Copywriting Essentials Course | Australian Writers' Centre

HomeCopywriting Essentials

Learn how to write words that sell – and get paid to be creative

Copywriting Essentials is ideal for writers who would like to open up a new and rewarding income stream.

You’ll learn how to:
Start earning money as a copywriter
Write great headlines and words that sell
Take creative briefs and conduct research
Write long content, ads, brochures and more
Use SEO to maximise web copy.

“I loved the breakdown on how to write great copy, from headlines to creative brief to SEO, and then combining it all by writing long copy in the last module. Video lessons were easy to follow, and handouts were very informative. I learnt more relevant info in the SEO copywriting module than I ever did in my three-year marketing and PR course at uni!”
– David Giangiordano, Copywriting Essentials graduate

See more reviews

Key information
Key information:
This is an online course Duration 1 This is an online course Opens: Monday 6 January 2025 Start any time during the week Opens: Monday 6 January 2025 Start any time during the week Duration: 5 weeks Allow 3–4 hours per week Duration: 5 weeks Allow 3–4 hours per week Feedback: Weekly Feedback: Weekly With: Mark Farrelly With: Mark Farrelly $600 Can’t make this one? Just fill out this form and we’ll be in touch when there’s a course date that suits you.

Get started as a professional copywriter

We’re surrounded by copywriting, but most of the time we just don’t know it. TV ads, radio ads, magazine ads, websites, blogs, billboards, social media posts, brochures, packaging, signage – it’s all copy, it all sells something and someone has to write it. So, why not you?

If you’re tired of working for peanuts to support your creative endeavours, there is simply no better option than to become a professional copywriter. You get to write when you like, where you like, for whom you like, from home, with no overheads, staff or equipment needed. And you’ll get paid well to do it.

This inspirational, hugely popular Copywriting Essentials course gets results – teaching you how to get started without any prior experience. Created by copywriting dynamo Bernadette Schwerdt, the course has kick-started the careers of some of Australia’s most successful copywriters – even training the ones that go on to train other copywriters!

This course is ideal for:

Creative writers who would like to open up a new and rewarding income stream
Novice copywriters who want to increase their confidence and writing skillset
Experienced copywriters who want a foolproof ‘tool kit' of templates and structures that get results
Small business owners wanting to learn how to write copy to promote their own business
Graphic designers, publicists and comms teams wanting a ‘crash course' in how to write copy for clients.

More than copywriting

It’s not just about copywriting either. It’s about marketing and how to promote a business. Many of our students studied marketing at university (or have been working in marketing for decades) and say they wish they’d done this course instead of investing three years at school. It is jam packed with practical strategies, systems, templates and structures that take the guesswork out of marketing and make the process of promoting a business easy and understandable. Yes, it’s a copywriting course but you’ll get a bonus education in marketing too. That’s a lot of bang for your buck.

For those who crave variety, have a huge sense of curiosity about the world they live in, and love to work with a wide range of different products and services, the world of copywriting is for you.

Not only will you get the inside secrets of how to become a world-class copywriter, you’ll also get to connect with other like-minded students who are all doing the course at the same time.

Check out the feedback this course generates and discover why so many students love Copywriting Essentials – and why you will too.

Reviews of Copywriting Essentials

“This course is absolutely unrivalled for quality, cost, time and ease of access. I learned many new skills that I put to use immediately and have relied upon in a variety of contexts since. AND, I so enjoyed it! Thank you AWC, Bernadette and Mark!”

Amy Dewhurst

“I really enjoyed learning the seven steps to selling and also about search engine optimisation. It was all a really great insight. I honestly don't think that there is anything more that Bernadette could do to improve this course. It's perfect.”

Nick Burdeu

“Mark was very friendly, approachable, and eager to share his insights. From the get-go I realised that he knows the industry inside and out. Overall, this amazing course has given me confidence to seriously pursue copywriting as a side career. “

Lorylene Anne Tayler

“The course provided a complete toolkit to enter the workforce as a copywriter. It was super practical, the information was generous and well-delivered, and left me at the end feeling like I could make the step into paid work.”

Megan Ralfe

You’ll learn:

How the world of copywriting works and how it fits into the marketing process
The top 5 qualities that make great copywriters
The types of copywriting available to you and the different industries that use copywriters
The hallmarks of what makes a great advertisement
How to turn your writing skills into money-making career opportunities
A unique 7-step process to write great copy for any product, any service, any medium at any time
Tried and tested advertising formulas that get instant results
How to write headlines for every medium that capture attention and inspire customers to keep reading
How to use professional copywriting briefs to help you write quickly and minimise client conflict
The right structures and templates to use when writing for different products and services
Strategies for working with clients that will enable you to get your work approved more quickly
How to tap into the consumer psychology behind why people buy
A fast track system for researching a new product and service so you can become an ‘instant expert’ on any topic for any client
The art of writing long-form copy for sales letters, websites, tenders, annual reports and brochures that keep readers engaged until the very end
How to use trigger phrases, opening statements, icebreakers, call-backs, offers, social proof and other copywriting ‘hacks’ to gain buy-in and convert prospects into buyers
The top 10 on- and off-page SEO copywriting factors that determine how a website gets ranked (this technique alone will guarantee clients will pay you double the standard writing rate).

