Becoming A Copywriter
Posted on April 20, 2008
The Tools of the Trade
The art of Copywriting is perhaps the most in-demand aspect of the literary industry today. Copywriting is the act of writing copy (an article representing a product, indirectly) for a business or business representative involving the service or product that the client represents. Though the demand for this skill is on a constant rise, the act of becoming a copywriter isn’t really all that difficult.
First, you have to have the skill and yearning of a writer. If you don’t know what either of those are, you likely aren’t cut out for this occupation.
The average Copywriting ad about 400-500 words long and can be about virtually any subject. When you receive the assignment or win the bid on a project, don’t underestimate that word count. The client wants a minimum word count, not maximum. Make the number they give you the absolute minimum that you write. If you go over, that is always fine, just do not go under.
Most copywriting in today’s internet oriented society requires keywords. These are words that have great bearing on the product. For example, the name of the product, or something about it, such as the dominant color. The client will always give you keywords and you should use them at least once in every one hundred words you type.
You cannot expect regular per word pay rates on copywriting. There was a time when you could, but the norm now is between 1 and 4 dollars per 400 word article, generally on the lower end. You have to be willing to work for this pay or you will not make it as a copywriter. On the upside, these articles really do not take long to write and can be quite lucrative once you get started.
Copywriting assignments generally come in batches of ten or more. The client wants ten articles of 400-500 words in generally a day or twos time. The deadlines are tight, but then, a copywriter must be able to put out at least 20-30 articles per day just to make a living at it. Pressure is the name of the game in copywriting.
Copywriting jobs can be found a number of places, but the clever author will save himself the time and find a literary firm to work for. Literary firms take at least 99 percent of the work out of searching for jobs and cost nothing. We’ll take one of the top literary resource companies for example, Creative Concepts Literary & Graphic Solutions. CCL&G, as they are most often called, has a large staff of writers that utilize the company’s vast list of contacts and reputation. The process is simple and, as stated before, free.
First, you would contact the agency ( www.creativesolutions.page.tl ). Then you would find a contact link on their site. You would contact them with your resume, by email, and tell them that you are interested in holding a position on their staff. Then they would look over your resume’, request a sample of your writing, and then if you have decent style and flow, will contact you to find your favorite writing categories. Like many of the better agencies, Creative Content Literary & Graphic Solutions does not merely represent ad copywriters, but also fiction writers, article writers, authors, book
Once you are on their list, Creative Content Literary & Graphic Solutions will receive jobs from their contacts in businesses. If they happen to get an assignment in your area of expertise, they will contact you and offer you the job. You can refuse it, but to refuse more than three jobs in a row results in you being taken off their list.
In the end, you get the jobs handed to you on a silver platter without all the hassle of searching for them. Those looking to get the jobs done do not have to bother with posting ads seeking writers and not knowing what quality of writer that they will end up with. It works out best for both ends.
If you are a writer who produces quality work, copywriting may be for you. It can be quick money when you need it. It isn’t the job for everyone, but if you have the drive and the ability to work within a deadline, it might just be your career of choice.
Jay Graham is a veteran writer/author/columnist from Western Kentcuky.
Tags: ad, banner, concepts literary, copywriter, creative, graphic, how, logo, solutions, wanted, writer
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