We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Education

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Start a Copywriting Career?

Patrick Wensink
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 5,432
Share

Copywriters help create everything that is read and heard by potential consumers, investors or customers in the business world. From corporate brochures to catchy ad slogans, a copywriter wrote those words. If you want to start a copywriting career, you need to have a strong educational background. You also must sharpen your skills by writing for a variety of sources, styles and products. This flexibility will help you enter the diverse copywriting job market.

A copywriting career usually starts with education, because many jobs require a bachelor's degree. An advertising, journalism or marketing degree will help you sharpen the writing and copy editing skills you will use every day as a copywriter. These classes will also aid your understanding of business, advertisements and marketing principles. A college internship also will help you learn the basics of copywriting and expose you to the corporate culture of this business.

The most popular way to begin a copywriting career is to start as a freelancer. By seeking out small writing opportunities through personal contacts and websites' job ads, you can get a feel for the variety of work available. Print advertisements, business materials, copy for a product's packaging and more all need the skilled craftsmanship of a writer to describe that product or service. Working as a freelance copywriter also is a great opportunity to build up your portfolio of published work.

The writing portfolio is an important element of a copywriting career. Like visual artists who let the look of their work speak for their talents, your published work speaks volumes about your writing abilities. Unlike other jobs where résumés are scrutinized and perhaps even skills tests are required, many clients will only demand to see your past work before hiring you for freelance jobs. Non-freelance jobs, however, often do require a traditional interview process.

Non-freelance work, such as advertising copywriting at an agency, travel copywriting or radio copywriting, is a desirable step in a copywriting career. These opportunities don't offer the diversity and freedom of freelance work, but they provide greater stability. Here, you will be part of an advertising team, including visual artists and marketing specialists. Many people enjoy this lifestyle because the paychecks are regular, vacation is often paid for, and health insurance usually is provided. Your preference of copywriter jobs, whether freelance and non-freelance work, will depend greatly on your personal tastes.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Patrick Wensink
By Patrick Wensink
Patrick Wensink, a bestselling novelist and nonfiction writer, captivates readers with his engaging style across various genres and platforms. His work has been featured in major publications, including attention from The New Yorker. With a background in communication management, Wensink brings a unique perspective to his writing, crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Patrick Wensink
Patrick Wensink
Patrick Wensink, a bestselling novelist and nonfiction writer, captivates readers with his engaging style across various...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-start-a-copywriting-career.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.