So you want to become a copywriter. Maybe it’s the promise of flexible work, the thrill of the game of persuasive writing, or the lure of making money from anywhere with just your laptop. Whatever your reason, welcome to the club. Copywriting is a valuable, learnable skill with endless demand.

But before you start dreaming about $5,000 retainers and beachfront workdays, let’s clear the path of the biggest potholes. Most new (and experienced) copywriters make a handful of predictable mistakes. The good news? They’re easy to fix -- or avoid -- once you know what to look for.

Here are the five most common beginner copywriting mistakes—and how to avoid them.

1. Writing for Themselves Instead of the Reader

This is the most common mistake, and it makes sense. You’re a writer, and writers are often taught to express themselves. But copywriting isn’t about you. It’s about the reader.

Beginners often write clever, flowery, or "impressive" copy that sounds good in their own heads. But the reader isn’t here for your style. They’re here for a solution to a problem they care about.

Avoid it by:

• Writing to one specific person (imagine your ideal buyer's thoughts and feelings).

• Using language they would use.

• Asking constantly: "What will they care about? How will they feel about this language, this sentence, this word?"

2. Being Vague Instead of Clear

Vagueness kills conversions. Words like "amazing," "game-changing," or "world-class" might sound powerful, but they don’t say anything specific. What does the product actually do? What results can the reader expect?  

Specificity builds trust and makes the copy more believable.

Avoid it by:

• Using clear, concrete language.

• Including numbers, timeframes, or tangible results.

• Replacing generalities with details. (Not "save time," but "cut your email writing time in half.")

3. Burying the Lead (Burying the Main Point)

New copywriters often take too long to get to the point. They build up, hesitate, or meander. But in today’s fast-scrolling world, you have seconds to grab attention.

Your headline and first sentence must hook the reader. Immediately. You can add context later.

Avoid it by:

• Leading with the most compelling benefit or pain point.

• Writing multiple versions of your headline and testing them.

• Deleting your first paragraph 90% of the time (it’s probably warm-up).

4. Sounding Like a Marketer, or AI, Instead of a Human

You don’t need to sound "professional" or use industry jargon to write good copy. In fact, that often backfires. What people want is clarity, warmth, and realness.

You can  use AI to do the heavy lifting of organizing or even a draft. But use your humanity to heavily rewrite and copyedit, or your piece will sound fake. 

Trying too hard to sound smart or salesy puts distance between you and the reader. It breaks trust.

Avoid it by:

• Reading your copy out loud. If it sounds weird, rewrite it.

• Using contractions and natural phrasing.

• Writing like you talk—then polishing for flow.

5. Forgetting to Ask for the Sale

This one’s big. So many beginner copywriters write a beautiful email, landing page, or ad... and then stop short of actually asking the reader to take action. They feel shy, or  feel like they don't want to be "pushy" or "crass". 

It's not pushy or crass to encourage an audience to solve a problem they need solved, or get something tehy want, or that will improve their lives, by buying a product or service. 

Your copy needs a clear call-to-action (CTA). Without it, readers shrug and move on.

Avoid it by:

• Including one clear CTA in every piece of copy.

• Making it specific: "Download your free guide now" instead of "Click here."

• Reinforcing the benefit of taking action now.

Final Thought: Copywriting is a Craft, Not a Mystery

The best copywriters aren’t magical wordsmiths. They’re just people who understand human motivation and have trained themselves to write with clarity, empathy, and purpose.

If you can avoid these five mistakes, you’re already ahead of most beginners. Keep practicing, keep reading strong copy, and always ask: “Would this make me want to take action?”

That’s how you get early wins and start the snowball effect of getting gigs and clients -- and it can happen in a week, not months or years. 

The Exact Steps to Becoming a $50/Hour to $100+ / Hour Side-Gig (or full time) Copywriter Fast

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