I’m always asked this question. It usually comes from aspiring writers or entrepreneurs who are just starting out. It’s a great question because it helps you figure out what you should be doing to become a successful copywriter. So let’s dive into it.
Take Good Breaks
When I’m writing—whether it’s copy or otherwise—I never work without taking breaks. It could be for five minutes, it could be for an hour, but I find that making frequent breaks promotes creativity and allows you to come back to your work with a new perspective. Plus, if I’m working on a particularly tricky part of a project, I’ll make myself a cup of tea and sit down with my partner to work through it. That break usually works out even better than if we’d stuck with the task at hand.
Know Your Audience
This is probably the most important thing to understand if you want to be a successful copywriter. Who is your target audience, and what do they need/want? Once you know this, you can craft messages that they’ll value, benefit from, and remember.
Have you ever purchased a product or service and found that the information you received was not what you expected? Chances are you’ll have a very different experience from the one you expected. The same goes for reading an article or watching an online video. Your interpretation of the information will depend on your background, experience, and unique situation. So if you want to be a successful copywriter, learn to write different kinds of articles for different kinds of audiences.
Use Data To Your Advantage
Data has transformed all industries, and it’s begun to change journalism, too. Today, you don’t need to have an opinion on every subject, because you can use data to back up your claims. When you can prove that your assumptions are accurate, you can make stronger, more confident claims.
For example, let’s say you’re writing for a national publication that covers family planning. You could argue that having less children is beneficial to the environment, but backing this claim up with data would be even more persuasive. Instead of just stating that you think fewer children are better, you could cite multiple studies that show how having fewer children reduces your environmental impact.
Craft Copy That Converts
The phrase “copy that converts” makes me think of hypebeasts and clickbait content. Yes, this kind of content can be effective if you’re trying to drive traffic to a specific website or social media platform. However, if you’re looking to secure paid writing gigs, you need to keep your eye on the prize—converting the copy you write into real customers who’ll gladly pay you for your services.
This requires meticulous planning before you even start writing. Before you begin, take some time to study the marketplace and determine the ideal buyer’s persona. Then, it’s simply a matter of matching your writing to their needs. So if you’re targeting family planning customers, your writing might focus on how to have a happy, fulfilling family even if you have children. But if you’re trying to attract tourists to a particular city, you might want to write about its attractions.
Understand The Value Of Influencers
If you want to be a successful copywriter, you need to understand the role that influencers play in today’s world. They help to establish your credibility by vouching for your work. If you’re yet to discover the power of influencers, dive into the world of social media and begin learning from the best.