How Much Should I Pay A Copywriter

This is a question I get a lot, and it’s one of my favorites because it’s simple to answer: you should pay as much as you have to in order to get what you need.
At first glance, it might seem like I’m being a little flip with you here. But the truth is, we all know and recognize that there are lots of different quality and experience levels in every profession – writing included. So, the best way to go about setting your budget is by thinking of the result you’re looking for.
Let’s say, for example, that you’re just looking for someone to fill in some generic articles for your website. They don’t have to be works of art, but you want them done quickly and without a lot of hassle. In that instance, your best bet is probably to go to one of the freelancing websites and find a bargain basement copywriter who can crank out a draft in a few hours. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and you’ll get what you need quickly. If you’re only looking for content, then why spend more than you have to?
If, on the other hand, you have a writing project that’s going to take some serious time or skill, then you should adjust your budget accordingly. A strong, proven copywriter isn’t going to work for peanuts, and by trying to find one who will, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Think about it this way, would you go through the hard work of learning a product, writing dozens of headlines, tweaking the copy, interviewing people, and so on – all the things that make great business writing possible – for a couple hundred dollars?
This is one of those areas where the ‘price’ of something is far less important than the ‘cost.’ The price for an unskilled writer is very low, but the cost is very high because customers won’t buy and the impression they’ll get from you and your company is negative. Conversely, the biggest name copywriters can sometimes be the ‘cheapest’ when you consider the returns they’ll generate.
As a seasoned sales copywriter, I don’t get paid to write; I get paid to sell. People pay me dozens and hundreds of times what they would someone who is new to the business because they aren’t looking for the lowest cost option – they’re looking for the best results and the highest return on their investment. In other words, they’re not paying me like a writer — they’re paying me like a superstar salesperson.
Keep these ideas in mind as you go looking for a copywriter for your next project. There’s nothing wrong with saving money, as long as you do it with the right set of expectations. You should never spend more than you have to on a writer, but sacrificing results to save a few dollars is a losing strategy.