Copywriting As A Career: What Is It And How Do You Get Into It?

Perhaps you have heard the term copywriter used when scouring freelance job boards and it has piqued your interest, but you are not quite sure as to what it entails and whether you can enter into the profession.You are a good writer, perhaps, but is that enough?

Here, we look at what copywriting is, the skills that you need to get into it and how to find a job in copywriting. 

What is copywriting?

A copywriter is someone  who is specialised in writing content intended to sell, educate and otherwise encourage customers to interact more closely with a company. Copywriting can come in a wide variety of formats, and require flexibility, creativity and superb spelling and grammar skills.

Companies in all sectors and of all shapes and sizes hire copywriters or use freelance copywriters to create content for their business website and printed media. The copywriter takes on the voice and branding of a company and persuades consumers to interact with them.

It might be encouraging them to sign up to a newsletter or follow them on social media. It might be a how-to guide on some of their products. Generally speaking, the aim of a copywriter is to increase company exposure, website traffic and of course, sales.

What sort of thing do copywriters write?

• Website copy
• Blog posts
• Copy for printed materials (brochures, leaflets, catalogues, newsletters)
• Technical writing
• Annual reports and summaries
• White papers
• Social media posts
• Presentations

What skills do you need as a copywriter?

There are no essential qualifications or certifications that you need to become a copywriter, although there certainly are some out there that you may find helpful if you are just starting out. You can also take a look at some of the Top Copywriting Books for information and advice.

In terms of your personal skills and attributes, you need to be creative, especially when it comes to words and phrases. You need to know how to use language to stir emotions, to make people feel in a certain way and to capture attention. Most importantly, you need to use language to drive sales.

You also need to be driven and be prepared to take criticism on the chin.Work can be criticized regularly, and you have to be able to take advice and accept other people’s edits.This can be a lot more difficult than it sounds!

How to find a job in copywriting

Many people fall into copywriting by accident. They start off in marketing, or in journalism, or perhaps they have their own blog. Other people are in a highly specialized trade and get into it through that way.

What is important is your portfolio – this shows off the scope of your writing and your skills. If you are looking to find a job in the field, get some experience first so that you can begin to build up your portfolio. Look at freelance job sites such as People Per Hour, Fiverr and Upwork to find people looking for freelance copywriters to work with. 

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