Copywriting Jobs: Everything You Need to Know as a Newcomer
For many years, brick-and-mortar businesses relied on copywriting as a strategy to promote and sell their products and services. In recent years, however, this has also become true for digital enterprises. Considering that online companies are constantly on the hunt for new writers, it’s no surprise that copywriting jobs are in huge demand. So, if you want to put your writing skills to use, you should consider a career in copywriting. Here’s all you need to know.
What Is Copywriting?
In short, copywriting is the act of writing copy, or text, to advertise or market a product or service. It can be in the form of an ad, a brochure, a website, or even a commercial.
Apart from convincing potential customers to buy a specific product, copywriters use their writing skills to create brand awareness or educate the public about a particular issue.
Skills for Copywriting Jobs
Becoming a copywriter is not as easy as it seems. Besides having excellent writing skills and innovative ideas, copywriters must have the following set of skills to be successful.
Know Your Grammar
A copywriter must be able to write error-free copy. Knowing the proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation rules is a must.
Be Persuasive
Copywriting is all about persuasion. In order to convince someone to purchase a product or service, copywriters should think outside the box and come up with new and interesting ways to promote it.
Be Familiar With Technology
Online copywriting jobs, such as online publications and other digital media, are prevalent nowadays. For this reason, copywriters need to be comfortable with technology. Word processing programs and other types of software are crucial for copywriting.
Have Great Research Skills
Copywriters are often required to do extensive research on a variety of topics. They will need to write about products or services they are not familiar with, so it’s important they know how and where to find reliable sources.
Be Organized
If you know how to plan your work and successfully meet your deadline, copywriting is definitely for you. Copywriters are usually required to work on multiple projects at the same time, so it is essential to keep your work area tidy and organized.
Types of Copywriting Jobs
Especially if you’re a beginner, finding the right niche in the copywriting industry can be daunting. Here are a few of the most popular copywriting positions you can choose from.
Website Copywriting
Have you ever seen a well-written product description or an informative blog about a topic you wanted to know more about? That’s the definition of website copywriting — but that’s not all.
This type of text includes everything related to your website, from the navigation tab to the content on each page.
SEO Copywriting
If you want to rank on the first page of Google or other search engines, SEO copywriting is your best shot. SEO copywriters’ primary objective is to create optimized content for search engines, including keywords and other metrics.
Product Copywriting
Product copywriting is specifically used to promote products. It involves creating ads, brochures, and other marketing materials designed to sell.
B2B Copywriting
If you’re looking to market to other businesses, B2B copywriting is the right strategy for you. A B2B copywriter is often required to inform other companies about the products or services they are selling.
B2C Copywriting
As opposed to B2B copywriting, B2C copywriting aims to advertise the brand to consumers rather than other businesses.
Direct Response Copywriting
Direct response copywriting is designed to get an immediate response from the reader. In fact, this method aims to create marketing materials that get the viewer to take an action as soon as they are done reading.
Ad Copywriting
Copywriting in advertising is an evergreen trend. Ad copywriters’ purpose is to persuade a potential consumer to purchase a specific product or service through print advertising, online publications, social media, and more.
Social Media Copywriting
The rising of social media outlets has immensely affected the way businesses market themselves.
Social media copywriters create posts, tweets, and other engaging content on social platforms with the sole purpose of interacting with their customers and raising brand awareness.
How to Get Copywriting Jobs: Tips and Tricks
Now that you know about the skills needed to be a copywriter and the most popular niches, it’s time to give you some tips on how to land these jobs.
Learn About the Industry
Whether you’re a freelance or traditional worker, copywriting jobs can be quite hard to get. Doing a little research about the industry and understanding different niches can help you identify what you’re interested in.
Create Samples
When you’re first starting out, you might want to show your potential employer what you’re truly capable of. Creating samples or sending out some of your existing work is the best way to do so.
Master SEO
SEO is an essential part of online copywriting jobs. Understanding Google rankings and metrics can give you a better overview of what you’re about to do.
Join Job Boards
When actively looking for these jobs, consider joining job boards. This way, it will be much easier to search and apply for your desired position.
Build Your Online Presence
If you’re a beginner, you might want to consider putting yourself out there. Creating a blog, building social media presence, and creating meaningful connections are some suggestions you don’t want to overlook.
Be Consistent
Last but not least, be consistent in your job. Apply for jobs regularly and follow up with potential employers. Consistency can help you increase your chances of getting a job in the copywriting industry.
Our Takeaway
If you’re looking to start a career in copywriting, be prepared to learn about how people think and what makes them tick. Apart from having impeccable writing skills, copywriters need to understand the psychology of persuasion and use that knowledge to effectively market to their potential audience.
If you have what it takes to start a copywriting career, now it’s the right time to take the challenge.
Copywriting Jobs: FAQ
What type of copywriting is in demand?
In today’s digital age, businesses of all sizes are increasingly in need of quality copywriting. Whether it’s for website content, social media posts, or email marketing campaigns, businesses need writing that is both informative and engaging. As a result, there’s a strong demand for copywriters who can produce high-quality content and are especially skilled in SEO.
Do I need a degree to be a copywriter?
Many people believe that a college degree is required in order to pursue a career in copywriting. While a degree can certainly be helpful, it’s not always necessary. Many successful copywriters didn’t complete any formal education beyond high school. The most important thing for aspiring copywriters is to develop their writing skills. To do this, consider taking classes, reading books, and practicing writing as much as possible.
Is copywriting a good career?
Copywriting jobs can be quite profitable if you know how to market yourself and your skills. The annual median salary for a copywriter is reported to be $47,838, with a whopping 80% of copywriters earning anywhere between $35,000 and $65,000 per year. The most experienced ones can even reach an annual income of over $300,000.