The simplest copywriting definition is this:
selling through words.
You use words to convince someone to take a specific action, whether that is:
- buying a product,
- signing up for something, or
- clicking a button.
But here’s the part most beginners overlook.
Good copy isn’t about sounding clever. It’s about being understood.
If your reader has to stop and think, the sale is gone.
That’s why one of the simplest rules I follow is this: write like you’re explaining the idea to your mother. If she gets it in one go, your audience will too. If she doesn’t, no amount of fancy vocabulary will save your copy.
Before we break down the five points, let’s clear up one confusion most beginners have.
Isn’t Copywriting Like Content Writing?
People confuse these two all the time. I was too. But I’m sharing the simple breakdown that helps you differentiate between both:
- Content Writing: Designed to educate, entertain, or engage. Think blog posts (like this one), white papers, or news articles. The goal is usually to gain website traffic or inform about something.
- Copywriting: Copywriting has one job: closing the deal using words. Think ads, sales letters, or landing pages with “Buy Now” or “Sign Up” buttons. The goal is conversion (sales, sign-ups, clicks).
In short: Content tells. Copy sells.
What is Copywriting? Explained in 5 Points (With Micro Examples)
These five points are the real skeleton of good copy. Master just these, and your writing becomes persuasion instead of decoration.
Point 1: Copy Isn’t Written; It’s Assembled
Eugene Schwartz said this, and it’s painfully accurate.
You’re not trying to sound fancy. You’re taking facts, emotions, benefits, and objections… and assembling them into a message that bridges the customer’s problem with your solution.
Your job is simple: make the reader go, “Oh, this is exactly what I need.”
As Howard Gossage said,
“The best copy is the one that doesn’t read like copy at all.”
Micro Example:
- Bad: Our tool has an advanced analytics dashboard.
- Good: See what’s working in seconds. No more guesswork.
Point 2: Persuasion With Purpose
Writing sounds nice; copywriting sells.
Every word should push the reader toward one specific action.
Ask yourself:
“What do I want them to feel, believe, or do after this sentence?”
Micro Example of Product Description
- Bad: This chair has lumbar support.
- Good: Say goodbye to back pain. Work for hours in comfort with a chair that adjusts to you.
Point 3: Know Your Audience Better Than They Know Themselves
Copywriting is not about the writer.
It is about the reader.
You cannot speak to everyone the same way. A college student and a parent don’t respond to the same triggers.
Micro Example of Targeted Ad Headline
- For Students: “Stop eating 2-minute noodles. Healthy meals on a budget.”
- For Parents: “Make sure your child gets the nutrition they need for exams.”
Same product. Different people. Completely different copy.
Point 4: Write For Your Mother
Confusion kills conversions.
If someone has to read your sentence twice, you’ve already lost them.
Elmore Leonard said,
“If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it.”
And honestly, that rule saves more sales than any fancy copy trick ever will.
A simple way to test clarity?
Write your copy as if you’re writing it for your mother.
If she reads it once and understands exactly what you’re saying, congratulations — your copy is already better than half the “pro copywriters” out there.
But if she pauses, squints, or says, “Beta, what does this mean?”, then your audience will do the same.
Micro Example: Call to Action
- Unclear: Click here for more information.
- Clear: “Get Your Free Quote” OR “Buy Now”.
People are scrolling fast.
Give them clarity, not puzzles.
Point 5: Emotion Drives Action
People justify with logic, but they buy with emotion.
They want to feel safe, proud, stylish, smart, or secure.
Tap into that.
Micro Example of a Social Media Post
- Logical: Our insurance covers theft.
- Emotional: Sleep peacefully knowing your car is protected, no matter what happens outside.
Or if you follow the above principle of “Write for Your Mother“, emotions will surely be poured into your copy.
Great copy nudges the reader emotionally and then closes the deal logically.
Where Copywriting Shows Up
Look around. Copy is everywhere.
Digital Copy
- Websites and landing pages
- Ads on Google, Instagram, Facebook
- Emails, sales sequences, newsletters
Traditional Copy
- Billboards
- Print ads
- TV and radio scripts
If it sells, nudges, or persuades… that is copywriting.
Essential Skills For Beginner Copywriters
Here are the only four copywriting skills you truly need to get started:
1. Research
Great copywriters read more than they write.
