Content Vs. Copy: What’s The Difference?

The marketing lingo is vast. When you’ve been at an agency or freelancing long enough, you’ll start to notice differences between specific terms that, to the common eye, could mean the same thing. The best example of this same but different lingo are the terms content and copy. Copy can be a piece of content. Copy is also the sidekick to content. Content can be copy, but it is not limited to just copy. Confused? Let’s take a look at the three typical types of content you’ll see in your feeds today. You’ll see the role copy plays in each. 

TOP TYPES OF CONTENT

A FEED POST

When you’re scrolling through your routine social media feeds, you’ll often see a static image or graphic. This is a piece of content! What is that piece of content usually accompanied with though? Sure a picture can say a thousand words, but they need to be the right ones and those are usually found in the caption aka copy! Without strong persuasive copy to act as the feed post’s sidekick, the likelihood to engage is much lower. 

VIDEO

Ok let’s take a look at videos. The actual video is your piece of content. To make that video pack the most punch when it comes to engaging your target audience, you need to drive it home with a call to action. This is usually the person’s voice stating the action while the copy in the description reinforces it with the main points, call to action and link to engage. This can be found in YouTube end screens and video descriptions. For IGTVs, it can be the caption accompanying the IGTV. See how copy plays a small, but important role in content? 

BLOG

Blogs are where copy is front and center as the piece of content! You’re most likely to be led to a blog from a feed post or a video that accompanies the content. You know, the “check it out with the link in bio” statements. You’re usually led to a page with copy to get more information and follow through on calls to action. Long-form copy like blogs can be made into many pieces of content that you can batch then put on auto-pilot later. 

See how copy is content’s sidekick? It is a vital part of your target audience engaging with your content. Copy can also be its own form of content by becoming a blog. The two terms mean different things but they are essential to each other. 

Want a custom content strategy to get your target audience engaging and converting with your brand? Contact us today!