Should You Work With a Professional Copywriter?

Should You Work With a Professional Copywriter?

At a networking event recently, a discussion broke out about the benefits and drawbacks of outsourcing work.

As someone that clients outsource work to, it got me thinking: how do small business owners know whether they should work with a professional copywriter?

There are a few reasons why challenges can arise when working with a professional copywriter. It could that there’s a communication breakdown. You could have differing views on how your copy should be written. Or perhaps you were told you ‘had’ to work with a copywriter, without knowing if we really offer what you need.

So, how do you know if you should work with a professional copywriter? 

There are three questions you can ask yourself to get a gauge of where you are, versus where you need to be.

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What is my deadline?

A scenario I see quite often is that a small business owner has invested in a web designer. The website is almost complete, but one vital component is missing: the copy.

Oftentimes you think that as you know your business best, you are the best person to write your website copy. The problem is, writing effective copy takes time – something that you already don’t have enough of. 

It’s an easy situation to find yourself in. Believe me, it happens all the time. 

Working with a professional copywriter solves your problem – but you need to have a deadline in mind. 

A copywriter needs to have time to do competitor research, look into your market, understand your audience and, most importantly, talk to you about how your copy needs to sound to get results. 

If your deadline was yesterday, it’s unlikely that a professional copywriter will be able to help you out. 

My best advice is, once you see “Write website copy” begin to slip down your to-do list, it’s time to reach out to someone who will happily add it to theirs.

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What is my budget?

Ah, budget. 

The one word we all hate to bring up in conversation, even though it’s one of the most important ones to discuss.

Before you talk to any copywriter, you should have a figure in mind for what you are willing to pay for their services. 

Finding a copywriter who is the right fit for you is the key to success. You need to find a personality match – but you also need to understand the value a copywriter offers. 

Having a budget will help you understand where to find the right professional copywriter. If your budget is on the lower end, it might be better to look at websites such as Fiver or Upwork.

This is why I always try to include a ballpark price on any discovery call – it helps you to know if we are on the same page. I also include packages across my website, so you can get a feeling for what I charge ahead of speaking to you for the first time. 

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Am I willing to collaborate? 

The beauty of working with a professional copywriter is that we see the product or service you offer from the perspective of your target customer. 

We do copious amounts of research so we can craft the right words that compel your reader to take action. They will buy into your expertise and authority and understand you provide the perfect solution.

I’ll let you into a secret: we can’t do all of this ourselves. If you approach working with a copywriter thinking we can come up with all this without any input from you, the process is going to be pretty difficult. 

We need to work with you to create your copy, not for you.

This is why, before ever putting pen to paper, I have a Business Deep Dive call with every new client. The call takes 45 minutes, but we cover a lot, including:

• Your competitive difference
• Your values
• Your target customer(s)

And much more. I will also request the names of your top competitors, and any branding documents you already have in-house. 

The more information you can give me, the better picture I can build to write the words that will help your business shine. If you can’t give this process the time it needs, you aren’t ready to work with a copywriter.

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Hopefully, this blog has helped you see whether you are ready to work with a professional copywriter or not. 

Ultimately, the goal of working with a professional copywriter is to make your life easier – if answering any of these questions have made you feel like you might be better off holding off, then that’s fine! The most important thing is doing what is right for you.

If you want to take a DIY approach for a while longer, check out some of my older blog posts or connect with me on LinkedIn, where I share tips every week on how to write better copy yourself. 

And when you think the time is right for you to work with a professional copywriter, I’ll be delighted to have a chat.

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