What does a copywriter do all day and is it actually a real way to make money writing?
Have you ever wondered: “How do people make money writing?”
Maybe you’ve heard someone say they’re a copywriter, and thought, “Wait, what is copywriting?”
Maybe you’ve asked ChatGPT things like:
- How do I get paid to write?
- How do I become a freelance copywriter?
- What are the best remote writing jobs?
And hey, maybe that’s how you found me!
Or maybe you’ve heard the tired old chatter about AI replacing writers, and now you’re wondering if it’s even worth learning this skill anymore.
Spoiler alert: it is!
If any of that sounds familiar, you’re in exactly the right place.
Because in this post, I’m going to break down what copywriting actually is, why businesses pay copywriters so well, what copywriters really do all day, and the fastest path to getting started today.
Even if you’ve never written a single line of copy before.
And no, you don’t need a marketing degree. You don’t need years of experience. And you don’t need to be some literary genius who has dreamed of becoming a writer since childhood.
In fact, some of the best copywriters I know started in completely different careers.
Retail workers, full-time 9-5’ers, school teachers, college dropouts, private investigators, 911-operators, physiotherapists, and the list goes on and on.
So if you want to write your own transformation story like these writers did, you’ll find everything you need right here.
Now, before we dive in, I want to clear something up because there’s a lot of confusion around this.
When people hear the word “copywriting,” they often think it has something to do with copyright law.
It doesn’t.
Other people assume copywriting is just blogging or writing articles.
Wrong again.
And some people think copywriting is about scammy sales stuff, or manipulating people into buying things with false promises and hype.
Sigh, still no, and don’t worry, we’re going to clear all of that up.
By the way, I’m Alex, and over the past 15 years, I went from a brand-new copywriter with zero clients, zero dollars, and zero clue.
To making over $300,000 a year as a freelance copywriter.
Before building my own 7-figure brand and business, the Copy Posse, and being named the Internet’s #1 favorite copywriter.
I’ve been doing this for a long time, I’ve written for many different types of clients and offers, and I’ve helped thousands of my students build successful copywriting careers and businesses of their own.
So I know a little thing or 2 about what it takes to be successful in the world of copywriting.
And by the end of this post, you’ll know whether it’s a career that’s actually right for you.
And if you decide it is, I’ll also show you exactly how I’d get started if I had to begin all over again from scratch in 2026. You can check out my Get Started Guide.
Let’s jump in.
Part 1: What Is Copywriting?
So, what exactly is copywriting?
The simplest definition is this:
Copywriting is the art of crafting words to inspire action.
That’s it.
Whenever words are written with the goal of getting someone to do something in response.
That is copywriting.
A lot of the time, when we talk about copywriting, we are talking about getting a consumer to buy a product.
But it doesn’t have to be that.
Sometimes the goal is getting someone to watch a video.
Sometimes it’s getting someone to sign up for an email list.
And sometimes it’s encouraging someone to leave a comment, book a call, download a free guide, visit a website, call a phone number, make a donation to a nonprofit, and the list goes on and on.
Copywriting is literally everywhere and once you understand that, you start seeing it everywhere.
Every time you ask for a raise, write an Instagram caption, create yard sale flyers, or post something on Facebook Marketplace, you are copywriting my friends.
But here’s something a lot of people don’t actually realize.
Copywriting is not just words. The best kind of copywriting makes the reader feel something.
It creates emotion and inspires action.
It doesn’t just share information, it creates desire, clarity, trust, and persuasion.
Now, sometimes when people hear the word “persuasion,” they immediately think evil or “manipulation.”
But manipulation and persuasion are not the same things.
I think of manipulation as getting someone to do something they really don’t want to do to benefit you.
I think of persuasion as helping someone make a decision that’s mutually beneficial for you and them.
Think of it this way.
If someone has a problem and you have a solution that could genuinely improve their life.
Is it manipulative to explain to them why and how your solution works?
Of course not!
Ethical copywriting is all about understanding what people want and what they’re struggling with, helping them feel seen, and clearly communicating how a product, service, or idea can help solve that problem.
They can take it or leave it.
