3 times not to hire a copywriter
As a copywriter, you can bet your last euro that I’m going to advocate pretty hard for the importance of great copy, messaging and tone of voice.
But I’d be lying if I said that every single business needs to invest in copy at every stage in their journey.
Here are some times you don’t need a copywriter:
You’re just starting out, building your first website on a shoestring. Right now, it’s better to invest in your product/service. A ‘good enough’ website is good enough.
You’re a big name on the local scene and business is booming. You find all your customers through word of mouth. Unless you’re looking to grow, you can hold on investing in your messaging and copy for now.
You’re a company of one. You’ve got the time and desire to write for your brand and your copy is getting the returns you need. You probably don’t need me just yet.
If I’m on a call with you, sure, I could pitch my full service. Deep-dive discovery, messaging, tone of voice and a full web copy workup. But if it’s not what your brand needs? I’m not gonna suggest it.
Let’s say you’re the founder of a small business. You’re ready to stand out, you want to find your voice and cement your place in the market. Perhaps I’ll suggest a lighter strategy workup, a compact messaging package (brand story and mission statement), a mini tone of voice guide (perfect for a company of one) and four key pages of web copy.
Or maybe you’re a sole trader, a freelancer. You write for your own business, but you just need a helping hand with a specific aspect of doing that. Maybe your LinkedIn posts always tank or your sales pages end up being thousands of words long. I’d probably suggest we get on a power hour call and hash it out together over a cuppa and a croissant.
Or maybe you’ve got reams of copy but for some reason it just doesn’t feel like you. When you read it it’s like looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing that you’re wearing a joke nose and fake moustache. Perhaps we need a day together to talk about your tone of voice and get some rewrites that feel truly you.
It’s all about flex and meeting you where you need to be met. Give me a shout if you’ve got questions.
If you’d like to chat more about writing for your business, I’d love to hear from you.
I was thinking about Itsu’s line ‘Eat beautiful’ recently. I think it’s a great line, and here are my salmon-fuelled thoughts on why (with tips for writing your own great tagline).