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Being a Copywriter is this, being a Copywriter is that – we’ve all heard the good, the bad, and the ugly. But really, what are the biggest lies about being a Copywriter?

We’ll explore them in a minute.

But first, did you know that according to Internet Live Stats, approximately 5.8 million blog posts are created every day?

Yep, those are a lot of busy copywriters.

Let’s now explore and debunk some big fat lies about being a Copywriter. And then get on with creating some amazing copy for our readers and search engines. Or start learning how to be a good Copywriter.

Anything is better than lies and deceit!
Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Let’s get started.

Copywriter Lie #1. Anyone Can Become a Copywriter

Can anyone become a Copywriter?

Here’s the truth:

  • Age – You can become a Copywriter at any age;
  • Network – You can become a Copywriter without preexisting contacts;
  • Location – You can become a Copywriter regardless of which part of the world you live in;
  • Employment Status – You can become a Copywriter whether you have a day job or not, retired or not;
  • Formal Qualifications – You can become a Copywriter without a fancy degree or any degree for that matter;
  • Track Record – You can become a Copywriter without any credentials to your name but quickly learn key skills.

But not everyone should become a Copywriter.

You see, there is more to copywriting than to string together pretty words into a sentence. As a Copywriter, you need to be imaginative, a story-teller, and a people-person type. You need to understand the art of Copywriting.

Therefore, if your gut feeling tells you can write copy with power, passion, and pizzazz then, by all means, dive into copywriting.

However, if you’re not sure, there are other online job opportunities that may better suit your personality.

To get hired as a Copywriter, you need some level of education (preferably a Copywriting course), work experience, and a convincing portfolio. But, don’t worry if you’re a total newbie. There are ways to get your foot-or pen-in the door.

  • Hone your English skills – both oral and written;
  • Take a Copywriting course and learn valuable tricks of the trade;
  • Pick a niche and become confident and good at doing it. That’s how you become a specialist and not a generalist;
  • Be resourceful and knowledgeable in doing research. Learn how to effectively use search engines for everyday work.
Copywriting is a job quote
Image source neilpatel.com

Types of Copy to Write

Here’s an overview of the types of copy you can expect be assigned to write as a Copywriter:

  • EBooks;
  • Articles;
  • Emails;
  • Tutorials;
  • Policies;
  • Blog Posts;
  • Infographics;
  • Grant Writing;
  • Display Ad Copy;
  • Profiles and Bios;
  • Web Page Copy;
  • Press Releases;
  • SEO Copywriting;
  • Videos and Podcasts Scripts;
  • Speeches and Presentations;
  • Sales Pages and Landing Pages;
  • Catalog or Product Descriptions.

Copywriter Lie #2. It’s Very Hard to Snag Copywriting Jobs

According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics under the United States Department of Labor, “Employment of writers and authors is projected to grow 8 per cent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations.”

So yes, the Copywriting industry is growing. And that makes it competitive to get a job, but not impossible. Use the following ideas to land more copywriting jobs:

  • Find creative/ad agencies and apply to write for them;
  • Keep an eye on particular job boards that don’t sell your skills short;
  • Tweak your Twitter bio and present yourself as a professional Copywriter;
  • Cold email prospects and let them know the type of projects that you can help with;
  • Get referrals from your clients, friends, and family. Let your networks know you are a Copywriter;
  • Offer a one-week (very competitively priced) paid trial to an employer and negotiate for a better rate as you go on.

Watch this video and learn how to be a successful job applicant.

Copywriter Lie # 3. Your Beliefs and Opinions as a Copywriter Matter Most

If you think you’ll simply wake up and nonchalantly write something that people will find interesting, then you are WRONG.

Any seasoned Copywriter knows that copy topics take a scientific approach. That means you focus on research to understand your target audience. You then base your writing on objective facts and results.

Here are a bunch of tools that can help you optimise your research before writing copy:

Later on, in the editing phase, you can add your own creative flair, but be guided by what the data tells you will work.

