Copywriter job description

Hire content marketing talent with expert recruitment consultants at your side.

This page details everything you need to know about the Copywriter role. From the core responsibilities through to how to approach content marketing recruitment.

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What does a Copywriter do?


A Copywriter is responsible for creating clear and compelling copy to educate customers and advertise products.Reporting to the Head of Content, this person is responsible for executing a brand's content marketing strategy. This typically includes writing blog posts, landing pages and product descriptions.


Key responsibilities

While the job description may vary based on industry, company size and business goals, the average day will involve:

  • Content production: Produce written content for a variety of campaigns. This might include blogs, thought-leadership, white papers, guides, landing pages and more. The text will be creative, engaging and clear to educate, entertain and persuade audiences.
  • Collaboration: Work closely with the marketing, communications and social media teams to establish and maintain a cohesive brand voice.
  • Editing and proofreading: Proofread content from across the business. Edit copy to ensure the writing is high-quality and aligned with branding.
  • Stay on top of trends: Research topics and trends that the target audience is interested in. 
  • Research: Conduct research and analyse data to ensure that all website content is informed, accurate and relevant.
  • Follow regulations: Stay informed of industry regulations to ensure all copy complies with set rules.


Skills and requirements

To hire a Copywriter, you should look for the following skills and experience:

  • Excellent writing skills
  • Strong proofreading and editing skills, with an eye for detail
  • Minimum of 2 years' experience in a writing role, for instance journalism, marketing or communications
  • Project management experience, with the ability to balance multiple projects in a fast-paced working environment
  • Strong research and analytical skills to create informed and accurate content
  • Understanding of search engine optimisation (SEO) best practices
  • Knowledge of or passion for the sector


Salary expectations

The average salary for a full time, permanent Copywriter is £40,000 - £60,000. A contractor can expect a salary between £200 - £300 per day.

Pay brackets can vary for a number of reasons, including business size, industry and location. For more information, download our latest salary guide below.

Learn more
Bar graph showing salary progression for Copywriters from Junior to Senior levels. The graph displays pink, gold, and green bars for Junior, Mid, and Senior positions respectively, with salaries up to £40K, £50K, and £60K.

When to hire a Copywriter


The Copywriter plays a crucial role in your content marketing team, executing the content strategy to build brand awareness. Since this job is less strategic, we suggest introducing them after a Content Manager or Head of Content. These senior roles will put the strategy in place and the Copywriter will support in its execution. 

Copywriters are often found in larger organisations where they have a wider marketing team around them. While smaller business will often rely on agency support, there are benefits to bringing good copywriting in-house. These include:

  • Dedicated, unlimited support
  • Full control over workload and task priorities
  • Complete understanding of your business, products and services

This is especially important for B2B sectors, such as technology, financial services and professional services. In these fields, Copywriters play a crucial role in simplifying complicated language.


How to hire into your content team

You can engage a Copywriter in three ways: permanent, contract, and freelance. 

The right solution depends on your business' marketing team structure and objectives. Find the best option for your business below, and for more information, request a callback.

Permanent hires are a great option if you need dedicated copywriting support. With a permanent hire, the employee will become fully engrained in your business. They will be able to quickly establish and/or learn your brand's unique tone of voice, distilling complicated information to your target audience.

Hiring a contractor can be a great option to trial the Copywriter role in your business. You might, for example, be thinking about moving away from the support of a marketing agency. A contractor will allow you to understand how the role will fit into your established marketing team and the value they bring.

They're also an excellent option if you need immediate support while searching for your permanent hire. Did you know that many permanent employees have a three-month notice period now? A contractor can fill that gap!

Hiring a freelance Copywriter is a great option for any projects that need extra resources. For instance, you might require a French Copywriter to support your business' expansion into new territories. 

You should only engage freelancers on a project basis, with set working hours and completion dates.

With the expertise gained in content writing, Copywriters can diversify their skill set by becoming a Content Manager. Traditionally, this role traditionally focuses on creative writing, too, but the job is broadening to encompass the likes of video creation.

This is a great option for those looking to expand their remit and explore opportunities across the marketing sector.

Having gained enough experience, Copywriters can work their way up to the Head of Content job title. In this capacity, you will plan, produce and manage copy across various channels. Managing the content team, the Head of Content oversees the production and distribution process. They make sure content reaches the required market segments, tracking the progress of each campaign. 

In this role, you will also support and train Junior Copywriters, providing your knowledge of best practices for creating content. Ultimately, your efforts will help a brand find its voice and reach its desired goals.

FAQs

To become a Copywriter you must have excellent writing skills. As a result, a degree in English or Journalism can be useful to obtain your first copywriting role. Without a degree you can pursue a marketing career in content-focussed roles, such as a Content Executive.

In either route you must have demonstratable experience in writing content for a brief. Building a portfolio is an excellent way to show the projects you've worked on and can help you stand out among applicants.

The average, full time Copywriter earns between £40,000 - £60,000. This is a great opportunity for those looking for a well-paid content job, as it is above the UK average salary of £35,000.

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