Has the term “copywriting” caught your attention recently? You may have read that copywriting is the foundation of any marketing campaign. Maybe you heard that Copywriting is a prerequisite for successful internet marketing. Sure enough, both statements hold true, but the funny thing about excellent copy is you see it all the time and are none the wiser. When copywriting is done right, it influences us on a subconscious level and guides us towards making a buying decision.
So, before I get any more abstract, let’s check out what copywriting actually is?
What is Copy Writing? The profession or art of writing or creating content that persuades an individual to invest in a product, a service, or a business is called copywriting.
Does that answer feel like a simple one-liner? If so you caught me, there’s a lot more to copywriting that has made it one of the most significant aspects to take your business or brand to the next level. Scroll down for a better understanding of copywriting, how it influences the world around us, the types, its benefits, and a few other related questions that may cross your mind.
A Detailed Overview on Copy Writing
Any content that is used to promote opinions, people, concepts, businesses, or organizations is copywriting. When using the term ‘copywriting,’ the word copy means any promotional text. It seems oh so interesting that such text can appear through any medium like:
- television
- internet
- radio
- video
The whole idea behind promotional copywriting is to generate the interest of the audience in a subject or product using language that makes them strategically connect with the content. A copywriter has two main objectives when creating content. First, the copywriter aims to persuade the reader, listener, or viewer to engage with his content on both a logical and emotional level. Second, the copywriter creates content that will lead the reader to a specific action, whether it’s to purchase something or gain a viewpoint.
With so many different ways to spread your message today, copywriters often create text for social media platforms, blogs, and websites. The copywriter doesn’t merely create exciting content. The copywriter is carefully choosing, editing, and constructing his copy in a way that naturally baits the audience into taking a specific action. It doesn’t have to be pushy and for a professional copywriter rarely is. Every single time a copywriter writes, they make sure your engagement with their content is an enticing experience. That’s why copywriters are also referred to content writers on rare occasions.
Have you come across a Facebook ad today? The content that’s written in the caption of the ad is nothing but copywriting. In fact, a large portion of “information” on the web is copywriting. Just watched a YouTube ad a few minutes ago? The description and the words spoken are both copywriting.
Whether it’s the headline or an ad displayed on Google or the text on a website, right from the product page to the home page – it’s all copywriting. The content may range from:
- Video Scripts
- Social media profiles
- Sales emails
- Blog posts
- Advertisements
- InfoGraphics
Speaking of the world that exists outside digital media, copywriting is a part of the text on billboards, newspaper headlines, or simply a sign placed right outside a store.
Copywriting may inform the audience why they must purchase a product or service, or simply click on a link.
It is hard to find somewhere on the internet or in the real world, that is copywriting free. Does this mean that copywriting is terrible? I don’t think so, at its most basic form copy is used to persuade and when done correctly, can bring new insights. Copywriting is a tool and can be used for good or evil how you use it is entirely up to you.
Common Types of Copy Writing
Copywriting is quite a broad term, and not everyone involved in the profession writes all kinds of copy! Most copywriters start with more generalized content and find their niche with time. Let’s take a look at the most common types of copywriting.
1. Sales Copy Writing
When you come across an advert online or in magazines, the text on the adverts, as well as product descriptions, is copy. Everything that has the underlying idea of generating sales is sales copywriting.
Sales copywriting is all about understanding the likes and dislikes of the audience, further writing content creatively and compellingly. Plus, it calls for shrinking the details into crisp bite-size pieces. Writing compact and influential sales copy benefits the business and the reader. The company has more page real estate to inform the reader, and the reader finds the content wildly more entertaining.
Remember with sales copywriting that one must not sound like a pushy salesman. Instead, explain how the products or services is a logical choice and can provide for the customers’ underlying emotional needs. If you can do this in your sales, copy the venture will be fruitful for you and the audience.
2. SEO Copy Writing
Making money online is all about great SEO! Clever use of keywords can help a business or brand rank at the top in the search engines. Creating dynamic web content and product descriptions with the right keywords will ensure you rank higher in google and thus generate more sales.
Are you aware of the words and phrases a particular niche will search to find what they are looking for? With SEO or copywriting, knowing your audience and their slang is mission-critical. You can hit the bull’s eye with your SEO copywriting if you do your market research!
You must be able to add a pinch of creativity to your research skills. Yes, you want to ensure the right words are integrated into the text but don’t want to come off as forced or repetitive. Be aware that no one wants to read content that’s stuffed with keywords.
