Copywriting seems like a fun job…but is it? Today we’re going to explore the truth behind copywriter job satisfaction and get into the nitty gritty of what the day-to-day life is like. Read on…
Today’s question is from Kevin A., who asks, “I’m interested in copywriting, but don’t know too much about it. What’s copywriter job satisfaction like? Are people really enjoying it more than other careers?”
First, let’s talk a little about what copywriting entails. In the broadest terms, it involves taking a company’s offering and creating a way to convey that to its target audience in a way that will make the target audience want to take action. It involves connecting people who have a need or problem with the solution to that need or problem.
The way that copywriters go about doing that is exploring the project from every possible angle and working with their design partners to achieve that special insight that makes a piece resonate with just the right people.
Copywriters get to work with graphic designers, as well as with people in nearly every function of a company: Product managers, developers, production people, marketing managers, buyers, etc. No day is the same, and no project is the same.
But now to the actual job satisfaction element. Obviously, job satisfaction is going to depend on one’s employer (there are crummy bosses in any industry) but, overall, copywriters’ job satisfaction is very high.
Creative industries always tend to be among the highest in job satisfaction; many people would trade more money for the opportunity to be more creative, but people in the creative industry don’t have to make that trade-off. Creatives get to be creative as well as well-paid.
Based on the results of an internet search to balance the bias, as well as interviews with my copywriter contacts, I’ve found that copywriters generally have very high job satisfaction. Copywriters find their work stimulating and challenging and appreciate the variety.
They like working with people from many different areas of a company and appreciate the opportunity to learn new things. They especially enjoy the opportunity to use their creativity on a daily basis and actually put their creations out into the world in a meaningful way.
Copywriters are, by far, the best-paid types of writers (taking out outliers like JK Rowling or Malcolm Gladwell), and even outside of writers, are among the well-paid in any profession. The consistently growing need for more and better copywriters also means that high job security gets factored into their satisfaction.
Just like any job, copywriting isn’t for absolutely everyone. But those who enjoy writing, enjoy solving problems, enjoy collaborating with stimulating, dynamic people, and want to get paid well for it may find that copywriting is an excellent career path for them.
Your turn! What other job satisfaction questions do you have about copywriting? Let us know in the comments below!
Is it necessary to live in a densely populated area to make a living as a copywriter?
Hi Harvey,
Well, it’s certainly *easier* to build a copywriting career in a more densely populated area (more people usually equals more businesses!), but it’s not necessary. You can build a career with mostly remote clients if you need to. That can take a little more time, but it’s most definitely doable.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki
It seems to me that the sense of fulfillment comes when you earn your living by writing for causes, in which you firmly believe. In this case, however, doesn’t it mean that the copywriter has to be selective when it comes to his clients or he (especially as a newbie) cannot afford such a luxury?
Hi Viktor,
I don’t necessarily agree. I mean, yes, it can be very fulfilling to write for non-profits, but I definitely wouldn’t underestimate how fulfilling it is to write for other types of clients/employers, too. Many creatives (including myself) get a lot of satisfaction and fulfillment out of crafting great creative work that effectively conveys benefits, resonates with the target audience, and gets them to take action. It’s a big challenge to take on, and it’s very fulfilling to live up to that challenge, no matter what the product may be, or who the client is. And, luckily, that means that you don’t need to pare down your client list or become overly selective to experience this kind of fulfillment.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki