If you’ve had any dreams of making your living as a writer, I’m guessing that someone squashed them pretty quickly. (Maybe even gleefully, that sadist.) Everyone thinks you can’t make a living as a writer: from journalists to novelist to bloggers to screenwriters, the vast majority aren’t making any kind of money.
And that’s true. But there’s one kind of writer that actually is making money. And this isn’t some quirky, flash-in-the-pan, get-rich-quick kind of job, either. It’s a real career. And it’s called copywriting. But what is it? Read on…
From the widest point of view, copywriters write advertising and marketing pieces. The words they write (their “copy”) sell things to people; whether that be literal selling of products, convincing people to take an action, or persuading them to think of a product, company, or person in a certain light.
Now, when I use words like “selling” and “persuading,” a lot of people develop a twitch and start throwing around terms like “selling their soul.” They assume that copywriting involves conning people into buying things that they don’t need. And that’s absolutely, completely incorrect.
A copywriter’s job, really, is to connect people who have a problem, a need, with that problem’s solution. That’s really the only effective sales formula. A copywriter uses words that a particular audience will relate to, to communicate a solution (be it a product or a service) to a problem.
Sure, some problems are certainly more critical than others. The copywriter who writes the billboard for an adoption center that helps a family find a child to love is doing a different kind of service to the world than the copywriter who writes a billboard for a gluten-free sandwich shop that helps someone with celiac disease find lunch—but that copywriter is still providing a service to the person who needs a sandwich.
My point is that copywriting is really about using writing to connect people with what they want and/or need.
Copywriting, just like any other career, requires training. Just like there are specific skills and techniques you need to learn to become a chef or a teacher, there are specific skills and techniques that someone must learn in order to become a successful copywriter. (One of the most common mistakes people make is assuming that because they know how to write, they’ll be able to find jobs as copywriters. That’s just not how it works.)
Creative Directors and clients want to hire copywriters who know how to write copy. They want to hire people who know all the tools and techniques of writing effective messages. Which makes sense, right? I mean, I’m good at driving, but that doesn’t mean I can get work as a big rig trucker. I don’t know how to do that, so no one’s going to hire me to do it. I would need to get training.
Of course, it’s hard to find that training. Most schools don’t offer it and most of the courses you find, don’t offer a thorough training that includes the techniques of writing, but also how to work with designers and project managers, how to get experience, how to build your portfolio and how to find work. So, that’s why we created our own training. And the feedback we’re getting (and the careers our students are building) show that the proof is in the pudding. Yay for success!
Copywriters get to do interesting, challenging, creative work and work with talented, dynamic people. A copywriter can work on-staff or as a contractor or a freelancer, and he/she can work for ad agencies, in-house agencies or individual clients.
No career is perfect, of course, but it’s thrilling to actually see your words in print or online. And I also suspect that it’s one of the few jobs in which you’re regularly really proud of what you do. On top of that, it’s a job in which you can earn $70,000 $80,000, or even well over $100,000 per year. (So that person who told you that you can’t make money as a writer can put that in his or her pipe and smoke it.)
Interested in copywriting? Here are more resources:
Copywriting Q&A: Why People Tell You “Copywriting is Hard to Get Into”
Copywriting Q&A: How Soon Can You Make Money?
Copywriting Q&A: The Best Backgrounds for Getting Into Copywriting
Copywriting Q&A: So, How Much Do Copywriters Make?
Copywriting Q&A: How to Know if You Have What it Takes
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I know we all, as copywriters make mistakes. But perhaps you should proofread before you post on your website.
(One of the most common people make is assuming that because they know how to write, they’ll be able to find jobs as copywriters. That’s just not how it works.)
Also…. I am wondering where I can make 70-100 grand copywriting. Where can I send my writing?
Hi Heidi,
Thanks for pointing out the typo in our article. We try to catch them all, but some invariably slip through.
In terms of where you can send your writing to make a salary in the $70-$100k range, you’ll find that, while it’s possible to make that kind of money as a freelance writer, you’ll definitely find it’s easier/faster to reach that level of success as an on-staff copywriter for an ad agency or internal agency. And it certainly does take some time (not to mention some experience and willingness to hustle!) to get to $100k+, but it is possible for a copywriter to reach that income level.
You’ll notice that I never promise people that they can make any amount since a great deal of that is up to them, their abilities and their willingness to put in effort (and, also, to a much lesser degree, their location—we cover more of that in this article) but it’s very important to me that people know the potential in this career. I think a lot of people (I was certainly one of them!) get frustrated and discouraged when they learn how little magazine writers, newspaper journalists, bloggers, novelists and pretty much every other kind of writer gets paid. I think it’s important that people know that there’s at least one career for writers in which they’re both respected and compensated on par with their skills and abilities. Actually, that’s really pretty wonderful, since there aren’t really a ton of careers that do that outside of the writing realm, either!
Thanks for commenting. Best of luck with your career!
Nicki
Eloquent… yet Badass reply!! Now thats good writing. 😉
Hi Lorie,
Why, thank you! 🙂 Just tryin’ to get my points across. 😉
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki
Have a B.A. in English (Cue Avenue Q music) and an A. A. in Marketing. When I graduated in early 90’s, it was who you knew and not what you knew. Is it still the same?
Hi Mitch,
Well, “knowing people” is always going to help—contacts can recommend you when positions or work comes up. But you can make contacts simply by attending industry events and outings (not to mention, just by working in the industry!). No matter how many people you know, though, it’s going to be the quality of your work that gets you jobs. Good copywriters go far, less-than-good copywriters don’t.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki
I always love reading these posts! Being a freelance copywriter and owning my own company is my life dream. I intend on making that happen. Keep up the amazing work!
Hi Katrina,
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you’re finding the site and our articles helpful. 🙂
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki