Want to understand the difference between copywriting vs technical writing?
Stick around.
Copywriting and technical writing are two different beasts.
Copywriting's about selling, engaging, and connecting. It's emotion-driven. You're painting a picture, making people feel something.
Technical writing is about precision, clarity, and information. You're guiding the reader, step by step, through complex tasks or concepts.
They’re attention grabbers. They make products shine, turning 'meh' into 'must-have.'
As a copywriter, you put yourself in the shoes of customers and understand their deepest desires. Once you've got that, you're cooking with gas.
Copywriters can write catchy social media content, ad materials, slick slogans, email campaigns, and even catalogs.
As a copywriter, you've got to know your clients products and services inside out. Only then can you create the right impression. It's not just about selling, it's about triggering emotional connections that get people to take action.
You need to create engagement, spark interest, and make people want to hit that 'buy' button.
It’s the art of selling with words. If you've got the gift of the gab and love the thrill of selling, copywriting could be your game.
One piece of advice in the beginning, niche down to stand out. If you’re having trouble choosing a niche, check out this copywriting niche list.
A copywriter develops the skill of writing through studying great copy and practice.
A basic understanding of various fields is key, as are strong research and editing skills.
You've got to engage, inform, and persuade - all at once.
What you don’t need:
What you do need:
Your responsibilities depend on your copywriting niche.
For example, if you’re a Ghostwriter on Twitter, you conduct interviews, you take over your clients account, create viral content and schedule it.
If you’re a SEO copywriter, you analyze what’s ranking, understand what keywords need to go in the articles and write long form content.
Regardless of niche, general responsibilities include:
You also need to invoice clients and put together freelance copywriting contracts.
A technical writer is someone who creates instructions and explains how products work.
Technical writers bridge the gap between complex specifications and simple explanations.
They are like translators. They take engineer talk and turn it into human talk. They make the tech world meet the real world.
Here are some the requirements of a technical writer:
They have deep familiarity with the technology.
As a technical writer you have to pay attention to details.
You also need to write in a clear and concise manner.
It isn’t the same as tech reviews or news. That's a whole different game.
Technical writers can write user manuals, instruction manuals, white papers, technical reports, even case studies and reference guides.
The stuff that makes you go from clueless to "Oh, this is easier to follow than a lego manual"
They’re also in charge of effective technical communication with engineers inside a company.
Other technical writers might specialize in scientific papers for science organizations, or vaccine or pharma companies.
A technical copywriter is someone who combines technical expertise with persuasion.
They educate and promote, laying down the facts about a product. They're the bridge between tech and sales.
It's all about using those features as a sales tool.
You turn specs into something special that make people say, "I need this."
Here's where it gets interesting.
Regular copywriters play the heartstrings; technical copywriters combine those emotions with cold, hard facts.
Picture this – regular copywriters talk about how a car feels on the open road. Technical copywriters? They'll dive into the engine, the interior, the works. They make you feel the thrill through the specs.
It’s one of those types of copywriting that isn’t common but can pay well.
Technical write responsibilities include:
They understand how the tech works and then turn the features of a product into benefits.
Pretend you’re trying to sell a camera to a photographer who takes pictures of architecture.
He doesn’t care about how many megapixels your camera has.
But if you explain to him how having a 50 megapixel camera allows you to capture crystal clear photos that don’t get blurry after you zoom in on the details of a building, that’s more enticing.
Related: Starting Out As a Copywriter
Hope that helps you understand the difference between the two.
If you’re looking to get into copywriting and come from a technical background, technical copywriting is the sweet spot between creative and analytical writing.
I show you how to build a high-paying creative business without doing work you hate.
