• CCA Student Sign In

Filthy Rich Writer

The #1 All-in-One Online Copywriting Program

The #1 All-in-One Online Copywriting Training Program

  • What Is Copywriting?
    • What Is Copywriting?
    • Why Copywriting is the BEST Career for Writers
  • Blog
    • Most Popular
    • Mindset & Professional Development
    • Portfolio
    • Business Development
    • Book Recommendations
    • Pitching
    • Copywriting Tips
    • Terms to Know
  • Podcast
    • Build Your Copywriting Business Podcast
    • Latest Episodes
    • Student Stories
  • Copywriting Training
    • Learn About the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy
    • CCA Next Level
  • CCA Reviews
    • CCA Reviews
    • Videos: CCA Student Stories
    • Videos: CCA Student Reviews
    • CCA Student Wins
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • About Nicki Krawczyk
    • Press
  • Copywriting Tools

The Copywriter’s Creativity Problem

By Nicki Krawczyk Leave a Comment

Man in white top, black bow tie, and black dress pants sits on a pencil with his hand in the air as the pencil shoots away from a drawing of scribbles that includes a light bulb and arrows.

When people think about the advertising industry, the trait they’re most likely to associate with it is “creativity.” That worries a lot of would-be copywriters. Are you creative enough to be a copywriter? Will that get in the way of your success?

But the truth is that if the success of the ad industry rested on creativity, it would have folded long ago.

And there’s something more important than creativity.

Creativity Develops Over Time

First, let say that no one thinks they’re creative enough. No one thinks they’re some kind of creative genius. In fact, some of the people you think of as being the most creative are the most uncertain about their own creativity.

And there’s also the fact that you’ll probably find that some level of creativity develops naturally as you master the fundamentals and then more advanced tactics of copywriting. It’s hard to be creative when you’re stressed out about just being able to check off the boxes about when you need to get into a project. Once you’re more comfortable with copywriting, you’ll find it’s much easier to push outside of the boundaries.

Creativity Isn’t the Most Essential Element to Effective Ads

That’s right: Creativity simply isn’t the most essential element to writing effective ads. As David Ogilvy, one of the unquestionable masters of advertising and copywriting said, “When I write an advertisement, I don’t want you to tell me that you find it ‘creative.’ I want you to find it so interesting that you buy the product.”

The purpose of advertising isn’t to make art for ourselves; it’s to persuade people to take action—most often, to buy a product. Creativity for its own sake doesn’t persuade people to do that.

Instead, the way to persuade people to make purchases (or take whatever action you want them to) is to wield the tools in your copywriting toolkit to convey the benefits of your product and connect with your target audience(s) in a way that makes them care about, desire, and then ultimately decide to purchase the product.

When you’re writing about copy, your first concern shouldn’t be creativity. Your first concern needs to be how to create a message that conveys your product in the right manner and connects with the people who need to hear it.

Once you have the crux of that message, then you can push the boundaries and exercise your creativity. But without a solid and strategic message, your ad won’t sell your products. And an ad that doesn’t sell products isn’t worth a thing.

Watch More: A Copywriter’s Guide to Creative Thinking

In this episode of the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast, hosts Nicki and Kate are joined by CCA student Felicity who has worked in health care for 20 years and is struggling for ways to expand her creative thinking in a brand-new industry. Listen in to learn how lowering the pressure on yourself and giving yourself permission to work in an entirely different way can unlock your creativity.

Last Updated on October 30, 2024

Filed Under: Copywriting Tips Tagged With: copywriting ideas, creativity

Interested in Copywriting? Get our Free Video Training!

Plus, get on the list for updates, freebies, and more :) 



About Nicki Krawczyk

Nicki is a copywriter, copy coach and the founder of Filthy Rich Writer. She's been writing copy for more than 20 years.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Click here to subscribe

Break Into Copywriting

Sign up to get our FREE video training, special resources, and more!



Click here to subscribe

Comprehensive Copywriting Academy

Join the copywriting training program that's helping people just like you build successful copywriting careers!

Learn more
Comprehensive Copywriting Academy from Filthy Rich Writer

Portfolio Tips

  • Nicki Krawczyk, founder of Filthy Rich Writer and the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast
    Ep. 43: 4 Biggest Copywriter Portfolio Mistakes
  • Home office with desktop computer, tablet, and a mobile
    3 Copywriter Portfolio Examples That Wow Clients
  • Nicki Krawczyk, founder of Filthy Rich Writer and the Build Your Copywriting Business podcast
    Ep. 22: Why Every Copywriter MUST Have an Online Portfolio

Top Resources

  • What is Copywriting?
  • How Much Do Copywriters Actually Make?
  • Is Copywriting Hard to Get Into?
  • Why Copywriting Certificates Are B-S
  • How Soon Can You Make Money as a Copywriter?
  • What Does a Copywriter Actually Do?
  • Copywriting vs. Copyediting: What's the Difference?
  • Avoid the Copywriting Niche Trap
  • Upwork is NOT the Path to Copywriting Success
  • Getting Started in the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy

Recent Articles

  • Nicki and Kate sit at a table with podcast recording microphones, notebooks, and Filthy Rich Writer mugs, with the words "Build Your Copywriting Business" above them.
    Episode 227: How Do I Write an About Page? [Copywriting Tips]
  • Nicki and Kate sit at a table with podcast recording microphones, notebooks, and Filthy Rich Writer mugs, with the words "Build Your Copywriting Business" above them.
    Episode 225: What Jobs Can I Do As a Copywriter?
  • Nicki and Kate sit at a table with podcast recording microphones, notebooks, and Filthy Rich Writer mugs, with the words "Build Your Copywriting Business" above them.
    Episode 223: If Not Now, When? A Deep Dive Into Decision Making
  • Nicki and Kate sit at a table with podcast recording microphones, notebooks, and Filthy Rich Writer mugs, with the words "Build Your Copywriting Business" above them.
    Episode 221: “I Don’t Want To!” Tactics for Completing Un-Fun Tasks
  • Nicki and Kate sit at a table with podcast recording microphones, notebooks, and Filthy Rich Writer mugs, with the words "Build Your Copywriting Business" above them.
    Episode 220: How to Have Uncomfortable Client and Work Conversations
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2025 Filthy Rich Writer | Contact Us | FAQs |About Us | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy| Business Affiliates

Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}