Phew! I can't count anymore. There are almost as many copywriting definitions as there are copywriters in the whole world. Copywriting is basically writing ad and sales copies such as headlines, slogans, flyers, newsletters, brochures, direct mail packages and even website. But, boy! This can hardly suffice to be a definition of something as profound and…umm…highly versatile as copywriting.

As Bruce Bendinger describes copywriting in his famous book, "The Copy Workshop Workbook"….

Copywriting is a job.

A skilled art…

Verbal carpentry…

Words on paper…

Script to time…

And one more thing

…Salesmanship

This is definitely the most graceful and sexiest definition of copywriting I ever heard. And the last point added in the description just gives it a whole new dimension. Yes, that is Salesmanship! And it is indeed the most important characteristic of any form of competent copywriting. What is salesmanship? Salesmanship is your ability to sell! This is only what separates the master copywriters from the average. Whether you are writing a grant proposal or you are scribbling a quick banner ad, your salesmanship is what is makes it stand apart from the rest.

If you are really not satisfied with the poetic and abstract description of copywriting as Bruce did, here's an even clearer and more specific definition of copywriting. Copywriting is the science and art of creating word marvels, to promote some idea, object, person or enterprise. Copywriting is basically selecting, weaving, editing and assibling words in such a way as to persuade the readers (in other words, prospects) to take some action. Now, that action is not specifically selling something. It can be subscribing to a list, making a phone call, sending an iail, viewing an ad, clicking a link or visiting any nearby store.

That's the main purpose of copywriting, and that is what copywriting is in essence.