On a scale of one to ten, how persuasive would you say you are?

If you’ve given yourself a solid “ten”, you’ve got what it takes to be a copywriter. See, that’s what copywriting is about. It’s your ability to persuade people to do something, whether it’s signing up, reading a blog, or downloading an emo music enthusiast’s debut album.

It sounds easy, but trust us — it’s more complicated than that. Even if you were born with the powers of persuasion, it’ll take a bit of time to know how to write copy that converts.

Fortunately for you, we’re here to break down the basics of copywriting:

What Is the Goal of Copywriting?

Copywriters know that shoving products or ideas down people’s throats never works. They know that audiences dislike nothing more thanmarketers that are clearly there to make a quick buck.

Their goal is to get their audience to do something through subtle persuasion. To do this, they tap into people’s emotions to write compelling copy that will eventually convert.

Where Can You Find Copy?

Copy is everywhere. It’s on web pages, product pages, Instagram ads, and more. Chances are, you’ve already seen at least 6,000 pieces of content that have been written by a copywriter — and that’s only for today.

If you didn’t notice that you were already reading copy, that’s because copy should be low-key. Copywriters know what you want and they give it to you without you ever knowing.

Is Copywriting the Same as Content Writing?

Content writing is not the same as copywriting, but if you’ve always believed that, we don’t blame you. That’s a common misconception among marketers — and a costly mistake, too.

Marketers need to work with a well-versed writer that understands what type of writing aligns with their goals. Content writers focus on information, while copywriters are pros at persuasion.

The two of them create content (particularly SEO content), however, it is the copywriter’s role to ensure that their audience performs a specific action.

What Should You Keep in Mind When Writing Copy?

Now that you know what copywriting is, how do you write copy that works? Below, we’ll take a look at a few fundamentals of copywriting to help you get started:

1. Who are you writing to?

The key to writing good copy is to know who you’re writing to. Taking a page from the book of SEO, if you’re targeting people who’ve Googled “arctic vessel mechanics”, you’ve got to know more about who they are, and why they were looking for that in the first place.

Get to know their age, gender, hobbies, habits, and the like. This will give you the tools you need to write copy that speaks directly to them.

2. Where are you writing your copy?

Again, get to know your audience to determine where to engage with them. As an example, you might think that older folks are the target market for RVs, but in fact, the market is made up of 18 to 34-year-olds!

In that case, you probably wouldn’t want to write copy on LinkedIn, but on YouTube and Facebook, because those are the social media sites they use.

3. Why should they do as you say?

As a copywriter, your words should be so convincing that people would do what you wanted them to do.

Why should they choose your products over your competitors? Why should they download your guide on great dental hygiene? Why should they add your products to their cart?

In short, you should show them why you stand out and why your solution is perfect for their needs.

4. What value can you provide?

As a rule of thumb, you need to address the problems they might have — no, you don’t need to be their therapist, but you do need to tap into their pain points.

Once you’ve discovered what they want, you can be their “matchmaker” and market the products, services, etc. that they’d likely be interested in.

For example, let’s say that your audience wants more information on IRS downpayment but they’re struggling to understand tax terms.

As a copywriter, you could convince them to download an ebook by using its “easy-to-read format” as a selling point.

Can Anyone Write Copy?

Anyone can write copy, but not everyone can write copy that converts. That’s why it’s important to sharpen your copywriting pencil and practice how to write copy that’s sure to convince even the most loyal audiences.

One trick you can try is to keep an eye out for copy that you’ll likely see online. There’s a good chance that those companies paid good money for the top copywriters, so study how they write!

And if you ever find yourself stuck, don’t be afraid to ask for help.