Distinguishing Content Writer, Content Creator and Copywriter: Who does an SME need?

The distinction between content writer, content creator and copywriter is often confusing, causing both newbies and employers to have a headache. For example, are you hiring content writers but want to hire Tiktok, or hiring creators but forcing to write text SEO articles?

I was also confused about this issue before, this article is drawn from Duan’s experience, compiled to help you compare and distinguish these three roles, from goals, daily work to KPIs to measure work.

💡 To distinguish these three roles for the norm, it is recommended to first of all unify What is content and what branches it consists of.

Why do 90% of new people and even the boss mix these three roles?

As a freelancer, I have worked with many businesses and also supported them in recruitment interview roles, interviewed hundreds of CVs applying for content positions.

And the fact that I noticed that most of you from freshmen to those who have 1-2 years of experience, have difficulty distinguishing the three roles: Content writer, copywirter and content creator.

Not only does this confusion come from job seekers, but many business owners or managers also post false recruitment postings, needing content writers but the job description requires knowing how to make tiktok content (including thinking up content and creating it).

What are the consequences of this ambiguity?

• With Newbie: You become confused, not knowing what you really are good at, what skills to cultivate to develop a clear career path.
• For employers/managers: You hire the wrong people, assign the wrong jobs, resulting in a waste of budget, training time, and can not accurately measure the work efficiency because of the wrong KPI set.

Therefore, this article will help you distinguish between these three roles, whether you are looking for a job or finding people, the ultimate goal is to help you find the “right person, the right job.”

Quick definition of 3 roles

Before we go into the detailed comparison table, here are the 3 most concise definitions for those who need quick information:

• Content Writer: The main goal is to educate, inform, and retain readers. They are experts in long, in-depth content such as SEO standard blog posts, ebooks, or whitepapers.
• Copywriter (Convincing writer): Their main goal is to convince and call for action (purchase, sign up, fill out a form…). Their products are advertising, slogans, landing page content, or email marketing.
• Content Creator (Multimedia Content Creator): The main goal is to attract, entertain and build a community. They work with a variety of formats, mainly images and videos (TikTok, YouTube, Podcast, Infographic).

Detailed Comparison Table: Content Writer vs Copywriter and Content Creator

The quick definition gives you an overview. But to best understand the nature of work, the differences in thinking and how to measure the effectiveness of these 3 roles, the detailed comparison table below is the most intuitive.

In-depth analysis of each role

The comparison table has shown you the theoretical differences. Now, we will go into the daily work and practical thinking of each position so that you understand their nature.

Content Writer: Expert in Building Information Platforms

A content writer’s day-to-day job is tied to the website and the content. They are responsible for keyword research, competitor analysis, outline, and long-form content.

Their products are usually standard SEO blog posts, PR articles, Ebooks, whitepapers or case studies. Their goal is to provide valuable information, retain readers and improve rankings on Google. In short, they are content writers and often play an important role for the SEO standard content writing service.

What did they do?

Their focus is on the text and information, so they are usually not the ones who make the videos or create the short, sale – closing slogans (which is copywriter work).

Digi Travel View: “A good Content Writer not only writes well, but also writes what users find and what Google wants. They are the mainstay of every sustainable SEO campaign, helping businesses build credibility and attract natural traffic in the long run..”

Practical examples: The writer of the in-depth analysis blog that you read on SEONGON, TopCV, or other reputable news sites is the content writer.

Copywriter: Expert at persuasion with words

If the writer is using information, the copywriter is using psychology.

Their job is to deeply research customer insight (pain, desire) to write highly convincing content.

Their products are ads, Landing Page content, sales video scripts, Email Marketing, or Slogans. They also regularly perform A/B testing to find out which sentences bring the highest conversion rates.

Their goal is to act immediately (buy, sign up). So, they usually don’t write 2000-word SEO articles to educate the market (which is Writer’s job).

Digi Travel View: “Copywriters are silent salespeople. Every word they say has to be monetized. They battle with the emotions and psychology of their customers to create a push, turning readers into buyers.”

Practical examples: The classic Apple slogan “Think Different,” or the compelling ad templates you see every day on Facebook, are all Copywriter’s products.

Content Creator: A multimedia content creator

This is the role of the social media age, content creators are people who directly create ideas, write scripts, record/make videos, edit images, and publish on platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, Instagram.

💡 Read more to get more clear about the profession: What is a content creator called and their role in Content marketing picture.

They not only create content but also are people who interact with fans, build community and personal image (or brand).

They also write but that is script writing to “speak” or to “play” rather than technical blog writing. They are usually strong on visual thinking, sound and the ability to catch trends (trends).

Digi Travel View: “Creator is a combination of skills: writing, speaking, acting, editing, is the face of the brand in the eyes of the public. So requires the ultimate versatility and the ability to create non-stop.”

Practical examples: Famous YouTubers like Khoai Lang Thang, or TikToker with investment content like Giao Cùn, Phùng Thái Học are the typical content creators.

What position are you suitable for? Who do you need to recruit?

After understanding the nature of each role, this is the real-world consulting part from Duan Digi to solve the “pain” of both job seekers and recruiters.

Newbie: Who are you in 3 roles?

If you are at a career junction, ask yourself what you like to do and what are your strengths:

• Select Writer: If you enjoy deep research, have logical thinking, enjoy academic writing, and can spend hours working alone to create a quality article.
• Select Copywriter: If you’re passionate about psychology, like sharp language, want to see results (sales) quickly, and are n’t afraid of the pressure of direct effect.
• Select Creator: If you are creative, sensitive to trends, are not afraid of camera lenses, and are skilled (or willing to learn) the tools of filming, construction, design.

For Employers/ Business Owners:

To optimize costs and achieve your goals, you need to clearly identify who you need:

• When to Need Writer? When you need to build a website platform, do SEO to attract sustainable traffic, and build credibility, image of experts (content inbound).
• When to Get a Copywriter? When you need to run ads, launch new products, optimize conversion rates on landing pages and increase sales immediately.
• When to Need Creator? When you need to build your brand, increase your visibility, and build a loyal community on social media platforms.

Tips from Digi Travel: “Do not force a writer (SEO writer) to climb a tree (spin TikTok), and do not force a creator (trend catcher) to swim (write academic articles). Recruit the right people for your right goals.”

There is no best role only the most suitable role!

It can be clear that all three positions of content writer, copywriter, and content creator create “content”, but their goals, skills, products, and ways of measuring effectiveness are completely different.

No role is better than any other, as a great and comprehensive marketing campaign always needs a harmonious combination of all three. In it, the writer builds trust, the creator draws attention, and the copywriter drives action.

💡 SME doesn’t need to hire a content team yet? You can start with SEO standard writing service by project.