Hire a Copywriter for Your Website in 2024 (How, Why, & FAQs)
Every business in 2024 uses copy (words that sell) to market their offers. Some businesses write their own content in hopes that it drives results, while others hire a copywriter with professional experience.
Are you planning to or considering hiring a copywriter? In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know about finding and hiring a copywriter.
Not only do 59% of consumers admit they’ll reconsider buying if a website has copy errors, but there are more online businesses than ever. You need a website that stands out and makes a good impression, and a skilled copywriter can help you with this.
Let’s discuss how to find a copywriter, what to look for, and the best hiring practices to ensure you make the best investment for your business.
What is copywriting?
Copywriting is writing content that drives sales. For example, a sales page or blog article that inspires a reader to take action needs copywriting.
While you might think of copy as words that explain your offer(s), effective copy strategically tells your audience they need to buy from you without sounding salesy and turning them away.
What does a website copywriter do?
Copywriters write content with the purpose of selling. For example, they can write a sales page or blog article on a topic to inspire your target market to buy from you.
Copywriters use specific skills, including persuasive writing and psychology, to write about your offers (or a problem your offers can solve) to encourage readers to buy. Most copywriters specialize in specific areas.
A website copywriter writes content for:
Landing pages
Sales pages
Product and service descriptions
Benefits of hiring a copywriter
It can be challenging to decide when and how to invest in your business, but more companies than ever before are hiring copywriters. In fact, the copywriting industry expects to reach $42.22 billion by 2030 due to an increasing demand for online content.
Benefits of hiring a copywriter include:
Increased website traffic
More conversions
Efficiency
Fresh perspective
Increased website traffic
With 68% of online experiences starting with a search engine, there are many opportunities for you to get website traffic. That said, good copy and SEO optimization are necessary for getting people on your website.
My clients who stick to consistent SEO-friendly copy are the ones who see the most success. Their website traffic continuously increases, and well-written copy increases their conversions.
Increasing organic website traffic results
More conversions
Many business owners don’t have conversion copywriting skills. Although most people can learn, this takes time and effort.
Copywriting knowledge necessary for driving results includes:
Marketing persona - a fictional character that represents your target market
Language - the words you use to relate to a specific reader
Buyer’s journey - the process a consumer goes through before they’re ready to make a purchase
User intent - the purpose of a person searching the internet for a topic
Calls to action - a response prompt to encourage your audience to take a specific action
If you don't have the capacity to learn conversion techniques, you can hire a copywriter who already understands the language and strategies needed to connect with and persuade your audience.
Efficiency
Writing your own copy isn’t efficient if you don’t already have copywriting skills and your expertise is in another area.
If you hire a copywriter, you can focus on the parts of your business you’re good at. For example, I write my own website copy, but I hire someone to help me with Pinterest marketing because it’s not something I excel at or enjoy.
Copywriters also stay on top of trends and search engine algorithms, so you don’t have to.
Fresh perspective
As business owners, we’re often too close to our business to effectively tell others about it. A copywriter’s fresh eyes on your business can offer a renewed perspective.
“But how will someone else know enough about my business to write about it?” I hear this question often.
Skilled copywriters have a process of learning about your business to ensure they can effectively write about it and persuade others to buy. For example, I have new clients complete an e-questionnaire so I can learn about their business. I also do in-depth brand research to fully understand the company, the audience, and how to market the business best.
How to find a copywriter
You can find and hire a copywriter using freelance platforms, social media, referrals, and Google. As a writer myself, I’ve connected with most of my clients using these methods.
Freelance platforms
There are many freelance websites for finding copywriters. Some paid options let you search for and find prospects. There are also platforms for submitting job opportunities for freelancers to apply to.
Some of the best freelance platforms include:
All Things Freelance Writing - a freelance writer platform with flexible free and paid options to find a copywriter
Peak Freelance - a community for freelance writers where you can share job opportunities
We Work Remotely - a paid remote job and freelancer platform
FlexJobs - a paid, full-service remote job listing and search market
All Things Freelance Writing
Social media
Many freelance copywriters use social media to reach their target market, so this can be a useful place to find one.
Platforms to consider include:
Facebook - Female Freelance Writers and Freelancing Females are two groups that allow you to post job opportunities.
Instagram - Use the search function to look for a “freelance writer” or “freelance copywriter.”
LinkedIn - Many professional copywriters use LinkedIn to find work. You can use the search function to find and connect with writers yourself, and you can also post job opportunities.
Referrals
Do you know other business owners or people who may have hired a copywriter? Referrals are often the easiest way to find a reliable copywriter.
You can reach out to your community and ask if anyone has a referral to recommend. This can take a lot of leg work out of it for you, and you can usually rest easier knowing a referral is a reliable candidate.
Many of the best copywriters have their own website with SEO-friendly copy because they understand the importance of it. You can search Google for a phrase like "freelance blog writer" or "copywriting services." You can also include your niche if it makes sense (i.e., "skincare copywriter").
You'll see various websites on the results page when you do this. You might also find local businesses, which is helpful if you want to hire someone nearby.
Google can be a useful way to search for a copywriter to hire
How to hire a copywriter
With 73.3 million freelance writers (and growing) in the US, there are many copywriters to choose from. So, how do you find and hire one you can trust?
Follow these steps to hire a copywriter that’s a good fit:
Identify what your goals are
Post your job opportunity or search for a copywriter to connect with
Do your research
Consult with potential copywriters
Choose the best candidate
Determine the project scope and payment details
Identify what your goals are
Before you hire a copywriter, know what your goals are. This will help you find a suitable prospect and allow your copywriter to better help you.
