Why hire a freelance copywriter?
Why do I need to hire a writer? I can write - I write everyday!
You make a fair point. Technically, everyone’s a writer. We make notes, write to-do lists and shopping lists, write emails, write text messages, write cards… the list goes on.
So why spend money on a copywriter when you could do it yourself? You can save the money and write your own website copy, content or newsletters. Too easy, right?
Before we look at why it might not be so straightforward, first I’d like to tell you a story…
A not so inspiring story
A few years ago I was up to my eyeballs in house renovations. I had a to-do list longer than my arm and the bank account was being drained faster than pasta in a colander. It was time to insource and save some money.
Now, I’m no DIY expert but painting seemed a safe enough job to tackle toute seule. I donned an old pair of jeans, bought a half descent roller and some mid-range Dulux and got to work. I soon discovered 5 things:
Painting takes longer than expected (and that’s not including the drying time!)
I have no patience for it. Would rather watch paint dry.
Cutting in takes a very steady hand - something I don’t have.
You need good quality equipment.
I’m not very good at it.
Sure, I saved some money by painting it myself. I also left a streak across the ceiling that is impossible to get rid of - no matter how much you try to cover it with additional layers.
Luckily, it can only be seen in certain types of light. Unluckily, that’s natural light. I now have a permanent reminder of my lack of skill everytime I walk into the room in broad daylight.
My first bit of feedback was that I’d missed a bit. This was followed by another day correcting all of my ‘mistakes’.
I lost 5 days of my life in total - to something that would have taken a professional painter 2 days at most.
What is the moral of this story? If you want something doing properly, DON’T do it yourself!
So, why hire a freelance copywriter?
The reason you should hire a professional freelance copywriter is very simple: they’re professionals.
Here are 6 more reasons why:
1) To communicate effectively
The way you communicate to your clients and customers is fundamental to the success of your business. The words you use convey your personality and build trust. They help you connect with the people you want to and create conversations. If done well, they can inspire those people to do something: sign up, buy, review or feed back.
A copywriter will ensure that whatever you aim to achieve, it is achieved by writing in the right tone and format, with a strong call to action.
2) Save time
Writing good content, blog posts, email marketing or social media posts takes time. It’s not just the writing that takes time but the research, collation of information and the editing.
When you’re running a business, excess time is not usually a luxury you have.
3) They’re more than just a copywriter
With a copywriter you’re not just getting a copywriter. You’re also getting:
A researcher
A marketer
A strategist
A wordsmith
An editor
4) Find a specialist or niche copywriter
If you have specific needs, you can find a copywriter that meets your requirements and ultimately saves you more time and money discovering how to do it yourself.
You can find copywriters specialising in certain formats such as white papers, blog posts or social media. You can also find specialists by industry such as healthcare, travel or sustainability. You can find UX copywriters specialising in user experience, B2C copywriters that help those selling to customers or consumers and B2B for businesses wanting to reach other businesses.
The copywriting world is your oyster. Most freelancers have a network of specialists they can refer to if needed so if you can’t find the perfect person - ask for a recommendation.
5) Save money
With a freelancer you can also use their services as and when needed. You could hire them based on a monthly retainer or for one-off projects such as a website relaunch.
The daily or project rate may appear steep but chances are it’s cheaper than hiring someone full time.
6) Good value for money
Finally, the value of the copywriter goes far beyond the time they spend researching and writing for you. They provide you with quality copy and content that you and your business can benefit from for years to come. Ultimately, hiring a copywriter is an investment in your business.
Don’t be plagued by website copy or content that hits the wrong tone, is littered with errors or that just doesn’t cut the mustard. Sometimes, it’s necessary to outsource. Once you’ve found the right copywriter you’ll never look back.
Avoid the haunting paint streak. If you need good copy, hire a copywriter. In the words of Nike (or more accurately, Nike’s Creative Copywriters!)… Just do it.
