The Internet has created new career opportunities, including web copywriting. Web copywriters must use search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to increase website traffic. An academic background in marketing and English is ideal, and gaining experience through volunteering can be helpful.
The Internet has created countless professional opportunities and added a technical element to certain careers that were previously considered low-tech. Copyright, for example, was once limited to media such as print, radio and TV. Today, however, thanks to the Internet, virtually all information an organization puts on the Web is part of an overall advertising and branding initiative that requires copywriters who are especially skilled at writing for the Web. If you want to become a web copywriter, there are certain steps you can take in terms of research, education, and practice that will put you in the best possible position to start a career on the web.
Unlike print ad copy, web copy employs certain techniques in your content to increase the likelihood that it will be found by your target audience. These techniques, known as search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, require web writers to insert targeting keywords and phrases into their web copy so that they are picked up by a search engine. For example, a web copywriter who writes for an entertainment website might put commonly searched celebrity names in the web copy to drive more traffic to the website. Because search engine optimization is so essential to web advertising, anyone wanting to become a web copywriter should research and become familiar with search engine optimization principles, including keyword placement, link baiting, and landing pages.
The ideal education for anyone studying to become a web copywriter includes an academic background in marketing and English. While a marketing education can give you the knowledge of which words resonate most with which audiences, a background in English can teach you how to write clearly, concisely and in compliance with the rules of spelling and grammar. If you already have a degree in English, consider taking a certificate course in marketing or vice versa to get a comprehensive education in both fields.
If you are striving to become a web writer but are currently employed in another role, volunteering to take on web writing responsibilities as part of your current job can be a great way to gain professional experience in the field. For example, if you are currently employed in an administrative capacity with an organization that does not have marketing professionals on staff, consider offering to edit or rewrite content for the company’s website. From there you can also write newsletters, ad banners and start a company blog which will add to your portfolio of professional web writers.
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