MY COPYWRITER’S MANIFESTO
“Why do you want to be a copywriter?” “Well,… I like telling stories and I think I’m good at it.” – “Yeah right, try better next time.” And so I did.
I do like narrating and yapping, but who doesn’t? That doesn’t make one a copywriter, does it? So I put together ten reasons of why I am a copywriter:
Table of Contents
1. THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THINGS
I’m convinced that a concise, compelling copy can have a huge impact (on both revenue and relations). The adrenalin that I get from never knowing 100 %, whether what I write is going to work and the way I expect it or not, is what drives my inner need to improve.
2. JUSTIFYING MY STUDIES OF HUMANITIES
Before you ask what the heck is that, let me just tell you that it’s a very wide field of study, ending up mostly with learning both everything and nothing. Even though advertising isn’t per se my major, the knowledge base in history, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, economics and psychology is a well of inspiration and comes in handy especially when empathizing with various target groups.
3. LEARNING IS EARNING
Every time when I need to write about a field or industry I don’t know much about, an interesting research ensues. Everyday I get to learn something new. Isn’t that cool?
4. CONNECTING BUSINESSES WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS
I try to move away from the myth ‘where adverts bother and attack us’ in order to set a new one ‘where the gap between the seller and the buyer is bridged by a firm relationship that is beneficial for both’.
5. MASTERING THE WAY I EXPRESS MYSELF
Eraser and negative feedback are the best friends of a good copy. Before I send anything new out there, I need to critically assess if it’s relevant and additionally cope with not always positive feedback. That’s a valuable lesson beyond quantification.
6. SHOWING OFF MY CREATIVITY
I’ve always loved making things out of paper and tape when I was a kid. What I liked more was the moment when I said: “Mum, look what I’ve made”.
7. ADVERTISING CAN PAY MY RENT
Sure, there is money to be made. But also it is a great field for personal development. Advertising is sort of a pledge that you will never do the same things again.
8. ASSERTING SOCIAL ISSUES AROUND US
Commercial writing is not the whole picture of copywriting. There is also the promotional text on the pro bono basis which can help open people’s eyes. Plus this kind of work allows you to go a bit wild with your ideas.
9. BECOMING A CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Trust me, it hasn’t been easy to abandon my child dream of becoming a firefighter. A lot of copywriters end up as creative directors. A lot of them don’t. Let’s see what the destiny plans for me, but I must say the image of me taming a bunch of wild creative beasts in say 10 years is quite tempting.
10. WHAT ELSE IS THERE?
If you think that the job market stands out there just waiting for all the folks studying humanities to rush into its arms, good luck. Keeping both of my feet on the ground, I was also considering becoming a cook once, but it’s still the plan B. I keep my options open.
About the author: Matouš Roskovec
Matous Roskovec currently works as a Content Marketing Manager at Avocode. He studied philosophy and semiotics at Charles University in Prague, Media & Comm at DMU in Leicester and he also went through the 500 Startups Seed Program in Mountain View. Prior to his current job, he has been working as a copywriter under the brand SEE. He has been writing copy for GE Aviation, DPD, Allianz and was a member of Red Bull Digital Media Board.
