Some persons still find it difficult to understand the skill, copywriting and it is one of the reasons they find it difficult to learn copywriting
…if you don’t understand the skill “copywriting”
this article will help you have a better understanding of copywriting and how you can get started as a copywriter
Before we start, listen…
Copywriting is not as difficult as you may think, it’s a digital skill anyone can learn. In recent times copywriting is one of the most profitable digital skills you can use to become successful online
Not just that, the skill “copywriting” is highly in demand.
Let’s get started…
What is copywriting
The definition of copywriting is not as suffocated as you think. Copywriting is simply selling with words, but in the 80s and 90s copywriting is defined as “salesmanship in print” because it has to do with selling.
Let’s define copywriting in a more detailed way…
Copywriting is using (written or spoken) words to persuade someone to take a specific action, the action could be; to purchase a product or a service, to fill in your contact details, to click a link, to subscribe, etc…
So if you can use words to persuade or compel someone to take action, you are simply called a copywriter. It’s as simple as that…
The definition of copywriting led us to
Who is a copywriter
A copywriter is a person who uses (written or spoken) words to persuade or compels someone to take action, most times the action is to purchase a product or a service
Most times you stumble on a page that tells you to do something such as; put in your email, click on this link, put in your contact details, etc. All those written words on that page are written by a copywriter
messages and emails you see every day are written by a copywriter, even the home page of a website
This now takes us to…
What is your work as a copywriter
Your work as a copywriter is to write compelling, persuasive, engaging, enticing, and educative content to ensure the person you are writing to takes the action you want him or her to take
As a copywriter, it is required you to take your time to understand the product or the service of the brand or business you are writing for and come up with ideas and words that will help the brand or the business sell out their products and services
Not only that
Your work as a copywriter is to ensure the message of the brand or business you’re writing for is communicated effectively (with simplicity) in a way the person (or the audience) you are writing to will understand what you’re saying and take the action you want them to take
In essence, you should be able to know the kinds of words you use when writing copies for a brand or a business
Kinds of copies we have…
– Sales Letters/Sales Pages copies
– Email Copies
– Product Descriptions copies
– About Us Page copies
– UX Copies
– Social Media ADs Copies
– Instant Messaging Status Copies
– White Papers copies
– Social Media Posts Copies
– Homepage Copies
They are written to persuade or compel someone to take action.
The good part of it is that you don’t need to learn all kind(s) of copies, if you can master at least 2 to 3 you are good to go
Let’s now move to…
how you can get started as a copywriter
I’ll love to tell you something before we get started on how you can become a copywriter
Copywriting is not just limited to a digital skill, copywriting has to do with selling in general both online and offline
And is a skill that is what learning, and you already know before now, to learn and get better at anything you must be committed and dedicated enough to learn and get better at it
In copywriting, you must be dedicated enough to learn and get better at copywriting, by daily practicing
Let now move to how you can get started as a copywriter today
The basic concept of copywriting
The concept of copywriting is to be able to understand the product or service you want to sell, the audience you are selling to, and how to sell it to the audience. which requires using words to attract the attention of the targeted audience to compel or persuade them to take action
Let me explain all the concept
1. Understanding the product or service you want to sell
Before you will be able to sell a product or a service you must have a better understanding of the product or the service and how it will be of benefit to the person you are selling it to; If the benefit of what you selling is not Well defined You will find it difficult to sell
If it is a product you have to take out your time to write out the features and benefits of each of the features. It is said that “people buy benefit not feature”
2. Understanding the audience you are selling to
Being able to understand your audience or the audience of brand or business is one of the critical aspects of copywriting; which has to do with understanding the problem, pain, and desire of the audience you are writing to And how what you are selling (either a product or service) will help them solve their problem and pain or fulfil desires
When you have understand your audience well enough, you’ll be in a better position to sell them the solution (the product or service) to their problem, pain, and desire
Here are the reasons people buy
– people buy to feel Important
– peoples buy to be more comfortable
– people buy; to save time, to be secure, etc
People have different reasons why they want to buy
3. Know how to sell to your audience
Knowing how to sell to your audience or the audience of that brand or business, is where the copywriting comes in, and it is at this part that some copywriters find it difficult “not knowing how to sell”.
When selling to your audience you must be simplified, specific, and direct in your words (use words they can understand), in your copy you should be able to tell them how what you are selling will solve their problem and be of benefit to them
In a general context, they will always tell you to “sell benefits, not the features” which is the truth
People looking for how what you are selling will benefit them, so in your copy, you should be able to communicate to them how the product or the service will be of benefit to them
Skills you need to develop as a copywriter
Copywriting skills are the most important part of copywriting. Without copywriting skills you will find it difficult as a copywriter.
Here are copywriting skills we have;
1. Research skill
Research is one of the essential processes of copywriting, because before you’ll be able to come up with a copy that sells or converts for the product or services of a brand (or business) you are supposed to carry out some series of research such as research about problems, pain, and desires of the audience you are writing to. Developing research skills will be to your great advantage as a copywriter and not only that it will strengthen your copywriting skill
2. Writing skill
If you can practice writing consistently it will help you become good at copywriting, because you will spend most of your time writing and writing. In Fact writing, itself is one of your core work and skill as a copywriter is writing
You should be able to practice writing both on your phone (or tablet) and handwritten
3. Communication skill
Communication skill is being able to convey and communicate an idea with words in written (or verbal) form such that the person (or audeice) you are communicating to should understand what you are trying say. Communication skill is one of the core skill in copywriting you can not do with out
Choosing an industry or niche as a copywriter
You will find it difficult in copywriting when you don’t when you don’t know the industry or niche you should focus on. It is at this most copywriters find it difficult. But it is wise when starting as a copywriter you find profitable industry or niche that interests you
When you neglect profitable industries and niches that interests you will find it difficult as a copywriter, it is good and wise you start from what you know or what interest you
Not only that…
Writing for profitable industries or niches that interests you, helps you get clients fast
…when you’ve find profitable niche or industry that interest you, find companies, services, and product within that niche or industry, take note of them, and understand them
When you go through this process it helps you have a better understanding of the niche or the industry
In addition…
It is good you understand the market of the niche or industry that interests you and know how things are done in the niche or industry. Examples of profitable copywriting industries and niches that may interest you
– Real estate
– Health/Fitness
– Development industry
– Business and Finance
– Technology Industry
– Food industry
How you can get copywriting clients
1. Social media networking
Networking in general is one of the quickest means to get copywriting clients. To be able to get clients on social media you should be able to advertise and tell people about your expertise as a copywriter online (on social media) and not only that also learn to connect with your fellow copywriting
2. Cold pitching
Cold pitching is another means you can use to get clients. Cold pitching is unprompted messaging to people or companies that do not know you and have not heard of you. You must ensure to cold pitch to companies, and small business owners within the niche or industry that interest you
When you are cold pitching, be specific about offering your copywriting service
3. Freelance site
Another way to get clients is through freelance sites. Examples of freelance sites are Upwork, Fiverr, freelancer.com, etc. On these sites, you work as a freelance copywriter and make some cool cash regardless of your location
This will help you become at good copywriting
– Practice writing every day
– Be committed to reading every day
– Enroll in online copywriting courses
– Connect with other copywriters
– Have a mentor
Conclusion
Now you have a better understanding of what copywriting is, and how you can get started. when you are committed and consistent enough to learn copywriting you will certainly get better at it