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How Long Does It Take to Get Started with Copywriting?

People who have either been through my Crash Course in Copywriting or are just about to take it, ask me this question all the time. After all, it’s been what, four months since I last updated this blog post? They’re wondering, how long does it take to get started with copywriting? Is there a strict timetable? Can you lock in on a certain number of hours per day to get the most out of it?

The short answer is, yes, there is a strict timetable and yes, you can lock in on a certain number of hours per day to get the most out of it. But the longer answer is a little more complicated.

Let’s dive in and explore how long does it take to get started with copywriting.

The 5 Step Process for a Successful Copywriting Career

Did you know that the phrase ‘copywriting’ has its roots in the 19th century, when copies of writers’ work were typically copied by hand? The practice still survives, but now we have computers and the internet, which makes the process much easier. Today, a copywriter’s work can be accessed and distributed worldwide in under a minute.

With the advancement of technology and the world wide web, now is a great time to start a career in copywriting. However, like any other field, there are certain steps you need to follow to ensure you succeed as a copywriter.

Here are the five step process to help guide you toward a successful career in copywriting:

Step one: Determine your target audience

This is the most basic and essential step to take before you begin to write a single word. Who is your target audience? What are they, or rather, what do they want?

A successful copywriter will need to deeply understand their target audience’s needs and wants. From there, they can craft the type of content that will appeal to that particular group. That means you’ll need to do some research into your target audience before you even begin your copywriting journey. Think of who you are trying to reach and what your brand stands for. Determine who your audience is, what they want, and how you can provide value.

Step two: Create a plan

Now, you don’t need to have an all-inclusive plan at this point. But, you should have some ideas of what you will do and how you will do it. Set some concrete goals and create a plan of action.

What do I mean by ‘plan’? Imagine you’re driving to your destination and having a conversation with a friend. You’re talking about your goals for the day, how you’re going to accomplish them, and what you’re going to do when you get there. Your friend asks you where you’re driving and you respond ‘To Brooklyn’. But, actually, you’re going to the Bronx to see your cousin. You didn’t quite complete the sentence and your friend probably thought you were going to Brooklyn. The point is, a plan should be a guide to help you complete a series of actions. For example, you have a plan to write an article. You will research topics, craft an outline, and then begin to write. Your plan should include all the steps you will take to write the article. At the end of the day, having a plan makes everything much easier.

Step three: Determining your writing strategy

Determining your writing strategy entails coming up with a plan and then executing on it. Essentially, your writing strategy is the way you intend to write the article, the type of content you will produce, and the sequence in which you will publish. Your writing strategy should be based on your target audience and should reflect their needs, interests, and the type of content they find most valuable.

The better your strategy, the better your result. Before you begin to write, you need to consider the strategy you will use. What is the purpose of your article? Is it to inform your audience about a certain subject? Is it to convince your audience to take a certain action? To explain how something works? Your writing strategy should reflect the answers to these questions. Once you know the purpose of your article, you will determine the type of content you need to produce.

Step four: Research the topic

The purpose of this step is to give you an idea of what you will write about. Once you have a general idea of the topic, you can begin your research. Ideally, you should do some research even before you begin to write a plan. If you do not have enough information about the topic, you can always set up a Google alert for specific words and topics that you will use in your writing. This alerts you to any new information that comes up about the topic.

Once you have a general idea of the topic, begin researching the industry (if you are writing for an industry magazine), competitors, and what is already being said. If you want to write for a living website, go through their existing articles and identify the topics that attract the most visitors. Determine this before you begin to write your article to make sure you fit into the website’s theme and syndication.

Step five: Develop key points

Developing your key points is the last step of the writing process and it entails using the information you have collected to formulate your thesis or main point. In other words, your key points are the arguments, facts, or statistics you will use to prove your point. Developing key points is a continuing process throughout the writing process and it should not be concluded at the end. Think of your key points as the ‘bullet points’ that will make your writing easy to understand and memorable. Ensure that your key points are relevant to the article you are writing and that they are backed up by appropriate research.

After you have followed these five steps, you will be on your way to establishing yourself as a successful copywriter. What was once a challenging and time-consuming process, is now a simple and routine one. With a little effort and determination, you can easily create a profitable writing career for yourself.

Creating compelling content is a form of art. It takes many years of practice to become truly experienced. However, with the help of technology, the process of creating compelling content is now much easier. Leverage the internet and social media to disseminate your work worldwide and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. In today’s world, the copyright-free world of the web, being a successful copywriter is much easier than ever before.