What Are Copywriter Duties?

I’m here to explain what a copywriter’s duties are and how to get the best outcome together.

​Because they offer you so much more experience and expertise, and you can use a freelancer around your specific needs – rather than having them around full-time. 

​A copywriter is (or the one you choose should be) a Marketing professional who knows how to convert your brand’s true essence into words that offer your customers value which, in turn, inspires them to take action.

While you can recognise the importance of what they do, you may not know where your job ends and theirs begins, and vice versa.

So, to help, here is a quick rundown.

1. An initial chatWhen you reach out to a Copywriter, it’s their duty to facilitate in initial chat. This is to get to know each other and see if you’re both the right fit. Not everyone is perfect for everyone, and you need to feel a sense of comfort that the person you’re looking to hire is the right match. So, have a chat and ask each other questions to get a sense of one another.
2. Providing you with a briefing document

   If you’re happy with your Copywriter, then they should be sending you a creative briefing template. This is absolutely crucial. They will be working from the information you provide here, which means that it’s on them to prompt you for the details they need to deliver the project. But equally, we need you to fill it out completely too.

   For more, read: How to brief a copywriter to get the best outcome the first time.

3. Asking you questions to clarifyAfter this, they should reach out and ask you more questions. Please don’t see this as a negative or an annoyance. It’s great that they care enough to want to confirm their understanding and check they’ve grasped everything.
4. Providing a quote based on the projectOk, so now is when they should be sending you a quote detailing out their costs and the breakdown of the deliverables, as well as their terms and conditions. It’s up to you to accept this before the project goes any further.

   Discuss this with them but know that it’s the copywriter’s duty to have allocated enough hours or budget to deliver on the brief you’ve provided. If you don’t like the quote, then give them your feedback.

5. Doing research on the topicNow, if you accept the quote, the project is activated. At this point, the copywriter must venture out and begin researching your industry and the topic you need them to write about. Research is a big part of a copywriter’s duty and must be done thoroughly.
6. Undertaking the copywritingHere is where the magic begins, and is arguably the most important duty a copywriter has: to actually do their copywriting! Sure, everyone can write – but it’s a skill to write like a Copywriter.
7. Proofreading and spell checkingThe onus is on the Copywriter to ensure that, after they’ve written the copy for you, that they’ve spell checked it, read through it, had another set of eyes check it and done more checking before they submit it to you. We are human and we can all make mistakes, but spelling and grammar checks are definitely high on the list of copywriting duties.
8. Provide you with the draft for your reviewThis should be obvious, right?
9. Make your changes and finalise the copywritingNow you have the opportunity to provide your feedback and edits. Remember to not just strike out everything that’s written. You’ve approached a copywriting professional for a reason – to tap into their experience and their external perspective.

   But it’s a Copywriter’s duty to also explain how they approached your project and open you up to different ways of thinking about how they created your content. The ultimate goal is collaboration – so work together to get to the final version.

10. Hand over everything to you for useProject complete! Now that you’ve given the final approval, it’s over to you to use the content in your marketing and get the results you deserve.
11. Delight!!!The most overlooked copywriter duty is to delight clients and continue long term relationships with them. It’s a win/win, really. Your copywriter should reach out and ask how the project is going, what’s happening and if you need further assistance.

1. Read your mind
   
   We’re good, but we’re not that good! We can’t work with things you don’t tell us. Clients generally have so much knowledge because they’re working with their brand every single day – but unfortunately, they don’t always share it.

   Then, they get annoyed because the copywriter didn’t just know. Remember, what you write in your brief is what a copywriter uses – if there are parts missing or gaps in the information, then you can’t be upset that it was missed. The same goes for edits and changes – we rely on your direction to guide us.

   In the end, we want the same successful outcome you do – so work together rather than against each other and we’ll both get the to the final result much quicker.

2. Chase you for invoice paymentsAs a copywriter, we’re providing a professional, paid service. We’re paid to write, not to chase invoices. If you accept the quote, then make sure you pay the invoice on time.

   You wouldn’t like it if we held the copy; please don’t hold the payment.

3. Be responsible after you approve the contentA copywriter can only know so much about your brand, your industry and the rules and regulations you have to abide by. This means a copywriter relies on you to tell us when there are things we can and can’t say. So, the onus is on a client to ensure that the copy we’ve written is compliant.

A good copywriter will work together with you, in a harmonious relationship, to write excellent copy that’s well researched and well thought out, targeting the right audience in the right context, to stimulate the right reaction.
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If they do all of this, then you’re onto a winner and you should keep them around.

You’re time poor and spread thin, and writing isn’t your expertise. So, focus on what really matters, while we take care of all of your copywriting and content marketing needs!

For more information or to speak to a quality copywriter to get the results your business deserves, contact me now at chris@melottimedia.com.au.

I can sharpen your words to achieve your goals, today!

Christopher Melotti

Melotti Media Copywriting and Marketing Solutions
www.melottimedia.com.au
 
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