Anyone looking to find a freelance copywriter has questions...
Finding the right answers can mean the difference between value for money, business growth and compelling, engaging content, and an expensive, time-consuming compromise or worse, downright disappointment.
Getting it right is a tricky process; I’ve tried to make it less so by listing some of the most common questions people ask, along with a few potential answers based on my own experience as a freelance writer.
I hope they help!
What is the hourly rate for copywriters?
It depends...
There are good freelance copywriters and bad ones, new ones looking to build their portfolios and old hands with the skills and experience you need...It’s a complicated question.
There are also those in countries where the cost of living is a lot cheaper than UK based freelance copywriters, the trade off here though is that English may not be their first language.
Generally, like so many other professions you nearly always get the freelance copywriter you pay for and that person will be more than happy to show you previous feedback, published work and a portfolio to back their proposed hourly copywriting rate.
If they’re not willing to do that, my advice would be to walk away...
If your content is specialised, let’s say a script for example, then obviously you’ll be looking for someone with experience in that particular type of copywriting.
Ask to see examples of their work, the same goes for technical content, product descriptions or CV & speech writing services.
Each needs a particular skill set and that can affect the hourly rate your copywriter charges. That rate should be anywhere between £20.00 and £60.00 per hour but it shouldn’t be set in stone, so communication is key to settling on a price which you and your freelance copywriter are satisfied with.
How much do freelance copywriters get paid?
There’s no industry pre-agreed figure here and there’s certainly no official standard, a freelance copywriter’s life would be much easier if there was...
Some freelance copywriters charge by the day, some charge based on the whole project (this type of project rate is growing in popularity these days.)
It depends on what the client wants, what the job involves and how long it might take.
Personally, one thing I try to avoid is charging by the word, too many copywriters use this pricing model as an excuse to fill a page with empty, poor quality text. It creates a conflict of interest if no pre-agreed boundaries are set.
500 words of engaging, compelling copy are worth a thousand times more than a thousand words of drawn out, monotonous text.
How much does it cost to hire a copywriter?
Let’s be clear here, copywriting, when it’s done well is a big deal...
Google’s search algorithms are complex and constantly updated but one think it always rewards is good quality, meaningful and original content for its users.
The rewards for a good site, is often a steady rise in the Google ranks and much greater visibility for your site.
Good content pays for itself, and then some!
If you are wondering how much it costs to hire a professional copywriter, it’s difficult to give you a specific price. I can tell you roughly how much I charge for my copywriting services, I’m not an agency so that means my services are much better value, they are also based on my geographical location, my reputation and my experience.
Is it expensive to hire a copywriter? It’s all relative. I’m certainly not the most expensive but neither am I the cheapest option (or maybe I am, like I said; it’s all relative.)
If I was really pressed to answer the question, I’d say this: If you can get a freelance copywriter you’re happy with, for £25.00 per hour or £30.00-£40.00 per 500 words, then you should stick with them.
Freelance copywriters based in London might stare in angry horror at that, those based abroad might feel the complete opposite. All I can say in my defence is (relatively speaking) for a Cheshire-based copywriter, those figures work.
Where can I hire copywriters?
As a general rule, the common or garden variety copywriter can be found in a number of locations, most of which are on the web...
The list that Google provides when you tap in phrases such as “Freelance copywriters in Cheshire” will give you an idea. Some might be larger organisations, comprising of thousands of copywriters, as well as graphic designers, SEO specialists and Virtual Assistants, they are known as content mills and typically they spend a fortune making sure they appear at the top of any related search.
But...
Google ranking is an art form, if a copywriter, agency or content mill has the skill (and the budget) to rank on that precious first page of results, and then of course they are going to get clicks.
But that doesn’t necessarily make them right for you, don’t be afraid to look beyond the paid ads and agencies, you might just find what you are looking for a little lower down.
How do I choose a copywriter?
That search engine list of results can be a long one; do you just grab a pin and hope for the best? Absolutely not!
Here are some of the things you should do to find the right one for you.
Window shop, go beyond that first page of Google results and see which copywriters catch your eye
Be specific with your search query, if you need a freelance copywriter based in Cheshire, then enter that in your search engine
Get in touch with us, have a chat and note any questions you’d like answers to. See what vibes you get in return, do they seem interested, engaged and even excited by your project?
Many freelance copywriters have blogs of their own bolted on to their websites. When we write for ourselves, that’s almost always our natural tone and style, have a look and see what you think
What should I look for when hiring a copywriter?
Examples of their work
Feedback, Google reviews, LinkedIn recommendations from past projects and online portfolios are all useful indicators of a freelance copywriter’s quality
Talk to us, not just via email but on the phone too, you’ll soon get a feel for us and how we feel about your project, it’s a big deal for you so of course it should be important to us too
A fair, pre-agreed price
If you have a deadline can your copywriter meet it?
One of the best things to look for when hiring a copywriter is a good ‘gut’ feeling, I get them all the time with clients, we talk and I start to understand what they want and how they want it, we share ideas and we start to gel. For me that’s a great feeling and one that always makes me look forward to making a start.
When that happens it’s almost always a two-way thing, it’s important to remember that writing is a creative process, it’s sometimes difficult to just ‘sit and do’ like you might with other jobs. However, if there is a positive, collaborative shared feeling, it changes everything.
Are copywriters in demand in 2021?
For anyone asking are copywriters in demand 2021 has answered the question with a resounding yes. For as long as people need written content, there will be a need for the services of the folks who write it and as things stand, people are consistently seeking good content.
Copywriting is a skill that is in as much demand today, if not more so than ever before. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many small to medium businesses to rely more than ever on their websites and online content, to keep their audience engaged and updated with news and changes.
Freelancing in general has also never been more popular as a career option with many people now asking “How do I become a freelance copywriter?” The benefits are clear; you get to work from home (or your local Costa, library, green space, anywhere you can carry your laptop really.)
Is there enough demand to sustain the swell of freelancer copywriters that have recently flooded the freelance sector?
Time will tell.
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