A simple guide to Copywriting, for aspiring writers.
I was 25, struggling to cope with the competition at work, just like any other aspiring young human in the mid-20’s.
On one such day of the ‘phase’, I walked past my bookshelf, stood suddenly, and took a few steps back. I found a book with the title ‘Start with Why’.
I started searching for my why and the journey has been incredible since then.
It was just 3 words that changed the direction of my life.
And that’s exactly what I relate a ‘Copy’ to.
A copy steals your attention, talks to you, emotes with you, and makes you do something, sometimes, something bigger!
When it comes to writing copies for a Business, here’s my definition:
What is Copywriting? Copywriting is the art of writing persuasive text (usually called a “copy”) to advertise a product/ service in a business. |
In simple terms, the ultimate goal of a copy is to persuade the reader to take a specific action. It can make them purchase a product, click on a link, or subscribe to a newsletter.
Why Copywriting is important for a Business?
This is a graph that Google displays when you search for ‘Copywriting’. You can see how beautifully Copywriting has grown over the years.
What does it mean?
Businesses are getting real results by using the right words. They have taken Copywriting as a tool to communicate with their customers in every way possible.
Here are some of the popular examples:
1.
Source: quotesgram.com
2.
Source: tasty.com
3.
Source: thestandard.co
Now, I did not mention any of the brand names in the 3 pictures, but you know them all. This is what exactly Copywriting does to any business.
It reaches people with the right words, makes it theirs and turn them into customers.
And this is why you need Copywriting, especially if you are running a business.
Where did Copywriting start? 🤔
Copywriting takes different forms – it can be the bold letters in the ‘breaking’ section of your newspaper, or a handwritten text in a black board hanging slightly tilted on the wall of a coffee shop, or sometimes in the chocolate wrappers that you throw out it in the dustbin.
So, I’d say, it’s not finite to track its exact origin.
But we need a date.
Taking the rise of mass media and advertising into account, we can understand that Copywriting started sometime around the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This statement is backed by the introduction of scientific and direct response copywriting techniques by notable figures like John E. Kennedy and Claude Hopkins.
Since then, the Copywriting became a field, it evolved, and incorporated with new mediums such as radio, television, and the internet
What Skills do you need for Copywriting?
- Put yourself in the customer’s shoes: Think like a customer. Understand what they like and speak the language that connects with them emotionally.
- Write for People, not for a Business: You can see a lot of writing on the internet that glorifies the business but fails to resonate with the customer. That’s the last thing any Copywriter would want. So take a deep breath, care for your customers honestly, and write.
- Be original: You’ll find a lot of competitors out there using fancy words, tempting you to steal them. But, there’s something about being unique. You know your brand better than anyone else. Your heart and mind know the words that are perfect for your customers. Be bold enough to write that’s right for your brand.
Mistakes you should avoid in Copywriting
Remember, you are going to make mistakes and sometimes you are going to make it so badly. But that’s how you learn what works for your business and what does not.
Here are some of them you’ll come across:
- Using words that many cannot understand: You are going to write for multiple customers. Not all your customers are going to have the same level of language understanding. The safest way to avoid this is – write in simple, plain language. Do show off your vocabulary skills everywhere!
- Lack of Clarity: You always have one message to convey through the copy. Don’t complicate with too many ideas or concepts and confuse the reader.
- Forgetting who your Audience is: Sometimes you’ll be in a great flow in writing for hours. Sometimes, that’s the trap. You may lose your way, forget who you are really writing the piece for.
- Missing quality checks: Read it again – whatever you write read it again and see if you understand. But that’s not enough. Ask people beside you to read it and check if they understand. Since you are working on the concept, you will be familiar with whatever style, tone and words you use, but in reality, it might not be the same for your readers.
- Practically, there are more, and you will learn them along the way.
Want to know more about Copywriting?
I see your curiosity about this amazing skill and I truly appreciate that. If you are interested in getting to know more, write to our team or comment below in the post and I’ll get in touch with you soon.
Good day ahead!
