The world of copywriting can seem overwhelming and ambiguous. You have a few words to conjure with, and you want to make sure they are just right. You want to choose your words carefully and ensure you are choosing the right tone of voice. This article will advise you of the best places to get your copywriting feet wet, and how to avoid getting drowned in a sea of clichés.
Online Forums
The internet is abuzz with discussion about all things copywriting. There are communities like Copyblogger, where you can get in-depth advice from seasoned professionals. There are also forums like Quora, where you can pose questions to expert copywriters and receive swift and engaging answers.
These are great places to get inspired and to learn new things. However, you should not mistake the vibrant discussions for actual content. These are discussion forums, not article directories. The discussions are often rich in content and provide a great sounding board for aspiring copywriters.
Every business, large or small, has a Twitter account. For PR pros, Twitter is a goldmine of valuable information and inspiration. Through the power of the hashtag, you can discover a wealth of content, whether you are looking for original writing samples, tips on pitching stories, or just want to keep up with the latest news releases and trends.
Be careful when weighing the advantages of Twitter. While it can be an amazing tool for gaining inspiration, you must also remember that Twitter is a highly-cited social media platform. If you submit any sort of content, you will undoubtedly encounter a massive surge of traffic. This can be both good and bad. The surge of traffic can bring with it a ton of press clippings, some fantastic, others…not so much. It is vital that you establish a presence on this platform, build up a healthy account and engage with your followers. If you are looking for more specific guidance, you can always turn to the experts at HubSpot. They can help you get the most out of your Twitter account and help you develop winning Twitter campaigns that will inspire your next moves.
LinkedIn is the preferred professional network for recruiters, head hunters, and ambitious job-seekers. It is a goldmine for discovering hidden job opportunities and connecting with influential thought leaders and senior executives.
As a copywriter, you may find that you are asked to pitch articles to specific groups of people on this platform. For example, you may be asked to pitch a piece to an HR group or an SEO group. In order to succeed in your pitches, you will need to do your research and know your audience. This is not a platform that you want to spam with generic pitches. This is a place that you want to engage with to further your career.
Reddit is the largest of the social media platforms. With over 300 million monthly active users, it is a goldmine for consumers, businesses, and celebrities. If you can get someone else to do the pitching for you, use Reddit to find your voice. This is a great place to find communities of like-minded people who are happy to help and support your efforts. Remember to be respectful, and you will soon find yourself among friends who are willing to help you succeed.
The downside to Reddit is that it can be a bit of a free-for-all. If you want to engage with users on this platform, you will need to use your best judgment and be careful not to cross the line into spam. While there is no specific rule for what constitutes spam on a website like Reddit, overuse of promotional material, self-promotion, and excessive cross-promotion are all considered very spammy behavior. If you are unable to curb this behavior, you may find that your time on this platform is quickly diminishing. The lesson? Be authentic. Give good value. And most importantly, be consistent.
StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon is one of the older social media platforms, but it is still very active. It was originally designed for sharing and discovering web pages, photos, and videos that match your interests. As a copywriter, you may find that you are asked to submit an article to a specific group of people on this platform. To succeed in your pitches, you will need to do your research and know your audience.
The downside to StumbleUpon is that you must manually sift through content to find what you are looking for. This can be difficult and time-consuming. In addition, while it is a trusted platform with a large audience, it is also rather indiscriminate when it comes to what kinds of content it will promote. This can make it rather difficult to stand out among the noise.
Facebook is the largest of the social media platforms. With over 1.8 billion monthly active users, it is a goldmine for consumers, businesses, and celebrities. If you are running a business on Facebook, you may find that you are asked to post regularly to maintain good quality content. This is usually a thankless task, as businesses know that Facebook is a place that consumers go to escape from the hustle and bustle of their everyday life. So, if you are asked to post frequently, you may find that you are doing so just to keep up with the routine.
While this may be the case, it is still a goldmine for businesses and organizations. Facebook is a place that people go to get specific information or seek advice. If you are on this platform, you should be using it to provide valuable information or to offer your expertise in a specific field. To succeed in your pitches, you will need to do your research and know your audience.
The downside to Facebook for businesses and brands is the same as StumbleUpon – it can be hard to stand out amid all the noise. If you are unable to stand out, your content may go unseen and unheard, and you will be unable to capitalize on your valuable audience. The lesson? Be authentic. Be consistent. And when you find yourself struggling with this, you may find that it is time for you to move on to another platform.
Instagram is another massive social media platform. It was originally designed to help people showcase their work and engage with others through their visual content. If you are running a business on Instagram, you may find that you are asked to post regularly to maintain good quality content. To succeed in your pitches, you will need to do your research and know your audience.
Although it is a fantastic platform for businesses, brands, and individuals, you must be careful not to post too much. Too much content and too many posts can make your audience tired of your content – or, at least, make them less engaged with your content (if you want to keep them). The downside to too much content on this platform is that it can be difficult to stand out among the noise. If you are unable to stand out, your content may go unseen and unknown, and you will be unable to capitalize on your valuable audience.
Snapchat
Snapchat is the fastest-growing social media platform. It was built to be a “more private, more conversational, and ultimately more entertaining place to share videos and photos”. This is a popular place for individuals to keep in touch with friends and family, and for businesses to engage with customers. If you are running a business on Snapchat, be sure to keep your content relevant and trendy. To succeed in your content strategy, do your research and know your audience. This will help you choose the right kind of content for the platform and create compelling videos that will resonate with your audience.
As a copywriter, you may be asked to pitch articles to specific groups of people on Snapchat. If you are running a business or brand, you may find that this is a goldmine for customers, leads, and engagement. To engage effectively on this platform, you will need to use your best judgment and be careful not to spam.
Tumblr
Tumblr is a blogging platform that was purchased by Yahoo in 2013 for $1.1 billion. It is one of the older social media platforms, but because it is still relatively unknown, it is a great place for content marketing, SEO, and PR professionals to learn the ropes.
In addition to WordPress, which you may know is also owned by Yahoo, Tumblr lets you create blog posts on your own terms. This gives you complete control over the content that is disseminated to your audience. This is a fantastic platform for individuals or groups to establish a voice and be heard. It is also a fantastic platform for businesses to connect with potential customers in an authentic and transparent way.