March 28, 2024
What’s the difference between content and copywriting and its uses
What’s the one lie you were taught about content writing? Is it that copywriting and content writing are the same thing? It’s easier to mix them up if you’re new.
When you’re writing for an organic website, you’re doing content writing but if you intend to sell or sponsor on social media you are copywriting. Below are some of the most important uses of copywriting and content writing. When you review them, you’ll see how different it is to sell with a copy and update with a newsletter.
“When the speech fails, writing prevails”.
What are the uses of content writing and copywriting
Content writing
- Educational and informative: Content writing is known to educate and inform audiences in a range of niches and industry insights. Unlike copywriting, content is written with the intent to educate and inform.
- Engaging content: If you need impressions-per-click for your website, you would highly resort to content writing. This style of writing is persuasive. Content writers are great storytellers, and have a good sense of humor — which is an asset for the market.
- Thought leaders: For aspiring businesses, a good content writer is worth hiring. They can provide insightful newsletters, articles, blog posts even case studies to keep the enterprise informed and updated on new trends. This is why content writers are also known as technical writers.
- Creating Community and Conversation: Content writers can start a discussion, a forum, or a blog that can magnetically bring back the audience for more.
- Value over time services: Content writing is timeless. Unlike copywriting which loses the edge over time, a good piece of content writing remains useful and informative throughout the ages.
Copywriting
- Writing catchy titles and headlines: Copywriters are here to grab your attention, they do so by writing catchy titles and headlines that can either lead you to buy or subscribe! These titles and headlines are SEO optimized and are put together to stand out in crowded online spaces, bringing positive clicks and engagement.
- Persuasive language and psychological triggers: Copywriting persuades people to act by using words and tricks that affect how they think and make decisions. Copywriters use tactics like creating a sense of urgency, and showing that something is rare so that readers approve it.
- Writing Effective Calls to Action (CTAs): You might have heard of CTAs in content writing and that’s where copywriters and content writers meet. These CTAs are put in content to drive conversions, whether it’s making a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or downloading a resource.
- Overcoming doubts: Copywriting deals with addressing reader concerns about a product or service. It convinces them to take action, like buying or trying the product, by using persuasive arguments.
- Stressing Benefits and Unique Selling Points (USPs): Copywriting highlights the special benefits and features of a product or service convincingly. Copywriters show how it solves problems, meets needs, or enhances lives, making it too good to ignore or miss out on.
Why Is Copywriting important
Copywriting matters because it helps businesses rank higher in searches, sell more products, and build a better brand. It’s the key to getting noticed online, increasing sales, and standing out from competitors. Plus, it’s especially beneficial for small businesses to communicate effectively and reach their audience.
Types of copywriting
- Direct Response: It gets immediate, measurable responses and helps companies keep track of success.
- B2C: It targets consumers with the help of various materials to boost sales and brand engagement.
- B2B: This form of copywriting focuses on businesses that need detailed sales content for complex purchases.
- Content Marketing: Shares info to attract and educate, with an average $207,500 annual budget per company.
- Social Media Copywriting: Reaches billions, offering great earning potential for copywriters.
- Ad Copywriting: Creates short, clear content to prompt actions.
- Creative Copywriting: Adds fun to brands and boosts awareness and sales.
- Digital Copywriting: Optimizes web content for search engines, ensuring visibility.
- SEO Copywriting: Blends writing with SEO for organic traffic.
- Technical Writing: Makes complex info clear, with steady demand and good pay.
What happens if your copy is not good
If your copy isn’t good, people might not trust your brand. Studies show that if a website looks bad, nearly 4 in 10 people will leave it. Almost half of people think a website’s design is crucial for deciding if a business is trustworthy. Bad writing can also mean you miss out on getting new customers and keeping old ones, which isn’t good for business.
Causes of low conversion rates:
- Not a good experience for users.
- Content that doesn’t matter or isn’t strong.
- Not clear about what makes you special.
- Problems when people try to buy or sign up.
- The wrong kinds of people coming to your site.
- Not trying enough different things or making things better.
