What Are the Best Copywriting Courses in 2023?
One of the best ways to become a copywriter, or to brush up on your copywriting skills, is to take a copywriting course. Not only can they save you months of research, they provide you with a structure, which helps you process what you learn.
When I first started out as a copywriter in 2011 (having previously worked as freelance journalist), I admittedly didn’t take any copywriting courses. Sure, there were fewer courses on the market then, but it’s something that would’ve elevated my learning and helped me reach an industry standard quicker.
However, I’d like to add that taking a copywriting course isn’t a substitute for practice. It takes time to get good at anything and copywriting is no different. That’s why I think that the best copywriting courses are the ones that include assignments and tutor feedback.
Having access to a professional copywriter not only speeds up the learning process, but it improves the quality of your work.
So, without further ado, here’s my list of the best copywriting courses in 2023:
The College of Media and Publishing
The College of Media and Publishing is one of the UK’s leading online colleges and has been around since 2003. It offers a range of marketing-focused writing courses that have been taken by companies like British Airways, the UK Department for Transport, the BBC, and Domino’s Pizza. In particular, its Online Copywriting Course stands out as one of the best copywriting courses online.
What You’ll Learn
The course covers all the basics of copywriting, including writing for different target markets and mediums. It looks at how to write webpages, emails, pay-per-click adverts, and press releases to name a few. It also contains a new unit dedicated to AI copywriting tools.
There are several assignments throughout the course that can be used as portfolio pieces, and you’ll have access to unlimited tutor support, including personalised feedback.
Course length: At your own pace
Course tutors: Lucy van Biljon, Justine Holman, or Julian Brouwer
Location: Online
Qualification: The Quality Licence Scheme certificate of Achievement & Accredited CMP Diploma
Cost: £549.50, or 4 monthly payments of £137.37
The Chartered Institute of Marketing
The CIM is the world’s largest community of marketers. It runs many marketing-related training courses, including its Principles of Great Copywriting course. It focuses on the essential elements that make good copywriting as well as the common mistakes that new copywriters make. The course tutor is Phil Woodford, who is a former advertising creative director, and now a freelance copywriter and trainer.
What You’ll Learn
The course pays particular attention to headline writing and adapting copy to fit different media types. It looks at persuasive writing techniques, writing for different audiences, and how to analyse and critique writing. The course takes place over one day either in person in London, or online. The learning format includes group work and how-to workshops.
Course length: 1 day
Course tutors: Phil Woodford
Location: In-person in London, or online
Qualification: Unknown
Cost: £575 (in-person), or £450 (online)
The Institute of Data and Marketing
The IDM has been around for over 30 years. It provides marketing training to individuals and businesses on a variety of topics. Its Copywriting Masterclass is run by Tim Tucker, a London-based freelance content marketing strategist and copywriting specialist.
What You’ll Learn
The course covers the entire copywriting process from planning, to writing and improving copy. It provides practical advice on overcoming writer’s block as well as enhancing creativity. Some of the topics you can expect to find on the course include identifying your target audience, usability testing, communicating unique selling propositions, writing persuasive calls to action, and writing for various different mediums. The course includes exercises and tutor feedback.
Course length: 1 day (7 CPD hours)
Course tutors: Tim Tucker F IDM, 23 Digital
Location: Online
Qualification: Advanced Certificate
Cost: £400 (members), £450 (non-members)
The Writers Bureau
The Writers Bureau was established in 1989 to help writers improve their craft. Although its courses focus more on creative writing, it does run a Complete Copywriter Course, which comes with a Continuing Professional Development Certificate. All the tutors at The Writers Bureau are professionals and provide feedback on course assignments.
What You’ll Learn
The course focuses on writing for specific mediums like adverts, emails, and sales letters. However, it does teach modules on setting up and marketing a copywriting business, which would be particularly useful for those interested in working as a freelance copywriter. The course typically takes between six months and two years to complete and assignments are based on real copywriting tasks, making it one of the best copywriting courses for beginners.
Course length: 6 months to 2 years
Course tutors: Esther Chilton, Andy Ellis, Stephanie Baudet, Tony Kirwood, Sara Mace, Mandy Pannett, Phil Busby
Location: Online
Qualification: Continuing Professional Development Certificate
Cost: £419
The Blackford Centre
The Blackford centre is a distance learning provider in the UK. It offers a range of courses from animal care, to herbalism. It also runs a Diploma in Copywriting that makes use of videos, quizzes, and tutor-marked assignments. Students are assigned a tutor and you’ll have the chance to contact others learners.
What You’ll Learn
The course aims to provide you with all the skillls you’ll need to work as a professional copywriter. It provides comprehensive supporting materials, as well as tips and written exercises. The Diploma in Copywriting also covers various market types and different mediums, making it one of the best online copywriting courses with certification.
Course length: At your own pace
Course tutors: Full-time copywriters, not named
Location: Online
Qualification: QLS Level 4
Cost: £575 (online edition), £695 (online edition + printed materials)
D&AD
The British Design & Art Direction (D&AD) is a membership site for creative designers and advertising communities across the UK and worldwide. It was established in 1962 and celebrates creative communication. Every year, it runs its D&AD Awards that recognise excellence in design and advertising. It also runs a copywriting course called Creative Copywriting: The Fundamentals.
