Typical Career Progression
| |
Position |
Remuneration |
Experience |
Education |
| Start Position |
Unpaid placement |
$0 |
None |
None |
| 1st Promotion |
Junior Copywriter |
$40,000 to $60,000 |
1 to 2 years |
Degree |
| 2nd Promotion |
Mid weight copywriter |
$40,000 to $60,000 |
3 to 5 years |
Degree |
| 3rd Promotion |
Senior copywriter |
$80,000 to $120,000 |
6 to 8 years |
Degree |
| 4th Promotion |
Creative Director |
$90,000 to $150,000 |
8 to 10 years |
Degree |
| 5th Promotion |
Executive Creative Director |
$200,000+ |
10+ years |
Postgraduate |
**The above table is to be used as a guide only
Typical accountabilities and responsibilities
As a copywriter, you have a specific purpose – to take a rational piece of information and turn it into an idea that emotionally connects with a target audience, and then communicate this idea effectively to that audience. The desired outcome of this purpose is a raised awareness of a brand and/or persuade the audience to consume more of a particular product or service.
An example of rational information to emotional message.
Rational: Brand X Airlines - flies planes full of passengers.
Emotive: Brand X Airlines - bringing people together.
To do this effectively copywriters are highly skilled in taking a brief, understanding the information, brainstorming ideas, extracting the key messages and then getting the message across quickly with clear communication, persuasive ideas, and original copy.
The work of a copywriter goes directly to the creative director and before his or her approval there is often much polishing, amending, editing, revising, rethinking and sometimes even a complete ‘return to the drawing board’. Because of this, a copywriter’s ability to work quickly, multi task and be highly creative ‘on demand’ (not just when it comes to you) is vital. Nearly everything a copywriter does is part of a process that is deadline driven and they can be from months to minutes.
Copywriters generally work within an advertising agency, and with the increasing popularity of web-based marketing and digital agencies, employment opportunities in these specialised areas are becoming more readily available. There are also freelance copywriters and they are employed by ad agencies when required
Career Options Available
After entering the workforce as a copywriter, you can rise up through the positions of an advertising or marketing agency, depending on your experience, ability and success. It is also possible to set up your own client base, outside of an agency, working freelance as an established copywriter.
About the Author
Brent Hodgson
Alliance Software Pty Ltd
Brent Hodgson got his start as a copywriter producing sales letters for Real Estate and Investment Training programs, in the years following he has expanded into Internet Marketing and is now one of the founders and directors of Market Samurai. In is off-time he maintains his Copywriting and Internet Marketing Blog business.
Did you know that TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of a keyboard?