The Truth About Being a Copywriter

Being a copywriter is an excellent career choice, and you’d be right to use your writing skills to create amazing copy that your readers love.

Better still, it helps to know the honest truth about being a copywriter. That’s why we’re here to inform you about these truths nobody talks about.

While we’re at it, we’ll give you useful, lesser-known tips to help you in your copywriting career. Like this definitive copywriter salary guide.

Truth is the ultimate power. When the truth comes around, all the lies have to run and hide.
Ice Cube

Ready? Here’s the honest truth about being a copywriter that nobody talks about:

Copywriter Honest Truth #1: You Don’t Need to Know Someone to Get a Copywriting Job

Are you well-trained in copywriting? Do you have work experience? If yes, then getting a copywriting job is as easy as pitching clients, proving your worth, being hired, and getting down to writing killer copy.

If you are a newbie copywriter, do not despair. There are clever ways to get your foot in the door. For example:

Take a copywriting course
Craft your resume and a viable portfolio
Offer a client a cheap trial article (never free)
Pick a niche and become a specialist copywriter
Find copywriting jobs via cold pitching and job boards

Copywriter Honest Truth #2: You Don’t Need to Work for Long Hours

There is a lot of flexibility that comes with working online as a copywriter. You work only as much as you want. However, that’s no excuse to get lazy and underdeliver. Your clients have set certain expectations, and you should meet them. They are in business, after all.

Here’s what you can do to avoid working late into the night or working on weekends when everyone else is relaxing and having a good time:

Don’t get sucked into house chores
Master successful behaviors and habits
Create a regular work routine and stick to it
Avoid time wasters such as social media use and endless internet surfing
Have a strong will and determination to finish your writing work each day

Copywriter Honest Truth #3: You Don’t Need to Be Really Funny

Clients are after a copywriter, not a comedian. Therefore, if you can’t tickle a bone, that is fine. Besides, what clients expect from you is a copy that speaks to their target audience effectively. The message doesn’t have to be funny.

Here is how to write a GREAT copy that compels people to take the desired and intended action:

Put the reader first
Make every word show
Write in a natural manner
Avoid hyperbole and fancy words
Write a unique, useful, urgent, and ultra-specific headline

The next video by Neil Patel has some more useful tips on writing amazing copy. Watch it.

Copywriter Honest Truth #4: You Don’t Need to Spend All Day Writing

Yes, there is plenty of writing to do as a copywriter, but that doesn’t mean that from Monday to Monday, you will be writing a copy. Your day can be more varied with other fun activities besides crafting copy.

Here is a handful of fun and interesting things you can work on while still retaining your copywriter title:

Ensure that all content is ‘on brand’
Produce and present a range of content options
Use stakeholder feedback to make any necessary edits
Monitor the effectiveness of copy across various platforms
Come up with creative ideas and concepts that fit the brief
Write copy that is persuasive, engaging, and interesting to read
Carry out research on products/services/topics and understand their target audience

Copywriter Honest Truth #5: You Need to Be Deliberate About Exercise

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Writing great copy takes time. In fact, hours and hours of drafting, editing, and proofreading. But that’s not the end of the story. You may receive revisions after your client or sub-editor has gone through your final copy.

All that means more and more sitting. It’s not healthy for you. Here’s how to deliberately exercise yourself to a fitter copywriter:

Go for a walk in between your breaks
Use these fitness apps to exercise better
Create a workout routine – at least 30 to 45 minutes a day
Take short breaks every two to three hours and do quick stretches;
Get a standing work desk and alternate sitting with working on your feet

The next video demonstrates some quick exercises to do at your work desk. More so, if you suffer from neck, shoulder, and back pains. Watch and learn.

Copywriter Honest Truth #6: You Need to Set Some Reasonable Caffeine Rules

Caffeine lovers, it’s time to watch your caffeine intake for the sake of your health. Research shows that you should have no more than approximately three cups of instant coffee in a day. Honestly, how cups have you had today?

Okay, don’t give us the stink eye yet. Keep reading for other options to help you keep sipping as you write:

Take a smart drink such as Shine+
Drink lots of water instead of caffeine
Keep your caffeine intake under 200 milligrams a day
Drink green tea, as it contains a smaller dosage of caffeine

cardiovascular system — Photo by freedieting

Copywriter Honest Truth #7: You Need to Keep Learning Copywriting Secrets

Copywriting is a dynamic career. To remain relevant, you need to keep learning about emerging trends and the industry’s best practices. In short, you can never reach a peak and settle.

Here are a few ways to keep learning and bettering your copywriting craft:

Learn from copy clients
Get a copywriting mentor
Talk to copywriters in real life
Read other copywriters’ blogs
Join a copy or content Twitter chat
Read, read, read, and read some more
Take online copy, content, and SEO courses
Find copy heroes on Twitter and follow the people they follow
Listen to copywriters’ podcasts, like Rainmaker FM and The Copywriters Club

Copywriter Honest Truth #8: You Need to Know How to Deal With Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is no myth – ask any honest copywriter. We’ve all been there, staring at a blank page with a ceaselessly blinking cursor. In your head, you are blank. No inspiration. No ideas.

Instead of feeling helpless, use these ways to reawaken your creativity and overcome writer’s block:

Write to one person (real or imagined), rather than to an entire audience
Hibernate from your copy: Come back to it a day or so later with a fresh eye and mind
Time your writing and aim to achieve the word count you said you’d achieve within that time
Just write. Push yourself and don’t overthink anything. A lousy draft is better than nothing
Get away from your desk and clear your mind; take a walk, sleep, bake a pie, exercise, meditate, draw, take a bath – anything to create a space for your inspiration to fill

Copywriter Honest Truth #9: You Need to Learn How to Deal With Unreasonable Clients

Ever heard of clients from hell? They are there. Not many, but they exist. They’ll knock your confidence off, fail to pay you, give you an unreasonable amount of revisions, among other mistreatments you can think of.

Don’t keep quiet and suffer in silence. Rather, put your foot down and take charge of your copywriting career. Do this: