Copywriting vs. Content Writing: What’s the Difference?

Alright, let’s settle this once and for all: what’s the deal with copywriting and content writing? Are they the same thing?

And whats with the picture of sandwich making?

If you’ve ever scratched your head wondering which one you need (the writing, not the sandwiches)—or if you just want to sound extra smart at your next marketing meeting—this post is for you.

Content Writing

What’s the deal? It’s like the friend who always has interesting stories to share or useful advice to give. It’s all about building relationships and showing your audience you’re here to help, not just sell.

What’s the goal? To teach, entertain, or share value in a way that keeps people coming back for more (a bit like a good Netflix series).

Where you’ll see it:

• Blogs answering your burning questions (or the ones you didn’t know you had)
• Informative articles that make you nod along
• E-books that deep dive into juicy topics
• How-to guides that actually help

The tone: This totally depends on your brand personality. It’s often friendly and approachable. It could be a little quirky. On the other hand, it could be more formal, professional, and authoritative if that’s your vibe.

(Note: this is where a skilled content writer can help ensure that your unique tone of voice is maintained across all of your content).

Copywriting

What’s the deal? This is the smooth talker of the writing world. It’s all about grabbing attention and getting people to say, “Yep, I’m in!”

What’s the goal? To convince you to click, buy, subscribe, or at least think about it.

Where you’ll see it:

• Ads that stop you mid-scroll
• Product descriptions that make your wallet itch
• Sales pages that have you sold halfway through
• Email campaigns you can’t resist clicking

The tone: Concise, compelling, and action-oriented. It might be punchy, fun, or straight-up irresistible—again, it depends on your brand style and tone of voice. (No hard selling or manipulative sale tactics, of course; we’re all about ethical copywriting here.)

The Bottom Line:

Content writing is like the helpful friend who builds trust over time.

Copywriting is the confident one who knows how to close the deal.

“Okay,” you say, “got it,” but what’s with those sandwiches?

Both copywriting and content writing are awesome in their own way, and together, they’re the ultimate dream team.

A bit like peanut butter and jam.