Copywriting can be an incredibly satisfying and lucrative career for individuals who’ve got what it takes.
Strong language skills and a knack for persuasion will get you a long way in the business of copywriting, whether it is for a high-end advertising agency or for freelance jobs that you pick up here and there. But sometimes that isn’t quite enough.
Even the strongest writers go through phases where their productivity drops and writer’s block takes over. Detrimental to your career but can also have a significant impact on the company where you are employed.
So, don’t fall into the same hole that so many writers find themselves in and try following these easy yet practical tips. By applying even just a few of these, your productivity as a copywriter will stay consistently high, and your career will improve because of it.
1. Know All of the Details
For any project, whether you are writing copy for an advertisement or an entire website, make sure to get as much information as possible. Seriously—in your mind, you may think that it comes across as needy, but a good project manager will understand that you just want to do your job to the best of your ability.
Know the basic who, what, when and why for every single project as a starting point. Then, fill in the blanks from there depending on the individual task. It is better to know too much than not to know enough, so keep that in mind.
By having all of the information that you could need right in front of you, you will be able to work smarter and produce the best copy for each project.
2. Enjoy Your Time Off
In today’s hectic business world, the typical work week can easily extend into late night hours or weekends. Unfortunately, that is just the way that it works and for a copywriter in an agency, it tends to happen more often.
No matter how crazy your schedule gets, it is still important to enjoy the time that you do have off from writing. Separate your work life and your private life so that you aren’t always thinking about projects when you are relaxing with friends.
This mental break will significantly boost your productivity since it gives you time to refresh your brain and prepare for upcoming work.
3. Keep a Notepad With You at All Times
Even though you should be enjoying your time away from writing, you also never know when inspiration will strike. You might be out at a bar with your friends when all of a sudden you have an excellent idea for that alcohol intervention website where you have been working.
For this purpose, you should always carry a notepad with you. It doesn’t even have to be an actual piece of paper since your phone probably has an app just for this sort of thing.
By jotting down your random thoughts in this manner, it will make your life as a copywriter so much easier. You won’t have to struggle to remember that idea since you wrote it down for later use, saving you time and energy in the long run.
4. Listen to Music While You Write
Some people enjoy the quiet sounds of solitude while writing copy, but when you find yourself having a difficult time getting words onto the paper, a little bit of music might be appropriate.
Listening to music can improve your productivity. It inspires you to think in different ways and also brings your mind into the present moment. So, the next time you feel your productivity slipping, pop in your headphones for a push in the right direction.
5. Stay Organized
Is the most important tip when it comes to staying productive as a copywriter. Stay organized! It is as simple as that. When you are disheveled and constantly having to look for something, you are wasting time utilized for writing.
To excel at this, you need to create some filing system as well as a schedule. Put everything in its place so that it is there when you need it. Once done, it will make it much easier for you to stick to a detailed schedule that you created for your day and week.
Image by Pete O’Shea
I like that you mention to keep a notepad with you at all times. Often times some of our greatest ideas come to us when we’re nowhere near our work space. Being able to jot them down as a reminder later can save us a lot time.