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How to find a good copywriter

by Fluxer
16 replies
Hi

I'm starting to thread in hope that some of the experts in this field can shed some light on how to select the best copywriter for your site

Many people have told me that the copy writer is only as good as how well they understand your concept, hence by simply reviewing their portfolio is not necessarily a good benchmark of what to expect. Is this true ?

SEO. This is a large part of copywriting and how do you evaluate previous projects based on this ? Also, SEO is so dynamic these days how would one put a value on how well the job is well done.

Niches. Should we be looking specifically into someone who has experience in the niche or niche experience doesn't matter ?
#copywriter #find #good
  • Profile picture of the author WilloxPerez
    These are some great questions,

    When it comes to finding a good copywriter the first thing to do is list down exactly what you need and want for your site. List the main ideas and the theme. From my experience from dealing with copywriters, the more details and instructions you give the better the end result will be.

    If you are too vague and give a general instruction of what you want, they might want to get creative and make something completely different from what you want.

    SEO is definitely part of it and something to take into consideration but the way SEO is now you can implement this in a natural way. Simply identify the main keywords and terms you want to include and make the copywriter aware of them so they can utilize them in a natural way throughout the content. Just make sure you avoid being technical and telling them how many times they have to use it etc.

    Another great tip is to simply test them out by giving them instructions to make a sample of what you want. Pay them a bit for it and this will definitely be worth it since it gives you an idea of how good they are and also you can help them improve as well as guide them in the direction you want them to go.

    - Will
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Cohen
    Originally Posted by Fluxer View Post

    Hi

    I'm starting to thread in hope that some of the experts in this field can shed some light on how to select the best copywriter for your site

    Many people have told me that the copy writer is only as good as how well they understand your concept, hence by simply reviewing their portfolio is not necessarily a good benchmark of what to expect. Is this true ?

    SEO. This is a large part of copywriting and how do you evaluate previous projects based on this ? Also, SEO is so dynamic these days how would one put a value on how well the job is well done.

    Niches. Should we be looking specifically into someone who has experience in the niche or niche experience doesn't matter ?
    You can write a sales letter to persuade people... or you can write one to persuade a nameless, faceless Google bot. If you try to do both at the same time, one or the other will suffer.

    So my suggestion is...

    Hire a copywriter to write your copy and then send paid, targeted traffic to it

    -or-

    Hire a SEO expert and make the Google bot happy.

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author kk075
      Originally Posted by Alex Cohen View Post


      So my suggestion is...

      Hire a copywriter to write your copy and then send paid, targeted traffic to it

      -or-

      Hire a SEO expert and make the Google bot happy.

      Alex
      I completely disagree since it goes against everything that Google stands for. The search engines have just one little rule- the site with the best content (which is measured by your reader's interaction) should rank in the #1 slot for it's keywords. And great copy engages consumers like nothing else out there, as long as the writer has a basic understanding of SEO and knows how to write entertaining copy.

      Since you're looking for a solid copywriter that also knows SEO and how to speak to your consumers, the very first thing I would do is ask a candidate, "What can I do to make my site perform better?" Then listen very closely to the answers.

      While others have said to be extremely specific in your requests, you are not a copywriter or an SEO expert...so your requests may or may not actually solve your problems. And honestly, you'd be foolish to pay good money for a top-tier professional and ignore their advice, because they make great money for a reason.

      If I liked the person's answer, then I'd ask to see some samples of their writing. And in my mind, I would be asking myself, "Does the tone of this sample fit the voice that I'm trying to convey to my readers?" If the answer is no, then either the writer chose a poor sample to give you (which means don't hire them) or they aren't suited for your audience (which means don't hire them).

      Also, the advice to ask for financial statements, references and all that other stuff is a complete waste of time...because you're talking to professional writers here. Either I have all the criteria you're looking for or I make it up, but because I can write well then you're not going to know the difference either way. Since it doesn't give any true answers, don't even bother.

      Instead, have a phone conversation and ask as many questions as you'd like. Get a feel for this person and whether you're comfortable with them as a person, and if everything says "yes" in your mind, then give them a small assignment to start with. From there, see if you build a relationship with that person or if they're simply out for the quick buck, and then use those experiences to decide whether or not they're a long term answer.

