I’ve been obsessed with Copywriting for over five years.
Ever since I started tinkering with internet projects I’ve seen just how powerful copywriting can be.
Great copywriting is like a tailwind to a sailboat.
It pushes everything further, faster.
Although, statistics are only useful if you can take an action to improve your work. So in this article, I’ll share some only the most impactful copywriting statistics to help you in your journey. Some are related to the future of copywriting and others pertain to the nuances in your copy.
Either way, I’ll explain what they mean for you and how you can benefit the most.
Here are 22 copywriting statistics to keep an eye on this year
1. The r/copywriting subreddit grew 422% in three years. It now has over 113,000 members.
Source: lucianoviterale.com
Between January 2020 and January 2023, the r/copywriting subreddit had a huge growth spurt. But it’s really no surprise that this subreddit is achieving such high growth rates. Remote work is quickly becoming the preferred option for many professionals around the world. Coupling this with the popularity of Reddit, it’s an obvious trend. Not all subreddits are worth joining but I can confidently say the r/copywriting community has great resources and are supportive of beginners.
2. The term “copywriting” hit an all-time global high in January 2023 according to Google Trends data.
Source: Google Trends
This is likely to continue in 2023 with the popularity of remote work and the increasing appeal of copywriting as a side hustle. Anyone willing and able to learn about business, marketing, and writing can start earning good money through copywriting.
3. There are over 10,000 services available on Fiverr that include the term “copywriting”.
Source: Fiverr
Again, this statistic supports how popular copywriting is becoming. For there to be over 10,000 copywriting services available there must be some supporting demand. Especially if you compare this with another popular marketing service like “email marketing” which only has about 6,000 results. It’s hard to know if this trend will continue given the recent advancement of AI, specifically Chat GPT.
4. Almost 74% of website users pay attention to grammar and spelling on business websites.
Source: Realbusiness
If this isn’t a sign to install Grammarly, then I’m not sure what is. It’s pretty obvious that grammar and spelling mistakes look bad. But if they start impacting your conversion rate then you really need to do something about it. Considering it’s one of the easiest things to fix, your copy shouldn’t have any mistakes by the time it’s live.
5. Using the word “because” and then giving a reason results in significantly more compliance, specifically from 60% to 94%.
Source: Psychology Today
This one is particularly fascinating, especially when you’re trying to convince a reader to take action. This could be in a cold email, a website call to action, or even a Youtube video. The goal is to simply give a reason for your request.
For instance, you might say “Subscribe to my Youtube channel now”. However, you would receive significantly more compliance if you said “Subscribe to my Youtube channel now because it would really help me continue to make great content”.
6. Using the word “you” in marketing messages can increase conversions by up to 47%.
Source: Hubspot
I love this statistic because it supports the importance of speaking directly to your reader. It’s much easier to create an emotional connection if you make the reader feel like the copy is written specifically for them. Personalization is another great way to achieve similar results. So the next time you’re crafting copy try to include the word “you” for better results.
7. Headlines with questions can increase website traffic by up to 480%.
Source: CoSchedule
Here’s another statistic that can directly impact the success of your marketing efforts. By simply changing the title of a blog post you could be earning more organic traffic. This is because the reader assumes the author has the answer to the intriguing question. They’re expecting a clear answer, so it’s a no-brainer these headlines get more clicks.
For instance, which are you most likely to click on?
- Here are 5 ways to improve your conversion rate
- Want to know the secret to improve your conversion rate?
- Are you using these 5 techniques to improve your conversion rate?
It’s pretty obvious that headlines are more interesting when we ask questions. The best part is the content is exactly the same. All you need to do is create a compelling headline and you’ll get more traffic.
8. Email marketing is 40x more effective at acquiring customers than Facebook or Twitter.
Source: McKinsey
This one is for all the email copywriters out there. This should be your new go-to statistic whenever you’re trying to convince a client to invest in your services. And if you’re not offering this service then it’s worth considering. You’ll be able to charge much higher rates than your ad copywriter counterparts since the ROI of email is much higher than Facebook or Twitter ads.
9. Testimonials are included in about 37% of the top landing pages.
Source: Nifty Marketing
This statistic isn’t too surprising, social proof is a key differentiator when it comes to high-performing landing pages. This is why I like to use the AIDCA copywriting method. It stands for attention, interest, desire, conviction, and action. The conviction piece ensures you include as much social proof as possible, this usually means reviews and testimonials.
10. Users receiving the “Paid Advertisement” label click up to 27% fewer advertisements.
Source: Measuring labeling alternatives in internet search engines, Edelman & Gilchrist, 2012, pg. 2
Again, this isn’t too surprising. No one wants to be directly sold to. If you have the ability to run organic campaigns or write copy for ads that don’t have a “paid advertisement” label your work will perform much better. It’s also a great statistic to know when you’re pitching clients. You can use it to convince them to consider other options with their advertising budget.
11. Using the word “free” in email subject lines can increase open rates by up to 29%.
Source: CoSchedule
I hope the email copywriters are paying attention to this one. The content of your email and the offer might be amazing but if no one opens it then it’s useless. Including the word “free” will help your subscribers take a desired action (provided your offer is free of course).
