A deep dive into how to find copywriters for your small business; selection criteria; and what hiring a copywriter costs today.
So you want to know where and how to hire a copywriter? Let’s explore your options.
Real talk: Figuring out how to hire a good copywriter for your small business can be mindbogglingly overwhelming. This is especially true if it’s your first time outsourcing content and copywriting needs.
With endless options to choose from—large agencies to freelance copywriters, local hires to accomplished talents abroad—you almost want to give up before you’ve even begun.
Almost.
Because with 18,200,000 results in front of you, you’re left wondering: Where should you start your search? Does it make a difference where you find copywriters? And how do you find the best copywriter for your brand?
All fantastic questions! And precisely what this post is all about.
In it, we’ll walk you through the top three topics related to finding copywriters online. Namely:
- Where to search for qualified copywriters
- How to find the right freelancer for your business
- How much it costs to hire a copywriter
Not what you were looking for today? Have other questions? This page has answers to all your copywriting concerns. Don’t skip it!
How to find a copywriter for your business
As with all searches these days, finding freelance copywriters for hire begins online. ? That’s right, your search will most likely commence on Google—or whatever your search engine of choice may be.
The thing is, search engines will give you a ton of pages to sift through. So, finding the right copywriter can feel like you’re looking for that proverbial needle in a haystack.
To make your life easier, the next few paragraphs will outline where to start your search, the difference between those options, and how to get better-quality results.
#1: Freelance platforms
Type “hire a copywriter”, “find copywriters”, or “find freelance copywriters” into your preferred search engine and, guaranteed, some of the first pages you’ll see are freelancer sites. The kind where anyone can sign up to offer their services or avail of services.
Freelance service marketplaces aren’t #1 on this list because they’re your best bet. (On the contrary but more on that below.) They’re #1 because they top search engine results pages and advertise like crazy—they’re some of the first options you’ll come across.
The main draw? Unbelievably low prices.
There’s a caveat: The “copywriters” you find on freelance platforms tend to be content writers, NOT modern copywriters. This is a crucial distinction because while copywriters can be content writers, not all content writers are qualified to be copywriters.
Another thing to keep in mind: In the copywriting industry, such platforms are known as content mills. That is, the freelance copywriter for hire has to churn out large quantities of content in short periods of time in order to make a decent living. This kind of system easily (and quickly) leads to burn out.
✅ Pros:
- Tons of freelancers to choose from
- Cheap copywriting
- A wider range of available payment methods
⚠️ Cons:
- These freelancers bank on volume to make up for low prices and that affects the quality of
theiryour work - Hard to trust the reviews as these can be “gamed”
- You may hire an unscrupulous freelancer who doesn’t have your best interests at heart
#2 Agencies
Next to top search engine results pages are marketing or copywriting agencies. These are companies that rely on freelancers or in-house writers to deliver the services they promise. Basically, the agency acts as third-party provider, connecting business clients with available copywriters.
✅ Pros:
- Element of trust from well-known brands in the industry
- There’s a vetting system, so copywriters need to apply and get evaluated before being accepted
- You’re unlikely to end up on a waiting list due to the large number of freelancers they have on board
⚠️ Cons:
- You don’t get to choose your copywriter
- You may be assigned a different copywriter (read: no consistency) for every project
- More expensive as the agency gets a cut on top of what they’re paying the freelancer
#3 Personal websites
You’ll also find content writers’ and copywriters’ personal websites on Google. For example: The one you’re on right now. These personal websites belong to independent copywriters (like me) who, most of the time, already have plenty of industry experience and can “go it alone”. That is, they don’t need the support of freelancer sites or an agency to make a living.
✅ Pros:
- Your best bet for finding qualified copywriters
- Opportunity to get to know the copywriter first (emails, Skype/Zoom call, about & FAQ pages for your perusal) and the lines of communication remain open even after you’ve paid
- You get to choose the copywriter you actually want for your brand
⚠️ Cons:
- Fewer payment methods
- Rates can vary greatly depending on the copywriter
- There can be a waiting list/longer turnaround times when the copywriter is in high demand
You could also try these other options
If the former three avenues aren’t really your thing, you could instead search for copywriters on popular professional networking sites like LinkedIn and XING. Or why not post a job opening on your website or career portals? Some copywriters scour those pages for potential projects and are more than happy to submit an application for your copywriter opening.
Get better-quality search results with this one simple tip
I won’t keep you waiting: The more specific you are, the better the results you’ll get from your search engine.
It’s like when you’re looking for gift ideas. Searching for “useful gifts for grandparents” yields far more relevant results than a generic search for “gifts”. Well, the same applies when you want to find copywriters.
Narrow your search down by focusing on what you’re after.
For example:
- Search by niche/industry, e.g. “health and wellness copywriter” or “pet copywriter”
- Search by project type, e.g. “website copywriter” or “brochure copywriter”
- Search by copywriting category, e.g. “B2C copywriter” or “direct response copywriter”
? Hey, are you currently searching for a freelance copywriter? I’d be super thrilled if you’d consider me for your project. Read more about me or check out my copywriting, content writing, and content review solutions to get started. Better yet, drop me a line for more information!
