February 7, 2008
What do you do?
As a copywriter, I often meet people who aren’t familiar with my occupation. Just the other day, while lying in the dentist’s chair, my hygienist asked me what I do for a living. When I told her I was a copywriter, she paused, smiled politely, and then asked, “What exactly do you do?” I subsequently entered into a not-so-short lecture on what copywriters do—and do not do.
(OK, so maybe I was trying to stall her, but that’s not the point.)
What’s ironic to me is that although many people are not familiar with the copywriting profession, most of us are very familiar with a copywriter’s work. In fact we encounter it every day—in a magazine, over the radio, on TV, online.
Put simply, copywriters write copy (with copy defined as “words to be printed or spoken”).
Any advertisement, Web site, brochure, user manual, newsletter, or direct mailing you’ve seen or heard was written by a copywriter. (The layout, graphics, coding—basically anything other than the words—was most likely done by a graphic design professional or Web developer.)
Some copywriters are employed in-house by organizations or advertising agencies, while others (like me) work for themselves as freelancers, writing for numerous clients in various industries. Personally, I prefer the flexibility of self-employment and the freshness of working with each unique client.
Here’s a quick rundown of what copywriters do and do not do:
Copywriters do: write persuasive marketing materials to help promote and sell products.
Copywriters do not: have any clue about copyright law (at least not the copywriters I know).
Copywriters do: educate various constituencies by writing clear, informative Web sites.
Copywriters do not: photocopy documents for a fee.
Copywriters do: engage and motivate audiences with compelling copy.
Copywriters do not: copy the writing of others (this would be illegal and would merit the services of someone skilled in copyright law …).
Copywriters do: inspire readers to take action.
Learn more about what I do at SmithWriting.com.
Filed by rebecca at 2:47 pm under Copywriting
rebecca,
thx for clarifying what copywriters do! people are always asking me questions about copyright protection and i (like most copyWriters) don’t know anything about it!
-j