One of the first statements potential customers make to me is that they’ve never hired a copywriter before.
Which is their way of telling me they don’t quite know how to go about it. They’re quite comfortable with buying tangible products or the services of a business professional, such as an accountant. But when it comes to buying words, they’re really not sure what to do.
So here’s my short guide to help you engage and work with me.
I’ll assume that you know what a copywriter is. If you’re not sure, you can read more about it here.
Step One – Am I the right copywriter for you?
I’m assuming that you’ve taken a look at my website and decided that my style and experience are probably right for your needs.
So the next step is to send me a brief outline of what you want, or what you think you want. Perhaps you’ve drafted some content for your website and you want it proofread and reviewed. Or maybe you’re not sure what you need at this point and simply want to talk it through.
Either is fine. I’ll take a look and if what you want is outside what I can do, I’ll tell you. I won’t take on work that I don’t believe I can do well, or where I can’t meet your deadlines because of other commitments.
As part of this process we’ll talk on the phone, or even meet in person if that’s mutually convenient.
Step Two- – Agreeing price and scope
Now that I have a better idea of what you want, I can give you a price. This is based on the number of hours I think it will take to do the research, writing and proofreading.
I will provide you with a fixed price for work with a defined scope. This way you know how much you’ll be paying and what you’ll get for it.
Once this is agreed, I’ll write up the first section and let you see it. That way you can decide whether the style, tone and content are right for your needs. We can discuss it and tweak it until you’re satisfied.
I will then press on with the rest of the work, delivering it in sections as it’s completed. It can be in Word documents or uploaded directly to your website, if that’s what you prefer and can give me access.
Step Three – Ongoing arrangements
Once the first piece of work is complete my customers often come back for more. Some commission me to write a number of articles, or blog posts, per month. For this I usually operate on a retainer basis, charging a fixed fee per month for a specified amount of work.
I believe it’s important that my customers always know what they’re going to be paying me and what they’re getting for their money. For that reason I don’t have a standard price list because every commission is unique. I have written more about the pricing of copywriting here.
If you think you may need the services of a professional copywriter and would like to discuss it further, why not get in touch with me?