Is There A Strict Format For Working With A Copywriter?

Mark Andrews is running a special right now. His reputation is stellar.

Also, there is a list of copywriters at the top of this forum. If you know of one specific area of your website that you want to work on. Take a look at the list, different copywriters have different areas of expertise, you might find one there that fits your budget.

From my experience...

A money-making copywriter/client relationship is based completely upon transparent communication and passionate collaboration.

Pick up the phone.

Talk with a few copywriters.

Feel their energy.

Get a sense of whether there's a genuine connection - when you talk about what you do and what you're looking for in a collaboration.

Be clear about what you want to achieve.

Very clear.

If the copywriter says the right things and you feel like you'd really enjoy working closely with him or her, take the next step.

Mark

I think testing a copywriter on a smaller scale can be a smart decision. And as for your primary question, no, there’s no set “way” regarding how to do business with a copywriter. I think some of the bigger names would probably feel it was a waste of their time to do a smaller project like search descriptions and may pass you over because of that. However, if you truly do have more work and a bigger budget waiting on the backburner, it’s their loss.

The thing is, a lot of copywriters (especially newbies) get scammed by the whole, “We’ll give you $4 to write a 2000 word landing page, and if you’re a good fit then we’ll pay you more for future projects!” Really it’s just a way for cheap clients to get cheap work and the promised higher pay never comes. So long as you’re honest in your dealings and can provide a reliable history as a client, then things should be fine.

On one final note, some copywriters (such as myself) guarantee results with their work. As in, if their first draft doesn’t convert, you either get your money back or they rewrite it for free until it does work (more helpful since it saves you the time you’d need to look for someone else).

That may be a better option for you because you can choose someone based on their past successes and know that even if it doesn’t work out initially, you have their promise (hopefully in a contract) that they will get you results.

Not to hawk my wares too hard, but I would be open to the sort of thing you’re describing. Feel free to send me a PM if you’d like.

Optimizing a site for persuasion and optimizing a site for search engine rankings are two different things. You can't do both.

So in your present situation, I recommend you work with a SEO expert, not a copywriter.

Alex

PS - Disclaimer: I don't consider SEO a smart long-term business strategy. The search engines can kill your business in an instant with an algorithm change.

Are you sure you are looking for a copywriter? There are some
people who term themselves "SEO Copywriters" but they are
two different fields as far as I am concerned. To write persuasively
for the search engines and humans at the same time is not a skill
I have acquired. I always find one of them not satisfied. I guess you
can't serve God and mammon.

-Ray Edwards

I think what he means is, he wants a copywriter to re-write the description for his site, not for SEO purposes, but for persuasian purposes.

He's done ok with SEO, so it appears in the SERPs. But people are looking at a list of 10 sites, with their descriptions, and not choosing his site often enough, and he wants to change that.

In that sense, I don't think an SEO person works. SEO has to be kept in mind of course, but he wants people to read the description and click on his site, not the one above, and below.

I have realized the cheapest way to "test" a copywriter is to find a good copywriter that is willing to work for cheap on any size job, so they will do whatever you want, write a whole copy, revise one, revise just a part, whatever.

It took me awhile but I found one. She is awesome, fast, professional and really cheap. I really don't mind helping her out because I know her company is quite new and eager to meet new clients and ensure survival.

I don't even mind giving her email address out here: emma@alomay.com There you go, mention my name and she may even give you a discount! (I am not looking for commissions from her).

Start with one page, IE your busiest page - HOME. Track/analyze it after you have a copywriter and pay at least $20 to write a full page, 400-500 words ideally. Incorporate strong calls to action preferably at the end.

We get a lot of web owner clients who work that way.

If you see any results, IE increase in traffic, move to page 2 and onwards!

What kind of budget range are you willing to invest.

Ideally you want to start by testing one page at a time
with your changes.

But keep in mind that it can be hard to get really great copywriters
to work on tiny projects for small fees.

That's more likely to happen if you have some kind of relationship with
a copywriter and you respect his time.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

Not every business is destined to do well on the inter web.

In theory they can with the help of a top notch writer and an SEO expert.

But you can be number 1 on google. And blitzing the social media with your outstanding messages...

While your target audience is busy trying to find you in yellow pages, or frantically searching for the press ad, sales letter or postcard you sent them.

They're just not inter web fans - and never will be.


Steve


P.S. I know you're thinking "nonsense" - every decent consumer is connected and buys from the net.

Not everyone.

Especially if your prospects are older - they've avoided the technology.

And in many cases (far more than we would wish) - the people we want are online - but just won't buy or even call for more details from any Ad or promo they see on their computer screens.

Even though the Ad is great and the company is reputable and credible - they just don't trust the web.

There usually is a "minimum", but it varies from copywriter to copywriter. Some are hungry for work so they'll do pretty much anything.

A really good copywriter won't take you on as a client unless they're pretty damn sure they can make you your investment back. Unsurprisingly, they usually charge a lot too.

Having said all that... it's your business. Why not put feelers out and see if there are any copywriters you gel with who are interested in a small "test" project? So long as you pay them well for the work, I imagine you'd get a decent number interested.

-Daniel

If you plan to be writing your own sales pages for a long time, you might consider taking the money you would have spent on a copywriter and invest it in yourself.

A basic plan:

GRAMMAR
-
MARKETING THEORY
-
MARKETING CASE STUDIES
-
CONSUMER PSYCHOLOGY
-
COPYWRITING BOOKS
-
COPYWRITING COURSES

Optional:

Evolutionary psychology
Negotiation
Psychological differences in (culture/gender/age)--dependent on your market
Economics (Pricing theory, mainly)
Decision theory, specifically System 1 vs. System 2 processing (iirc, there's a decent pop-sci book about this that came out recently)

Am I missing anything?