What Skills Do You Need To Produce Great Copy?
Do you need any special qualifications or skills to be a copywriter?
Absolutely not!
You do not need formal qualifications to be a successful copywriter. To be a great copywriter, you need to be creative, independent with good communication skills and knowledge or personal interest in sales and marketing.
Nevertheless, the five skills below will make it much simpler for you to generate successful and effective copy.
English Language Skills
High-level English language skills are a must. Readers are often looking for a copy that uses the correct sentence structure, word choice, grammar, and spelling. As a copywriter you should also pay close attention to punctuations.
There are loads of free websites to help you brush up your English skills when needed. Reading widely is also quite helpful to build your vocabulary.
Detail Oriented
And, in addition to English language skills, you’ll need the ability to spot errors in your work. Your copy should be as error-free as possible before sending to the client or uploading it for your readers. Often times, as a freelance copywriter, you’ll be your own proofreader and copy editor it is therefore expected to have a great eye for details.
Research Abilities
Know how to carry out thorough research, investigation, and critical analysis on the topic you wish to write. Of course, the internet and modern technology simplifies the process by making it swifter and easier. Exceptional research skills also apply when you want to understand your client and the target audience.
There is no limit to what you can find on the internet and books if you know how and where to find it.
Great Vocabulary
An extensive vocabulary is helpful. It’s important to have a wide variety of words to use in your copy, instead of the same hackneyed favorites. But in some instances, you may have to stick to the common and tested words especially when looking to achieve a powerful headline.
Do not repeat the same words especially in the same paragraph. As a beginner, the Thesaurus is a great place to start. It provides valuable assistance in inspiring diction that is more vivid and sensory, allowing you to cut adverbs and adjectives that may clutter your drafts.
The Ability To See Different Viewpoints
As a copywriter immersing in someone else's story or experiences, brings out the best of both worlds. Your opinion and theirs. You must be able to listen closely and see another person’s perspective. When you put yourself in the shoes of readers and customers, it allows you to be more empathetic and share different views respectfully.