Copywriting Jobs
Copywriting jobs are one way to add some serious money to your bottom line and some serious experience to your writing portfolio. If you are really quick on your feet, you might find that specializing in copywriting is the most lucrative form of writing that you can do; but at times I can guarantee that you will also find it the most frustrating.
In my experience writing for the Internet, I haven’t had too many copywriting opportunities, although I have completed a few jobs that I would file under the “Very Boring” section of copywriting; these were almost all product descriptions. Of course keep in mind that when it comes to a freelance writing career, “boring” and “lucrative” can be interchangeable – I think the descriptions I was turning out added up to around $60 per hour.
Still, there are a lot more exciting opportunities for copywriting out there, I just haven’t found them. What I have found, though, is an old friend who has been living off copywriting jobs, and who was willing to answer a few questions for me about what it is she does. First, though, let’s take a look at what copywriting is.
What is copywriting?
Copywriting is fairly straightforward; basically all you are doing is trying to come up with some phrases that essentially sell a product. (Come on, how many of you really, really knew that for sure? Most writers pretend they know what this is but really have never looked into it. Including me.) The copy you create may be used on television ads, in print, or on radio. It can also take the form of slogans, convincing copy, even ad “jingles”.
Sound pretty easy? Not really! Like other advertising endeavours, copywriting means that you have to be able to do a lot with a little. You want the copy you create to be powerful and also to stick in the head of a reader or listener, not to mention the client has to like it too.
A copywriter’s perspective
This is an exciting article for me, because I interviewed an old friend who I just found out has been hired as a copywriter for a radio/television company in Dawson Creek. Where is Dawson Creek? Well, unless you live almost at the Arctic Circle, Dawson Creek is north of your location, and that’s really all you need to know. Except of course that they have a kickass advertising campaign, and one of the people making that happen is Heidi Joachim.
I have known Heidi since high school, we were in Law class together back when we thought we could afford to be lawyers, and we also found ourselves working at the same restaurant where we decided we DEFINITELY did not want to be cooks. That experience (it was at Boston Pizza, and our former manager will be sentenced shortly for stealing – I am totally serious) drove us both to higher education as fast as we could scrape up the tuition, and she has parlayed that into a career as a writer.
Unlike me, Heidi actually focused her education on her writing career; upon completing broadcasting school she found herself hired at the radio station (she actually took some specific courses in copywriting!).
What does her job entail? Well, advertising of course, but the forms vary. She is called upon to write hard sell material, soft sell, dramatic material, informative ads, and even some with humour, both for radio and television.
When I asked her what the hardest part of her job was, Heidi didn’t have to wait very long; the hard part about successful copywriting is pretty much the same as any freelance job, and that is in satisfying the client.
She often turns in copy that she feels is great, but due to the subjective nature of the business she may find herself re-thinking the whole approach. It can be pretty frustrating spending a lot of time and effort on an ad and then having to go back to the creative drawing board again!
What about freelance copywriting jobs?
I asked Heidi if she had ever done any freelance work in the copywriting area, and though she has considered it she has never actually applied for any copywriting jobs.
The usual restrictions apply; she does not really know anyone else who has done it so is not sure where to turn for advice, and of course she has a solid paying job which states that freelancing might be out of the question.
However, Heidi did tell me about a website which does post freelance copywriting jobs from time to time at www.milkmanunlimited.com. It’s a Canadian media site and when I had a look there were a few writing jobs available, but they are a little thin on the ground. Still, it’s a good place to start looking!
If you are good at thinking on your feet and putting together strong copy fairly quickly, then you might want to give copywriting a shot. It is one way of letting your creative juices flow, even if the freelance business is your bread and butter!
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