Should I be a copywriter?

Copywriters write content that tells stories about brands to help promote things and engage audiences.

Copywriters are good at using emotional language that prompts someone to take action, and can write in the style of the client’s brand or voice.

Copywriters might work on:

• Digital and print ad campaigns

• Video and audio scripts

• Promotional emails

• Slogans

• Jingles

A copywriter might also do content writing, which is geared more toward relationship building.

Think blogs and social media posts!

• Read through a creative brief to understand what kind of writing will be needed for a new project.

• Meet with your team to talk through a concept.

• Write the first draft of an ad.

• Read feedback on your scripts and figure out how to incorporate the requested changes.

• Read the proofreader’s markup of a promotional email you wrote and make the edits in your draft.

• Send an email to your boss to propose concepts for next month’s blog posts.

Copywriters typically work at advertising agencies, in-house at a corporation or nonprofit organization, or as freelancers.

In the U.S., the average salary for a copywriter is 58,465 USD .

In Canada, the average salary for a copywriter is 51,000 CAD .

• Enjoy writing.

• Are creative.

• Are a good communicator and have strong interpersonal skills.

• Can usually write without a lot of errors.

• Can handle working on multiple projects at a time.

• Like to collaborate.

• Can take direction.

• Like to learn about new topics.

• Get overwhelmed by tight deadlines.

• Are shy about expressing creative ideas to a team.

• React negatively to criticism and feedback.

• Always need clear direction before you can get to work on something.

• Hate doing multiple drafts.

Does it sound like copywriting might be a good path for you? If it does, you'll probably want to get a college degree. Common majors for copywriters include English, journalism, and communications.

Starting your career with an internship can be a good way to build a collection of work samples, which you can include in a portfolio to help you get your first paying job.