Copywriter vs Technical Writer: What’s the Difference?
In business and marketing, there’s no shortage of writing professions that you can apply for. But it’s because of the vast possibilities that young writers don’t know where to start. Do they want to focus on technical writing or copywriting? Or maybe someone wants to be a full-time marketing writer and a part-time technical writer? Finally, what’s the difference?
There are more registered copywriters in the U.S. (131,200) than registered technical writers (52,400). But a writer might prefer a technical writing career without even knowing it. A writer can struggle with copywriting but shine as a technical writer.
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First, let’s determine if technical writing belongs to the marketing or documentation world.
Who is a Technical Writer?
Many employers mistake technical writers for writers who create content about tech companies (tech reviews, news, etc.). In reality, a technical writer helps users understand a product or service.
Imagine a SaaS company launching an event management platform or even a heavy machinery company launching the latest bulldozer. Although there’s hardly any similarity between them, they have one thing in common: the event management platform and the bulldozer have their users and target audience. But, there’s a catch. Just because someone is an event manager or a construction worker doesn’t mean they know how to use the given product. That’s where technical writers come in.
Instead of selling or marketing a product, technical writers create documents that simplify the usability and the product’s possibilities for users. Some of the most common documents that technical writers write are:
- User manuals
- Instruction manuals
- White papers
- User guide
- Technical reports
- Scientific papers
- Case studies
- Reference guides
Here are the requirements a technical writer needs.
Technical Writer Requirements
There are two general technical writing skills: stellar writing and deep familiarity with the subject matter (the industry a tech writer works in). We teach the skills to master both in our technical writing certification courses.
On one side, you have engineers. When engineers initially design a product, they create complex sentences packed with industry jargon.
Conversely, you have the target audience who wants to use a product but doesn’t need to understand how the product works. A car is a great example. Most adults know how to drive a car, but only people in the industry know exactly how a car works. That’s where technical writers come in as a “translator” between the two sides.
Although a tech writer’s technical knowledge doesn’t need to match that of an engineer, they require a deeper understanding of technical products. If a technical writer wants to write product specifications, their knowledge must be good enough to “translate” complex sentences into content that everyone can figure out.
But besides writing content for how-to manuals, technical writers have other responsibilities.
Technical Writer Responsibilities
Besides writing for end-users, technical writers also write for teams inside the company that lack specific knowledge. For example, after finishing the latest car, company executives want to launch a social media marketing campaign.
To ensure that the marketing team showcases the car’s highlights, they must understand how it works. But, since their target market is also end-users, they need it in simple terms.
Besides writing how-to manuals, technical writers are also responsible for effective technical communication within a company.
Finally, some technical writers might specialize in creating scientific papers for various healthcare or science organizations.
General responsibilities that work for all technical writers are:
- Write and edit technical documents.
- Work with subject matter experts to get a deeper understanding of technical products.
- Interpret complex product/service features.
- Create a uniform technical writing style across a company or an organization.
Now that you understand what a technical writer does, it’s time to explain copywriting.
Who is a Copywriter?
While technical writing aims to simplify products, copywriting sells products. Copywriting is about grabbing readers’ attention by pinpointing and catering to their desires. Copywriters are marketing professionals who optimize web pages, direct mail, press releases, and other marketing activities to turn potential customers into paying customers.
A copywriter doesn’t necessarily care if the user understands the product as long as they show interest.
Since they cater to other people’s feelings, copywriters write and create various material such as:
- Articles
- Social media content (verbal and visual)
- Ad materials
- Slogans and taglines
- Email campaigns
- Catalogs
Although a regular copywriter doesn’t need a deeper understanding of a product, they still need a basic understanding to create the right impression. Here are the basic copywriter requirements.
Copywriter Requirements
Since copywriters produce content that catches the reader’s attention, they must understand the user. They need a deep understanding of the reader’s life, needs, and desires.
