Five questions to ask before hiring a copywriter

March 22nd, 2010 |

Hiring a copywriter can be a painful experience. For every good writer who advertises their services on the web, there are dozens who are inexperienced, ineffective and – sometimes – unable to spell.

If you’ve found a good copywriter, then work hard at your relationship with them – being able to call on the services of an effective writer is great for business. But if you’re approaching someone for the first time, be sure to ask these five questions – the answers should help you sort the talented from the tricksters.

1. Can you show me your copywriting portfolio?

All good copywriters will have existing work they can show you. Sometimes they’ll post examples of copywriting projects on their websites, or they might offer to email you some samples. Either way, if you don’t like what you read, don’t take the relationship further.

2. Have you got any testimonials?

If the copywriter can’t show you positive testimonials from existing clients, then steer clear. They either haven’t got clients, or their former clients have hated their work or their service.

3. Have you got time for my project?

Good freelance writers get very busy, very quickly. Be sure to ask whether the copywriter in question has time to complete your project by your chosen deadline. If they haven’t, you may need to turn to a copywriting agency, which will normally be able to schedule in your work more quickly.

4. How much do you charge?

As with all professional services, extremely cheap copywriting is always too good to be true. If a copywriter offers to do your project for peanuts, then the end result will be of very poor quality. Professionals will either offer a day rate or a project quotation, and the price will reflect fair payment for a fair day’s work. Similarly, if a copywriter prices a simple job at a huge price, be very wary indeed – they may be better at charging for their services than they are at completing them to your satisfaction.

5. What’s included in the price?

If you’re dealing with a professional, you’ll generally get two sets of corrections included in any quotation price. The copywriter will also tell you about any additional charges – such as travel or out-of-pocket expenses – that may be relevant to your project. If the quote you receive lacks detail, alarm bells should be ringing.

These tips should help you find a copywriter who knows their job – and then you can start asking about whether they have experience of your industry. But above all, if you have the slightest bad feeling about dealing with a new copywriter, just pull out – there are plenty of us out there. One of us is bound to be the perfect choice for the work you need doing.

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