Copywriter Job Description

A copywriter is one who prepares the words, slogans or script to promote a person, business, opinion or idea. Copywriting is part of direct mail marketing, sales letters, taglines, postcards, jingle lyrics, brochures, billboards, email advertising, Internet advertising, catalogs, white papers, television or radio commercial scripts, press releases, and other marketing media.

Copywriter's Job
The term, copywriter, is almost always used to refer to advertising copywriters who generate words to accompany advertising visuals. He/she may be employed by an agency or firm, either on permanent basis or as a freelancer. The job of a copywriter is to come up with the words and verbal content that are used alongside the visual elements. Most of these writers work closely with the advertising team, and may even provide input about the visual elements. Those who work with an agency may have to handle projects of a wide variety. However, some specialize and choose to work with only one industry sector.

A copywriter, along with the creative team, takes a client's advertising brief and produces original copy ideas with the objective of capturing the target audience's attention. It is important to ensure that the material he presents is factually correct and in keeping with the codes of advertising practice. While working on multiple projects, the duties of a copywriter may comprise:

• Attending or holding meetings with account executives, at which time the client's requirements and core messages are discussed.
• Gaining a deep understanding of the product, target audience and competitor activities in the market.
• Exploring different ideas and concepts for both the visual and verbal elements in union with the creative team.
• Preparing drafts of different initial options for the creative director. They may either be rejected or developed into workable concepts.
• Once a few options have been finalized by the team, preparing them in the form of a story board to be presented to the client.
• Make changes to the copy until the client is satisfied.
• May play a role in coordinating the production phase; booking and liaising with designers, illustrators, printers, photographers and production companies.

A copywriter's work is deadline driven. While most officially have a 5 day week, work frequently extends into evenings and weekends when deadlines have to be met.

Education and Training
Most established advertising agencies require a college degree. Apart from that, a copywriter needs to have a flair with words, a fluency with the language, the ability to persuade and a vivid imagination. High school students who feel they may be interested in pursuing a career in copywriting should take all the writing and journalism courses they can as well as make writing a habit. There are majors in advertising available at most colleges as part of their curriculum. Additionally, courses in marketing, writing, literature, communications, mass media and journalism are useful, and a good knowledge of computers is indispensable.

Salary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, advertising copywriters earn a median yearly income of $54,410. The field of consumer product sales is highly competitive, thus copywriters who work with an ad agency usually make thousands of dollars more than those who work for publishers or industrial product firms.

I hope I have helped you understand who is a copywriter, and what is a copywriter job description. If this is the field you plan to join, know that there is fierce competition for jobs, and the job is a high pressure one. However, it is interesting, and monotony or dullness are aspects you will never grumble about. Another positive point is that employment growth in advertising is expected to be good through the year 2014.