This article was updated 03/29/2024
โNobody reads ads. People read what interests them. Sometimes itโs an ad.โ
Why is copywriting important? The late Howard Gossage, a Mad Men-era iconoclast renowned in certain corners of the advertising industry as โThe Socrates of San Francisco,โ once shared this pearl of wisdom over 50 years ago about the importance of good copywriting.
Heโs still right.
Letโs face it: Why would we make time to read something that doesnโt remotely interest us? Every day, from the moment we have our first sip of coffee to right before we turn off the lights for a nightโs slumber, we are bombarded with information and convoluted messaging from brands that run the gamut from car insurance companies and soft drink giants to news organizations and political campaigns. Every. Single. Day. It can be exhausting, and our collective overreliance on smartphones has only further exacerbated the issue.
With the oversaturation of brand messaging in todayโs media landscape, how can a company cut through all the clutter and noise to reach their target customers?
Now, there are a number of valid answers to this question: respecting your target market, understanding their needs, powerful design, etc. โ all very important variables. But clear, concise, and well-written copywriting is the key.
But letโs back up a little bit for a moment.
Table of Contents
What is Copywriting?
Copywriting is the art and science of strategically crafting and publishing targeted, reader-focused words (or โcopyโ) that compel people to take some form of action.
Copy is used to create everything from billboards and TV spots to websites, social media posts, and product descriptions. What really distinguishes copywriting from other forms of writing, however, is the last line of its aforementioned definition: it compels people to take some form of action.
Copywriting Research
Professional copywriters research your organization’s identity. This deep dive ensures a comprehensive understanding of your brand, enabling effective connection with your intended audience.
Research May include everything from etymology, synonyms, and symbolism to researching your market.
Create catchy headlines and taglines to be used throughout your marketing portfolio.
Difference Between Copywriting and Content Writing
Despite their similarities, copywriting and content writing are strikingly different. Letโs take a closer look at how theyโre constructed and what theyโre intended for. This is not to say a professional copywriter can’t be proficient at both types of writing.
Why is Copywriting important: Words Sell Things
Thatโs basically the main idea behind copywriting. Directly influencing consumers to take action and make a purchase is the goal of any copywriting, regardless of the medium (products, services, events, ideas, or brand impression). The tone of copywriting is typically more straightforward and convincing. It may try to get people to do something by appealing to their emotions, creating a sense of urgency, or using language focused on the benefits.
Content Writing Offers Insightful Thoughts
Content, on the other hand, is writing that offers value to the reader/consumer โ in the form of information, entertainment, news, etc. โ without a direct call to action (CTA) or strategy to drive profitability. Articles, blog entries, and social media updates all fall under this category.
The tone of content writing can range from conversational to engaging, depending on the subject matter and intended readers. The main goal is to captivate the audience by offering helpful advice, entertaining stories, or insightful thoughts.
Content writing can help SEO and create brand awareness, especially if you create original content within your area of expertise. Think of content writing as a honey trap. You have what people are searching for; boom, they are on your website or social feed. You’ve made an impression and hopefully a conversion.
Why Copywriting is Important
Weโve previously written on this site about the importance of branding your company, but the crucial role that copy plays throughout the process cannot be understated.
Think about the last time you visited a relatively high-end-looking website โ one with an aesthetically pleasing design, an intuitive layout, good use of color, and easy navigation. All of the vital components were there, with one glaring hangnail of an exception: weak website copywriting. Whether it was feature-dumping writing, sloppy typos, or used-car-salesman-caliber CTAs, something felt โoffโ about the copy that created a disconnect, possibly on a subconscious level, which ultimately brought your website visit to an abrupt end.
Thousands of companies make the mistake of treating copy as an afterthought, merely a cluster of words hastily strung together to tell people what their businesses are about. What this unenlightened bunch has yet to realize is words have power.
Good copywriting not only reflects your companyโs core values, but it also speaks directly to your target audience and creates a lasting impact on them, steering them toward connecting with your brand and engaging in the action you want them to take.
Copy should be more focused on your customer, not your company.
Following this concept can be a somewhat tricky balancing act, but when deftly executed, it can yield far more positive returns to your business.
While itโs certainly important to tell your target audience about your companyโs history, values, achievements, and accolades, itโs crucial that youโre consistently keeping their needs and interests at the forefront of your focus. Remember that quote from our olโ pal Howard Gossage near the top of this page? โPeople read what interests them.โ
And itโs your job to find out what those interests and needs are because thatโs what every copywriting strategy needs to consider. Copywriting is less about your company or any other company, really; itโs more centered on your target audienceโs perception of your brand. What can you do, specifically, to meet their needs and desires, making their lives a little easier in the process?
Define your brand voice
Defining your brand voice โ your companyโs overall style of communication โ boils down to asking yourself one question: How do you want consumers to perceive your brand?
Thereโs a specific way you personally communicate with your friends, loved ones, colleagues, and other acquaintances, right? Your brand voice works exactly the same way, except itโs carefully designed for and directed toward your target audience. It can have any style โ be it authoritative, playful, quirky, or passionate โ as long as it feels true to your companyโs value and overall persona.
Consumers tend to invest more in brands that they feel a deeply human connection with, not companies that come across as inconsistent or insincere in their copy. Establishing a relatable, honest tone that speaks directly to your customers is the gateway to creating a successful brand voice โ and consistency is paramount.
Itโs less about what you say โ itโs how you say it.
Bringing it All Home
Every line of copy in your brand messaging and every sentence on your website or campaign headline have to serve a purpose in order to make an impact on readers. You have one shot at creating a desired impression. Make sure your copy is clear, purposeful, insightful, and persuasive.
Within the walls of Mighty Fineโs Ybor City lair, weโre constantly crafting strong, strategic copy for clients who want to not only pierce through the noise of modern-day media but also establish an emotional bond with customers that translates to higher sales. When youโre ready to take your brand messaging to the next level, weโre here to help.