Copywriting and content writing are both important aspects of marketing campaigns. Whether you’re creating copy or content, it’s necessary to write persuasively and effectively. But you might be wondering: which pays more, Copywriting or content writing?
Copywriting pays slightly more than content writing because it directly impacts sales. The average copywriter earns $55,000 annually, while the average content writer earns around $50,000. Besides the monthly retainer, copywriters can earn a sales commission because their work increases revenue.
Now that we’ve answered the simple question, let’s get into the nitty-gritty details. Copywriting and content writing both have a lot of monetary potential.
What Determines a Writer’s Earnings?
It wouldn’t be fair to say that all copywriters earn more than all content writers. It’s not that simple. Several factors determine a writer’s earnings, such as:
- Quality of writing
- Type of project
- Client’s budget
- Writer’s experience and expertise
Experienced content writers can earn as much as $100 per hour, while a newbie copywriter will inevitably make much less. Therefore, it’s not entirely accurate to say that copywriting is always more lucrative.
However, when we compare the average salaries, it’s clear that (in general) copywriters earn more than content writers.
Why Copywriting Pays More than Content Writing?
Although it might seem strange that one of these practices earns more than another, there are good reasons why copywriters make more money.
The skills required to write a compelling copy are not easy to learn. It takes time, practice, and a lot of creativity.
1. Direct Impact on Sales
The most important factor determining how much a copywriter earns is their direct impact on sales. Copywriters are paid to write persuasive copy that sells products or services.
The better the copy, the more likely it is that prospects will buy what you’re selling. This is why businesses are willing to pay more for experienced and successful copywriters.
Unlike content writers, copywriters directly impact sales because the goal of copywriting is to persuade the reader to take action.
Content writing can be just as crucial as copywriting, but it doesn’t have the same direct impact on sales. Content writing is mainly meant to inform or entertain the reader.
While both types of writing are important, businesses are willing to pay more for copywriting because they can easily track its monetary impact.
In contrast, content writing helps to build brand awareness and establish trust with potential customers.
2. Faster Results
It takes time to see results from content writing. A well-written article can help improve your website’s SEO, but it will take time for the piece of content to be indexed by Google and for people to find it.
On the other hand, copywriting can have an immediate impact on sales. For example, if you’re running a pay-per-click ad campaign, the quality of your ad copy will determine how successful the campaign is.
The bottom line is that businesses are willing to pay more for copywriting because it delivers faster results.
Copywriters can also create copy that’s designed to trend on social media and generate leads and sales.
3. Commission on Sales
In addition to earning a higher salary, copywriters also have the potential to make an additional commission on sales.
Businesses are willing to pay more for successful copywriting services, and a commission system is an excellent incentive for writers.
For example, if a copywriter writes an email marketing campaign that generates $100,000 in sales, they might have a clause in their contract that allows them to earn a commission on those sales.
Content writers do not typically earn sales commissions because their services have a gradual impact. This can make it challenging for employers to measure their progress and offer incentives.
4. Charge More Per Project
Copywriters typically charge more per project than content writers because it is easier to negotiate their rates once they have a proven track record.
If you can charge more per project, the money will quickly add up! Content writing can be formulaic, but copywriting requires more creativity, thus requiring higher compensation.
In addition, business owners know that the quality of their ads will make a big difference, so they’re willing to pay more for high-quality copy.
In contrast, content writing is more about providing information than selling products or services. Although this impacts SEO and brand awareness, it takes time to bring in revenue.
5. Requires More Creativity
Don’t get me wrong; content writing requires creativity as well. After all, you need to come up with ideas for articles that will interest your target audience.
If you’re trying to fill an entire blog with content, you’ll need to get creative! However, copywriting requires more creativity because you’re trying to persuade the reader to take immediate action.
The modern buyer requires more than just an interesting article. They must be convinced that they need your product or service.
Interesting approaches like stories, memes, and even videos are becoming more popular in copywriting. This is because they’re effective at getting the reader’s attention and persuading them to take action.
That said, copywriters have to go out of their way to be more creative in their approach. If something feels boring or stale, no one will interact with it.
But when it comes to content writing, writers can take a topic that has been covered a million times and add a few tweaks or spins to make it fresh.
Businesses are constantly looking for new ways to stand out from their competitors. This requires copywriters to be more creative in their approach. It also makes their services more valuable.
Which Is Better in Terms of Pay: Content Writing or Copywriting?
It’s hard to say for certain whether content writing or copywriting is “better” as a whole. Copywriters can earn more in general, but both practices are lucrative and have room for growth.
Your career path should be based on your goals, interests, and skills. Content writing is a great way to build your portfolio, hone your writing skills, and earn a steady income.
However, copywriting is the better option if you’re looking for an opportunity to use your creativity to its full potential. You’re also likely to earn more money.
Keep in mind that copywriting is a more competitive field. But if you’re up for the challenge, it’s a great way to earn more money as a writer.
Can You Be a Content Writer and a Copywriter and Earn More?
After learning about the difference in income between content writing and copywriting, you may wonder if it’s possible to do both.
The answer is yes! In fact, many businesses are actively looking for employees who can do both. Content writing and copywriting are both elements of the marketing department.
A content writer focuses on creating informative and keyword-rich articles to improve a website’s SEO. In contrast, a copywriter’s task is to write persuasive and engaging ad copy to increase conversion rates.
As a content writer, you can write blog posts and articles that will help increase SEO and brand awareness. As a copywriter, you can create ad copy and marketing campaigns that will generate leads and sales.
Combining content writing and copywriting will give you a well-rounded skill set. You’ll be a more valuable employee and can qualify for a good salary.
Key Takeaways
Copywriting pays more than content writing because businesses are willing to invest in copy that directly improves sales.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to use your creativity to its full potential and earn more money, copywriting is the better option.
However, content writing is a great path to choose if you want a steadier income and less competition. You can also be a content writer and a copywriter at the same time!
Many businesses are looking for writers who can do both. Being well-rounded in these areas will help you stand out from others who apply to these positions.