How to Work with a Copywriter — 10 Tips for Success — Judy Olbrych

Read these ten quick tips showing you how to work with a copywriter … so you get the most out of your investment and have more time to take care of the rest of business.

Have a new stock options course launch coming up? Or do you need to sell Harry, the snarky southwestern chatbot you created last month? If you advertise any products or services with digital media, it’s likely you’ll work with a freelance copywriter.

How to work with a copywriter

1 — Hire a copywriter you trust

You’ll be sharing information about your products, offers in development, suppliers, prospects, and customers. You may also be giving your writer access to past clients, manufacturers, and internal team members.

2 — Share your product

Are you selling an online course? Provide FULL access to every part. Are you developing software or selling a new green powder? Send it ASAP. Your writer wants to describe every part of your product and its benefits. Sharing your product helps your writer develop a compelling and attractive vision of the bazzing results your customers will experience. (Added benefit: providing an accurate description can reduce demands for refunds)

3 — Fill out the creative brief

This short, vital document helps your writer target the right prospects with a profitable message. If you already have fully-developed customer profiles and data cards with demographics, send those along as well.

4 — Test for the best

Test your sales pages, landing pages, and ads. Then tweak and retest. Experiment with headlines, Calls to Action, and length. Remember to test only one element at a time, so you can diagnose and improve as quickly as possible.

5 — Know your offer

It’s especially important for coaches, course creators, and others who don’t sell physical products to define their products and processes with clarity. You may need extra documents or phone time to describe your unique approach to overcoming an acute fear of giving elevator speeches or mingling at networking luncheons. Share supporting documents such as conversation script worksheets, hypnosis recordings, and confidence boosting step-by-step videos your customers receive.

If you don’t have a firm offer yet, you’re not ready for a sales page. On the other hand, a copywriter can often guide you in developing an established offer. They can also help you reframe in a way that improves perceived value.

6 — Comment!

After you receive your first draft, respond with comments. Copywriters expect to tweak (although sometimes clients send back a “Thanks, this is perfect!” on the first submission). Tell them what you love and where you would like changes. Many writers include two standard revisions for sales copy. However, if you require a significant shift in direction or a full rewrite, you will most likely be charged an additional fee.

7 — Prepare to pay

Expect to pay between $1,000 and $10,000 and possible royalties for a sales page.

If that’s not in the budget, you have a couple of other options:

• Jumpstart your sales page copy with a template. Want my full copy framework and done-for-you design that’s 100% customizable? Get it here.
• If you want to create your own high conversion sales pages, at a fraction of the cost enroll in my Sales Copy Secrets Course

If you choose to hire a copywriter, look for a professional with experience in your niche. They’ll already be familiar with the terms, products, regulations, and competition in the industry. If you can’t find one in the your exact field, that’s OK. Find a writer who knows how to research and loves to learn.

It’s also important to know which type of writer you’re hiring. Do you need a content writer or a B2B specialist? Are you looking for an advertising copywriter to write your next slogan? Or will you require a direct response copywriter to help you get an immediate measurable response from specific ads or mailings?

9 — Design for success

The right design draws visitors into your message. The wrong design can render a powerful message confusing or unreadable. Hire an experienced designer who knows how to amplify the value of every word on your page.

10 — Avoid deadline fever

Allow space in your launch or marketing timeline for study, writing, and revisions. Remember that nothing starts without the creative brief and product information. Also, include a time buffer for final editing and tests.

By helping your copywriter work efficiently, you stay on schedule. You’re free to make more products, enjoy working with your favorite clients, and plan the rest of your marketing strategy. Enjoy the process!

Have more questions about copywriting or how to work with a copywriter? Get in touch.

Originally published at https://www.judyolbrych.com