You’ve been writing for years, perhaps even since you first learned to write. Maybe you’ve even published a book, or are in the process of doing so. You may have even considered your writing to be a good bit of craftsmanship, or at least an ability that you could one day rely on financially (it never hurts to be able to write your own ticket to financial freedom, does it?).
But recently, you’ve had a string of bad luck with editorial jobs. The pay is good, but the turns over are frequent, and you feel like you’re just treading water. Even when you get the work, it takes forever to get it published (if it even gets published at all).
And then you found out about Copywriting. You may have come across the term while researching editorial jobs, or perhaps even while reading reviews of freelance copywriters. And now, you’re wondering, “what is copywriting? How am I supposed to become a copywriter?”
We’re going to answer all of your questions. And probably some that you didn’t even know you had. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about becoming a copywriter, including:
The Differences Between Editorial Work And Copywriting
Let’s start from the beginning. What is copywriting, and what is it not?
In short, copywriting is the branch of writing that focuses on crafting compelling copy (or ads, blog posts, etc.) to attract, persuade, and motivate people to action. Generally, copywriters deal with consumer-facing brands and products, and they focus on product information, marketing collateral, advertisements, and FAQs. Sounds pretty specific, right? That’s what makes it confusing (and awesome!) when a role like this comes up in your career, because you might get asked to do both editorial work and copywriting. So, let’s dive into the differences between editorial work and copywriting so you can better understand what to expect.
Pay
The pay for a copywriter is pretty high. It varies dramatically, but you can generally expect to make at least $25,000 per year (minus expenses). And for some major brands, that figure can go as high as $100,000 or more per year. (You can read more about the exact figures and how to properly negotiate your pay in this blog post from the Copyblogger website) Typically, you’ll start out at a lower pay grade (either per piece or per hour), but over time, you’ll see your wages increase.
On the editorial side, the pay can range from $15,000 to $25,000 per year (again, depending on the experience and the size of the publication). But you can also find some great opportunities in the $40,000 per year range (plus expenses).
Now, if you’re wondering, why the discrepancy in pay? Well, let’s look at the role of the copywriter versus the role of the editor. An editor, as the name suggests, is someone who edits print content (like a newspaper or magazine) and/or digital content (like a blog or an e-book). An editor is generally expected to have a general knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and word choice, and to have a sound understanding of the overall structure of a piece.
A copywriter, on the other hand, is expected to know how to craft compelling messages for a variety of platforms (like blogging, social media, email marketing, etc.). They’re also expected to know how to properly structure and format business documents (like press releases, articles, or pitches) and how to use different styles and formats to effectively communicate with different audiences (e.g., an SEO writer, who specializes in writing for search engines, or a content strategist, who focuses on crafting compelling content for websites).
So, as you can see, the responsibilities of a copywriter are a lot more broader than those of an editor. And that’s why the pay for a copywriter is higher than that of an editorial staff. (And before you start thinking that you can simply copy/paste blog posts from one platform to another and call yourself a copywriter, let us remind you that this is not always the case. Sometimes, the platform itself can dictate the form and structure of your work. So you might end up having to do some additional research to figure out what is the best way to present certain information to a digital audience.)
Responsibilities
As we mentioned above, copywriting is all about communicating with different audiences using multiple platforms. That means that even though you might start out with one client, you’ll soon find yourself working on projects for multiple brands. Your tasks will vary from one client to the next, but you’ll usually have to manage one or more of the following:
- Compelling Headlines
- Copy For Websites, Blogs, And Online Communities
- Creative Ads
- Product Descriptions
- Sales Page Copy
- Press Releases
- And More
Some of these responsibilities will involve more research and writing (at least, on the surface) than others. For example, you’ll generally be asked to write a compelling headline for a piece of copy. But, the research involved in creating a compelling headline for a piece of copy may not actually involve a whole lot of writing. You may start out by simply taking a few minutes to do some research onto the topic. However, once you’ve found a few promising articles, you may be asked to flesh out the concepts in more detail. (Yes, sometimes you’ll be asked to do some original research for a project, but that’s generally the exception rather than the rule.)
The Timeline
Another important factor to consider when determining your timeline for this job is the amount of work available. Not just any work will do. You’ll need to be sure that you’re taking on projects that are both interesting and within your abilities. Otherwise, you’ll risk finding yourself overwhelmed and underperforming. Just remember: this is a job that can be both challenging and rewarding at the same time.
How To Get Started
So, you’re interested in becoming a copywriter. Awesome! But, before you start sending out resumes, you need to make sure that you’ve got the basic requirements for the job. First, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in journalism, marketing, or a similar field. If you’ve got a limited amount of experience outside of education, then you may need to get a formal education in copywriting (a copywriters’ degree will typically cover all the necessary theory and requirements for you to start earning).
Once you’ve got your degree, you can start applying for jobs. (Make sure to tailor your resume to reflect the specific requirements of each position you apply for.) Don’t be afraid to ask for a copy of the job posting or the job description for a particular position. This will give you a better idea of what to prepare for (and it will also give you a chance to practice your communication and writing skills on a real-life scenario). In general, you can expect to hear from employers within three to six months of completing your bachelor’s degree. (Just remember: the sooner you start researching for this job, the more likely you are to land an opportunity. So don’t wait until the last minute to start applying.)
More Info
If you’d like, you can click here to visit the Copyblogger website, where you can find out more about the differences between editorial work and copywriting, as well as a list of the top 10 most in-demand industries for copywriters.