      For me personally, I hire a lot of writers because I almost always have more work than I do time in the day...so I try to keep one or two interns in the fold. When I first qualify them, I mainly look for a well-written statement that shows a little personality. I want to see them write a few strong paragraphs and clearly answer all of my questions...and just this alone will usually eliminate 90% of my candidates.

      Hopefully that helps.
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      • Profile picture of the author joe golfer
        Originally Posted by kk075 View Post

        I completely disagree since it goes against everything that Google stands for. The search engines have just one little rule- the site with the best content (which is measured by your reader's interaction) should rank in the #1 slot for it's keywords. And great copy engages consumers like nothing else out there, as long as the writer has a basic understanding of SEO and knows how to write entertaining copy.

        Since you're looking for a solid copywriter that also knows SEO and how to speak to your consumers, the very first thing I would do is ask a candidate, "What can I do to make my site perform better?" Then listen very closely to the answers.

        While others have said to be extremely specific in your requests, you are not a copywriter or an SEO expert...so your requests may or may not actually solve your problems. And honestly, you'd be foolish to pay good money for a top-tier professional and ignore their advice, because they make great money for a reason.

        If I liked the person's answer, then I'd ask to see some samples of their writing. And in my mind, I would be asking myself, "Does the tone of this sample fit the voice that I'm trying to convey to my readers?" If the answer is no, then either the writer chose a poor sample to give you (which means don't hire them) or they aren't suited for your audience (which means don't hire them).

        Also, the advice to ask for financial statements, references and all that other stuff is a complete waste of time...because you're talking to professional writers here. Either I have all the criteria you're looking for or I make it up, but because I can write well then you're not going to know the difference either way. Since it doesn't give any true answers, don't even bother.

        Instead, have a phone conversation and ask as many questions as you'd like. Get a feel for this person and whether you're comfortable with them as a person, and if everything says "yes" in your mind, then give them a small assignment to start with. From there, see if you build a relationship with that person or if they're simply out for the quick buck, and then use those experiences to decide whether or not they're a long term answer.

        For me personally, I hire a lot of writers because I almost always have more work than I do time in the day...so I try to keep one or two interns in the fold. When I first qualify them, I mainly look for a well-written statement that shows a little personality. I want to see them write a few strong paragraphs and clearly answer all of my questions...and just this alone will usually eliminate 90% of my candidates.

        Hopefully that helps.
        I disagree. Don't worry about SEO. Alex is right. A good copywriter writes 100 percent for the prospect.

        The SEO will take care of itself with LSI. A sales page shouldn't be concerned with SEO -- possibly the content pre-selling pages should, but not the pages designed to sell the product/service.
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        • Profile picture of the author kk075
          Originally Posted by joe golfer View Post

          I disagree. Don't worry about SEO. Alex is right. A good copywriter writes 100 percent for the prospect.

          The SEO will take care of itself with LSI. A sales page shouldn't be concerned with SEO -- possibly the content pre-selling pages should, but not the pages designed to sell the product/service.
          I think you missed my point entirely....I wasn't talking about stuffing keywords, inserting a link every 125 words and filling out your meta properly; those things do not do anything for a page if it's not optimized for people. The truth of the matter is that EVERY web page should be optimized for sales and you do that by optimizing it to allow your consumers to experience your brand.

          So in essence, every page is a sales page...not just the ones where you are throwing your best pitch. And every page needs to be developed for impressing people...which is all modern SEO really is anyway.
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  • Profile picture of the author salondemaria
    A really good copywriter has the ability to persuade anyone to buy a product or service regardless of what niche it is. They have to connect with the pain points of the potential buyer.

    When evaluating a copywriter I would simply look at one of their samples. If it inspires YOU to fork over your cash, then he/she is a good writer.
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    • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
      Originally Posted by salondemaria View Post

      A really good copywriter has the ability to persuade anyone to buy a product or service regardless of what niche it is.
      Not true.

      They can't do it if there is no existing demand for
      the product or service.

      Top copywriters, unlike the less experienced,
      won't take on a project if they believe there is
      little or no demand for the offer.

