Copywriting: Definition, Types & Best Practices For 2022

If you’re looking at a career change, you might have considered entering the wonderful world of copywriting.

Copywriting probably sounds like a dream come true with many opportunities, plenty of needs, and a flexible schedule.

But before you make any life-changing decisions, you should stop and ask yourself: what is copywriting?

Do you really understand enough about the subject to make it your career?

Fortunately, you can learn all you need to know about copywriting here!

What Is Copywriting?

Copywriting is a specific type of writing that serves the world of advertising, marketing, sales, and other business-oriented fields.

Copywriting is any written content that has the express purpose of:

• Raising brand awareness
• Persuading an individual to action
• Motivating sales
• Initiating some direct response

Copywriting is used most often for marketing.

Difference Between Copywriting and Content Writing

There are many different types of content and content writing that some people might confuse with copywriting.

It’s essential to make a distinction between copywriting and content writing.

Copywriting aims to initiate some direct response from the consumer, such as the purchase of a product.

Content writing is broader, potentially covering any writing from website landing pages to magazine articles.

What Is the Purpose of Copywriting?

The purpose of copywriting is to get an individual or a group to take a specific action based on the information provided through the copy.

An excellent example is a carefully worded advertisement for a business that inspires an individual to check out the company and become a customer.

Copywriting’s primary purpose is to persuade an individual or a group to act.

Why Is Copywriting Important?

Copywriting plays a vital role in advertising and marketing for businesses.

One of the critical ways that certain brands communicate about themselves is through copywriting.  

Brands need copywriting because it’s an effective and efficient way to communicate to the public and raise awareness about their products, services, and other features.

Benefits of Copywriting

Copywriting serves as a great boon to businesses of various kinds.

There are some undeniable benefits of copywriting that are worth considering:

• Copywriting can help drive sales
• Copywriters can help companies to find their voice
• Copywriting can increase search engine rankings
• Copywriting gives your business a professional look
• Copywriters can help you find new markets and sales avenues

Common Types of Copywriting

There are different kinds of copywriting content, from copywriting for blogs to SEO or social media copywriting.

Copywriting never takes one elemental form.

It can apply to different fields and take shape in various forms and varieties.

Let’s look at some basic types of copywriting that often appear on the market.

1. Copywriting for Blogs

Just like copywriting, there are many different types of blog content that you can explore.

Blogs are sometimes informational, and sometimes they have the intended purpose of making a sale.

Copywriting for blogs is intended to inspire sales, generate revenue, or garner more traffic for the blog host.

2. Marketing Copywriting

Have you ever heard that content is king?

Well, when it comes to marketing copywriting, that has more accurate than ever before.

The content you produce for marketing is an essential element of your entire business structure.

Marketing copywriting is one of the most common types of copywriting.

Marketing copywriting aims to generate revenue, sales, and awareness for your business, product, or service.

3. Public Relations Copywriting

Copywriting and public relations are not identical fields.

Although they have many similarities, some critical differences set them apart.

That being said, copywriting for public relations is integral to keeping up with the public and ensuring your business has a presence worldwide.

Public relations copywriting boosts the face of your business, service, or product.

What Types of Copywriting Are Most Popular?

There are many different types of copywriting that are increasingly popular.

In a world increasingly dependent on digital content, copywriting is more in demand than ever.

The most popular types of copywriting include:

• Brand copywriting
• Website copywriting
• SEO copywriting
• Blog copywriting
• Email copywriting
• Sales copywriting
• Script copywriting (for videos)

Examples of Copywriting

There are a lot of great copywriting examples that you could point to for a better idea of what your copywriting should look like as a finished product.

Let’s take a quick look at three copywriting examples that communicate effectively and are worth remembering when it’s time to create your content.

1. Moosejaw

Check out this excellent copywriting example from Moosejaw for a better understanding of what good copywriting looks like.

This particular copywriting example is a great one to reference because it hits a few copywriting basics that are worth noting:

• It’s short and to the point
• There’s no fluff to speak of
• It adds humor in a tasteful way
• It incorporates graphics effectively

2. Trello

Check out the Trello website for another example of great copywriting.

Trello communicates effectively, incorporates essential visual elements, and tells the reader precisely what they are.

The main reason Trello serves as a great example is its website copy’s precise, concise nature.

It tells you what you need to know to use the product and how using the product can benefit you long-term.  

3. Duluth Trading Company

If you’ve never heard of Duluth Trading Company, check out their excellent website copy and learn from some of the best in the business.

The copy from Duluth Trading is suitable for a few reasons:

• It communicates meaningfully to a specific demographic
• It translates the company’s voice into every piece of copy
• It focuses on things that are important to all communities

Copywriting Ideas & Inspiration

If you need some effective strategies for writing content or you’re looking for inspiration for your own copywriting, there are plenty of places to look.

