How long does copywriting take?

A lot of people are curious as to how long copywriting takes (in other words, how long does it take me to write something). I’ll try and give you a few basics here.

To begin, the writing that I do (commonly called “copywriting”) is more involved than most types of writing. I’m writing to sound engaging, get specific points across, persuade someone to take an action, and if it’s website copywriting, get a little SEO in there as well. It’s not something that can be banged out quickly.

However, I have done a little thinking, and have timed myself the past three weeks. Here are my results:

• One page of web copy (like an “about us” or a specific service) – 1.5 hours
• One page letter – 2 hours
• Brochure copy (tri fold brochure) – Half a day
• Editing a three page proposal – 1.5 hours

Now, there’s something to remember in the above – it’s almost impossible to work continuously. In other words, writing 4 different letters in an 8 hour day I can do once. But I can’t do it two days in a row. The brain just doesn’t work that way.

To give you another example of this, say I write short product descriptions. I charge $xx for each one. I can do ten an hour, and (seemingly) make a nice hourly rate. Yea, I can do ten the first hour, but then I have to take an hour off. Then I can come back and do another ten… then do five the next hour, and maybe spend the next three hours doing the final ten for the day. I don’t want to sound dramatic or anything, but writing hurts after awhile. Especially when you are pouring everything into it like us copywriters do.

I’ve done a lot of hard jobs in my life. I’ve swung a hammer, lifted, dug, fixed, demolished, welded, driven 13 hours, etc. Writing is the hardest. No joke.