Anyone who wants to make a living as a writer has probably considered copywriting as an option. You might wonder what it takes to find your first copywriting jobs or what you need to do to become a copywriter in the first place.
If you don’t know, copywriting is simply persuasive writing.
It’s the art of using words to get people to do something, whether it’s sign up for an email list, buy something, subscribe to a YouTube channel, or something else.
Companies mostly use copywriters to increase their brand awareness or improve their sales and conversions.
Even if you don’t plan to become a full-time copywriter, it’s a great skill to learn so you can use it in your day-to-day life. For example, if you’re trying to ask your boss for a raise, knowing how to use the art of persuasive writing can help you pitch it in a way that increases your chances of success.
For some context as the author of this post, I have been a full-time freelance copywriter since 2012. It is an excellent choice for writers if they are passionate about writing and marketing.
If you don’t have any passion for business and consumer behavior, there are so many other type of writing jobs you could get into, but you won’t enjoy copywriting. It is much more business-oriented than pure creative writing. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a ton of creativity, you just need to focus on the business goals as well.
If any of that sounds interesting to you, you’re going to enjoy this career whether you get a traditional job or go the freelance route.
We’ll be going over what copywriting jobs consist of, where you can find them, what requirements you’ll need to become one, how much you can expect to be paid, and more.
What you need to know about copywriting jobs
The first thing you need to know about copywriting jobs is that they’re often different than traditional writing jobs.
Because so much of copywriting is directly tied to business and marketing, these are industries you’ll need to at least loosely know as well as copywriting.
There are a few forms of copy you’ll need to know in order to find a job as well.
Pro tip: It’s called copy. Not “copies”. Copywriters write copy. That’s what it’s called and will save you from looking like a newbie when you’re applying for jobs.
For the most part, you will be given a wide variety of assignments as a copywriter. The only way you can avoid this is by specializing and choosing to freelance. For example, you could choose to only write email funnels.
However, if you’re going to get a job as a copywriter, you could given assignments like:
- Landing pages
- Website copy
- Social media posts
- Company pitches
- Email marketing campaigns
- Slogans
- Advertisements
- Product descriptions
- Blogs
The perk of this is that it can be exciting to come into work every day and have new types of assignments on your desk.
For the most part, unless you’re hired on directly to work with a company, you will find a ton of agency jobs out there. When you work at an agency, you’re also going to be tasked with writing for various industries.
If you love a challenge and learning a new industry, you will thrive.
The fun part about copywriting is that there are so many ways you can customize your career and the types of assignments you work on.
What are the requirements needed to get a copywriting job
While degrees aren’t always required to become a copywriter, they do help. Because copywriting is also directly tied with marketing, you will often see copywriters with some form of marketing or business degree instead of a writing degree.
However, having a degree in general isn’t always needed.
The most important skill you need is to be able to write high-quality copy. It matters more than any degree or background you could have.
You need to spend your time creating a portfolio that stands out and summarizes all of your creativity in one place.
If you’re new to copywriting, you might not have a huge portfolio. That doesn’t stop you from putting together some mock pieces to showcase what you could do for a company.
You can also put all of your past writing experience into your portfolio. You’ll need copywriting pieces but it’s not a bad idea to show that you’re a versatile and strong writer.
Where to find copywriting jobs
Depending on what kind of copywriting job you want (traditional 9-to-5 versus freelance), you’re going to be looking in different places.
However, the thing that combines both of these worlds is networking. Networking will play a huge role in your success with finding a job, no matter which way you go about it.
Next to networking, you’re going to need a solid portfolio. More than any degree out there, your portfolio is the key to getting hired as a copywriter.
Traditional copywriting jobs
To find a traditional copywriting job, the first thing you’re going to need is a solid portfolio. From there, you’ll need a resume with the basics of your school and work experience.
When it comes to finding the actual jobs to apply to, there are thousands of sites from LinkedIn to Indeed to search through.
If you want to stand out as a copywriter, it might be better to find a specific agency or company you want to work for and then send your information over to the right person.
At most companies, you’re going to want to find the creative director or someone in the communications department at the company.
Sure, it helps if a company is actually hiring at that moment so you can get your foot in the door, but don’t underestimate the value of networking and getting your portfolio in the hands of people who could hire you.
Freelance copywriting jobs
While there are sites out there like Upwork to find your first freelance copywriting jobs, know that they’re incredibly competitive and the rate is often pennies on the dollar for the hard work you put in.
In all of my years of experience, the best way to find freelance copywriting jobs is to find companies and niches you’re passionate about and directly pitch them.
It helps to have your prices figured out ahead of time so you can pitch them and mention pricing instead of doing the awkward, “Well what can you afford?” dance that new freelance copywriters do.
It takes a while to get your foot in the door, so be patient while you
What do copywriting jobs pay
According to Payscale, the average copywriting salary is $54,909 per year.
For freelance copywriters, the pay is all over the map. It’s possible to make six-figures or just a few hundred dollars a month, depending on what kind of copy you want to do, the niches you work in, and how much you want to work.
For the most part, freelance copywriters charged based on project or type of copy.
For example, you could sell a package of four different emails for a company for a flat rate. You can do hourly or by word, but it’s not as common as per project. To figure out your pricing, you’ll want to figure out how long certain types of project take and then work backwards to an hourly rate.
It’s not unheard of for new copywriters to start around $30 per hour. Of course, depending on your experience, you might feel comfortable charging more or less.
What to do next
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