You don’t have to be a natural writer or creative to learn copywriting. Although it certainly helps and gives you a headstart. But I believe anyone can learn to be a decent copywriter, as there are formulas and techniques that anyone can learn. 

Learning copywriting can be a great way to improve your ability to communicate effectively and persuade others to take action. Whether that’s for marketing, sales or just for fun.

Who should learn copywriting?

Copywriting can be a valuable skill for a variety of individuals, including:

1. Marketing professionals: Copywriting is an essential part of marketing, and marketing professionals can benefit from a solid understanding of copywriting techniques. By improving their copywriting skills, marketing professionals can create more effective ad campaigns, email marketing campaigns, and sales materials.
2. Freelance writers: Freelance writers can benefit from learning copywriting skills, as it can help them attract more clients and create more effective sales copy for their own services. By developing copywriting skills, freelance writers can expand their skill set and increase their income potential.
3. Business owners: Business owners can benefit from learning copywriting skills, as it can help them create more effective marketing materials and sales copy. By learning how to write persuasive and compelling copy, business owners can increase their conversion rates and grow their businesses.
4. Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs can benefit from learning copywriting skills, as it can help them create more effective sales pages, email campaigns, and other marketing materials for their businesses. By improving their copywriting skills, entrepreneurs can better communicate their value proposition and increase their chances of success.
5. Anyone who wants to improve their writing skills: Copywriting is a form of persuasive writing, and anyone who wants to improve their writing skills can benefit from learning copywriting techniques. By improving their writing skills, individuals can communicate more effectively in both their personal and professional lives.

Basically, anyone can benefit from learning copywriting skills, whether they are marketing professionals, freelance writers, business owners, entrepreneurs, or anyone who wants to improve their writing skills. But I always recommend that anyone learn the basics to help boost their business activities. 

Here are some steps you can take to learn to copywrite:

1. Read and study the work of successful copywriters: Start by researching successful copywriters in the field and studying their work. Read copywriting books, blogs, and articles that discuss their techniques, and analyse their writing to see what makes it effective.
2. Develop a solid understanding of marketing principles: Copywriting is closely tied to marketing, so it’s essential to have a good understanding of the principles of marketing. Understanding the fundamentals of marketing will ensure your copywriting has something to fall back on and will help you to see why you write what you write.
3. Practice writing copy: Writing is a skill that requires practice, so start writing copy as often as possible. Write ads, sales letters, and email campaigns to get started. Make sure to get feedback from others, and use that feedback to improve your writing.
4. Learn to write headlines: The headline could be considered the most critical part of any piece of copy. Learn how to write headlines that grab the reader’s attention and compel them to read more. My Blank to Brilliant course teaches you how to write amazing headlines.
5. Study the psychology of persuasion: Copywriting is all about persuading people to take action, so it’s essential to understand the psychology of persuasion. ‘Companies often leverage the principles of persuasion—reciprocity, scarcity, authority, consistency, liking, and consensus—when communicating with customers.’
6. Learn to edit and revise your writing: Editing and revising are just as important as writing when it comes to copywriting. Learn how to identify and fix weak spots in your writing, and practice revising your work until it’s as strong as possible.
7. Take copywriting courses and workshops: Consider taking courses or attending workshops to help you learn copywriting. Look for courses offered by professional organisations or universities, or consider taking an online course.
8. Study successful copy: Analyse the copy of successful ads, sales letters, and email campaigns to see what makes them effective. Look for patterns in the headlines, opening paragraphs, and call-to-actions.
9. Join a copywriting community: Joining a copywriting community can provide you with access to experienced copywriters who can offer feedback and advice on your writing. Look for copywriting groups on social media or online forums.
10. Hire a copywriting coach: If you’re serious about improving your copywriting skills, consider hiring a copywriting coach. A coach can provide personalised feedback and guidance to help you improve your writing.

By combining these methods, you can gain a well-rounded understanding of copywriting and improve your skills over time. Remember, like any skill, copywriting takes time and practice to master, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep practising and learning, and you’ll see improvement over time.

