SHOULD YOU HIRE A COPYWRITER? PROBABLY NOT (YET).
Lately, I've been seeing lots of job postings from mental health tech startups looking for copywriters.
Here's why that makes me nervous...
As a mental health pro turned content and messaging strategist, I'm thrilled that there are now more opportunities for folks who want to write about mental health. And I'm glad to see that founders and entrepreneurs are starting to understand why it's not a great idea to DIY their copy, even in early stages.
But whether you need to flesh out your website, build a new pitch deck, or create content for a digital product, you need to think long and hard about your first content development hire (even if it's a contractor).
Make no mistake, a talented writer is a critical business asset. They're the mouthpiece of your brand and a good one will guide your customers through your sales funnel with empathy and ease, building trust and growing your authority along the way. Good luck driving conversion and generating quality leads over the long haul without one!
But here’s why you shouldn’t hire a copywriter (yet)…
Of the many things they can do to make a meaningful impact on the trajectory of your business and brand, it’s not their job to figure out…
Who you are (your brand identity)
Whom you serve (your target customer)
What you stand for (your values and reason for existing)
What sets you apart in the marketplace (your key differentiators)
How you outshine the competition (your value proposition)
What type of impact you want to make (the legacy you want to leave behind)
Of course, great copywriters can do all of that and They often do…
Because when their clients fail to provide messaging guidelines upfront, they either have to do their own research (often with limited insight) or shoot from the hip and do their best with an outsider's understanding of the problem their content should solve.
But just imagine how much more targeted and efficient your content creation process would be if you took the time to figure out a few things before you hire a copywriter. Think about how many rounds of revisions you'll save yourself (read: money) because you set your writer up for success from the get-go. That's why I recommend working with a content and messaging strategist to define your brand's identity and communication framework before you hire a copywriter.
I promise you, the resulting outcome will be better for everyone involved, including the folks you're trying to serve.
NEED MESSAGING HELP, LIKE, YESTERDAY?
I just opened up a few more spots for my one-day VIP messaging intensives. If you want to clarify your messaging before you hire a writer or embark on your next phase of work, let's talk.