And just like that it’s 2023…

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — dang, last year flew by!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock like Patrick Star from Spongebob, you’ve probably heard the phrase “New year, new me.”

But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to reinvent every part of yourself or your business just because the number on the calendar changed. 

You probably have a lot of things that are working. Don’t change those. 

But if you’re looking at your biz like “well, that ain’t going like I want it to,” there’s one key piece you need to look at. 

Your brand messaging.

AKA what the words you’re using say about your product, service, dream clients, and your expertise. 

Which, in the end, boils down to the brand’s copy and content.

Before you start redesigning your logo or your product suite in an effort to change the course of your biz, take a long hard look at your copy and content. 

You might just need a lil professional bump in the right direction. 

A metaphorical makeover, a la Princess Diaries or Clueless. Seriously, why are these my favorite scenes in movies?? (Anyone else?)

Hiring a copywriter can be daunting. Hiring any kind of help brings up about seven kajillion questions that aren’t always easy to answer. 

So today, I’m breaking down some of y’all’s FAQs about copywriting, content, and how working with a professional copywriter can be a game changer in your biz. 

Let’s get this (New Year’s) party started!

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FAQs

1. How do I know if I need copywriting or content-writing help?

There are many reasons why hiring a copywriter is a great decision for your biz. Here are a few signs you might need to call in a professional to meet your goals: 

• Your business results for 2022 haven’t been quite where you wanted them
• You hate writing or it doesn’t feel like it comes naturally to you
• You want to save your time for tasks and projects that you love doing
• You’ve been looking for a way to up your sales, results, and brand reach but nothing has been working
• You know your offer is amazing but no one is signing up
• You hastily DIY-ed your own copy years ago and haven’t touched it since
• You have a new product/service/experience to launch and want everything to exceed your expectations

2. What’s the difference between copy and content?

Copywriting is text that is meant to sell, persuade, or inspire action. It includes ads, web copy, sales emails, sales pages, sales funnels, and social media captions that sell.

Content writing is text that informs, entertains, grows your SEO, or presents you as an expert (AKA it grows authority in your niche). It includes emails that teach (like this one), blog posts, articles, newsletters, social media captions, ebooks, and lead magnets.

3. My website is full of copy, isn’t that enough?

Not all words are created equal! You may have tons of words on your site but they may not be contributing to your brand’s success. I’ve got the strategic background and creative prowess to weave copy and content that tells a story about your brand. A story that shows your dream clients exactly why you’re the solution they’ve been looking for all along. And it’s that kind of copy that’s going to propel your business forward.

4. What if I hate what my copywriter writes?

A good copywriter will take the time to get to know you, your brand, your personality, and your dream clients. From there, they’ll be able to craft copy that sounds like you and engages your ideal audience. So hiring the right one is an important first step. Look for good testimonials and an impressive portfolio. 

Most copywriters offer edits – I offer one to two rounds across all my copy and content services – to make sure that everything is exactly right in the end. That way you know you’ll get the copy you want out of the process.

5. Is hiring a copywriter worth the money?

A good copywriter helps you clearly communicate your offers to your dream clients. And when that happens, sales and conversions can skyrocket. Meaning you make more money.

A good copywriter will likely require a four-figure investment for a new website or product launch. But good copy can mean the difference between a lackluster year revenue-wise and a steadily growing bank account. 

6. How much work will I have to do along the way?

Most copywriters require some upfront work from their clients along with a phone call, depending on their individual process. If you hire me as a copy or content writer, I have you fill out a brand survey to start and then we kick off everything with a deep dive strategy call. After that, I might have a question or two along the way, but generally, you’re free to get back to what you love to do (AKA not write ha!).

7. Do copywriters offer payment plans?

It depends on the individual copywriter, but usually, yes! I offer payment plans for my signature web copy package. Reach out here and we can create a payment plan that works for you. 

8. Can’t I just DIY my own copy?

Of course! You know your biz better than anyone. Here are a few signs you’d probably be okay to DIY everything: you are extremely clear on your brand message and know how to communicate it to clients in a way that resonates; DIY copy has served you well in the past; or you have a background in advertising, marketing, etc. 

9. Melissa, why should I trust you to write for my biz?

Over the past decade, I’ve honed my writing craft through full-time and freelance work for small businesses, a Fortune 500 company, start-ups, solopreneurs, one three-letter gov agency, and other businesses just like yours. 

You could say that I am intimately familiar with writing persuasive, conversion-focused words for brands that mean business. It helps that I’ve got an MBA in strategy and an undergrad degree in advertising. 

But perhaps most importantly, I LOVE what I do. And work tirelessly to ensure my clients like you are absolutely ECSTATIC when they receive their copy docs from me. My clients often become my friends, and I am so here for growing my little business family.

Learn more about me here.

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If you made it through that list word for word you deserve a big ol’ trophy!

Even if you just skimmed a few answers, I hope it answered some of your questions about hiring and working with a copywriter. 

You deserve 2023 to be the best year yet in your biz. 

And, as always, I’m here to help! Reach out to me here to chat about your copy and content projects.

Cheers to the New Year!