How to Become a Copywriter: Your Five-Step Guide

Are you struggling to break into the exciting world of copywriting?

Well, you’re not alone! With numerous courses to navigate and skills to acquire, many people don’t know where to begin their copywriting journey. Luckily, it’s an achievable task!

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through five steps to learn how to become a copywriter and join this rewarding career!

An Overview of Copywriter: A Primer

Professional copywriters specialize in producing content for various mediums, such as advertising, social media, and websites. A successful copywriter creates persuasive, engaging content that captivates the target audience, influencing them to take specific actions.

As a copywriter, you’re responsible for the following:

• Conducting research: copywriters conduct high-quality research and interviews to gather valuable information about the target audience, industry trends, and competitors.
• Writing advertising copy: a skilled copywriter writes attention-grabbing, compelling copy for various platforms. They craft concise, impactful messages to communicate the selling points of a product to potential clients.
• Writing email marketing campaigns: As a part of the digital marketing team, you’re expected to use persuasive writing to develop emails that grab the recipient’s attention and motivate them to buy your services.
• Creating website content: Besides writing clear, engaging copy with a distinct voice, SEO copywriting optimizes content to rank high on SERPs.
• Collaborating with clients and teams: Great copywriters can work closely with clients, marketing teams, and art directors. They collaborate in brainstorming sessions, provide creative input, and refine the content to improve the copy.

The best part is that copywriting can be done remotely, whether you do freelance writing or work with an advertising agency. That can be compelling for people with anxiety who don’t like in-person team meetings.

How Much Do Copywriters Make?

Copywriters’ salaries can vary depending on several factors, including existing skill sets, experience, the industry, and location.

Regardless, copywriting can be a lucrative second job to have. Here’s a general overview of a copywriter’s earning potential:

• Entry-level copywriters: Those beginning their copywriting career can expect an average hourly wage of $29 and around $48,000-$60,000 yearly.
• Experienced copywriters: A senior copywriter can make between $70,000 and $90,000 yearly, depending on the location.
• Freelance copywriters: Most freelance copywriter salaries are between $50,000 and $140,000 annually.

What You’ll Need to Become a Copywriter [& Associated Costs]

To become a copywriter, you’ll need a combination of skills as well as different software and equipment. Here are the primary requirements for the former career and the associated costs:

Education

Landing a copywriting job doesn’t necessarily require a specific degree. If you have the right skill set, you can easily enter this career.

However, having a formal degree in English, communications, marketing, business, or a relevant field can increase your chances of getting an interview.

The former degrees can cost between $25,000 and $45,000 on average. Still, prices can vary depending on the school and program. Online copywriting courses range from $0 to $2000.

Skills and Knowledge

Aside from your degree, you may need to enrich some core copywriting skills. Those include:

• Creative writing: Having impeccable writing skills is crucial to becoming a professional copywriter. However, it’s not enough. Creative writing is also important to engage your audience. Online courses in the latter can cost between $0 and $500 on average.
• Communication skills: Many schools offer communication skills courses online. Included topics and material can be free or cost between $1500-$3000 per course.
• Technical skills: Copywriters use various content management systems and create web pages. Online course prices depend on the system you want to learn.

Technical Devices and Computer Programs

You’ll need a computer and a fast internet connection, which can cost $65-$75 per month depending on your provider.

Aside from that, copywriters use many writing, editing, and plagiarism-checking software to create high-quality copy. Prices for the former will vary depending on your choice.

However, the company will provide free access to these programs if you work for an agency.

How Much Does it Cost to Become a Copywriter?

On average, you can spend between $2000 and $50,000 to learn how to become a copywriter. You can also expect to pay around $100 for internet bills each month.

These prices don’t include the costs of monthly subscriptions to writing software programs.

Is it Hard to Become a Copywriter?

Although it varies depending on your work ethic and level of expertise, becoming a copywriter can be challenging.

Even if you have a knack for writing, you still need to put in the effort to polish your skills. You also need to gain industry knowledge and experience to create a decent portfolio.

That can be tough since copywriting is one of the most popular gigs, and many people compete for an open slot.

Aside from that, the job itself is demanding. You may keep working at night so that you can finish before the project’s deadline.

Not to mention, you might face client issues and conflicts because of creative differences, among other obstacles.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Copywriter?

