Copywriting is different from advertising, public relations and marketing. Copywriters need to be fluent in grammar and spelling, as well as a wide range of subjects that can be as diverse as cooking, technology or sports. They need to have a deep understanding of the audience they are targeting in order to effectively convey their message. One common misconception about copywriting is that it's all about making ads sound appealing - although this is one of many aspects of copywriting.
The importance of Copywriting
Copywriting is an essential skill in today's world - and has been for a long time. Written communication has existed for thousands of years, and was used even before the invention of written language. The bible is one of the oldest pieces of writing in human history, dating back to about 2000 BC.
Copywriting is rapidly becoming more important than it ever has been. It was once deemed "elegant", but increasingly it's come to mean something else: persuasive.
Copywriting vs Content marketing
In a nutshell, copywriting is about selling a product or service to an audience through text. Content marketing is all about providing information and entertainment to an audience in order to gain a customer's trust and interest in the product or service you are trying to sell.
The importance of Copywriting in SEO
Copywriting is also crucial in SEO. The ability to write well and express yourself clearly is what makes a good lead-gen page or article in Google's eyes. Luckily, for those who want to make a living or even just earn some extra money, it's possible to learn copywriting while keeping your day-job!
Getting Started with Copywriting
So, how do you learn how to become an expert copywriter? Well, there are two main ways - online courses and books. Online courses will probably give you the best overall result, but they're often way more expensive than other methods. Books can be somewhat limiting - but they're very effective. Check out the article below for a full breakdown!
This is a tough one to get over, but you'll need to start writing. Why? Because as soon as you start writing, you'll start thinking about content the way it might be presented in an article or blog post - and that will develop your writing skills right away!
Good grammar and spelling are essential when it comes to copywriting. You need to have both perfect nouns (people, companies etc) and verbs/phrases that aren't too common or complex.
Be aware that not all copywriters create great content. In fact, there are many examples of poor copywriting out there that will turn off almost any reader immediately.
Copywriting can be hard work - but it doesn't have to be! When you've decided to become a copywriter, you need to make sure that you have the right materials and information at your fingertips.
Readability is crucial - and good copywriting means that your audience can understand what you're saying.
Looks matter - A well-written piece of content will look better on the page, it'll be easier to read, and people will be drawn to it.
There's a lot of competition in copywriting - but there are plenty of opportunities out there! If you want to be successful, you have to know what it takes.
Conclusion: To put it shortly, copywriting is not as simple as it seems. Copywriting is not just writing a few paragraphs, you really have to read your audience and "think" like them to create an article that they will love.