When clients hire a freelance copywriter, they often focus so much on the end result that they forget to set solid foundations. To set yourself up for success, you need to give a clear brief. Otherwise, you might need to spend much more time on the editing process (and potentially money if making the writer go back and change things pushes you past your agreed rounds of amends).

To help you give your freelance copywriter the information they need, here are a few things that are useful to share:

💡 Wordcount (even if it's a range)

💡 Format: is it a whitepaper, article, listicle etc.?

💡 Subject

💡 Tone of voice / style guide / branding documents

💡 Language: do you write in UK or US English

💡 Style: e.g. do you follow the AP or Chicago writing style? (We need to know things like whether or not you want us to use the Oxford comma etc)

💡 Audience: who are you trying to reach?

💡 Relevant info / sources (if desk research isn't part of your agreement)

💡 Call to action: what do you want your audience to do/think after reading this copy?

💡 Other e.g. examples of things you do/don't like. What have you been happy (or unhappy) with in the past?

Yes, of course there will be rounds of edits. But the clearer you can be about what you want, the closer we'll be able to get our first draft. You'll also save more time by not having to ask your writer to change something based on something you forgot to tell them in the first instance.

Make sure your brief is clear before you ask your freelance copywriter to start on your project. If you let your writer know what is expected of them right from the start, the process will be much easier.

If you found these tips useful and want to show your support I'd be very grateful for anyone who considers buying me a virtual coffee.

Work with me

Hi, I'm Mel and I write about the ocean. If you're looking for a freelance copywriter to tell your ocean stories (and you promise to give a good brief!), have a read of my portfolio and check out my copywriting services. If you think I can help you, let's chat. I'm available for commission from organisations and editors to help with articles, blogs, web copy, reports and more. Get in touch to see if we might be a good fit.