Find copywriters that are the right fit for your brand
Here, we take a closer look at what to consider in order to find a good copywriter. We start with what you need to think about before you start your search for a copywriter. Then we examine how you can narrow your list of options down to a final choice.
Take note of your core criteria or deciding factors.
The very first step in the copywriter hiring process is to think about what you need and want. For most people, the top considerations are as follows:
Business-specific needs
The copywriter you hire should match your business-specific needs but also your goals.
You might be thinking it doesn’t matter who you hire; a copywriter is a copywriter. Well, that’s not always the case. Like other professions, copywriters have different specializations and bring different educational backgrounds that contribute, if not shape, their skill set.
Take me for example: I’m a commerce graduate with a major in marketing. That know-how makes me particularly ideal for sales and marketing-oriented projects. Other copywriters might be mass communication or English graduates. They’re perfect for social media copywriting and proofreading projects respectively.
All this to say that you’ll need to think about things like:
- Would it be better to hire a niche copywriter?
- Do you need someone who specializes in a particular type of copywriting, e.g. landing pages?
- Are you looking for a particular writing style?
Project deadline
This one’s simple: You’ll obviously want to hire someone who can meet your desired deadline. When you talk to the copywriter, make sure you ask what their typical lead time is like.
On another note, if you’re willing to wait, you might not mind getting on an in-demand copywriter’s wait list. But if yours is a rush project, you might need to find a copywriter who is willing to take on last-minute and rapid turnaround projects.
Budget
Your budget will play an important role in hiring a copywriter. It will also likely influence where you find your copywriter.
The reality is that experienced copywriters work in-house as full-time employees of a company; independently (they have their own website); or for agencies. These copywriters charge more for their services. Frankly, they’ve worked long and hard to earn that privilege.
Newbie and low-cost writers tend to advertise their services on gig-finding platforms. To compensate for the low income, they take on as many projects at any given time as possible—yours could be just one of many.
My tips for you:
- Always ask for a quote.
- Have a ballpark estimate as to how much you’re willing to spend—but be flexible.
- The most affordable option at first sight may cost you more in the end; choose wisely.
What are some needed copywriter qualities, qualifications, and experience?
Let’s say you’ve noted down several names you’re considering for a certain project. What comes next? How do you narrow that list down? What should you look for during the hiring process?
Here are a few things that matter.
Find a copywriter who gets your style
You want to find copywriters who can craft copy in the voice your looking for—or match what you already have. Consistency is crucial, so there’s no use in hiring a copywriter with impressive specs only to find out that he can’t adopt your brand’s style guide or get text to sound the way you need it to.
Find a copywriter with versatile writing skills
It’s important to think long term. If you’re going to be working together on more than one project, then you might want a copywriter who isn’t just skilled in writing one specific type of copy, e.g. sales letters. You want a content writer who can develop text for different channels and mediums—whether it’s in-app copy or email campaigns.
Find a copywriter who actively listens to you
It’s not enough to have a talented writer working on your project; you want a good listener! The copywriter should have a genuine interest in what you do, ask the right questions, and check in with you for feedback. I can’t emphasize this enough: Be wary of copywriters that dive right in without getting to know your brand or your needs first.
Find a reliable and dependable copywriter
You want to hire a copywriter you can count on, whether that’s delivering projects on time or developing consistently high-quality content for you. You also want someone you don’t have to micromanage.
Having said that, it’s worth noting that “life happens”.
Copywriters (and their loved ones) fall ill; they occasionally suffer from crappy/intermittent internet service; and like everyone else, they encounter unexpected scenarios (like a global pandemic or other ‘acts of God’) that get in the way of what was agreed upon or scheduled. Nevertheless, these hiccups should be the exception to the rule—not the norm.
Find a copywriter you get along with
Last but not least, personality matters. You want someone who is pleasant; not a grump or an overly sensitive individual who can’t take constructive criticism. Obviously, this might not be the most important criteria on your list but it’s something that makes for a better working relationship.
How much do copywriters charge?
The short answer: Freelance copywriter rates vary.
I know, I know! That’s not what you wanted to hear. You came here wanting to know, “How much does it cost to hire a copywriter?”
“How much does a blog post cost?”
“What are typical copywriter services pricing?”
You wanted to see a breakdown of copywriting costs.
The thing is, I can’t give you a list of website copywriter rates, the standard content writer price, or anything like that because fees depend on the copywriter.
Some copywriters charge by the word, some by the hour, others by the project.
Some offer discounted packages; others don’t.
Senior copywriters command higher prices than newbies. Meanwhile, writers on gig platforms charge as low as $5 per project. (⚠️Be warned: You get what you pay for. If you’re spending $5 to $35 for a blog post or web copy, chances are it’s too good to be true—in more ways than one!)
Superstar—”celebrity”—copywriters and large marketing agencies may cost you even more. Think $20,000 per page and upwards.
So, as you can imagine, there can be a large difference in what it costs to hire a writer. Here’s my suggestion: Get in touch with the copywriter, describe your project, and ask for a quote. That way you’ll know what your specific project will cost.
Enjoyed this post? GREAT! There’s more just like it. Hop on over here for more information, more insight, and more tips on working with a copywriter. Or click here to send me an email about your next content- or copywriting project. Talk soon!