Copywriting or Content marketing - What is the difference?

You may have heard of content writing, and also copy writing, but what do they both mean and what is the difference?

Content writing is an informal piece, written to entertain or inform the reader. It is usually longer form and written as if it has been spoken, in a less formal way. The object with this piece is not to sell anything in particular but rather to attract a customer to looking at your company in a bit more detail.

This post is content, intended to inform you but not necessarily asking you to buy anything. The reason that people use this style in their businesses is that it builds rapport with your customers and shows you as an expert in your field of work. It allows the reader to get to know you as if they were in your premises and you were having a chat. Content is often more relatable and people feel as if they are speaking to a real person and getting to know them. It also shows that your number one purpose is to help rather than to sell to them.

Content is usually part of a much longer term strategy and can not always be pinned down with actual sales and statistics.

Copy writing is a little more obvious when it comes to sales, you know that you are being sold to and the point of this is to get you to buy when you have finished reading. Using correct language and grammar, it reads in a more formal manner and there is a clear call to action (ie, buy this thing!)

This means that there is a direct link between that copy and the sales that it has generated.

I am not obviously selling anything in this post (because it is content and not copy) but if you are reading it, you know that I know the difference and can write for you, either content or copy. Thus placing me as an expert in the field of written marketing and attracting you to use my business (if you feel that we are a good fit).

There is a place for both styles of written marketing in every business, the key is knowing when to 'sell' and when to post content. As with everything there is a balance, and I find it best to be 80% content and 20% copy, as a general rule.

If you have any questions about how content marketing and copywriting can benefit your business, get in touch!