Can anyone learn copywriting?

Yes, anyone can learn copywriting! Copywriting is a skill that can be learned with practice and dedication. While some people may have a natural talent for writing or persuasion, anyone can develop their copywriting skills with time and effort.

One of the great things about copywriting is that it doesn’t require any formal education or certification. There are no specific educational requirements for becoming a copywriter, and many successful copywriters have backgrounds in fields as diverse as marketing, journalism, and creative writing. I have an Advanced Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing which helped me understand the basics of writing, but most of my copywriting knowledge I have learnt on the job. 

To become a successful copywriter, you need to have a good understanding of your target audience, as well as the principles of marketing and persuasive writing. You also need to be willing to practice your writing and continuously improve your skills.

So, while some people may be more naturally gifted at copywriting than others, anyone can learn the fundamentals and develop the skills necessary to become an effective copywriter. With practice and dedication, anyone can become a successful copywriter.

Writing everyday is one of the best ways you can learn copywriting

I firmly believe that writing every day is one of the best ways to learn copywriting. Writing is a skill that requires practice, and the more you write, the better you will become. Just like any skill that you want to get good at, to charge for or be paid for. 

When it comes to copywriting, writing every day can help you develop your writing style, improve your ability to persuade others, and refine your messaging. Writing every day can also help you develop a routine and establish good writing habits, which are essential for anyone who wants to become a successful copywriter.

When you write every day, you also have the opportunity to experiment with different types of copywriting, such as sales letters, email campaigns, and social media posts. This experimentation can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses as a copywriter and give you a better understanding of which types of copywriting you enjoy and excel at.

It’s also essential to get feedback on your writing. You can ask friends, family members, or colleagues to review your writing and provide constructive feedback. This feedback can help you identify areas where you can improve and provide you with new ideas for your copywriting.

Take my in-depth online copywriting course to learn to write an exceptional blog post.

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If you’re unsure what copywriting is, don’t worry – you’re not alone. In fact, even some marketing professionals aren’t quite sure what it entails. Copywriting is a broad term that can mean different things to different people, but at its core, it is the process of creating persuasive content for marketing purposes. 

Copywriting has been around for centuries, but it wasn’t always called that. The term “copywriting” was first coined in the early 1900s by advertising pioneer John E. Kennedy. Before that, people who wrote copy were simply known as “writers.” Kennedy realised there was a need for a specific term to describe those who wrote the persuasive text for advertisements and other marketing materials. And so, the term “copywriter” was born.

Copywriting has come a long way since Kennedy’s day. Today, copywriters are responsible for creating not only ads but also website content, email campaigns, social media posts, and more. And while the copywriting techniques used have changed over the years, the goal of copywriting is still the same: to persuade people to take action.

How many copywriters are there?

There are over 4536 freelance copywriters currently employed in the United States alone. And many businesses have in-house copywriters on staff. This just goes to show how important copywriting is in the modern world.

In Australia, there are approximately 21,300 people employed as writers/journalists and approximately 2000 employed as copywriters. This seems like a relatively low number but doesn’t take into account that most copywriters are freelance and run their own businesses. 

Copywriting today

Today, copywriters continue to be an essential part of global marketing teams. 

Copywriting today is very different from what it was in the early days. In the past, copywriters often wrote long-winded and flowery prose to convince people to buy a product or service. Today, however, copywriters are likelier to use short, concise, and to-the-point language. This is because people’s attention spans are shorter than ever before, and they are more likely to respond to easily read and understand copy. Especially with the introduction of digital and social media when brevity is at a premium.

Why is copywriting important?

So why is copywriting so important? Simply put, it is the most effective way to communicate with potential customers. In a world where we are bombarded with marketing messages on a daily basis, businesses need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. 

Copywriting allows businesses to do just that by crafting persuasive and compelling messages that will grab people’s attention and convince them to take action. The right words can convince someone to make a purchase; the wrong ones can turn them off for life. 

