A Day in the Life of a Copywriter at a Data-First Digital Agency

Hey kids! For those of you who don’t know me, allow me to introduce myself. 

My name is Jenna, and I’ve spent the last 402 days, 6 hours, 36 minutes, 13 seconds (and counting) as a copywriter, which makes me sort of qualified to teach you about copywriting — or at the very least explain how a senior copywriter spends her day. 

Go Fish Digital is based in Raleigh, NC, but I work remotely from Pennsylvania. Remote work allows me to work from anywhere — like Rome, Punta Cana, or the Alps of Switzerland, but I typically work from the setup in my dining room (boring, I know). 

Before I tell you about my work day, I wanted to give you a little background on how I landed this gig in the first place, especially for those of you considering this career in the future.

In 2017, I graduated from Susquehanna University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and Publishing and Editing, and upon graduating, I took a job in graphic design. I worked in this field for about four years before switching to copywriting. I found an entry-level copywriting position at Go Fish, applied, and fast forward a few Google Meet calls later…and the rest is history. 

TL;DR: I went to college for writing. 

Now that you know a little bit more about how I got here, let’s get into the swing of things.

Related Articles:

• Content Marketing Agency
• Content Creation Services
• Email Marketing Services

A Copywriter’s 8 to 4

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

• Brew coffee (priorities, am I right?)
• Log onto laptop
• Wrap up tasks from the day before
• Review article outlines
• Resolve any outstanding edits on client work
• Perform internal blog edits

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m

• Create outlines for authoritative content
• Perform keyword research
• Jump on a client call
• Work on PR or authoritative blogs

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: 

• Stretch my legs and go for a walk
• Eat lunch
• Enjoy the second cup of coffee of the day
• Continue current tasks or start a fresh one

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: 

• Log hours for each assignment
• Find a good place to wrap up current work
• Rearrange tasks in my project management software
• Create a list of priorities to work on the following day

Your Burning Copywriting Questions Answered

Whether you’ve just graduated from college and are looking to get your foot into the door with an internship in marketing or you want to go full send into a new career path, getting answers from a copywriter’s perspective can help you determine whether or not this job would be right for you.

What Type of Copywriting Projects Do You Work On?

In my current role as a Senior Copywriter, I tackle a variety of copywriting projects, including (but not limited to):

• Authoritative Content, i.e., “From the rolling hills of Ireland to the terraced farms of Peru, potatoes are grown all over the world.”
• Product Copy, i.e., “Potatoes have thin, brown skin and soft, luscious white flesh when fully cooked.”
• Contests, i.e., “Show us your most creative potato portrait for a chance to win a lifetime supply of our finest potatoes.”
• Website Content, i.e., “Click here to visit our potato hub.” 
• Digital PR Blogs, i.e., “Find out which state has the highest search interest for purple potatoes.”

And that’s just scraping the barrel. The truth is every day is slightly different, but if it requires words and a bit of creativity — I’m your go-to gal. 

On other days, I might edit a blog that’s about to be posted, shoot a question to a coworker on Google Chat, and maybe even take a peek at our company’s anything-but-work Slack Channel.

How Does AI Affect Your Job?

AI can be intimidating, but I don’t think it will put copywriters out of business anytime soon (we all know financial analysts will be the first to go). But in all seriousness, AI is a tool that I’m learning how to use to my advantage. By giving Chat GPT-specific prompts, proofing for plagiarism, and using innovative plugins, copywriters like me can use AI to refine their work. While some copywriters may feel Chat GPT could replace them in the future, mastering this tool can offer a competitive edge (and I should know; Chat GPT helped me to craft this last sentence).

Is Copywriting an Isolating Job?

Yes and no. Most aspects of copywriting (the part where you sit down and write) require you to be independently motivated to accomplish your assignments. There are definitely large chunks of my day (especially when I don’t have any meetings on the schedule) where it’s just me, my laptop, and the crazy squirrel that keeps trying to break in through my back door, but other days I have a bit more social interaction.

Most collaboration between my colleagues and I occurs during editing, where we discuss any changes needed. Go Fish Digital also emphasizes cultivating a positive work environment and has quarterly events, some of which are virtual, which allows me to attend. I’ve also flown into Raleigh to meet my team members in person, which has helped to bridge the remote divide. 

On other days, I may jump on a client call which gives me a chance to cultivate a working relationship with a client and get more comfortable speaking to them (shoutout to all my fellow introverts). 

When connecting with my coworkers, we tend to catch up via group chats, virtual meetings, or Slack whenever I need help on an assignment or want to talk through any big-picture changes or processes.

What Is it Like to Work at an Agency?

As an agency, Go Fish caters to clients in many different fields. Since my first day at Go Fish, I have written on topics ranging from air travel to welding to engagement rings and everything in between. I collaborate with talented team members to get link-building blogs published on sites like Delish, Forbes, and CNBC — with some campaigns securing dozens upon dozens of backlinks. 

As part of an agency, we seamlessly integrate into our client’s teams, aiding them in backlink acquisition, domain authority enhancement, content publication, website overhauls, and much more. While our core responsibilities remain consistent, the nuances shift with each new client and their unique objectives. It’s imperative to understand and emulate their brand voice, adhere to their style guidelines, and truly become an integral part of their team.

Is Copywriting a Fulfilling Career Path?

One of the reasons I love my job is that I get paid to write. For some, that’d be a nightmare, but for me, it means I can spread my creative wings, learn about new subjects, and create quality content for those late-night Googlers. 

I nerd out when I see an article I wrote rank in the top SERPs for a particular keyword or when a blog I helped craft gets a backlink from a popular website. I also love getting a behind-the-scenes view of campaign initiatives from conception to publication, expanding my marketing knowledge. 

Personally, I find copywriting to be fulfilling, and I think it’s a field where I’ve truly found my niche.