A copywriter is someone who makes the text that appears in websites, newsletters, advertisements, and other marketing channels. Their objective is to persuade people to take a particular action, be it to book an appointment or buy a product.

As for why you should become a copywriter and how to become one, check out our previous blog post which details the advantages of this field. There you will also see actionable steps to take such as defining your niche, improving your skills, and finding clients.

What are the typical career paths of a copywriter?

The career path for copywriting involves other types of editing and writing until the ideal role becomes vacant. The industry is competitive so it’s recommended for writers to get relevant education and build a portfolio of testimonials and samples.

Whether you decide to study, be an agency intern, open a business, or do a combination of these, there’s a way that’s right for you. Let’s take a look at the areas where your career path might diverge but still end up becoming a copywriting professional.

Studying to get qualified

When you’re dipping your toes into this field for the first time, it may seem the best route is to study the subject and learn as much as possible about it. Pursuing a formal education that’s related to it is the right path for some people.

Tertiary degrees related to writing

Writing degrees are rare, especially in the Philippines, so employers hardly expect applicants to have one. Rather, they search for bachelor’s degrees in related areas, such as communications, journalism, marketing, English literature, and advertising.

If you’re planning to take a second course that’s related to writing, go for courses like a Bachelor of the Arts in English or in Mass Communications. These give you opportunities to pursue an apprenticeship or internship in writing and editing.

Tertiary degrees not related to writing

It’s still possible to become a copywriter even if your degree isn’t related to marketing or writing. Many professional writers have a college diploma in fields like engineering or chemistry. You’d be surprised to learn that many copywriters graduated from IT or nursing.

While your degree won’t prepare you for writing, it does provide you in-depth knowledge in areas you may specialise in. For example, you may leverage your engineering background to become a technical writer for manufacturing or tech companies.

Up to secondary education only

You don’t always need a university degree to become a copywriter. Online and in-person programs make it possible to pick up writing and editing skills through independent study. You might have informal training, such as writing for the school paper, too.

A quick Google search will reveal that there are plenty of virtual courses where you may gain writing skills. Take your pick from the selection in Coursera or Udemy, but these cost money. If you want to learn for free, read blogs about content marketing or watch videos on YouTube.

Building up work experience

By far, one of the most important aspects of your career path lies in the diversity of your work experience. Writers who have been in the industry for years just let their skills and experience speak for themselves. They show future employers and clients what they’re capable of.

Working as a writer

Get on track for a copywriting career by getting a writing job. Work as a creative writer, technical writer, corporate writer, or even journalist. This enables you to gain experience on how to use written content to communicate effectively with a target audience.

Switching from another field

Some copywriters start out with non-writing jobs before switching to copywriting. These roles are usually related to their college education, such as a healthcare or nursing position. They eventually move on to a specialised writing field, like medical copywriting.

Deciding on a role

Your career path as a copywriter may vary according to the actual role you take on. Just as writers work in different industries or niches, they also have a variety of work arrangements.

Working in a PR agency

Consider working for a public relations firm or advertising agency as a copywriter. You’ll be able to work on a variety of projects for all kinds of clients. The problem is you don’t get to choose which campaigns or clients to work for and when.

The freedom to choose may come after you have risen up the ranks and become an editor or manager. One of the perks about this is that you don’t have to look for clients yourself. That will be the job of the sales department or lead generation professionals.

Working freelance

If you want to have complete control of the types of projects and clients you work on, choose to work for yourself as a freelancer. One thing about working freelance is that you have to invest time and effort in promoting your services to get clients.

You’ll be able to charge higher rates if you specialise in a specific type of writing, such as social media advertising or email marketing. There’s also the option to specialise in a specific industry, such as personal finance, health, or technology.

Working in-house

It’s also a good idea to become an in-house writer for a company. Some businesses hire copywriters themselves rather than outsource for their content needs. Since you’ll be a full-time employee, you get to enjoy a stable income and employee benefits.

Like with working for an agency or firm, you won’t have to worry about selling your services and searching for prospective clients. You’ll be focused on your employer’s products and industry. This means you won’t have that variety that working in an agency or freelance might have.

Work as a remote copywriter

Copywriting provides an outlet for your creativity but you get paid for it. This makes it a popular career option, especially in this digital age when most people are connected to the internet. The best thing about it is that it’s easy to perform remotely.

Are you interested in becoming a virtual copywriter? We at Remote Workmate are connected to companies and clients who are searching for copywriters like you. Regardless of your education, experience, or preferred arrangement, we’re sure to have a spot you’ll fit in.