How to Hire a Copywriter

As an Internet entrepreneur you’ll probably need to hire a copywriter one day to generate quality content for your site. Initially, the process can be daunting. Where do you find one? Can they do the job? How much do you pay? These seven rules can demystify the process:

Do a Broad Search

If word-of-mouth doesn’t produce your star candidate, start with a Google search for copywriters. Or, log on to freelance sites such as Elance or Guru to post a free project listing and have your pick of dozens of candidates.

 

Another alternative is to outsource content to an SEO company. They have writers experienced with keyword research, density and placement. Also, as they have teams of writers, if your writer becomes unable to work, the company can shift your project to someone else with very little disruption to you.

Verify Experience

Whether you’re hiring online or through a newspaper ad, check out each candidate’s qualifications. View work samples, get referrals, or check out testimonials. Also, if a candidate has lots of repeat clients, you may want to give them more consideration in your selection process.

Look for Contradictions

If a writer submits an application glorifying their skills, but it’s rife with grammatical errors or spelling mistakes, think twice. Most likely they’re not the ones who will be doing the actual work, or the sterling sample articles they submitted required heavy editing by clients, or another copywriter.

Check Style Compatibility

Any good copywriter knows the rules of writing for the web. But, style can be a different issue, and is quite important. It takes into account your audience. Some sites require more touchy-feely, empathetic writing, while others are more formal, or technical. Verify that your candidates’ writing samples match what you’re expecting in tone and language.

Ask about Industry Experience

Choosing a copywriter with industry-specific experience has its advantages. They have greater inside knowledge of the issues and can complete articles quicker. It’s not a make-or-break factor, as many copywriters are good researchers. However, you may be more comfortable with a writer who’s in tune with your industry.

Get the Details in Writing

Copywriters are eager to please, and you’re keen to get great content for your site. Sometimes the details get lost in the flurry. Create a project assignment for your writer outlining the article details, deadlines, payment arrangement, and how an incomplete project will be handled.

Expect to Pay for Quality

Good copywriters aren’t going to give their services away for free or for $1 per article. As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” Bargain-basement content is likely spun or plagiarized and hurts your business. On the other hand top-notch content raises your rankings and builds credibility. It can cost you between $15 to $100 per article, depending on your ROI goals.

 

Hiring a good copywriter is fundamental to your SEO success — and ultimately, that’s what you want.