Why should you study copywriting?
If you’re looking for a career in traditional marketing, you’ll need a solid understanding of copywriting. Consider the following stats:
- 80% of all marketing spend will be on content marketing or creative marketing in 2021.
- 80% of businesses claim they are achieving growth through content marketing.
- 62% of individuals plan to learn new things in the next year, while 50% plan to become more experienced.
That’s a lot of spending, a lot of learning, and a lot of opportunity. However, if you want to become a successful marketer, you’ll need to understand what makes a good piece of copy.
Here are 5 reasons why you should study copywriting:
1. Better Than You Think
The first step to improving your copywriting is realizing how bad it is. Throwing together a couple of sentences here and there, and hoping that someone might actually see your work and want what you’re offering is not the way to go. Sure, sometimes this happens, but more often than not, your work will sit on a computer somewhere, be scanned in and never be seen by anyone.
As a copywriter, you’ll be writing for other businesses, brands, and companies, which means that your work will be seen by hundreds, if not thousands of people. This is why it’s so important that you write good copy. Not only will it make you seem more professional, but it’ll also make your work more easily understandable.
When writing for others, you’ll need to consider what they want, need, and how they respond to certain words and phrases. This is something that comes naturally to some, while others have to learn to do consciously. With practice, you’ll be able to improve your copywriting to the point where it becomes a joy rather than a task.
2. An In-Demand Career
If you’re looking for a career in marketing, you’ll need to consider becoming a copywriter. The demand for copywriters is high, and is expected to increase by 16% in 2021. This is according to the freelancing platform Upwork, which states that “content strategy and brand journalism are the two largest in-demand job functions, and copywriting is the third.”
While SEO, content strategy, and brand journalism are all necessary to become successful in marketing, having a good understanding of copywriting will set you apart from almost everyone else.
3. It Pays To Learn
If you’re looking for a career in marketing, you might wonder how much money you’ll need to settle down. While it can be tricky to predict exact figures, it’s safe to assume that you’ll need a few thousand dollars at least. This won’t cover your rent, bills, or even groceries for a month.
If you’re looking for a short-term solution, you might consider looking for work as a copywriter. Not only does it provide you with valuable experience, but it also pays fairly well. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage is around $47,000, with an expected increase to $55,000 by 2026.
4. It Provides You With Endless Possibilities
If you’re looking for a career in marketing, you’ll need to consider what options are available. While most people think that being a copywriter is restricted to composing marketing material like articles and websites, this is far from true. As a copywriter, you’ll have the opportunity to become a brand ambassador, securing paid speaking events and appearing in commercials or on other types of creative content. You might be asked to pitch ideas for new products or campaigns, create infographics, or organize events. Essentially, there are endless possibilities for a career as a copywriter.
Learning how to write effective copy is just one part of the puzzle. To be a successful copywriter, you’ll also need to understand how to pitch ideas, how to research relevant data, and how to track the progress of a project. Not every business will see the benefit of having a writer, so it’s important to know how to sell your ideas and convince executives that they’re worth implementing.
5. A Skill That Can Be Valuable In Many Sectors
If you’re looking for a job in marketing, you might consider applying for a job as a copywriter. However, you don’t necessarily need a degree in English to become a successful copywriter. Many people with other degrees, like communications, journalism, or public relations have successfully pursued careers in this field. It’s a skill worth having, and one that can be valuable in many sectors.
If you’re serious about becoming a professional copywriter, reach out to a local college or university to see if they have any courses or degrees in English that they offer. You don’t want to put yourself into debt to further your education, and the cost of a college degree is beyond most people’s reach. If this option is available to you, it’s worth pursuing.