How to Become a Catalog Copywriter

Catalog copywriters are paid to write product descriptions in magazines and sales catalogs. Many catalog companies also need catalog copywriters for their websites products, which could lead to a great opportunity for working from home. Here are a few tips on how to pursue a career as a catalog copywriter.

Instructions

1. Read product descriptions from many different sources and styles of catalogs. Study how they are written and what styles they follow. Notice that these descriptions are concise and usually short, while still underscoring a product's main points.

2. Write product descriptions using magazines from your home. Rewrite the original product descriptions, improving them as you learn to describe the products. Practice writing shorter and longer versions of each product.

3. Test your rewrites on friends and family, allowing them to compare the original and one or two of your rewrites. Ask them which description makes them want to buy the product.

4. Contact catalogs which you feel you can write for successfully. Choose a company with products you are interested in; this makes them easier to write about. Call the company to get the correct contact information and address.

5. Send a letter describing yourself as a catalog copywriter. Tell the company why you would like to write for their catalog and ask if they would like to see samples of your work. You can do this through e-mail or regular mail.

6. Submit samples if they ask. Be prepared. The catalog publisher may ask you to write a sample for one of its products. Write the sample and send it back as soon as possible.

7. Search for catalog companies and send your query letters to 10 or 20 companies every week. Catalog copywriters can work for different companies at the same time, a good way to fatten your pay check.