When I first heard about copywriting, I was kind of confused as to how the simple legal right had evolved from protecting print, music and films to promoting and selling businesses. Then I discovered that ‘copyright’ and ‘copywriting’ were two entirely different things.
In today’s article, I’ll be introducing you to the fast-growing copywriting scene, through one concept that is said to be the best teacher; experience. With that being said, I interviewed two highly experienced Nigerian copywriters about this astoundingly lucrative occupation, and it was interestingly insightful.
- Senilore Oremodu (@Quickiepaedia)
In Your Own Words, What Is Copywriting?
Copywriting is storytelling for the purpose of sales. To me, it is the way a marketer bridges the gap between ignorance and interest in a product.
How Did You Get Into The Copywriting Scene?
I’m a naturally funny and witty person. In 2017, someone sent me a DM to say he liked my content and wanted me to handle a couple of brands for him. Now, I was naturally gifted but I had no training so I did a poor job. After that stint, I read all I could find on the principles of copywriting (the AIDA model) and my career just kind of bloomed from there.
Are You A Fulltime Copywriter, Or Is This A Side Hustle For You?
Copywriting is a fundamental aspect of digital marketing and content creation. So, at this time it’s just a skill that goes along with all my other skillsets, it is a full-time thing for me though.
Where Can A Copywriter Work?
Hahaha! The question is where can’t a copywriter work? The obvious place to work will be an advertising or digital agency, but in this current day and age, an inhouse marketing team has become an integral part of almost every organization. As a copywriter, you can create content, be a digital marketer, work in production (as a scriptwriter).. I mean, anywhere words are used, there you are.
What Is The Pay Range For This Kind Of Work?
Okay, since I combine my copywriting with UX writing, content creation and digital marketing, I cannot say for sure what copywriting alone will earn. However, if I had to hazard a guess, I’ll say the level would be N80,000 – N150,00 with your salary increasing as you gather more skills.
Are There Cons In This Line Of Work?
It is hard to be creative on demand, no matter how gifted you are. Sometimes the words don’t just come. Remember your exam days when you would forget how to spell “is”? It be like that sometimes. Also, the Nigerian employment scene does not allow copywriters exist in a vacuum. They want you to be a jack of all trades and it’s frustrating to say the least.
Any Advice For People Looking To Get Into The Copywriting Scene?
Reaaaaaaaaaaaaad! Read every and anything. Also, tweet a lot.
I think ten years of Twitter trained me to be the copywriter I am today. My reason for saying this is because Twitter forces you to pass a message across, as succinctly as possible in only 280 characters. Also, research great copywriters (David Ogilvy and others) and see how they bent words to their will. It is tough work, but it works.
What Do You Love The Most About Being A Copywriter?
I get to play around with words and convince people to make decisions I have programmed for them. It is a thrilling feeling and when the copy and graphic design blend to give a different vibe to the creation? Whew, orgasmic!
Please, Brag About Your Working Experience.
Haha! I wrote the copy for Patricia’s Bitcoin advert that got to Trace TV and all. Some of my works were for international clients with non-disclosure agreements, so I’m not allowed to spill.
Is There Anything Interesting About Your Journey In This Field That You Would Like People To Know?
Uhm, nothing comes to mind at the moment but something I would like people to know is, copywriting isn’t as easy as it looks. It takes work. It takes practice. But when it gives, oh what a feeling!
- Emmanuel Akpe (@princeofcopywriting)
In Your Own Words, What Is Copywriting?
Copywriting is basically selling with words; it is 80% sales and 20% writing. It is the writing of copies which are basically anything written to get sales. It could be product descriptions, it could be sale pages, it could be web content, it could also be social media posts. Whatever is written to get sales is a copy.
How Did You Get Into The Copywriting Scene?
I got into copywriting fully in 2017, but from 2015 -2016 I was already writing on a freelancing website called fiverr.com, but I knew it was going to be copywriting I’d commit to. When I decided to narrow my skill to a niche and heard about it from one of my online mentors called Dan Lok who talked about it extensively, I was like okay, I think I can write and I know how to sell, I actually love selling. So, the idea came to me that I should combine these two skills of mine and call it copywriting for myself also.
