Seven reasons why hiring a copywriter is better than writing your own copy
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Should you hire a copywriter for your business or latest project? Here are some reasons why it might be time to call in a pro…
Hiring a copywriter costs money, but it’s an investment and one that can elevate the words and messaging of your business, allowing you to refine your message, be seen by more people and ultimately bring in more customers or leads.
But you might be wondering whether it’s worth taking the plunge yet. Should you hire a copywriter or can you just write it yourself?
As a freelance copywriter myself, I’m biased (obviously), but in this post I’ll go over what a copywriter actually does – and why hiring a copywriter could work for you.
So, What Can a Copywriter Do?
In short, we can work on anything to do with words, from writing up something you already have a clear outline for to creating an entire content plan from scratch.
To give a few examples, a copywriter can…
Write your website copy – including landing pages, about pages and product copy
Write your blog posts – articles related to your company or industry, researched and targeted using keyword research and SEO
Create social media copy – across all major platforms. Some will be able to offer day-to-day management and video/image creation as well
Write your company newsletter – a copywriter can research and write a newsletter for your mailing list, whether you’re updating previous customers or hoping to gain new ones
Write press releases – a well-written, well-targeted press release can be the difference between being ignored and getting coverage. With some of us having a background in journalism as well, we can also offer advice on how best to approach the press
Create case studies/testimonials – need examples of how your product/service has connected with people and hopefully changed their lives for the better? A copywriter can interview your customers and pull out (hopefully) shining testimonials of your work to use in your marketing
Write adverts – creating a well-written ad (whether on social media, a website or in a magazine) that both grabs attention and tells your audience what they need to know is an art
Create a Tone Of Voice (TOV) document – streamline your marketing message and create a guide to send to all your staff so your message keeps on brand
There are others but you get the idea…
NOTE: in this article, I’m using the word ‘copywriter’ to refer to both copywriting and content writing, which are slightly different types of writing. Read more about the difference between copywriting and content writing here.
But… can’t lots of people write?
In short, yes. Lots of people can write. Most of us write emails on a regular basis and thanks to modern inventions like the spell checker, they are often spelled right and even grammatically correct (!).
But, as any decent copywriter will tell you, the job is about far more than the words.
Basically, copywriters are trained storytellers. Our job is to make the words that describe your brand engaging, effortless and easy to read, while turning readers of your copy into loyal customers.
And that can be a lot harder to do than something with little experience in the area might think.
So, why might it be better for you to hire a copywriter than to just write it yourself? Read on for seven reasons why it might be time to call in a pro.
A Copywriter Offers You An Outside View
It is possible to be *too close* to your product or service.
When you’re deep in trying to run a business, it can be hard to take a step back and actually see things from an outsider’s point of view.
A copywriter can act like a second pair of eyes on your brand, approaching it as a customer would, but using their experience in writing and marketing to create content that expresses what you want to say in the best way possible.
And rather than just getting a mate to have a look over your website copy, we’ll be honest and tell you what we really think. That’s what we’re being paid for after all.
A Freelance Writer Saves You Time You Can Use On Other Projects
Unless writing is your strong point (and even if it is), a trained professional is likely to write faster than you could and to a higher standard.
Something that might take you days to drum up as a writing novice, might only take a copywriter a few hours of research and writing time.
In my case at least, my years of experience in journalism working on news desks means I’m skilled in firing out grammatically perfect, easy-to-read, engaging content at lightning speed.
That’s not to say a copywriter will rush your project – just that if you need your words done and you need them (relatively) fast, we can get things done…
Which will give you more precious time to spend on other areas of your life. Like napping. (I won’t judge!)
We Can Help You Refine Your Brand Voice and Reach The Right People
Sometimes a brand or idea is good, but its messaging isn’t quite right. Or rather, someone knows what their messaging should be, but they don’t quite nail it when trying to translate that into words.
Words can be tricky. I get it. I work with the things every day.
By hiring a copywriter, you’re hiring someone who can really drill into your message and make sure your words aren’t missing the mark.
A Copywriter Will Be Up-To-Date With The Latest Digital Trends (so you don’t have to be)
Algorithms move fast, SEO can be a nightmare to keep on top of and social media platforms have certain ‘rules’ which make your content more likely to be shown than not.
If you CBA to keep on top of all these content marketing trends, why not hire someone who has to keep on top of it for a job?
Never Worry About a Spelling or Grammar Mishap Again
Spelling or grammar not your strongest point? Maybe you’re a tech whiz, a master at public speaking and can come up with business ideas in no time…
But unless your marketing has perfect spelling, impeccable grammar and makes syntactic sense, people can lose trust in your message and be less likely to connect.
Hiring a copywriter is like hiring a word nerd. We’ll spot those mistakes in no-time and make sure an awkward typo never happens again.
A Copywriter Knows What Will Make Your Intended Audience Click
Copywriters tend to have experience knowing what connects with a digital audience – and it might not be exactly what you think.
While you might have great ideas, a copywriter will be able to organise your thoughts and package them into content that will connect, by making sure your words take the right angle, cover the right topics and inspire your leads to take action.
A Copywriter Can Tap Into Your Story
Part of a writer’s job is to hear someone tell you about themselves, their business and their life – and cut out the waffle.
You might think you know which parts of your story will connect with your audience but a copywriter can provide an outside view, help you pull out the most interesting bits and write copy that tells a story.
Because, after all, it’s stories people really connect with. Not just words.
About The Author
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About The Author 〰️
Hey, I’m Rachel and I’m a copywriter, journalist and editor, creating content for brands and publications in the culture and lifestyle space. Find out more about my work here.
