You’ve probably heard of sales copywriting. Maybe you’ve even seen ads that contain compelling copy. But what is copywriting, and how does it translate into revenue for businesses? Let’s dive into the anatomy of a sales letter to find out more.
The Anatomy Of A Sales Letter
A sales letter is simply a piece of marketing communication designed to convince a consumer to purchase a product or service. It usually begins with a headline and a couple of paragraphs elaborating on the benefits of the product or service. Then, there is generally some type of Call-to-Action (CTA) at the end, which prompts the reader to take an action such as to click on a link or to enter a mailing address.
The anatomy of a sales letter is easy enough to follow. But like most forms of copywriting, it can be challenging to come up with compelling sales copy for even the most popular products. Creating effective sales letters may take some time.
The Rise Of The Marketing Copywriter
Although the term “marketing copywriter” may not exist in its entirety in academic circles, it has long been used as a catch-all to describe any copywriter who specializes in marketing materials, such as ads and sales letters. According to HubSpot Blogs research, there are currently over 310 million US citizens aged 18 and above. That’s a lot of potential consumers for a product or service to sell!
The demand for marketing copywriting skills is on the rise, as evidenced by the expanding job market. However, as with any other in-demand field, there is a significant gap between graduates and experienced professionals. Finding the right job after completing a marketing copywriting course can be difficult.
But perhaps the biggest driver of the demand for marketing copywriters is the rise of digital marketing and content creation. Thanks to the proliferation of social media, content marketing, and automated email marketing, it is now easier than ever to target and engage with potential customers via digital means alone. As a result, those who can craft compelling content can expect to command high paying job offers, especially as the competition for talent heats up.
Why Should You Get Marketing Copywriting Experience?
A marketing copywriter with experience will have the opportunity to flex their writing muscles and prove themselves in a variety of situations. From writing the text for a simple email marketing campaign to incorporating copywriting skills into an already established brand voice, a marketing copywriter’s expertise will prove invaluable. Furthermore, having a complete understanding of what makes an effective sales letter, and the ability to craft one from scratch, will prove invaluable in today’s ever-changing digital marketing environment.
The Demand For Marketing Copywriting Is Rising
Marketing copywriting is one of the most in-demand and sought-after occupations today. Thanks to the growing use of automated email marketing and content creation platforms, those who can craft compelling letters can expect to be in high demand. The demand for marketing copywriters will continue to increase as businesses try to figure out how to generate more leads and pull in more customers via digital marketing.
Where Can I Put This Skillset?
If you’re looking for a career change or just want to get a new perspective on marketing, you can find plenty of opportunities in the field of marketing copywriting. The most popular positions in the field include:
- Marketing manager
- Copywriter
- Senior copywriter
- Content strategist
- Brand ambassador
- Content strategist/copywriter
- Content marketer
- Digital marketer
- Online marketer
- Social media marketer
- Marketing manager
- Strategic marketer
- Market analyst
- Customer experience marketer
Each of these positions requires a unique skillset, which can be supplemented with a marketing copywriting course. Once you complete the course, you will have the option of applying for a marketing job, or continuing your education with an M.B.A or M.S.
Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, here is a simple guide to help you identify your next steps.
Are you passionate about marketing, but lack the necessary skills? Are you looking for a change of pace from the corporate world and want to try your hand at marketing? If so, consider pursuing a career in marketing copywriting.
You may even decide that you want to specialize in specific areas of marketing, such as SEO, content strategy, or social media. In which case, you should look into the following:
SEO
Since the dawn of time, search engines have been the crack that opens the door to the internet. Without them, we’d simply be faced with a wall of text, if Wikipedia is any indication.
Thanks to the evolution of SEO and the growing research that goes into making Google play nice with various website elements, it is now easier than ever for businesses to rank highly in search engines for relevant, frequently searched terms.
SEO is one of the most popular areas of specialization among marketing copywriters, as it requires a thorough understanding of both Google algorithms and the psychology of web search.
Content Strategy
Like SEO, content strategy is another fast-growing area of specialization among marketing copywriters. Simply put, content strategy is the process of creating and curating content (blogs, articles, videos, and more) to achieve a specific business goal.
By understanding the ever-changing digital landscape and how various content marketing channels, such as search, social media, email, and web design, work together, content strategists can help businesses maximize their exposure and gain maximum traction online.
Social Media
While search engines, social media platforms, and email marketing still reign supreme, the lines between these methods of marketing have blurred. Thanks to platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as channels like YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat, businesses can engage with consumers across multiple platforms.
Since social media and content creation have become such an integral part of digital marketing, those who can craft compelling messages can expect to be in high demand, as demonstrated by the following job trends:
- 87% of employers plan on increasing their use of social media in 2021
- 80% of employers plan on using content creation platforms in the next year
- 78% of employers plan on paying more attention to video content in the next year
- 79% of employers plan on incorporating virtual reality content in the next year
If you have a sales history or an affinity for social media, a career in social media marketing may be a perfect fit.
Email Marketing
Over 95% of internet users now employ email marketing as part of their marketing efforts. This platform has been around for many years, and for good reason, as it is extremely effective and can be used to communicate with customers, prospects, and other groups of people.
Marketing email campaigns can be automated and done with a simple click of a button. Once the email is sent, the marketer can then focus on converting that email address into a paying customer.
Content Creation
Content creation is yet another area of specialization that has seen a massive rise in demand, according to CareerBuilder. In 2021, over 70% of employers plan on increasing their use of content creators and curators in the workplace.
If you have a specific area of expertise–such as graphic design, web development, or storytelling–a business or marketing course may not be necessary to find work in content creation. For example, WordPress is the world’s most popular content creation tool, and most web designers and developers should have no problem finding work.
Become A Full-time Marketer
If you’re looking to make a career change and crave the flexibility that comes with working for yourself, you could try your hand at full-time marketing. Thanks to the internet, those who can make effective use of social media, search engines, and email marketing can have the opportunity to work remotely and be their own boss.