Copywriter Career Guide and Counseling

Question: What is the difference between a writer and a copywriter? I think they deal with same task: writing, but once in a job advertisement I noticed that the company looked for both a writer and a copywriter, so it means they are diffrent.

Answer: writer is the author of the piece. They do the research, write it, revise, edit. A copywriter, writes the copy for the book. Copy is industry lingo for advertising. So a copywriter writes some blurbs, writes pitches to book stores, works with people in production on posters. They might also write press releases to be sent out to reviewers (the people that rate the books in magazines)

Question: How much experience do I need to be a freelance copywriter? I'm thinking about being a freelance copywriter (part-time at first of course.) I'm a pretty good writer and I've taken lots of classes and have done lots of research but how much experience do you actually have to have before you start applying for jobs? One more thing, I do keep a blog for the company where I am employed full time, (not as a copywriter, I do other things) does that count for anything or should I not even mention it?

Answer: Everybody has to start somewhere, so go ahead and apply. I'd suggest a cover letter or email expressing your interest and being honest about your lack of experience. Any samples of your writing you can supply would be helpful; I'd definitely mention the blog, as you can give the address for it and the person can check it out if they like. A couple of pieces of advice about freelancing: make sure you can discipline yourself to work and meet deadlines--meeting deadlines is at least as important as the quality of your work. Keep track of everything and remember that whatever rate you are being paid should cover your taxes (including a big bite for SS taxes) and other expenses that an employer might cover (e.g., health insurance, retirement savings).

Question: How much would you consider paying a professional copywriter for a radio commercial? Assuming you're a business person, what would you feel comfortable paying an experienced copywriter to write a radio spot and have it professionally produced (voice,etc.)? What would you pay for just the script and no voice work? Perhaps you have someone to do the voice.

Answer: The script varies, but probably will run you roughly $125 to $300 per minute of script. Professional production will double to triple that; more, if the voice talent is good/expensive enough. The person you have may not be as good for radio voice work as you think they are. Professional radio voice talent gets a minimum of $235/hour outside of NY, Chicago and L.A.; and the rates go up from there. How widely will this be used? For how long?

Question: How do you get into an ad agency as a copywriter? I'm a fresh graduate, and I took up Integrated Marketing Communications. I do not have any previous copywriting experience except for that class I took back in college. Do I have to have any published works to show if I want to be a copywriter? If so, what sort of published works? Would editorials do, or should I have any piece of fiction published?

Answer: put together a portfolio and do the rounds of the agencies and sell yourself.

Question: What is a reasonable salary request for a first time Advertising Copywriter? Sort of last minutes as I need to accept or decline an offer tomorrow morning. I have one year's experience as a copywriter in marketing at a book publisher.

Answer: This is pretty much based on where you live. If you're not near a metro area then most intro jobs go from 25,000 - 35,000, the high end for more technical or specific work. If you're in a large metro area you can ask for a bit more. There are Web sites out there that can help you suggest a salary. http://www.salary.com/

Question: When a design agency employs a copywriter, what exactly does that person do? What type of degree is required or is best for becoming a copywriter? Any info at all on this career.

Answer: Writes the text to go with graphics

Question: What is an ideal graduate course for my copywriter friend? She used to be an account executive, now a copywriter and wants to be a creative director in the future. She's thinking of taking up graphic design but she's not yet fully decided. She has an undergraduate degree in communications research.

Answer: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_director - creativecommons.org/about/people - www.creativegroup.com/TCG/TCGJobs - smarter.com/the_creative_director_alternative_rehearsal_techniques en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Director - www.creativegroup.com/TCG/CreativeAndProduction - www.creativedirectors.net - www.creativedirector-freelance.com/index.html - - alibris.com/search/search.cfm?S=R&...&qsort=p - www.creativedirector.com

Question: Any idea what the average salary of a junior interactive copywriter is in an interactive ad agency? Wondering if anyone has any idea what on average (or the range) a copywriter makes doing interactive work in a major city. The position is for a junior writer with 0-2 years experience. Also if you have any idea, do writers make more working in interactive than a traditional ad agency?

