Unleash Your Inside Wordsmith By Becoming An Online Copywriter
Are you a creative person? Do you love to write? Have you ever wanted to make money without having to leave the house? Online copywriting could be your perfect career path.
As an online copywriter, you get to combine your love of writing with your passion for creating unique and engaging content. This powerful tool can express emotion, tell stories, and educate. Whether you’re a content freelancer or a digital nomad, online copywriting provides a great way to make money while still giving you plenty of time and freedom to pursue other projects.
Let’s look at what makes online copywriting such a great career opportunity.
What is Online Copywriting?
Online copywriting is the art of crafting compelling words that communicate ideas, tell stories, and persuade readers to take action. It is an essential part of any digital marketing strategy and a great way to make money from home.
Offline vs. Online Copywriting
Offline and online copywriting have some fundamental differences. Online content must be tailored to the specific online environment, with considerations such as Search Engine Optimization (SEO) playing a major role. It is also more likely to include interactive elements such as video content or embedded social media posts.
Offline copywriting focuses on delivering an engaging message using print or broadcast mediums. Unlike its modern counterpart, the content looks the same everywhere it is published. There is no specific device format (smartphone, tablet, desktop, smart TV, etc.) to adapt to. Besides, it tends to capture more people’s attention because online readers are often one click away from being distracted by an ad or a competitor’s blog.
Online copywriting needs to be well-crafted, informative, keyword-rich, and SEO optimized to ensure success. By contrast, offline copywriting, like radio or television, relies heavily on creative messaging to capture attention and drive results. Both serve different purposes and are important components of a successful marketing strategy.
Online Copywriting Examples
Compelling online copy should be concise yet engaging, emphasize key messages with strong headlines and visuals, and create an emotional connection between the target audience and your brand.
Here are some examples that demonstrate how online copywriting can be employed in different formats:
- product descriptions
- blog posts and articles
- social media content
- ad copy
- email cop
- FAQs
- landing pages
Let’s Go Deeper Into Each Of These Areas
- Product descriptions provide detailed information about a particular item for sale. They should include clear details on features and benefits alongside helpful images or videos that showcase its functionality.
- Blog posts and articles are great ways to provide helpful information and build trust with online readers. Content should be informative, relevant, and conversational to help the reader feel connected to your brand.
- Social media content is one of the most effective online copywriting formats, allowing you to engage directly with online audiences. Posts should be concise yet compelling enough to draw attention, accompanied by eye-catching visuals that will make them stand out from others on the feed.
- Ad copies are short-form pieces of content. You cannot build a narrative around them, yet you must catch your audience’s attention with a few words. Unlike the previous forms of online copywriting, marketers can directly measure ad copy efficiency thanks to metrics like CR (Conversion Rate) or ROAS (Return On Ad Spent).
- Email copies provide an efficient way to reach online customers and keep them informed on new products or services. Emails should be personalized with targeting keywords, enticing visuals, and persuasive body text that encourages readers to take action.
- FAQs are a great way to answer frequently asked questions about your product or service and quickly provide concise information. Content should be written clearly and organized into logical categories, so online customers can easily access the answers they need.
- Landing pages capture the attention of online visitors by providing short but powerful descriptions of products or services in an easy-to-navigate format. Content should be written in a conversational tone and include persuasive Calls To Action (CTAs) that motivate readers to convert.
Whether it’s writing website content, articles, advertisements, or social media posts, great online copywriters create persuasive messages that motivate people to do something. The ultimate goal of online copywriting is getting readers to click CTA buttons like “Buy Now!”, “Subscribe,” or “Contact Us,” whatever the desired outcome may be.
How Can Online Copywriting Benefit Your Brand?
Experienced online copywriters understand that their words shape people’s thoughts about their product or service. When done correctly, online copywriting can help brands:
- raise their visibility across the internet
- boost their products or services awareness
- attract new qualified leads
- engage their customers
- increase their sales
Crafting clever headlines and interesting content makes people read what you have to say. This kind of engagement is priceless as it differentiates your brand from your competitors.
By using the right keywords for organic optimization and targeting specific customer segments, online copywriters maximize their reach and visibility online. For example, if a company sells organic skincare products targeted towards women 25-35 years old living in New York City, then they would want their copywriter to use relevant keywords such as “organic skincare” or “skincare for women NYC” so that their website appears higher in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). This way, more people looking for organic skincare products will find them quickly and easily!
Online copywriting is a precious skill set in your arsenal.
What Does it Take to Be a Successful Online Copywriter?
The best online copywriters are passionate about their craft and have excellent written communication skills. They also must have strong research abilities, so they can quickly become knowledgeable about any given topic and shape their copy accordingly.
Successful online copywriters know how to engage their audience with creative ideas and stories that draw readers in and keep them engaged until the end. It also helps if they are good at thinking on their feet and able to come up with new ideas quickly when needed. Above all, being organized is essential because deadlines tend to come fast when working in this field, especially when they work for clients.
What are the Advantages and Draw Backs of Being an Online Copywriter?
Before you take that leap of faith, consider the pros and cons of online copywriting.
