What the heck is a copywriter anyway? You’ve probably heard people talk in the last few years about copywriting and how much money you can make off of it. There are all kinds of writing that someone can do, but copywriting is definitely one of the most profitable.

Copywriters produce material that helps sell a product or service. They can write slogans, advertisement letters, anything that sells. And if you can write copy that makes something sell, you could make hundreds or even thousands of dollars for very little writing. Typically in the WAHM world, copywriters will write up the copy for the sales pages for your ebooks, autoresponder series or other product.

The reason copywriting can pay so well is because even some of the best writers can’t write a good piece of copy. While good copy can make a business a lot of money, bad copy can cost them a lot as well.

Before you get started on trying to become a copywriter, it’s best to determine if it’s a good fit for you. While it’s great to make tons of money, you probably won’t get too far if you don’t have the basic skills. Here are the main things to consider:

* You obviously need to be a decent writer, that’s a given, but you also need to have a creative flair to come up with unique ideas and content.

* Copywriters also need to have great discipline and drive. You generally have to be your own boss, make yourself meet deadlines, and constantly learn new things.

* Copywriters need to have a unique understanding of all different kinds of people and markets. Great communication and knowing what makes people tick is imperative.

* Be adaptable. The field of advertising is constantly changing. If you don’t change with it, you’ll quickly become obsolete.

So, after reading the above you think you have what it takes to become a copywriter. How do you get started?

Study, study, study! Being a copywriter can really pay well. Being a good or even a fantastic copywriter can make you very, very rich. While not everyone is going to make millions of dollars a year copywriting, no matter how hard they try, you can guarantee you’re not going to make that much if you don’t try. Being a good copywriter means keeping up on all the good techniques and knowing which ones are actually going to work online.

If you’re trying to start your own business, or apply for a job, you need to do some research before you start. Read great advertising and copywriting books; it all helps towards your education. A good book to jump start you copywriting expertise is Copywriting for the Electronic Media: A Practical Guide.  Writing copy for online is different than for radio or hardcopy.  It’s also a good idea to find some newsletters to subscribe to so you know the latest techniques and ideas.

Once you’ve gotten yourself a good basis of what copywriting is, you’ll want to decide if you want to work for an ad agency or if you want to go into business on your own. This is going to depend on your time, resources, and self-motivation, but also on your background and networking skills.

You will also want to make a few samples of your work before you even apply for jobs or look for work online. This will give them a good basis of what they’re paying for (and many people require it before they’ll hire you).

If you are starting your own business, you’ll probably have to start small and build up as you expand your customer base and your skills improve. You can visit online sites that allow people to bid on projects and grow from there.  Elance is a great place to find jobs.

Just remember to never get discouraged. Become a copywriter and work around your families schedule. Copywriting is a tough industry. Build your portfolio and become very profitable.

Please be aware that links may take you to affiliate products that I do make a percentage of sales from.

This was posted by Val on January 25th, 2010. You can find more information like this in Expertise and Featured.