5 Things I Wish I Knew About Copywriting Services

I come from a PR & journalism background and yet copywriting intimidated me as a new business owner and digital marketing assistant, here’s what I wish I had known when I started:

1️. Marketing requires conquering copywriting.

Can’t escape it or avoid it. If you’re performing marketing services, copywriting is the basis of what you’re doing. Rip off the bandaid and start studying and learning copywriting. You have to know how to talk to your prospects so they take action.

2️. All copywriters start their Google docs with common copywriting formulas.

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to be a copywriting genius. (One of them is super simple: Problem – Agitate – Solve)

3️. Don’t compare yourself to the famous, visible copywriters who started a decade ago.

There is always a need for talented copywriters because look around, most copywriters phase out of doing the bulk of the work. How many have you met who “don’t write copy anymore”? Clients outnumber us! There is so much work that AI can’t do.

To start, you can scoop up “easier” and less pressured copywriting projects before you even tackle writing a long-form sales page. Think: blogs, emails, social posts, show notes, affiliate copy, ads, pitches, media kits, etc. Take on the work.

There is a shortage of copywriters and so many VAs, marketing assistants, tech specialists, and marketing managers who “don’t write.” You’re sitting on a coveted, highly sought-after hard skill.

That’s why leveraging AI as your writing assistant can be a game-changer. AI won’t replace great copywriters, but it can help you write faster and free up time for strategy—so you can charge more. I use AI Copywriter in a Box, a fully customized AI writing tool that creates content in my client’s voice. It’s helped me speed up my process, deliver high-quality work, and increase my rates.

If you want to work smarter (not harder) and become a premium service provider, grab AI Copywriter in a Box and get $50 off with code UNICORN. You can use it for up to 4 clients—so it practically pays for itself.

4️. You don’t have to wait to call yourself a copywriter if you’re writing the stuff from above.

You are a copywriter! Own this talent.

5️. Double your rates right now if you are copywriting.

If you’re bringing leads and sales, and making money for the client, you are in the value-based pricing zone. Start charging for it.

This is really a love letter to my past self. I wish I knew this back in 2009. But you won’t make this mistake, because you read this post. 

*This blog may contain affiliate links for programs, tools, and courses that I recommend. If you purchase these programs, I could receive a small commission. Thank you! I only recommend vetted programs and tools I use myself! Please check out my tool & resources guide here.

In case we’re meeting for the first time, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Emily Reagan, a freelance digital marketer and marketing assistant mentor with 17+ years of experience in journalism, PR, and marketing. In today’s hyper-connected digital world businesses need to be omnipresent and adapt messaging across countless platforms. 

I’ve been helping business owners and solopreneurs navigate online marketing since 2009 and understand how all the pieces fit together. Now, I share my expertise about copywriting services and all-the-other-things-you-need-to-know through my Unicorn Digital Marketing Assistant School. For seasoned virtual assistants and online marketing specialists, I run the Digital Marketer’s Workgroup, a community where marketers can refine their craft, network and access job leads.

6 Copywriting Tips for Someone New to This Work

1. Write conversationally. Use contractions. Use second person.
2. Write in active voice.
3. Focus on storytelling and emotion. This always draws readers in.
4. The rule is always focus on the benefit, not the feature. So if you’re selling a product, don’t focus on the buttons, emphasize how it will change your life.
5. Know your Call to Action (CTA) – what are you trying to get the reader/listener to do next?
6. Utilize copywriting formulas – they work!

Effective Copywriting Formulas for Beginners

The AIDA formula is a marketing technique that can be used to create content that grabs readers’ attention and encourages them to take action. It stands for Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action:

• Attention: Create brand awareness or affiliation with your product or service. For example, you can use capital letters to catch the reader’s eye in the first words.
• Interest: Generate interest in the benefits of your product or service, and encourage the reader to research further. You can include interesting facts, testimonials, or uses.
• Desire: Create an emotional connection with the reader, showing your brand personality and how your offerings can solve problems. This can move the reader from liking your product to wanting it.
• Action: Persuade the reader to take immediate action, such as downloading a brochure, making a phone call, or joining a newsletter. You can include a call to action (CTA).

PAC: Problem, Agitation, Solution

Identify your audience’s pain point, intensify their discomfort with it, then introduce your product or service as the ultimate remedy.

