How to find a freelance copywriter who's the right match for your company
In a recent blog post, we suggested three questions to ask when you're looking for a freelance copywriter. In this post, we look at ways to ensure your copywriter is the right match for your business.
When you're looking for a freelance copywriter, it can be hard to know where to start. For example, you might have found links to several copywriters' websites online, in addition to a couple of personal recommendations. So how do you know which one is right for you?
There's no simple answer to this question. Of course, you'll want to check that they can write and deliver the work you need. But there's also a range of other qualities that can make a big difference when it comes to finding the right copywriting support for your project.
Here are a few areas to think about:
Chemistry
Is the chemistry right? You don't need to become best friends with your copywriter. But just as you would do when hiring a permanent member of your staff, you want to make sure that your business copywriter is someone that you would like—even enjoy!—working with. Do they seem like someone who would fit into your business culture? Do they have a sense of humour? Could you leave them to work with your colleagues unsupervised?
Trust
Do you trust them? One of the benefits of hiring an established freelance copywriter is that you will be working with someone who is used to managing their own projects and can set and meet client deadlines. But it's still important that you feel you can trust them.
- Are they able to share any client testimonials or feedback on previous projects?
- Can they explain how they will manage your project, or what they will do if they encounter problems while working with you?
- Do they respond to your emails in a timely fashion and give you confidence that they're organised and in control?
Reliability
Are they reliable? Most copywriters will promise this, but can they do anything to demonstrate their reliability? For example, they might be able to put you in touch with an existing client to discuss how good they are at meeting deadlines. If you're not sure, then a good way to try out a new copywriter is to work with them on one or two smaller projects without tight deadlines before committing to using them for a time-sensitive project.
Quick learner
Are they a quick learner? One of the most useful skills a copywriter can bring to your business is the ability to learn quickly. They should be able to read your source materials, ask intelligent questions and develop a solid understanding of your business model and services.
If you're working on a small trial project, consider sending them some initial reading and then setting up a quick call to see what questions they have. Do you like their approach and thinking? Are they adding extra value, or delivering new insights that can help your company?
Prior experience
One area that doesn't always matter as much as you may think is a copywriter's prior experience in your sector.
Unless you're in a highly regulated industry where prior experience is particularly important (such as the pharmaceutical sector) or your company's services are especially complex, it shouldn't matter too much whether or not your copywriter has worked in your industry before.
Instead, it's much more important that they're a quick learner who can read up on your business to understand what you do and what you are trying to achieve with your copywriting project.
In fact, without prior experience, a copywriter may even be able to suggest a fresh approach or new ideas that have worked in other sectors.
Ultimately, it's easier to work with a copywriter who you like and trust. And if you can also find a copywriter who's reliable and can learn about your business quickly, your chances of finding the right match will increase dramatically.
If you have further questions about finding copywriting support or you're not sure where to start, please contact us here.