Interested in copywriting as a career? Here are answers to your 50 biggest questions about copywriting as a career.
Copywriting is the act of writing prose that is meant to collect leads, drive conversions, and position a business as an authority in an industry. Copywriters are responsible for creating text for advertising campaigns, marketing materials, informational packets, social media posts, email marketing, landing pages, and any other public-facing prose for a business.
Copywriting is sales-driven, meaning that good copy pushes a consumer further down the sales funnel towards a purchase.
A good copywriter should have a strong grasp on sales and marketing psychology, the language in which they are writing, an ability to understand nuance, and of course, a natural way with words.
Copywriters need to have an exemplary vocabulary, knowledge of spelling and grammar, and how to properly use punctuation. Copywriting is a career that is based on connection: a good copywriting business knows how to make their words resonate with their audience.
Depending on if a copywriter works as a freelancer or as part of an agency will dictate how a copywriter spends a chunk of their time, but there are a few universal truths when it comes to what a copywriter does all day.
A copywriter spends a good deal of time researching, analyzing, writing, editing, rewriting, rediting, and proofreading every assignment. Depending on the scope of a project, this process can take hours, days, or even weeks.
This is largely dependent on the individual. Freelance copywriters get paid as contractors, while copywriters who work as employees of a company typically get paid hourly or on salary.
If you are thinking about learning to be a copywriter, it’s important to consider whether you want the freedom of being able to pick and choose your clients and when you work, or the stability or consistency of working as an employee.
Any business that needs copy on a regular basis might hire a copywriter, but the most common places for copywriters to find full-time employment are within marketing or advertising agencies, SEO firms, or other creative agencies.
Every single industry needs good copy. Whether a company works in the B2B space or sells directly to the consumer, compelling copy is absolutely necessary if a business wants to remain competitive.
Every imaginable industry uses some form of copywriting. Even simple business descriptions, business cards, or bi-monthly company newsletters are all forms of copywriting.
Copywriting is one of those careers that will always be in demand, as long as there are businesses that need to market their products and services.
As technology advances and a company’s web presence becomes increasingly important, copywriting will only grow in demand. Every new app, every search engine algorithm change, every new ad platform, and every website update requires someone to create the associated copy.
Some copywriters have chosen to pursue degrees while others have not. You do not necessarily need to go to a traditional school to be a copywriter, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t invest in sharpening your skills.
Copywriters that take the time to hone their craft earn more clients and make more money. Whether you study other copywriters, endlessly practice, or take an online copywriting course, the more skilled you are, the better off you’ll be.
Copywriting is one of the few careers where you can make a decent living without having years of experience in the field. If you’re a good writer, you can start copywriting with no experience. This doesn’t mean that you can just land any copywriting job that you apply for, but it means that if you have a way with words, know the fundamentals of copywriting, and have a great portfolio, you can get your foot in the door.
You don’t need to have had actual clients to create a copywriting portfolio. The great thing about copywriting is that you can create writing samples based entirely on theoretical clients. You can choose whichever topics and formats you’d like to create your copywriting portfolio.
The best way to develop a copywriting portfolio with no experience is to write copy in several different niches for a multitude of purposes. For example, write examples of ad copy, blog posts, landing pages, and other marketing materials for different industries to showcase your flexibility as a copywriter.
If you’ve had copywriting clients and want to include the work you’ve completed for them in your portfolio, you should always, always, always get express permission before doing so.
If you’re looking to work as an employee of an agency or other company, landing a job as a copywriter isn’t much different from any other career. Copywriting jobs are routinely posted on major job boards as well as on platforms like LinkedIn.
If you’re more interested in one-off writing gigs or long term freelance clients, freelancing sites are popular places to search for clients looking to fill temporary or contract positions quickly.
Many copywriters send cold emails out to business or agencies they are interested in working with; an email pitching yourself can be a great way to prove your copywriting skills.
