Do you love writing? Have you ever considered putting your love for words into a career as a copywriter? Copywriting is a skill that can be used in a variety of industries, from advertising and marketing to journalism and publishing. If you have a knack for writing persuasive or compelling copy, then a career as a copywriter may be the right fit for you. Becoming a copywriter is a great career choice for those who have a way with words and want to use their skills to help businesses sell their products or services. In this article, we’ll discuss what copywriting is, what copywriters do and how to become a successful copywriter in Australia. We’ll also explore what a career in copywriting entails, the skills and qualities you’ll need to succeed in the field, the variety of writing work available, and relevant courses and qualifications to help you get started. If any of the above is ringing a bell, read on to find out what steps are necessary to become a copywriter.
What is copywriting?
Copywriting is about using words to influence people’s actions, whether that’s getting them to buy a product, sign up for a service or just click on a link. In order to be ahead of the game, copywriters need to understand their audience and what motivates them. They have to craft a compelling message that speaks to the reader’s needs while being persuasive enough to get them to take action. It’s not enough to simply write well; the words used must also be strategically chosen to achieve the desired effect. This requires creativity and analytical thinking as copywriters must constantly strive to develop new ways of expression that will resonate with audiences and help them reach objectives.
Unsurprisingly, copywriting is used in a wide variety of industries, from advertising and marketing to public relations, fundraising, and more. Just about any organisation that needs to persuade its audience can benefit from the skills of a talented copywriter. Copywriting roles may be offered by advertising agencies, public relations firms, marketing departments, web design companies, and all kinds of other businesses that need compelling written content.
What does a copywriter do?
A copywriter’s job is to write words that promote a product, service or idea. This could be anything from an ad campaign to website content to a tagline for a TV commercial.
Some other types of copywriting tasks include writing:
- Brochures
- Catalogues
- Direct mail
- Email marketing campaigns
- Landing pages
- Press releases
Copywriters need to understand both the products they’re promoting and the people they’re targeting with their writing. They use this knowledge to create persuasive messages that will influence their readers in some way, whether to promote sales, get readers to register for a mailing list or direct traffic to a website. To be successful at copywriting, strong writing skills are needed as well as creativity and strategic thinking. This is true as copywriters need to be able to continually come up with new ways of conveying similar messages.
Some essential skills for success as a copywriter include:
- Strong writing ability: Copywriters need to be able to write clearly, concisely and persuasively.
- Imagination: A good copywriter should be able to come up with creative ideas that will capture attention and communicate the message effectively.
- Research skills: To write effective copy, writers need to know their target audience well and understand what appeals to them. This requires research into trends, demographics and other related information.
- Communication skills: Copywriters need to articulate their ideas clearly and work well with others (such as art directors, editors, etc.) to create a strong final product.
- Organisational skills: A copywriter needs to be able to manage multiple projects at once and keep track of deadlines. This requires good time management and organisational skills.
- Flexibility: The ability to be flexible and adaptable is key for any copywriter, as the needs of each project can vary greatly.
- Attention to detail: A copywriter must have a keen eye for detail to spot errors or inconsistencies in their work.
- Persistence: Copywriting can be a challenging and competitive field to enter, especially at the start of a career, so persistence is important in order to succeed.
Copywriter vs. content writer
It’s easy to confuse copywriters and content writers as they are both writing careers that involve expressing information to their readers. Let’s clear this up!
As previously discussed, a copywriter is someone who writes advertising material, such as commercials, brochures, landing pages, and press releases. A content writer writes for a living but not specifically for advertising. The two have some similarities: both write to persuade or inform an audience, and both use similar strategies to do so.
However, there are some key differences between content writers and copywriters. Copywriters tend to be more focused on selling a product or service, while content writers may be more concerned about educating their readership or entertaining them. Both roles require excellent writing skills and the ability to capture and maintain attention spans through strong headlines and intriguing leads. Beyond that, working as either type of writer requires different mindsets. If you are considering pursuing one career over the other (or if you’re undecided about which suits you better), keep these key distinctions in mind.
Consider a copywriter course
If you’re interested in pursuing writing work, taking a course to hone your skills could be the perfect first step. TAFE Gippsland offers an excellent and well-rounded writing course that will prepare you for a variety of professional writing opportunities.
- Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing: The Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing is for people who want to improve their writing skills and turn their love for writing into a marketable skill. The course will train you in creative writing, vocational writing, copyediting and proofreading. You will explore key writing elements with talented teachers, including clarity, efficiency, precision, tone and structure. All students have the opportunity to select electives in specialised writing fields such as children's literature, poetry, fiction, and business writing. For entry into this course, you will be required to submit a 1000-word writing sample proving a sufficient level of literacy skills and participate in an online interview to discuss your understanding of the course outcomes. Students will also require access to a computer with a stable and fast internet connection. Upon completion of the course, you’ll have the skills and experience to apply for exciting writing roles such as:
- Creative writer
- Design and production trainee
- Editing and proofreading assistant/trainee
- Freelance writer
- Journalist trainee
- Publicity assistant
- Publishing assistant
- Marketing and public relations assistant
Copywriter Salary Australia
Copywriting offers a huge variety of work opportunities perfect for the enthusiastic wordsmith. As a range of copywriting roles exist within Australia’s job market, salaries can vary greatly depending on factors such as experience, location and the size and type of the employer. However, according to payscale.com, the average base salary for a full-time copywriter in Australia is $60,377 per year.
An avenue commonly taken by copywriters is pursuing freelance writing jobs online on a contract basis. This is possible through websites such as Upwork.com, where writers can bid for freelance writing jobs online. The opportunities available through websites such as Upwork run the gamut in terms of writing jobs. Some examples of freelance writing work available online include writing press releases, product descriptions, producing market copy, writing copy for websites and much more. It’s a flexible way to create income that allows writers to work from home and decide how much or little work they want each week. This flexibility attracts all kinds of copywriters, including those with childcare responsibilities and people who prefer to work remotely. Besides having a variety of writing roles to choose from and a chance to make a comfortable salary, copywriters also have the pleasure of showing off their creative talents every day.
In conclusion, a career in copywriting is an excellent choice for those who have a way with words and want to use their skills to help businesses sell their products or services. While there is no one-size-fits-all path to becoming a copywriter, there are certain skills and qualities that will help you succeed in the industry. If you’re interested in pursuing writing work, taking a course to hone your skills could be the perfect first step. Copywriting offers a huge variety of work opportunities perfect for the enthusiastic wordsmith and provides the chance to make a comfortable salary. If this sounds like a compelling career move to you, contact TAFE Gippsland today to discuss your application for a Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing.