By simply conducting an online search, you could easily find thousands of copywriters providing a wide range of decently priced services for any type of project. In this context, how could you possibly identify the best content creators who have what it takes to put your brands, line of products, and services under the spotlight, on time and on a budget? One thing’s for sure: finding truly skilled, experienced, and reliable copywriters can be challenging and time consuming. Follow these 4 simple steps to stumble across real talents, who will spare no efforts in delivering outstanding content pieces, improving conversion rates in the blink of an eye.
Pro Copywriting Tips From Pro Copywriters
1) First step: Analyze your real needs and requirements
In other words, why do you need a content writer in the first place? Copywriters provide numerous services and some of them offer complete packages, including these extremely useful elements:
a) Web content
b) Press releases
c) Sales brochures
d) E-mail campaigns
e) Slogans
f) Speeches and presentations
g) Newsletters
While most first-class copywriters have the skills, the in-depth knowledge, the tools, and the techniques required to offer you a good mix, you have to be very specific in regards to your requests to make sure that your assigned writer will meet and even exceed your highest expectations.
2) Second step: Consult different sources for your decision making
a) Offline sources
Of course, you will need to conduct extensive research on both online and offline markets to find the best candidates for your job. Ask around; see who’s behind the beautiful, sales-generating content pieces helping your competitors stay on top of their game. Check out flyers, brochures, and printed ads that you like with an ingenious creative execution and an inspiring vision and find out who was involved in this project.
b) Online sources
Who are the best copywriters operating in your niche? Use discussion forums to find the best answer to this question. Also, count on Google Authorship to spot great copywriters who could easily address your needs in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. Google Authorship was designed and implemented to promote writers who deliver high-quality content, while penalizing content creators who offer low-quality Web material, based on keyword stuffing or any other black-hat SEO practices in an attempt to manipulate search engines. Long story short, Google Authorship will help you make an inspired decision and find a reputable copywriter, bringing you one step closer to a solid online reputation and increased profit margins.
3) Third step: Find a copywriter with extensive niche experience
There is no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” content strategy, especially when you’re trying to consolidate your position on extremely narrow niches. In such cases, it is highly recommended to collaborate with a skilled tech writer who:
a) has more than a few years of hands-on experience in your line of work
b) understands your current challenges
c) already monitors the actions of your main competitors
d) has the know-how required to be a great consultant and provide 100% effective marketing strategies before delivering your first content pieces
In fact, Ken Hoffman from SiteProNews highlights the fact that a solid marketing strategy should always be considered a top priority; without it, great copy inevitably becomes useless copy. So choose to do business with an experienced content creator who could also be a full-time marketing consultant, guiding your steps in the right direction and helping you set realistic objectives in the long term.
4) Fourth Step: Ask to see the portfolio of your favorite candidates
At this point, you most likely have a whole bunch of copywriters waiting for you to welcome them aboard. All of them are probably guaranteeing significant sales increases, triggered by their influential, SEO-friendly, ingenious, 100% original copy. Also, they seem eager to rewrite content pieces for free if they fail to attain their end goals.
Doesn’t this sound incredibly tempting? It is probably counterproductive to hire an army of copywriters, so how could you put them to the test to identify the ideal candidate? Check out their portfolios. Does their creativity go hand in hand with white-hat SEO practices? Who do they work for: giant corporations or small-size, obscure companies that you have never heard of before? Do they have what it takes to maximize conversion rates?
A little in-depth research will help you spot some of the most embarrassing, yet incredibly common lies most copywriters will try to tell you to make you pay for their services. Here’s an extremely well-compiled list of beautiful lies told by content creators, (provided by KISSmetrics.)
All in all, follow these 4 easy steps to identify the best copywriters who are really worth your time and money. Don’t hesitate to pay the right price for premium copywriting services, as they are the central piece of the business success puzzle.