Copywriting FAQ

This is called a brief. I have a template you can fill in, if you like – see the button in the site’s header. Alternatively you can brain dump your thoughts into an email and I’ll work from that. I’ve worked with briefs that were five words long, through to ones running in to the thousands. I’m happy to prompt you as much as you need.

The more information you can give me, the better. That said, don’t worry, I’m a dab hand at research. If you have things like a keyword report, then great, send it over. If not, then don’t worry. Other useful pieces of information include the websites of key competitors, and anyone’s style you particularly love. It’s also really helpful, if you can tell me a little about your buyer personas. Lastly, all content should have a clear objective – so tell me, what’s that?

This will depend on the scale of the changes, and whether I have started work yet. If I have not yet started work, changes are not usually a problem. If you are significantly extending your requirements, I will need to confirm the expected timescale and change in cost. Reasonable edits are included within my stated price. If you need to cancel the work once I have started, then we can discuss what would be fair recompense for the work already undertaken depending on how far I’ve got and my ability to ‘fill your slot’.

How long is your project?! At the outset, I am always clear with clients about my current availability and anticipated timescale. My goal is to work as quickly as possible, but not at the detriment of quality, research or skill. Most of my clients find that their copywriting is delivered ahead of schedule, and this is frequently commented on in the feedback I receive.

If you require urgent copywriting to be done, with a tight deadline, do speak to me. Often I can juggle things around and make it possible.

As a freelance copywriter, my availability does vary. During my busiest periods, I will have several weeks before I can book in a large full website rewrite. However, for smaller pieces, I can usually manage my availability to turn these around within a few days, up to a week. Your best bet is to drop me a line at chrissie@chrissiebrowncopywriter.com and I’ll be upfront and honest about when I can fit the work in.

No copywriter is perfect. Some of what we do is an art, where beauty is in the eye of the beholder. However, I work to really understand your business, your branding and your customer, so that your copy fits the bill. But if I had to be honest about a weakness, it would be commas! The blighters never seem to get in to my writing as much as they should on a first draft. No problem for you though, as I always pick them up on the first proofread and then zap all content through Grammarly that picks up anything I’ve missed.

There are plenty of them out there and I do understand that it’s hard to know what you’re getting in advance. My best advice is to read testimonials and check out portfolios. Ask for some specific examples of work the copywriter has done for similar clients. Then it’s down to gut feel. I believe, from the feedback I receive, that I offer an exceptional copywriting service for a fair price. 80% of my time is spent working for repeat clients. There’s a reason people come back!

I successfully collaborate with other copywriters, including others located nearby. This means we can work closely together, even at the same desk at times, to ensure a consistent tone of voice throughout your copy. I can give you a price for the complete work, rather than you having to manage multiple different freelancers.

Of course! I will work with other freelancers according to your need. Typically, these include programmers and website designers. I also work with creative teams for brochure design and similar projects.

Do you know how these awards work? It’s an exercise in self-indulgence and not a game I wish to play. The copywriter pays to enter and, as such, they are somewhat self-selective. My biggest awards are the feedback I get from my clients. That’s where I get my warm fuzzy feel good buzz from, and how I know I’m doing a good job. 

I have undertaken multiple different training courses, as well as learned through ‘doing’ and voraciously reading anything and everything about copywriting. I have been fortunate enough to receive some SEO training from someone who works for Google. In addition, I have taken numerous HubSpot Academy training courses. In the world of SEO, things are constantly changing. It’s part of my job to stay up to date, and I do that without question. In fact, I usually have a new course on the go.

I’m very happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, if you wish. Nonetheless, I take your privacy seriously. I have worked for the UK Government through to private health care clinics. That said, if you specifically wish me to never use what I write for you in my portfolio, please do just let me know. You can also read my privacy policy.

That’s you! Once I’ve written the piece, and payment has been received, all rights over the work revert to you.

I’m really sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, it happens. It’s happened to me too. The only reassurance I can give you, is that my reputation really matters to me. In the freelance world, if I let you down, that’s going to get around and, frankly, I’m not up for that. I’m always honest and upfront about my availability and ability. Hopefully, my testimonials also go some way to reassure you that I’m the real deal.

I’m a writer, full stop. I can add in some additional SEO services such as meta tags or alt tags. I’ll also include images, if you need them. Please get in touch for a quotation. However, having worked in this arena for several years, I have built up a network of other creative freelance people. I can put you in touch with reputable and trusted digital marketers, SEO specialists, web developers, graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, PRs and more.

Get in touch for your bespoke quotation and information regarding my availability. Once you’re happy with this, I work in one of two ways. For small projects, I simply crack on and then send you the work to review. I invoice at this point, and you can pay when you are completely satisfied. For larger projects, I request a deposit of 50%, and then the process is much the same. For even larger projects, staged payments will be arranged.

My natural writing style is what you see here, on The Content Ninja. However, all that really matters is the style you are looking for. That’s part of the skill of what I do; writing in the style you want and need. Take a look at my portfolio to see what that means in practice.