Where To Find Ideas & Inspiration for Copywriting

The first step is checking out your favorite websites.

Examine their copy as a copywriter instead of a consumer to see where it ranks.

You can also do a generic search for excellent copywriting examples to find plenty of ideas and inspiration.

How Do I Get Into Copywriting?

Getting into copywriting is easy, especially with online tools and resources.

There are a few practical methods for getting into copywriting:

• Take an online class from an expert
• Examine copywriting examples
• Begin marketing yourself to small local businesses

You should always begin by asking your friends if they need free copywriting to give you practice, experience, and the beginnings of a portfolio.

How To Start Copywriting

Copywriting consists of essential habits that can vary depending on your work style or personality.

How To Start Copywriting

There are plenty of topics to write about when you start copywriting.

With these simple steps, you can get started on your copywriting journey and have the hang of it in no time.

Step 1: Research Your Topic

When you start copywriting, researching your topic is the first and most important thing to do.

You want good sources, plenty of accurate information, and different perspectives to sort through on your topic.

Step 2: Organize the Information

Take all the information you carefully researched and organize it sensibly.

The order of things will depend on your topic and your project.

Step 3: Write the Copy

Now you sit down to write the copy. You don’t have to worry about editing as you go.

You simply want to get all your thoughts and ideas down on paper in an organized fashion.

Step 4: Edit Your Work

Once you have your piece written, you can begin editing.

Start with big issues, like content in continuity or misapplied research.

Work your way down to smaller issues, like grammar and spelling.

You can always use an online grammar tool to make this process go much faster and to ensure accuracy.

Step 5: Review and Finalize

Your copy is tentatively complete once you get to the last step.

Reviewing it will determine if your copy is ready to send out or if it needs a few more edits and revisions.

Copywriting Best Practices

Let’s look at three best practices you should always remember when you’re ready to write your copy.

1. Avoid Fluff

Filling your content with unnecessary words is a sure way to lose the interest of your audience.

In addition to losing your audience’s attention, adding fluff or filler content will hurt your long-term SEO aspirations.

Make sure every sentence is compelling, meaningful, and concise.

2. Add Facts

You should absolutely include facts and figures in your copywriting whenever possible!

Adding appropriately sourced and relevant facts lend credibility to your copy.

Facts and figures prove to be invaluable regarding your relationship with the audience.

3. Always Listen

Make sure you’re in tune with the things your audience is communicating.

Listen to what they want to learn and what speaks to them.

This will improve your copy and your effectiveness as a copywriter.

Copywriting Tools To Save Time and Money

Tools for copywriting will help you save time and money in the long run, two essential resources you should always preserve when possible.  

What Is a Copywriting Tool?

Good copywriting tools include more than simple explanations on how to write a blog post.

Copywriting tools provide you with critical resources that improve your writing.

A great example of a copywriting tool is a writing assistant that helps you check your grammar, spelling, tone, and style.  

Our Favorite Copywriting Tools

Let’s look at some of the best copywriting tools available to you as a copywriter.

1. Jasper

Jasper.ai is ranked as one of the best copywriting tools that you can find.

It can help you curate original content faster than other content producers on the market and guarantees that your content will be accurate.

You’ll love Jasper.ai for its ease of use and original content.

2. AI Writing Software

AI Writing Software helps you generate content, saving time and improving the quality of your copywriting.

If you’re struggling to find inspiration for a topic, try using AI writing software to jumpstart the copywriting process.

You can find many software options to fit your budget and style.

3. Blog Post Template

Consider using a Blog Post Template to give yourself an easy way to follow a certain style or tone.

Templates are a great way to take some of the stress out of copywriting.

Blog post templates give you automatic access to the organizational part of copywriting.

Other Related Content Types To Check Out

Other content types are similar to copywriting yet have different structures or purposes.

• Branded Content: An advertiser usually funds branded content to build brand awareness. Branded content links the brand with content that shares the brand value to create greater awareness and increase audience reach.
• Social Media Content: Social media content consists of anything you might share on a social media platform, like Facebook or Twitter. Social media content is usually informational, humorous, or designed to produce empathy with an audience.  
• Quality Content: Quality content is content that adds value to the reader without extra pomp and circumstance. Quality content is generally straight to the point, with an industry focus that captures the reader’s attention.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s take a quick look at some frequently asked questions concerning copywriting.

Wrapping Up

Copywriting is a piece of writing, usually geared toward advertising or marketing, that is meant to compel an individual or group to take action.

Copywriting is an increasingly popular field, offering many opportunities for flexibility and personal autonomy.

The next time you’re browsing your favorite website or doing some online shopping, keep an eye out for the copywriting that those websites employ. You might just learn a thing or two.