How to Hire a Copywriter and Get the Best Results

Think.

When was the last time someone wrote for you a fluid, fluff-free, character-rich copy that knocked your business goals out of the park like these ones?

One year ago?

Two, maybe?

Never?

Oops. 

Perhaps it's time to phone Uncle John and get that middle-school teaching job on the works?

Just kidding…

I know. Finding an experienced copywriter is a lot like trying to spot a needle in a haystack.

You post a job ad, handpick one lucky applicant, and he or she hits the ground running. A couple of days later, they send in their first draft, and it's…pathetic.

Ugh.

If you want head-turning, high-quality content that hits your target audience right in the bone, you'll need to hire the right copywriting agency. In other words, you'll need to liaise with professional copywriters who live and breathe content marketing. 

But that's easier said than done, right?

Thankfully, I've prepared just the right set of questions to ask a potential copywriter.

But first, let's talk about the elephant in the room…

Know Your Content Creation Needs Before You Hire (Copywriter Pricing, Writing Style, Skill Level, and More)

Take a tour around most online copywriting platforms, and you'll be astonished at the number of "professional" copywriters available for hire at only two cents on the dollar.

For example, most product copywriters charge hourly rates of as low as $5. Given that SEO copywriters are a bit more astute and rigorous, their average prices might be a bit higher, but they still start from as low as $10 per hour.

Let me guess. You're licking your lips at the thought of these dirt-cheap copywriter prices, right?

Well, you could go right ahead and hit that "HIRE ME NOW" button on the first "affordable" copywriter you stumble upon, but will that guarantee quality?

Nope. Definitely not.

Remember the old adage—you can only get two of the two categories: "quick," "good," and "cheap." There's no harm in doing a little budget shopping, but let's be honest—if you want quality online content, you'll have to pay for it.

It's also prudent to know the kind of skill level you need. Sure, junior freelance copywriters won't ask for an arm and a leg as payment, but will they ace your marketing campaigns as an experienced copywriter would?

I doubt so.

If you want to level up your SEO strategy, if you want wow-worthy product descriptions, if you want meaty 500-word articles that sweep potential customers off of their feet, or you simply want to give your social media posts a little more personality, you'll have to be willing to pay for them. There's no way around it.

Lastly, but certainly not the least, have a clear understanding of the various writing niches that are in existence. Business, marketing, legal, online copywriting, and high-end guest blogging are all very different, and most good freelance writers will admit that they can't specialize in it all.

Heads-up: Be wary of someone who claims they can!

That said, hunt for someone with good skills in the niche of your specialization. Better yet, make a list of the priority tasks you want handled before taking the plunge.

Copywriter Interview Questions: The What, The Why, The When, and More.

You've got to go the extra mile here. Ask as many questions as you possibly can so that you're both on the same page.

1. Find Out If They've Worked In a Team Before

Are they a one-man army, or perhaps they're comfortable working in a team of copywriters? Sometimes a copywriting project will pass through five different sets of hands before it's ready for publishing. Tackle this question early on in the interview process to avoid wasting time on the wrong fit.

2. Prompt Them to Lift The Lid on Their Work Experience

Are they just starting out, or is this their 5th year in the industry? How many brands have they worked with in the past? Do they have something, anything, to back up their claims? Maybe a few samples? Perhaps some social proof too? This will help you gauge their writing expertise.

3. Ask About Their Favorite (And Most Challenging) Copywriting Project

Have they ever handled an assignment that made them lose sleep at night, and if yes, how did they nail it in the end? What has been their favorite project thus far, and why? This will provide insight into the candidate's experience.

4. Find Out More About Them

What type of copywriter are they? What prompted them to join the industry? What is it that differentiates them from other professional copywriters? Is it the ability to weave the target audience into a blog post using sweater-knit copy? Or maybe it's the knack of creating high-quality content that drives conversions, rakes in sizeable views, and supercharges ROI? You can tell their genuineness from how passionate their answers are. Ultimately, you'll get a hint of their preferred writing style.

6. Get their Thoughts On Your Current Content

What do they like about your existing white papers, blog posts, eBooks, and your writing process in general? Could it be improved, and if yes, how? This will demonstrate their preparedness.

7. Dig Deeper Into Their SEO Knowledge

How comfortable are they comfortable and familiar with SEO copywritng? Have they taken a course on search engine optimization? Can they craft copy that fits the ranking requirements of the different search engines? 

As Wendy Piersall once put it, "Google only loves you when everyone loves you first." 

Their answers to these questions will demonstrate whether they're truly capable of writing content for SEO. Any professional writer worth their salt will have in-depth knowledge of SEO, so don't settle for less.

8. Let Them In On Your Copywriting Requirements

What copywriting task do you have for them? Does it involve creating Google Ads and Facebook Ads or using tools such as Google My Business? Do you want it tailored to your SEO strategy, or perhaps it's meant to liven up your social media posts? What's your ideal word count? Which online audiences are you looking to target? If you're working on a tight budget, now's the time to tell them.

9. Probe Them to Tell You The Biggest Mistake They've Made as a Copywriter

Did they fail to meet a deadline and lost a well-paying client as a result? Or they once assigned a project to a mediocre copywriter, and the business owner soon found out? This will reveal their problem-solving skill and accountability.

Remember, it takes two to tango. A creative copywriter will ask as many questions about you and your company as you're of them.

4 Skills to Look for When Hiring a Professional Copywriter 

A successful copywriting campaign is hinged on your ability to find the right people for the job. By the right people, I mean the right skills. 

Skip the jibber-jabber talk here, and go straight to the heart of the matter:

1. The Ability to Produce Grammatically Sound and Intriguing Copy

As obvious as this skill sounds, most business owners still forget to inquire about it. 

To put it into perspective, Obama's billion-dollar campaign was heavily criticized for making a basic language mistake in their banner ad. Instead of "We've come a long way…", it read, "We've come along way…."

Ouch.

When sifting through an applicant's writing samples, be sure to look out for:

• Grammar and spelling errors
• The transition between blog post sections
• Voice/tone
• Compelling introductions and conclusions
• Nifty, well-ideated prose
• Attention-grabbing headlines

2. Stellar Project Management Skills

Documenting your content marketing strategy will help increase your chances of success. However, you cannot see the results unless you hire an experienced content strategist.

Top-notch copywriters take due diligence in sticking to deadlines because they understand that missing just one can tremendously hurt their client's business. 

3. Next-Level Research Skills

Chances are, your potential copywriter will need to scour every corner of the internet in order to put together a solid post. 

Hiring a copywriter with subpar research skills will only sabotage your content strategy. Be careful whom you bring on board.

4. Marketing Awareness

A professional copywriter who understands all aspects of marketing and can bring a fresh perspective to your SEO strategy is a huge plus.

Tired of Hiring Wish-Washy Copywriters? We're Just One Call Away.

Some copywriting professionals think they're the best. Others think that they've got what it takes to become the best. 

But us at Zoey Writers?

We know we are the best.

We say so because we're confident in our ability to craft content that sparks interest, stirs emotions, and gets prospective customers trooping to your website in droves.

Backed by years of experience, we believe we're the copywriting team you need to give your content marketing strategy the cutting-edge and pizzazz it needs.

Don't believe us?

Why don't we hop on a quick call, email or whatsapp and see if we're the right fit for your business?