First things first…before I delve into what copywriters actually do, you should know that copywriters are in no way associated with copyright law, which involves legal protection for creative works. It’s one of the biggest misconceptions people have about copywriters and if someone does copyRIGHTs, they’re probably a lawyer and will no doubt tell you that, soooo…off we go!
What is a copywriter anyway?
Whew! Now that’s cleared up, allow me to tell you what a copywriter actually is. Firstly, copy = content/words; writer, well you know what a writer does but if you could see it as a visual, it would look something like this:
Content/words + writer = copywriter
From this, you can deduct that copywriters write content, simple right? In theory, yes, but a copywriter performs many other tasks outside of writing and many people are oblivious to just what all that entails.
What does a copywriter do?
Copywriters or content writers write content for sales, promotion, marketing, advertising, and publicity content, along with a variety of other types of written communications. The goal is to increase brand awareness and persuade prospects to take action, which can include making a purchase, opting into an email list or engaging with a brand.
They create content for social media posts, blogs, emails, newsletters, product labels, product descriptions, brochures, sales collateral, billboards, magazines, advertisements, direct mail, e-books, television or radio commercials, and many other marketing communications.
Many copywriters are generalists, but most have specific niches in which they work. I, for example, am a beauty copywriter, which means that I specialize in writing content specific to the beauty and wellness industries. My clients include beauty brands, beauty websites, medspas and the like. Copywriters who have a niche are experts in their fields and can provide a wealth of information and guidance to help you grow your brand.
Copywriters are very versatile, multitalented professionals. In addition to writing, copywriters also:
· Perform extensive research
· Plan and implement marketing campaigns
· Project manage marketing/social media campaigns
· Edit and proofread the content of other writers and/or clients
· Interview clients and spokespersons
· Source stock photography and images
· Dabble in graphic design
Who do I write copy for?
As mentioned, I am a beauty copywriter, and my niche is beauty, health, and wellness, so I write content for companies that align with my specialization. Just to give you an idea, here is a list of the types of companies I copy write for:
· Natural beauty product brands
· Doctors
· Skin care companies
· Hair care companies
· Cosmetic brands
· Traditional beauty brands
· MedSpas
· Salons and day spas
· Beauty education companies
· Beauty websites
· Beauty magazines
· Beauty blogs
· Health and wellness blogs
…And many other types of companies in the beauty/wellness industry!
What do copywriters write?
Though it varies from person to person, here is a general list of what you can expect that most copywriters write:
Blog posts. Short, informal articles on a particular subject matter that can range in word count from 200 to 2000 words. Blogging is great for SEO as it keeps your website content fresh!
Emails. Email campaigns are designed to communicate personally with your target audience. If you want to inform, pique interest, increase awareness or prompt an action, email is the ticket.
Product descriptions. Product descriptions explain to buyers what a product is and why they should buy it. The purpose is to provide potential customers with the details, features, and benefits of the product so they are compelled to ultimately make a purchase.
Website copy. If you have a website, no matter how beautiful it may be, you will undoubtedly need a good copywriter to write the words for your site. Hiring a copywriter who is skilled at writing persuasive, optimized content is key to your website ranking and visibility!
Social media posts. Social media copywriters write short, snappy, engaging copy and many times manage clients’ social media accounts.
Other stuff copywriters write:
· Sales collateral
· Product labels
· Magazine articles
· Landing pages
· Taglines/slogans
· E-books
· Instructional guides
· Infographics
· Advertorials
…And just about anything else you can think of that is text!
So there you have it in a nutshell, who we are and what we do. If you need assistance with any of these copywriting services or if you just have a question, please feel free to reach out to me for help!