If you’re a TikTok or Instagram Reels fan (and believe me, I try to stay away from both if I want to actually get on with some work), you’ll know all about the ‘Tell me you’re a…. without telling me you’re a…..’ video series that’s been doing the rounds.
If not, take a quick peek on the platform and it won’t be long before you’re nodding in agreement when you find yourself relating to one or two of the vids. Or, if you fancy a laugh, have a peek at this one via YouTube.
Without further ado, then, here’s my own - a copywriter version. I took to Twitter and LinkedIn - and a bunch of fellow copywriters - for some insight. Read on…
1. On promoting businesses online..
I connect you to your audience with words 😊
Anna Metcalfe, Freelance Copywriter, Cantaloupe
2. On wearing many hats…
I'm sworn to secrecy. But I'm not a spy.
I understand how people think. But I'm not a mind reader.
I get in touch with people's emotions. But I'm not a therapist.
I write stories with happy endings. But I'm not an author.
What am I? I'm a conversation starter who helps businesses talk to their future customers.
Rob Beadle, Tech, Finance and B2B Copywriter
3.On procrastination…
Your work process involves:
doing the washing-up
walking the dog
losing yourself down a rabbit hole on Google.
Fi Phillips, Copywriter at Fi Phillips Copywriterwriter.com
4. On being free to work wherever you like…
‘My best friends are baristas with a helpful turn of phrase’
John, Dash of Tonic
5. On feeling inadequate and Wordle-themed woes
‘You get riled up - on an almost daily basis - when your husband (not a wordsmith) cracks the Wordle word in fewer guesses than you’. Sob.
Lauren Holden (aka, moi!), freelance copywriter.
I have far and away the most unrealistic family expectations when it comes to Wordle scores.
James Hart, organic search copywriter
6. On engaging with different audiences…
I tell your stories without saying a word.
I speak in your voice, about your business, for your audience, but they'll never know it's me.
I don't need fancy logos, colours, or fonts to breathe life into your brand.
I do the write thing so you can do the right thing.
Tash Morgan-Etty, Write Rabbit
7. On turning people’s thoughts into perfect prose…
I help people make sense of what’s in their brain, so that other people can make sense of (and act on) it
Jo Marshall, All Things Words
8. On constantly having to explain what a copywriter does…
Real convo 👇
My older brother: "Oh, I guess you are going to law school to study copyright for your new job?"
Me: "No, it has nothing to do with law school or copyright. It's a writing profession."
William Lin, The Will to Write
9. On the things we do to amuse ourselves…
Working away and just caught myself singing the chorus of Witch Doctor by Cartoons in a variety of UK accents. Done Scottish, Northern Irish and Geordie. Now writing said lyrics down phonetically according to accent for no apparent reason 🤣
Jack, Cola Bottle Content
10. On getting frustrated when companies think ‘they can just do it themselves’…
Many companies think they don't need me, because hey, they have people that can read and write. In the words of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Big mistake. BIG MISTAKE.
Lea-Anne Carter, storyteller and brand strategist
11. On navigating vague client briefs…
Being told: ‘Well you know the brand, so write us a blog. It needs to be creative. ‘
Yosra Mostafa, marketing executive
12. On the complexities/quirks of using Google Docs…
I have a visceral fear of seeing “anonymous animals are editing your document” in Google Docs.
Also I know more synonyms for innovation than any human being ever should have to.
Charlotte Sheridan, The Small Biz Expert
13. On explaining to family and friends what you do and don’t do…
As said by a relative "So you write spam?" Yes. Yes, I do. (email copywriter here)
Juliet Peay, Yeah That Writer
14. On getting away with being a ‘grammar nerd’…
You can tell I'm a copywriter because I'm happy to have a half hour discussion with anyone about the Oxford comma or the pernickety and obscure differences between American English and English English. (I have a good friend who's a copy editor and we have nerdy chats like this all the time.)
Also, my dad is most proud of the fact that I can tell someone to f*ck off in such a way that they thank me afterwards. I think that also qualifies me.
Amanda Fearn, Kelly Copy
15. On loving what you do so much that you get on your soapbox about it…
I'm an armchair philosopher who gets up on his soapbox and shouts about why every website needs words to function.
I'm like a wrestler laying the smackdown on writing block so people can get on with winning their personal world titles in business.
Jamie Ryder, Stoic Athenaeum
Want to add your thoughts to this blog post - or for part two in the series (I received so much input that I think I’m going to split it up into more than one post). Get in touch!
Until next time…