Your question: When should I start working with a website copywriter?
My short answer: Probably yesterday.
My long answer: Probably the day before yesterday.
Working with a website copywriter isn’t just for massive brands with wads of cash to burn. It’s for anyone who wants their website to actually work and attract, engage and, most importantly, convert visitors into customers.
So, when’s the right time to get a copywriter on board?
When should you start working with a copywriter on your website?
There are a lot of different jumping-on points, each with its own merits. So, let’s look at when you should think about it:
One. At the very start of a project
Ah, the blank website.
So full of potential. So full of… absolutely nothing.
Sure, you could cobble together something that kind of explains what you do. Or, you could think about hiring a website copywriter instead.
You also might think bringing a web designer in first is the way to go, and the copywriter can work around their design.
Wrong.
Most of the time, a website designer will work the layout around what the writer has written.
Design and copy should go hand-in-hand, so if you’re thinking of creating your first business website or revamping an existing one, don’t think of the copy as an afterthought.
That’s why I said yesterday in the opening.
For best results, bring your writer in from day one.
Two. You’re going through a belting new rebrand
You might have a website already and be rebranding, but the copy you wrote a few years ago is now a bit tired and dull.
Rebrands are massive undertakings, which makes them ideal for bringing in an outsider for a fresh perspective and voice. It’s especially a good time if you’ve had a crack at it yourself and you can’t get it to sound like the new you.
Three. Your site isn’t converting and you don’t know why
If your site gets traffic but no one’s clicking, buying or signing up for stuff, your words might be the problem.
Website copy needs to nudge visitors toward taking action. And it should be a salesperson who never stops working. If it’s not doing its job, it needs sacking.
If this sounds like your site, now’s a good time to start working with a website copywriter.
Four. You’re writing new copy in a higgledy-piggledy fashion
You started writing your About page two months ago.
Your services page has an opening sentence and your homepage is a mish-mash of ideas.
And you keep coming back to half-formed ideas months later down the line.
What you’re really doing is procrastination, and you’ll end up with copy filled with different styles and tones that don’t all match up or feel the same when people read through your website.
If you’re constantly pushing the copy further down the road, put the breaks on, step away and hand the keys over to a copywriter.
Five. Your SEO rankings are poor and your site traffic is low
Get your SEO working for you and you can easily sell products or get work with dream clients.
But SEO is complicated if you don’t know what you’re doing.
An SEO copywriter (which should be pretty much every copywriter, to be honest) can help with keywords, phrases and other things to start making your website (and blog posts) rank better on Search Engines.
Give it a few months and your traffic will improve
To learn more, check out my post, Should I Hire an SEO Copywriter? or visit my Case Studies page.
Six. You want to sound more human
It’s boring and said way too much, but it’s true: people buy from people.
Brands are realising people don’t have time to read dry, bland content and they need their copy to sound witty, fun or a lot more human. If your copy sounds bland when your brand isn’t, get a fun brand copywriter on board.
*Ahem*
*waves*
Ready to start working with a website copywriter?
Even if your circumstances don’t match any of the above, if you’re still reading this, you’re definitely thinking about it.
If that’s me, great, let’s chat!
But if not, you’ll easily find one that’s right for you with a quick Google search (because the best ones will rank for whatever it is you type in).
If you’re still unsure, check out my articles:
- Help: I need a copywriter!
- Should you invest in a copywriting retainer?
- 12 benefits of copywriting for small businesses
- Does a copywriter write blog posts?
Until next time,
Matt
