I want to be a copywriter. Where do I begin?
From the creators of "so, you work in marketing? What does that mean?", we bring you "what is copywriting?" It's not easy to explain this new profession, we get it, but once you've read this article you should have a sense of how exciting and interesting it can be. Many people talk about copywriting, but few really know what it is and what it's for. If you have ever thought about becoming a copywriter, this article if for you. We will explain exactly what a copywriter does, the career opportunities which are available and how to make a success of your new role.
What does a copywriter do?
If you want to be a copywriter, you must first know what it means!
A copywriter creates content with the intention of persuading and influencing the reader to buy a product or service.
There are also some additional steps that are part of the writing process:
- Pose good questions to obtain key information
- Investigate the competitors
- Choose the appropriate format
- Plan each section of the text carefully
- Grab the opinion of the reader
- Edit and edit again
But most of the time spent creating is spent writing and rewriting the text itself.
The vast majority of copywriters come from the world of journalism and/or digital marketing, and have been specifically trained in copywriting. Being able to write well and be creative isn't enough - they need to have mastery of a number of techniques that will persuade readers to do something specific: fill in a form, subscribe to the company's newsletter, buy a product, etc. And they'll also be a specialist in a certain field: fashion, mass consumer, technical writing, advertising and marketing, SEO copywriting, etc.
The profile of the copywriter is in increasing demand, as companies are beginning to understand how important good writing is to achieving their objectives.
Copywriting is a persuasive form of writing that aims to educate, attract and eventually seduce the audience to buy products or services, whether now or later.
As a copywriter, you must pay close attention to the fine detail and ensure the choice of words is perfect. When writing a text, each element has a purpose and each word has a function.
Copywriters need to write without any spelling mistakes. Copywriters often work on various projects at a time, so good multitasking skills are a must!
Types of copywriter
There are three main types of copywriter:
Copywriters for marketing agencies
Copywriters who work for marketing agency are the people responsible for their content and often provide services to several customers at a time. They often carry out challenging projects and a great deal of creativity is required to help customers create a strong brand identity.
Corporate copywriters
These copywriters only write for one company, which means they typically specialise in a given field. This, as you can imagine, has its advantages and its drawbacks.
Self-employed copywriters
The self-employed option offers the greatest freedom in terms of subject matter, project type and the time commitment. The schedule is very flexible and freelance copywriters can accept as many projects as they want.
The skills of a copywriter
Let's look at some of the skills a good copywriter needs to have.
Flawless writing
In addition to writing correctly from a grammatical point of view, writing good copy means having excellent summarising skills and writing clearly.
Originality
A good copywriter needs to be up-to-date with your product or service, know about industry news and the campaigns the competition are putting out there. And, of course, they need to know how to draft texts in a way that differentiates you from the rest, in your own unique style.
Know your target audience
The first and absolutely fundamental step is defining the audience you're addressing. A good copywriter doesn't write for everyone, they create content for specific people, in specific situations.This makes it easier to connect with their audience, using all five senses, and stir up their emotions.
Versatility
The text will be different, depending on whether it's for Facebook, or Instagram, or a landing page. Each format has its own tone, rhythm and rules, which a copywriter needs to be aware of. After all, the platform we're on will have an impact on our interaction and behaviour.
Knowledge of digital marketing
A copywriter's key objective is to create texts that seduce the reader and motivate them to take a specific action. This is why they'll be familiar with important concepts such as the buyer persona, call to action, keywords, acquisition cost, funnel and CPC.
Copywriter with knowledge of SEO
And even more of a challenge - it isn't enough to write well and create compelling content, a copywriter needs to be able to write text that is designed to be found! In other words, write in a way that makes the search engines fall in love with the text as much as the reader. Put even more simply: make sure your product appears first on search engines.
Last but not least, a professional copywriter must be decisive, creative and organised, and capable of taking on unexpected projects. Interpersonal skills such as good communication and teamwork are also very important.
Are you interested in joining our team of copywriters? We are waiting for you!
