Regular contributor, Charles Mburugu, serves up some advice on tracking down an SEO copywriter.
A skilled and experienced SEO copywriter can give a huge boost to your marketing efforts. However, finding such a person is not an easy undertaking. Here are some guidelines which will help you hire a copywriter who will give a good return on your investment.
1. Know what you want
Before you begin looking for a copywriter, take time to first decide what exactly you want. Do you want an SEO copywriter who can create PPC landing pages, emails, press releases, video scripts, eBooks, white papers or newsletters? Figuring out what you want first will make it easier for you to find someone whose skills and experience matches your needs.
2. Know who exactly is writing your copy
When dealing with SEO copywriting services, it is important to know who exactly is handling your project. The knowledgeable salesperson who you communicate with via phone or email is not necessarily the one who will do the actual writing. Some services will even outsource your work to copywriters in other parts of the world. Therefore, it is important to establish who exactly is handling your account. Take time to go through their samples of their previous work. If you are not satisfied, feel free to ask for another writer.
3. Don’t limit yourself to email communication
Most people try to get in-depth information from prospective copywriters through email. However, you can’t really get to know someone by only communicating on email. It would therefore be advisable to talk with the person through online video services such as Skype or via a phone call. Within a few minutes of chatting, you will be figure out if the copywriter is the best choice for your project.
4. Get all the details clear
Once you identify a suitable SEO copywriter, make sure all the details are spelt out clearly. This will avert any potential misunderstandings in future. Ask yourself the following questions:
- What exactly does the copywriting project entail?
- What is the agreed delivery date?
- What information does the copywriter need to complete the project?
- What exactly is included in the fee? Does it cover keyword research, competitive keyword analysis, meta descriptions, titles and revisions?
Get all the details clear from the onset and make sure all the deliverables are clearly listed in the contract.
5. Give specific feedback
When reviewing the drafts presented by your copywriter, you need to mention clearly what you liked and what you didn’t. If you need any changes made, be specific about what you would want to be done. Don’t just say that the copy needs to have more ‘zing’. This kind of feedback is vague and does not help the copywriter much.
Conclusion
In summary, here are some of the questions you need to ask the prospective SEO copywriter:
- How long have you been copywriting?
- What is your level of education?
- Which clients have you worked with previously?
- What kind of content can you write? (Newsletters, white papers, press releases etc.)
- Can you avail samples of your past work?
- What is your fee?
- Does your fee include titles, meta descriptions, keyword research and competitive keyword analysis?
Charles Mburugu is the owner of techblogke.com, a blog which covers topics such as SEO, web development, blogging, social media, and internet marketing.