by Alice Hiley
So, you want to start copywriting. Whether it’s going to be your full-time career, a part-time gig to earn you a side income, or you want to learn the craft to promote your business, you can’t do it without help. Rather than jumping straight in, it’s best to read up on the copywriting do’s and don’ts so you’re fully prepared. Here are some of the best copywriting books for beginners:
Best books on copywriting
The Copywriter’s Handbook: A Step-by-step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells by Robert W. Bly
This copywriter’s mainstay is designed to help everyone who handles copy during their workday, from writers to creative directors and advertising managers. It demonstrates how to create persuasive, clear copy using a whole host of copywriting techniques, covering advertisements, emails, web content and more. Ultimately – as the name suggests – it focuses on writing copy that not only catches readers’ attention but also converts readers into customers.
You’ll learn how to create an attention-grabbing headline, how to make sure customers open your marketing emails, and how to begin a sales letter.
The Adweek Copywriting Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Powerful Advertising and Marketing Copy from One of America’s Top Copywriters by Joseph Sugarman
This is one of the best copywriting books for beginners because it’s so easy to follow: after all, top copywriters and salespeople need to know how to condense their ideas down to the absolute basics, and Sugarman is a true legend of the field. Brimming with practical advice and tried-and-tested guidelines, this is the ultimate resource for everyone who’s at the start of their copywriting career: keep it to hand at all times.
So You Think You Can Write? The Definitive Guide to Successful Online Writing by Julia McCoy
This book talks you through, step by step, how to conquer the seven main types of online content: social media, blogs, web content, ad or sales copy, journalism, industry writing, and creative writing.
McCoy starts by explaining the storytelling skills that are just as fundamental to each of these forms. She shows that it’s just as important to write for people as it is to target search engines, and includes a bonus chapter on how to market your copywriting services.