You dig into the product, the audience, the competitor, and even the founder’s story.
Remember what Eugene Schwartz said:
“Copy isn’t written; it’s assembled.”
And you assemble it from research, not imagination.
2. Learn Using AI Daily (Become Super Copywriter)
People keep saying AI will replace copywriters.
Honestly, it will — but only the ones who refuse to use it.
If you do use AI, you become something else entirely, which I call:
a Super Copywriter.
Copywriting + AI is not cheating.
It is leverage because AI can:
- speed up your research
- help you explore angles
- rephrase your ideas
- cut time spent on drafts
- show you 20 variations you never thought of
But here’s what AI cannot do:
- It cannot feel human emotion.
- It cannot interview a founder and pull out their story.
- It cannot understand the exact insecurity, fear, or desire of your audience.
So the rule is simple:
Use AI to accelerate your thinking, not replace it.
Just like knowledge is power for everyone, an idea is power for copywriters.
AI can help you gather knowledge, but only you can create the idea.
Adopt it or fall behind. The copywriters who win in the next decade will be the ones who use AI daily and use it well.
And this brings us to our next skill:
3. Empathy
If you don’t feel what your customer feels, your copy will never land.
Empathy helps you step into their shoes, understand their fear, and speak their language.
It is impossible to sell a solution if you don’t genuinely understand the problem.
Piyush Pandey, one of my favourite copywriters from India, who gave timeless ads for Fevicol and the slogan “Har ghar kuch kehta hai” for Asian Paints, is the master of emotional copywriting. I have listed 13 copywriting teachings from Piyush Pandey that you must learn.
4. Basic Sales Psychology
You don’t need a psychology degree; just the fundamentals.
Know why humans buy.
Know what triggers action:
scarcity, social proof, curiosity, reciprocity, fear, desire, belonging.
These are the levers behind every great ad, from Apple to Zomato.
Getting Started with Copywriting
Copywriting is not hard to start, but it does require actual thinking.
Real thinking.
Anyone can type words on a screen. Very few can think like a buyer.
And that’s where beginners usually go wrong. They try to “write” before they try to understand.
Avoid becoming the typewriter who dumps words without logic or intention.
Be a thinker first, a writer second. The writing part comes later.
If you want a simple way to start learning, here are my favourite completely free places to level up your fundamentals:
- TheCreativeMarketer.net — great for learning frameworks and understanding why certain ads work.
- MarketingExamples.com — literally the best place online to see real-world examples broken down beautifully.
- Copyblogger.com — classic copywriting fundamentals, explained in a way beginners can actually digest.
Also, I keep sharing my copywriting learning through ViralStorys.com. If you like the content, you can visit this website to make a strong foundation.
Use these resources daily. Study what others are doing. Rewrite what you like.
Conclusion: Copywriting Is a Skill You Build by Practising
- You will write terrible lines.
- You will write cringy ads.
- You may even quit a gig on day two.
But that’s how you get better.
And if you stick to the basics, especially the “write for your mother first” principle, your copy will always stay grounded. If she understands it instantly, your market definitely will. And if she doesn’t, that’s your cue to simplify.
Copywriting teaches you how to influence, how to communicate clearly, and how to sell without sounding salesy.
Notice good ads. Rewrite them.
Notice bad ads. Fix them.
Repeat.
The world needs fewer “writers” and more clear communicators. Copywriting helps you become one.
FAQs
Q1. What is copywriting for beginners?
Ans. Copywriting is simply writing words that persuade people to take action, like buying a product or clicking a link. It is sales in written form.
Q2. Is copywriting easy?
Ans. Writing is easy; thinking is hard. The mechanics of writing are simple, but understanding psychology and strategy takes practice and research.
Q3. Is copywriting a good career?
Ans. Absolutely. With the market projecting to hit $42.2 billion by 2030, businesses always need people who can help them sell. It offers high earning potential and freelance freedom.
Q4. What are copywriting skills?
Ans. Key skills include research, empathy, brevity (writing clearly), understanding sales psychology, and SEO basics.
Q5. What is copywriting vs writing?
Ans. General writing (or content writing) informs, entertains, or educates. Copywriting has one specific goal: to convert a reader into a customer. Copy asks for a sale or taking an action; content builds a relationship.
