The Top 5 Reasons You Need a Copywriter on Retainer

If you run an established business or nonprofit organization, you may need more than an occasional copywriter to freshen up the words on your website or create copy for a brochure. The continual need for content may have you thinking about having an ongoing contract with a copywriter you trust. On the fence about bringing someone on your creative team? Here are 5 reasons you need a copywriter on retainer. 

Copywriting is time consuming.

Running a business or a nonprofit organization means you have a lot of content to create. An endless stream, actually: everyday content such as social media updates, blog posts, and emails; campaign-related content, such as donor letters, postcards, and targeted emails; plus one-off projects such as new brochures, reports, or welcome packets. 

Meanwhile, you’re managing and recruiting employees, making or ordering products, connecting with donors, keeping up with your inventory, planning events, communicating with your board, maintaining the financials—and on and on. Content creation naturally sinks to the bottom of the list. 

It’s hard to get it done because writing is time consuming and difficult to do in short spurts. A copywriter saves you time by doing it for you.

Copywriting is a skill.

Even if you’re good with words, it doesn’t guarantee you’re good at writing copy. Being a good writer and being a good copywriter are two different things. 

Copywriters are not only experienced wordsmiths, they know how to draw out the most compelling aspects of your work and amplify them through words.

And a professional copywriter makes you look professional with (usually!) error-free copy. They know the difference between affect and effect. They can construct a smooth segue. Give them a topic, some links for research, and a bit of your time, and they’ll know exactly where to begin and how to get it done.

Clear copywriting makes your brand feel cohesive.

Your brand is much more than your visuals. It’s the entire experience of your customers or patrons. 

That means you’re always building your brand. Which means you’re always communicating. Which means you need words consistently. And not just any words—words that reflect who you are.

A good copywriter will work with you and other communications creatives to create content that supports your branding, goals, mission, and values. They’ll help you clarify your message so you don’t put up counterproductive content. And as they work with you, they’ll develop a voice that’s unique to your business.

A copywriter helps you roll out fresh content consistently.

Creating more and more content is not only time consuming, it’s mentally taxing. A copywriter can help you think of ideas, research topics, check out your competition’s content, and nudge you to get your edits done.

A professional copywriter will help you and other members of your communications team to create and stick to an editorial calendar and brainstorm ideas. If you’ve never created blog posts or social media updates before, you’ll have plenty of ideas at first. But after a few months, those ideas will start to thin out. A copywriter knows how to ask good questions to inspire ideas that are helpful for your audience—and they can make even ho-hum concepts sound fascinating. 

A copywriter is a member of your team.

As a copywriter works with you, they become invested in your industry and in your success and becomes an important member of your team. 

They also develop knowledge about your industry that becomes more valuable over time. If you hire a copywriter periodically, you’ll have to explain what you do whenever you start a new copy project. If you have the same person working for you every month, it’s easier for them to add a new project to the roster.

Actively looking for a copywriter? Check out 5 Questions To Ask A Copywriter.