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Is Content Marketing the Same as Copywriting?
Justin McGill
Thursday, 22nd Sep 2022Content marketing and copywriting are both ways to create compelling content that will help promote your products or services.
But is content marketing the same as copywriting?
No – they differ in terms of their overall goal and approach. Copywriting is more focused on selling a product or service, while content marketing is more concerned with creating valuable content that educates or entertains its audience.
However, both approaches can be effective depending on your business goals.
If you want to sell something directly, then copywriting may be a better option. But if you’re looking to build relationships with potential customers and establish yourself as an expert in your industry, then content marketing would be a better choice.
Let’s dig in deeper and compare content marketing vs copywriting.
What Is Content Marketing?
When it comes to marketing, there are a lot of different strategies and approaches that businesses can take.
But what exactly is content marketing and how is it different than copywriting?
Simply put, content marketing is a strategy that focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.
On the other hand, copywriting is the process of creating persuasive, targeted content to promote a product, service, or brand.
Unlike content marketing, which is focused on building a relationship with the customer, copywriting is all about persuasion and selling.
Content marketing is all about creating valuable, relevant content to attract and engage customers, while copywriting is focused on creating persuasive content to promote a product, service, or brand.
What Is Copywriting?
Copywriting is the art and science of persuasion. It’s the act of writing text that persuades people to take some kind of action, whether that’s buying a product, signing up for a service, or even just clicking on a link.
Content marketing, on the other hand, is a bit more general. It’s the process of creating and distributing content (usually online) to achieve a specific marketing goal.
That could be anything from generating leads to building brand awareness.
Copywriting is a subset of content marketing. In other words, all copywriting is content marketing, but not all content marketing is copywriting.
Is Content Marketing the Same as Copywriting? How Are They Similar?
Are you a content marketer or copywriter?
Do you know the difference between content marketing vs copywriting?
If you’re not sure, you’re not alone. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, they actually refer to two different but complementary marketing strategies.
- Content marketing is all about creating and sharing valuable content to attract and retain customers.
- The goal is to build a strong relationship with your audience by providing them with helpful and informative content that addresses their needs and problems.
- Copywriting, on the other hand, is all about creating compelling and persuasive copy that sells.
- The goal is to get people to take action, whether it’s to buy a product, sign up for a service, or simply click through to a website.
So, how are content marketing and copywriting similar?
Both strategies involve creating content to achieve specific marketing goals. And both require a deep understanding of your audience and what they want.
But there are also some key differences.
How Are Content Marketing and Copywriting Different?
Content marketing and copywriting are both used to create compelling, interesting, and useful content that will attract and engage your target audience.
However, they are not the same thing. Content marketing is a strategic approach to creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action.
Copywriting, on the other hand, is the art and science of persuasion. It is the act of writing copy that is designed to influence the reader to take a specific action, such as making a purchase.
Here are some other key differences between content marketing vs copywriting:
- Content marketing is focused on building relationships while copywriting is focused on selling.
- Content marketing is about providing value, while copywriting is about persuasion.
- Content marketing can be used to achieve a variety of marketing goals while copywriting is usually focused on a single goal.
If you’re not sure which strategy is right for you, the best way to decide is to think about your goals and your audience.
If you want to build a strong relationship with your audience and provide them with valuable content, content marketing is the way to go.
If you want to sell something, copywriting is the way to go.
Which One Should You Use for Your Business Goals?
When it comes to your business goals, you may be wondering if content marketing is the same as copywriting. Both are important tools that can help you achieve success, but they are not the same.
Here’s a closer look at the difference between content marketing and copywriting in terms of the goals they each can help you reach.
Content marketing is all about creating and sharing valuable content that helps you achieve business goals like increased brand awareness, top Google rankings, increased traffic, and authority/trust built with your audience. The content you create could include blog posts, infographics, eBooks, white papers, and more. The key is to create content that is interesting and useful to your target audience.
Copywriting, on the other hand, is all about creating compelling and persuasive copy that helps to sell your products or services. This could include sales letters, website copy, email marketing, and more. The key is to create copy that is convincing and will persuade your target audience to take action.
So, which one should you use for your business goals?
That depends on your specific goals and what you want to achieve.
- If you want to generate leads and sales, then copywriting would be the best option.
- If you want to build brand awareness and grow your audience, then content marketing would be the better choice.
Both content marketing and copywriting are important tools that can help you achieve success. The key is to choose the right one for your specific goals.
Content Marketing and Copywriting Just Got Easier
Whether you’re writing content or copy, it feels like you’re always on the hunt for that magic wand to make your work pop. Well, while I can’t offer a magic wand, I can definitely share some super tools that might just be the next best thing.
Here are some of the best content marketing tools:
- BrandWell: Imagine having a guide whisper SEO secrets in your ear as you write — that’s BrandWell for content creators focused on creating long-form blog posts that rank high in search results.
- Ahrefs: This tool is like having binoculars to see what topics are hot in your field; use it to find what people are searching for and tailor your content accordingly.
- BuzzSumo: BuzzSumo lets you peek over the fence to see which topics are getting all the attention online — a great way to stay ahead of trends.
- Grammarly: Think of Grammarly as that friend who gently points out typos without making you feel bad about them. It’s fantastic for keeping your writing clean and reader-friendly.
- Hemingway Editor: If Ernest Hemingway were an app, he’d be this one — helping you keep sentences short and powerful so your readers never snooze off.
Now here are some of the best tools for writing snappy copy:
- ChatGPT: This smart chatbot can churn out ad ideas faster than brewing a cup of coffee; perfect when looking for inspiration or a solid starting point.
- BrandWell’s WriteWell: Similar to ChatGPT, AIMEE can write ad copies super fast from just a simple prompt. And because it is purposely trained on marketing tasks, AIMEE (along with 40+ AI agents) can also write sales letters, landing pages, web copy, marketing emails, product descriptions, and just about any type of short-form content.
- Coschedule Headline Analyzer: This tool acts like those cool glasses from movies that highlight important stuff — in this case making sure headlines grab eyeballs and don’t let go.
The truth is whether we’re weaving stories meant to inform or creating compelling pitches designed to sell, the right tools not only spark creativity but also provide data-driven insights that ensure our messages resonate far and wide.
Want to see content marketing vs copywriting in action? Check out our feature post on some of the best content marketing examples that have gone viral.
FAQs – Is Content Marketing the Same as Copywriting?
Is copywriting part of content marketing?
Yes, you could say that.
Content marketing is a strategy that focuses on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — with the objective of driving profitable customer action.
Copywriting is the act or occupation of writing text for the purpose of advertising or other forms of marketing.
What is the difference between content and copywriting?
Content marketing and copywriting are two different but related things.
Content marketing is the process of creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — with the goal of driving profitable customer action.
Copywriting, on the other hand, is the art and science of persuasion — using words to influence a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior.
What is a content marketing copywriter?
A content marketing copywriter is a professional writer who creates compelling, relevant, and targeted content to attract, engage, and convert prospects into customers.
Conclusion
Content marketing and copywriting differ in terms of their overall goal and approach. Copywriting is more focused on selling a product or service, while content marketing is more concerned with creating valuable content that educates or entertains its audience. Both approaches can be effective depending on your business goals.
If you want to sell something directly, then copywriting may be a better option. But if you’re looking to build relationships with potential customers and establish yourself as an expert in your industry, then content marketing would be a better choice.
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