If you’ve heard that copywriting can be a great way to make a good living, to enjoy more freedom in your daily life and to exercise your creative abilities, you already have a pretty good idea of the reasons why you might want to explore a career in this field. But what exactly is copywriting?
Many people who hear the term assume that it has to do with trademarks and intellectual property, but that is not at all the case. Copywriting actually involves creating content for use in advertising and marketing.
In the context of advertising, the term “copy” refers to the text used in the promotional material, and it is the job of the copywriter to produce this content. It is easy to see just how important the role of the copywriter is, with the responsibility of writing content that will be immediately compelling, engaging and which will do an effective job of selling the product in question.
How Copywriting is Used for Successful Marketing
The success of a marketing campaign can hinge on the quality of the copy used. The work of a copywriter may be used in placements including:
- Catalogs
- Print ads
- Billboards
- Brochures
- Marketing emails
- Websites
There is currently a major demand for copywriters who can produce content for websites, including landing pages, blogs, how-to articles and more. Quality content is key in achieving visibility online in organic search rankings on Google and Bing and is also vital for building an active and viable marketing campaign that will engage with consumers and build brand awareness.
If you are considering breaking into this field, you will be pleased to know that for most positions, you will not be required to hold any specific degree, and it is even possible in many situations to get started with little or no previous experience, provided that you can demonstrate proficiency with samples of your own writing.
Why Should You Engage in Regular Copywriting?
Copywriting may be something that you do for an extra source of income, or it could be a new career for you, one in which you can make a sizeable income and enjoy a level of freedom not available elsewhere.
What is it like to be a copywriter? Many people who work in this field are freelancers, individuals who take assignments from a content development company or directly from clients. You will most likely experience a considerable variety in your workload, having the opportunity to write about a number of different subjects as you continue taking new assignments.
Copywriting requires the ability to be a fast learner, someone who can quickly make a study of a new subject and acquire the information necessary to communicate about it with the target audience. You’ll have to put yourself in the shoes of your client, asking yourself what message they want to convey and what result they want to achieve with their marketing, as well as being able to assume the role of the reader, understanding how to break the subject down and communicate it at a level that they can grasp.
It is a job that can be both highly challenging and also very rewarding, as you complete large and small projects and then see the content that you produced being put to use on websites or otherwise for your clients. One of the most attractive aspects of copywriting is its flexibility.
Depending on your needs and preferences, it can be a part-time activity or a full-time job, and you can typically scale your workload to fit with your lifestyle. You can work from home or wherever else you choose, rather than being tied down to a 9-to-5 cubicle position.
And perhaps most importantly, you can make your voice heard and put your skills of communication to good work!
