Introduction to Copywriting

Level(s) of Study: Professional / Short course
Course Fee:
This course is available at no cost to eligible participants.
Start Date(s): New dates to be confirmed
Duration: Next course dates to be announced soon.
Study Mode(s): Short course
Campus:
Entry Requirements:
More information

Introduction:

Please note: This course is delivered through the Enterprising Ashfield project, which is funded by the Government's Towns Fund. Nottingham Trent University (NTU) is pleased to offer free (fully funded) places on this course to support individuals and employees of businesses that are based in the towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield.

So, what is copywriting?

Copywriting is used for marketing and advertising; your goal is to persuade the reader to take a specific action, such as buying a product or service, subscribing to a newsletter, or visiting a website through adverts, brochures, email and social media campaigns.

From making the right first impression to persuading a client to place an order, the written word is an immensely powerful sales tool.

This course is for anyone interested in learning the basics of copywriting – whether you want to become a professional copywriter or improve your writing skills for business use.

This course will provide you with the fundamental principles and techniques you need to know to create effective copy in just one day and with a limited number of places on the course, you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your skills at home or work.

"I have always wanted to turn my passion for writing into a career, but had no idea where to start. After doing this course I feel confident to approach copywriting in a professional way. The activities we did where we put the theory into practice was good, as well as the extra facts on the history of copy and writing in general. I loved it all, I felt like our tutor Faye really cared about teaching us. Thank you so much"

"I've learnt more about the role of a copywriter and the industry, as I'm interested in writing and wanted to explore different forms of writing. I enjoyed listening to people's thoughts on the questions posed"

"I enjoyed the group work and conversations, our tutor was very friendly and knowledgeable. I've been interested in pursuing this as a line of work and wanted to see what copywriting entailed. It's maintained my interested and I'll be booking onto the longer copywriting and content writing course"

"I did the course as training for my current job to learn new skills, now I know the basics to use for copywriting in my work. Faye is a fantastic tutor, full of knowledge and helped me learn a lot"

What you’ll study

What you'll study

The course will cover the following topics:

What is copywriting?
How is copywriting different from other types of writing and what is its purpose?
Types of copywriting: advertising, social media, emails, newsletters and press releases.
How to structure your copy using headlines, sub-heads, body copy and calls to action.
The inverted pyramid format of writing and the importance of balancing copy with visuals.
Tone of voice and house style: why they’re important, with guidelines for businesses.
Writing for SEO: key do’s and don’ts, techniques for getting the attention of the search engines.

During this course you will:

learn how to write effective content that communicates and persuades your audience
understand how to write less to sell more
practise creating a tone of voice in line with a company’s brand values
appreciate how to change the tone of your writing dependent on your audience
learn how to make sure your key messages stand out from the competition
consider how website and emails impact on writing compared to printed material.

You’ll create an outline for a press release or blog article based on a brief provided, considering the headline, sub-heads, key messages, a call to action, along with ideas for accompanying images.

You’ll also make a Brand Dictionary (words and phrases that do and don’t describe a brand) in line with the brief.

They’ll be plenty of opportunities to practise your writing skills and receive feedback from your tutor and peers.

What will you gain?

By the end of the course, you’ll have a strong understanding of the fundamentals of copywriting and the ability to write effective copy for a variety of mediums.

You’ll know how to structure copy and write good headlines, understand the different types of copy, and appreciate the importance of applying the right tone of voice and house style to a brand.

You’ll receive a certificate of attendance when you complete the course, which is a great way to enhance your CV.

Tutor profile: Faye Stenson

Faye is a copywriter, marketing communications specialist, mentor and trainer.

Faye runs her own copywriting and content writing business, Black & Write, where she’s worked with clients of all types and sizes; from one man bands to household names like Travis Perkins, E.ON, Homebase, The University of Greenwich, Sue Ryder, Nottingham Hospitals Charity and Nottingham Brewery.

Over the years, Faye has written about every subject under the sun – from healthcare to hospitality, technology to toilets (yes, really!).

She’s been featured in a number of well-known publications, including The Daily Telegraph, Marketing Week and Business Reporter magazine.

Entry requirements

No previous writing experience is required to access this course.

To be eligible for a place, you must live or work in the towns of Kirkby-in-Ashfield or Sutton-in-Ashfield. To check if your home or work postcode is eligible visit the Enterprising Ashfield postcode checker page.

Getting in touch

If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form

Fees and funding

This course is available at no cost to eligible participants.

How to apply

Click to here apply.

If you have any questions about this course, you can email EnterprisingAshfield@ntu.ac.uk or call us at +44 (0)115 848 2813.