Additionally, it works. Copywriting is an essential part of any marketing strategy because it is what drives conversions. Without compelling copy, businesses would struggle to sell their products and services.

If you’re running a business, it’s essential that you invest in copywriting. It is one of the most important tools you have at your disposal to convince people to buy what you’re selling — whether it’s a service, product, or you’re convincing a community or group of people to do something. With so much competition out there, you need to make sure your marketing messages are as strong as possible. Copywriting can help you do that and ensure that your business is booming.

What do copywriters do?

Copywriters are responsible for creating the text that appears in advertisements, brochures, and other marketing materials. The goal of copywriting is to persuade the reader to take a specific action, such as purchasing a product or service. 

And while it might seem like a relatively straightforward task, crafting effective copy is actually quite complex and requires a lot of skill and experience. 

Copywriting has been around for centuries, with some of the earliest examples dating back to Ancient Rome. In more recent history, copywriting has played an important role in advertising development as we know it today. 

So why is copywriting so important? Put simply, effective copy can make or break a marketing campaign. Good copy can persuade someone to take action, while lousy copy will likely result in lost sales and wasted money. 

Copywriters use words and phrases that trigger an emotional response to get people to take action. The best copywriters can understand what motivates people and what will convince them to take action. 

Copywriting is not only a vital part of marketing, but it’s also a complex and challenging profession. To be successful, copywriters must have a deep understanding of human psychology and know how to craft persuasive arguments. They must also be able to work within strict deadlines and budget constraints and have excellent client management, particularly if they are freelance. 

That clears up ‘what is copywriting’ a bit more. Now you can explore the world of copywriting and marketing confident in what a copywriting does and brings to the world.

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​Even if you are not able to afford print (aka press) advertising right now, it’s a very useful business skill to learn how to write an ad. Most print advertising comprises of magazines and newspapers. Most monthly magazines work on a print deadline that is quite the way in advance, so you may not see your ad come out for two months. Bear this in mind if you’re advertising time sensitive information.

Sometimes publications offer last minute discounted advertising if they are unable to fill their pages – you can take advantage of this if you have an advert almost ready to go.

Here are some tips on how to write an ad that is effective:

Writing a statement or question

Start with an eye catching statement or questions. Be very direct and get straight to the point, there is no time to be vague or misleading when someone is scanning a publication. For example; Business Name provides cost effective marketing service.

Be very clear about what emotion you are aiming to elicit from your readers. Desire for relief? Hunger? Anger?
​
If you write an ad that includes a question or leading statement, be sure to include HOW you will SOLVE the question or problem by the end of the ad. Generally, your services or products are the solution but it is best to make it obvious.

Include timeframe

Include a timeframe when writing your ad. Such as “now”, “today”, “this year”. For example, ‘Make your business thrive in less than a month.’

Call to action

Include a clear call to action. A call to action is a direction given to your readers to make them explicitly do something. For example 

• ‘book today’
• ‘contact me now’,
• ‘buy this product immediately’. 

You press ad’s call to action must point them to your website or to contact you, book an appointment or buy something. It has to instruct a clear and tangible action that they can do straight away. 

Ad design

Depending on which publication you are advertising with, they may provide an option of creating the design for you inhouse. This is generally an inexpensive and efficient option and they will already know their specifications of sizes etc. Alternatively, you can hire a graphic designer but you will need to provide them with the specifications (sizes and dimensions, deadline, file format that publication requires etc). The publication will let you know what the specs are. You will also need to provide a designer with the copy (words) that you want in your ad. You can design it yourself but remember that the visual aspect of this ad is incredibly vital. People will be flicking past your ad and you want it to get their eye and convey the information effectively in a matter of microseconds.

Which one sticks out?

Try writing out a few and if you are having trouble deciding which statement or question is more enticing, then write down three options and stick them on your fridge. Over the next three days (any longer and they will become too familiar) notice which one pops out at you the most.

