You’ve probably heard the phrase “good storytelling.” While there are many opinions on what exactly that means, there’s one thing we know for sure: good storytelling doesn’t happen by accident. You have to work at it. You have to practice. You have to learn from the best. And you have to admit that, at times, you have to fight with your brain against your heart when deciding what to include and what to leave out.
What is copywriting? It’s advertising that isn’t spam. It’s marketing that doesn’t upset the customer. Simply put, copywriting is being able to persuade others to buy your products or services through words alone. It is using persuasion to sell. When done correctly, copywriting is an effective way to build trust and generate interest in your brand or product.
Why should you start writing?
Good storytelling should be the backbone of every marketer’s toolkit. At the end of the day, you’re selling a product or service. You want customers to believe you have their best interests at heart and that what you’re offering is what they need. One of the best ways to do this is through persuasive copywriting. It’s not enough to simply throw out a bunch of buzzwords or to pad your pitch with fluff. You need to prove to the reader that you understand their problems and that you have the answers they’re looking for. The more you know about your audience and what they want, the more you can tailor your message to make it relevant and interesting.
You don’t necessarily have to be a copywriter to start using persuasive writing in your marketing efforts. You could hand off the heavy lifting to someone more experienced and add a touch of polish to the writing yourself. However, if you’ve never written an effective pitch, you may not be able to do so on your own. That’s why it’s a good idea to take a class or workshop on pitching and copywriting. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start building your portfolio and proving to potential employers that you’re competent.
As with any skill or tool, having the ability to write effectively is never going to be useful unless you know how to put it to good use. What is copywriting and why should you start writing? Let’s find out together.