Society right now is very pro-college education. There is nothing wrong with college and there are plenty of wonderful benefits it can provide for many careers. But this emphasis on higher education raises the question of “do I need a relevant degree to get started in copywriting? Do I need copywriting certification?”
“Bachelor’s Degrees are good for Jeopardy,” but not necessary for copywriting. Copywriting does not require an advanced degree, but it does require work! Listen in to hear Nicki and Kate explain why copywriting certificates are B-S and what you do need instead of a copywriting certificate.
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Looking for closed captioning or a transcript? Check out the episode on YouTube!
A Sneak Peek at the Episode
[1:00] Do you need a copywriting degree or certificate? How can you prove that you are a qualified copywriter? Nicki and Kate dive into this common misconception right off the bat. Spoiler: a copywriting college degree doesn’t even exist.
[3:00] Nicki and Kate discuss how having a background in something other than English or writing can be incredibly beneficial to you as you reach out to potential clients. Not to say it isn’t great having writing experience prior, just that it is not necessary and has it’s own kind of benefits.
[6:30] The Comprehensive Copywriting Academy is vehemently against giving our students a certificate upon completion of the course because all a certificate says is that you paid for the course. A portfolio on the other hand, is exactly what clients want. If your first interaction with a client is, “Hey I am a copywriter, look at my certificate!” then they will know you are not experienced and have no idea what kind of work you can produce.
[8:00] What about Portfolio Schools? Well, Nicki talks about this track for people who may want a little more structure in their education. There is nothing wrong with going to a Portfolio School, if you have any extra $40,000 to invest in yourself and 2 years to dedicate to the degree.
[12:40] The proof of your qualifying attributes as a copywriter are all found in your portfolio. Doing the work is the only way to show people you can do the work!
Related Links
- Listen: Why Every Copywriter MUST Have an Online Portfolio
- How to Know if You Have What it Takes
- Best Backgrounds for Getting Into Copywriting
- The REAL Reasons Grads Can’t Find Jobs
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About the Build Your Business Podcast
Ready to turn your love of writing into a successful copywriting career?
Join professional copywriters Nicki Krawczyk and Kate Sitarz to get the tips, tools, and training to help you become a copywriter and build a thriving business of your own. Nicki and Kate have 20+ and 10+ years of experience, respectively, writing copy for multi-billion-dollar companies, solopreneurs, and every size business in between.
Whether you want to land an on-staff job, freelance full-time and work from wherever you want, or make extra money with a side hustle, the best place to start learning is right here.
See Previous Episode
Ep. 25: How Much Can a Copywriter Earn?
Last Updated on September 10, 2023
