If you can skillfully write copy, you can make money by providing a valuable service many businesses need. Copywriters play a crucial role in creating articles, advertisements, emails, and other marketing materials for companies. Through their informative, thoughtful, persuasive, or humorous copy, they help drive attention and traffic to a brand’s products or services.
Copywriting is an essential aspect of a company’s content marketing strategy. By networking and developing the right skill set, copywriters can earn thousands of dollars a month as freelancers or employees for brands and agencies.
### What does a copywriter do?
A copywriter is a professional writer whose words help sell or promote a product, service, or brand. They create concise and clear text for advertising and marketing materials, including blog posts, press releases, sales pages, social media posts, emails, and video scripts.
Copywriters are responsible for generating compelling written content that informs readers and directs them toward a specific action, like making a purchase or signing up for a subscription. They work alongside marketing agencies, corporations, and small businesses to write copy that draws attention and connects with a company’s target audience.
Along with writing duties, copywriters collaborate with managers and clients on deadlines and revise drafts based on editorial feedback. They familiarize themselves with a company’s brand voice, tone, and values, and employ them across multiple channels to create cohesive content.
### Key skills for successful copywriting
Here are some of the key skills copywriters use to create compelling copy that engages readers:
#### Writing
Writing skills are essential for creating copy that resonates with readers. Clear, concise, and persuasive language can drive readers toward a desired action like downloading an app or clicking through to a brand’s landing page. Successful copywriters direct their reader’s attention toward the benefits of a particular product or service.
#### Communication
Skilled copywriters communicate effectively with their writing as well as through phone conversations, emails, and meetings. Communication skills are necessary when interacting with clients, coworkers, managers, and editors about content, deadlines, and revisions so projects remain on track.
#### SEO
Copywriters use search engine optimization (SEO) to help brands improve their website ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). SEO involves writing appealing headlines and meta descriptions, as well as organically integrating keywords within the copy.
#### Marketing
Copywriters who understand marketing strategies can gain insights into how a customer thinks. By looking at a client’s target audience, unique value proposition (UVP), and brand voice, they can create content that speaks to a reader and aligns with a company’s goals.
### How to make money copywriting
There are a few routes for aspiring copywriters:
#### In-house copywriting
Companies hire in-house copywriters to create written content for their brands. An in-house copywriter works within internal marketing, SEO, or sales departments to develop and implement content strategies for advertising materials, website content, social media posts, sales pages, and other forms of branded content.
#### Agency copywriting
Some copywriters earn money working with marketing, branding, and advertising agencies. These agencies source clients, manage the editorial process and project pipelines, and hire writers to create written content for their clients. Depending on the agency, you can get a job as an employee or a freelance contractor.
Agency copywriters focus on a variety of copywriting jobs depending on the specialization of the agency and the requirements of their clients.
#### Freelance copywriting
Freelance copywriters work as contractors for clients who hire them to write a wide range of content, including case studies, blog posts, and newsletters. Freelance copywriting is more flexible than agency or in-house copywriting but offers less stability and structure.
Freelancers must find clients, manage invoices and taxes, and deliver quality work where they can find it. A freelance copywriter can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to well over six figures a year, depending on the quantity and quality of their copywriting clients.
### Copywriting assignments
Here are a few possible assignments that a copywriter—whether working in-house or freelance—might take on:
#### Articles and blog posts
Copywriters create blog posts and articles to increase organic traffic for brands with informational written content that offers readers valuable insights. Article and blog post writing requires an understanding of SEO and an ability to intake and recontextualize information in original and engaging ways.
#### Website copy
Freelance writing roles and in-house copywriters alike focus on website copy, working on various types of landing pages, including home pages, About pages, and product pages.
#### Sales copy
Sales copy includes original content for sales letters, ad copy, promotional offers, discounts, product announcements, and loyalty programs. Copywriters who specialize in this type of content write advertising copy that inspires readers to take an action like purchasing a new product or signing up for a subscription service.
#### Social media posts
Companies hire copywriters to create social media content that engages their audience on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. Copywriters tailor their writing style to fit the platform and the target audience.
#### Email content
Email marketing campaigns are a popular way for companies to reach their audience with newsletters, automated email sequences, and invitations to customer surveys. Creating email content for brands is a promising avenue for copywriters to pursue.
#### Technical copy
Technical writing involves communicating information about specialized topics in the form of documents like employee handbooks, user manuals, and business plans. Technical writers need to be detail-oriented and must understand complex problems and communicate them in simple, clear language.
### Tips for success in copywriting
Follow these tips as you develop your career as a copywriter:
#### Lean into networking
Networking is crucial for working with brands, agencies, and clients. Join online forums, social media groups, and reach out to local businesses to offer your copywriting services. Keep an eye on job boards and freelance marketplaces for opportunities.
#### Monitor outcomes
Track the outcomes of your copywriting services and assemble a collection of compelling writing samples that highlight how clients have benefitted from your work. Positive outcomes and testimonials can attract more potential clients searching for skilled copywriters.
#### Be patient and practice often
It can take time to start earning money copywriting. Practice writing as much as possible, proofread your work, and stay open to feedback from editors, managers, and clients. Your copywriting skills will improve with practice and dedication.
In conclusion, copywriting is a valuable skill that can lead to a successful career in marketing and advertising. By honing your writing skills, networking with potential clients, and continuously improving your craft, you can make a lucrative income as a copywriter. Whether you choose to work in-house, with agencies, or as a freelancer, the opportunities for copywriters are vast and rewarding.
