Why Use a Freelance Copywriter?

If you’re a small business owner, you know what you want. You have a passion and you’re determined to share your unique offering with the world. Congratulations! That takes guts. Courage. Hutzpah. And a whole lotta energy. A freelance copywriter can be your new best friend.

HELP!!!

Owning a business requires focusing on so many things. Kind of like an octopus juggling, you’re stretched as you manage your product or service, the business operations, the finances… the list goes on. If you successfully keep all of that going, there is still a vital element to a business: making sure the world knows you and your business exist. That takes strategic marketing, which —unless you’re a marketing firm — may not be your strong suit.

Why try to manage this critical element on top of your already-full plate?

Filling the Gap

Hiring a freelancer lets you focus on doing what you do best. It’s a way to add support to your team and round out whatever services you need for your business to be at its peak effectiveness. Freelance content writers are experts in particular areas — whether they write articles or are  SEO superheroes, they are critical resources who ensure your marketing efforts are robust.

Freelance copywriters also enable you to bring in the best talent no matter where they – or you – are based geographically. You don’t need an office space dedicated to house them, because they’re used to working remotely. (And doing it successfully. After all, if they don’t work, they don’t eat.)

What’s more, you don’t have to wait to get the support you need. It can take several months to hire a staff member, between sourcing them, hiring them, and onboarding them. With a freelance copywriter, you’ve got someone who can pick up the ball pen and run with it within days. 

Saving You Money

When you hire a freelance writer, you’re doing more than adding a valuable resource to your team. You’re saving a suitcase full of cash. Yes, you’re paying them for their services, but here’s what you’re not paying for:

• Onboarding
• PTO
• Sick Days
• Retirement
• Health insurance
• Disability insurance
• Gym memberships
• Parking and commuting expenses

How much is that worth? According to LinkedIn, it can make a difference of 20-30% in annual cost savings!

Take note: While you’re saving money, this is not a time to bargain hunt. Sure, you can find a copywriter who’ll work for pennies on the dollar. But this is not a test to see how cheaply you can bring in help. This is a time to see the value added and be willing to compensate the experts for their skills and experience. In other words: You get what you pay for.

Saving the Day

When it comes to finding the write right freelancer, find one that fits your needs like a glove, whatever they may be. 

For instance, you might be looking for assistance with your website landing page content, someone who also has strong SEO experience and a relatable writing style. There are a ton of talented writers out there that fit the bill. Check their writing samples. Read their reviews.

However (with all credit to the Lion King movie here): look beyond what you see. I warn you, your business needs are only half of the equation. When you’re bringing in a copywriter for ad-hoc support, make sure they do more than tick the boxes on your wishlist.

Which is why I can’t emphasize this enough — talk. to. them.

Email is convenient but it misses the mark when it comes to conveying who someone is. There’s something about that human interaction that draws you in and connects you more deeply to one person over another. Use that gut instinct of yours to make your decision. 

You’ll want to ask about their time management capabilities, and how they do when forced to juggle multiple efforts at once. Make sure they understand your project and ask them how they’d outline the steps to complete it from beginning to end. You’d be surprised how much you can learn beyond their writing experience, and those extra insights will help you hire the right copywriter.

(Like – cough, cough – Lollipop Copy.)