WRITING CONTENT OR COPYWRITING? 

You're good with words, and you want them to be the tool to build your new career? Do you like the idea of working from home, a place where you can freely organize your time?

It sounds like copywriting is the job for you.

However, writing for marketing purposes is a broad field. Do you need to focus on social media, websites, emails, or something completely different? What is the difference between copywriting and content writing? And what is the best writing job for beginners?

You've probably seen those texts written in advertisements, websites, and emails? Those are written by copywriters. Copywriters connect users with brands through words. They encourage customers to emotionally connect with a product or service. They grab attention. Create interest. Stir desire in the customer. They sell. So, your job is to awaken desire in potential customers, motivate them to buy a product, or engage with the brand. Essentially, you play with words to sell something.

And then there are content writers. While the primary purpose of copywriting is sales, content writing builds a brand's reputation and long-term relationships with potential customers. You've heard of blogs. You've read blog posts. Maybe you regularly follow a blog. Most marketing writers start with content writing.

My beginnings looked like this - long hours writing blog articles for peanuts. This is something you shouldn't do. Such pitfalls await beginners at every corner. One of them is content farms that employ a large number of freelancers to generate a large amount of content for websites, written for Google's search engine algorithm. The compensation for such work is minimal, and it requires a lot from you.

Working for such sites, writing will become tedious, and long hours and stress can lead to burnout. The truth is that you can find better-paying clients more easily as an experienced writer, or when you provide quality work that justifies higher prices.

Writing blog posts is one of the most popular writing jobs on the market, but many companies do it wrong. That's why they look for copywriters to take over that job. Well-written blog posts are one of the most effective ways to raise awareness about your brand.

To gain the loyalty of your target audience, it's important that the content you create is relevant and useful, giving them value. It's a great way for smaller businesses to attract more visitors to their websites, improve their marketing strategy, and ultimately, attract more customers. That's why experienced brands look for writers for their blogs.

But how and where can you learn everything about writing good copy? Good question.

INVEST IN COURSES OR OFFICIAL EDUCATION?

There's a lot of information available on the internet to learn the basics of writing and find examples of good ads, but it takes some time to find the right advice and relevant sources.

If you're not sure if copywriting is for you, consider whether it's worth investing in courses. Start with what's available. Read blogs of marketing agencies, specialized marketing portals, books written by copywriters, or listen to podcasts featuring experts.

For those who are serious about becoming copywriters, enrolling in a course is a good start. I recommend them because they saved me a lot of time and provided concrete writing tips, feedback, and information on how to communicate with clients and target audiences effectively.

Not only will you develop your skills under the guidance of experienced copywriters with years of experience, but you will also create numerous examples that you can include in your portfolio and show to future clients.

Today, there are many excellent courses that you can complete at your own pace and learn to write selling text firsthand from experienced copywriters who know what they're doing.

TRAINING YOUR COPYWRITING MUSCLES 

As Stephen King says, "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot." Although writing for marketing purposes is significantly different from writing a novel, reading is indeed the oldest trick in the book.

WHAT TO READ?

Novels, poetry collections, short stories, books on marketing or writing, memoirs, books on the subjects you write about, and most importantly, books you enjoy because you will read them frequently.

You will encounter different writing styles, ideas, and stories, and it will reflect in your writing. Growing up in Australia, I used to pretend to be sick to read Harry Potter instead of going to school. Different words and worlds will help you expand your vocabulary and horizons, and they are crucial for becoming a copywriter who successfully sells with your own words.

Apart from reading, remember that writing is a matter of practice. The more you write, the better you become.

How to train your copywriting muscles? A few ways to practice include:

  • Writing campaigns for existing companies (e.g., a Halloween campaign for Coca-Cola).
  • Improving existing copy (e.g., choose an ad offered on Facebook and write it better).
  • Volunteering for non-profit organizations and writing for them.
  • Creating your own website that showcases your services and knowledge in a specific field you write about.

DO YOU NEED OFFICIRAL QULIFICATIONS OR DEGREES?

Behind every great copywriter is unique experience, and there is no one right path from the beginning of a writing career to becoming the best writer you can be.

For example, with knowledge in engineering or finance, you can specialize as a copywriter who is an expert in those areas. This makes your job easier because you write about topics you are already familiar with. However, most copywriters have degrees in English, journalism, communication, and marketing or economics.

Still, keep in mind that a qualification (degree or completed course) alone is not a guarantee that you will get lucrative writing jobs. What clients want to know is whether you can do your job and achieve the goals set by marketing campaigns.

So, they're not interested in a certificate of acquired knowledge but its application. For that, you need a portfolio. Which brings us to...

PRESENTING YOURSELF AND YOUR SKILLS

You need to let your clients know that you exist and that you are the writer they should hire for their projects. Yes, it's time to sell yourself - and by that, I mean show what you can do. Don't be shy; express yourself.

It's time to prove that you are excellent in what you do. Focus on quality rather than quantity because examples of your writing and work will determine your future as a writer.

Create your own website or social media that shows that you are the best at what you do. Update your LinkedIn profile and highlight that you're looking for work.

Don't forget to celebrate when you get a high-paying client because no one else will do it for you. After some time, clients will find you on their own.

But, how to find your first client or job in copywriting?

FINDING YOUR FIRST CLIENTS OR JOBS IN COPYWRITING

The beauty of the internet is that you have the whole world at your fingertips. There are platforms specialized in writing jobs, marketing agencies, and companies, as well as clients you can contact and propose collaboration.

Agencies and companies with their marketing teams often look for copywriters. Working in agencies, you will have the opportunity to work with larger brands, and as part of a smaller team in a company, you can specialize in the specific area they are involved in (such as drugs or protein products). Another option is to find clients yourself.

To whom should you send emails? Answer these questions:

  • In which language do you write?
  • What is your area of interest/expertise?
  • Which companies represent the values that are important to you?

Since I'm from Australia and English is my native language, I write in English. Due to my work in the fashion industry and the knowledge I gained there, I work with fashion brands. In doing so, I want to tell the stories of brands that advocate for sustainable fashion because their values align with mine. Finding clients is undoubtedly a lengthy process. Most people won't achieve results overnight, including myself. But once it starts, you'll be unstoppable. 

IS IT WORTH BUILDING A CAREER IN WRITING TODAY?

There's a lot of hype about AI tools and the potential death of copywriting as a profession. Although it can be used as a useful tool, it will never replace a skilled writer - only an average one.

That's really true. Think about your favorite marketing campaign. It's cleverly designed and left a strong impression on you. One that comes to mind for me is: Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.

Why does it work? Because it's human, connected with a simple and clear message that has a deeper meaning for people.

People are looking for quality content. Something new. Something they can connect with. That's why text generated by artificial intelligence can't replace text written by a person who understands human behavior and the emotions of the person on the other side of the screen.

So, is it worth becoming a copywriter? It's worth doing anything if you have the time, motivation, and passion for it, whether it's copywriting or something else.

It paid off for me because I go to work with a smile on my face. It paid off because Monday is my favorite day of the week. Because I can organize my schedule to spend more time with the people I love.

It paid off for me to take the risk. Maybe it will for you too.