A staggering number of copywriters work from home, on the road, or wherever there is a stable internet connection. One of the biggest perks of being a copywriter is that there are many positions that don’t require you to report to an office five days a week, which is a great option for those who like to travel or find the 9-5 environment mundane or draining.
There are, of course, some copywriting jobs that require employees to be on site and report to a supervisor. It’s up to you to decide what is best for you when looking for a copywriting job.
Copywriting involves crafting compelling, unique messaging that connects a reader with a brand or business. Many creative writers turn to copywriting as a way to forge a career path in the writing field.
Copywriting involves more than just creativity; it requires a degree of analytical thinking and psychology. If you’re someone who likes to put both sides of your brain to work, copywriting might be a great career path for you.
Many copywriting jobs require a typical 40 hour work week, while options like freelancing provide a writer more freedom in working hours.
Some copywriters only work with a few clients, and others pack their schedules full of as many clients as they can find. How many hours a copywriter works depends on what you want your schedule to look like and how much money you want to make.
Copywriting is a great career, but it’s not right for everyone. Copywriting can be a lucrative, fulfilling career for someone who wants to work in a creative industry with measurable results, but copywriting comes with its own brand of stress.
If you’re not a person who can routinely meet deadlines, has trouble focusing on the same task for extended periods of time, or can’t pull yourself out of writers’ block quickly, you might not want to explore a career as a copywriter.
An extremely scalable career, copywriters can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to over six-figures in a single year.
The average salary of a copywriter in the US is $51, 895, according to Salary.com. How much you can make, however, is heavily dependent on several factors, such as how much education, experience level, and skill. Furthering your skills with a copywriting course and continually practicing to refine your skills will result in better earnings.
Although some people use the term interchangeably, content writing and copywriting are two different things. Copywriting is a more sales-driven form of writing, while content writing is meant to offer informational or entertainment value to an audience. While both copywriting and content writing typically have the same end goal of furthering brand initiatives, the main focus of copywriting is to result in a quicker conversion.
It is absolutely possible to “get rich” as a copywriter. There are many copywriters around the world that make hundreds of thousands of dollars (and sometimes more) per year. How much money you can make as a copywriter depends on your skills, education, portfolio, and the clients or jobs you land.
Even if you don’t make a million dollars as a copywriter, you can still make enough money to sustain yourself and your family if you’re dedicated to the craft.
There are several avenues when it comes to learning copywriting. You can go to a four-year college and major in English, literature, advertising or media and gain essential copywriting skills.
If you don’t have the time (or simply don’t want to) take the traditional education route, learning copywriting online is a viable option. An online copywriting course that offers training in a wide variety of copywriting skills is a great way to learn copywriting skills and begin building your portfolio. Online copywriting courses are more laser-focused on the actual craft of writing copy than a four year media or advertising degree, and can start you on a career path much more quickly.
It’s always a good idea to have a website to showcase yourself, your work, and your skills as a copywriter, especially if you work as a freelancer. A website can act as your portfolio and show potential clients or employers that not only can you write, you know how to market yourself, and copywriting involves a great deal of marketing know-how.
Making a website for yourself as a copywriter can be as simple as creating a drag-and-drop site on popular website-making platforms, and doesn’t need to involve coding or technical skills.
If you create a portfolio website, remember that your calls to action are very important (calls to action are always important in copywriting!). Giving potential clients a straightforward way to contact you not only makes your website look more professional, it keeps employers and clients from exiting your website in favor of someone who’s easier to get in touch with.
If you don’t want to work strictly as a copywriter but you love writing copy, you have numerous options. Copywriters work as ad executives, bloggers, marketing professionals, social media managers, publicists, reporters, and more.
Copywriting is a priceless skill to have. Knowing how to connect with consumers and influence sales and build relationships through words opens the door to countless opportunities in every industry,
In most cases, “good” is subjective, but there are measurable ways that qualify you as a “good” copywriter.
