How to Become a Copywriter?

There are advertisements that become more famous than the brands because of their content. Copywriting is writing promotional content for a brand or organization. It may appear to be a simple task but is rather tricky. Copywriting requires proficient writing skills with an understanding of human psychology to engage with the audience. The ultimate purpose of copywriting is to spread awareness about the brand and persuade people into taking actions that will provide monetary benefits to the brands. Let’s explore the step-wise guide to becoming a copywriter.

Who is a Copywriter?

A copywriter is a person who is paid to write promotional material. As a copywriter, you are likely to come across one of the following tasks especially if you’re working in a corporate field, like the following: 

• Scripts
• Direct mail pieces
• Billboards
• Speeches
• Press releases
• Catalogues
• Sales Letter and Bulletins. 
• Social Media Posts

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Types of Copywriters

1- A Staff Copywriter (works at an agency) 

The average salary is between $47K – $88K(about ₹34 Lakhs – ₹65 Lakhs). While working in a big name agency, you will gain experience with enterprise brands and be exposed to exceptional networking opportunities.

On-the-job training can be provided and you will have the opportunity to learn from industry veterans.

2- An In-House Marketing (Small Businesses) Copywriter 

The average salary is between $48K-$84K(about ₹35 Lakhs- ₹62 Lakhs). While working with small businesses, you will have a clearer business model as the number of clients will be comparatively low and a clearer goal in mind. 

3- A Freelance Copywriter 

The salary depends upon the employer, but successful freelancers earn an average of over $100k(about ₹74 Lakhs). Working as a freelancer is a very simple, straightforward business model, you’re your own boss, and is a fast-growing career in this modern world. 

Basic Skills 

• Writing skills
• Out-of-the-box thinking
• Ability to evaluate their work from an objective perspective
• Attention to detail
• Communication skills
• Creatibity

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How to Become a Copywriter?

• Get a degree: There is no specific degree in copywriting. To make a career in the copywriting world, you can pursue a degree in a field related to copywriting, like English, Advertising, Marketing or Journalism. The required coursework of these programmes provide students with valuable communication and writing skills, critical thinking with an understanding of sales and marketing.
• Create your portfolio: It is suggested to prepare a portfolio with samples of your writings included, as your employer will be interested in seeing your samples.
• Find a job: As a beginner with no prior experience, it might be difficult to find your first venture. However, in the age of the internet, there are online freelancing platforms that can help you in finding short-term. long-term work and social media can also be used as a beacon to advertise one’s skills. 
• Stages of work: You have the option to either work in a renowned agency, a small business or as a freelancer. Copywriters typically go through all three stages of business. Some choose to stay in agencies and grow there while others take on freelancing and grow as an individual entity. The two primary factors that drive salary levels are location and experience, regardless of the business model you follow. 

Top Universities Abroad 

There is no particular course for copywriting, you can pursue a degree in English, Journalism, Advertising or Marketing. Here is the list of top universities for these courses abroad:

Top Universities for English Courses Abroad

1. University of Oxford
2. University of Cambridge
3. Harvard University
4. The University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
5. Yale University
6. Stanford University
7. Princeton University
8. The University of Edinburgh
9. University of California, Los Angeles
10. Columbia University

Top Universities for Journalism Abroad

1. Newcastle University
2. King’s College London
3. London School of Economics and Political Science
4. The University of Melbourne
5. Monash University
6. Ryerson University
7. Carleton University
8. University of British Columbia

Top Universities for Marketing Abroad

1. HEC Paris
2. Columbia University
3. Imperial College Business School
4. ESSEC Business School
5. ESCP Business School
6. Esade Business School
7. Warwick Business School
8. EDHEC Business School
9. WU Vienna University

Top Universities for Advertising Courses Abroad

1. Auckland University of Technology
2. Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
3. Centennial College
4. Sheridan College
5. Universidad CEU San Pablo
6. Harvard University
7. California Institute of Technology
8. Princeton University
9. Yale University
10. The University of Chicago

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Copywriting Online Courses

You can also apply for online courses to learn Copywriting. The course is specially built for teaching the skill of copywriting that will contain assignments and additional material to allow you to practise, brush up and learn more about this skill. While online courses can be expensive, a good copywriting course can accelerate your path to give you a boost in your skills. Here are the top platforms for copywriting online courses:

1. Udemy
2. Coursera
3. EdX
4. SkillShare

Salary 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), salaries of copywriters ranged from $38,000 (about ₹28 Lakhs) to $75,000 (about ₹55 Lakhs) in March 2021 and are expected to grow by 6% by 2029. A copywriter’s salary in India is about ₹3-7 lakhs on average.

FAQs

Are you ready to build your career as a Copywriter but confused about where to start from? Connect with our experts at Leverage Edu and kickstart your study abroad journey. Call us at 1800 57 2000 to book your FREE counselling session today.