Let’s Begin With a List of Advantages of Being An Online Copywriter:
- job flexibility
- huge content demand
- work on subjects you love
The main benefit of being an online copywriter is flexibility. You get the freedom to work from anywhere in the world without having to be tied down by rigid office hours or strict rules about attendance.
Good-paying copywriting work is always available for those willing to combine hard work with focus and determination. With an ever-growing list of clients from all over the globe looking for content writers, this could be just the opportunity you have been looking for!
Online copywriters are mostly experts in specific areas. No one can force them to produce a copy of something they don’t like. Online copywriters control their assignments. Most 9 am-5 pm Monday to Friday jobs cannot claim the same.
Conversely, you must be aware of the drawbacks of online copywriting.
Let’s Cover The List of Drawbacks of Being an Online Copywriter:
- not able to choose one’s boss
- job insecurity
- fierce competition
Despite the growing need for content, online copywriting can sometimes feel unstable. There are times when the workload is massive, and the opposite also occurs.
Freelance copywriters need to be sure how much money they will earn at the end of the month. Besides, most employers prefer to pay per word and love to cut the so-called “unnecessary content” from the piece to get a better price. Worse still, on occasion, the online writer may get stiffed by the “impossible-to-please” client claiming the content missed its mark, whatever that means.
Online freelancing applications are a growing trend, and copywriting is no exception.
To face this competition, online copywriters must present themselves professionally and showcase their skills and experience. Ideally, they should network with potential employers and build relationships that could benefit both parties down the line. Once they know each other and mutual trust and respect are established, the parties may prefer to work on a “project basis” without restrictions on such issues as content length.
What Does an Online Copywriter Do?
Online copywriting requires much more than filling in a blank page. We explained earlier that content writers must use their skillset and knowledge to create engaging copy that encourages people to take action.
A Sum-Up of The Online Copywriting Process:
- competitor analysis
- keyword research
- copy structure
- body text writing
- proofreading
- editing (depending on feedback)
Before starting any work, the copywriter must check the content the competitors publish about the topic. The top 10 Google results for a given key phrase are a gold mine of information because they tell which content ranks the best. Since it is the goal of online copywriting, it is a good idea to identify what search engines consider best practices. Of course, online copywriting must go further than rephrasing existing content.
Keyword research evaluates the demand for content and reveals the topic trends. By analyzing their search volumes and user intent, the online copywriter gets the right direction to produce his content.
SEO experts know that you should only write long-form content with a clear copy architecture. It implies having an idea about the subheads, the paragraphs, the lists, and overall, the metadata of any web page.
Once the structure is defined, it is time to generate the core content. As a rule of thumb, great copy should be unique, useful, and knowledgeable. Most of the content published across the internet could be much better, so skilled online copywriters are becoming more valuable.
Proofreading is an essential part of the online copywriting process. Once the writing has been completed, it’s time to go back and review the content for any errors. This step should be noticed, as small mistakes can easily be missed during the writing phase. Good proofreading requires attention to detail, so it’s a good idea to take some time away from your online copy before returning to proofread it.
Copywriters working for clients must expect feedback from them, especially when they still don’t know each other. This phase can be time-consuming if both have different visions. The best of avoiding this is to make the content brief and clear from the beginning.
What Are The Rates For Professional Online Copywriters?
What Do Market Rates For Online Copywriters Depend On?
- experience and portfolio of work
- specialty
- location
- job requirements
- relationship with the employer
What Are The Ways-Methods Copywriters Get Paid
- per word
- per hour
- per article (project)
How To Earn The Best Possible Rate?
Rates differ a lot from company to company. An online copywriter in the United States typically earns between $0.03 and $0.08 per word. Experienced copywriters charge their high-quality services at $0.1 up to $1 per word. The problem with this business model is that it doesn’t value the copy as a whole, and online copywriters tend to “fluff” their content to get paid more.
With the hourly rate, an average online copywriter earns between $25 and $50 per hour. Experienced professionals with a proven track record of delivering high-quality content may command higher rates closer to the $50/hr range. Those who specialize in specific niche industries or subject matters may be able to negotiate rates as high as $200 per hour.
Unfortunately, most employers don’t trust this way of pricing content. Online copywriters need to stay knowledgeable about the current market trends for their trade to maximize their earning potential and remain competitive.
Additionally, some online copywriters charge a flat fee for their services rather than a per-word or hourly fee. However, if online copywriters are asked to produce a one-time discounted sample of their work for a client, then the payment structure may vary according to the length and complexity of the job.
Ultimately, online copywriters can earn anywhere from $25 to several hundred dollars per article, depending on their experience level and quality of work. This is the best way for copywriters and their employers to work. Proficient digital copywriters with a solid portfolio can make a 6-figure annual income.
The online copywriting industry continues to grow rapidly as companies look to create more engaging content that resonates with their target audience. As such, there will always be opportunities for talented online copywriters willing to put in the time and effort needed to become successful at this craft.
Examples of Online Platforms Offering Copywriting Jobs:
9 Tips for Becoming a Successful Online Copywriter
The Key Is Writing Killer Content
Learning how to write killer content combines one’s innate ability to write creatively while mastering the technical side of SEO.