A good copywriter is one that creates messaging that resonates with a reader. This means writing copy in the appropriate voice, tone, and format, catered to the intended audience. A good copywriter is an equally good researcher, collecting information, analyzing how an audience interacts with a brand’s competition, what they want, when they want it, and how they want it delivered.
The best copywriters write copy that both result in conversions and brand loyalty.
Writing copy, in and of itself, is not difficult. Writing quality copy that gets results, however, takes skills and finesse.
To write copy, a writer has to familiarize themselves with the business, the product, and the audience. A copywriter must immerse themselves in every aspect of the user experience to know what about a product will elicit action. Copywriters must become experts on the businesses for which they write, and the audiences for which the business serves, and then craft copy that synergizes the two.
Whether you should choose a career as a freelancer or opt to work as an employee depends on what you want from a career.
Copywriting is a career that offers a great deal of freedom and flexibility. It’s not a career that necessarily requires you to report to an employer every day, although, you do have that option.
Consider the following questions when deciding whether to work as a freelancer or as a full-time copywriter for a company:
Answering these questions honestly will help you figure out whether or not freelancing or employee work is better for you. If you need stability, routine, and a team setting, working with a company might be a better fit, whereas if you’re a self-starter, work well independently, and want a more flexible schedule, freelancing could the right choice for you,
Copywriting, on a surface level, looks like a fun, creative, carefree career that allows you the opportunity to be a professional writer (which for many people, is the ultimate dream!). Keep in mind, however, that copywriting is a career choice that requires as much work as any other career path. If you can remain dedicated to advancing your skills, staying current with industry trends and technologies, and constantly working to fine-tune your skills as a writer, copywriting can be a satisfying, lucrative career choice.
Soft skills are a combination of non-technical skills that influence how you work. Interpersonal communication skills, social and emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and creativity are all classified as soft skills — and each of these skills is imperative to copywriting.
Copywriting can also be considered a hard skill. Hard skills are achieved through practice and education. Proper sentence structure, grammatical and punctuation usage, and language skills all count as hard skills.
What you charge your clients for copywriting is entirely up to you, but should depend on several factors.
If you’re brand-new to the copywriting field and trying to land your first clients, you will typically charge clients less than if you were a ten-year veteran of the industry. As a new copywriter, you will be refining your skills with your first few clients, and may not provide them the same level of work as someone who has extensive experience. If you are an expert in a specific niche, however, and you’re sure of your copywriting skills, you can charge more than another newer copywriter.
Your prices, of course, can increase with the level of experience, education, and expertise you possess.
Knowing how to effectively market yourself as a copywriter will directly impact your success. To market yourself as a copywriter, having a professional online presence is key. Create a website to showcase your skills, have a polished portfolio ready to submit to potential clients, and creating profiles on business networking sites can help you establish your credibility as a professional copywriter.
Technically, as soon as you write copy, you can refer to yourself as a copywriter, but once you receive your first payment, you can officially say you’re a professional.
If you’re just beginning your copywriting career, it’s common to feel like you’re battling imposter syndrome and have trouble actually referring to yourself as a copywriter. Remain confident; every copywriter was new to the field, once. You’re a copywriter, and you’re allowed to own it.
Although a lucrative and in-demand field, copywriting is notoriously competitive. As the popularity of gig economy skyrockets, especially among millennials and Gen Z, and technology advances, many people are turning to copywriting as a career.
When you begin your copywriting career, understand that you will be competing with writers who have been in the industry for years, if not decades longer than you. You will be up against copywriters who have honed their skills through experience that you don’t yet have, but this doesn’t mean you can’t compete.
Learning as many skills as you can, taking online copywriting classes, and consistent practice will help you build the portfolio you need to break into the copywriting field.
Not everyone who wants to be a writer is suited to writing professionally, but if you have inherent writing ability, you can learn to be a copywriter.
