Can a copywriter write about anything?

Certainly, niche copywriters are a thing. Do a Google search for any type of business, say real estate, followed by copywriter, and you’ll get a handful of results for writers who work solely with property clients. The majority of the results, however, will be for copywriters who do write real estate but not exclusively.

This is because many us copywriters are generalists, by scope, at least.

While knowing an industry certainly helps, our speciality is being able to write great copy that has the desired effect on the intended audience – whether that’s piquing interest or inciting action. What we’re writing about is almost secondary, and easily accommodated with the right research – something we do as standard.

This typically involves lots of online searching to find credible sources of information – articles, whitepapers, studies – and to suss out who the competitors of our clients are, what they’re writing, and what kind of language they’re using. It also means probing the client for info on their business, their products/services, and their audience.

Voila! Now, we know what we need to know and are ready to do what we do – write some informed, engaging copy for your business – whatever type of business it may be. Well, almost ready. First, there’s the constant re-reading of the brief and the obligatory brainstorming and internal idea-chewing to complete.

So basically, yes, with the right amount of research, a copywriter can write about anything, for any business.

But the question is, do we want to write about anything? You see, if you enlist the help of a copywriter who doesn’t specialise in your industry, the onus falls on us, not you (unless you didn’t pay attention to their credentials, portfolio and references and the person you chose can’t write for toffee – then that’s kind of your bad).

If we write for any business, we’re committing to more research than when writing for one in an industry we’re familiar with. That’s our time suck, and we can’t, or at least shouldn’t be, charging clients for those extra hours. So essentially, we’re making it harder and less profitable for ourselves. Hmmm. Maybe I should specialise?

I won’t, at least not for the time being. Why? Because I enjoy the variety of work that being a ‘write about anything, for any business’ copywriter brings. One week I might be working on web copy for a dental clinic, the next crafting an infographic for a tech client, and the next writing a blog for an online fashion retailer. Plus, I think it keeps my writing fresh.

But while I’m not a niche copywriter, that’s not to say I haven’t developed some niches over the years. For five years, I was a copywriter for a well-known travel company in the UK, so I’m pretty well-placed to knock out a holiday brochure or two and have worked with several companies in the industry since.

In addition, as a freelancer, I started out working for a selection of digital marketing, tech, and business to business clients, and because of this, I now know a lot about these industries – and tend to attract a lot more of this type of work, which is kind of what happens. Often you fall into a niche by proxy and by referral.

However, my portfolio is much broader. I’ve written for food retailers, property developers, law firms, career coaches, to name a few.

Basically, my point is, if you need a copywriter, don’t put all of your efforts into finding one who specialises in your business type or industry. Instead focus on finding a copywriter who knows how to write great copy and has a solid portfolio, plus happy past clients sharing positive testimonials.

If we specialise or have experience in your industry, great! But with the right skill and the proper research, a good copywriter should be able to write about anything and get results.