Copywriting as a Career

What is Copywriting?

Sales campaigns are an important part of any business and there are businesses that rely on copywriters to create sales media for them. Copywriters create content called a Copy or Sales Copy whose aim is to increase brand awareness for a product to a customer where the intended result is an action from a customer preferably for them to buy the product or service.

What is the Difference of Copywriting to Other Media Content?

Copywriting’s main intention as previously mentioned is to persuade the customer to take action the way the company intended them to do which is primarily to accept and buy their products and services. This is different for example to a blog which may be a media content that expresses the bloggers message but the blogger does not want the reader to take any action after reading their media content.

For example a global warming non-profit organisation may blog about how to save the planet using affirmative actions from their supporters. There is a call to action but it is not clear whether the blog has copywriting influence in it. If the organisation however tries to persuade their supporters to buy solar products from very specific buyers then there is definitely an influence of copywriting in it.

What Do You Need to Become a Copywriter?

Firstly you do not need a degree to become one although a degree or course in creating media content would be helpful. What are these media content degrees or courses? There are university courses like English and Literature courses that many online articles mention as “helpful but not essential”.

One skill that copywriters need to be extremely good at is command of the language one intends to use in creating media content. For example if you come from a non-english speaking country yet want an international customer base of english speaking people then you need to be proficient in speaking and writing in english.

This can be very particular. For example if you are an American wishing to do copywriting for British customers then you must also be versed with British English and not only with American English. Subtle differences like spelling for the same word for example can make or break a copywriting campaign when your American copywriting content cannot be understood by your British customers.

That is why besides having command of the language you intend to use for copywriting you must also be good in spelling and grammar. For example the Australian language has truncated certain words without changing their meaning and they use it commonly. The word “barbie” for example in Australia means “barbecue” while it could mean a doll in other countries.

Do You Need Sales/Marketing Knowledge/Experience?

You definitely need sales and marketing knowledge plus advertising knowledge. It is preferable if you have actual experience in all 3 especially if you are looking for a job in a company most notably an ad company. The reason is because you are supporting the job of the sales, marketing and advertising people of the company.

You would say that copywriting must be primarily be done with the customer in mind. This is true but the final acceptance of your copywriting product will be done by your true customer which is the company who hired you. You may in your mind know what the customer wants but if the company has other ideas then your copywriting product will be rejected by them.

Do You Need Social Interaction Skills?

This is the reason why you need good social interaction skills. There are many would be entrepreneurs who are good with creating products but are not good at creating customer acceptance of their products. They insist to the customer that they have the best product for them and would refuse any forms of creative control from their customers.

This is especially so when it comes to creative or what is termed artistic products or services like copywriting. It is best to let the customers dictate to you what they have in mind and offer your knowledge to them in making their idea better. Never forget that they ultimately own and are responsible for your copywriting product. Your job is to just create it for them.

Do You Need to Like Selling?

A definite “YES” is the answer. Many people working is sales would complain how hard selling is especially when having to deal with difficult people. There are those who really do not like selling because they cannot handle this and those that stay because of its financially rewarding opportunities.

Sales people stay in the companies they work for because they like the people in the company, the pay or the product they sell. You might not do this direct marketing daily but you still have to sell your copywriting skills to a lot of different companies for each project you do. You may not be too enthusiastic about the copywriting projects you get but must be motivated enough to sell them.

Of course you can turn down copywriting jobs because you are not too enthusiastic about the people you will be working for or their products. Not many people have choices on who they work with or the projects they work on. You will fail as a copywriter if you want only to work with people you choose and do projects that only interest you. The desire to sell must trump these negative aspects of your work.

This is important in whatever work organisation you join. If you work for an ad agency for example and you work primarily as a copywriter then there would be situations were your interests might not go hand in hand with the clients of the company. If for example you are against oil products that is a client of your company you will not do well in your job.

This can partially be solved by working as a freelancer where you have the freedom to choose your clients. Freedom though comes at a price especially when you need to build your client list and the only available clients are the ones you are not too positive about. This is when you decide for yourself if copywriting is just a job where the main purpose is to earn an income.

Conclusion

As can be seen copywriting just like any media creation job doesn’t require educational degrees but they are helpful. Just like many skills you can be very good with it through constant practice. What you need though is to be very comfortable with selling although you are not too enthusiastic about the people you work with or the projects you do.

To have a long career with copywriting you need to learn to maximise its positives and learn to live with its negatives just like any other job. You will often have to decide or balance between earning money and sticking to what you think is right.