By Neil Patel

Not quite sure what makes a good copywriter?

This isn’t a huge surprise, since there’s a lot of confusion about copywriting.

It’s often compared to content writing, and some use the terms interchangeably. That’s not entirely accurate, though. Just what is copywriting, and what makes it different from other types of content creation?

Here’s a quick explanation.

Copywriting is very goal-driven. The writer of the ad or other marketing copy wants the reader to take a particular action. Copywriting can refer to call-to-actions (CTAs), email copy, social media ads, and anything else that encourages users to purchase or convert.

There’s no doubt about it. The words you use in your sales copy can be hugely impactful. Just take this example from the web design and SEO agency WiseU. They tested four different CTAs:

• Free estimate
• Free quote
• Get a Quote
• Get a Price

Perhaps not surprisingly the ‘Free Quote’ CTA won. After all, most of us can’t resist the word ‘free,’ and ‘quote’ gives the feeling of something concrete, rather than just an estimate.

It was just a subtle change from the original CTA of ‘Get a Quote’ but it made a small but measurable difference to click-throughs.

While we can’t guarantee you this level of results, in this guide, I detail how to write copy that drives sales and pleases your customers. Good results often follow.

What Is Copywriting?

As explained in the intro, the goal of copywriting is to get users to take a specific action. For example, you might want the reader to sign up for your newsletter, click to find out more about a product, or move them along a sales funnel. Ideally, a brand’s copy drives sales and conversions while also creating meaningful experiences for its target audience.

Copywriting is precise, effective, and requires a lot of creative problem-solving. Components such as features, benefits, and price all combine to persuade a consumer to convert. Your copy is the way you communicate these aspects and your value to your potential customers.

How Does Copywriting Differ from Content Marketing?

One of the most common questions people have about copywriting is how it differs from content marketing.

Just like copywriters, content marketers are vying to get users’ attention in a brief amount of time.

According to one survey, users spend an average of only two minutes on a blog post before leaving. Copywriters also have just moments to capture a user’s attention.

However, the aims of copywriting and content marketing copy are different.

Content marketing focuses on indirect sales goals, like educating, amusing, or building brand awareness. Examples of content marketing are things like blog posts, white papers, e-books, and webinars.

The main aim of copywriting is to get readers of the content to take a certain action, and you usually see it in ads, CTAs, and product descriptions.

Let’s take my blog as an example.

The overall idea of the blog is to inform you about …read more

Source:: Kiss Metrics Blog

Author: Aaron