I think there was only one Nigerian who I was hearing it a lot from then, her name is Susan Nnamani. That was how I discovered and started copywriting, it has been 3 years now and it has been amazing.
Are You A Fulltime Copywriter Or Is This A Side Hustle For You?
I am a fulltime copywriter.
You can get into copywriting fulltime or part time. There are actually four aspects of this line of work; there is corporate copywriting where you write for companies, there is freelancing copywriting where you work for freelancing sites like Fiverr, Upwork and so on, there are also agencies where you can offer copywriting services to clients, and there is brand copywriting which I believe anyone can get into. You can also use copywriting to enhance your skills, it’s like a catalyst or an enzyme, it can be used to activate other skills.
Where Can A Copywriter Work?
Anywhere sales are needed.
A copywriter can work in any company or business that needs sales, and since every business needs sales a copywriter can pretty much work anywhere.
The work of a copywriter is to make conversions, to look at the inherent emotions that make people buy and touch or manipulate these emotions so that they can make purchases. People buy from emotions and justify with logic, so your ability to touch those emotions and say the right words, sways them to buy.
For instance, if someone is considering purchasing a service or a product, they have objections in their heads, so as a copywriter you are to write to kill those objections, the more objections you kill, the higher your chances of making sales.
What Is The Pay Range For This Kind Of Work?
Copywriting is a high-income skill, so you can earn about N500,000 and above. Personally, I have made 7 figures for close to 13 months now from copywriting. Well, not solely copywriting but from training, writing, sales of e-books, mentorship and consulting. Copywriting on its own is still a high-income skill. In America, average copywriters make about $10,000 and above
Are There Cons In This Line Of Work?
The cons in this line of work are for those who want to get into it quickly and start making money just like that. You don’t rush into copywriting and expect to make lots of money in the snap of a finger. It takes time, mastery and research. The deeper your depth in this field, the better for you.
Any Advice For People Looking To Get Into The Copywriting Scene?
Getting into the copywriting scene will be way easy for you if you piggyback on mentors, so look for someone that’s into this occupation and get trained by them, it is easier that way. If you model the best you would eventually become the best. Most people want to figure out this line of work on their own, although this is possible, but getting a mentor is way more effective and time efficient.
Also, take courses like the Bachelor of Copywriting which I took, you can also take other minor or major courses on copywriting. Prominent figures in this field such as Dan Lok, Alex Cattoni, Neville Medhora also have online courses that one can take.
What Do You Love The Most About Being A Copywriter?
Well, it’s the time and flexibility it gives me. I love the fact that I can do whatever I want, manage my time efficiently and attend to other businesses whilst juggling copywriting. Also, the rewards are far more than the effort I put in; I don’t write as much these days but the rewards I get are very outstanding.
I also love training people in this field and hearing testimonies of people’s working transformation, another thing I love is the financial independence that comes with being a copywriter, I can walk out of any unfavorable work setting and still make a living as a freelancer.
Please, Brag About Your Working Experience.
I won’t call this bragging, but I’ve been working on Fiverr for a lot of foreign clients. I work for my mentor who is a prominent Nigerian figure, I also work for myself; I sell my own copywriting classes. My Bachelor of Copywriting course has racked up over 2,400 registrations, which is a milestone for me. I go through and edit people’s copy too and the results just pour in after my input.
The fact that I can make money at any time, anywhere, from anybody and in any country is a big flex.
Is There Anything Interesting About Your Journey In This Field That You Would Like People To Know?
Well in 2019, my earnings from copywriting and hosting classes skyrocketed from a five-figure earning to a seven-figure earning in less than eight months. But there was a lot of hard work going on behind the scenes.
There you have it, everything you need to know about copywriting. I hope this was just as enlightening for you as it was for me. The best part of this line of work is that you do not need a formal education to get into it, just take a look at some of the top-paid copywriters in the world, they never took writing classes, and neither did they go to college!
Okay, this article is informative!
It’s mouthwatering how challenging this feels already.
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