You’re ready to take your storytelling and marketing copy to the next level but must figure out who to work with to get there. Are you ready to hire a copywriter, content writer, or copy editor? What is the benefit of hiring a copywriter vs. a content writer? How about a copywriter vs. copy editor? How do you differentiate between the three?
I get asked these questions quite frequently. Unfortunately, there’s a misconception that copy editors are copywriters and content writers, but that isn’t always true.
When I started my editorial services business, I was a content writer writing mostly long-form blog posts. Then, as a copywriter, I wrote marketing copy for clients before settling on copy editing (my zone of genius) because I’m passionate about the nitty-gritty bits of polishing copy.
You want to publish stellar content to communicate your message and offers, but understanding the difference between copywriters, content writers, and copy editors also directly affects your ROI—it’s important to know what you need and what you’re getting for your investment.
Copywriter vs. Content Writer vs. Copy Editor: The Breakdown
Copywriters and content writers specialize in creating marketing content for businesses. Both have strong storytelling skills to captivate readers because they understand their intended audiences and their client’s marketing agenda.
A copywriter focuses on driving readers to take action (like making a purchase). Whereas a content writer engages readers to build trust between the brand and its intended audience.
Copy editors work with BOTH copywriters and content writers to ensure that their written copy adheres to their client’s brand style and is grammatically sound, concise, and consistent.
Sometimes, the skillset of a copywriter, content writer, and copy editor overlap. However, each role has distinct responsibilities.
Learn the nuances between a copywriter, content writer, and copy editor:
What Does a Copywriter Do?
Copywriters write copy that targets readers to sell products and services via landing pages, ads, website content, social media, blog posts, etc. So, essentially, copywriters dedicate themselves to attracting potential clients and customers.
Copywriters are master emotion brokers. They inspire a sense of urgency (or scarcity) to help readers decide to act.
Copywriters are typically well-versed in best conversion and SEO practices. So, copywriters turn messages into compelling writing to convert organic traffic into leads.
Essentially, professional copywriters write persuasive copy motivating people to invest in a service or purchase a product.
You’ll find that copywriters write copy for:
- digital & printed ads
- slogans, taglines & jingle lyrics
- web page content
- email campaigns
- TV & video scripts
- catalogs
- billboards
- postcards
- direct mail letters
- social media marketing
Copywriters write copy to sell.
I started as a content writer over a decade ago and then transitioned to copywriting. I enjoy the aspect of persuasion and selling that’s involved in copywriting. Being a marketing nerd at heart, I get to exercise multiple gifts, all within this one role, and that’s very satisfying! If you enjoy writing and marketing, copywriting is a great niche. ~Jo Harris, Conversion Copywriter & Founder, The Virtual Mama
What Does a Content Writer Do?
A content writer’s primary focus is to inform, educate, instruct, or entertain readers through long-form content (e.g., email newsletters, articles, blog posts, white papers, reports, etc.)
Content writers may also write other longer-form content like:
- magazine features
- press releases
- e-books
- podcast scripts
- TV & film content
Content writers have advanced conversion and SEO skills that drive organic traffic to close deals. In essence, content writers are relationship brokers focusing on laying the groundwork for long-term engagement that builds trust.
A copywriter is very dedicated to selling a product, while a content writer does a more creative and informative job. Content writers enjoy more liberty and can be precise or flowery, depending on requirements. I specialise in content writing as it gives me creative freedom and greater scope to impress the target audience. ~Debasmita Ray, Freelance Content Writer
What Does a Copy Editor Do?
Copy editors review and edit written content or “copy” to ensure it is clear, concise, and consistent. We correct syntax (word and phrase arrangement), grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors and ensure that content follows style rules to express an intended tone.
A good copy editor checks copy for continuity, eliminates redundant sentences, and tightens phrasing to streamline your story or message.
Some copy editors are also required to do fact-checking or proofreading.
