Top Five Things They Don’t Tell You About The Copywriting Industry

Want to be a copywriter but are worried or clueless about the industry? Listed below are five things nobody tells you before going into copywriting!

BAD “AGENCIES”- There are tons and tons of good creative agencies to work for. But not enough people talk about the BAD ones. Be wary of agencies who exaggerate a products worth or benefits, and use tools such as “click funnels” to gain eyeballs. These agencies only care about money, and often use unethical marketing tactics such as targeting the elderly with deceptive ads, or promising desperate people with medical conditions a cure-all for their ailments.

YOU DON’T NEED A DEGREE- While a degree is always helpful, copywriting is a field that doesn’t necessarily require it. If your portfolio is impressive enough, you can get jobs. Attending school to learn about working in the ad industry is a plus, but is a bit of a fallacy because the world of ads moves at lightning speed, thus curriculum is often WAY behind the curve. You can learn most of the skills to build an awesome portfolio online, or with services like Skillshare.

YOU CAN GET STARTED NOW- Sites like Fivver allow amateur copywriters to get their feet wet while also making a little money. Clients who need copy for cheap often come to these sites for quick contract work. This is a great way to learn about relationships with clients, and how to work with feedback. Once you have built up a porfolio and have a history of paid work, you can apply for internships in order to learn about the agency side and the work culture.

THERE IS A LOT OF EGO- As in any creative industry, there are a lot of big egos. Learning how to be diplomatic with people who are not used to hearing “no” is practically a must. Learning to navigate office politics will serve you no matter where you go. Lean on your research and provide concrete examples why their ideas won’t work, in order to increase your chances of creating an amazing end result.

IT CAN BE CUTTHROAT SOMETIMES- The ad business is a fast and competitive one. While some agencies are laidback and more creativity focused, some are not, and foster a culture of backstabbing. Be careful who you share information with, as some of your coworkers may use it to bring you down so they can get ahead. Be sure to get real feel for the agency you are working for before you relax in your work enviroment.