I can’t think of a better person to answer the question, who is a freelance copywriter than someone who has been doing it for four years as their sole career.
I left my corporate job behind in August 2019 to focus on remote writing work. So what is a freelance copywriter and what can they provide your business? I am, and I’m here to share some details with you.
What Does a Freelance Copywriter Do?
Freelance copywriters offer their services to many businesses. These professional writers often possess marketing skills and can advise on content marketing strategies. Some copywriters also specialize in SEO and can do preliminary keyword research. However, you might also need an SEO specialist to work on back-end website optimization and backlinking strategies.
Here’s an idea of some of the activities that copywriters engage in.
- Research and interviewing to write engaging content
- Editing and proofreading both content they write and content that other workers write
- Providing input into marketing strategy
- Drafting a content marketing plan
- Keyword research and topic development
- Crafting customer-centric copy
- Developing voice and tone documents for brand guidelines
- Outlining key messaging
- Supporting inbound marketing efforts
- Drafting lead funnel content and drip email campaigns
Who Needs a Copywriter?
Copywriters work for a variety of businesses from startups to massive corporations. Some work full-time as salaried or in-house writers within the marketing department. Others are brought in as contractors to assist on certain projects or on an as-needed basis to support writing efforts.
If you run an online business or business where you’re attracting customers online, you likely need a copywriter to aid in drafting website copy, blogs and lead funnels.
How will you know it’s time to hire a freelance copywriter? Here are some signs it might be time to explore working with a writer.
- You’re feeling like you don’t have time to devote to lead generation and online marketing.
- Your blogging strategy lacks consistency.
- Your marketing team lacks the time or expertise to draft marketing content.
- You’re working on ramping up your lead generation through your website.
- You have content on your website that was written by a non-native English speaker that needs to be revised for SEO.
- You’re working with an SEO specialist who is recommending blogging but you don’t have the bandwidth to take it on.
- You know you should be doing more but you’re not sure what all that entails.
What Types of Content Do Copywriters Draft?
Copywriters draft all types of content. But some of the most common projects or outputs they offer include the following.
1. Blog Articles
Blogs are an essential part of any inbound marketing strategy. In fact, 79 percent of companies with a blog report a positive impact on their ROI. Publishing high-quality blog articles frequently will help ensure the SEO rankings you’ve earned remain and that you continue working toward ranking for new and emerging keywords.
Plus, blogs are great for drawing new visitors to your website and encouraging them to sign up for email updates or follow you on social media to stay in touch.
Blogs can also aid in making your company sound more human and down to earth. That’s because they are often less formal and designed to engage the reader and share important details with them.
2. White Papers/E-books/Case Studies
White papers, e-books and case studies often fall into the same category as lead magnets. These long-form, in-depth pieces of content can work wonders for generating leads and convincing prospects to engage with your company.
These documents demonstrate that you are an expert in your field or industry and often strike a professional tone.
3. Email Marketing
An essential element of any inbound marketing strategy is email marketing. Whether it’s a welcome email for those who join your list or an announcement about a new sale or special that you’re running, email facilitates frequent customer communication.
But people are also flooded with emails. The average person receives 121 emails in a day. To cut through the clutter, you’ll need impressive subject lines and helpful content that makes the reader stop and pay attention. Email marketing requires careful content marketing strategy and copywriting know-how.
4. Social Media
Some people view social media as its own marketing tactic and forget that it should be a part of your total content marketing plan. Freelance writers can aid in drafting content, incorporating social media into the content strategy and engaging with customers on this important marketing platform.
5. Website Copy
From employee bios to landing pages, website copy plays an essential role in welcoming prospects and converting them into leads. Website copy is never really done. It must evolve as your customer base evolves and modernize as language adjusts.
The more strategic you are in your website copy, the more likely you’ll be to convert visitors into leads. Conversion optimization is a crucial element of any website strategy.
Why Companies Choose Freelance Writers Over In-house Staff Members
There are so many benefits of hiring a freelance copywriter, though some companies require the full-time support of in-house staff members. So how do you know which will be best for your business? Consider these factors that will dictate whether to hire a freelancer or in-house staff member.
1. Budget
Hiring a part-time or full-time writer means having constant work for them to complete. It can also mean providing benefits and taking on additional expenses you wouldn’t have if you were to hire a freelance writer. Consider your budget and whether a worker on an as-needed basis would meet your needs while helping you stay on budget.
2. Project Duration
Often, businesses bring in freelancers to aid in part-time projects or ongoing projects that only require a few hours a week. While hiring an in-house staffer could give you room to grow what you’re doing, it also means you’re spending money without the work to give that person right now.
3. Expertise
You can get specific about what you want from a freelance writer when you hire for a specific project or task. In contrast, part-time or full-time employees likely need to be skilled in a variety of areas and not one specific area. The opportunity to hire in one niche for smaller projects is often ideal.
4. Immediate Start Date
Hiring processes for formal employees often take longer than hiring a freelancer. If you have a project where you need to get started right away, a freelancer is a great option. They’ll come in and augment your team from the moment they start.
If after reading this you now know you want a freelance copywriter to help with your marketing strategy and execution, schedule a free consultation with Rebekah Brately at Bridge the Gap Communication. Rebekah has more than 10 years of professional writing experience along with digital marketing know-how that will aid in the success of any project.