Ah, you want to be a copywriter do you?
I have lots of people visit my site who are just dying to be a copywriter. Many think it's an easy job that doesn't require much education. Duh. To be a copywriter takes years of training and, moreover, one must be a very good salesperson.
Here is the official take on what a copywriter is and does.
COPYWRITERS write the words used in advertisements for newspapers, radio, television, magazines, and other media. Copywriters may also write publicity releases, promotional or informational booklets, sales promotion materials, or they may work on merchandising campaigns. They sometimes write radio and television commercials or trade journal articles about products or services. At times Copywriters may be called upon to edit or rewrite existing copy. Copywriters may be assigned to a variety of accounts and must be versatile enough to adjust to each new product and medium and to vary the language and tone of each message.
Agency Copywriters may also work on annual reports, sales brochures, point-of-purchase materials, instruction manuals and press releases. Some broadcasting stations employ Copywriters to prepare advertising material and station announcements. No matter the size of the operation, Copywriters
must be knowledgeable about copy writing, art and layout, space and time buying and selling copy.
In small firms, Copywriters may help co-workers fulfill these functions. The duties are varied and require thorough knowledge of the agency's operations.
Now a freelance copywriter like myself --- well, we do it all. We write anything and everything. But, to be honest, most of us specialize and don't take jobs we don't want. That is, when we've been at it long enough. When we're new and young, we have to take any job we can. At this point in my career, I choose my jobs. But that takes lots of experience and time.
How about the pay. Well, at the stage where I am and where copywriters like Joe Vitale and Bob Bly are, the pay is great. But starting out, it's miserable. You work long hours for low pay.
The average wage for Copywriters is about $40,000 per year. Assistant Copywriters earn from $27,000 to $35,000 per year. Senior Copywriters can earn $100,000 per year or more. Agency Copy Chiefs can earn up to $125,000 annually. Creative Directors, who supervise the art as well as copy work
and who are responsible for the entire process, earn up to $200,000 a year.
Although the normal workweek is 40 hours, there is considerable overtime. Compensation for overtime is at time and a half the regular rate. Peak hours of work in department stores occur most frequently before holiday seasons, and in advertising agencies during advertising campaigns.
Profit-sharing plans are becoming increasingly popular in advertising firms. Most employers offer paid holidays and vacations, retirement benefits, participation in medical, group life insurance, and hospitalization plans.
It's best to have a good liberal arts education and training in sales and marketing. But actual work, both writing and selling, is the best entry.
And if you want to go freelance, be prepared to buy your own insurance and work your royal butt off. Is it worth it. Ah yes. Yes it sure is.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
American Association of Advertising Agencies
130 Battery Street, Suite 330
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 291-4999
http://www.commercepark.com/AAAA/
American Marketing Association
250 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 200
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 648-0536
http://www.ama.org
The Association of National Advertisers
41 East 42nd St.
New York, NY 10017
(212) 697-5950
http://www.ana.net
Susanna on 10.09.04 @ 11:12 AM CDT [link]
Announcing --- Martha Stewart Prison Living, the Magazine for Living Cool Inside
Okay, that was a come-on, I admit. Made you notice didn't it? So here's what I'm thinking. Martha is a broad with gonads. She's smart as hell. And my guess is that she's going to do her time and not let her time do her.
No, I don't really think she'll launch a slick magazine called Martha Stewart Prison Living but I do think she'll come out of the other side a much wiser person and one with new ideas that will make her and her company more money.
Martha Stewart was born Martha Helen Kostyra on August 3, 1941 in New Jersey. She was the first daughter of Eddie and Martha Kostyra. She was born to a large middle class family of Polish heritage. She has a older brother, Eddie. She also has 4 other siblings.
When she was born, her family lived in an apartment in a two-family home. They bought a house in Nutley, New Jersey when Martha was three years old. It was a busy household with six kids. Martha's mother cooked and sewed clothes for the family. She saved money by making the childrens' clothing. Martha's parents believed in a strong work ethic.
Martha's mother taught her how to cook. They had large Christmas celebrations and Martha and her mother baked and decorated cookies. Martha also learned the art of canning and preserving at her grandparents' home in Buffalo, New York. She spent some summers there as a child. They taught Martha how to preserve and can vegetables and fruits. These are skills that would prove to be important in her life.
Martha's father, Eddie, was an avid gardener. He shared his gardening skills with Martha. They would work together in the yard and garden. They would plant flowers, fruit trees, and bushes of berries. Their garden grew and evolved over time. Martha learned many of her skills used today from her parents and grandparents.
Martha attended schools in Nutley, New Jersey all the way to college. She was an excellent student. Martha also loved to read. She was active in extracurricular activities as well. She was involved in the school newspaper, the Art Club and several other clubs.
As she came from a large family, her house was always bustling with visiting family and friends. They often entertained and the family would do all the preparations, such as cooking and baking. Unbeknownst to Martha, this was the beginning of her "entertaining" career.
So knowing her history, I just have to think she'll make the most of this next five months. It won't be easy and it won't be fun. And she'll see a side of life she has never seen or dreamed about. But it will, I suspect, make her even stronger.
I personally don't think Martha should have gone to jail. But since she did, look for a new and improved Martha to reappear through the gates of Alderson.
Susanna on 10.09.04 @ 10:52 AM CDT [link]
Stumble It!
![[Valid RSS]](http://www.susannahutcheson.com/graphics/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")
![[Valid RSS]](http://feeds.rapidfeeds.com/chix_pix/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed"){kind=small}
