Copy Writers

Career Description: Write advertising copy for use by publication or broadcast media to promote sale of goods and services.

Industry: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Other Job Titles for Copy Writers:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Write advertising copy for use by publication, broadcast or internet media to promote the sale of goods and services.
• Present drafts and ideas to clients.
• Discuss with the client the product, advertising themes and methods, and any changes that should be made in advertising copy.
• Vary language and tone of messages based on product and medium.
• Consult with sales, media and marketing representatives to obtain information on product or service and discuss style and length of advertising copy.
• Edit or rewrite existing copy as necessary, and submit copy for approval by supervisor.
• Write to customers in their terms and on their level so that the advertiser's sales message is more readily received.
• Write articles, bulletins, sales letters, speeches, and other related informative, marketing and promotional material.
• Invent names for products and write the slogans that appear on packaging, brochures and other promotional material.
• Review advertising trends, consumer surveys, and other data regarding marketing of goods and services to determine the best way to promote products.
• Develop advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, working with an advertising agency's creative director and art director to determine the best way to present advertising information.
• Conduct research and interviews to determine which of a product's selling features should be promoted.
• Fabricate models or samples in paper, wood, glass, fabric, plastic, metal, or other materials, using hand or power tools.
• Investigate product characteristics such as the product's safety and handling qualities, its market appeal, how efficiently it can be produced, and ways of distributing, using and maintaining it.
• Develop industrial standards and regulatory guidelines.
• Participate in new product planning or market research, including studying the potential need for new products.
• Advise corporations on issues involving corporate image projects or problems.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as meeting with media representatives and appearing at fundraising events.
• Arrange and conduct sports-related activities, such as training camps, skill-improvement courses, clinics, and pre-season try-outs.
• Select, acquire, store, and issue equipment and other materials as necessary.
• Negotiate with professional athletes or their representatives to obtain services and arrange contracts.
• Discuss production requirements with clients.
• Produce educational and training films and videotapes by performing activities such as selecting equipment and preparing scripts.
• Conduct training sessions on selection, use, and design of audiovisual materials and on operation of presentation equipment.
• Organize and maintain compliance, license, and warranty information related to audio and video facilities.
• Develop manuals, texts, workbooks, or related materials for use in conjunction with production materials or for training.
• Perform narration of productions, or present announcements.

Emerging Tasks

• Contact the parents of players to provide information and answer questions.
• Coordinate travel arrangements and travel with team to away contests.
• Counsel student athletes on academic, athletic, and personal issues.
• Hire, supervise, and work with extended coaching staff.
• Identify and recruit potential athletes by sending recruitment letters, meeting with recruits, and arranging and offering incentives (e.g., athletic scholarships).
• Keep and review paper, computerized, and video records of athlete, team, and opposing team performance.
• Monitor the academic eligibility of student athletes.
• Oversee the development and management of the sports program budget and fundraising activities.
• Perform activities that support a team or a specific sport, such as participating in community outreach activities, meeting with media representatives, and appearing at fundraising events.
• Provide training direction, encouragement, motivation, and nutritional advice to prepare athletes for games, competitive events, and/or tours.
• Teach instructional courses and advise students.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• analyze sales activities or trends
• collect details for stories or articles
• communicate visually or verbally
• compile information through interviews
• conduct or attend staff meetings
• confer with client or staff regarding theme
• convey moods or emotions through writing
• develop advertising strategy
• discuss advertising strategies
• edit written material
• ensure correct grammar, punctuation, or spelling
• evaluate advertising promotions
• formulate writing approach through analysis of advertising trends
• identify interests of publication readers
• interpret technical information for written materials
• maintain awareness of social trends
• monitor consumer or marketing trends
• practice creative writing - development
• prepare promotional plans
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use interviewing procedures
• use marketing techniques
• use photographic materials
• use product knowledge to market goods
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write advertising copy
• write business correspondence
• write sales or informational speeches
• understand artistic crafts production methods
• use characteristics of graphic design materials
• use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks
• use computer graphics design software
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use creativity in graphics
• use creativity in industrial artistry
• use creativity to art or design work
• use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
• use graphic arts techniques
• use hand or power tools
• use marketing techniques
• use product knowledge to market goods
• use computer graphics design software
• use creativity in graphics
• use graphic arts techniques
• use knowledge of multi-media technology
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use oral or written communication techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use stage lighting controls or instruments

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

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• Projected growth (2006-2016): 12.80%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 17,306
• Employment (2006): 135,246

• Advertising Sales Agents
• Insurance Sales Agents
• Public Relations Specialists
• Radio and Television Announcers
• Real Estate Sales Agents
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products
• Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
• Orthotists and Prosthetists
• Set and Exhibit Designers
• Set and Exhibit Designers