The writing style creates the right attitude that engages the user with the product.
Although some copywriters specialize in a specific field, many copywriters usually write across different industries, ranging from food to technology. Copywriters understand the basics but don’t necessarily have to be super professional.
Like tech writers, copywriters want to avoid obscure words or phrases that might confuse the user. Besides being a good writer, a copywriter needs to meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in English or communication.
- Engaging writing skills.
- Basic understanding of tech, healthcare, marketing, etc.
- Strong research skills.
- Great editing skills.
Copywriters try to solve the puzzle of how marketing controls the reader’s attention to create engagement and willingness to buy. Because of that, copywriters have several responsibilities.
Copywriter Responsibilities
Many companies struggle to stand out from the competition. In other words, they need a robust content strategy to elevate their product above others.
Copywriters create compelling marketing materials that don’t necessarily need to be articles. They can also create graphics, product packaging, brochures, and video material.
Additionally, copywriters help define a company’s brand and ensure consistency within the created content. If a company’s target audience is event managers, copywriters maintain a consistent voice that caters to that audience across everything the company makes, including emails, webpages, articles, and ads.
Although copywriters use the written word to engage users emotionally, that doesn’t mean they don’t have technical responsibilities. For example, a copywriter might log user data that helps them better understand the audience and thus write engaging copies.
Who is a Technical Copywriter?
Writers usually specialize in a specific job, but a writer can be a technical copywriter. Technical copywriters create content that both educates and promotes a product.
Technical copywriting is a sub-category of copywriting. Usually, copywriters write copy that promote a product. Instead of focusing on the product’s features, they focus on the benefits.
But a technical copywriter does both. They use the product as their primary marketing tool. Depending on the product’s complexity, creating such copies can be difficult. That’s why a technical copywriter must have a deep understanding of the given product.
Let’s take a car as an example. Regular copywriters will focus on the “emotional benefits” of owning a car, which can range from family-friendly to abstract phrases such as “mysterious” or “living on the edge.” Their job is to focus more on snappy and appealing sentences.
Technical copywriters will use the car’s features as their sales tool. Instead of writing about how awesome the car is, technical copywriting goes into more detail about tech features, engine features, the car’s interior, etc. But even then, technical copywriters must keep it simple and easy to understand.
Technical Copywriter Responsibilities
Because technical copywriters need to both educate and incentivize the customer, they do everything that tech writers and regular copywriters do, including:
- Sales material
- Case studies
- White papers
- How-to manuals
- Campaign material
- Landing pages
Final Note
Both tech writers, copywriters, and technical copywriters have specific responsibilities. While it might seem that one job is easier than the other, they all play vital roles.
A copywriter will write an engaging tagline that catches people’s attention, possibly your customers’. A tech writer will help the engaged customer understand how your product works. A technical copywriter will do both to create an even deeper engagement.
If you’re a writer figuring out which job position is appropriate for you, it’s a good idea to take a writing course and find out if the responsibilities match your skills. Not only will you improve your skills, but you’ll also get a better picture of where your interests lie.
FAQs
Below are answers to the most frequently asked technical writing and copywriting questions.
Does copywriting pay well?
According to Payscale, the average copywriter salary in the U.S. is $56,592 per year, ranging from $38,000 to $83,000. The salary depends on your experience, location, and industry. For example, a copywriter working for a tech company in Los Angeles will likely earn more than a copywriter working for a marketing agency.
How much do technical writers make?
According to Payscale, the average salary for technical writers is $63,929 per year and ranges from $43,000 to $94,000. Similar to copywriting, compensation also depends on the writer’s experience, location, and industry.
Can you be a technical writer without a degree?
Although technical writers can find work without a college degree, it’s easier if you at least own a bachelor’s degree. This is especially true for writers just starting who don’t have the experience that they can showcase. A formal degree serves as proof of your knowledge, meaning that employers will be keener to hire you.
If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break-in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course, where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.
