Need a copywriter, but don't have a lot of cash? Read this...

I wanted to post this here because I know a lot of people come to the copywriting section of the warrior forum looking for a copywriter, but maybe they don't have the biggest budget in the world.

It is easy to get discouraged when you come in here and see dozens of copywriters, all with rates into the $1500+ range (most are higher), and all of them recommending that you DON'T pay less than that for sales copy.

Obviously, it isn't recommended that you pay less for one of the most important aspects of your business than you'll pay for cable TV this year - but when you're just starting out, chances are, you don't have a choice.

Maybe you only have a couple hundred dollars to your name to get this product off the ground. Maybe you got ripped off somewhere along the line in product development, and your budget just can't fit a high priced copywriter anymore. There are 1000's of "maybes" that all lead to the same thing - while you'd love to have 4 figures to spend on a copywriter, you just might not have it right now.

A lot of copywriters won't admit this, but we get it. We understand where you are, because we were THERE. All of us started somewhere, and it likely involved having no income from our copywriting business at some point. We were beginners. We built our portfolio, got new clients, built our rates up to that 4 or 5 figure mark, and make a nice living from our writing - NOW.

But there was a time for all of us when we weren't making thousands of dollars for copywriting. There was a time for all of us when spending $1500 on a salesletter wouldn't just have made us cringe, it would have been impossible. There was no $1500 for a sales letter.

It wasn't a matter of not being "serious" about our business, or not "thinking things through", and it didn't mean that we weren't going to be successful at some point.

All it meant was that our copywriting income at that point couldn't support an expense like that - just like your internet marketing income now might not be able to support the expense of a copywriter.

Now, if you have a few hundred dollars that you're able to spend, you're ahead of the game. You've got SOMETHING.

I wouldn't recommend spending it on a cheap copywriter, though.

Spend it on an expensive copywriter - one that offers critiques within your budget.

Why?

Because by spending a day or two writing up your own sales letter, and then getting a professional opinion on what you should change to improve your conversion rate from a real, producing copywriter, you're increasing your odds of success.

Now, you might be thinking "but Cherilyn, why would I pay a few hundred dollars for a critique when I can get one for free, just by asking?"

And you're right - you can. There are dozens of very generous copywriters here, who offer up their time and their services to those who ask, without expecting anything in return.

The problem is, there are also plenty of generous copywriters here who haven't cut their chops yet - they're still developing a portfolio, learning the game, and getting experience - who will provide you with a critique, too.

And sometimes, you'll get conflicting responses. One person will say "this part sucks" - and then someone else will say "no, it doesn't - but this part does!"

Can you afford to spend hours sorting through all of the responses, figuring out who to listen to? Do you really know the track record of everyone here well enough to be able to instantly filter through the critiques and find the best responses?

And what about the fact that these are *free* critiques? Most copywriters worth their salt will be too busy with client work to spend hours giving you a critique for free. Of course, many of them will offer some advice on quick changes that can help you - and they're wonderful for doing it. But you'll never get the whole picture by piecing together free critiques.

I urge you, Warriors... If your budget is limited, but you need a copywriter - hire someone here for a critique. Their rates vary, but I do know of at least half a dozen copywriters here who charge only a few hundred dollars for a critique. Many of them have proven, professional track records.

Every time I see someone get a poor conversion rate by hiring a cheap copywriter, it makes me cringe - because I know that person probably only had a few hundred dollars to spend.

Not because they weren't serious, or because they didn't know what they were doing - but because they were just starting out.

Next time you're about to hire an inexpensive copywriter, consider getting a critique done instead. You won't get the same value as a complete salesletter, of course - but dollar for dollar, your money is far better spent on a critique from a seasoned pro than a complete letter from a rookie.

Good luck!

- Cherilyn