Here are some examples:
- One tactic you should start using to gain more free traffic
- Here’s your free guide to finding the highest-paid gigs
- Want A Free Ticket To Our 2023 Marketing Summit
- {name} your free marketing guide is ready
12. Copywriters on Upwork cost $19–$45/hr (median hourly rates).
Source: Upwork
This is an important statistic for freelance copywriters. You want to know what the market rates are and where you sit. Considering this is a reflection of the median hourly rates, you can absolutely charge more (or less if that’s your strategy).
Related: Website Copywriting Rates
13. The average salary for a copywriter is $55,463 per year in the United States.
Source: Indeed
This was updated on January 12, 2023, and is based on approximately 760 salaries. This is a pretty fair representation of the average salary and it’s worth considering when you’re weighing up the pros and cons of working for a company or being a self-employed freelancer.
Related: Website Copywriting Rates
14. Using the word “exclusive” in subject lines can increase open rates by up to 27%.
Source: CoSchedule
Exclusive deals always make me feel special. For some reason, I’m compelled to take action. It’s no wonder including the word “exclusive” in a subject line leads to almost 30% more clicks.
Here are some examples:
- Exclusive Access: Limited Time Discount for VIP Customers
- Be the First to Know: Exclusive Product Launch
- Exclusive Offer: Save 50% on Your Next Order
15. Using the word “limited” in subject lines can increase open rates by up to 28%.
Source: CoSchedule
Add this to the email copywriter’s checklist. If the word free or exclusive isn’t available then adding “limited” will give you a similar result. Scarcity is a great way to nudge your readers to take an action.
Here are some examples:
- Limited Time Only: Get 20% off your next purchase
- Don’t Miss Out: Limited Stock Available
- Exclusive Invitation: Limited Seats for Upcoming Webinar
16. Simple subject lines get 541% more responses than creative ones.
Source: Marketing Sherpa
This is exactly why copywriters need to keep things simple! Remember, being a great copywriter isn’t about being a wordsmith. It’s about communicating the right message to the right audience in the fastest and most accurate way possible.
17. Over 40% of copywriters’ main goal is to improve their copywriting skills
Source: lucianoviterale.com
After surveying copywriters for over a month their main goal is to improve their copywriting skills. This is closely followed by building their swipe file and getting more clients. If you’re interested in becoming a better copywriter in less than two weeks, consider getting access to The Simple Science of Copywriting.
18. Using video on landing pages can increase conversions by up to 80%.
Source: Unbounce
Like most copywriters, this is something I’ve been ignoring for many years. Videos have been tedious and intimidating to me. However, if they increase conversions by up to 80% then you should incorporate them. Services like Easy VSL make it simple to produce high-quality videos for camera-shy marketers.
19. Writing concise, scannable content can boost a page’s usability by up to 58 percent.
Source: NN Group
If you can shorten your work and keep the same meaning then you should. The best way to do this is by using bullet points or headings. Scannable content has never been more important given people’s short attention spans in the new age of viral video content. Here’s an example of how you could make something a bit more scannable.
Before
This Nootropic is made using Lion’s Mane which helps you become more productive by improving your cognitive abilities. Overall, you should see an improvement in the quality of your work.
After
Proven to significantly improve your cognitive ability.
20. Only 80% of people will read the headline copy but only 20% will read the rest.
Source: Copyblogger
Producing scannable content is so important I’ve included another statistic. Headlines are a great way to break up your copy. Not everyone is as invested in it as you. Some people will skim a page or email and hope to understand the key details quickly. It’s no surprise that subheadings receive the most attention.
21. Sales emails with 200-250 words witness the highest response rate of 19%.
Source: LXAHub
There’s a clear trend with these statistics. People have short attention spans, if you can get your message across in fewer words then you should. In this case, sales emails (or outreach emails) perform best when they’re under 500 words.
22. 88% of users agree they are more likely to respond to an email favorably if it looks like it’s been specifically created for them.
Source: Dynamic Yield
The bottom line is that if you want to improve open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates you should personalize emails. This starts when you’re collecting emails. If you have the option to collect a first name you should. It might impact the signup rate but overall, it will result in better-performing campaigns.
Here are three key takeaways from the statistics
- Copywriting is getting more competitive
- Email marketing has a high ROI but you need to make it personal
- Users scan content so make sure it’s written to be scanned
Frequently asked questions
Is copywriting a hard skill to acquire?
This isn’t an easy question to answer since it depends on the copywriter. Some people will find copywriting easy to pick up and others not so much. There are complementary skills that make copywriting an easier skill to acquire. For instance,
– You have basic business acumen
– You understand marketing principles
– You have a good English vocabulary
– You enjoy reading and writing
These interests and skills will make copywriting a much easier process for you to learn. Without them, you’ll need to invest a lot more time into learning the foundations.
Consider taking The Simple Science of Copywriting course
What type of copywriting pays the most?
Again, this depends on your skill level, niche, and pricing strategies. However, email copywriters usually earn more money consistently. This is because email marketing has such a high ROI and is required on a recurring basis. According to statistic #8, it’s 40x more effective than Facebook or Google ads.
Which copywriting statistic is the most important?
The copywriting statistic I find most impactful is that including a video on landing pages can increase conversions by up to 80%.
Even though it’s not the copywriter’s responsibility to include videos on the landing page it will boost the conversion rate significantly. So either way, it’s in your best interest to make sure there is a video present.