And that’s why copywriting has far less to do with writing than most people think.
I mean, yes, of course words matter.
But the words themselves are just the final product.
The real work happens long before you ever type a single sentence.
The real work is in researching your audience, understanding what they want, positioning the right solution, and finding the right message at the right time.
And then expressing that idea in a way that’s simple, clear, and compelling.
And that is an incredibly powerful skill to have in literally all areas of your life.
So if that’s what copywriting is, then what exactly are copywriters being hired to do? I mean, why would business owners pay you when AI exists? The answer might surprise you.
Part 2: Why Businesses Pay Copywriters
Let me tell you why businesses don’t pay copywriters.
Businesses don’t pay copywriters to write words for them. They can get AI to do that. Granted, the words probably wouldn’t be very good.
But if all they wanted were some words, most business owners wouldn’t bother hiring a copywriter.
They aren’t hiring copywriters for words.
Businesses pay copywriters for messaging.
These are two very different things.
If you have two companies selling the exact same thing, with the same quality, same price, same audience.
And the only difference between them is the way they communicate to their customers.
One company speaks directly to their customer’s frustrations, answers their questions before they even ask, builds trust, and explains why its solution is different.
The other company just lists out all the things its product does and all the reasons why you should buy their product.
Guess which one wins?
Almost every time, it’s the company with better messaging. The one who speaks to their customer and actually understands them.
That’s why copywriting is so valuable.
Because even a small improvement in conversion rates can create a massive increase in revenue.
Imagine a business gets 10,000 visitors to its sales page every month and right now, about 1% of those visitors buy.
That’s 100 customers.
Now what if a copywriter comes in and rewrites the sales page with better messaging and the conversion rate increases from 1% to 2%.
A 1% increase might not sound very impressive.
But now instead of 100 customers every month, the business is getting 200.
That’s a 100% increase in sales. If the product is $500, we’re talking a difference in $50,000 every single month.
Multiply that by 12 months and we’re talking the difference between a $600,000/year business and a $1.2M/year business.
Small hinges swing big doors. And that is why businesses are willing to invest in great copywriters who understand how to craft a message that converts.
They’re not buying words, they’re investing in the growth of their business.
So what exactly does a copywriter actually do all day? It’s probably not what you expect.
Part 3: What Copywriters Actually Do
When I say “get paid to write” you might picture someone sitting in a coffee shop with a laptop, typing away for eight hours straight.
Or like me, Carrie Bradshaw typing away in her NYC brownstone while smoking a cigarette.
But honestly, writing is probably only about 20β30% of what a copywriter does.
The majority of our time is spent thinking, researching, strategizing, listening, asking questions, and understanding people.
Because before you can write something persuasive.
You first have to understand who you’re writing to, what they actually want, and why they’re struggling to get there.
- Who is the customer?
- What are they struggling with?
- What have they already tried?
- What are they frustrated by?
- What do they secretly hope is possible?
- What objections are stopping them from buying?
- What language do they naturally use to describe their problems?
- What’s unique about this product?
- Why should someone choose this instead of every other option available?
- And how can we explain all that in a way that’s incredibly simple in as few words as possible?
And only after you understand all of that, does the actual writing begin.
And as for what the “actual writing is”?
Well that depends.
You might end up writing copy for a business’s website, or writing landing page copy to collect email addresses, maybe you’ll write emails, or Facebook ads, or social posts or video scripts, or all of the above.
That’s one of the things I love most about copywriting. No two days look exactly the same.
One week you might be writing an email campaign for a wellness company.
The next week you’re writing a sales page for a software company.
There is always something new to learn and new problems to solve.
Now, if you’re reading all of this and thinking, “This actually sounds really interesting, but I’m not sure I could do it, where would I even start”
You’re not alone! In fact, almost every new copywriter I’ve ever met has had that exact same thought.
Part 4: Can Beginners Become Copywriters?
After teaching thousands of aspiring copywriters over the years, I’ve noticed something interesting.
Almost everyone starts with the exact same fears.
- “I’m not really a writer.”
- “I don’t have any experience.”
- “I don’t have a degree.”
- “I’m too young.”