Bonus Module 1: How to start your copywriting business

Discover what you need to do to get started and find clients. You’ll learn how to build the right foundation as a freelance copywriter so that you can thrive. This bonus module will give you the confidence and framework in your new venture.

Bonus Module 2: AI and ChatGPT

In this module, we cover the principles of this exciting new artificial intelligence (AI) platform, ChatGPT. You’ll learn exactly what it is, what it can do for you, what roles will be impacted, the opportunities it will provide for copywriters and how to talk to your clients about this emerging technology.

Your bonus 30-day Copywriting Essentials Bootcamp

Upon completing the course, each participant will receive privileged access to our Copywriting Essentials Bootcamp, a 30-day program that will help you take what you've learnt and apply it to fast track your copywriting goals.Every day, for 30 days, you’ll receive a Daily Action Tip via email that, if applied, will see your dream of becoming a paid copywriter turn into reality. Created by the course writer and tutor Bernadette Schwerdt, it’s a ‘companion piece’ to the course and will give you step-by-step instructions for building a successful copywriting business. These bite-size goals are designed to be ‘diarised’ so that you know exactly what you have to do each day.Valued at $297, this Bootcamp is FREE for graduates of Copywriting Essentials – perfect for those who love learning and want extra support once the course is over.

How does the online course work?

When you enrol:

You’ll receive login details to access your online course
Your course contains five weekly modules, each with audio lessons and handouts
Each week, you can submit a small assignment and receive feedback from your tutor
There are no set class times – complete each module when it suits you during the week
We suggest allowing 3-4 hours per week to complete each module and assignment
You can post questions and comments in the classroom and get to know your classmates
You’ll be able to enjoy access to the course for a full year – plenty of time to revisit your lessons and refresh your knowledge whenever you need.

Even if you don’t want to become a full-time copywriter, just having the skills to write great copy will give you the freedom to earn money while writing your novel, screenplay or blog. Some of the world’s top novelists and screenwriters started their careers as copywriters – Fay Weldon, Peter Carey, Philip Adams, Di Morrissey, Salman Rushdie, Don DeLillo, Dorothy Sayers, to name just a few.

You will also learn some handy writing tips along the way that will help you in your other work, including how to overcome procrastination, dealing with fear, using deadlines effectively and using copy to promote your other creative work.

Featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and on Radio National’s Life Matters, this bestselling course is widely regarded to be one of Australia’s most successful copywriting courses for those seeking practical, real-world training that generates paid work.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Is this course anything to do with the © symbol?
A: Nope, it has nothing to do with ‘copyright’; the © symbol. Instead, copywriting is the art of writing words (or ‘copy’) that sell, and the people who write those words are copywriters – with a W.

Q: Who is this course for?
A: This introductory course is really for anyone looking to dip their toe into these waters and see if this life suits. More specifically, it is brilliant for creative writers who want to earn some regular income from their writing. Also journalists and freelance writers looking to add copywriting to their suite of corporate services. It’s also really useful for entrepreneurs and business owners – to control their message and communicate it strongly.

Q: Can I make good money?
A: This is one of the few writing areas where we can quite confidently say that it’s possible to make good money being a copywriter. (Well, being a good copywriter.) As your confidence grows, you can charge your clients top dollar for the work you create.

Q: I see you also offer another course called How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business. Which should I do first?
A: Good question! If you’re doing both, it doesn’t matter which you do first, as there is almost no overlap – just try to do them within a year of each other. Both are created by Bernadette Schwerdt.

Q: I'm interested in the SEO Copywriting course too. When should I do that?
A: You’ll get the most from the SEO Copywriting course if you’ve done the Copywriting Essentials course first. Even if you’re an established copywriter, we still recommend you complete Copywriting Essentials first as it will give you the fundamentals that the SEO Copywriting course is based on.

Q: What's the difference between the Copywriting Essentials, How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business and SEO Copywriting courses?
A: Copywriting Essentials (that’s this one) gives you the skills to write great copy, while How to Build a Successful Freelance Copywriting Business will help you get lots of clients and make money! SEO Copywriting will provide you with the tools and techniques to take your copywriting to the next level, offer clients a valuable service they’ll pay extra for and give you a point of difference that will see you become the copywriter of choice.

All courses run multiple times through the year, so check the course dates for each.

Enjoy exclusive access to our AWC Graduates’ Club

Want to know where all the cool kids hang out? The Graduates’ Club of course! Now, calm down – there are no cigars, leather armchairs or loud ticking grandfather clocks here. But it IS exclusive invitation only (on completion of a course) and it’s free! Meet other writers online and share successes, seek help or just get something off your chest. Many students believe this ‘legacy learning’ is one of the most valuable things about our AWC community, and who are we to argue? So if you want to receive feedback, support and a heads-up on opportunities … join the Club!

We are Australia’s leading provider of short writing courses. Our world-class presenters are actively working in business and will ensure your training is relevant, up to date and fun!GET PAID FOR YOUR WORDS with Copywriting Essentials

Key information
Key information:
This is an online course Duration 1 This is an online course Opens: Monday 6 January 2025 Start any time during the week Opens: Monday 6 January 2025 Start any time during the week Duration: 5 weeks Allow 3–4 hours per week Duration: 5 weeks Allow 3–4 hours per week Feedback: Weekly Feedback: Weekly With: Mark Farrelly With: Mark Farrelly $600 Can’t make this one? Just fill out this form and we’ll be in touch when there’s a course date that suits you.