Did you know most people only read the headline of an online article? It doesn’t matter how good your copy is if most readers do not get past the title.
Creating titles is only one of the copywriting skills you need to have if you want to make it in the field. It is a creative, varied, rewarding, and often remote job you can do from anywhere that is many people’s dream career.
You need to keep growing and building on the right skills to stay employed. Not sure what those are? Here is a list of the most important ones.
1. Understand the Differences
What is copywriting and what does a copywriter do? How is it different from content writing? You should be 100% clear on what a copywriter does so you can understand its exact purpose.
To be clear, copywriting is sales-driven. Content writing is marketing and engagement-driven.
2. Self Promotion
What makes your copywriting services better than anyone else’s copywriting services? If you are ever asked that question, you better be able to back yourself.
You need to be good at self-promotion if you want to be a successful freelance copywriter. The average copywriting salary is around $50,000. If you want to earn the big bucks, you need to know your worth.
3. Grammar and Punctuation
Readers will abandon your articles if they have bad grammar and punctuation. You will not impress employers, either. It is one of the most vital copywriting skills and you can improve by reading the following books:
- Grammatically Correct by Anne Stilman
- Writing with Clarity and Style by Robert A. Harris
You can also improve your grammar by reading a lot in general and using tools like Grammarly. Proofreading the copywriting examples of colleagues will also help.
4. Basic Knowledge of SEO and CMS
In today’s world, most copywriting jobs ask for candidates to have some basic technical knowledge too. Increase your chances of employment by learning about SEO and CMS.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is a toolbox of techniques that writers use to increase the chances of articles appearing on certain search results pages.
CMS stands for Content Management Systems. These are programs like WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace which allow users to edit websites with ease.
5. Writing
The most essential of all the copywriting skills you need is the ability to write well! You need to be able to write in different voices for different brands/publications. You also need to be succinct, conversational, and empathetic in your writing.
It takes a lot of practice to be a good writer and you should get into the habit of writing every day. You don’t need any fancy certifications as a good work ethic and natural curiosity are much more important.
Vital Copywriting Skills To Nail Your Assignments
Continuing to develop and gain new copywriting skills is essential in a saturated business. As long as you commit to your craft, the rewards of working in such a creative and dynamic field are worth the hard work.
Want to read more business articles to build on your existing skills? Browse our website for tons of helpful tips and advice!