If you’ve been looking for a writing job online, you’ve probably come across the terms copy editing and copywriting. Though similar by name, the titles of copywriter and copy editor hold very different responsibilities. A copywriter primarily focuses on writing, while a copy editor edits what someone else has already written.
A copywriter composes the text placed on or with print advertisements, billboard signs, posters, television and radio commercials. His gift is using words with powers of persuasion to capture consumers’ interests toward any given product.
Internet copywriting is the process of developing the text for the pages of your website. Usually, the web development company will obtain information about the products and services your company offers before creating content that is interesting and informative for your website visitors. Your content should not only be well written and clean, but should also successfully draw visitors to your website. In order to make your web pages stand out among the millions of others, any copywriter you hire should know how to:
- Use keywords and keyword phrases that direct internet traffic to your company by increasing your website’s presence on search engine results pages
- Create clean copy that informs readers rather than distracts them
- Write for internet readers. This means using fewer words and clearer sentences than they might use with print media.
- Listen to your vision for your website copy; after all, nobody understands your company better than you do.
Duties for a copy editor include correcting spelling, typing and grammar errors. A copy editor ensures the accuracy of all portrayed and reported facts. Copy editors must have a keen eye for small details. There is a wide range of what is necessary for copyediting, reviewing the text that is already present on your webpage. Some pages are already well-written and will only require simple proofreading for spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors. Other pages will require an editor who understands about syntax and word usage and who can rewrite portions of the text that maybe confusing to readers. There are times when a copywriter will need to almost completely rewrite a page, making such improvements as:
- Correcting the writing style to be more appropriate for the internet
- Refining the page’s presentation so that it has a stronger call to customer action
- Closing informational and logical gaps to increase the accuracy of product or service claims
Both copywriters and copy editors must be diligent about meeting predetermined deadlines. No matter how skilled each is, if he can not efficiently submit assignments by stated deadlines, on a regular basis, he will not be successful in his respective career.
Even though copywriters and copy editors generally work separately, occasionally each may be asked to work together on a single campaign or publication. For example, copywriters may be assigned to submit a slogan for a new product while the copy editor must edit a feature article written about the forthcoming launch of the same product.