Copywriting is more than just writing content for the sake of having content. It involves multiple steps including researching the topic, developing a clear thesis statement, outlining, revising, editing, and proofreading.
If you’re looking for career advice, you’ve come to the right place. We’re going to discuss the various aspects of copywriting, including how to get started, what to expect, and much more.
What Is Copywriting?
Simply put, copywriting is the process of developing content for the sake of selling a product or idea. However, it’s more than just selling. You’ll also need to understand your audience, their needs, and how you intend to bring about a change. For example, you’ll need to determine what would interest potential customers, and subsequently, create content around that interest.
The Differences Between Copywriting And Article Writing
There are several important differences between copywriting and article writing. First, copywriting implies the use of text in some form whereas articles can be in any form including visual aids. Second, copywriting is usually done for the purpose of selling a product or service whereas article writing is usually done to inform or interest the reader.
Despite the differences, the two are often mistaken for each other. If you’re not sure what copywriting is, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why we’ve put together a quick and easy guide on how to get started with copywriting for beginners.
The 5 Steps To Copywriting Success
If you’re looking to become a successful copywriter, here’s a quick guide that’ll get you there.
Step 1: Find Your Niche
In today’s ever-changing digital landscape, it’s important to find a way to stand out. One of the best places to do that is on the web. If your niche is in the health or beauty industry, you can become an expert in weight loss or skincare. If your niche is in the environmental industry, you can become an expert in climate change or sustainable living. These are just some examples of how you can utilize your skills to become an expert in a few areas.
Decide on a niche and once you’ve found it, dive into the research. You’ll need to understand your audience, their needs, and what will make your content stand out. Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you’re going to write about, you can move on to step 2.
Step 2: Create Value
This step involves using your expertise to create content that’s of value. The aim is to educate your audience about a particular subject with the intention of changing their behavior. In the example above, you’ve decided to become an expert in climate change. You’ve found your niche and started gathering information. Now, you need to create content that’s valuable and informative to those interested in the subject.
To do that, you need to look into the differences between your niche and the general public. The more you can educate your audience about a certain topic, the more they’ll value your opinion and your expertise. Think of trusted, established figures in your niche who could contribute useful information. People who’ve been there, done that, and have the credentials to back it up.
Having said that, it’s more than just about facts and figures. You’ll also need to consider how you’re going to present your opinion and the type of language you’ll use. Keep a notebook handy and make notes of anything that comes to mind. It can be helpful to jot down some general notes about the article you’re writing. That way, you can refer back to these when you’ve got feedback or comments from your editor or agent. This is important because you never know what could have been missed during the process of editing. This is why a note-taking session is essential to being a successful copywriter.
Step 3: Find Your Audience
In this step, you’ll want to find the right people (your readers) who are interested in what you have to say. If you’re writing with the intention of generating sales, you’ll need to find a way to connect with those who are most likely to be interested in what you have to offer. The simplest way to do that is through search engine optimization (SEO). SEO involves using keywords and SEO tools to maximize the number of people who see your blog posts, websites, and social media posts when they’re searched for. It’s important to note that SEO is different from marketing. While marketing focuses on the broadest audience possible, SEO focuses on bringing in the most clicks or views for a specific piece of content.
Step 4: Measure & Analyze Results
If you’re looking to grow your business, it’s important to measure the results of what you’re doing. To do that, you’ll want to use specific key performance indicators (KPIs). KPIs are defined as measurable results that can be tracked over time in order to determine the effectiveness of a particular action or initiative. For example, you can measure how many website visitors you get from a certain piece of content versus another and then make a comparison.
As a copywriter, you’ll be doing a lot of measurements and analyzing results. Make sure you have a system in place so that you can track all of your efforts. This will allow you to see exactly what’s working and what needs to be changed. It’s important to remember that not all results will be measurable. For example, you may see an increase in web traffic from a certain blog post but you cannot measure that in terms of dollars earned or leads captured.
Step 5: Adjust & Iterate
As a copywriter, you’re going to be adjusting and iterating your content over time as you learn and grow. Be sure to keep the following in mind:
- The aim is to improve over time
- The scope is global (i.e. transcultural, cross-border, etc.)
- You’ll need to be consistent
- And find a way to stand out
- From near and far
- In order to reach your goals
As you get started, it can be helpful to audit your content from step one to step five. This will allow you to see exactly what you’ve been doing well and where you can make changes to improve your content and your results. Just remember: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Find a way to do it better than before. That’s what’s motivating you in the first place. Keep iterating until you get it right.
With those five steps in mind, you’re well on your way to being a successful copywriter. Just remember to keep your eyes open for opportunities, build your reputation, and make sure that you don’t reinvent the wheel. Just find a way to do it better than before. Thanks for reading! We hope this was helpful.