The Lost Art of Copywriting...
These are the things you need to keep in mind when it comes to copywriting. This is a rare artform and one that not a whole lot of people really know how to do, especially when it comes to writting copy for sales. There are very comparable copywriters out there, but remember, conversion is the key.
In your conversation on who to use for copywritting, the following questions should come from the copywriter:
- What's your unique selling position (USP)?
- How long have you been in business?
- Do you know your target market?
- Is yours a local, statewide, national or global market?
- Do you know your keywords? What are they?
- How have you been advertising? TV, Radio, Newspapers, Web, etc. and how recently?
- Who are your top five competitors?
These are the main questions and should be answered ASAP to get the ball rolling. If 80% of the questions above are not discussed, find a new copywriter. When it comes to fees, the norm is 50% of the total fee up front; the rest upon delivery of the copy. Scheduling is completed upon receipt of the first payment. You should expect a delivery date of two weeks to two months depending on how many variables need to be thought out. Deadlines are a point for discussion, so make sure you communicate with your content copywriter and decide on a date that is good for both of you.
Here are some questions I believe you should ask a potential copy writer:
- How did you gain your experience?
- What is the conversion rate on the sites you have written copy for?
- Can you give me any references?
- Can I see your portfolio or additional web copy examples?
Note: Ask about education only when hiring a junior copywriter.
If you do your research on hiring a copy writter, by the time you get done with the initial conversation you should have an idea of who is going to be the best fit for you and your site.