Have you recently come round to the idea of hiring a freelance copywriter to enhance the image or boost the sales of your business? Freelancers are by no means the low-quality option. They can offer better quality writing than staff writers, but the nature of freelancing means that the employer won’t have to pay a constant wage. This can be great for small companies who need a professional but only have a small marketing budget. But if you are new to hiring freelance copywriters, finding the right one can seem a daunting task. Here are some tips for finding a great freelancer…
Finding the best freelance copywriter for you
To find the right copywriter, you first need to know what you need them for. This seems like an obvious point, but not all freelance copywriters will be right for all jobs. Perhaps you have a few projects in mind. The fantastic thing about freelance copywriters is their flexibility, and if needs be, you can hire someone for each individual job. But it often makes sense to look for copywriters who have a breadth of skills and experience. This way, you can build a working relationship with them and ensure that they understand what you require in each instance.
Find a copywriter for your business who has experience in brochure writing, web copywriting, email copywriting, and all the other main fields, so that you know they will be a versatile asset. Look for a varied portfolio that shows off their talent, and try to find out whether they have a good range of testimonials attesting to the quality of their writing.
Quality itself is a variable in hiring a freelancer, and some companies deliberately hire lower quality writers to save on costs. Large freelancing platforms will allow you to post your job and choose from a variety of prospective copywriters. Unfortunately, many of the writers might not have English as their first language, and the quality of their writing could be less than satisfactory. Nothing damages your image more than terribly worded copy, so it is better to pay for quality when it comes to hiring a UK-based copywriter.
What qualities should a freelance copywriter have?
Once you’ve decided to hire a flexible and highly skilled copywriter, there are a few things you should look out for, to ensure they’re right for the job. One of the more overlooked requirements of a freelance writer is their ability to communicate. Communication skills aren’t limited to the content they are writing for you. Because freelance work often requires a lot of back and forth, it is important that copywriters are able to communicate politely and efficiently with you. Talk to the copywriter beforehand to ascertain whether or not you could have a good working relationship. Again, a large body of positive testimony can help you make this decision. Do people praise the copywriter as a person? Copywriters should be personable and easy to contact, as you will need to stay in touch over ongoing projects.
A good copywriter will also be able to take criticism and constructive feedback, as, after all, you are their client. They should also have SEO skills. Companies like Climbing Trees can help you to put an SEO strategy together, and then you need to have a writer that can carry this out effectively. Deadlines are important in the world of freelance writing too. Do their online reviews indicate they are disciplined enough to provide you with the work you need, on time? Another more obvious point is general literacy. You might be surprised how many copywriters out there are prone to mistakes. Look for someone who can provide you error-free, clean copy without any trouble.
As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered if you are intending to work with a freelance copywriter for the first time. Half of the battle is making certain that you hire the right copywriter to begin with. Anyone can claim to have skills in copywriting today, and they may even use samples they have not written to try and lure you in. This is why it is so important to make sure you do your research beforehand and follow all of the advice that has been presented above.
- This post was written by an outside source – See disclosure policy
