More and more writers are piling onto the web to offer you their expert writing services. But are they really experts?
Here’s how to tell if the copywriter or content writer you’re considering has the “write” stuff:
1. What credentials do they bring to the job? Find out if they have an appropriate background like journalism, advertising or public relations.
2. How many years of writing experience do they have? Look for someone with a portfolio that goes back before there was an Internet.
3. Does their own website meet your standards for well-written content? If it’s riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes or seems unclear, you know you’re dealing with a wanna-be and not a pro.
4. Ask for samples of the type of writing you need, whether it’s website content, a sales letter or a news release. Do you like what you see?
5. Make sure their work comes with a guarantee. Not just “I keep writing until it’s good enough”, but a full money-back offer.
6. If you think you’ve found your writer, commission a small, inexpensive project first. If you’re happy with the quality and the speed with which it’s produced, you know you can send him or her more important work.
7. Be wary of writers who take days or, heaven forbid, weeks to answer your correspondence. That’s your first clue that the customer does not come first.
Heather Reimer is an experienced web site copywriter / search
engine copywriter. Ask her for a FREE content analysis on your
site, full of tips to make your copy more compelling and search
engine friendly. E-mail to heather@thewritecontent.com
or visit http://www.thewritecontent.com/freereport.html