      However they can channel more to buy where there is existing demand.
      Best,
      Doctor E. Vile
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    • Profile picture of the author turboshandy
      Originally Posted by salondemaria View Post

      When evaluating a copywriter I would simply look at one of their samples. If it inspires YOU to fork over your cash, then he/she is a good writer.
      My thoughts exactly.
      Look at their samples or previous work, there are many good copywriters out there but everyone responds differently to sales copies, so I believe anyone who needs to choose a copywriter needs to see how they themselves respond to the copywriter's samples.
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      • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
        Originally Posted by turboshandy View Post

        My thoughts exactly.
        Look at their samples or previous work, there are many good copywriters out there but everyone responds differently to sales copies, so I believe anyone who needs to choose a copywriter needs to see how they themselves respond to the copywriter's samples.
        The BIG problem with that thinking is the owner is not the customer
        and mostly responds differently to messages than his/her customers.

        Best,
        Doctor E. Vile
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  • Profile picture of the author Raydal
    You can look for someone who has already written successfully for
    your marketing niche. If you know who your competitors are,
    unless there is a non-disclosure agreement you may find a copywriter
    this way. If the copywriter has a long term agreement with a business
    they may not want to write for you. But that is the exception and not
    the rule.

    -Ray Edwards
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    The most powerful and concentrated copywriting training online today bar none! Autoresponder Writing Email SECRETS
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    • Profile picture of the author Fluxer
      Thanks for everyone's replies. I can read a good sales copy and will have a rough idea on whether I think if that will sell or not. However when it comes to SEO ( sorry for the newbie question ) how do you evaluate if the copywriter has done a good job especially when some sites although 'SEO friendly' will take a while before Google recognizes this effort.

      Also, how do u focus on Keywords if the website is a marketplace and not necessarily skewed to any particular niche and if it is it might just due to trending results

      I'm looking for a copywriter for a new marketplace site hence do PM me for further details.
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      • Profile picture of the author mBoox
        As someone who is engaged regularly to write website and eBook copy, perhaps this would be a different perspective.

        It's sometimes very difficult to extract from a client what their purpose or call to action is. I believe many of them are new and learning, just following the process that someone has dictated. The best copy has the following elements:

        1) It creates passion in the customer to take part, either by purchase, signing up for a newsletter or somehow become involved; but you have to tell them clearly the options for involvement.

        2) It treats the customer as though they already know what they want and therefore are simply choosing between options, and now that they're at your site, they're in the right place.

        3) It doesn't do the carney call of "Step right up and buy this now or it will go away." This is insulting to most people and unless they have a gambling habit, probably will not work.

        4) Be authentic, be knowledgeable and be accessible. Be that neighbor they chat with over the back fence.

        5) Choose language that matches the reader level of your niche customer. Don't use single syllable words if you're trying to catch people who are college-educated; or visa versa.

        6) Use not only keywords that the customer may be searching for, but keywords that speak to the customer's frame of thinking. For example, if you are selling equine products, use language that will make that buyer feel as though he is among his own people. Talk about noted horses, parts of the country where that breed is raised, well-known breeders, farms, tracks, sales venues, etc.

        7) Leave the customer with an invitation, where it is a call to action to buy, or to contact you, spread the word or to comment. They should feel somehow invested in your success.

        I hope this perspective is helpful to anyone reading.
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        • Profile picture of the author copyassassin
          • look at past financial performance
          • look at key conversion metrics from past gigs
          • insider knowledge of niche (research info)
          • contacts within the niche
          • schedule of the copywriter (and how hungry they are at that moment)
          • questions they ask you
          • personal references
          • do you like them communicating with them
          • do you share similar values as them


          those are some questions/concepts you should have in mind when picking a person
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  • Profile picture of the author toysoldier80
    Try Fiverr. They have some great reviews and for 5 dollars its worth a shot to find out if it's right for your business.
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  • Profile picture of the author BusinessChoose
    The key to a great copy-test is to keep it small and relevant.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leadsupply
    First of all I suggest you not to use Fiverr gigs. Most of th Fiverr gigs are useless. You can search on Freelancing sites like Odesk, Elance, Freelancer etc. When you are going to hire someone, please take a look on his Feedback and reviews.
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    https://www.rankleads.com/ Fresh Web Design and SEO Leads for Sale.
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