If you’re going to hire a copywriter, you have to be as upfront with him or her as possible.
This applies if you want this professional to put together website copy for you.
It applies if you’re looking for someone to compose articles for you.
It applies if you don’t have the time or ability to put together an e-book or e-booklet on your own, and you want someone else to do it on your behalf.
In short, no matter what you want to hire a copywriter for, you have to be upfront. You need to convey what you’re looking for in a clear manner.
Otherwise, what you pay for might not be what you expected. And nobody worthwhile wants that.
I’m not trying to sound like a pushy professional when I say any of this. This isn’t me being one more “of those” copywriters up on her high-horse.
I’m only speaking from personal experience and a place of sincerely wanting to give you the copy you’re looking for.
Most copywriters, myself included, do actually want to write copy that works for you. Our reputations are based off of whether or not we’re able to produce fitting, effective, client-specific compositions.
This matters! And not just to you.
Yet far too often, copywriting clients give the most minimum specifications.
For example, let's say someone needs an e-booklet that covers do it yourself (DIY) home improvement projects. “Don’t worry about length or anything like that,” this person will say. “Just cover these dozen different topics.”
That’s all the information we get, no matter how much we press for additional details.
We’re assured that “there’s nothing to it” or “I’m not picky” or “here’s a single generic example of what I like,” only to tackle the project and find out how little we really have to work with.
Worse yet… we don’t find out how far behind the copywriting eight ball we are until after we’ve submitted the work.
For the record, a copywriter typically submits a project after you, the client, have paid. The work’s already been done, so the payment is due – regardless of whether you like what you’ve gotten or not.
It might not make the copywriter in question happy to be paid by an unsatisfied customer. But he or she still did put in the time and effort.
And he or she did still try to get as many details as possible, only to be waved off.
Consider it this way… Chances are you wouldn’t hire an interior designer and tell her that “there’s nothing to it.” Nor would you shrug and declare yourself “not picky” with a landscaper. And I truly doubt you would ever give a single generic example of what you expect from a caterer.
No. You would ask to see or taste samples of what each one can do. You would let them know what styles and flavors you appreciate, and which ones aren’t your thing. You might even give them examples of what you expect from the contract you’re about to sign.
Because you understand that they’re not mind readers, and you want your money’s worth from doing business with them.
The same applies to copywriters. We can only work with what you give us. So give us the most detailed description of what you want to see.
It’s a partnership, people. Meet us halfway, and the best of us will bring your project all the way home.