Comments on: What To Ask (& Avoid) When Hiring A Copywriter

By: Elliot Travers

Elliot Travers — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:28:54 +0000

This was a great post. It will help me find a copywriter who is qualified

By: Kelly Watson

Kelly Watson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:50:41 +0000

One potential client told me he would need the names and numbers of at least five people I have worked with in the past, so he could call and get personal references. This, despite the fact that I have over a dozen glowing testimonials on my web site, along with exhaustive work samples.

Was I going to let this guy call and bug my clients at work? I don’t think so. I wished him luck in finding a copywriter who could meet his needs.

PS: Wanted to pass along this web site, which I find refreshing even though it’s from a graphic designer’s perspective: http://clientsfromhell.tumblr.com. You might too.

By: Jennifer Rotman

Jennifer Rotman — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:23:18 +0000

Lisa, I’ve read through most of these comments and I could tie my web copywriting experiences into many of them. I totally feel the the sting of being offered less than the cost of a Starbuck’s latte for a page of “high-quality key-word-optimized” content times 50 or 100 or 1000. I’m glad I’m not the only web copywriter who’s “launched” a verbal smackdown over it. However, because I’ve spent so much time writing for clients in the Internet Marketing realm I am deeply aware of the fact that many marketers are convincing anyone with a laptop and an Internet connection that they can earn a living online. Not sure this is all going away anytime soon, either. Someone on NPR put it most cleanly last week in a discussion about the web — he described the 21st century web as a “populist” technology. Yes. That’s it. For almost no investment the Everyman can build an online business– whatever form that may take. And how easily lessons on gaming the search engines can be had! It’s not really about high quality or engaging or compelling–it’s about traffic, volume and ultimately cash flow…ASAP. Bravo on your attempt to really provide guidance– unfortunately those who most need to hear it have “deaf ears.”

By: dianeski

dianeski — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:03:34 +0000

But while the designers were afforded days to wiggle pixels, I kept getting met with the attitude that, “nobody’s going to read it anyway – just get something up there so we can get it live.”

Oh my gosh. You must have worked where I work.

I was once told that “copy doesn’t sell products; product, price, and promotion sell products.”

I didn’t have the guts to ask, “How are customers supposed to learn about product, price, and promotion, without copy?”

ack, ack, ack (banging head against cubicle wall)

By: dianeski

dianeski — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:01:11 +0000

Well, as my friend Suzanne says, “You can die from exposure.”

LOL! :)

By: Christine Peets

Christine Peets — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:04:28 +0000

Great article, Lisa. I’ve had some clients, who did think they had “serious budgets” ask some of these questions, or have some of these assumptions.

I do think we can blame Google and Craigslist for some of this. They are listing “jobs for writers” such as the one you described, and unfortunately, there are writers who *will* work for these ridiculously low rates because they think they think it will help their career and give them more “exposure”. Well, as my friend Suzanne says, “You can die from exposure.”

Thank you for giving us all a boost.

By: Suzanne Boles

Suzanne Boles — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:40:32 +0000

You my hero! Finally, someone who has the guts to stand up and say a professional writer is worth their weight in gold (yen, greenbacks, euros…)!

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:35:28 +0000

Love this article! Great tips on what not to ask. I will definitely keep them in mind as I continue the never ending battle to find great writers. Thanks!

By: dianeski

dianeski — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:22:58 +0000

GREAT article. Hat tip to Ian Lurie for directing me to it.

This, in a nutshell, is why I remain a Corporate Slave (in-house e-commerce copywriter) rather than venturing out into Full-Time Freelance World. I don’t have the guts to stand up to the nickel-and-dimers who want 800 700-word articles for $2 total. From what I’ve seen, the pay scale for content / SEO copywriting is beyond pathetic. It’s an insult. It also makes it nigh impossible to make a living (if you’re a gutless wonder like me).

This is one of my pet peeves: the undervaluing of writers.

I really admire copywriters who can stand up for themselves and demand what they’re really worth. Brava, Lisa Barone.

By: Curt

Curt — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:55:52 +0000

Now I’m really starting to like to you…

Google is not helping to create quality content, and they are encouraging people to create more crap everyday. The Internet is already full of crap and they more that is added the harded is it becoming to find good content. That being said, finding good original content is in short supply and therefore its price should be increasing. Good copywriters should be able to increase their prices.

That being said, there are always going to be lots of people looking for something for nothing, but they are not profitable customers. Just like Google dumps its non-profitable customers from Adsense, copywriters need to dump non-profitable customers and build there business only on profitable customers.