Learning copywriting is an art and a science. If you have a way with words, you can learn how to tailor messaging for an audience, be consistent with branding, create powerful calls to action, create engaging content, and write conversion-driven copy.
Just because you’re a good writer, however, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be a great copywriter. Copywriting is a learned skill; an online copywriting course or studying the work or notable copywriters can help you develop marketable copywriting skills.
If you’re able to write persuasively, engagingly, and know how to connect with other people, there’s a great chance that you’ll be an excellent copywriter.
If you’re a creative thinker with a background in sales, marketing, or other forms of writing, you’re already a step ahead of many aspiring copywriters. It is a good idea to study up on the technical aspects of copywriting so that you have a well-rounded, more comprehensive resume and portfolio.
How a copywriter charges their clients is subjective. For assignments that require an extensive amount of research, many copywriters opt to charge by the hour. If a piece is lengthy and in-depth but is less research-heavy, a writer may charge a flat fee for the assignment. Many writers choose to charge per word for more general content such as web copy or blogs, depending on assignment length and subject matter.
For some people craving the freedom and flexibility of freelance copywriting, budgeting for your taxes at the end of the year is worth the stress and tedium of doing so. Freelance copywriters are considered by the IRS to be self-employed, and must pay self-employment tax, which at the time of this writing, is 15.3% in the US.
Putting together a savings plan, keeping track of receipts for write offs, and working with a tax professional are all ways to avoid the shock of a hefty tax bill at the end of the year.
It requires a minimal amount of tools and overhead to launch your copywriting career. The most common tools copywriters use are:
Depending on where you are in your career, you may require additional tools or softwares to maintain your career, but if you’re just starting out, this list provides a good baseline.
While employed copywriters might write throughout the standard 9-5 workday, freelance copywriters often work sporadically or on alternative schedules. Some copywriters prefer to work in the early morning hours while some writers do their best writing in the middle of the night when they’re the only ones awake.
Typically, as long as you hit your deadlines and are responsive to clients in a timely manner, freelance copywriting offers more freedom than other careers.
Writers that are just getting their careers started often want to take the fastest route possible. While there is no set amount of time it takes to achieve ‘good’ copywriter status, copywriting is the sort of skill that takes a great deal of practice. The more you write, and the more analytical you’re willing to be regarding your own writing, the faster you will improve your skills.
If you’re naturally good at writing, with regular practice and studying, you should be able to earn the ‘good’ copywriter status in a few months to a year.
Virtually every writer’s dream is to quit their mundane, directionless day job and become a professional writer. Is it possible? Yes. Is it feasible? That depends.
If you want to quit your job and become a freelance copywriter, you need to have a plan in place. Freelancing is entrepreneurship. You need to be business savvy, good with a budget, and have a solid strategy for building your client base.
Some experts say that it’s considered ‘safe’ to quit your job if your projected income from a side hustle is ⅔ your regular income. It is crucial, however, to have money put away for emergencies or to supplement your income in the early stages of your freelancing career.
Ask yourself these questions before you quit your dayjob to take on freelance copywriting full time:
If you answered yes to all or most of these questions, you’re in a good position to leave your 9-5 and set out on your own as a freelance copywriter.
Copywriting is a very versatile skill, and many copywriters go on to open their own businesses. Numerous copywriters start content agencies, marketing or advertising firms, or media companies. All of these creative industries are very content heavy, and experienced copywriters often gain experience in these fields during their time freelancing or working as a full-time employed copywriter.
If you’re a new copywriter, landing your first client can seem like an insurmountable feat. If you lack experience or an expansive portfolio, it can be disheartening when you receive your first few rejections. Remember that the best copywriters in the world face rejection, and at one point, were fresh in the industry.
To get your first copywriting client, it is essential that you pitch yourself with confidence. Whether you try your hand on freelancer sites or reach out to agencies or businesses, confidence is paramount. You don’t necessarily have to let all prospective clients know that you are a brand new copywriter; this can quickly turn off potential clients, even if your portfolio is impeccable.
