As a freelancer, should I fuse my copy with graphic design elements?

[CopyAcolyte]

Hello all,

I know that copywriters write copy and may provide a copywriter's rough to sketch out a graphic design idea, but is that enough?

I hope it is, because I don't have the time right now to stretch myself thin by downloading/purchasing WordPress theme plugins and learning how to design webpages and landing pages.

I just want to write, really.

My question is, should I download things like landing page crafting software and write copy and design at the same time, or just write copy and send it in a word document to the client, whereupon he can design it or hand it over to a designer/web developer?

Of course if it's the former, I'd be happy working with a designer/web developer. I would just prefer not having to take the design/web dev. helm at the moment.

What would be the best route for a beginning freelance copywriter regarding this dilemma?

[WebRank1]

I would stick with the writing. Design/creative is a whole different department.

[Stephen Dean]

It depends. Client's like to see their copy all dressed up so it can be a good idea to deliver it that way - but that doesn't mean you have to do it. Just pay someone to dress up your copy for $50 or whatever.

Or pay someone to create you a cool looking template and put your copy in that every time, unless the client has their own.

But all in all, it's not necessary. I always deliver copy in HTML but my clients usually put it in their own template.

Cheers,
Stephen Dean

[Ken_Caudill]

Yes, you should coordinate with your client's graphic people if possible.

[ankur sharma]

as a regular buyer of sales copies. I think its brilliant idea. If you can get graphic skills and include it in your copy, that will be fantastic.

[CopyAcolyte]

Originally Posted by ankur sharma

as a regular buyer of sales copies. I think its brilliant idea. If you can get graphic skills and include it in your copy, that will be fantastic.

I don't think that's realistic for me though. I mean, yes, it would be nice if we all could do multiple things. But personally I don't have time to learn graphic design. Plus, I'm a wordsmith and I'm not that interested in graphic design.

Can someone recommend the best program/website for slapping together an electronic equivalent of a copywriter's rough? I hear "HTML form" thrown around these boards, as if it were distinct from just a text document; does this refer to something like WordPress? Could I slap together a copywriter's rough with WordPress?

Thank you everyone for the responses.

[Stephen Dean]

I created Copy Breeze to turn text in to a formatted HTML doc. Way better then a WYSIWYG editor in my opinion. Been using it for years.

copybreeze

I'll PM you the download link.

Cheers,
Stephen

[davis cup]

If you want to earn more, you can master in multiple skills to get the complete project. The clients will be happy as all the work is taken-care by a single person instead of them splitting between people.

[CopyAcolyte]

Originally Posted by davis cup

If you want to earn more, you can master in multiple skills to get the complete project. The clients will be happy as all the work is taken-care by a single person instead of them splitting between people.

That makes sense, but my priority right now is to start making money. I've already absorbed a lot of copywriting technique and wisdom, as I've been studying it extensively for the past few months; I just think that if I try to learn another skill-set, I'll be diluting much needed energy and time.

I'm just wondering whether I should go make some money right now offering strictly copywriting services and postpone learning web and graphic design, or become versatile immediately. Hmmm..

[Loren Woirhaye]

I'm competent with web graphics so I usually provide some
with copy I write if I have ideas for them. I don't tell clients
to use my graphics, so I'm not obliged to make them pro
quality. I just use them to communicate the selling idea
where I think a graphic is the way to do it.

Some clients use them as provided, others have them
re-done by the designer they're working with.

[wilmath]

There is a graphics book called "PresentationZen Design" written by Garr Reynolds that is aimed at the non-professional. It discusses copy quite a bit and I got a lot out of it.

[Steve The Copywriter]

If it's any help - I've been a freelance copywriter for over 25 years and know SFA about graphics, html etc. etc. ( I just cannot get the hang of all the tech stuff).

But I do know the "sort" of graphics that would work well with the copy.

So when they are needed - I get a graphics designer to do them or use the clients "in house" team (if they have one).

Steve

[Shawn Lee]

Well, I may not be a professional in internet marketing, or anywhere close to it, but I can safely say that a recipie for failure is to try and do everything yourself.

In my opinion, you could outsource the graphics part to someone else (there're some pretty decent graphic artists here in the WF), or you could have a JV or long-term relationship with a graphic designer (can get discounts :P).

If you outsource the graphics part, it'll just cost you a little more money, but good graphics has the potential to raise the perceived value of your entire sales copy by a lot.

Hope this helps...

[website design]

Depends on the quality of service that you want to provide.

Lower price/quality doesn't warrant including graphics.

Personally I do everything myself and do the design/content at the same time. Reason is because it produces higher conversions.

Slapping content into some random design does not produce the results. IF I did outsource would definitely pay more for someone that included images and built the concepts into the content.

You don't need to know how to code to provide graphics. I would suggest starting to create a personal database of commonly used graphic elements/stock photos and include them with your services. Many people will pay for quality work with the extras.

[Mitt Ray]

Stick with writing and get better at it. Learning how to design and create graphics will take up a lot of time if you're new to it. It's better to just practice writing in this time and improve your writing ability.

The best thing to do it team up with a designer and then both of you can work together. You can use them to design the copy you write and they can use you to write the copy they design. This way both of you can be sure of having marketing material where the design is attractive and the writing is persuasive.

[amydyslex]

If writing is what you do best then of course you should stick to the copy writing tasks. Believe me, writing a solid and effective copy is in itself a huge task. The designing and dressing up should be left to the design deptt.

[ThomasOMalley]

Good copywriters focus on writing copy. They don't focus on graphic design. You just don't see too many people doing both. Focus on your strength and market that skill.

Best of luck,

Thomas O'Malley

[GuerrillaIM]

Any time I have worked with copywriters in the past I ask them to provide this sort of thing in the following format.

Image[what image represents]
Caption[caption of image]

I am big believer of only using images where they serve a purpose. In other words if you can't caption it, dont use it.

So for instance I might get something like:

Image[Pic representing compounded interest]
Caption[The more money you put in, the quicker your money grows!]

This is then easy enough to be given to a web designer to incorporate nicely into the design.

[sweetloleypop]

i am new into this, i really need advices and sharing experiences like this.Thanks a lot for posting and share your ideas guys...

[Shadowflux]

My short answer for you would be forget the graphics stuff.

Any client worth working with will understand that they're hiring you for your writing skills and not your graphics skills. Don't let someone try to suck you into doing a whole lot of extra work with out extra pay. If you wanted to add graphic design to your repertoire then you should charge more for that and make sure that the bill/invoice/email is itemized to reflect that.

If someone wanted some sort of rough sketch for the design of the page then I'd say give them a rough sketch. Just draw something quick on some paper and scan it in. Don't spend more than 10 minutes on it. If they want you to do some complicated design prototype then just tell them that you're a writer and you don't do that.

To answer one of your questions above, however, I would personally use Photoshop since it can slice and export the graphics with the accompanying html and that would give you a fairly workable, if static and non-WP, model. Again, I would charge more for this.