If you are thinking of changing your career, or you are looking for a new job, then you may be unsure where to start. There are so many options out there, and job roles available that perhaps you don’t even understand.
The world is changing, and there are more and more technical jobs available than ever before. A copywriter is another creative, innovative tech job that you could try that is part of the marketing and advertising field.
So, what exactly is a copywriter, what do they do, and how can you become one?
What Is A Copywriter?
A copywriter is an individual who creates ‘copy’. Copy is the term we use for the text used to sell and advertise products through marketing methods. Copywriters are the professional writers who create this text for consumers to read (see also “What Do Consumer Services Jobs Pay?“).
A copywriter is someone who writes compelling, clear, engaging copy in order to either provide information, to sell products, or to interest and educate consumers.
They may write persuasive copy, blog posts for websites, product descriptions for companies, email communications, advertisements, newsletters, social media posts and so much more.
A copywriter may also brainstorm and create concepts for advertisements or marketing materials, and will often work in association with graphic designers. The copy they generate can be found on a range of formats and media platforms.
What Does A Copywriter Do?
Copywriters will write clear, yet concise and easy to comprehend text for marketing purposes, advertisements, websites, and more for the purpose of campaigns and sales. A copywriter will need to write informative and interesting copy in order to engage their audience.
This entails writing posts, advertisements, blogs and more to encourage clothes to buy a service, purchase a product, or to take action such as visiting a website, calling for more information, or following a blog or social media platform.
To do so, they will need to develop a brand voice, adapt copy to fit the needs of the target audience, research products, services, competitors and the industry that is in discussion.
Day to day responsibilities will involve writing clear, attractive copy with a distinct tone, and often a friendly tone to engage readers. They will need to interpret briefs from clients or companies to understand the requirements of the copywriting task.
In addition to this, a copywriter will need to implement SEO practices to ensure that the copy gets plenty of reach, and is easy to find for consumers.
They may also need to conduct a lot of research, or they may have to interview others in order to gain the information that they need to relay this to a wider audience.
Copywriters will often have to work under strict deadlines, and will often have a word count to meet for their clients. This means having to write a large quantity of words and text quickly but to a high standard.
Also, copywriters will have to source images to accompany the copy, and will need to edit and proofread their work to ensure it is flawless and of a high quality.
As mentioned above, copywriters will need to work closely with graphic designers, PR professionals, and marketing managers to ensure that marketing campaigns are successful.
In short, copywriters may work on a range of formats and media materials including social media posts, print ads, TV and streaming service ads, websites, posters, billboards, in-store signs, along with scripts for radio shows or any other kind of spoken advertising.
What Does A Copywriter Do? 6
How Much Do Copywriters Earn?
Copywriters may earn a range of wages depending on experience level and the environment in which they work. For instance, some may work for an advertising agency or marketing agency, as a freelancer, or as part of an in-house marketing team.
According to Payscale, the average salary for a copywriter in America is about $56,649, but this ranges depending on location.
For example, some of the highest paying cities for copywriters are San Francisco at $83,995, and New York with an average of $70,523 per year, according to Indeed.
How To Become A Copywriter
Copywriting is not a role that needs extensive training, however, it can give you a competitive advantage if you have a degree in English, Communications, or Marketing.
It is recommended that you have a Master’s degree in marketing or a related field if you want to climb the ladder as a copywriter.
Any of these degrees can develop your skills in writing, editing, researching, and audience awareness, which you will need to become a copywriter.
Having a background in marketing can also provide you with skills in advertising, SEO practices, and PR which can help you ensure that your copy is engaging and ranks well on websites so that it is discovered by more people.
Some of the skills you will need as a copywriting professional are knowledge of content strategy and content creation, proofreading, editing, reading, writing, time management, organization, and problem solving.
After gaining your degree qualification, you can apply for entry-level copywriting jobs to gain more experience working in the field. Some places may offer internships also, where you can practice and learn all of the tricks of the trade and why companies use copywriters.
If you want to work as a freelancer, then you will need to create a portfolio with examples of your writing work. It is best to include a range of examples with copy used for a variety of mediums such as email communications, articles, and blog posts.
Summary
To summarize, a copywriter is someone who writes ‘copy’- which is text used in a range of media materials for the purpose of advertising and marketing.
Copywriters will need to research, interview and gather information in order to write engaging and interesting copy that can be consumed by the target audience.
The purpose of a copywriter is to generate ideas, sell products, services or encourage people to take action that benefits the client or company that they work for.
Hi, I’m Jason Sullivan, and I am a University Career Advisor from Fort Worth, Texas. It is my job to help students, young people, and others find the right career for them. That could include preparing them for interviews, providing insightful information and resources that could help them land their dream job.
Here at HumanWorkplaces.net, I want to help you. Whether you want to learn more about being an esthetician, phlebotomist, midwife, paralegal, firefighter, you name it- you can find it here.