- “I’m too late.”
- “I don’t speak English as my mother tongue.”
- “AI is replacing writers anyway.”
- “I’m just not creative enough.”
Sound familiar?
Good! Because the people who become successful copywriters are almost never the people who start with the most experience.
They’re the people who are willing to be bad for a while, as they continue to learn and hone their skills.
They’re the ones who put in the reps.
Nobody is born knowing how to write a great sales page.
Nobody comes out of the womb understanding customer psychology or brand messaging.
These are learned skills that anyone can learn.
I’ve watched a school teacher of 11 years become a great copywriter because she knew how to explain complicated ideas simply.
I’ve watched a private investigator become a great copywriter because she knew how to research, think logically and solve problems.
And I’ve watched a 911-operator build a thriving freelance business because she’s organized, adaptable, and an incredible communicator.
Your previous career isn’t a disadvantage. It’s often your greatest advantage.
If you have a curiosity about people.
If you enjoy understanding what makes someone tick.
And if you love learning.
And if you enjoy working with words.
You’re already starting with the most important qualities a copywriter can have.
And everything else can be learned.
Now, if you made it this far, you’re probably wondering, “Ummm, this sounds amazing. How do I start?”
Fair question. I go into so much more detail on this in my Get Started Guide.
So if you’re serious about learning copywriting and want me to walk you step-by-step through how to get started fast, make sure you grab a copy of this guide.
But let me give ya the quick and dirty version first.
If I woke up tomorrow and had to start over from absolute scratch, no clients, no portfolio, and no clue what to do.
This is exactly how I would start.
Part 5: How To Start
Step 1: Learn the Fundamentals
Before you worry about finding clients or making money, you need to understand the basics.
You don’t need a four-year marketing degree for this, there are incredible books, YouTube videos, newsletters, podcasts, and free resources available online.
The goal isn’t to know everything. It’s to build a solid foundation.
Step 2: Pay Attention
One of the fastest ways to improve is to become a student of marketing everywhere you go.
Instead of scrolling past advertisements, study them.
When an email catches your attention, ask yourself why.
When you buy something online, look at the page that convinced you.
Or when you click on a YouTube thumbnail, think about what made you curious.
Start observing what works.
Step 3: Practice
Take a company’s homepage and rewrite it.
Rewrite an email you receive.
Improve a Facebook ad.
Rewrite a product description.
Create your own landing page for a fictional product.
Take everything you’re learning and start putting it into practice.
It will be bad at first. That’s okay, keep going.
Step 4: Build A Portfolio
Eventually, you’ll want a handful of samples that are really good. And you’re going to use those to build your portfolio, aka a collection of your work that you showcase to potential clients in order to get hired.
Honestly, 1-3 great samples are enough to get started.
Step 5: Get The Word Out
Your first clients are not going to magically discover you.
You’ll need to put yourself out there.
Reach out to businesses, network with entrepreneurs, tell people what you’re learning, share your work online.
Something my friend Jay Clouse once said has stuck with me for years.
He said: “Get your advocates to advocate for you.”
Ask your friends and family to spread the word!
You’ll be amazed how many opportunities begin with a simple message.
Step 6: Keep Going
Here’s something I wish someone had told me when I was starting.
Your first piece of copy probably won’t be amazing. Neither will your second. Or your tenth.
And that’s okay.
Every professional copywriter you look up to has written copy they’re embarrassed by.
Every single one.
Progress comes from consistency, not perfection.
Remember, the secret to writing good copy: 1) Write bad copy 2) fix it.
Keep studying, keep practicing, keep asking questions, and keep improving.
And eventually look back and realize you’ve become the person you once hoped you could be.
Now, obviously, we only scratched the surface in this post.
There’s so much more to becoming a successful copywriter than I could possibly cover here.
That’s exactly why I created my completely free beginner’s guide where I go much deeper into everything we talked about today.
From understanding copywriting, building your skills, creating a portfolio, finding your first clients, pricing your services, and mapping out a real path toward building a copywriting business and creating more freedom in your life.
You can grab your free copy of the Get Started Guide.
Until next time, I’m Alex. Ciao for now.