What You’ll Learn
The course is structured over 4 parts and guides you through the creative copywriting process from start to finish. It explores writing for a target audience, how to get your thoughts down on paper and creating storylines. It also looks at the practical elements like writing headlines and emails, using active language, and copywriting tools.
Course length: 8 hours over 4 lessons
Course tutors: Will Awdry
Location: Online
Qualification: Unknown
Cost: £600
The Clever Copywriting School
The Clever Copywriting School is run by Australian copywriter Kate Toon. She is also an award-winning entrepreneur, a copywriting coach, and speaker. She runs the Clever Copywriting Chats podcast, and The Sales Page Course, which focuses on writing high-converting sales pages. I’ve personally used some of Kate’s copywriting templates in the past, and they’ve proven to be really useful in structuring copy for different mediums.
What You’ll Learn
The course is structured in four stages: learning, planning, creating, and reviewing. It uses training videos to explain how sales pages work, and uses a workbook for planning. The course provides a number of templates and checklists for maximum efficiency and provides lifetime access.
Course length: At your own pace
Course tutors: Kate Toon
Location: Online
Qualification: The Clever Copywriting School certificate
Cost: $847 AUSD+GST, or $1,297 AUSD+GST (Live version)
London Marketing Academy
As its name suggests, London Marketing Academy runs marketing-related courses in (you guessed it) England’s capital city. It offers a range of courses on topics ranging from social media, to Google Analytics. Its Copywriting Course runs over two days, either in London, or online. The course tutor is Laure Latham, the Chief Marketing Officer at Veeveo, an eMobility startup.
What You’ll Learn
The course is based around six different modules that focus on writing persuasive letters and websites. Some of the topics covered include headline writing, structuring your copy, storytelling, calls to action, and the customer journey. It also has a section on AI tools for content, showing that the course is bang up to date with the latest copywriting trends.
Course length: 8 hours
Course tutors: Laure Latham
Location: London/Online
Qualification: London Marketing Academy certificate
Cost: £550
Conversational Copywriting
The Conversational Copywriting Course is run by Nick Usborne – a copywriter of almost 40 years and the recipient of no less than 16 awards. He has worked with some of the world’s biggest companies including Apple, the New York Times, Chrysler, and the U.S Navy. As part of the course, you’ll have access to a private Facebook group where you can ask questions, learn, and share insights.
What You’ll Learn
The course itself comprises 18 lectures, 6 homework assignments and supporting materials. The private Facebook group also includes live video Q&A sessions once a month. Course topics include writing sales pages that convert, writing emails that are personal, writing blog and social media posts, and developing web pages that avoid corporate speak.
Course length: At your own pace
Course tutors: Nick Usborne
Location: Online
Qualification: Unknown
Cost: $197
Copy School
Copy School is the brainchild of Joanna Wiebe, the founder of Copyhackers, a website that provides insights, courses, and guides to help people improve their conversion copywriting skills. Copy School’s Master of AI Copy is one of the first of its kind in that it provides a crash course on how to use AI copywriting tools.
What You’ll Learn
The course explores how AI can help you plan and research your copy while making it more persuasive. It takes a realistic look at how tools like ChatGPT can aid the copywriting process and teaches you how to write effective prompts for maximum results. The course also draws on conversion copywriting principles and outlines how AI can be used to speed up the writing process.
Course length: 5 hours of training
Course tutors: Joanna Wiebe
Location: Online
Qualification: Master of AI Copy Certification Badge
Cost: $497
Okay, So What is the Best Course on Copywriting?
The best course on copywriting is the one that best meets your needs.
If you’re brand new to the concept of copywriting, then a course that covers all the basics would be the best option.
However, let’s say you work in marketing and you know what copywriting is. And you want to improve your own copywriting skills…
In this case, the best course on copywriting would be one that digs a little deeper into the nuances of persuasion, psychology, and tone of voice.
And if you’re a seasoned veteran who wants to keep up with the latest developments in copywriting, then maybe a course on AI copywriting tools, SEO copywriting, or conversion copywriting would be more useful.
Are Copywriting Courses Worth it?
From a financial perspective, when we consider that the average copywriter in the UK charges £433 Per day, and the average copywriting course is priced at around £450, an investment of just over a day’s work is well worth it.
Of course, not everyone that takes a copywriting course will put what they learn into action. But those that do can easily make their money back quickly.
In terms of learning and upskilling – yes, copywriting courses are absolutely worth it. Despite the rise in AI copywriting tools (which some have argued will replace copywriters), copywriting will always be an essential business and marketing skill. At its core, good copywriting is about human connection, and so it’s most effective when it’s written by humans.
Copywriting courses can make your writing more persuasive, which means they can improve your sales and make you more money.
And who doesn’t want to earn more money?
Can I Learn Copywriting in 2 Months?
If you focus all your energy on learning copywriting by completing a copywriting course, then it’s quite plausible that you’ll have all the copywriting theory you need in just 2 months.
However, theory and practice are two very different things.
When it comes to copywriting, the proof is in the results. It takes time to put theory into practice, and as I mentioned earlier, practice makes perfect. The more you apply what you learn from a copywriting course into your everyday practice, the quicker you’ll start to see results.