Content writing and copy-writing: where do they meet
Although copywriting and content writing are two opposite ends of the spectrum, they do have a common ground. Content writing and copywriting both aim to grab attention and convince people using words. They use similar tricks like storytelling and understanding the audience. By using psychology and user data, they both try to make people take action, like buying something or signing up.
Top five lies Copywriters love to tell
“I charge every client the same rate.”
It is a flat-out lie nobody would buy. Let me enlighten you. All projects require different research and time investment. Think about it, you can’t expect the same quote for a 10,000-word footwear sales letter and a T-shirt commercial email.
“Whenever you need it, I can get it done.”
The only truth to this is, that copywriters can get a copy done today but the rugged refining, brainstorming, and editing might take weeks or months. It depends on the research and SEO required.
“Your email hit my spam folder.”
Copywriters and content writers share this same lie. Although it might be true for newcomers not always but not for someone looking to get on the revision train. Although good copywriters might not be Gmail experts, they still routinely check the spam folder to avoid time-stalling on their part.
“I can’t share my sample.”
Sure, sometimes a writer works on a secret project and can’t talk about it. A good copywriter always has a portfolio. If they can’t show published work, they’ll have examples they wrote just for this. Some less honest writers might say you don’t need to see their portfolio, but real ones will show you their work and happy customers to prove they’re good. They don’t just ask you to trust them; they show you what they can do.
“This copy is gonna sell for anyone”
Any good copywriter knows this is nonsense.
You can’t write copy for “everyone” – good copy is made for specific people with specific problems. It’s aimed at the perfect customer and might not appeal to others.
Some dishonest writers won’t ask about your target audience, so they won’t sell much to anyone, including your ideal customer.
They’ll miss important parts of good copy, like addressing the right problem, easing worries, showing benefits, and bringing in your ideal customer for a sale.
Top five lies content writers love to tell
“Your email hit my spam folder.”
Content writers are often over-occupied with work and a spam folder might be a good excuse to stall a client for a few days, if not weeks. Honest content writers would let you know, that they can’t fit it in their schedule at the moment, and move on.
“Being a writer is so much fun”.
Being a writer isn’t always easy or fun. While there are enjoyable and simple moments, the truth is that great writing is tough and not very enjoyable.
Think about it like watching a bodybuilder. They might not seem to be having fun with all their effort and grunts, but look at how strong they become! Strong writers are similar. They push through the tough parts because they have goals to achieve. They find satisfaction in their work, which is more valuable than just having fun.
“I have nothing to write about:”
Everyone has stories to tell, even if they think their life is uneventful. Writers with no faith will say “I’m out of ideas” but that’s not true and we all know why.
“Writing is too difficult, so why try?”
While writing may be tough, giving up because of its challenges is senseless. Keep writing to improve yourself and your craft.
“I don’t have the time to write”
Baloney! You do have time to write. Put down your phone. Stop binge-watching. You can even write in the bathroom. This lie is the easiest to stop believing.
Needless to say, the most important thing about being a writer is writing. Find time to write. Keep thinking about writing. Look at everything from a writer’s perspective—can you turn it into a story? This is how you become a writer, even though it’s tricky and full of challenges. But the good part is, you mostly create these challenges yourself. So, overcome them, and keep writing without stopping.
Wrap Up
Not all writings are the same. You might put a fancy block of text with font size 11 but it’s more than that. You can be a vicarious wordsmith but if your writing doesn’t serve a purpose, it’s neither the above.
FAQs
Q.1. What does a copywriter do?
Ans: Copywriters use persuasive language to influence readers and drive specific actions, like making a purchase. They highlight product benefits and address objections to convince people effectively.
Q. 2. What pays more? Content writing or copywriting?
Ans: Copywriting usually earns higher pay compared to content writing. On average, entry-level copywriters make about $49,000, whereas entry-level content writers start at around $40,876. But remember, actual salaries can vary based on experience, location, and industry demand.
Q.3. Can I do both copywriting and content writing?
Ans: Yes, you can do both copywriting and content writing! While they need different methods, learning copywriting principles can improve your content writing skills, helping you engage and convince your audience effectively across various platforms. In other words, you can sell and educate at the same time.
