Should I Take a Copywriting Course?

Now and again, I'll get an email or a message on Facebook from someone who is thinking about starting up as a copywriter. Quite often, they'll have been employed in some sort of writing capacity or will have written as part of another role and they want to make a living from writing. And what they all want to know is - 'should I take a copywriting course?'

It is a question I asked myself when I was first starting out. Back then, I'd been working as a technical author for many years and also had a degree in Technical Communication behind me. So I knew how to write and how to address the needs of the reader. But something niggled at me about just starting as a copywriter without any specific training or guidance. And so I signed up for the Institute of Copywriters diploma course. It was a good decision.

While I didn't find the course particularly difficult (because it covered a lot of the same ground as my degree), it did make me aware of certain selling techniques that are vital to good copywriting. And that's why I always advise any would-be copywriter to take a course or at the very least, read a few copywriting books. Because there's more to being a copywriter than being a good writer - it is about recognising the reader's needs, knowing how to appeal to them, and being able to persuade them in a subtle way. Had I just started as a copywriter straight from technical authoring, I don't think I'd have been anywhere near as effective as a copywriter. Why? Because I'd have been stuck in the mindset of a technical author, where clear information is king. With copywriting, there's more to think about regarding the style of your writing - you need to grab the reader's attention, highlight the benefits to them, and skilfully manipulate them so that they feel positive and enthusiastic about a product or service. It's less straight-forward than technical writing, but much more enjoyable.

So if you're thinking of becoming a copywriter, either from a writing background or from a different type of job altogether, my advice is - learn the tricks of the trade first.

SEO copywriter, Web copywriter, Web content writer