Wherever you go in life, you’ll always find someone advertising something, trying to sell you something, or telling you what you need. For writers, this can be a blessing and a curse. You might find yourself in the middle of a conversation with a prominent person when you’re supposed to be working, and vice versa. You might get stuck in a meeting while your phone keeps beeping with text messages from your editor. Maybe you’ll even find yourself in a rush to finish something before a looming deadline, only to discover the software you needed was actually available for free!
This is the life of a copywriter. You’re often working with little or no supervision, in a fast-paced, demanding environment. You’re constantly jumping from meeting to meeting, and sometimes you don’t even know what’s going on. You might not even feel confident enough to ask questions, since you’re just a lowly writer (however talented you might be).
Fortunately, you don’t have to settle for what life hands you. With a little bit of planning and strategizing, you can make the most of your experience and land the job you want. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can get experience as a copywriter and be prepared for whatever comes your way:
Find A Mentor, Join A Society, Or Start Your Own Business
One of the best things you can do for yourself as a copywriter is to find a mentor. A mentor will guide you through the process of becoming a good copywriter, and can even help you find your voice as a writer. They’ll push you to improve your work and to be the best possible version of yourself. For many aspiring copywriters, a mentor is absolutely essential.
Mentors can also be good for your professional growth. Many writing societies and organizations, as well as business schools, offer professional development programs that can help you advance your career. Even the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) offers a Masters in Advertising to those who want to be copywriters, and other ad agencies and marketing groups offer similar programs.
Attend Bloggers’ Conferences And Online Courses
Blogs and other online communities can be an incredible source of learning opportunities. You can find blogs focusing on virtually any subject you could think of, from copywriting to photography to web design. You can learn from other bloggers’ successes and failures, and you can find people who are willing to help you develop your skills and take your career to the next level.
Some of the best places to find blogging opportunities are the major blogging conference and the smaller local conferences held throughout the year. These are where the big names in blogging hang out, so it’s a great opportunity to meet and connect with other bloggers. You can also attend smaller conferences and trade shows designed specifically for bloggers (e.g., the Quantcast Summit).
Major blogging conferences like the Blogger’s Conference, the International Blogger Convention, and the Content Marketing Conference are great places to get your feet wet as a copywriter. You’ll have the opportunity to network with top marketing and editorial professionals, as well as get inspired by the best minds in digital marketing and content strategy. The people you’ll meet at these conferences will be your first mentors, helping you develop your skills and take your career to the next level.
Find A Creative Agency Or In-House Team
If you’re looking to get your feet wet as a copywriter, the best way to do so is by finding a creative agency or in-house team. Creative agencies are companies that design and develop marketing and advertising campaigns for brands. In-house teams are usually made up of marketers, designers, and copywriters who work together to create compelling content for specific platforms and channels. They might also be responsible for creating advertising banners and social media content.
No matter which one you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills and take your career to the next level.
Start A Blog
Blogs are a great way to grow your professional network and to develop your skills as a copywriter. The only requirement is that you should have something to say. You don’t need a lot of experience to start a blog. You can simply use a free platform like WordPress to build a solid blog around any subject you choose. Once you have a blog, you can use various platforms like Google Analytics and Hootsuite to track the performance of your blog posts and determine which ones are most read and valuable.
Blogs are a popular choice among many professional writers, mostly because they’re so easy to set up. You don’t need a lot of experience to be able to add some value to the world of blogging. With a little bit of effort and dedication, you can make your blog stand out among the thousands of other blogs out there.
Get A Part-time Job
Even though you might not yet have many work credits, you can still get a job as a copywriter. In fact, the best way to get experience is by getting a part-time job as a copywriter. This should be a stepping stone to your career. When you have a job, you show up every day, get your assignments, and go home at the end of the day. You won’t have a ton of experience, but it’s a great way to learn.
If this is your first job, you’ll most likely be working under someone else. Be sure to show up to work on time and ready to work, and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Once you’ve been there a while and established yourself, you can negotiate for a pay raise or ask for a promotion.
Join A Society
As mentioned before, many writing societies and organizations offer educational opportunities as well as networking opportunities. If you’re serious about becoming a copywriter, it’s probably a good idea to join a writing society. The nice thing about writing societies is they can often get you access to great content for free, as well as provide you with a place to showcase your work and develop your skills. You don’t have to be a member of a writing society to attend their events, however, you’ll usually have to apply in advance and pay your membership fees.
Some of the most prominent writing societies include the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A’s) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF). If you’re looking to make the most of your experience, joining a writing society is a great way to do so. Additionally, many organizations offer specialized certifications that can help you get a leg up in the industry. For example, the AAF offers a Copywriting Certification and the 4As offers a Master in Advertising.
Take Advantage Of Technology
You might be doing a lot of your job in a word processor these days, but technology never sleeps. New advances in AI and automation make it much easier for companies to do all the work for you, meaning you can do more with less effort. This might be good news for those looking for work, but it also means there’s a lot more competition than ever before. If you want to land that job you want, you might have to be the one to beat out the competition.
If you’re looking to get your feet wet as a copywriter, there are plenty of ways to do so. Whether you want to attend a major conference or find a creative agency to work for, you’re sure to find the opportunity you want. Just make sure you’re prepared for the challenges that come with this unique and demanding job. With a little bit of effort and preparation, you can ensure you make the most of your experience and be the best possible version of yourself.