I believe great copy is more than clever headlines and clear sentences.

So the first time we talk, I’ll ask a lot of questions. More than you probably think I should. More than you may know how to answer.

We’ll talk about your company, your project, your product, your service, your audience, your goals and your insights. This foundational work ensures that the resulting copy is on brand, strategic and optimized. And, more importantly, it ensures that you get great copy that gets results.

Yeah, but …
Do you really need my services? That depends. Read on for when and how I can help.

We already have someone who handles our writing.
Consider yourself fortunate! It’s true that if you have a writer (or writers) on staff, or if you regularly employ a freelancer, most times you probably don’t need me. There may come a time, however, when you’re smack-dab in the middle of a crazy-busy work cycle or your favorite staffer or freelancer takes an unexpected leave. I recently jumped in on a project for an agency client of mine whose on-staff writer had more projects than bandwidth. The end-client (my client’s client) loved my copy so much they didn’t change a single word. I’ve worked with nearly every industry from non-profit to high-tech to manufacturing to direct sales to consumer packaged goods to health care to education, so it’s easy for me to step in pretty much anywhere and deliver results-oriented copy, especially when there’s not a minute to spare bringing someone up to speed.

Our CEO, COO or CIO (and any other “O”) does his or her own writing.
Most people write better than they give themselves credit for out loud … but not as well as they think. Even an exec who prefers to pen his or her own prose can benefit from my help in organizing thoughts, creating the right tone for the piece, or giving voice and clarity to great ideas. I’ve worked with senior-level managers, executives and entrepreneurs, polishing and tightening copy, as well as ghostwriting presentations and articles. I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with my clients to create great work that delivers on the project objectives. One client of mine delights in being complimented on “her” writing. Naturally, I’m thrilled that she does.

I’m the subject matter expert and don’t need an outsider’s help.
Having expertise on a subject is one thing … presenting it clearly to your audience is another. I’ve worked with physicians, engineers, salespeople, brand managers and others who are terrific at what they do, but simply cannot articulate their marketing message, outline their project goals and objectives, or define their audience(s). Would you let your sister cut your hair just because she’s a whiz with scissors in her sewing room? When it comes to creating engaging copy, even subject matter experts sometimes are challenged by speaking to a target audience, thinking from the customer’s viewpoint, injecting a fresh perspective into their well-honed pitch, or simply streamlining their message.

Our products/messages/people speak for themselves.
Interesting. What, exactly, are they saying? Is there consistency in messaging and delivery? Branding? Relevancy? I’ve worked with multinational companies and brands to help take their message from good to great and can do the same for you. One of my clients so liked a tagline I wrote for a creative concept that they’ve dubbed it the company “manifesto” and use it as a rallying cry for their associates.

We just don’t have the budget for it.
Would you agree that investing time and money into long-range planning, staffing and technology resources, and revenue generators is a good idea? Of course! Savvy professionals know there’s no substitute for quality. A client of mine ended up outsourcing their web content to me because they used someone who didn’t understand the strategy or the medium. Though my client inched over budget a bit by having the work redone, my quick turnaround time and on-message copy resulted in one of their most successful product launches in 40 years.

Our existing marketing materials work just fine.
If “just fine” is good enough for you, your brand and your company, then you’re right, you probably don’t need me. But if you want an objective look at the readability and relevancy of your pieces from a professional writer with 20 years of experience, call me. I’ve worked with plenty of clients who had wonderful core messages that just needed to be reworked into something more compelling. Maybe that’s all yours needs, too.

Yada, yada, yada.
There are a lot of things to consider when deciding if, when and how to employ the services of a freelance writer. I don’t want to presume that I know your particular situation; however, I have dozens of client success stories to share that may help as you make your decision. Please know that I’m here to help. Your interests are my interests. If, for some reason, I’m unable to help, I’ll be honest and tell you. Better yet, I’ll refer you to one of my capable colleagues. And, if I can help, it’s my conviction that you and your organization will benefit from my services, whether I’m providing creative updating, professional writing, editing and streamlining, or content strategy and execution.