Generally, it can take around six months to a year to perfect all skills related to copywriting. The period will vary depending on your skill set and experience.

Having said that, the journey to becoming a skilled copywriter never ends. You’ll have to continue learning and stay updated with new guidelines and technologies.

How to Become a Copywriter in 5 Simple Steps 

Follow these five steps to learn the basics of copywriting:

Step 1: Get an Undergraduate Degree

Getting a formal academic qualification isn’t a strict requirement for becoming a good copywriter.

However, it’ll help improve your prospects since some agencies and even potential clients insist on hiring a writer with a degree. Not to mention, copywriting is a highly competitive field. Completing your degree can help you land an open position in a marketing agency.

Still, you can make up for your lack of a relevant degree by seeking online courses and training.

Start by searching for various copywriting job descriptions. Then, list all your qualifications to determine which skills you need to work on.

Step 2: Find Your Niche

As you know, copywriting is vital for any industry that requires marketing. It can be overwhelming to try to cater to various fields. Plus, you can’t possibly gain senior-level experience in all those areas.

For that reason, you should consider specializing in a niche. Not only will that help you become an expert in your field, but companies pay more to hire an expert than a general copywriter. All you do is consider the type of content you would like to write about.

Here are some of the common niches to help you decide which field to pursue:

• SEO
• Digital Marketing
• UX
• SaaS
• E-commerce
• Advertising

Step 3: Develop Your Skills

Once you list your qualifications and decide on a niche, all you need to do is develop your skills through practical experience. Landing an entry-level copywriting position is the easiest way to nourish your skill set and increase your qualifications.

However, don’t stress if you can’t find a job at an advertising agency. You can still develop your skills in other ways.

For instance, look for freelance copywriting jobs. Accept as many offers as you can, even if the pay isn’t much—the goal is to make use of your credentials and increase your experience.

Step 4: Build a Portfolio

Most companies will ask for samples along with your resume. That’s why it’s crucial to build a portfolio with all your achievements. You can include some writing samples to highlight your experience in a particular niche.

You can go one step further and create an online portfolio. It doesn’t have to be costly; a simple blogging website or free online hosting site would suffice.

Make sure to include all your work, provide your contact information, and proofread for any profile errors.

Step 5: Start Networking and Seeking Opportunities

Regardless of the domain, networking is vital to finding a job. Set up a LinkedIn profile and connect with people in your field.

Introduce yourself and ask for tips. Some people are even willing to review your work and provide feedback.

You can also attend webinars, conferences, or relevant events to meet with business owners and exchange business information.

Participate and engage in online copywriting forums—such communities can help you get a freelance gig, internship, or full-time position.

Reasons to Consider Becoming a Copywriter

While the job comes off as challenging at first glance, working as a copywriter has several perks. Here are some reasons why you should join this career:

• Flexibility and remote work opportunities: You can enjoy setting your own schedule when working as a freelance copywriter. Even if you work for an agency, you get to decide whether to work full-time, part-time, or per project.
• Highly in demand: Name an industry that doesn’t need advertising or marketing. (Most likely, you won’t find any). Almost all businesses need a copywriter to succeed, which makes it a great gig with high-income potential.
• Mostly Future-proof: Copywriting is a form of art. And producing high-quality content that resonates with the target audience requires human creativity, which is difficult to replace with automated tools.
• Career growth: With experience and a strong portfolio, copywriters can advance in their careers, becoming creative directors or even launching their businesses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Gigs to Check Out

Here are similar gigs to check out if you’re not so keen on becoming a copywriter:

• How to Become a Freelance Writer: Take writing, editing, and proofreading courses. Learn about SEO and sign up on freelance platforms.

How to Become a Social Media Manager: Complete a degree in communications or marketing. Learn how to use various social media platforms and establish your online presence.

How to Become a Graphic Designer: Get a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. Work some freelancing jobs (even for free) to build a strong portfolio. Publish and market your work online.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, having a career as a copywriter requires dedication and continuous learning.

By developing your creative writing skills, specializing in a niche, and building a strong portfolio, you can learn how to become a copywriter quickly!

Let us know in the comment section if you have any thoughts or questions. And if you found this article helpful, do us a favor and share it with your friends!