What does it take to be a Copywriter? Part 1.

What does it take to be a Copywriter? Part 1.


Recently, I was contacted by a marketing and advertising student who wanted to know how to pursue a career as a copywriter. He was interested in understanding the skills and knowledge required and keen to use his marketing knowledge in this area. Naturally, I fed him a load of old poppycock because I don't want any more competitors! Actually, it made me think about my own skills and my own journey into copywriting.


This is the first of a series of blogs in which I’ll explain what you need to become a good copywriter:


1. Language Skills


If you are paid to write, you're expected to write well. That means you can't afford to make spelling errors, grammar errors or common mistakes such as using 'loose' instead of 'lose'. But while you must know the rules of English, its not always important to follow them explicitly - like all rules, you can sometimes get away with breaking them. For example, technically, you're not supposed to use split infinitives, but avoiding them can often make your writing appear clunky and difficult to read. And that's the last thing you want. Starting a sentence with 'And' doesn't go down well with the pedants either.

Another important skill is one that is difficult to learn - being able to play with words. Some of the best slogans and headlines come from clever word play. Take a look at any tabloid newspaper and you'll see that they are full of puns and twists on sayings and phrases. They are prolific. While it takes a lot of practice to become adept at word play (and it isn't necessary for every copywriting job you'll encounter), you can improve your technique by paying particular attention to the way words are used in the world around you - make an effort to listen to the way people talk, take note of popular and catchy slogans, and make sure you bookmark sites on idioms and phrases.

Part 2: Understanding of Sales and Copywriting Techniques coming soon!