The Marketing Agency Talk

Simple and straight answer: to make money.

A copywriter can help you make more money in several ways.

Firstly, if you have a pro to write your marketing and sales materials, these materials are more likely to lead to sales compared to words stringed by an amateur. Secondly, you also profit in a non-monetary way — by increasing your productivity. How much of that valuable time do you lose by struggling to write instead of focusing on your strength, your job or running your business? A copywriter can take that load off your shoulder and give you a better product, faster and more-cost effectively. Leverage on others who can do that part of a job better than you.

What should you look for in a copywriter?

Credentials: Make sure he has earned his strips. Ask for writing samples, references, and testimonials from his satisfied customers. Interview him the way you would when hiring an independent contractor.

A good fit: Talk to the copy writer and see if you can work together. Also, check out if he specializes in any area. You don’t want someone who’s skilled in technical writing to write your very feminine product lines of perfume, lipsticks and whatnots.

A detailed plan: Get a quotation/proposal from your short-listed copywriter so that you have a clear understanding on the project’s schedule, milestones, payment expectations, and quality assurance. You may want them to include the options for re-write if you find the stuff unsatisfactory or you change your brief!

By the way, rates can vary wildly, depending on a copywriter’s experience level and reputation. So be alert if you are provided with an under-market price tag. Why is this writer not asking for a professional fee? Is he a newbie trying to build a portfolio, or a “bottom-feeder” who just wants to grab some easy money at an inexperienced buyer’s expense?

A good copywriter is worth his weight in gold. He can be a valuable business partner who can help you take your company to the next level — one word at a time.

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