Recently we wrote about why many businesses need a Web copy writer, so this time our Lakeland and Tampa Web copy writers thought it would be good to offer some tips for hiring a web copy writer.

1. Don’t expect to hire mind readers and miracle workers.

We once had a client tell us “I need 10 pages of copy and I don’t care what it’s about.”

The client had learned a bit about search engine optimization and figured that adding additional pages of content would improve his ranking. It’s not that simple. SEO requires a plan.

2. Be ready to provide some input.

To use the example above, there’s no possible way we could have delivered a quality product that the client liked had we not pressed for more information. Ten pages of any kind of content won’t necessarily improve a site’s ranking. Ten pages of relevant content might.

3. Save yourself some money by being prepared.

If you haven’t got a clue as to how to beef up the information portion of your Web site, do some research by looking at competitors’ sites. Do a search of blogs related to your industry for some ideas.

It’s a beautiful thing when a client- lets use a dentist as an example- comes to us and says, “I want five pages of content added to my site about porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, tooth-colored fillings and dental bridges.”

We now have a direction and enough information to get started.

It’s even more beautiful when the client is willing to be interviewed via phone so we can gather more specific information.

If you simply don’t have the time to do your own research, tell your Web copy writer and find out if there are additional charges for research. Many Web copy writers charge by the page. If in-depth research is requested and no input will be provided initially by the client, writers often charge an hourly rate for that. If you have a bit of time on your hands, doing this part yourself will save you money and, in the long run, time. The more information you provide up front, the less time you likely will spend having to heavily edit the draft copy.

4. Know your keywords.

You know your business better than we do. You probably know what keywords people use when they find your Web site. Share those keywords with your Web copy writer so they can include them in your copy. Having keyword rich content makes it even easier for people to find your site.

5. Understand it’s a bit of a back-and-forth process.

Ultimately, your input helps create strong content that you’re happy with. When we write copy for a client, we create a draft and send it to the client for editing. The client makes minor changes, we clean it up to create a final draft, the client approves it and we submit it for publication. Understand that you’re going to need to review things before they get posted on your site.

It’s important not to skip this process because ultimately, it’s your reputation on the line. If there are mistakes, a visitor will think YOU don’t know what you’re talking about. They won’t know that you didn’t write the content yourself.

6. It takes as long as it takes.

A Web copy writer can give you an estimate as to how long a job will take to write the content. But the finished product relies on the client. The content may be finished in six hours, and then be held up for two days in a client’s e-mail in-box.

If you want to ensure a speedy turn-around, do your part to review and approve the content.

If you are in need of a Lakeland and Tampa, Florida Web copy writer, call Lorrie Walker Communications, Inc. for more information: (863) 614-0555.