Nine Tips To Mastering Online Copywriting
- research your topic and industry
- build relationships
- learn the online copywriting tools
- know Search Engine Optimization
- use analytics
- craft engaging headlines
- structure your copy
- stay organized
- focus on providing value
Let’s detail each of the nine items below.
#1 Research Your Topic and Industry
You need to stay current on digital marketing trends to provide relevant and compelling content for your clients.
#2 Build Relationships
Networking with other online professionals is essential if you want long-term success as an online copywriter. Getting known in the field will increase your credibility as an expert, leading to higher-paying gigs.
#3 Learn the Online Copywriting Tools
To be successful online, you need to master a variety of software programs and tools that help create engaging content for online readers. Keep up to date with new online technology and incorporate it into your copywriting process when appropriate.
#4 Know Search Engine Optimization
A major goal of online copywriting is to get the attention of major search engines so you can rank well. SEO does all of this. Unfortunately, most content writers know how to produce copies but have limited to no expertise in SEO. Learn this valuable skill to make a difference.
#5 Use Analytics
To stay competitive in the online space, consider data-driven insights. Analyzing data helps improve what works, identify potential problems, and find solutions quickly and efficiently. Use tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and Google Tag Manager to measure the effectiveness of your online copy.
#6 Craft Engaging Headlines
A compelling headline draws readers into the article. It makes them want to know more about what you have written. Consider the audience and their interests when crafting a headline, and make sure it is relevant to the online copy you have written.
#7 Structure Your Copy
For long-form content, you want to follow a clear architecture that helps readers understand the content flow. Logically use subheads with sections and subsections to guide them. Remember that most people, at least 80% of your traffic, only read titles and quickly scan your content.
#8 Stay Organized
Online copywriting requires the management of multiple projects at once. You must stay organized and on top of deadlines and tasks. Utilize online project management tools such as Asana, Trello, or simple Gantt charts to keep all online projects running smoothly.
#9 Focus on Providing Value
Ultimately, online readers want content that informs, entertains, or educates them in some way. Focus on creating high-quality online copy that provides genuine value for those who read it. Make it better than the existing content (that you should be aware of as you have carefully read tip #1 of this section). This will build your online credibility and success as an online copywriter and, over time, please both the search engines and clients.
Is AI-Generated Content the Future of Online Copywriting?
In 2023, everybody talks about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on content production. Tools like ChatGPT: https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/ worry even the mighty Google. Let’s review what those automatic tools can bring to the online copywriting world.
What is AI-Generated Content?
AI-generated content is online copywriting created with Artificial Intelligence. It has become increasingly popular as online businesses look for affordable ways to automate their online copywriting tasks while still providing quality content.
Some brands have begun using this technology to create online articles, blog posts, product descriptions, and marketing material.
With AI-generated content, businesses are expected to benefit from faster creation times, more accurate information, improved engagement levels with readers, and more consistent quality throughout multiple pieces of content.
In addition, using AI-generated content helps reduce costs associated with manually crafting online copywriting materials. It is quickly becoming a valuable tool for online businesses looking to maximize their digital presence.
Will AI Copywriting Replace Human Writing?
AI-generated online copywriting is quickly gaining traction in the world of content marketing. AI technology makes it easier to create compelling and engaging online content at a scale, but many marketers still need to rely on more than just automated solutions.
There are many benefits to using AI for online copywriting, such as saving time and money, increasing accuracy, and ensuring consistency across platforms and campaigns. However, the drawbacks also need to be considered in AI-driven online copywriting.
When comparing AI-generated online copywriting with human copywriting, one of the main differences is how errors will be managed. While human authors may be able to catch mistakes or typos that computer algorithms can miss, they’re also prone to making their own mistakes.
AI copywriting, on the other hand, can eliminate human errors and provide a more consistent online experience. It doesn’t mean that AI is more reliable than people.
If you have used those tools, you have certainly noticed that bots tend to repeat themselves if they need to be corrected.
Another major difference between AI-generated online copywriting and human copywriting is the level of personalization that can be reached. With an AI system, online content can be tailored to each customer’s needs and preferences, providing a more targeted experience for readers. This allows marketers to deliver more relevant online content without manually creating customized content for each user.
With the right online copywriting strategy, businesses can create compelling online content that engages their customers and grows their business. Ultimately, it’s up to each business to decide which route they want to take when it comes to online copywriting: AI or human-driven solutions. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding.
In 2023, Artificial Intelligence still cannot work alone when it comes to online copywriting. They need human revision. However, no one can deny that AI makes online copywriting much faster.
If you want to try an AI online copywriting assistant, check out:
Ready to Learn Online Copywriting?
Online copywriting is one of those skills that can benefit virtually any business in the digital age. The demand for content is high, and the job offers lots of freedom.
While there may be stiff competition, those who put in the necessary work can find success as online copywriters!
So why not give it a try? Who knows where it might lead? With practice comes proficiency, so get out there and start writing! In the meantime, you can check out this list of online copywriting courses if you want to learn more:
You can succeed as an online copywriter with dedication and hard work and unleash the inner wordsmith in you today!
