FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Most people who contact me have never used a copywriter before and don’t know what to expect, so if that’s how you feel, don’t worry — you’re in good company. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions I get…
Q. What exactly does a copywriter do?
A. In a nutshell, I write copy (words/text) for advertising. I find the best words to get the message across for my client’s brochure, newsletter, print ad, poster, direct marketing, website, article, editorial, blog etc.
Q. How are you different to other copywriters?
A. Much of my time is not spent writing – it’s spent talking to you and getting important info out of your head. Strategy first. Words second. I also do brainstorming, web reviews, copy coaching and more.
Q. What type of writing do you do? Do you have a specialty?
A. Yes, I have a couple.
Websites and direct marketing are my specialty — this is what is called ‘long copy’ (lots of words). Many copywriters don’t like or don’t specialise in long copy, because to be honest, it’s hard. I enjoy it because I’m not just a wordsmith, I’m a problem-solver. I can also help you with brochures, editorial, articles, blog posts etc.
I also specialise in dejargonizing — that’s my made-up word but you know exactly what it means — getting rid of jargon, geek-speak, government-speak, corporate-speak etc. I write for the man in the street.
Q. What types of writing DON’T you do?
A. I don’t do manuals, annual reports, tenders, business writing, resumes, stuff like that. I tend to stick to what I do best – advertising, direct marketing, website content, editorial, articles and blogs etc.
Q. What other services do you offer?
A. As well as copywriting, I also offer a brainstorming session. Basically, I can give you feedback on what you have now and how you could make it better. Many clients like to start with a 90 minute brainstorming session – it’s a low cost, high value investment that gives you an opportunity to pick my brain, ask as many questions as you like and get a plan for moving forward with your advertising, website, and/or other communication materials. It’s also a great way to figure out if I’m the right copywriter for you.
Q. Who exactly writes the copy?
A. Unlike some other copywriters, I don’t have staff and I don’t outsource. So you can be absolutely sure that when you choose Copy with Cream for your copywriting, you will be getting your copy written by me. Karen Zaskolny. An Australian freelance copywriter with over 20 years’ advertising, direct marketing and web content writing experience, also 20 years’ experience helping Adelaide businesses.
Q. Do you do graphic design or actually build the website?
A. I have studied graphic design so I can give you lots of great feedback and suggestions however I’m not a graphic designer or web builder. But if you check out The Collaboration page, you will find a short list of people who I work with and highly recommend who could help you.
Q. How much does a copywriter cost?
A. Most copywriters charge an hourly rate. Writers’ rates tend to vary greatly and can be anywhere between $50 and $220 an hour — my rates are in the middle somewhere. But an hourly rate only helps you if you know how many hours your project will take! So always ask for a project price, or at least an estimate, not just an hourly rate. I always like to give an estimate.
Q. So why shouldn’t I use Upwork?
A. You could, but you really do get what you pay for. Think about your target audience. If your customers are Aussies, and you want friendly, conversational copy that flows and is effortless to read, I can help. If you don’t have the budget for me to write your whole website, you might like to consider a brainstorming session. You’ll also get a copy of my eBook plus a simple breakdown of the type of information you should put on different pages of your website, so you can DIY.
Q. How do I know if Copy with Cream is right for me?
A. Good question! Because being a good writer is not enough. Whoever you choose needs to be on your wavelength. So, do some research online. Take a bit of time to have a look around my site, see if you like my writing style, check out my work, drop into my blog, read the testimonials. Then, if you like what you read, please give me a call. I’d be very happy to give you 15 minutes on the phone to help you work out if we are a good match. Many clients then like to begin with a brainstorming session. A low cost first step that offers you great value.
Q. Can you give me a quote before we begin?
A. Yes. For smaller projects like a brochure, I can give you a quote. For larger projects, like a website, I can give you a ball-park estimate. e.g. XX – YY hours which represents XX to YY dollars.
Q. What if I don’t have much of a budget? Can you still help me?
A. Yes. I have completely restructured my business so that I can help small businesses and micro-businesses in some way, no matter how small their budget. If you can’t afford me to rewrite your copy, I could still help you with a brainstorming session, a copy of my eBook and a simple breakdown of what to put where on your website. For more information, click here.
Q. When I contact you, what do I need to tell you?
A. If you have a particular project in mind, the 3 things I will ask you about will be the scope, or details of the project, the timeline and your ideas on budget. This saves us a lot of time. For example, If you want a whole website written but you only have $300, that won’t work. But I could still help you with a brainstorming session / web review, a copy of my eBook and the guide for what content to put where on your website.
Q. Can I book a job in ahead of time?
A. Yes, great idea. Some months of the year get a bit crazy-busy so booking ahead means I can fit your project into my work schedule. Prepayment of a deposit may be required.
Q. When is payment required?
A. Smaller projects (under $1000) are paid upfront. On larger projects, 50% of the fee is paid upfront to book in your project, with the balance to be paid 7 days after completion. If your project is long-term, monthly invoices will be issued. Brainstorming sessions are also pre-paid in full.
Q. What if I only have some really basic stuff and it’s rubbish?
A. This is exactly what most of my clients worry about. It really doesn’t matter whether you have a blank piece of paper, some basic scribbles or a finished website that needs tweaking — wherever you are is fine. I pride myself on being very flexible and finding the best way to work with each of my clients based on where they are at and how they would like to work. The best way to ease your mind is to give me a call. 10 or 15 minutes on the phone will give you a good idea of whether or not, and how exactly I can help you.
