How to Become a Copywriter

Have dreams of working as a writer but not sure where to start? Learn how to become a copywriter and get paid for your written art!

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It’s a common misconception that creative fields aren’t worth pursuing, whether it be for lack of pay or opportunities. But that couldn’t be further from the truth in the world of copywriting.

Writing is an essential skill, one that businesses will always need (and compensate for).

Even with the advancements in AI technology, a copywriter can do what no robot can – bring life to the page, drawing in readers through their engaging copy.

If you’re a talented writer looking to find a career in your industry, copywriting may be just the path for you. And in today’s post, I’ll share all you need to know to thrive in this field.

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What is Copywriting?

A copywriter is a master of the written word, writing text for promotional materials. This copy can take many forms, including:

Website landing pages
Email marketing
Text marketing
Social media copy
Brochures
Advertisements (all mediums)

Copywriting is unique in that it straddles multiple fields, mainly living in the creative writing and marketing spheres.

How to Become a Copywriter in 6 Steps

If you’re a skilled writer, there are copywriting positions for you just waiting to be filled. Here’s how to begin your copywriting business from the ground up.

1. Hone Your Skills

Copywriting requires a diverse skill set, including strong writing abilities, research skills, marketing knowledge, and creativity.

If you’re lacking in any of these aspects, consider taking a course through Coursera, Skillshare, Udemy, or CopyBlogger Academy.

2. Build Your Portfolio

Create a portfolio of your best work to share with potential clients. Don’t have anything to share? Consider writing for your personal business, offering discounted work within your circle, or donating your services to a non-profit in need.

3. Create a Landing Page

If clients Google your name, there needs to be a landing page for them to find you. This will build trust and allow those clients to contact you.

A business website is best, though you may also want to open business accounts through Facebook and Instagram for further reach.

4. Market your Services

Time to hit the job boards. You can find both fixed and freelance positions through job boards like Indeed, FlexJobs, and ZipRecruiter.

I also suggest marketing your services across social platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok – a major player in online marketing.

5. Gather Testimonials

Your best marketing tool is a glowing testimonial from a happy client. Remember to ask clients for testimonials that you can share on your website and via social media.

6. Network and Grow

In my experience, one of the best ways to find new, quality clients is through the recommendations of others in your field.

Keep in touch with past clients and maintain good relationships. At some point, referrals will begin to pile up!

Become a Copywriter: Ways to Earn More Money

The best way to earn more money as a copywriter is to expand your services. Beyond mere copywriting, you can offer:

Content creation – Creating and scheduling content for social media platforms
SEO services – Enhancing client copy for SEO
Affiliate links – Creating affiliate links for additional client revenue
Photo integration – Adding photos to landing pages, email marketing, and more
Content strategy – Offering regular strategy meetings with content ideas and results
Web page building – Designing custom websites and landing pages for brands

How to Become a Copywriter: Courses to Take

If you’d like to expand your copywriting expertise, there is a world of information you can gain through online courses.

Here are some of my top picks:

Copywriting Tips and Techniques

There’s more to working as a copywriter than just being a good writer. Here are some tricks of the trade to help you succeed in this industry.

Do Your Research

Research is the baseline for all copywriting. Pretty words are one thing, but you have to know what you’re talking about for the copy to matter!

Use all information supplied by your client for a well-researched take on the product or service you’re presenting.

Do further research through trusted sources. Avoid the use of AI at all times; it often provides inaccurate information and could put you in breach of contract.

Submit Perfection

Clients love “easy.” Easy means clean work with little to no errors that can be published as soon as possible.

Aim to submit perfection. To do so, read your copy aloud, have a text-to-voice feature read your copy to you, or print out your copy and read it from the page.

These tricks can help you find sneaky errors.

Use Tools

Another way to improve the quality of your copy is to use writing tools like Grammarly or Hemmingway Editor. They’ll mark errors in your work and signal opportunities to improve the work.

Other helpful tools include:

Headline Analyzers –CoSchedule Headline Analyzer, Monster Insights
Email Marketing Platforms – GetResponse, Aweber, ConvertKit, Moosend, ConstantContact
Web Page Builders – LeadPages, Elementor
SEO Programs – SemRush, Surfer, Raptive

Continue to Learn

Being a lifelong learner is helpful in any field. Continue to learn through top copywriting books, including:

How to Become a Copywriter: The Bottom Line

Copywriting is a thriving field with plenty of growth opportunities. Ideal for creative entrepreneurs with a mind for marketing, it’s one of the best ways to work as a writer for fair compensation. Looking for more ways to set your creative spirit ablaze? Check out The Top Creative Side Hustles: For Artists, Writers, and More!

How to Become a Copywriter

What is Copywriting?