Answer: $8.00 per hour, no benefits.

Question: How can I become a better copywriter? I currently work in an advertising agency as a copywriter and have an easier time thinking of 'creative' ideas than actually writing headlines and body copy.

Answer: read more books on the subject. read "stand like lincoln speak like churchil".

Question: What does a Junior Project Manager Copywriter do? I just applied for a job, that didn't give much detail as to what it's really for. I applied for it because I need a job desperately and it said it would be willing to train. So does anyone know what a Junior Project Manager Copywriter does? Thanks! sure whatev, if you can give me a real answer and how you know it.

Answer: I like this question. But to answer it.. would have to make sure i get the best answer for sure. You see, I am doing this compitition against my sister as to see who gets the most best answers in a week. I would appreciate it if you could choose my answer as best..I would really honor that. Thanks for your time.

Question: Do I need to go to college to become an advertising copywriter? And what exactly is a copywriter? Is it the same as a jingle writer? And if I should go to college for it - what do you suggest I major in? Communications? With a concentration in what?

Answer: i think you don't have go to college to learn about advertising copyright... you can learn it at online. Just like i said, you just need to search at yahoo or google... If you really like to learn about advertising, I think you can learn about advertising at http://www.hanrz.com/advertising . It has everything at there. Just go and see it. This site i found it when search on google... So enjoy it...;)

Question: what do you think about working abroad as an advertising copywriter? I am copywriter for 5 years in Istanbul. I have worked for international brands, national brands. Now I wanna go to abroad for working as a copywriter. But I do not know "entering the job part" of this issue. Do you have any suggestions about that?

Answer: Working abroad in advertising may be a little tricky. Advertising concepts and designs do not always transfer well from country to country or from culture to culture. I would have concerns about hiring a foreign advertising copywriter to do work anywhere other than their own country.

Question: WHich one is a better option Instructional designer or copywriter? I am standing on crossroads. I have two job options in my hand, first one is that of an instructional designer and another option is to work as a copywriter. I am in a state of mess cant decide where to go?

Answer: Well, it really depends on whether or not you would like to scope isn't it? If it's your first job, then take the one with a bigger scope. If not, take the one that pays higher.

Question: Writing portfolio help! What's a good way for a copywriter to present his work in person? I've been a copywriter for years, but whenever I present my work, I feel like there's got to be a better way. I've tried an artist's porfolio with clear sleeve pages, but then the prospect has to pull a brochure or an annual report out of the sleeve to look through it. I've tried a box, too, but so many pieces are odd sizes that it either has a bunch of small stuff or things too big to fit in it. I've got a job interview coming up and I need some help! I should know this by now.

Answer: I think you should present in electronic form, putting both pdfs of your print work and QT files of your broadcast on the same disk. Those grandiose boxes are hell to manage, while a simple disk with a killer introduction is disposable and demonstrates mastery of technology. Plus it saves you a bundle on shipping. One thing I also do is write a very short rationale for each portfolio piece. Some creative directors will blow past that and only look at the headlines, et al. But the sharp creative directors know that they need copywriters who can quickly master the business needs of their clients...not just push a few words together. I freelance, so I'm lucky that a dozen shops now use me on a regular basis.

Question: What do I major in if I want to become a copywriter? Copywriter, not copyrighter. AKA content writer. What would you major in for that?

Answer: Journalism, perhaps a combination of English and Advertising. Samples are big so do as much as you can to create a portfolio.

Question: What types of policies and laws does a Marketing Copywriter need to be familiarized with? ? What types of policies and laws does a Marketing Copywriter need to be familiarized with? Please be specific. I gather they would need to know contract laws and copywriting laws but I need more information on this and I am not sure where to look for it.

Answer: You need to know the Contract Law and the Copywriting Law.