What Is Copywriting?

This has nothing to do with the right to use a certain media (which is actually called Copyright). Copywriting is the process and form of writing copy, which is any written material. This can be for advertising, promotion, captions, magazines, and more. Copywriters are individuals trained in a wide array of writing styles and types, from technical to business to interpersonal.

I break Copywriting into three main areas, and one additional sub-sect.

Technical Writing

This form of Copywriting generally deals with instructions and details on either a product, service, or task in a scientific or technical field. These writings are usually for a very specific audience that has some level of knowledge on the subject in question (though not always, as in the case of instruction manuals). Common areas for technical writing are engineering, computer hardware and software, and many fields of science.

Some examples of technical writing documents include:

• Instruction Manuals
• Technical Manuals
• Software Guides

Business Writing

One of the more common forms of technical writing is in the field of business. Whether it’s a business-to-business (B2B) proposal, a company memo, or necessary legal documents, this is perhaps the widest area of copywriting. Keep in mind that legal documents should be written by legal professionals, or it can cause massive complications in the future. If you’re looking for a copywriter for a legal document, always double check that they have credible experience and education for such subjects (for instance, I do not write legal documents).

Some examples of business writing documents include:

• Proposals, Design Documents, Business Plans
• Emails, Memos, and Newsletters
• Legal Documents

Content Writing

From blogs to restaurant menus, content writing is a huge blanket term for any writing from a business or brand to its audience. Most content writing is done with the everyman of the given audience in mind, thus it’s important to consider who is going to be reading the material.

Some examples of content writing include:

• Goods & Services
• Website Content
• Synopsis and Bio

Ghost Writing

Some people confuse copywriting and ghost writing for the same. Allow me to dispel some of that confusion. Copywriting is almost always in relation to a business, service, or organization, and serves a given purpose in those regards. Ghost writing can be in any field or form, and credit for the writing is given to the person who (usually) contracted the writer and supplied the concept, outline, and idea. This can be done for any number of reasons for any number of purposes. Not all copywriters do ghost writing (for instance, I do not), some for pride and others because they simply don’t possess the time necessary.