In an age of “lean and mean” staffing, tight budgets and limited resources, hiring a freelance writer is one way to get the job done. But before you outsource your web content, marcom collateral, articles, blog posts or other writing projects, read these writing help FAQs, as well as “Lessons learned from being burned” about hiring writing help.
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 once 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. That doesn’t happen every time, of course, but I want you to know that I’m a quick study and have a short learning curve.
I’ve worked with nearly every industry from non-profit to high-tech to manufacturing to direct sales to consumer packaged goods to healthcare 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.
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.
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 message, outline their project, 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? I sure wouldn’t! (And don’t.)
When it comes to creating engaging copy, even subject matter experts can be 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. That’s where I can help.
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 kept it as the company’s manifesto for several years.
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 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 to date.
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, contact 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.
There are a lot of things to consider when deciding if, when and how to employ the services of a freelance writer or communications consultant.
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. 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, content strategy or copy coaching.
Contact me for a quote or to ask about your next project.