'And what exactly', I hear you ask 'is an Internet Copywriter? What do
you do?' And I don't mind the question, because it's a familiar one.
(In fact, lots of people I talk to tend to confuse 'copywriter' with
'copyright', and I have to explain that I know nothing about patents.)
In a nutshell, I write content for websites, email campaigns and blogs.
I write relevant, persuasive copy that engages readers and gets
results; and that's search-engine-friendly at the same time. A win-win
for my clients.
My Background
I've been a copywriter for over 20 years. I started
working on pharmaceutical accounts in a small advertising agency on the
Kings Road in Chelsea. Then my husband and I worked freelance for
various London agencies before moving to Somerset and starting a design
agency in Taunton.
I'm now based in Manchester, divorced - but living happily
with two cats - and working for myself as Words 4 The Web.
Whom do I write for?
Over the years I've built up an interesting and varied client list
- from public organizations and blue chip companies to SMEs
and micro-businesses. That includes projects for British Telecom, Her
Majesty's Prison Service and Yorkshire Water as well as
websites for a construction company, a corporate coaching practice and
a wedding planner.
I'm not glued to one industry sector. Like all good copywriters, my
skill is in putting myself in the position of my client and getting to
know their business; and then getting into the mind of their client. My
job is then to write words that convey the marketing message to the
reader and make them respond.
Neither am I fazed by technical or scientific briefs. I really enjoy
converting complex subjects into accessible copy that's
pitched exactly right for a particular audience. And I'm just as happy
writing school prospectuses and training manuals for beauty therapists.
The more variety, the better, I say.
Internet Specialist
The whole Internet thing just blew me away; and I got hooked, well and
proper. That's why I decided to specialize in this new, growing medium.
And I've not been disappointed.
That's not to say that I don't write for print any more. I certainly
wouldn't turn down a job because it wasn't destined for the Web. In
fact, I've just finished a prospectus for a new Hypnotherapy School and
a series of marketing leaflets for a Mattress Cleaning Company.
But I just love web writing, and I think that shows!
Some more detail
Just for completeness' sake, and to give you a fully rounded picture of
me, here are a few more things I've been up to:
Two years of a dentistry degree - before
I realized what dealing with the insides of people's mouths was really
like...
Psychology degree followed by PGCE
Couple of great years teaching in a
junior school
Sold advertising space for The Times
newspaper (that's where I found that cold calling was not for me)
Worked as a medical rep for Astra
(that's where I found that face-to-face selling was just as bad)
[Universal Truth: Sales people are some heroes! They get my deep
respect, I can tell you!]
Then came The Copy writing Years, during which I also trained as a
community mediator (and wrote and delivered the first Peer Mediation
course in a Somerset secondary school), got a CIPD training
qualification, and trained as a Life Coach.