FAB: Features, Advantages, Benefits

Highlight product features, explain their advantages, and ultimately, the benefits to the customer.

4Cs: Clear, Concise, Compelling, Credible

Ensure your copy is easy to understand, to the point, engaging, and trustworthy.

BAB: Before, After, Bridge

Show the problem, the ideal solution, and how your product bridges the gap.

Additional Copywriting Tips:

• Know Your Audience: Understand their needs, desires, and pain points.
• Write with Clarity: Use simple language and avoid jargon.
• Focus on Benefits: Explain how your product or service improves the customer’s life.
• Create a Strong Call to Action: Tell the reader what to do next.
• Test and Refine: Experiment with different approaches and measure results.
  

Remember, these formulas are a starting point. The best copywriting comes from a combination of structure, creativity, and understanding your ideal audience.

Formatting Tips (for someone who is new – they will make your English teacher mad)

1. Don’t add double spaces between sentences.
   
2. Don’t make large blocks of text. (They will look terrible on mobile) Instead, use lots of paragraph breaks. This makes it look easy to read.
   
3. Add skimmable headlines to pull the reader down and keep reading.

Want to build better connections with your audience? Check out this video on my YouTube channel for VAs where Marisa Corcoran teaches us how to apply the “Story Stripdown” method to our copy:

How to Use Storytelling in Copywriting with Marisa Corcoran

👉Check out Marisa’s FREE Masterclass “Leave ‘Em Wanting More: The 3-Part Framework to Create Copy with Creativity and Chutzpah” Pick from 3 dates here: https://marisacorcoran.com/masterclass?afmc=EmilyR How to Use Storytelling in Copywriting with Marisa Corcoran (read more ⤵️) You know it’s important to use stories in your content.

Want to level up your email copywriting services? 

Grab Marisa Corcoran’s 50+ Scroll-Stopping Subject Lines and increase your open rate.

Whip up irresistible words with creativity & chutzpah inside Marisa’s Leave ‘Em Wanting More Masterclass: The Proven 3-Part Copy Framework her clients use to make people say, “Me. Want. Yes. Now!” ESPECIALLY if you think you’re super boring and no one engages with your content. She only offers this a few times throughout the year, so check for the live dates and reserve your spot here!

⚡️Related Podcast: Land Better Marketing Clients: The Science Behind Every Click, Buy, and Subscribe #212

Listen to my Unicorns Unite Podcast where I talk to Krystle Church about all the secrets to grabbing attention and landing those dream clients. We get into the nitty-gritty of neurocopywriting – the psychology behind sales and conversions.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Amazon

Are you a skilled digital marketer or virtual assistant looking to grow your network and access more copywriting job leads?

Join the Digital Marketer’s Workgroup. This exclusive community offers collaboration, support, resources, job leads and training – including a series of copywriting & content marketing. Apply today!

If writing still feels overwhelming or takes too long, this custom GPT can help…

It helps you create high-quality content in minutes, in your client’s voice—so you can focus on strategy and charge more for your expertise. I use it in my business, and it’s saved me SO much time.

If you want to speed up your workflow and get paid for your ideas instead of just your typing speed, try AI Copywriter in a Box. Use code UNICORN for $50 off and start writing smarter today. See a demo of it in action here!

Further Reading:

>> Recommended Copywriting Books for Digital Marketing Assistants

>> What Every Virtual Assistant Should Know About Copywriting

>> How To Effortlessly Master Your Client’s Voice In Their Copy

>> How to Use the 9-Word Email Strategy for Conversions

>> Pricing and the Value of Creativity as a Freelancer

Not a course. A collective for marketers already doing the work.

Our Digital Marketer’s Workgroup is a vetted peer community where marketing specialists get real business support and talk shop with people who actually get it. Applications are open now ⬇️

The Takeaway:

If you’re a marketing professional who isn’t a seasoned copywriter yet, don’t be intimidated! Copywriting is essential in marketing, but you don’t need to be a superstar from day one. There are formulas to follow, a wealth of “easier” projects to start with, and a high demand for copywriting services. Embrace the title of copywriter, hone your conversational and benefit-driven writing, and know your worth – you can start charging more when your copywriting services generate valuable leads and sales.