Building a brand is hard…
From developing a unique voice to crafting a SEO-optimized website that will attract your ideal clients and customers on autopilot, there’s a lot to think about when you’re setting yourself up to dominate your niche.
And though everyone seems to agree that having a copy expert on your team will make things easier, it can be near-impossible to figure out how to set yourself down a path toward steady sales by choosing a content writer vs. copywriter.
So we’re going to break the differences down and make things easy for you.
I’m about to tell you what separates a copywriter from other types of writer out there, and also expose a few little-known secrets about why the distinction between content writing and copywriting might not matter as much as you think.
Content Writer vs Copywriter: What’s the Difference?
Put simply, a content writer informs while a copywriter persuades.
To get a little more complex, a content writer:
- Writes informative, educational, or entertaining content
- Relies on their SEO expertise
- Typically writes longer-form pieces of content
- Focuses attention on boosting organic traffic with a longer-term strategy and plan
- Is a little more “to the point” and direct in tone
- Is more focused on technical accuracy—like incorporating SEO and presenting carefully-researched information—than being emotionally engaging
Content writers are often the masterminds behind informational pamphlets, ebooks, white papers, long-form blog posts, and other types of super informative and super valuable content you find online.
So how is that different from what copywriters write? Copywriters:
- Typically write more persuasive, sales-driven content
- Should be aware of SEO, but don’t view it as the main focus of a piece of writing
- Are often more focused on shorter-term results
- Typically write shorter-form content
- Place a heavy emphasis on emotions and reader engagement
- More actively craft a narrative with a brand voice at the center
Copywriters are often responsible for writing marketing copy, crafting super-converting sales pages, and taking charge of the short but mighty content meant to sell. And sell well.
But before we move on, it’s time for One. Very. Big. But…
Content Writing and Copywriting: Is One Better Than the Other?
Buttttt…here’s the real thing you should know: there isn’t one hard and fast rule that separates copywriters from content writers.
Most of the time, the only difference is how the writer chooses to market themselves.
Because at the end of the day, there’s far more overlap between content writers and copywriters than business owners often think.
Though you’ll often hear people splitting hairs and pointing out the subtle differences between the pieces of content these types of writers produce, the truth is…
Content writing and copywriting are designed to do the same thing: build your brand presence.
Certain pieces of content may be designed to educate and entertain, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be written in the same brand voice that draws your audience in on the daily when those prospects land on your sales pages.
Just like your website copy should be written by a copywriter who doesn’t just know how to point out prospects’ pain points, persuade them to trust your brand, and nurture them toward the sale…
But knows how to incorporate the keywords you need to be seen in Google and drive your website to the top of the search engine results pages.
Which brings us to your BIG TAKEAWAY:
The name of the writer you hire to help market your brand matters less than their ability to strategically produce content.
If you hire the right marketing-minded writer, they should be capable of doing it all: persuading with emotions, educating with longer-form pieces, and speaking to your audience with a voice that’s uniquely your brand’s.
