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Writers, You Should Be Networking with Designers

by Social Media Ava
9 replies
Have you ever done a search for web designers and noticed how many of them do not include copywriting in their list of services? It doesn't make sense. What are their clients supposed to put on that snappy new website? I've done a little networking with designers, and it's truly a win, win. And by "little", I mean I have one designer who feeds me content jobs.

If you're a writer, the first place you should look for clients is a web designer. This allows the designer to offer additional services and maybe even make a little money off the back end of the deal. It could be the designer has been searching for a reliable solution to help his/her clients out with copy.

In my smallish area, Google returned more than a million and a half results for web designers. I know it's not all relative, but I've begun making a small list of designers who didn't list copywriting services on their sites.

I wanted to ask some of the marketers or designers here at WF...what would be the best way for a writer to approach you for a deal like this? Contact through your site? What are some buzz words that might make you consider a partnership with a reliable writer? Thanks in advance for any advice you could offer.
#designers #networking #writers
  • Profile picture of the author dsouravs
    very very true.
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    I can convert your Non-Responsive website to Responsive website ... How sweet is that? :)

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  • Profile picture of the author David Sneen
    It seems like a natural partnership; just like realtors and morgage lenders.

    However, I prefer to visit sites where I know the owner and guest bloggers puts up their own material.
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    David Sneen
    It's what you do when no one is watching
    that determines what you will be able to
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  • Profile picture of the author Tim Franklin
    That is a great way to think about improving your marketing strategies, If more marketers made these kinds of strategic partnerships, success would be a lot more prevalent.

    Call it Synergy, or complementary services, it can work very well, getting a good partner is not very easy, though it makes sense, I believe the biggest issue is trust.

    Most of the time, people are so busy trying to make money online that they often miss the real opportunities that may be right under their noses.

    ----------------------- read between the lines its what your missing...
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    • Profile picture of the author Christopher Fox
      Excellent point wp75. Certainly one that has crossed my mind. As I fancy myself more a writer than a designer, I of course would have worded it: Designers, You Should Be Networking with Writers !!!

      Case(s) in point:

      http://www.warriorforum.com/website-...h-tell-me.html

      http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...next-step.html

      A couple 'o blokes just asking for friendly review and advice on the forum about their sites, but probably were not expecting the writing advice I offered. They weren't even thinking about it when asking for advice/review. They were focused on the elements of design and marketing/monetizing, respectively, without giving proper recognition to the absolute importance of quality text. Some entrepreneurs have an awesome skill set but will lose out or turn off potential clients over the silliest little things. I am guilty of forumspeak, where a 2"X 3" box to type text into and the conversational nature leads to typos, misspellings, slang, etc., but if you are putting it out there for all to see, the words need to be as top notch as your design skills.

      I think many designers are in the same startup boat as writers - no customer base and a shoestring budget. Neither writers nor designers should be afraid to approach the other to work out an initial barter arrangement. As in, review the words on my site and I'll outsource work to you when I get a paying gig sort of thing.

      The key word, as you stated, is NETWORKING. Establish relationships now, before any money changes hands, and if one is successful in their online endeavors, those with whom they networked and established relationships can benefit as well.

      A win-win situation for sure.
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      One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothing can beat teamwork.

      - Seldom Seen Smith
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  • Profile picture of the author Ashley C
    I actually do write for quite a few web designers and developers. You can also offer Internet marketing services to them, such as keyword research, link-building, SEO, consultancy...

    Many designers already offer such services, but at the same time, many don't. I think it'd be a good idea to build a reseller/white-label content writing service for them.
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    • Profile picture of the author Social Media Ava
      Good points all around. The bottom line is that this type of partnership expands the target audience of both parties involved. Working with a designer allows me to offer all the tools in my box. I can offer custom content writing or PLR options. I get suggestions and feedback for more topics. The designer has cost effective solutions for his clients. And like I said in my OP...the designer knows my fees up front and has the opportunity to tack a little on and make some extra money on the back end of the deal. It's perfection.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    I like it.

    I'd bet you could contact 50 high profile Web designers in a day without going anywhere near the Spam line. Try using a headline like: Increase your design business profits with this added-value service. Then pitch them on your writing service. Tell them that having a writer on call makes them a one-stop shop.

    You could even offer them a small percentage of whatever fee you collect. But don't do that up front. Make them tell you what they'd want. One of the main rules of business is, whoever mentions price first usually loses.

    There's another great way to get work if you're a copywriter but it's not all that sexy because it also requires some hustle. Imagine?

    Cruise through Clickbank and look at the downright awful sales pages. Approach the site owners with a pitch for improving their copy. That is, if you can actually improve conversions.

    There ain't no lack of opportunity, only lack of ingenuity.
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    • Profile picture of the author jessicalynn
      This is a really great idea! Thanks for posting this! I'm anxious to see what some of the web designers on this forum have to say about it.

      Someone else brought up a really good point about sites with horrible copy-it really does hurt your business. I definitely would not purchase a service from a business that can't even be bothered to spell check their website! I know I'm bound to be a bit more critical since I'm a writer, but I feel like most non-writers would be distracted by glaring errors in copy too.
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      • Profile picture of the author JimMichael
        I started doing this years ago and it worked out to be very fruitful!
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