Sales Copy Please

Luke, I get it. If you haven't worked with copywriters before, you may not know the level of detail we need in order to be able to quote you. But think of it this way - if I went to a tailor and said "I need someone to make me a dress. It needs to be red and I'm a size ______", the tailor would be just as confused as we are.

There are so many other details to consider. What style? Which shade of red? Length of the hem? Sleeves or no sleeves? Fabric? Price range? Obviously if I went into this wanting a $20 dress and it's going to cost the tailor $100 to make it, there's a disconnect. It's not going to be worth it to the tailor to lose money to make my dress, ya know?

It's the same with copywriting - TIME is what most people fail to consider. It takes a LOT of time to create great copy, even for websites. There's research, outlining, writing, keyword research for websites on top of subject matter research, editing, etc. All of this time spent on your project is time I could be spending working on personal projects or another client's project. So in order for me to feel like it's worth the time commitment, I need to know if we're on the same page budget/scope/subject wise.

Make sense now?

Here you go, Luke; just fill in the blanks:


Greetings Warrior Copywriters! I am looking for a copywriter to help me with a project.

I plan on selling my [PRODUCT] about [SUBJECT] using a [long copy sales letter/video script/combo video script and long copy sales letter/carrier pigeon message to the Outer Hebrides].

The [PRODUCT] will be sold to my [existing list/cold traffic/targeted PPC traffic/affiliate network (like Clickbank)/alien zombies pausing by Planet Earth on their way back to their home planet].

My launch date for [the PRODUCT] is [DATE]. I [have/do not have] background material for you to refer to.

My budget for this project is [in THIS range].

If this sounds like something that you are interested in, please shoot me an email with a couple of writing samples and your availability.

I look forward to sorting through the thousands of eager responses from you!

Very True.



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My post wasn't scolding you, Luke. It was a template for you - and anyone else who makes a similar request - to use.

While I appreciate that you might not want to reveal the exact details of your project until you have hired a copywriter, not giving ANY details, except the number of pages (and, as someone pointed out above, what kind of pages?) pretty much ensures that you will only be getting results from inexperienced copywriters.

Even if a copywriter is a "generalist", every writer has strengths and weaknesses. If the nature of your project falls under a writer's "weaknesses", why waste her time and yours?

Or, if the writer is going to have to spend 30 hours reading background material, vs 3 hours reading background material, that will also affect the quote you will receive from him. If it doesn't, the copywriter is an idiot. Do you want an idiot writing your copy?

I presume you would rather work with a writer who can write well to your market and in your industry. However, if you fail to mention basic details, most writers with any kind of chops won't be spending their time contacting you to see if you just might happen to be a good fit.

Ditto, for not giving a clue as to your budget. There are writers who are willing and able (for whatever reason) to write for a *ahem* modest sum. Others have financial considerations that require them to make $X/hr. When they write for less than that, they become a non-profit organization. Again, when you state your budget range, writers know whether your budget is a good fit for them. They won't waste your time, or theirs, contacting you about a project they can't, or won't, be interested in.

ROI, my man. Think "ROI". You want it - and so do copywriters.

Those of us who've been hoofing this particular city block for a while know that when a project request is very vague, the ROI is usually lower than whale poop on the bottom of Biscayne Bay.

So, no reason to take umbrage. If a marketer wants a realistic quote, from a copywriter who knows what they're doing, and who can do justice to their project, then the marketer needs to cough up a few basic project details.