Your freelance copywriting FAQs’ answered.
If you’re considering hiring a freelance copywriter, you probably have questions. This page answers the most frequently asked questions I’m asked: what copywriting services do I offer, what copywriting experience do I have, my copywriting process, how much does professional copywriting cost, how long will my project take to complete, and when can I start? Below, I’ve answered these and many other questions. If you have a question of your own, please drop me a line through the contact form or at info@tomrigby.com.
What is copywriting and what does a copywriter do?
Some will tell you it’s an art. Some say it’s a science. Others will tell you it’s a mix of both. My children tell me that I write words and push them about a bit. I prefer to think of copywriting as ‘the optimum use of the written or spoken word to promote a business, product, service, person or idea, and carefully selecting, constructing and editing those words in a way that will persuade the reader or listener to take a specific and measurable action.’
From engaging with your customers to enhancing your brand, a good copywriter will be able to understand your business and its objectives, distil your market and communicate with your audience in a way that compels them to take the desired action. As you may have already discovered, this isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes you can hammer out a page of brochure copy first time within a couple of hours. At other times you can spend days agonising over a single tagline. Creativity doesn’t come on tap or drop off the end of a production line. There’s no substitute for the knowledge and judgement that comes with years of experience.
What is your copywriting style?
How do I know that you’re the right freelance copywriter for me and my business?
Can I see examples of your copywriting work?
Have you won any copywriting awards?
What’s your copywriting process?
What are your copywriting terms and conditions?
You can download a copy of my T&C’s here. I always provide a copy with my quotation.
Do you require a deposit?
Why don’t you charge by the word?
Quite simply because some words are worth more than others. So, I believe that words should be weighed and not counted. Sometimes I can hammer out a page of search engine optimised web copy within a couple of hours. At other times, I can spend days agonising over a single strapline. And that’s the difference between churning out meaningless drivel and writing something that gets results.
If you employed a builder, would you ask him if he charged by the brick? Their experience tells them that every project requires them to do something different with each brick. Paying by the word is a fail-safe way to get bloated, flabby copy, as the copywriter looks to pad out the word count with as much superfluous, redundant or unnecessary waffle as they can get away with.
How much do you charge for your copywriting services?
I’m not the cheapest freelance copywriter, and certainly not the most expensive. Rest assured, by hiring me you won’t be subsidising plush offices, a fast car or a champagne lifestyle. I work on the premise that good words are worth much and should cost (relatively) little. Of course, definitive pricing varies with complexity, length, research/interview, SEO depth, and turnaround time. To give you an idea, here are some guide prices. I don’t charge VAT.
Blog article (1000 words): £150-300
Standard 5-page website: £1500-2000
Case study (inc. interview): £300-500
Brochure (per page): £150-300
Product description: £15-50
Executive biography: £150-300
How long will my project take?
This depends on a number of things – the size and complexity of the project; how quickly you want it; what information you can supply and how quickly you can supply it; and my workload at the time. Ordinarily, I can turn around shorter pieces within 72 hours, while larger, more complicated projects may involve in-depth research or interviews and will take longer. I’ll always create your content as quickly as possible but will never compromise on quality or detail. A deadline will always be agreed with you during our initial discussions or at the briefing stage and before the creative process begins.
What is your writing style?
Why do I need a copywriter?
It’s much the same with copywriting. You could write it yourself but it will never be as good as it could be if you’d hired a professional copywriter. Spelling mistakes, wrong tenses, endless waffle – I’ve seen them all. So, in the end did you really save yourself any time and hassle? Think of the time you spent writing, re-writing and refining. And what about all that potential business you’ve missed out on by having a sales letter, brochure or website that isn’t doing what it’s supposed to?
Do you provide copywriting strategy as well as writing?
As a copywriter, do you specialise in any particular industry or sector?
During my career, I’ve written for a huge and diverse range of sectors, industries and interest areas – from deep-sea pipelines to gourmet cuisine, luxury private jets to healthcare products – and almost everything in between. While I have a better knowledge of some sectors than others, I’m a great believer in Cato’s theory, ‘Grasp the subject. The words will follow’. So, while industry knowledge is helpful, it’s not always necessary. As a freelance copywriter I come to you with a knowledge of words, experience of business and maybe an insight into your industry but most importantly with a fresh and objective perspective. Here are some of the sectors I work with:
Do you work with designers or creative agencies?
What copywriting services do you offer?
Over the years, I’ve refined my copywriting services to those I enjoy the most and achieve the best results at. So, today, I offer the following freelance copywriting services:
What’s included in your fees?
What if I don’t like the first draft?
Do you use ChatGPT to write copy?
Are you available to work on my copywriting project?
Will you write a free sample for me?
Free samples are for supermarkets. If you’re asking me to spend my time blindly throwing together something in a rush without a proper brief, the opportunity for information gathering and without pay, as a kind of application process that might lead to some paid work, then probably not. If we accept that you’re not just after some free copy, even if I was to cobble together a few hundred words, it wouldn’t be representative of my work. I begin each project with research and interviews, without which you’ll probably end up with a load of copy that’s wide of the mark.
Other professionals don’t provide free samples: they expect potential clients to evaluate them on their portfolio, experience, personality and professional reputation. I like to think that anyone looking for an experienced professional copywriter would do the same. So, while it might seem like a reasonable request, after 30 years as a professional freelance copywriter I like to think that I’ve built up enough experience, a solid reputation and a varied enough portfolio to give potential clients a good idea of whether I can write or not.
Do you work remotely or on site?
WHO I’VE WRITTEN FOR
From household names to those perhaps not so familiar, my words have helped businesses and brands communicate for over 25 years. While most people will never have heard of me, they’ll certainly have read my words, used some of my client’s services or bought one of their products. These are just a few of the businesses and brands that have trusted me with their words.
TESTIMONIALS
