What is the Difference between Content Writing and Copywriting?
Briana Hilton
Guest Writer
By the year 2027, the majority of the US workforce will be comprised of freelancers. If the independence of being your own boss appeals and you have a knack for writing, you may have thought about becoming either a content writer or a copywriter. There is a big difference between the two, with Payscale listing the average salary for a copywriter at around $52,000 and that of a content writer at $46,000. Of course these amounts vary considerably depending on the gig you land and whether or not you are copywriting for a high-end firm. It isn’t the same, for instance, to create a slogan or motto for advertisements for a startup as it is for an upmarket car or luxury brand. Apart from pay, what other aspects differentiate content writers from copywriters and how can you shine at either or both jobs.
Different Aims
Copywriters and content writers differ in their main aims. Copywriters are considerably more sales-oriented. They write copy that is meant to convert traffic or printed copy into leads or sales. Examples of copywriting include emails, Internet and print ads, sales letters and landing pages, case studies, advertorials, marketing campaigns, product or service advertising, and marketing copy.
Comparatively, content writers produce a much wider gamut of content. Although content can have the indirect effect of bringing in sales or converting leads, the writing itself can simply be centered on entertaining, informing, or enlightening readers. Content writing can include everything from travel blogs to lifestyle blogs, ebooks, magazine articles, white papers, social media posts, and the like. In a nutshell, the main goal of content writing is to educate, summarize, or share knowledge.
How can You Ace Your Copywriting Skills?
Copywriters who want their audience to take immediate action must be highly skilled at wordplay, brevity, accuracy, and other qualities that enable writing to capture attention quickly and influence the reader to take action. Writers at the higher rungs of their profession will often be very well-read on current affairs, cultural references, colloquial talk, and the like.
They know the most important influencers, important channels, memes, and other media dominating social and traditional media alike. Their writing is crisp and clear and they rely on plain English principles. They are also adept at writing headlines and entire sentences with clever twists and references their target audience will instantly connect with.
How can You Write Better Content?
Content writers have to possess many of the qualities that copywriters do, which is why many freelance writers carry out both tasks (often for the same clients). Some content (such as blog posts or reports) have a larger word length, which affords writers more freedom to express all their ideas. To produce quality content, writers also need to be well read, to be aware of common grammatical pitfalls, and to check their content meticulously. They should use tools such as Grammarly to check for misspelled words, an excessive use of the passive voice, and other elements that wrest authority or readability from their text. Finally, great content writers have many of the talents that copywriters do – including the ability to embellish their text with solid cultural, historical, or current references that hook their audience and make them come back for more.
Many freelancers aim to obtain both copywriter and content writer gigs. Many of the skills required for both overlap – including the ability to communicate one’s message clearly. Salaries for both jobs differ, especially if one is copywriting for a high-end ad agency or firm. This makes sense when you consider that copywriting is a crucial part of sales while content writing garners sales in a more indirect, informative manner.
