What Is Copywriting?

An Explanation for Family and Friends

It might come as a surprise to hear that your friend or family member resigned (yes, past tense) from their job. 😯

It might cause a raised eyebrow to hear that they’ve left their job to start their own business. 🤨

And, understandably so, it might cause concern (or curiosity!) to hear that they’ve not only “quit their day job” (what’s that saying?) to start a business, but that they’re starting a freelance copywriting business.


Copy WHAT? 🧐


If you immediately thought about the little c inside the circle - © - you’re not alone. In fact, that’s what most people think of when first hearing about copywriting as a career. But this kind of copywriting has nothing to do with that legal term.


So, first things first -

“What is copywriting?”

Copywriting is the art and science of writing “copy.” 

“Copy” is any written communication businesses use to connect with their customers or clients.

So when you go to your favorite website and read about their new products - those words are copy. When you scroll through social media and read about a sale - that’s copy! Blogs, emails, and even pamphlets or flyers - these are all examples of copy.

But beyond just entertaining or educating readers, copywriters specifically encourage readers to take action. 

This action can look like donating to a cause, navigating a website or blog, replying to a message, leaving a comment, downloading a file, or making a purchase - to name a few. This action part (getting the reader to take a step beyond scrolling through the words) sets copy apart from other types of writing like journalism, poetry, or drafting the next big romance novel.

Copy is also conversational in nature, so it feels like the brand or business is speaking directly to the consumer. (By the way, right now, that’s you!) This is a strategy businesses use to spread their message, build their community, and, ultimately, sell their product. 

So now that you have an idea of what copy is, your next question might be…

“Who needs ‘copy’? And how can they get it?”

Valid question. Any business that uses words to reach out to customers, spread the message of their brand, or advertise their product is using copy. 

This. Is. Every. Business.

Therefore, every business needs copy!

Some business owners produce their own copy. Other businesses hire someone in-house to do copywriting for them. Other businesses still choose to hire a freelance copywriter to meet their copywriting needs.

But brands need copywriters who have a foundational understanding of the written language and have the time and brain power to craft just-right messages to their target audience.

And just like businesses exist to enhance the lives of their customers, copywriters exist to enhance the lives of their clients. Copywriters solve problems or overcome obstacles businesses can’t or don’t want to solve on their own so that they can reach more customers and increase their product or service’s impact. 

Hiring a professional copywriter gives businesses peace of mind that an expert is writing content that will engage and build their community. By hiring out the task, business owners can utilize the time and resources saved to create their next big product or enjoy more with family and friends.

Okay, businesses need copy, but…

“What About AI?” 😥

A growing conversation among copywriters revolves around copy generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Chatgpt can write a 1,000+ word blog post in seconds. How can a human possibly compete with that kind of output? 

Copywriting is not about quantity - it is all about quality. Writing to sell goes beyond posting every day or the amount of words on the page. Copywriting takes skill to speak directly to the business’s target audience and communicate in a way that is accessible to a wide variety of readers.

But AI can also write to a specific audience, use a specific tone, and even learn from its user to take on the author’s voice and sound more like them. Interesting. Terrifying? Cool!

Artificial Intelligence can help small businesses without a budget for a copywriter outline and draft their own copy. So it’s not all bad! And using AI as a copywriter can provide for a beautiful partnership.

Writers from all backgrounds can use AI to generate ideas, outline pieces, and take some of the more mundane work off their plates. But copywriters still get to do the fun stuff - the storytelling, the wordsmithing, and adding the flair that sets a piece written by a human apart from AI-generated copy.

And, it is pretty easy to sniff out AI these days. It should also be noted that AI can’t cite sources and often makes up information. Yikes!

Businesses and customers want information with a human touch. 

Will AI eventually take over the copywriting industry? Only time will tell. But the pendulum is already swinging back to humans as the preferred source of quality copy.

This all sounds great but…

“Why freelance copywriting?”

Copywriting allows people to monetize a skill (creative, conversational writing) to help businesses they value grow their customer base and expand their outreach. This career also provides opportunities to write for various industries. 

Being a full-time copywriter for one company can provide more structure and stability. However, hiring a freelance copywriter is enticing to companies because it can save them thousands of dollars that would be needed to provide insurance and other benefits.

Freelancing also provides copywriters the freedom to work with businesses that share similar values. For instance, say (hypothetically) someone is passionate about companies that provide products and services that support the sustainability movement. That copywriter can choose to work directly with such businesses. 

And perhaps they’re excited about the freedom to build their own schedule, work from home, and spend the day with their very own office dog. Freelancing is the way to go!

Freelance copywriting provides an individual the freedom to master a skill they love and monetize it in a way that helps them build their ideal life.


Sold. But…

“Give me an example!”

Does this article - this blog - this set of 1,000 words count as copy? It does if it has a call to action. The call to action here, friends and family, is to help your favorite copywriter get her business off the ground. Keep reading to learn how you can support a budding entrepreneur in her quest to become a stay-at-home dog mom - I mean - copywriter.

(Hi 👋 I’m the copywriter, it’s me!)

Starting a Small Business Is Expensive! Some of you know first hand.

Luckily, beginning a copywriting business has very little overhead. I don’t need to pay for an office space or gas for a 50-minute commute (here we go, working from home 🥳). I am fortunate enough to already own a personal laptop, and the cost of Internet has already been factored into my monthly financial routine. 

However, during this transition, some things that would help me grow faster do not fit into my current budget.

Things like:

  • $3-$7 - There will be days I need to get out of the house. $3-$7 allows me to hole up at a coffee shop or café to get a change of pace and get some work done. 💪

  • $10-$15 - Audiobooks and podcasts have been one of my favorite forms of learning lately. A $10-$15 contribution funds one month of a subscription to my favorite audiobook/ebook service Everand and my favorite podcast platform Spotify (full disclosure, I use this for music, too!). 👂

  • $20-$30 - There are SO many books that have been recommended to me in the first few months of business ownership. While I could send an Amazon wishlist, I’d prefer to support my local independent bookstores. A $20-$30 contribution will allow me to order a book from one of my favorite local bookstores and get cracking on some mindset work and skill-building. 📚

  • $65 - One of my biggest concerns in shifting from a mostly standing/walking job in the classroom to a mostly sedentary job writing at a computer is keeping myself active. While I’m excited to indulge in multiple daily walks with Wyatt, there is a facility associated with the Ankeny DMACC campus that would allow me to not only hit the gym, but participate in group classes and utilize their pool. $65 would allow me a month's membership to Trail Point Aquatics & Wellness. 🏊

As I update my friends and family on my big life change, I’m taking the opportunity to ask for support. If you’re interested in helping me fund one or more of these expenses, you have options!

I’ve seen a few content creators use the platform Buy Me a Coffee to offer a way for supporters to gift funds, but the business owner only keeps 95% of the contribution. 😩

Options that would allow me to keep 100% of your gift include Venmo or a good old-fashioned check! See the very bottom of this post for all the information you’d need to send support my way.

You can also check out this list of local bookstores, coffee shops, and cafés if you’d prefer to send a gift card.

Finally, a note of encouragement is the highest form of support. There will be days I’m sure I’ll be down on myself and need to be reminded of the support system around me. An email, handwritten note, text message, or voicemail are all ways I can go back and read/listen to the support that is all around me.

THANK YOU for being a part of my support system. I love you all!

–

Venmo: @BMathiesen 

Email address: bcmathiesen@gmail.com

Home address: 3110 SE Cherry Blossom Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021

Call/Text: 952-237-2564