What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

We all need to start somewhere. If you have a newbie question, ask it here
Post Reply
User avatar
sergio247
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: February 11th, 2020, 12:00 am

What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

Post by sergio247 »

What skills and abilities do I need to become a good copywriter? I am willing to learn from the beginning, but want to start down the right path.

Good advice is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
User avatar
SARubin
Copywriter
Posts: 557
Joined: January 12th, 2019, 8:00 am
Location: USA
Tagline: Spinning Words Into Gold
Has thanked: 120 times
Been thanked: 108 times
Contact:

Re: What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

Post by SARubin »

Hey Sergio,

Are you interested in content writing… or sales copy?

I only ask because many people think they are the same thing, while others (myself included) agree that content writing is one thing and copywriting is another.

Content and sales copy can be similar, and there’s definitely crossover between the two, but there are differences.


So which one do you believe is more valuable for you to learn right now?
A good marketer knows how to think like a marketer - A great marketer learns how to think like the customer...
SARubin - Direct Response Copywriter / Conversion Flow Expert
User avatar
sergio247
Member
Posts: 3
Joined: February 11th, 2020, 12:00 am

Re: What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

Post by sergio247 »

SARubin wrote: February 12th, 2020, 10:30 pm Hey Sergio,

Are you interested in content writing… or sales copy?

I only ask because many people think they are the same thing, while others (myself included) agree that content writing is one thing and copywriting is another.

Content and sales copy can be similar, and there’s definitely crossover between the two, but there are differences.


So which one do you believe is more valuable for you to learn right now?
Can you explain the difference. I would like to learn all copywriting but I’m not sure where to start.

TIA
User avatar
SARubin
Copywriter
Posts: 557
Joined: January 12th, 2019, 8:00 am
Location: USA
Tagline: Spinning Words Into Gold
Has thanked: 120 times
Been thanked: 108 times
Contact:

Re: What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

Post by SARubin »

sergio247 wrote: February 13th, 2020, 10:31 am
Can you explain the difference. I would like to learn all copywriting but I’m not sure where to start.

TIA
Generally speaking, content writing is writing things like blog posts, news stories, articles, etc… stuff like that.

Where copywriting can be all those things, plus it has a call to action. Some action you want your reader to take as a result of your words.

I wrote a short post on the difference between the two, here…

what’s the difference between content writers and copywriters?


If I had to give you any advice right now, Sergio, it would be to start with simple content writing.

This will give you a foundation for writing to the masses, and it will help you develop your writing style. Then you can evolve into sales copy from there.

Sales copy involves writing engaging content, and it also involves a deeper understanding of consumer behaviors and habits.

Which is also something else you’ll need to learn, unless you already have a few years experience as a professional sales person?


So starting with content writing is a good way to go.


As far as where to get started…?
Do you have a particular niche you find interesting? That would be a good place to start writing…

You’ll also want to have a blog, website or other platform where you can showcase your writing. It can be your own website, or a popular website (social? freelance site?) with built in traffic. That’s something you’ll want to figure out also.

Anyway, hope that gives you some things to start thinking about. Shout back if you have any other specific questions…
A good marketer knows how to think like a marketer - A great marketer learns how to think like the customer...
SARubin - Direct Response Copywriter / Conversion Flow Expert
User avatar
Franklin
Copywriter
Posts: 221
Joined: January 27th, 2019, 12:00 am
Location: Right in front of you
Has thanked: 45 times
Been thanked: 76 times

Re: What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

Post by Franklin »

sergio247 wrote: February 12th, 2020, 8:28 pm What skills and abilities do I need to become a good copywriter?
You need to know how to write in a clear and concise manner so people can grasp your message easy.

An understanding of human nature and psychology can help too
“There are 3 kinds of people in this world. Those who can count, and those who can't”
User avatar
Rhonda
Member
Posts: 30
Joined: January 26th, 2019, 12:00 am
Location: TX
Has thanked: 10 times
Been thanked: 12 times

Re: What do I need to know to be a good copywriter?

Post by Rhonda »

Hi Sergio,

The first thing you should do is to decide what type of copywriting you’re interested in.

You can pick a single niche to start with – Then decide the purpose of your writing.

It could be selling a product, like in direct response marketing, or it could be brand building through content to establish yourself or your client as an authority in your niche.

Or you can pick a subset of copy to start with.
It could be email copy, article and blog post writing, banner ads or press releases

However, each of these requires a different style of copywriting skills and knowledge.

Trying to learn them all at once would be overwhelming for anyone, and you should start with one step. Then you can build on your skills over time.

It takes time, one step at a time, to become good at anything.
Share This With Friends
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics of Interest
    Replies
    Views
    Last post