It sounds like your problem is selling to people. "Genera" ads are probably not the right direction for Facebook/in person. In your conversations and ad's, you should follow these steps: 1. Create attention 2. Establish an interest in your product/service 3. Create a desire for that person to need it 4. Finally, call to action (Email or call for a free quote)
Finding an audience, or even creating an audience is a good start, but you really have to ask why they need it. What is your product? What will it do for the consumer?
I can't recommend this book enough. Got me through college writing ad's and through my college Marketing internship.
^ This.
AWAI, for example, touts their job board that offers "members only" access to copywriting gigs. However, based on what I've seen (and experienced firsthand with the organization), I'm not sure it's the best way for 97% of copywriters to get started.
Even though there's the temptation to see traditional client-seeking strategies as dated, the fact is they still work, and they work well. When you seek clients only online, you're inherently positioning yourself based on price, since it's so easy to contact a dozen copywriters and then choose the cheapest if you're doing it through a job site.
However, if you go offline (which is the only way I've ever found clients worth my time), you'll easily be paid what you're worth. By following this advice, I went from struggling as a copywriter ($600-$1k/month) to earning more than my day job ($4-7k/month) through part-time copywriting gigs.
If you're completely stuck and don't know where to begin, start with Bob Bly's <em>The Copywriter's Handbook</em>. His training materials are great for new copywriters and teaching them how to manage the business side of copywriting.
Good luck.
how about getting into copywriting https://www.amazon.com/Copywriters-Handbook-Step-Step-Writing/dp/0805078045/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2/131-4439742-0115906?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0805078045&pd_rd_r=8c15cb19-acd3-4252-9306-f20ed24652ea&pd_rd_w=1AYbA&pd_rd_wg=pij6h&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=EC7HN8M0VYZK9WZJQR98&psc=1&refRID=EC7HN8M0VYZK9WZJQR98 should be right in your wheelhouse
It's called copywriting (advertisers who only use the written word). Being good at writing a headline is 90% of the job: http://www.amazon.com/The-Copywriters-Handbook-Step-By-Step-Writing/dp/0805078045