People often ask me, “What is copywriting in graphic design?” That is a fair question, given that design and copywriting are often used interchangeably. However, copywriting is not the same as advertising or marketing copy, which are subsets of copywriting. Advertising and marketing copy share a common trait with copywriting: they are both written to persuade or influence customers.
That being said, copywriting in graphic design covers a lot of ground, from simple text to graphic design. In fact, “copywriting” can also refer to the combination of written and visual elements used to convey a message.
What is Simple Text?
Simple text is ideal for headlines, logos, and other elements that do not require a lot of thought. It is typically used in conjunction with other design elements, such as images and/or graphics, to create a complete visual story. When used effectively, simple text can add life to a piece of artwork and ensure it will not feel dull or lackluster.
What is Headline?
A headline is the first line of a story. Headlines should be concise but also broad enough to catch the attention of potential readers. They should also be memorable so that people can think of the article when it comes up in their reading material.
What is Subhead?
A subhead is the second line of a story. Subheads should mirror the headline but add more information. For example, the subhead of a story about Michael Jordan might read, “The most dominant basketball player of all time finally admitted that he did not always play with his feet up.”
What is Body Copy?
The body copy of a story is the text that appears below the headline and subhead. This is where you will find the bulk of the article. Like the other elements of copywriting, body copy should be concise yet also effective enough to hold the reader’s attention. It should also be distinguished from the other parts of the article by being the most important element for the purpose of the article.
What is Call To Action?
A call to action (CTA) is a phrase used in marketing to encourage action from the audience. It is typically positioned at the end of a copywriting piece in order to serve as a prompt for the reader to take an action. For example, if the goal of a particular article is to encourage readers to visit a website, the call to action might read, “If you agree that this article was useful, please take a moment to visit this site.”
How Do I Write Effective Headlines?
There are three key things you need to keep in mind when writing headlines for an article. First, make sure the headline is concise but also broad enough to catch the attention of the reader. If you want to write a headline that is too long, it will most likely end up being boring and/or clunky. Concise but broad headlines are more effective than long and detailed ones. The second thing to keep in mind is to use words that are easy to understand. There is nothing worse than trying to interpret a headline that is written in technical jargon or used complicated language. Third, make sure that the headline is distinctive enough that it does not sound like it belongs to some other article. Distinctive headlines can help articles stand out from the crowd.
How Do I Write Effective Body Copy?
If you are writing for the news media, your body copy will probably be a combination of narrative and/or descriptive text. Descriptive text is simply text that provides information about the topic of the article. Narrative text is simply text that tells a story.
While it is certainly possible to create compelling narratives that do not involve any descriptive text, it is harder to do so without any. Having some descriptive text in your body copy will undoubtedly help provide the reader with essential information needed to understand your story. It will also make your story more interesting to read.
As for the format of the article, it should be determined by the purpose of the article. Are you writing to inform or to persuade? Each type of writing requires a different approach. Informational articles should be written in a straightforward and unadorned style. On the other hand, persuasive articles should be written in an engaging and dynamic style that is likely to convince the reader of your position.
How Do I Write Effective Conclusion?
Your conclusion is the last part of your article. It should briefly summarize what you have written and convince the reader that your argument was sound. When writing your conclusion, keep in mind that the reader has just finished listening to or reading your entire piece, so you have a chance to grab their attention and make them believe in what you said.
As with your other copywriting elements, your conclusion should be concise but also effective. Your goal is to leave the reader with a clear sense of what you have written and an impression that what you say is believable. The last thing you want to do is leave the reader feeling confused or misled about your message.
When used effectively, written and graphic elements such as headlines, subheads, and conclusions can make your writing stand out above the competition.