So, before you begin the writing, be sure you know the purpose or mission or objective of every piece of content that you write. What are you trying to achieve? What information, exactly, are you trying to communicate? And why should your audience care? – Ann Handley

marks and symbols
Download your free cheatsheet of proofreading marks and symbols

Copywriting is an art that involves carefully crafting copy that readers read, love, and share. And the writing process involves several steps, including:

  • Researching your subject matter;
  • Crafting a captivating heading;
  • Writing a quick outline;
  • Crafting your copy – blog posts, emails, and more;
  • Editing and proofreading your work;
  • Getting feedback from the sub-editor or client and making necessary adjustments.

All these steps take time. For example, it’s advisable to step away from your written work before coming back to edit with a fresh eye.

So, unless you’re writing short posts for social media fodder, you should take a considerable amount of time on each article you’re creating so that you deliver high-quality work for your clients.

High-Quality Copy Checklist

Check that your copy meets the following criteria:

  • Informative copy;
  • Original and unique content;
  • The copy serves the intended purpose;
  • The topic is covered comprehensively;
  • The copy isn’t packed with keywords;
  • The copy is well-written and formatted;
  • The copy has attained the desired word count (and is still tightly written);
  • The copy is free from grammar and spelling mistakes;
  • And more.

In view of the above, how many high-quality pieces of copy do you think you can you create in a day?

Copywriter Lie #6. Your Writing Is Final

writing stage diagram
Image source liondocs.com

Unless you’re writing copy for your own blog, your writing will be subject to scrutiny by a sub-editor or your client. And more often than not, they will give you feedback which may involve you changing what you had already written.

 

You may feel your heart sink because you gave that piece of copy your all. Heck, you even stayed up late to fix all the loose ends. When you hit the submit button, you were confident that what you will hear will be nothing short of accolades.

But here you are with revisions to make.

Don’t frown too much. Copy revisions are part of being a copywriter. After one or two rounds of revisions, your copy should be ready for publishing.

And even then, you may come back later only to find that the client has changed so much of the original copy.

That’s okay.

Remember your writing is not final – the client has the final say. You are just the idea machine.

Copywriter Lie #7. Copywriting Is a Case of Set it and Forget It

You have written stellar copy and it’s now live on your client’s website. What next?

You have to keep checking how your written piece is performing (if able). As you track your work, you can make targeted improvements to boost its performance.

Otherwise, what’s the point of writing great copy if no one reads it? So what should you track?

  • Inbound links;
  • Page views with buyer persona in mind;
  • The time visitors spend on your blog post and bounce rate;
  • How many social media shares your content has received;
  • How much traffic you are getting and where it’s coming from;
  • The number of social media clicks your content has received;
  • Readers’ comments in the comment section to gauge a highly engaged audience

You can use Google Analytics among other tools to monitor and improve your blog posts.

SEO process illustration
Image source neilpatel.com

Copywriter Lie #8. You Are a Good Copywriter, Settle for That

You’ve managed to nail your copywriting craft. Your clients are happy with your deliverables. And you are happy with the work that you do. Well done.

Time to settle, right?

WRONG.

You should never settle, there is always something new to do and learn.

For example:

  • Create your own blog and monetise it;
  • Become an entrepreneur and start your own online store;
  • Learn useful skills such as WordPress Publishing, HTML, and working with images;
  • Upgrade from a plain old Copywriter to an SEO Copywriter by taking a relevant course;
  • Take an additional course such as graphic design and create useful graphics along with your copy;
  • Start a Copywriting agency and help create more employment for other upcoming Copywriters.

You see, the end goal is to become a better version of yourself. Keep growing every day. Be creative. Above all, never settle.

inspirational quotes from gymquotes.co
Image source gymquotes.co

Let’s Wrap up These Copywriter Lies

Great. We’ve identified and debunked the biggest lies about being a Copywriter.
Now that you’re armed with the truth, go forth and be the best Copywriter possible. And don’t forget to spread the truth.

P.S. Small Revolution is a warm community of online workers. We can help you build your Copywriting skills and put you a few steps closer to finding a satisfying Copywriting career online. Join us today.

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Katrina McKinnon

I'm Katrina McKinnon, the author behind Small Revolution. With two decades of hands-on experience in online work, running eCommerce stores, web agency and job boards, I'm now on a mission to empower you to work from home and achieve work-life balance. My passion lies in crafting insightful, education content. I have taught thousands of students and employees how to write, do SEO, manage eCommerce stores and work as Virtual Assistants. Join our most popular course: SEO Article Masterclass

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