Inevitably, as a copywriter, you will be asked to write a press release, article, or press kit material for a brand or company. Developing these skills will put you ahead of the competition and allow you to build a solid portfolio to take to any future employer. In this article, I will discuss some of the most useful and effective techniques that will help you become a confident and skillful copywriter, ready to take on any commission.
Find Your Signature Stance
You should absolutely be able to write good press materials for any brand or company. As a copywriter, you only need to make sure that the materials are presented in a professional manner, but you don’t need to agree with, or endorse the opinions or actions of the brand or company. Finding your own style is the most important thing. This style will be your trademark; people will know exactly how you write because it will be the same consistently throughout your entire career. Most importantly, it will make you stand out from the crowd and allow you to connect with your audience, whether you’re pitching to a journalist or approaching a company for free publicity.
There are four steps to finding your signature style:
1. Look Back To Your Past Work
You should already have a good idea of what your style is, but it never hurts to look back at your previous work to make sure that you haven’t changed. If you’re having trouble finding your own style, then it’s time to take a step back and look at your past work, especially that published a while ago. This will give you an idea of what your audience expects from you, and you will be able to determine whether you want to keep the style that you grew accustomed to or find a new approach.
2. Find Inspirations From All Areas Of Life
There are many different areas of life that can inspire you as a writer, and you should look for opportunities to draw from each one. You don’t need to limit yourself to just one area of inspiration, as there is probably something from every area of life that can help you improve your craft. Your own life can serve as inspiration for your work, whether you want to write about your experiences or want to create fiction. If you want to become a better writer, then you should absolutely look into every area of life, as there is probably something there that can help you improve your writing.
3. Set Aside Important Quotes Or Phrases
You should set aside important quotes or phrases that you hear frequently in your work. These should not necessarily be attributed to a specific character, as it could be a word or phrase that is used to describe a concept. For example, if you frequently write about how a celebrity’s beauty affects sales, then you might want to set aside the words “famous for being famous” or “idol” as these are commonly used in reference to famous people. Instead, you could say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” or
“Some people feel that fashion plays an important role in society, while others feel that it is meaningless. What is important is how you feel about it.”
4. Test Out Your Ideas
Finally, you should try out your ideas on paper before actually putting them into a finished piece. Most people hate writing, especially when they first get started, as you undoubtedly will too. If you’re asked to pitch an idea to a journalist or to write a press release, then you should try out your ideas in a rough draft before presenting them to your audience. Most importantly, you should do this in a way that is the closest to how you will actually present the information, as the audience will only benefit from the most effective communication.
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach when it comes to writing. Everyone is different, and you should not write for other people but yourself. You should not be afraid to experiment with different styles and approaches, as long as you are confident that you can turn anything into effective and compelling copy.