Asking a friend for help with SEO copywriting isn’t always a good idea.
You’ve been friends for years and grew up a few streets away from each other.
For as long as you can remember you’ve shared laughs, celebrated wins and supported each other’s careers.
So when your website is well overdue for a design and content update, they’re the first person you thing of.
After all, they’ve always loved writing and in their corporate job, they hang around copywriters and SEO experts all day!
Over a few Friday night drinks, you tell your friend the exciting news that your website is going to launch – in 3 months time.
“So I’d love it if you could help me out with SEO copywriting…of course I’ll pay you for your time…I know you love writing and you know me so well that I’m not sure anyone else would be able to do it!”
It’s now 2 weeks since you asked your friend if they could help you out – and you haven’t heard anything.
You know they’ve been busy at work and their mother’s been in hospital. So you call them…
“…Hi, is there anything you need from me to get started on my website copywriting?”
…”No, it’s all good…really sorry for delay, should have some sketchy ideas to you soon. Email me the website template you’ve chosen and I’ll look at it over weekend…”
You email it off, feel confident they’ve got it all under control.
Another week passes and nothing.
Deep down your friend wants to help you out with your website copywriting. They love writing and helped you write the eulogy for your grandmother’s funeral and gave a speech at your wedding.
But here’s the thing – it’s just not a priority for them now!
They value your friendship and enjoy hanging out with you but by the time they get home they’re too exhausted to look at your website SEO copywriting project.
Every week I get contacted by people who have been ‘waiting for my friend to complete my website design and content…”
And after months of ‘waiting for their friend’, they start to search for SEO copywriter, SEO website design and creation.
Because they’ve realised that to get their website copywriting completed in the time frame they desire, they’d better hire a professional SEO copywriter.
Yep, you may ‘bang up some content’ as you wait for your friend to ‘get their act together’. Telling yourself that they’ll be able to ‘freshen it up when they’ve got time’.
But in my 8 years of SEO copywriting experience, I know that this ‘banged up content’ usually stays there for a long, long time.
So what should you look out for when searching for an SEO copywriter for your website?
- Do their website and social media pages makes you feel like clicking through to find out more?
- Are they professional when they respond to your initial phone* or email contact?
- Have they got testimonials, brand logos or other evidence of work they’ve done you can look at?
*It’s important to note that many copywriters (myself included) don’t have their phone contact details on their website? We’re busy writing and usually only have our phones on for a limited amount of time a day.
When you’re speaking with the copywriter, make sure you have the following information on hand so they can write you a detailed proposal with timelines:
- your budget,
- your SEO keyword research (if you don’t have this an SEO copywriter can help you)
- wireframe details from website developer and designer
If you want your website SEO copywriting done with the least amount of fuss and bother (and without jeopardising your friendship) hire a professional!
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