Final tips on writing an ad:

Remember:

1. Keep it short and clear.
2. Include minimal images and depending on the size of the ad, the logo should be the only image.
3. Include clear contact details (especially your website), phone, email and social media icons
4. Talk directly to a person, eg ‘Do YOU want to lose weight?’
5. Keep your branding consistent and recognisable. Which means, including your logo. This is far more important than including a picture of your product or service.

Still having trouble with how to write an ad? Let me get stuck into some advertising copywriting for you. 

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​Below are five useful articles to help you write with authority and improve your direct copywriting.

​1. How to write well

This article has many valuable key takeaways but one of my favourite is about keeping your writing succinct. Including short words and short sentences. Read how to write well.

2. 10 ways to build authority as an online writer

Although it’s a few years old, this post is from a really persuasive copywriting site and has very clear cut information on writing with credibility, with some snapshots from some of the most influential business leaders. One of the key takeaways is to just do the hard work. Read about building authority as an online writer.

3. Writing with authority: a primer

Although this is written for fiction writing, it has a lot of valuable advice that can be applied to copywriting. My favourite advice of all time and I regularly employ it in my own copywriting is specificity. Honestly, I believe this is key to success in all types of writing.  Read about writing with authority.

4. Six ways to establish credibility with your audience

This super simple post is ideal for the direct copywriting beginner. These six crystal clear tips will have you sharpen your copywriting in no time. Read about establishing credibility. 

5. 8 ways to establish authority in writing web copy

This content article is more indepth and has a lot more information and some super great bullet points to follow. A brilliant takeaway is ‘Put the important information at the beginning of the writing. Support the rest of your copy with the details.’ Read about establishing authority in writing web copy.

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Research! In depth research about your client or customer should always form a part of your marketing and content writing plan. Otherwise you may be anticipating needs and wants that may not even fit your target demographic. Ask them… through surveys, focus groups, feedback, industry research etc what they really want to know, what they are feeling as part of the customer journey and what they need and meet those needs for them.

2. Engaging readers and customers is a life long journey

Although this depends on the industry, a good content writing campaign should be ongoing and nurture the customer/client every step of the journey. From before the decision making process has even begun, to post purchase and beyond. The term “life long” refers to the life of the customer journey, rather than the life of the customer. Although in some cases this can be one and the same. For example, if you had a product or service that your customer requires from infancy to old age, then you would adapt  to suit their changing needs throughout their lifetime. An example of this might be a medical/doctor service.

3. Content writing needs to be fresh but reusable

Again, industry and topic dependent but well written content is usually evergreen or at least, able to be repurposed. If it’s news content that is being uploaded straight to a website, for most clients the content can stay on the website perpetually. Unless it harms the company (perhaps there has been a change in research or they no longer offer the product or service) there’s no reason why it cannot be archived.

In terms of fresh content writing, it really does depend on the client’s audience. Some may be content hungry and others are “slow burners”. As long as fresh content is going out at least weekly (for most industries), then it depends on the audience.

For professional SEO content writing, hire one of the best Australian copywriters today.

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1. Send your client a copywriting brief to fill out before you begin the job. I prefer to do this before I quote so that I know exactly what the client is after and how I can best deliver this.
2. Brevity. ‘nuff said.
3. Write with voice. Don’t be shy to add your own unique voice to the copy – even if you’re writing corporate material. This will help you stand out from others.
4. You are now in a client service industry. Congratulations slash commiserations. Your priority? Keeping your client happy. Not just happy but ecstatic. Otherwise, they have no reason to keep hiring you and referring you to others.
5. Write copy directly to your consumer. Imagine this: you’re at a party, you corner someone and deliver a succinct, punchy speech to them and “bamm”, you walk away. Essentially, you want to emulate this with your written sales copy.

Is it time you hired a copywriter? Do you need more sales in your business? Do you want to create a community of your clients? Contact me today for a friendly chat about your needs.

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