Copywriting FAQs

Firstly, let’s get one thing straight. I don’t have anything to do with the official registration of patents, intellectual property or brand logo usage rights. That’s copyright, not copywriting.

Right, now that’s cleared up. A copywriter can write anything you need for your business. But a good copywriter will be able to understand your business, enhance your brand and engage with your clients in a way that compels them to take action.

You may have already realised that this is not as easy as it sounds. A brochure page may sometimes only take you a couple of hours to accomplish when at other times you can spend days struggling with a single strapline. There’s no substitute for the knowledge, good judgement and natural talent that a high-quality copywriter will inevitably possess.

Whether it’s a brochure, a website, a newsletter or a blog you need, good copy must be straightforward without seeming plain, clever without appearing conceited, and engaging without being overwhelming.

Everyone thinks they can write. However, there’s a world of difference between being literate and being able to write compelling copy that achieves the desired goal. If you want your website to appear higher in Google search rankings, you need to have good SEO, and consistent, original content is crucial to this.

A good copywriter has the skill to engage your audience, without using any alienating jargon. Not to mention the fact that you will have more time, and no grammar or spelling issues, protecting the image of your brand.

Believe it or not, it doesn’t really matter. I’ve written for a broad range of businesses across many different industries. Whilst I have better knowledge of some industries than others, it’s not actually necessary to have experience of a business area. In fact, not having any prior knowledge at all can be an advantage. After all, you want anyone who reads the finished copy to be able to understand it. That includes the average Joe (or Jo!), who will not know anything about your business.

That depends on a number of factors. These factors include the size and complexity of the commission; how soon you need it; how much information you can supply; and my workload at the time.

Usually, I can turn around a short copywriting project within a week, whilst more complicated projects may involve in-depth research and consultation and will take longer. A deadline will always be agreed with you before I begin work on your copy.

Unless you have a very large and complex project, a face-to-face meeting usually isn’t necessary. I find it much easier, quicker and cheaper if we communicate by telephone and email.

Whilst it’s not always necessary to meet, I’d love to meet you! I’m based in Chorley, near Preston in Lancashire. If you’re in the area, give me a bell and I’ll put the kettle on.

The highest proportion of my copywriting time goes into research. The more information you are able to provide, the better the end result will be.

Helpful information would include background information about your company and product or service. Also, if you have any thoughts you have with regards to tone of voice, structure, keywords to be included or topics to be avoided, just let me know. Pretty much anything that may be useful to me in my research and writing.

I will provide a quote for your project based on the brief we discuss. The agreed cost will include any reasonable revisions.

If you require significant changes to be made to the original brief, we can reconsider the fees taking into account the extra time. If for any reason you have to cancel a project and I have already started work on it, you will be liable to pay up to 100% of the amount quoted, depending on the amount of work done so far.

I prefer to keep my terms straightforward and my rates low, making my freelance copywriting services accessible to businesses of all sizes.

Whether you need a social media copywriter, SEO web content, or any other kind of copy, you can choose a pricing option that suits your needs. My rates are as follows:

• £15 per 100 words
• £60 per blog post / case study up to 500 words
• £30 per hour

I ask that you pay a deposit of 50% before I start work, with the balance to be paid on completion.

Additionally, I provide a proofreading service, which is also charged at £30 per hour.

I am regularly exposed to confidential information due to the nature of my work. I take this responsibility very seriously. If you would like additional assurance, I would be happy to sign a confidentiality agreement.

In short, that’s a bit like doing your own decorating. It’s not going to be as high-quality as if you’d called in a professional. I mean, I suppose it’ll do. But it won’t be long before you start to notice the shoddy cutting in and the cracks showing.

Also, unless you’re really clued up on SEO, you won’t have optimised your copy for search engines.