Ultimately, copy editors ensure that written copy is free of errors, flows smoothly, and is consistent in tone and message to lead your readers on a journey seamlessly.
Copy editors are NOT copywriters or ghostwriters.
Copywriter vs. Copy Editor:
- Role and Responsibility: A copywriter is responsible for creating copy for various marketing materials like advertisements, brochures, and websites, while a copy editor’s primary role is to review and refine written content, ensuring that it is grammatically correct, concise, and adheres to the client’s brand style.
- Skill Set: A copywriter focuses on writing and storytelling, while a copy editor focuses on editing and ensuring accuracy.
- Goals: A copywriter’s primary goal is to generate leads and drive sales by creating engaging copy that compels the target audience to take action. A copy editor’s goal is to improve the overall quality of the written content, ensuring that it is professional, error-free, and in line with the client’s brand standards.
What traits should a copy editor have?
The following are the top three traits of a good copy editor:
- Detail-oriented, ensuring consistent details, timing, descriptions, settings, and characters. A copy editor’s primary focus is providing the written content’s accuracy and quality.
- Your copy editor is an investigator who can follow threads, find correlations, and connect the dots in your story or marketing campaign.
- A copy editor must be meticulous, have a keen eye for detail, and know grammatical rules and language usage.
- Intuitive, creative, empathetic, and able to look beyond the box to understand your story plot, character arcs, programs, or service offers.
- Respectful of your ideas, effort, and creative voice. The last thing you want is a copy editor who disrespects your investment and creativity by completely rewriting your work.
What things should you consider before investing in a copy editor?
Before you engage a copy editor…
First and foremost, spellcheck! Review your work, then consider the following:
- Is your sentence structure in a logical order?
- For example, does your manuscript’s sequence of events, locations, and timeframes make sense?
- Does your content take your prospective clients on a clear journey?
- Is there a smooth flow of ideas from one paragraph or chapter to the next?
- Are facts, dates, and locations consistent?
- Are your characters detailed and “alive,” allowing readers to connect deeply?
- Do you maintain a consistent writing style and voice?
Next, ensure you understand the different levels of copy editing:
- Manuscript (printed & e-books) editing:
- Developmental editing (helps with story outline, plot, and character development)
- Substantive editing (evaluating the overall scope of your finished draft, reorganization or formatting of passages, clarifying language & intention, and tweaking style)
- Line editing (line-by-line, tightening up sentence structure for clarity)
- Copy editing (correcting minor spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors)
- Proofreading (a final review of your formatted or designed project to fix minor mistakes before publishing)
Do you need a copywriter, content writer, AND copy editor?
Businesses and large nonprofit organizations employ marketing directors and publicists who typically work with copywriters, content writers, and copy editors when creating detailed PR, print, and marketing campaigns.
Whether or not you work with a copywriter, content writer, AND copy editor depends on your project’s scope (and budget!). However, as a solopreneur, author, or creative professional, you should always work with a copy editor who can give you an eagle’s eye perspective on your copy plus correct mistakes you may miss.
Copywriters and content writers create marketing content for businesses, focusing on storytelling, audience understanding, and conversion methods. Copy editors review and edit written content or “copy” to ensure it is error-free, clear, concise, consistent, and aligns with their client’s brand style.
Another significant difference between a copywriter, content writer, and copy editor is their fee structure. Copywriters and content writers typically charge per hour ($50 – $65/hour), whereas copy editors charge by the word.
You can work with a copy editor for as little as $.03 – $.06 per word. That roughly equals $36 – $72 for a typical 1200-word blog post or content project.
Copywriter vs. content writer vs. copy editor – Here’s your cheat sheet:
- Copywriters create content that makes the sale.
- Content writers strategize content to inform and educate.
- Copy editors DO NOT write copy. Copy editors ensure that written copy is grammatically correct, error-free, flows well, and is consistent in tone.
Now that you understand the differences between a copywriter vs. content writer vs. copy editor, are you ready to work with a professional copy editor to polish your writing? Learn more [here].
