I have a startup. Do I need a copy or content writer?

Your startup needs every bit of you. But does that mean your writing, too? Check out our (simple) questions that could help you decide.

Brave, check. Ambitious, check. Visionary, check. Willing to sacrifice emotional, mental, physical and financial wellbeing - check.

But, writer? Maybe. But that's a bit tricky.

As a solopreneur, entrepreneur, or startup business owner, your nervous system is made of steel. And whatever is thrown your way, you're ready.

Except, perhaps, when staring at a blank page and wondering what to write. If it makes you feel better, you're not alone. From renowned authors to seasoned copywriters, we know the blank page can glare without mercy.

I don't need a copy or content writer

There's a little voice in your head saying, "you can write, it's not that hard. You got this! You know this stuff better than anyone."

And, it's right (ish). If you're a confident writer with oodles of experience in your field, which is presumably the case because you're risking life and limb as an entrepreneur, then you may want to get on with it yourself.

But you may find yourself at a tipping point.

You can write, but ...

You may know your way around words. And you may be able to run laps around your topic of expertise. But here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Am I comfortable, competent and confident writing? If the thought of writing fills you with dread and anxiety, then the emotional and mental cost may be too much.

• Am I confident writing words to sell? In other words, how well can I write to sell my business or service and how do I know it's effective?

• Am I confident writing to educate or entertain? This means, you'd be confident and capable of writing 800-1500 word articles on relevant topics in a way that boosts your online authority.

• Can I write comfortably for different platforms and purposes? Can you adapt your writing between: social platforms, website, and print sources?

• Can I adapt my writing effectively for different audiences? Writing for other technical experts is considerably different than writing for sales.

• Do I know how to optimise my writing, so that I hit the first page of SERPs (Search Engine Results Page) like Google? It's all well and good to write content or copy, but are you building your authority on Google? And do you know how to check this?

• Am I comfortable with AI? It's great to use AI as a tool or starting point, but can you balance AI with authentic, personable writing? Or how to leverage AI optimally for writing?

You might realise that even if you're comfortable, confident and capable writing, that you simply don't have the time. Instead, you'd rather be the expert interviewed (or even a subject editor) rather than the author.

I need copy or content writer

Whether you've developed a product set to innovate and disrupt the market or building a law firm from the ground up, you have as many hours in the day as Beyoncé.

So, you're ready to entrust your vision to an expert - one who can spin words into gold.

The trouble is, you have to be careful. You're walking a financial tight-rope. Yes, you want (and need) a writer. But there's a hierarchy of financial need. So you might be asking yourself:

• Should I go with a marketing agency? Maybe! There are brilliant marketing agencies you can hire with oodles of experience. We're lucky to have worked in and alongside a few. And they'll have both copy and content writers working with designers. It's worth noting, however, that many marketing agencies:

  • may charge you per piece of work (called assets or deliverables) either in a campaign or as a standalone item. And that's fair enough! But, mind the small print to see how many iterations or edits they're willing to make (without charge) and what their pricing model is. It may be: (1) hourly rates; (2) monthly retainers (often with limitations); (3) project based fees (be careful with these as it's not always clear how the charges come together; (4) performance-based pricing.

  • might not play with or analyse the data effectively. You want to find an agency that uses data to inform their work not only BEFORE they create a single asset, but also scrutinise the data AFTER the work goes live. It's all well and good for them to charge in and blaze a new path for your business. But this must be informed by data and evidence, so make sure to question their intentions before and the results after. It's worth having monthly reports that analyse how the work is performing. Also, and this is a big bonus, check whether the agency has SEO experts that you can use.

  • may make you feel like you're on a conveyor belt. Find an agency that either has an account manager that you can contact regularly or one that allows you to contact the copywriter and designers directly. Otherwise, you may feel like you're just one of many clients and not get the personalised service your business deserves.

    
    

• What kind of writer do I need (copy or content)? Honestly, probably both. And you're in luck because most writers do both. Check out our article "Copywriter versus content writer: who should I hire?"

  
  

• How much does a copywriter or content writer cost? Ooof! It depends, of course. Not factoring in benefits, additional cash compensations, or recruitment agency fees, the average salary of a Senior Copywriter in the UK is £50,000+ while in the US it's between $80,000 - $115,000. A Senior Content Creator in the UK is paid, on average, £40,000 - £60,000 and in the US it's upwards of $75,000 - $100,000. And you'll pay this regardless of their workflow, whether they're busy or twiddling their thumbs (trust us, we've been there). Let's not even start on how much you'd pay for a full-time, Senior Designer.

  
  

  If you're looking to hire a copy or content writer per project or ad hoc, it's likely they'll charge per hour. Definitely, and we can't stress this enough, don't hire one that charges per word (think about it - this doesn't work in your favour or theirs). If you hire a copywriter, make sure:

  • they work with a trusted designer. Otherwise, your words and design may not work well together.

  • you understand how many edits (or iterations) they will do before charging. Often, they'll accept 2-3 round of edits before charging extra!

  • they are comfortable with both copy and content writing. Most are, but it's worth a conversation. And be careful, some will charge extra for content writing because it often takes longer (research and long form writing).

    
    

• How do I find a writer for both physical (flyers, posters, billboards) and digital (website, social media, white papers, blogs) materials. Ask them! And make sure to check out their work before hiring.

Starting your own business will take everything you have to offer, and more, without mercy. So, be kind to yourself when you can. If you're keen to have your own senior writer who is not only experienced in SEO copy and writing, but works with a trusted, senior designer (without the faff of an agency or the full-time prices of either), let's have a chat!