Choose The Best Copywriter For Your Business Copywriting Project

Business copywriters are a dime a dozen. But, choosing the right copywriter for your business can be a challenge. This checklist helps you select a business copywriter who can deliver writing that grows your business and improves your bottom line.
To choose a business copywriter, first narrow down your pool of candidates. If you need help finding a qualified list of candidates, ask other business owners or marketing directors for recommendations, look in the phone book, or search in an internet directory. Once you have found a number of writers to interview, work through the checklist to determine which writer is right for you.
Check out their Web site. It doesn’t need to be the prettiest Web site in the world, but it should have basic information about the writers’ service offerings, their background and experience, and some samples of their work. Ensure the Web site is well-written, has no typos and is grammatically correct.
Read over their work. Take a look at some of the writing samples posted on the writer’s Web site. Do any of these samples represent the type of business copywriting you are looking for? Consider both writing style and the type of project. For example, if the writer only has brochure samples and you need an article, it may not be a good fit.
Contact the writer. Here, you are looking for response time. Does the writer get back to you quickly or pick up the phone right away? If not, do they have a professional out-of-office email response and an updated, business-like voicemail message? Steer clear of writers who don’t respond promptly or who answer the phone in an unprofessional way.
Ask about the writing process. Check to see if the copywriter has a clearly defined set of policies and procedures for handling projects. They should ask probing questions about the project requirements and quote you a price in writing, providing you with a detailed explanation of how the project process will proceed.
Discover their rates. Professional copywriters know the value of their work — it helps you increase sales and market your business. These copywriters will always offer to quote you a flat fee for your project at no cost. To calculate the flat fee, many writers estimate how many hours the project will take them, basing their calculations on hourly rates of $50 to $125 or more. Beware of copywriters who offer bargain-basement rates. As they say in business, you get what you pay for.
Make your decision. Take your research into consideration, and then choose the best candidate for the job. You must feel comfortable with your decision — it is similar to deciding which job candidate to hire after an interview. This means making sure the personality, style and skill set of the writer fit your organization’s needs and business culture.
Bring the writer on board. You’ve chosen the best freelance writer for the job — now let them know it. Agree in writing to the quote they provided, and supply the writer with background information so they can learn about your company and your business goals.
Relax. Great copywriters are also excellent project managers, and are extremely focused on meeting project deadlines. So now you can sit back and relax while your writer creates the copy that will help your business grow.