6 things to look for when hiring a copywriter

6 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A COPYWRITEr

Looking for a website copywriter and not sure if you’ve found your match?

It’s a big decision to part with your hard earned cash and trust somebody ELSE to write the right words for your biz. If you’re hiring a copywriter, you want to be confident they have the skills, education and experience to craft compelling copy that not only sounds great, but actually converts.

While there are some incredible beginners with low rates, remember it’s often true what they say… pay cheap, pay twice. 

There are a lot of things to look out for when hiring a copywriter, but I’ve put my top 6 below.

1/ CONNECTION

You’ll probably have a discovery call prior to actually hiring a copywriter. Use this call to suss out the vibe. Does your copywriter give you the confidence and guidance you’re after? Do you feel comfortable to ask questions and do you get the clear answers you’re looking for? And importantly, do you like chatting to them? You will be working closely with this person… make sure you genuinely get along. 

2/ copywriting EXPERIENCE

Have you seen your copywriter’s past work? Do they have experience writing across a range of mediums for a range of audiences? Is it clear the writer can adapt the message to reflect the tone of voice for a variety of brands? If you need someone with in-depth industry knowledge… do they have that? Look over their portfolio carefully. Make sure you enjoy reading their work and there are no spelling or grammatical errors.

3/ EDUCATION

Your copywriter might not have a university degree, but they absolutely should have a solid understanding of what makes copy effective. Have they done a copywriting course? Have they ever had a mentor show them the ropes? Have they learnt on the job in an agency? 

Relevant (and continuing) education shows a person who is committed to doing a great job. Your copywriter needs to be more than just a good writer… they need to know and understand the skills and strategies used to sell.

4/ SOCIAL PROOF

Before hiring a copywriter, look for some evidence of past happy clients. Does your copywriter have some solid (and genuine) testimonials? You could ask to reach out to past clients to have a chat. If they seem sketchy, that might be a warning sign.  

5/ ENTHUSIASM

Does your copywriter seem genuinely excited about your business and invested in your success? If you feel like ‘just another number’, you won’t get the communication and commitment you’re after. I’m obsessed with my clients… you want to find a copywriter who is obsessed with you (not in a weird way, obviously).

6/ PRICE

Copywriters range from $5 on Fiverr, to tens of thousands of thousands of dollars for industry professionals. Look at your budget and what you’re willing to spend to get the outcome you’re after. It will likely be a little more than you were initially expecting (most things often are!) Remember, prices are often reflective of the experience, and you often do get what you pay for. It can end up a lot more expensive to hire someone cheap.

I’d love to hear your thoughts… what do you look for when hiring a service provider? What’s most important to you?