What Does A Copy Writer Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

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Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Copy Writers

Copy Writers write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.

Salary
$78680
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality


What they do

Copy Writers write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.

  • Write to customers on their terms and on their level so that the advertiser’s sales message is more readily received.
  • Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
  • Write advertising copy for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services.
  • Present drafts and ideas to clients.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Copy Writers vary the language and tone of messages based on product and medium. They write advertising copy for use by publication, broadcast, or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services.

A typical day for a Copy Writer will also include:

  • Write to customers on their terms and on their level so that the advertiser’s sales message is more readily received.
  • Consult with sales, media, and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising copy.
  • Edit or rewrite the existing copy as necessary, and submit copy for approval by supervisor.
  • Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency’s creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
  • Present drafts and ideas to clients.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Copy Writers also review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding the marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products. They may also develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency’s creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Copy Writers invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures, and other promotional material. They might also conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product’s selling features should be promoted.

In addition, they write to customers on their terms and on their level so that the advertiser’s sales message is more readily received.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.

To some Copy Writers, it is also their responsibility to present drafts and ideas to clients.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Average

Is this job meaningful

Average

68% said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they found their job meaningful.


David Sautter
Top Fitness Magazine

My days usually involve some combination of the following:

  • Discovery calls with clients who own fitness businesses (e.g., gyms, supplement stores, website owners, etc.).
  • “Roadmapping” with clients to help them understand the next steps they need to take to increase readership, authority, and sales.
  • Creating fitness content in the form of articles, social media posts, newsletters, product descriptions, landing page copy, etc.
  • Tending to my own business website needs (e.g., improving website speed, writing content for my own blog, etc.).
  • Educating myself with training courses and books on how to be a more proficient writer AND fitness industry expert.

My typical day

For me, a normal day as a fitness copywriter starts with a morning routine of self-care and self-improvement (e.g., exercise, meditation, journal, etc.).

Then I review my task list for the day. Depending on the day, I will work on my business (e.g., content creation), jump on a discovery call with a new client (e.g., finding out what the client needs to improve their content marketing), or begin to take care of client work (e.g., blogs, articles, e-books).

For the vast majority of my client projects, a deep review of several scientific research studies on exercise science, nutrition, etc. is required. I only produce work that is based on proven literature and not anecdotal claims.

Once the research is complete, there is a great deal of brainstorming. This leads to the creation of an outline for the article, e-book, or product/service/website copy that I’m creating for that client.

Pros

Networking and talking with some of the most respected and knowledgeable names and brands in the industry. I love it when I can learn directly from people I’ve been following for years.

The unlimited growth potential: When you run your own copywriting business, you get to decide your level of involvement and how high you want to take it. Do you want to make just enough to pay bills and save a bit each month but have more time on your hands? Or do you want to shoot for a six-figure income while traveling the world? It’s up to you.

I’m always learning something new. From updating my website to taking online courses on copywriting, new fitness technology, etc., I’m always expanding my knowledge base, which in turn, helps me be a better writer for my clients.

Cons

It’s easy to forget about self-care. I’ve fallen in and out of schedules and routines that were beneficial for my wellbeing. I feel like the work side of it is so easy but the self-care side of owning a business is the difficult part of it. It’s important to remind yourself that there will always be more work to be done, and it’s okay to set a stopping point each day. What’s more, it’s not wise to just keep working without a break. Studies have shown that you’re more productive when you give yourself time to hang out with friends, go on a date with a significant other, and just be lazy for an hour. Your brain needs time to recharge. A lot of people don’t realize that you have a limited amount of creativity each day and to refill that cup, you need rest and recovery.


Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.

Very good salary.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

How much do they make

Average salary

$78680 per year

Average hourly wage

$38 per hour

Entry-level Copy Writers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $35,880 to $49,310 per year or $17 to $24 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $133,460 $64
Senior (Top 25%) $94,090 $45
Median $67,120 $32
Junior (Bottom 25%) $49,310 $24
No experience (Bottom 10%) $35,880 $17

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
11%

40 hours
65%

More than 40 hours
24%

Working schedule

87%

13%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
97%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
13%

Every day
87%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
3%

Every day
93%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
13%

Once a year
45%

Once a month
24%

Once a week
19%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
4%

Slightly competitive
9%

Moderately competitive
39%

Highly competitive
40%

Extremely competitive
8%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
1%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
0%

Every day
99%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
88%

Once a year or more
10%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
2%

Every day
0%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
51%

Once a year or more
20%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
13%

Every day
16%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
59%

Once a year or more
20%

Once a month or more
2%

Once a week or more
10%

Every day
8%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Hard
You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Careers in this difficulty category usually require a Bachelor’s degree and several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. Similar careers include Database Administrators, Chemists, Art Directors, and Accountants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
0%

Post-Secondary Certificate
1%

Some College Courses
16%

Associate’s Degree or similar
10%

Bachelor’s Degree
71%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
1%

Master’s Degree
2%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
9%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
14%

6 months to 1 year
14%

1 to 2 years
34%

2 to 4 years
13%

4 to 6 years
8%

6 to 8 years
2%

8 to 10 years
1%

Over 10 years
5%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
1%

1 month
37%

1 to 3 months
20%

3 to 6 months
12%

6 months to 1 year
25%

1 to 2 years
1%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
5%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
24%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
43%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
90%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
33%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
95%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
43%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
71%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
60%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
52%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
57%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
62%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
52%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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