker, analyze the backlink profiles of top-ranking pages. Aim to mimic their backlink strategy to improve your content's authority and search ranking.

4. Monitor Content Performance: Regularly check your content's performance using Ahrefs Site Audit and adjust your strategy based on what's working. Focus on improving underperforming content.

5. Stay Updated with SEO Trends: Ahrefs Blog (https://ahrefs.com/blog/) provides insights and tips on the latest SEO trends and strategies. Continuously learning will keep your content strategies effective and relevant.

Implementing these steps will significantly improve your content's search engine visibility and effectiveness as a freelance copywriter using Ahrefs.

How to Display Ahrefs Skills on Your Resume

12. SEMrush

SEMrush is a comprehensive digital marketing tool that provides freelance copywriters with data and insights on SEO, content marketing, and competitive research to help optimize their writing for better online visibility and performance.

Why It's Important

SEMrush is important for a Freelance Copywriter because it provides comprehensive keyword research, SEO optimization insights, and competitive analysis tools, enabling the creation of high-ranking, compelling content tailored to target audiences and market trends.

How to Improve SEMrush Skills

To enhance your experience with SEMrush as a Freelance Copywriter, focus on leveraging its comprehensive features efficiently:

1. Keyword Research: Use the Keyword Magic Tool to find relevant, high-volume keywords. Tailor your content to meet the needs of your target audience.
2. SEO Writing Assistant: Integrate the SEO Writing Assistant into your content creation process. This tool helps ensure your text is SEO-friendly and readable.
3. Content Marketing Toolkit: Explore the Content Marketing Toolkit for planning, writing, and analyzing your content. It offers insights into how your content performs against competitors.
4. Competitive Research: Use the Competitive Research Toolkit to understand your competitors' strategies. Learn from their successes and mistakes to refine your own approach.
5. Regular Training: SEMrush offers free webinars and training to enhance your skills. Staying updated with the latest SEO and content marketing trends is crucial.

By integrating these strategies and making the most of SEMrush's tools, you can significantly improve the quality and visibility of your content as a Freelance Copywriter.

How to Display SEMrush Skills on Your Resume