The dramatic, bank balance changing impact hiring a freelance copywriter can have on your business cannot be overemphasised.
…Or can it 🙂
A good copywriter brings you closer to your customers, speaks with them directly and pushes prospects for a sale. Which is great, but, how do you work with a freelance copywriter?
Here’s quick list outlining how you can build a solid, money making relationship.
1. What’s the end goal?
We all know about the importance of goals in business.
A copywriting project should be no different. Clear goals will help.
It’ll help your copywriter write better when they your goals in mind – so make them crystal clear.
Try to get these tied down before you contact a copywriter, this helps you both know what’s expected before any actual work gets done, with a look at expectations, outcomes, results etc.
You won’t need the entire, in’s and out’s of the project beforehand, as the copywriter will be able give a steer on this one, since they know what to expect in terms of results, and will be able to advise on marketing medium, social channels etc.
Good copywriters don’t just write stuff, they’re ace marketers and will have tried and tested business experience to help with your own marketing.
2. Make sure your Copywriter understands you
As above, if you’re 100% on writing your brief, they’ll be able to help. Talk to your copywriter face to face if possible, or on the telephone / over Skype, outlining precisely what you want him to do, what your business needs are and how you feel he should be able to contribute.
As soon as the brief has been decided upon, get them to rephrase it in their own words, preferably in black and white, over email.
Why should you do this? If your copywriter is not as familiar with your industry as you are, you may leave things out of the brief because they’re obvious to you.
Asking your copywriter to rewrite the beif ensures you’re both on the same page and, will allow you to return to it should there be a problem later down the line (it’s in black and white).
3. Create a timeline
Even the best plans and projects will fail without a dated timeline.
Your copywriting project should have milestones like this. Keeping your copywriter on track, in accordance with your brief, will help with expectations on issues such as turnaround time and delivery.
Ask your copywriter about a usual timeline and work with them to integrate it into your brief – with dates for research, first drafts, final drafts etc.
Since they’re professional freelancers, they should easily be able to stick to it, delivering your copy project on time.
4. Prioritise your copywriter
Your copywriter could genuinely help to transform your businesses (and your) fortunes. The copy they produce could easily be your businesses next salesperson so, make this a priority and respond quickly.
If your copywriter is any good, he will also be working on a number of projects at the same time, so bump yours to the top of his list, make his life easier by responding swiftly to requests for revisions, answering questions etc.
By responding quicker, not only will this cement a good working relationship, it means your project gets completed quicker. A win-win all round.
Hire a freelance copywriter today
Now you know how to hire a freelance copywriter, head over to my post outlining 10 Reasons to Hire a Freelance Copywriter.,
Or, if you’re ready to start setting your own brief and working with a copywriter who has a 10+ years in sales, marketing and copy?
