Name: Kevin Carlton
Website: websitecopywritingservices.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Write_Online
Google+: http://plus.google.com/+KevinCarlton
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kevincarlton
Bio: Kevin is a freelance copywriter and blogger with a methodical and no-nonsense approach to writing copy. He is owner of UK-based SEO copywriting service Write Online, which helps businesses large and small get the most out of their online presence.
He also provides insider tips on copywriting, blogging and SEO at his blog Make every word work for you.
Writer Alias: None
How long have you been a writer? 7 years – although I’ve only been a full-time writer for about 3 or 4 years.
Rough idea of where you live: West Midlands.
Are your clients local, global or a mix? I have a mix of clients, although the majority are based in the UK.
- What is the first piece of writing that you remember doing?
Yeah, this was back in 2008 when I was a proofreader and editor for a local PR company. At the time, they were looking for someone who could write articles about SEO for a client website.
As I’d worked in the IT industry in my previous career, the company asked me if I’d try my hand at writing a few trial articles for them. It worked out really well and I ended up getting more and more writing projects through them.
- What made you realise that you wanted to write for a living?
As it happens, I never actually had any ambitions to become a writer.
At school, I was stronger in the sciences and ended up doing a Maths and Physics degree.
When I graduated, I went into automotive engineering before moving into computer programming.
It was only when I decided to work for myself that my career took a completely new direction.
When I first started freelancing, I was a proofreader and editor for several academic publishers.
Then, when I got that all-important writing break back in 2008, I grabbed it with both hands. Instead of checking other people’s content, I much preferred writing it.
But I still also love doing some of the techie bits involved in writing for the web – such as HTML, CSS, PHP and SEO.
- How did you get your first client?
As I explained in my first answer, I started writing articles as a complementary service to an existing client.
That’s the thing about many careers – you don’t always get your foot in the door the way you expect.
- What do you wish that you had written?
I’m currently in discussions with a client about writing website content for a FTSE 100 construction company.
I’d love to get my teeth into that project. But I may have to decline it because of their working terms.
That kind of writing work is right up my street. So I’d really regret turning down such an opportunity.
- What is the one tip that you would give aspiring writers?
To make your freelance career a success you don’t necessarily have to the best writer. But you do have to be a good marketer and a good businessman.
That’s how you get well-paid writing work – by getting your name out there to the right people.
- What is your current project?
I’m currently project managing a football magazine website, which is due for launch in the next 2–3 weeks. I always get excited when a website I’ve been working on is finally going live.
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