If you are a business owner and you know the value of copywriting, you’ve probably asked or wondered how to find a copywriter for your business.
You’ve probably heard the term ‘copy’ and ‘copywriter’. Both are essential to the success of your business.
But what exactly is a copywriter and what do they do?
The simple definition is, that a copywriter is someone who writes engaging content that moves the reader to action.
The content is called ‘copy’. Just a fact way of saying ‘text’.
When you compare this type of marketing to other forms of marketing, you will notice that copywriters specialize in creating simple, straightforward content designed to spark action.
It usually consists of an effective and short tagline that draws the reader in and a paragraph or two of focused content that tells the reader about the company’s purpose.
Think about billboards, magazine advertisements, and pages on business websites.
When you have an effective copy or copywriter, it results in customers taking a specific action like purchasing your product or signing up for your email newsletter.
Therefore, if you are struggling to produce high-quality content consistently, then a copywriter is who you need.
And if you have never hired a copywriter before, you may not know where to look.
Here are some places to find a copywriter to help you get started.
Network connections and referrals
Networking is an amazing way to make connections with people from different industries.
And the best part is that these connections can be a resource for recommendations.
Talk to your network of trusted professionals and ask if they know any copywriter who will be perfect for your project.
LinkedIn is a great place to start forming connections.
Not only can you connect with industry professionals, but you can also use the platform to search for potential copywriters for your business.
Go through your peer’s connections to find a copywriter or call your connections for a recommendation. Or you can simply use the search tool.
You will see a list of potential candidates and also you will have access to their past clients and portfolio, including other important information.
Google is a great way to find copywriters for your business, although it is not as refined as LinkedIn. But it can help you easily find copywriters.
Just enter your search term in Google.
If location is important to you, include it in your search.
There are many copywriters on the Twitter platform who know what they are doing.
Use the search box to search for the type of copywriter you want for your business.
Some of these copywriters even have their websites where you can look at their work, writing style, and portfolio.
If you like what you see, you can send them a DM and start working with them.
Facebook is another platform where you find copywriters.
There are Facebook groups you can go to where copywriters hang out and post your job criteria.
They will show up.
You have to be willing to do the work of vetting these copywriters to find the one that would be most suitable for your business.
Also, ask for their portfolio.
Now, some of these groups are littered with new and inexperienced copywriters, you can do your due diligence by vetting them first.
These are some of the great places to find a copywriter for your business.
Tips for hiring a copywriter
You can’t just go online to find a copywriter, there are strategies you need to use to get the best copywriters out there.
You should know that finding a copywriter is the easy part. But finding the right copywriter can be a nail-biter.
Why is that?
Because not all copywriters are great at what they do.
Some are world-class, some are great, some are good, some are just okay, and some may not be that good.
But don’t worry though, use these tips to help you find the right copywriter for your business.
1. Don’t use freelancing platforms
Runaway from freelancing platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, and the like.
All you find there are less experienced copywriters.
These sites are saturated with new and inexperienced copywriters.
2. Know the type of copywriter you want to hire
There are lots of copywriters in different niches utilizing different types of copywriting methods. Know the one you want.
Are you looking for a copywriter who is good at content writing or one who can write a sales page?
And when you do find these copywriters, are they specialized in your niche?
Some copywriters like to niche down, like direct response copywriters for the health and fitness industry.
This type of copywriter only writes a direct response copy for the health and fitness niche.
He or she won’t write content for the health and fitness niche and they won’t write any type of content, including direct response, for any other niche.
Know exactly who you are looking for and use those criteria to hire a good copywriter.
How do you know what type of copywriter you need?
Analyze your goals!
What do you hope the copy will achieve?
The answer will help you know what type of copywriter to hire.
3. Always look at samples of the copywriter’s work.
A copywriter’s portfolio can tell you a lot of things.
From the quality of work to writing style, past work will tell you if they’re a good fit for your business.
Always ask for their portfolio.
This will show you if they are a good fit for your business or not.
4. Hire a copywriter who has experience in your industry
The niched down the copywriter, the more likely it is that he or she has in-depth knowledge about the audience in that niche and can craft a compelling copy for that audience.
If you hire a copywriter who knows the industry, you will save yourself lots of headaches along the road.
An industry expert will know how the industry works, what terminology to use, and the emotional buttons to push to get them to take action.
5. Don’t be scared to ask for references
Many copywriters work on a freelance basis and while they aren’t technically your employee, you’re trusting them to provide top-notch service.
Most copywriters will have testimonials listed on their website but you can go a step further and ask for a reference or two.
What should you look for in a copywriter?
There are different things you should look out for when looking to hire a copywriter.
So, let’s look at some of the qualities you should look for in a copywriter.
Here are four things you should look for in a copywriter.
1. They should be well-versed in your industry.
As I have mentioned above, some copywriters are specialists in your industry.
These are the types of copywriters you should look for.
This is not to say that some copywriters can’t adapt to what you want, it is just a bit easier to work with someone who knows about the industry.
Direct response copywriters for example are copywriters whose sole job is to make the sale for the business owner.
They write copy that is geared towards making the reader make a purchase.
These types of copywriters can adapt to any industry through thorough research.
When you tell them your business needs and criteria, they go into research mode and spend a day or so finding out everything they can about the industry so they can’t craft the perfect copy for your customers.
These types of copywriters are good to use.
If you are going to use a direct response copywriter, do get samples of their work to see if they are the best fit for your business.
But if you are not sure they are the best fit, ask them for a sample.
You could also come to an agreement where they write for you and if you are happy with what they wrote, you pay them.
2. They can easily adopt your voice.
Every sales piece has a ‘voice’. It can be educative, entertaining, or informative.
Whatever your voice is, a copywriter can easily adapt to it and create a copy that sounds exactly like you would say it.
You can give the copywriter you are considering samples of pieces you like.
3. They listen and ask the right questions.
You don’t want a copywriter who comes in with the attitude that you don’t know anything and he or she is the expert.
You want a humble, down-to-earth copywriter who will listen to your needs and ask the right questions.
A good copywriter should adapt to your needs, learn from your perspective, and try to please you. (You are the customer for Christ’s sake)
One way to know that the copywriter will listen to you is that they ask you questions.
I normally have a set of questions I give to my clients whenever they want me to write a project for them.
This way, whatever it is I write is tailored to their needs.
4. They are accomodating to your business and marketing needs.
It normally seems like direct-mail campaigns always come with deadlines.
And the last thing you want is a copywriter who never meets deadlines and is unreliable.
Just like any professional, a copywriter should understand the practical needs of your business and should be able to deliver on time.
Also, the copywriter should be willing to make revisions to their work.
A first draft may require revisions, and the copywriter should do them.
But the keyword here is “reasonable.”
If you asked the copywriter to write a piece with a free offer, and then after seeing the completed piece you decided to sell a different product with a different kind of payment plan – which means that major rewriting will be required – then be prepared to pay more than the originally agreed-upon fee. (1)
Conclusion
These are places where you can find a copywriter.
But ensure you do your due diligence and hire a skilled copywriter.
That way, you will get more than 100x your investment.