You don’t have to know what content you need written because they can help you figure that out. But consider these questions to determine your goals:
What do I want for my business in the next month and year?
Who can I help with my offers? (your target market)
Where do I need to make improvements or add content to my website?
The more you understand about your business and goals, the better your copywriter can help you meet them. Many copywriters are also happy to help you determine your goals and the best strategies to meet them.
Post your job opportunity or search for a copywriter to connect with
Use one or two of the strategies above for finding a copywriter: freelance platforms, social media, referrals, and Google.
When you post the job opportunity or reach out to a copywriter, offer as many details as possible. Information you'll want to share includes:
What your business is
What your goals are
Who your target market is
What kind of copy you want (blog, landing pages, homepage, etc.)
What your budget is (either monthly or a flat rate)
Do your research
Most skilled copywriters have information readily available for you to learn more about their offers and experience.
Here’s what to look for in a copywriter:
Experience - have they worked on similar projects or with brands like yours?
Services - do their offers align with what you’re looking for?
Work samples - do they have published work and case studies that show results?
Rates - do their rates align with your budget?
Different copywriters have various ways to showcase their work and skills. For example, I use my website to showcase my services, case studies with work samples, and client testimonials. You can also request my rates via my website. I also have details about my experience and offers on my LinkedIn profile.
Researching copywriters can help you narrow down the options and find someone who seems like they would be a good fit.
Consult with potential copywriters
When you choose website copywriters to consult with, keep your options open without having too many choices that you get overwhelmed.
If you have a referral or someone you're confident in, go with it. Otherwise, consult with two to three potential copywriters who seem to be a good fit.
Many copywriters, like myself, will consult via email or video call.
You can ask open-ended questions during your consultation to learn more about their experience and what it might be like to work with them. Here are some examples:
Can you tell me about a similar project you’ve worked on?
What results have your clients seen?
What is your process for a project like this?
You'll also want to talk about your business and goals during your consultation. How the writer responds can give you insight into how they can help you.
Understand that skilled copywriters might make suggestions during the call that can appropriately help you meet your goals. Writers who do this usually have good knowledge of the best website copywriting practices.
Choose the best candidate
When you're ready to choose a copywriter to work with, consider their communication style, experience, and all-around energy. Not only do you want to select someone qualified to help you meet your goals, but you also want them to be enjoyable to work with.
Ask one or two candidates to do a paid test project (i.e., one blog article or another webpage) to ensure you work well together before committing to a larger or long-term project.
Determine the project scope and payment details
As you communicate with candidates, most skilled writers will help you discuss the best project scope for your goals. It’s best to agree on project details, expectations, and timelines before getting started to ensure you’re on the same page and everyone knows what to expect.
There are a few ways payment can work:
Full payment upfront
A portion upfront and the remainder upon completion
Full payment upon completion
There are also various paying methods, including per word or hour and flat rate.
I charge most projects up front and at a flat rate, especially for monthly retainers, where I work with clients monthly on specific projects (like blog management). Upfront payment does take a level of trust from clients, so you’ll need to do what works best for you and your ideal candidate.
Most copywriters use an invoice platform, where you can pay via bank transfer or credit card.
Hire a Copywriter for Your Website: FAQs
Let’s explore answers to common questions about hiring a copywriter.
How much does it cost to get a copywriter?
The average cost for one sales page is $469, and one blog post is $312. However, rates vary based on the project, the copywriter’s experience, and location.
Should I negotiate rates with a copywriter?
Negotiating rates with any service provider, including copywriters, isn't standard practice. Most copywriters set their rate purposefully, so shopping around is best if the cost is outside your budget. If you want to hire a specific copywriter whose fees don't align with your budget, you can ask them what project scope they can offer that fits the cost you're aiming for.
Is it worth it to hire a copywriter?
There are many reasons it’s worth it to hire a copywriter, including reaching your target audience and driving more conversions. A professional website copywriter has special skills to help you meet your goals to grow your business.
Many business owners hesitate to hire a professional copywriter due to budget. In this case, I recommend reworking your business expenses to make room for a copywriter, even if this means starting small until you see results and can increase your budget.
If you prioritize your website copy and SEO blogging, you’ll eventually see a return on investment (ROI). In fact, blogs are among the marketing channels with the highest ROI.
Should a copywriter have a resume to share with me?
If you're hiring a freelance copywriter, there's a chance they won't have a resume. Independently contracted copywriters believe resumes are meant for traditional employers and prefer to share work samples.
If a copywriter doesn’t have a website with information about their experience, you might ask them to share a resume, but this isn’t always necessary. The best way to ensure a copywriter is a good fit is to look at work samples, examples of results they’ve helped previous clients achieve, and a paid test project for you.
Do website copywriters write other copy?
Some copywriters specialize only in websites, while others write additional copy, including emails and social media.
While blogs are my specialty, I also have experience writing all other website pages and emails, which I offer clients with my monthly retainer service. Contact me to learn more about my monthly retainer service and pricing.
Hire a copywriter for your website: conclusion
I hope this article was helpful for you in learning how to find and hire a copywriter. Professional copywriters are an excellent business investment and can help you reach your target audience and drive results through website copy.
Are you interested in hiring a copywriter to boost your website traffic and conversions? Request my service and pricing menu, and let's chat.
