It’s about Copywriting and Content Writing. If you are a Baby Boomer or the child of one, a song could pop up in your head along with a picture of Dionne Warwick and you might hear in your “mind’s ear” “What’s It All About Alfie”? But for the 3 other generations that now inhabit the earth, there may be no recollection at all related to the song.

So What is This All About?

You may be thinking, “Well, Leila, what is this all about”? You may be thinking “where is this going Leila”? And rightfully so. I will tell you where it’s going. It is all about communication. Furthermore, it is about communication through writing. It could be stream of consciousness; a description; writing to be persuasive; a testimonial; website content; a blog; a carefully created email; writing a commercial; a newsletter. And all those fall under the heading of Copywriting or Content Writing.

What Is Copywriting?

The American Writers and Artists Institute (AWAI), of which I am a member, says “Copywriting is the process of writing persuasive marketing and promotional materials that motivate people to take some form of action, such as make a purchase, click on a link, donate to a cause, or schedule a consultation. These materials can include written promotions that are published in print or online. They can also include materials that are spoken, such as scripts used for videos or commercials.”

What is Content Writing?

Again, AWAI says “You may read or hear some sources suggest that copywriting and content writing are different things”.  There is a grain of truth to this. As a rule of thumb, copywriting refers to writing marketing and promotional materials.  Content writing refers to writing informational or editorial pages on websites, as blog posts, article pages, or product pages.