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Copywriting vs Content Writing: Definition and 3 Key Differences

Content creation is an important part of digital marketing. Your business website won’t be active without content. Your social media channels won’t make sense without content. Businesses need written materials to implement their marketing campaigns – whether it is for search engine optimization (SEO) or social media marketing. You must determine whether to hire a content writer or a copywriter, depending on your campaign needs. Many think they are the same, while others are confused about their differences. This article will tackle the key differences between copywriting and content writing.

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What is copywriting? 

Copywriting is the process of creating text content that is meant for advertising or marketing a brand. Its goal is to raise brand awareness and persuade customers to take action. If, for example, you are selling an item, you must convince your target market and prove that it is worth buying. Some examples of copywriting materials are social media ads, product pages, sales emails, and brochures. 

What is content writing?

Content writing is a form of written material meant to inform readers. This is often used for website content and search engine optimization. Its purpose is to keep the target audience engaged with relevant content. Some examples of content writing are blogs, email newsletters, and magazine features. 

Copywriting vs. Content Writing

1. A copywriter is focused on making a sale, while a content writer is focused on informing audiences.

The goal of copywriters is to convert your audience into consumers. As mentioned earlier, a copywriter’s primary purpose is to create a call to action that will convince the audience to do. In contrast, a content writer focuses on providing information, giving tips and tricks, or simply entertaining them. 

2. A copywriter creates a short-form copy, while a content writer makes long-form ones. 

Because of the large competition online, you only have a few seconds to persuade your potential consumer. Therefore, creating a short-form copy is just right for copywriters. They are not required to go into details, but they need to create a sense of urgency and motivate an emotional response. Content writers, on the other hand, need to build an engaged audience. To do that, they need to establish their trust by providing facts and reliable sources of information. 

3. A copywriter generates leads, while a content writer drives organic traffic. 

For a website or social media page to increase its online presence, one of the things that they need to do is drive organic traffic. The role of a content writer is to keep audiences going back to their page by regularly posting engaging and entertaining content. Copywriters can then use this organic traffic to convert them into leads or sales. 
A good copywriter and content writer have enough understanding of SEO. With the increasing number of competition online, they should know how to get noticed by the potential audience and have them hooked. In business, both a copywriter and a content writer will help you stand out among your competitors. However, it is crucial to hire the right people based on what you need. For example, if you need help with increasing your sales, hire a copywriter to create sales copy for you. If you prefer someone to help you keep your website active, hire a content writer. Whatever help you need on your business, make sure to hire the right person for the position. You may also consult experts from agencies like Reach More Digital to guide you based on your needs and preferences.

You may also like: Guide to a Sales-focused Social Media Copywriting

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