How to Get Into Copywriting

Recently I’ve been reflecting on how much I bloody love my job. It’s rare to say that, but my accidental career in content and copywriting has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my life.

If you’re in marketing and wondering how to get into copywriting, you’re asking the right question. Copywriting is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. It’s in demand, it pays well, and it’s something you can do from anywhere.

Best of all, the transition from general marketing to copywriting isn’t as difficult as you might think. If you already understand marketing fundamentals, you’re halfway there. You just need to develop the specific skills and frameworks that make copywriting work.

Let me walk you through exactly how to get into copywriting, based on my own journey and working with dozens of copywriters over the years. This guide will show you the path, the skills you need, and the steps to take to build a copywriting career.

What is Copywriting, Really?

Before we talk about how to get into copywriting, let’s be clear about what copywriting actually is. 

Copywriting is the art and science of writing words that persuade people to take action. That action might be buying a product, signing up for an email list, clicking a link, or calling a phone number.

Copywriting is different from content writing. Content writing is about providing information and building authority. Copywriting is about moving people from one mental state to another. It’s about overcoming objections, building desire, and creating urgency.

Good copywriting understands human psychology. It speaks to the reader’s desires, fears, and aspirations. It addresses objections before they arise. It makes the reader feel understood.

Why You Should Get Into Copywriting

The demand for copywriters is high and growing. Every business needs copy (and content). They need sales pages, email sequences, ads, landing pages, and more. Most businesses are terrible at writing copy themselves (and no matter what you hear online, AI can’t do this either).

This creates an opportunity. 

If you can write good copy, you can charge premium rates. You can work with high-ticket clients and genuinely build a sustainable income.

Copywriting also gives you leverage. Once you learn the principles, you can apply them to anything. You can write better emails, better social media posts, better blog content. You become more valuable in every marketing role you take on.

The Skills You Need to Develop

Before you dive into learning copywriting, understand that copywriting requires specific skills. You can’t just be a good writer. You need to understand psychology, marketing, and persuasion.

First, you need to understand your audience. Who are you writing to? What do they want? What are their fears? What language do they use? The best copywriters are obsessed with their audience.

Second, you need to understand the product or service you’re selling. What are the features? What are the benefits? What makes it different? You need to know your product inside and out.

Third, you need to understand copywriting formulas and frameworks. AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action). PAS (Problem, Agitate, Solve). These frameworks help you structure your copy in a way that persuades.

Fourth, you need to understand psychology and persuasion principles. Scarcity, social proof, authority, reciprocity. These principles influence human behavior, and good copywriters use them ethically.

Steps to Get Into Copywriting

So, how exactly can you turn a love of words and learning about how people think into a genuinely sustainable career? Here’s 6 steps to your dream new role.

1. Study Copywriting Fundamentals

Start by learning the basics. Read books like “Copywriting Secrets” by Jim Edwards or “The Boron Letters” by Gary Halbert. These books teach you the principles of persuasive writing.

Take online courses. Platforms like Udemy and Skillshare offer copywriting courses. These courses teach you frameworks, formulas, and real-world examples.

2. Study Great Copy

The best copywriters are voracious readers of copy. They study sales pages, email sequences, ads, and landing pages. They analyze what works and why.

Start a swipe file. Save examples of copy that persuades you. Analyze it. Why did it work? What principles did it use? This is how you develop your eye for good copy.

3. Practice Writing Copy

You can’t learn copywriting without writing. Start with small projects. Write email sequences for your own business. Write sales pages for products you believe in. Write ads for local businesses.

The key is to write, get feedback, and improve. Every piece of copy you write teaches you something.

4. Build a Portfolio

To get copywriting clients, you need to show them examples of your work. If you don’t have real client work, create spec work. Write a sales page for a product you love. Write an email sequence for a business in your network.

Your portfolio doesn’t need to be huge. Three to five strong examples are enough to get started.

5. Start Getting Clients

There are several ways to get your first copywriting clients. You can reach out to your network. You can use freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. You can pitch to agencies. You can start your own copywriting business.

The easiest way to get started is often through your existing network. Tell people you’re available for copywriting work. You’d be surprised how many people need copy.

6. Specialize and Build Authority

As you get more experience, specialize. Maybe you focus on SaaS copywriting. Maybe you focus on email marketing. Maybe you focus on sales pages. Specialization allows you to charge higher rates and attract better clients.

Build authority in your niche. Share your knowledge. Write about copywriting. Help other people learn. This builds your reputation and attracts clients.

Common Mistakes When Getting Into Copywriting

The biggest mistake beginners make is focusing too much on writing and not enough on content strategy. Good copy starts with understanding the audience and the goal. The writing comes second.

Another mistake is not studying enough before you start. You need to understand copywriting principles before you start applying them. Don’t skip the learning phase.

A third mistake is giving up too early. Copywriting takes time to learn. Your first pieces of copy won’t be perfect. That’s okay. Keep writing. Keep improving.

Resources to Help You Learn

There are excellent resources available to help you learn copywriting. Books, courses, communities, and mentors can all accelerate your learning.

Join copywriting communities. Subreddits like r/copywriting, Facebook groups, and Slack communities connect you with other copywriters. You can ask questions, get feedback, and learn from others.

Find a mentor. If you know someone who’s a good copywriter, ask them for advice. Most experienced copywriters are happy to help beginners.

Read widely. Study not just copywriting books, but psychology books, marketing books, and sales books. The more you understand about human behavior and persuasion, the better your copywriting will be.

The Path Forward

How to get into copywriting is a journey, not a destination. You start by learning the fundamentals. You practice by writing copy. You build a portfolio. You get clients. You specialize. You build authority.

The path isn’t linear. You’ll have setbacks. You’ll write copy that doesn’t convert. You’ll lose clients. That’s part of the process. What matters is that you keep learning and improving.

If you’re serious about building a copywriting career, commit to the process. Study. Practice. Get feedback. Improve. Repeat. Over time, you’ll develop the skills and experience to command premium rates and work with the clients you want to work with.

The good news is that copywriting skills compound. Every piece of copy you write teaches you something. Every client you work with teaches you something. Every book you read teaches you something. After a year of focused effort, you’ll be dramatically better than when you started. This is why copywriting is such a valuable skill to develop.

Frequently Asked Questions