Tiny companies need copywriters - why?

7 replies
"I thought you only worked with big companies"

I hear this a lot. Do you? If so, what do you say in return?

Small business owners can fall back in love with their work, learn more about their customers and see sales fly with a good copywriter.

Or maybe you think copywriting is only for larger businesses? I'd be really interested in your opinions
#companies #copywriters #small businesses #tiny
  • In my experience the number of prospects for good copywriting is unlimited. You can't spin around in a circle holding a Taylormade driver without hitting hundreds of businesses with dodgy sales copy and lead gen funnels.

    That said, I target businesses with at least $5 million in annual sales. They don't usually need to be educated on the need for good copy and have the cash to pay my full fee without twitching.

    I'll work with smaller businesses if I am trying to enter a market. For example, I set-up a campaign to get more business from here in LA. Almost all of my clients live on the other side of the globe. I wanted a few right around the block. It took a while but now I am getting calls every day from clients here in town. Some are real small but it is fun to help local businesses. Plus you get to pick up checks in person!
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    Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
    - Jack Trout
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  • Profile picture of the author hosebergine
    Thanks Joe. I too love working with small businesses. You can have a great impact right across the company.

    But I'm in New Zealand where generally the businesses are much smaller than in the UK, where I'm originally from, or the US. Being in a new land is really why I am interested in exploring opinions on the forum.

    I love your idea of finding small companies to work with specifically when you're entering a new sector or area. How direct are you about their existing words? I know many of the companies I approach have written copy themselves.....
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    • I'm not sure what you mean by "how direct are you about their existing words."

      Do I tell them their copy sucks?

      Usually I ask them who wrote the current copy. Then I ask if the copy is getting sales, sign-ups, click-thrus or whatever the goal is.

      I already know the answer. Sometimes they are completely silent!

      So, I don't have to tell them it sucks. If my sales funnel is doing its job, they are qualified by the time they call me. They know it sucks.

      Then it is a matter of diagnosing their specific pain and creating solutions. That may be a sales letter, a reactivation campaign, an autoresponder series, or a combination.
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      Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
      - Jack Trout
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  • Profile picture of the author hosebergine
    You read me right Joe! Thanks for the insight. I really appreciate your time
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  • Profile picture of the author JstewartPiBR
    Content plays a vital role in promoting businesses, services and products. So, small companies should focus on web content development to get proper online visibility. The more online prominence they will get, the more businesses they will get. Hiring experienced content writers will help small businesses to promote their business quite effectively and efficiently.
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  • J Stewart Pabst Blue Ribbon- I agree content is important. The downfall comes when businesses offer rivers of content for months on end and never ask prospects to become clients. Yes, offer value, but be bold in asking for the business. Then provide even greater value and scale up from there.
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    Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
    - Jack Trout
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    • Profile picture of the author JstewartPiBR
      Originally Posted by Joe Ditzel View Post

      J Stewart Pabst Blue Ribbon- I agree content is important. The downfall comes when businesses offer rivers of content for months on end and never ask prospects to become clients. Yes, offer value, but be bold in asking for the business. Then provide even greater value and scale up from there.
      Well said man!
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