How to Copywrite

Step One:  The first thing you will need to do in order to become a top notch copywriter is to develop an interest in all matters of subject.  This is crucial if you are to become a long term success.  It is best if you begin this process by possessing a natural curiosity in the first place:  This allows you to have a good deal of latitude as most certainly you will want to find out more about the world around you.

Step Two:  Begin exploring at least three subjects of which you have always wanted to be more educated.  In example, three subjects I prefer happen to be history, travel and insurance; however, as my career has progressed I added many others.  You may be interested in knowing why it is you must become so widely flexible:  this is due to the fact the more versatile you become in your interests and general knowledge as to a wide variety of subjects the more valuable you become as a traditional writer as well as a writer of copy.

Step Three:  Read each day, books relative to your topic areas and write articles, accordingly.  Such articles may be submitted to a variety of sites and sources over the “net.”

Step Four:  Pay a visit to your local library and review the many magazines available to you.  Initially, pick out one or two magazines that look interesting to you.    I usually choose magazines associated with travel and leisure activities or home decoration.  You may have a particular interest in a hobby such as woodworking or knitting or sewing or subject areas such as Science or News and World events.

Whatever your area of interest happens to be, pull magazine titles accordingly.  Review the display ads as well as the ads at the back of these periodicals.  You will need to do this in order to assess what in your opinion works in these ads.

Step five:  Next assign yourself a project.  If you need help in deciding on the area, go to one of the many freelance sites found on the “net” and look for a copy project wherein they are asking for samples of your work.  At this point, do not bid on the project simply use it in order to put together some “mock” samples in accordance with the project and perhaps samples you may add to your portfolio.  In other words, as with any form of “mock” performance put together some samples based on the project chosen.

Many buyers, in fact the good majority whether you are writing advertising content or content for a website will need to see samples of your work.

Step Six:  Practice makes perfect:  next, you will need to write copy relative with the project chosen.  The first assignment I gave myself include:  descriptions for a jewelry company and pharmaceutical copy.

If this step is yet too advanced, then look at it from a different angle.  Pick two ads with a fair amount of copy within the publications you have chosen to peruse from your local library and rewrite the copy therein; paraphrasing what you read.

Step Seven:  Use such ads as a model:  For instance observe the type of copy written and then keep your product within the same category however substitute the product of which you are writing.

In example, if my product was pharmacy-related, I might use my ad as a model and select another pharmaceutical related product and write copy in similar format; however, substituting side effects and associated symptoms which would be relative to the pharmaceutical product I selected.

Step Eight:  Keep practicing writing your copy with different products in this same manner using ads you find as models and replacing with your own product; however in same category as the ad, always using your own words.

Step Nine:  Purchase a good Thesaurus in order to have places to look up similes in the composition of your content.

Step Ten:  When it comes to learning how to construct copy for products, review several good catalogs and get a sense as to how the copy is written relative to the products presented.

Step Eleven:  Read the newspaper each day and stay apprised as to current events and trends.

Step Twelve:  Keep up with your traditional writing in addition to your copywriting by working on a little of each every day.  In this way, you will not suffer from any loss of creative expression.

Step Thirteen:  Further develop a walking schedule or some form of outdoor exercise.  Healthy physical activities generate clear thinking.

Step Fourteen:  There are many different facets in regard to copywriting you will need to learn in order to become a strong writer of copy; however, the above steps will certainly get you headed in the right direction!