The most important thing to remember with SEO copywriting is that the readers’ experience is most important.
3. Web Content Copy Writing
Can any business or brand achieve the best growth without web content today? I don’t think, so I honestly believe everyone needs a website to thrive in today’s market! And that’s why excellent web content copywriting must be inspiring, informing, engaging and of course, be able to convert prospects into customers.
Doesn’t matter if it’s a blog post, social media post, or youtube videos. To write solid copy, you must be able to tell a story that explains the need for the products or services and engages the reader. Copy that provides information about the product or service itself is fine and dandy. But what really matters is writing web content that connects with your audience.
Web content should be both Insightful and fun to engage with. For an exercise, try creating one of these in your niche to practice your copywriting skills.
- Tutorials/how-tos
- Infographics
- Sells video
- Tips and tricks
- Sells letter
Great content, combined with great marketing, will make your audience return time after time. Do this to reap the rewards of a brand with a loyal fan base and a handsome conversion rate!
4. Technical Copy Writing
Technical copywriting is all about producing content that promotes the best use of a product or highlights the companies benefits, but not in a pushy salesman-tone. It involves writing white papers and in-depth industry guides. This kind of copywriting, of course, calls for a great deal of research and can cover any topic you can think of.
Content creation here is in a more formal tone than other types of copywriting. Your copywriting skills also call for excellent grammar and the ability to tell facts while referencing them at the same time. The content needs to be on-point and comprehensive to make it easy for the readers to absorb.
5. Creative Copy Writing
We come across hundreds of television ads and radio adverts every single day. In the copywriting industry, this is called creative content!
In fact, we all are familiar with creative content in terms of advertising, including jingles and commercials like those aired for the super bowl. Understanding the psychology of your audience and coming up with phrases or slogans that “sticks” is vital with creative copywriting.
6. PR Copy Writing
Anything and everything that represent a business to the audience is a part of its public relations or PR. It involves copywriting in the form of statements and press releases to present the company in the best light possible.
The goal is to inform the audience about new products and services or various updates regarding the organization. Getting across information and maintaining a positive picture of the business in the public mind is what PR copywriting is all about.
The Benefits of Copy Writing For Businesses
Copywriting plays a crucial role in making a business or brand successful. A copywriter has got a lot to offer to a company like:
- SEO Optimization
- Content Development
- Content Management
- Generation of New Ideas
- Social Media Assistance
1. SEO Optimization
Most copywriting professionals or services work wonders for Search engine optimization for business. In simplified words, copywriters can optimize content with keywords in a way that makes the pages more visible by search engines. This, in turn, helps the companies to get higher rankings in Google and grab the attention of future prospects.
2. Content Development
‘Content is King’ is perhaps the most famous phrase of network and now online marketing. And great content can’t be automated – that’s where excellent copywriting comes in handy. A copywriter can generate great articles, social media content, a blog, or white papers according to what the client needs.
3. Content Management
Efficient content distribution is often a tough deal for most businesses. Copywriters can schedule and manage posts on various platforms, thereby cutting down on the time and effort need for content distribution. The fact that some copywriting services also distribute content for their clients makes them a valuable asset to any company!
4. Generation of New Ideas
Most brands always aim at gathering followers, and copywriting services can help them in idea mining and content creation. Generating new blog ideas as well as performing keyword research and developing an editorial calendar are some incredible elements that can benefit a business.
5. Social Media Assistance
Growth and social media go hand in hand in today’s professional world! And a business can take a breath from a hectic schedule by allowing a copywriter to manage their social media posts. No one can build a business alone, hiring a copywriter to do social media might be your best bet to succeed in today’s market.
Related Questions
Where does a copywriter work?
Most companies or businesses need copywriters in their creative team to produce sales copy. So, copywriters are found almost in every sphere of work. It’s an exciting career choice because you, as a copywriter, can be a freelancer work in the trenches of a start-up or even go the corporate route. Copywriters are needed everywhere, so the choice is yours if you have the skill set.
What are the required qualifications to become a copywriter?
You will be delighted with this answer – there isn’t any specially required qualification if you want to become a copywriter. In fact, you can find copywriters with a college degree while others haven’t even finished high school. Amazingly, some of the most successful copywriters range from the age of 18 to retired professionals. Some are stay-at-home mothers, while some have left their corporate jobs to get into copywriting freelancer lifestyle!