Hiring a copywriter means paying a professional, either a freelancer or an agency, to write business content on your behalf. That might include marketing material, website pages, product descriptions or lead generation assets like white papers. The aim is to produce writing that’s clear, purposeful and tailored to prompt a specific action, whether that’s an enquiry, a sale or brand building.

What do copywriting services typically include?

Whether you’re working with a freelance copywriter for hire or a larger team, the process usually includes:

• Discovery and briefing: A one-hour session to walk through your business model, target audience, goals and what the content needs to do.
• Audience and market research: Reviewing customer pain points, competitors, and common objections to shape the right message.
• Search-informed structure: Keyword research and search intent are factored in to help the copy rank for terms your customers are actually searching.
• First draft delivery: A working version of the copy based on the brief, with a focus on accuracy, tone, and commercial clarity.
• Revisions: Two rounds of edits to refine the content once you’ve reviewed the draft.
• Final proofread: A final check to catch any spelling, grammar or formatting issues before publishing.

Why hire a copywriter?

• To bring in more qualified leads: Clear writing helps potential customers understand what you offer and why it’s relevant to them.
• To improve visibility in search: Well-structured, search-aware copy can increase traffic from people already looking for what you sell.
• To strengthen your credibility: Professional content like case studies, white papers or your homepage helps show that your business is serious and well-run.
• To keep messaging consistent: An agency copywriter can help ensure your tone, value proposition and key messages stay aligned across all materials.
• To save internal time: Outsourcing to a professional means your team isn’t pulled into writing tasks, and content gets turned around faster.

A copywriter is someone who writes website pages, emails, ads, brochures and other assets for businesses. The goal is to get a specific reaction from the reader, whether that’s making a purchase, filling out a form or understanding what a company offers.

A copywriter for hire works with businesses on a freelance or contract basis to create commercial content. This can include:

• Website pages and blog posts
• Scripts for videos and podcasts
• Long-form content like white papers and ebooks
• Email marketing campaigns
• Social media posts and ads

A freelance copywriter for hire is an individual, usually self-employed, who you deal with directly. An agency copywriter is part of a company that may also include editors, project managers and strategists. Freelancers often offer more flexibility and a direct line of communication. Agencies tend to be better suited for larger projects or when you need extra services like SEO or content planning.

The process usually looks like this:

1. Define the scope: Outline what the project needs to achieve, who it’s for, what’s being written, and the timeline.
2. Review portfolios: Look at the copywriter’s past work to see if their style and experience match your needs.
3. Have a call: Talk through the project, get a feel for how they work, and confirm they understand your sector.
4. Agree on terms: Sign a contract covering fees, deliverables, deadlines and how many revision rounds are included.

A clear brief helps everything run smoothly with your copywriter. That usually includes details about your audience, business goals, key messages, tone of voice, and examples of content you like (or don’t).

Rates vary depending on the writer’s experience and the complexity of the work. In the UK, professional copywriters usually charge anywhere from £300 to £1,000+ per day. Niche sectors like finance or tech often sit at the higher end.

There are three common copywriting pricing options:

• Per project: A fixed price for a clearly defined task
• Hourly rate: Often used for ad hoc or ongoing work
• Monthly retainer: A set amount of time each month at an agreed fee

The right model depends on how often you need content and how predictable the workload is.

SEO copywriting is writing that’s designed to perform well in search engines. It involves using the right keywords, matching search intent, and structuring the content so it’s easy to read, for both humans and Google.

Good copy makes it easier for people to understand what you're offering and why it matters. It talks to their needs, explains benefits clearly, and includes a clear next step. That can mean more leads, more sales, and better performance from your marketing spend.

A good copywriter asks the right questions, listens carefully, and brings a structured approach to their work. They’ve got a portfolio that shows they can deliver results, and they understand that writing is just one part of the bigger marketing picture.

It depends on the scope. A blog post might take 3–5 working days from start to finish. A full website rewrite or content-heavy campaign might take several weeks. Timelines should be agreed up front to avoid surprises.

A white paper is a longer, in-depth document that explains a complex issue and outlines a recommended approach. In B2B, companies use them to show expertise and generate leads, especially in sectors where buyers need detailed information before making a decision.

They start by looking at your business goals, values and customer base. From there, they define key characteristics of your tone (for example, ‘clear and practical’ or ‘expert but friendly’) and make sure those are reflected consistently in all your written content.

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B2B copywriting is aimed at professionals making business decisions. It’s often more technical or focused on ROI. B2C copywriting targets consumers and tends to rely more on emotion, lifestyle appeal, and shorter buying cycles.

Keep and eye on important metrics like:

• Search ranking improvements for key pages
• More traffic from organic search
• Higher conversion rates
• More leads or enquiries from written materials
• Shorter sales cycles from better messaging

There are different types of copywriters, including corporate, creative, and SEO.

Corporate copywriters write clearly and concisely for professional purposes like press releases and company brochures. Creative copywriters are used for innovative projects like advertising campaigns and social media posts.

SEO copywriters are specialist writers whose job involves getting content to rank highly on search engines like Google and as references sources for large language models like OpenAI and Gemini for their customers.

You can find freelance copywriters with extensive SEO, marketing, social media, internet, sales or business knowledge. They can often turn their hand to anything content-related, covering mediums such as print, web, radio and TV.

Copywriters create compelling, grammatically correct, accurate and engaging content that helps draw a reader in, conveying a specific message on whatever platform you need. They empathise with their audience and understand what will resonate with them.

You can find freelance copywriters with experience in every area imaginable. Discussing your marketing strategy with your freelancer is important for aligning copy with objectives.

A good copywriter won't cost you money; he or she'll make you money by creating copy that delivers the results you seek.

Freelance copywriters bring expertise across various industries and global brands. They can help you improve your conversion rates and drive new business.

To hire a freelance copywriter, you should create a detailed project description that defines parameters and expectations.

You should determine your budget before hiring a freelance copywriter, as costs can vary based on experience and project specifications. Many copywriters usually work on a per project, per word, or per hour rate. Their charges may increase if the project goes beyond its initial scope or takes longer than expected so you should set deadlines for different phases of the copywriting task to stay in control.

Most freelance copywriters will provide writing samples or portfolios to showcase their work and written references or testimonials from previous clients.

Bear in mind each freelance copywriter has their own writing process, which should align with your expectations. Some will prefer to interview you to gather information about your project objectives instead of lengthy questionnaires. For example, if you want your writer to work on web copy, specify that you want SEO copywriting so your content ranks.

Providing creative freedom to freelance copywriters can enhance the quality of the final copy. However, if you do that, you should provide specific feedback during the revision stage to help the freelance copywriter improve the final product.

Collaboration between your copywriter and designer can lead to more effective marketing materials. Therefore, it's a good idea to hire a freelance copywriter with whom you feel comfortable to ensure a smooth working relationship.

That's especially so as creating copy for a project can take weeks or months, requiring frequent interactions with the freelance copywriter and editing rounds.

After your first project, a suitable freelance copywriter can help maintain a consistent voice for your brand.