First Things First: What Is a Copywriter?
A copywriter creates advertising and marketing writing. The writing they create is called “copy.” They may work in an ad agency, on staff at a company, or as a freelancer, working with several different companies. There are lots of options (and a lot of flexibility … more on that in a bit).
A copywriter is the only type of writer that actually makes a good living. (I’m not being cruel. Just talk to a journalist or an English professor.) It’s why some of the most famous writers (F. Scott Fitzgerald, Salman Rushdie, and Kurt Vonnegut to name just a few) were copywriters.
Can I Become a Copywriter?
Often the question behind “why become a copywriter” (or quickly followed by it) is “can I actually become a copywriter?” It makes sense: you want to know if something is actually possible before you pursue it.
First of, there are tons of people working as copywriters, which is a good thing for you: it means it is entirely possible for you to become a copywriter! There are, of course, several traits that make some people more likely to become a copywriter than others. These include a natural affinity for writing, being persistent, and being open to learning. But as long as you can follow steps, you can 100% become a copywriter.
Second, there’s more work than there are good copywriters, meaning there’s plenty of opportunity for growth in this career. Within the U.S. alone there are more than 34 million companies and nonprofits. That means even if only 1 percent of companies needed a copywriter, that’s still 340,000 companies in the U.S. alone.
As a full-time copywriter, if you want to hit six figures, you really only need three or four clients each month. And, often, you’ll have many clients who are repeat clients. Meaning you don’t need new clients each month. Plus, some companies have multiple copywriters they work with!
You Have More Copywriting Opportunities Than You Realize
If you feel like you’re seeing more about copywriting, it’s likely because the Internet algorithms are doing their jobs. If a platform (say, Instagram) notices you are interest in copywriting, it’s going to serve you up more content that you may be interested in! It shouldn’t make you think, “I’m seeing so much about copywriting, that must mean there are too many people in this field.” It should instead indicate to you just how much opportunity there really is.
Worried ChatGPT is Taking Over Copywriting?
ChatGPT is certainly making people second-guess whether they should become copywriters. Rightly so; you don’t want to get into a career to find out there’s no future. But that’s just not the case with copywriting.
ChatGPT will certainly change how writers, especially content writers, go about their work. It may make certain elements of the writing process faster, for example. But ChatGPT and other AI is not going to replace skilled copywriters.
That’s because, as copywriters, we do so much more than spit out words. We’re strategic partners with our clients. We know what questions to ask to put together the best copy pieces possible. We can connect emotionally with our clients and our target audiences. To put it simply, we can do so much more than the robots ever can in our lifetimes.
Learn more about why ChatGPT should excite, not worry, you >>
Why Should I Become a Copywriter?
You’re a writer. You like being a writer. But all the ways you know of making money as a writer (freelance article writing, journalism, novels, short stories, teaching writing) make waaaaay too little money.
Good news: Copywriting can net you some serious money. You can do it on-staff at a company or ad agency, you can contract for a company or ad agency or you can do it part- or full-time freelance. And maybe you do a mix of both or bounce from on-staff to freelance and back.
But you can’t do it without knowing how. That’s where our team comes in.
Start your journey by signing up for our free video training, plus some additional free tips, strategies, and more that will help you get moving without getting tripped up in amateur mistakes.
Then, set your career up for success with our self-paced Comprehensive Copywriting Academy. We’ve packed everything you need to know to get started, learn how to write copy, build your online portfolio, find and land clients, and build a fantastic career.
We’ve put together all of the steps…now it’s up to you to follow them. Sign up using the form below and let’s get started.
Last Updated on March 29, 2023