How to Start Freelance Copywriting for Bboys and Bgirls
Starting out as a freelance copywriter with no experience can seem daunting, even more, if you plan to write for the Breaking industry.
However, with the right approach and commitment, it’s definitely possible.
But it’s quite hard to “break” into since there’s no demand for it.
Well, maybe the Breaking community just doesn’t realize it yet.
As a freelance copywriter for 3+ years, I’ve written copy for various e-commerce brands — particularly within the global Breaking community. I’ve had a plethora amount of opportunities to work with world-class Bboys that own established Breaking brands. Dyzee Threadz, Menno Leisure, and Cypher Code are some of the few that utilized my services in professional copywriting and understanding of the Breaking culture — as I’m a Bboy before anything else.
My greatest accomplishment so far in the world of Breaking copywriting is when the founder of Dyzee Threadz, Dyzee, pitched me on a copywriting project that will change the face of Breaking Brands forever.
The Official Breaking Brands Association’s (OBBA) mission is to unite like-minded authentic Breaking brands to collaborate and strive under one roof, through an alliance that provides a vast arsenal of break-wear for Bboys & Bgirls thus taking back ownership of being the trendsetters in global streetwear fashion. The starting 6 Breaking Brands include Dyzee Threadz, Menno Leisure, Cypher Code, The Legits, First Class, and Funk and Furious Clothing.
Working with OBBA and interviewing each of the brand founders individually gave me a life-changing epiphany.
There is a real demand for copywriters and content writers in the Breaking community — especially with the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
We need writers who won’t just do a simple Google search on what is “breakdance” and simply copy and paste the definition to their article.
That’s so f*cking wack.
I’m bloody tired of seeing articles and social media posts from major corporations that tried to promote Breaking without doing their proper research.
I’m sure you have stumbled upon articles with the following phrases:
“Here we have another Breakdancer who did lots of spins!”
“Another successful Breakdancing event!”
“DirtE the Breakdancer Makes his Debut on Stage!”
Maybe not the last one with my name on it, but hopefully someday.
But with the correct terminology.
We need writers who can do the proper research on Breaking history, culture, terminology, and the whole 9 yards.
And who better to write them than by breakers themselves?
Why We Need More Breakers as Writers
I won’t name this person for privacy reasons, but this one particular Bboy has found me a couple of times for copywriting projects related to Breaking. Not to flex here, but he’s one of the most active members of the Red Bull BC One Allstars.
Bboys reached out to me for copywriting gigs and barely asked for revisions, other than for minute word or sentence changes. I never felt so appreciated for my copywriting work, ever. I would like to think that these breakers/entrepreneurs continuously find me for projects because of my understanding of the Breaking culture since I’ve been Breaking for over 10+ years.
For some reason, breakers get this instant connection if we know we have the same passion for the dance. Breakers would sleep on other breakers’ couches while traveling and they never even met in real life yet!
That’s how much we trust each other.
As a diverse copywriter, I’ve written for the following industries:
- E-commerce
- Retail
- Blockchain
- Streetwear
- Events
- Sustainability and more…
I can’t be an expert in all of these industries. But I believe it’s my effective and efficient research skills that made clients repeatedly find me throughout the years — on top of my copywriting skills.
However, clients were sometimes a bit too picky on my word choice. At the end of the day, clients have the final say, right?
But it was detrimental to my mental well-being as an artist.
The way I see writing is the same way I see Breaking, it’s an art form.
From your word choice, sentence structure, vocabulary, and the whole lot.
Breaking is the same.
After mastering your basics, that’s when you can slowly find your “tone of voice” in your dance style.
So if someone repeatedly keeps rejecting my ideas on a daily basis,
damn, IT HURTS.
I apologize for the little sidetracked but it’s essential to understand my copywriting background. I believe my destiny is to show breakers that we need to collectively stand up and show the world the beauty of our culture — through our unique writing styles that truly understand the Breaking inside out.
So how to get started in freelance copywriting in the Breaking industry?
I might have a few tips.
Freelance Copywriting for Breakers 101
- Build your writing skills: To become a successful copywriter, you need to have strong writing skills. Start by reading widely and writing every day, even if it’s just for practice. I suggest checking out articles from Red Bull for starters. They have a myriad of professional content writers who wrote various articles about Breaking. One of my favorite writers in the Breaking community is Emmanuel Adelekun, who’s a Hip Hop head at heart and wrote tons of Breaking articles for Red Bull and other platforms.
- Identify your niche: Copywriting is a broad field, and it’s important to identify a specific niche that you’re interested in and have some knowledge about. If you want to help Breaking brands through landing pages, go for it. Not your cup of tea? Maybe blogging is more of your style. But it’s essential to weed out what you like and don’t like. By specializing in a particular area, you’ll be able to market yourself more effectively to potential clients within the Breaking industry.
- Create a portfolio: Even if you don’t have any paid copywriting experience, you can still create a portfolio of writing samples to showcase your skills. You can write articles or blog posts on topics related to Breaking and publish them on your own website or on platforms like Medium. You can also offer to write guest posts for other websites or blogs to gain exposure and build your portfolio. Personally, I started out with Medium. I wrote Medium articles and posted them religiously on social media — where I was eventually offered copywriting gigs that kickstarted my career.
- Network and market yourself: As a freelance copywriter, you’ll need to actively market yourself to potential clients. You can start by creating a website and promoting your services on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter. You can also reach out to businesses or individuals in your niche and offer your services. Networking with other copywriters or professionals in your niche can also help you find clients and build relationships.
- Start with small projects: When you’re just starting out, it’s a good idea to take on small projects to gain experience and build your portfolio. You can offer your services on freelance job boards or platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, or reach out to businesses or individuals in your network who may need copywriting help — even if it’s not Breaking related. As you gain more experience and build your reputation, you can start taking on larger projects related to Breaking and commanding higher rates.
Remember, starting out as a freelance copywriter takes time and effort, but with persistence and a willingness to learn, you can build a successful career in this field.
For me, I started copywriting as a way to survive during the Covid pandemic. I graduated at the end of 2019 but when 2020 came, Covid f*cked up my chances of finding a full-time job.
I never thought in a million years I would be creating copy for world-class Breaking brands.
And I’m just getting started.
Feel free to send me an email if you have any questions.
I would be more than happy to help.
Peace!
Contact Me
- LinkedIn: Erryl Ho
- Instagram: @dirteeeee
- Email: sendtoerrylho@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.errylclassicz.com/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@dirteclassicz
