Googling a ‘Sydney copywriter’ (or ‘copywriter Sydney’!) to help solve your business challenges? Finding the right website, blog or marketing copywriter is not easy. With rising numbers of ‘Sydney copywriters’ popping up, how do you know if you’ve found ‘The One’?
I’m a Sydney-based copywriter but I don’t just help Sydney firms - I work with businesses all over New South Wales, across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond (thanks, Zoom and Teams!).
If you’re still searching for a copywriter, here are some tips to help you hire the right one for your brand or firm, whether you’re a Sydney business looking to improve your website or an established, Australia-wide legal firm that needs a marketing copy refresh.
The Big Question of Copywriter Experience
When it comes to hiring a copywriter, you might wonder about their experience in your industry. While having that background is great, it’s not a dealbreaker. As a highly skilled and experienced copywriter, I can write engaging copy about anything.
Being able to write for any industry, business, and brand is thanks to my background as a journalist with years of PR experience writing for all kinds of corporate and consumer clients. I’m naturally nosy (that’s why I went into journalism in the first place!) so I spend a lot of time getting to know my clients, reading up on their industry news, and their competitors! Understanding your audience, their needs, and the challenges they face is crucial for me to write the best copy that will resonate. My journalistic (nosy!) approach means I ask a lot of questions and love to research, so I truly understand your business and market.
So, when you’re evaluating a copywriter, have a look at their portfolio – is their work hitting the mark? Check out testimonials for feedback and insights into how they work. And of course, do an informal Teams or Zoom chat. Together, it will give you a great gut-feel to the all-important question: Is this copywriter a good fit for my firm or brand?
What Does a Professional Copywriter Cost?
Now a very popular question – what will a good copywriter cost? Well, if you haven’t invested in a professional copywriter already, I’d say it’s already costing you (because I bet your competitors have).
However, when it comes to copy, many businesses still go down the ‘cheap’ road which often - unsurprisingly - doesn’t quite deliver the result they were expecting.
Too often I hear: “It’s only copy – we’ve spent loads on website design though!”
If that’s you, listen up: Research has shown that as humans, we’re ultra-fussy when it comes to copy. Did you know we jump off webpages in seconds if the copy doesn’t grab us? Words make us feel. And when we feel, we DO - such as clicking that ‘contact us’ button. (I’m going to talk about the psychology and science of copywriting in a future blog FYI…as it’s something I’ve been VERY interested in for a while).
But back to the sticky issue of price. You know the ‘cheap, fast, or good’ saying?
Cheap & good = won’t be fast
Fast & good = won’t be cheap
Cheap & fast = won’t be good
(I’m number two, in case you're wondering!)
You get what you pay for. When you hire an experienced, professional copywriter like me, you’re not just paying for words.
You’re paying for my years of expertise and skill in writing copy that makes your customers shout ‘YES!’. My words make people decide to work with you.
Not all Copywriters are Equal
When researching Sydney or Australian copywriters, remember that anyone can call themselves a copywriter.
It’s not like becoming a doctor, where there are strict qualifications. You can read a copywriting book or use AI to write stuff; voila – you're a ‘copywriter’.
In my case, I did journalism at uni - where I learned how to craft news stories that would make it past the news editors dreaded ‘spike’. And how to write 100 words-a-minute shorthand, no phone to record interviews back then - it was proper journalism (and strict too, I remember my lecturer not giving me 10/10 for a press release as I had missed a comma out!). Making sure the headline was attention-grabbing, the copy on point, and interesting to readers was a MUST.
Then it was onto PR - and creative PR campaigns and press releases for some of the UK largest corporate firms and household brands at top agency Citypress, where I spent over 13 amazing years (I’m proud to be a Citypress OG!)
Again, these had to be good and catch the eye of the journalist at the target media. Your story was up against everyone else’s - it was incredibly competitive. If your press release or PR campaign was rubbish, no coverage, and unhappy client.
So yes, I’m a Sydney freelance copywriter with major copywriting experience - which is a big deal. Not from a quick copywriting course, or a book, but from actual boots-on-the-ground, years of graft writing copy that gets results for businesses like law firms, banks, food brands, pub groups, and retailers.
When you’re researching a Sydney-based or Australian freelance copywriter, ask them - what’s your background? How did you become a copywriter?
And be sure to look for someone who can actually deliver what you need. If you’re launching a new website – or changing your existing one - look for a copywriter who specialises in web content with proven examples. If you’re starting a blog, choose someone who has written articles you love.
Don’t pick ‘any’ copywriter.
Do They Have a Copywriting Agreement? (that's a good thing)
So you’ve found a copywriter – and they send you a scary-looking agreement to sign before they’ll write a single word. Yes, that’s me!
All good professional copywriters use contracts and agreements – make sure yours does, too. Mine tells you the what, why, when, and how of what I’ll deliver, how and when I want to be paid, and sets out mutual expectations. It covers all eventualities – such as if there’s a delay due to information being late. There’s also the boring-but-essential legal bits. It ensures we’re on the same page from the start and get the best from the project.
Are They Flexible to Changes?
The copy has landed – and it's not quite right. Is your copywriter open to your feedback and insights? I can’t talk for other copywriters, but when it comes to the 'I've got changes’ call - I genuinely enjoy hearing what you've got to say!
Feedback is not just about what you like or don’t like; it’s about getting the messaging and tone of voice spot-on together so the copy fits with what you had in mind (and what’s in your clients’ minds!).
Flexibility – rather than revision limits and timeframes - is key to this process, so I can make the changes that reflect your thoughts and ideas. Make sure your copywriter feels the same way.
How to Hire the Right Copywriter Checklist
So in summary, here’s your quick checklist when hiring a copywriter in Sydney or Australia. It’ll help you weed out the great copywriters from the ‘ok’ ones:
Check the copywriter's experience - can they write for your industry?
Check their background - how did they become a copywriter?
Check the copywriter’s work - do they get results?
Check copywriter client testimonials - are their clients happy and impressed?
Check how the copywriter works - what’s their process?
Check your gut-feel - do you think you can work with this copywriter?
The Fast Route to the Right Copywriter
Or, you can save time searching for the ‘right’ copywriter in Sydney and Australia – just click here to work with me! See my results, what my clients think, and explore how I work.