The best thing you can do is make your pitch direct, concise, and provide a diverse, polished portfolio of your best work. Maintain confidence — how you sell yourself shows a client how your words might sell their product.
It is possible to learn copywriting skills quicker than it would take to learn skills in other industries. If you already have a strong foundation in language, grammar, spelling, and writing in general, you will likely pick up the technical aspects of copywriting quickly.
The fastest way to learn copywriting is by enrolling in an online copywriting course that offers comprehensive information about various aspects of copywriting. The more you study and the more education you can get, the more quickly you will be able to apply your new learned skills.
Copywriting is absolutely a form of marketing, which is why copywriters are an essential part of marketing and advertising agencies worldwide. Copywriting is text that is designed to sell, whether as overt advertisements or using creatively subtle techniques such as powerful product descriptions or company mission statements.
If you want to be effective and successful as a copywriter, you should have a good understanding of sales. To write copy that converts, knowing what makes an advertisement engaging, what language entices customers to learn more, and the role verbiage plays in closing a sale is essential.
In order to be the best copywriter you can be, spend as much time as possible studying marketing psychology, sales techniques, and the tactics used by successful sales campaigns.
The hours a copywriter works depends on where a copywriter works. If a copywriter is employed by a company, the average work week can range from 24-40 hours. If a copywriter works as a freelancer, the hours worked are up to the individual.
Some copywriters land a few higher paying clients that are able to sustain them throughout the month only working a few hours per day, and other copywriters pick up larger quantities of, working as much as they can to scale their income.
The internet offers multitudinous options for learning copywriting online. How you choose to go about obtaining these skills depends on how quickly you want to learn, much time you have, and what skills you want to learn.
YouTube and various marketing blogs offer copywriting tips and tricks that can be of use to a writer that already understands the core concepts of copywriting, but if you’re just starting out or are looking for a fast-track to launch your copywriting career, an online copywriting course is your best bet.
You can definitely learn copywriting for free, but to learn the necessary skills it takes to be a good copywriter will take considerably more time than paying for a laser-focused copywriting course.
Copywriting podcasts, social media groups, and online forums are great places to pick up free copywriting tips.
Continually refining your skills is one of the best ways to improve your copywriting skills.
Ways to practice copywriting include:
Perhaps the best advice for improving your copywriting skills is to write, and write consistently. You will be surprised with how much your writing improves when you dedicate time to perfecting your craft.
Editing is a great way for copywriters to earn extra money beyond writing copy. Copywriters understand what it takes to create cohesive, brand-appropriate, compelling copy, and can assist other writers in refining their work.
Many copywriters work as line editors, substantive editors, and even proofreaders in addition to writing their own copy.
Copywriting and creative writing are two very different sects of writing, but many creative writers make excellent copywriters. Copywriting requires creative thinking, engaging use of language, and often, storytelling. A creative writer that wants to break into copywriting, however, needs to learn the mechanics of writing for sales, as writing for entertainment is almost like writing in an entirely different language.
There is a lot of debate on whether or not it’s more lucrative to choose a specific niche in which to place your focus as a writer, or if writing in a variety of areas is a better option.
There are several things to consider when deciding whether or not to specialize in one specific niche:
No matter if you decide to focus on one specialty or write on a vast number of topics, knowing how to write for different purposes is essential. Understanding the mechanics of writing for social media, landing pages, blogs, SMS marketing, newsletters, advertisements, voice overs, and print copy positions, and any other platforms you as a qualified candidate for any copywriting position.
There has never been a better time in the history of marketing to start a career in copywriting. With today’s content-driven market, businesses of all types are hiring copywriters to enhance their brand, increase sales, and build customer relationships.
Take the first step in launching your career! Learn copywriting from a course designed to equip you with the skills needed to excel in the field.
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