Not many people have the courage and ambition to pursue their dream of becoming a successful copywriter. They may dabble in freelancing or take some copywriting courses, but few make the commitment to learn all that is required to transition into a full-time copywriter.
But what exactly does a career in copywriting look like? Is it similar to any other job, or is it something totally different?
Here, we'll provide an overview of the typical duties and responsibilities of a copywriter, as well as some insight into the challenges and rewards that come with the profession.
A copywriter's main responsibility is to communicate clearly with their intended audience. This involves comprehending the preferences and interests of their readers and then crafting content that specifically addresses these aspects. Typically, a copywriter is responsible for tasks such as:
Copywriting isn't a "one-size-fits-all" profession. There are many different types of copywriting that vary depending on the needs of the client or company. This includes:
While not everyone is naturally gifted with the ability to write captivating copy, anyone can offer copywriting services if they have the right skills and attitude. Below are some of the most important skills needed to become a copywriter:
In order to achieve success as a copywriter, it is imperative that you develop excellent writing skills. This encompasses a firm grasp of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, coupled with the ability to construct sentences that are easily understood by readers.
As a writer, it is imperative to communicate your message with clarity and precision with a focus on quality delivery.
Copywriting involves mastering the craft of persuasion. Persuading your audience requires compelling storytelling that connects with their needs, desires, and emotions. To be effective, you must know your target audience intimately. By identifying their pain points, you can offer solutions that genuinely benefit them.
To create persuasive copy, you must first understand the subject matter thoroughly. This means conducting thorough research on the industry, product, or service you're promoting. Learn to find reliable sources, gather relevant data, and distill complex information into easily digestible content.
It is important for copywriters to be knowledgeable about SEO principles when drafting their content. SEO content writing services involve conducting keyword research, optimizing the content on web pages, and creating meta tags that assist search engines in finding and ranking your content.
Copywriting requires versatility and adaptability. You may need to write for various industries, platforms, and formats, from blog posts to social media captions and email marketing campaigns. Learn how to tailor your writing style, tone, and voice to suit each specific context and audience.
Great copywriting is all about managing deadlines. Without effective time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks, success is difficult to attain.
To thrive in this field, you need to learn how to efficiently manage multiple projects and work well under pressure without sacrificing quality.
If you're interested in pursuing a career as a copywriter, you may be curious about what your daily routine might entail. Here are some common tasks that a copywriter might handle during a regular workday:
One of the most essential parts of a copywriter’s job is research. Before putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), copywriters need to understand the product or service they are promoting, the target audience, and the competition. This entails conducting market research, analyzing consumer data, and examining trends that affect the industry.
Once enough research has been gathered, copywriters move into the brainstorming phase. This is a collaborative process that involves bouncing ideas off peers while working to develop the tone, messaging and emphasis for a brand.
During this phase, copywriters might also create mood boards or vision boards to help capture the brand’s voice and image.
During the drafting phase, copywriters use all the research and ideas from the brainstorming phase to form more specific topics to cover in their writing. Here, they hone in on the product's advantages and its unique selling propositions (USPs) to develop content that will convert readers into buyers or customers.
Writing copy involves choosing the right words and phrases, balancing different content formats, and staying within brand guidelines while injecting personality and creativity. Many copywriters spend much of their day typing away at their computers, carefully crafting content that will attract and engage their audience.
Once a first draft is completed, copywriters will go through an editing process. This process entails reviewing their writing through the lens of a reader, ensuring the flow of the article works appropriately and that concepts are presented in a coherent and clear manner.
Copywriters may collaborate with the clients or other team members during this phase. They may accept constructive feedback and apply revisions when necessary. By iterating through different versions of the content, it can be polished into a final piece that presents the brand in the best possible light.
In addition to writing and editing, copywriters often interact directly with clients. Copywriters will need to keep clients happy by delivering work on time while staying within the limit of the client's budget. They are also responsible for providing feedback to clients and guiding them through the creative process.
This requires excellent communication skills, flexibility and professionalism to keep the client happy and the team cohesive. Meetings, calls, and emails also take up a good part of the day as copywriters work to keep everyone on the same page while meeting critical milestones.
Copywriting is a rewarding and challenging career. It requires an understanding of human behavior, persuasive storytelling skills, research abilities, SEO knowledge, adaptability to different formats and platforms, and time management capabilities.
With the right combination of these traits, you can become a successful copywriter who helps brands reach their goals and enjoy the scheduling flexibility that often comes with the profession.
If you're ready to take the plunge and pursue a career in copywriting, now is the perfect time to get started!
Over the past decade, Liz has worked as a copywriter and digital marketing executive for a multitude of companies from startups to and mid-sized businesses to working as the VP of marketing for award-winning, platinum-selling artists. Leveraging an understanding of the nuance of language in marketing, Liz founded Amplihigher, a content marketing and copywriting agency, designed to connect consumers to companies in a way that results in next-level brand expansion.
Here are some of useful services by Liz:
