Five Reasons To Use A Freelance Copywriter To Create Your Web Content
1. A freelance content writer can see things differently.
Any accomplished copywriter should be able to listen to your product or service offerings, pick out the important messages and create copy that is appealing to your customers.  It's this ability to reach your target audience with effective messaging, conveying the benefits whilst promoting your company's particular selling points in a clear and easy-to-read style, that will make using a copywriter worthwhile.
2: A freelance copywriter delivers website content fast.
Freelance copywriters write all day, every day.  You may well be a good writer (or not!), but a professional will be better. A freelance copywriter will not only be able to ask the right questions to understand your business quickly, often negating the need for you to put anything at all in writing, but will be able to deliver your content quickly too.  In fact, a good freelance copywriter will be able to drastically reduce the time it takes to produce succinct and polished website copy, from weeks - or even months - to a matter of days.
3. A freelance writer can help the project run smoothly.
For you - no more stressing about meeting the deadlines: you've passed that buck to someone else.  For the website developer - no more waiting endlessly and forever chasing their client (you) to produce the content.  Overall - no more half-finished sites 'coming soon'.  Instead, a polished, complete, professional site in no time at all!
4. A freelance copywriter creates search engine optimized (SEO) copy.
A good freelance copywriter will get your site noticed.  Strategically using key words and phrases throughout your website content is one of many important ways to make sure your site is picked up by the search engine spiders, as well as working with the website designer to create page titles, image tags and meta tag descriptions.  If you want people to find YOUR website, simply putting it out there and hoping for the best is no longer an option, when millions of competitors are already one step ahead.  A freelance copywriter will know how to include important keywords and phrases without the copy sounding stilted - ensuring it still flows like well written text should.
5. A freelance copywriter will engage the reader.
Once you've managed to get a visitor to your site, it's crucial to hook the reader in very quickly and deliver the correct message before their attention is lost.  The nature of the internet is to browse - and if you don't provide something interesting right away there are potentially hundreds of your competitors waiting for your visitor to surf right onto their site.  A freelance copywriter is skilled in ensuring copy is not only well-written, but persuasive.  Getting a response - making a call, sending an e-mail, signing up for a newsletter, or even making a purchase - is key and it takes a skilled writer to lead the reader to action.

Helen Wilks is a freelance copywriter based in Oakville, Ontario, who is experienced in writing for the web, print and e-mail marketing.  She's written for Oracle, UNICEF, Toshiba and B&Q among other recognizable names and SMBs.

Website Writing - Audience is Key

Most companies putting together a new website first think about what they want to tell their customers about their product or service – and then start writing the copy.  Sensible, right?  No!
The very FIRST thing you should be doing is putting yourself in your customer’s shoes.  Have you thought about what your potential customer wants to know about?
Here’s a great example of tailoring your message to a specific audience.  Say you went on holiday and you wanted to tell your friends all about it when you got back.  You might say to your friend: the nightlife was amazing, the weather was so hot I suffered terrible sunburn one day and the amount of champagne I drank was obscene!  Then you call your boss – and tell him that the scenery was fantastic, not a cloud in the sky and you’ve returned feeling refreshed.  It was exactly the same holiday!  But clearly the same message is not appropriate for each audience.
First think: what is important to your customer?  What are the features and details that are most significant to them – and have you communicated that on your home page, or is the information at least easy to find?  Do you have more than one audience – and have you tailored key messages for each one?  Structure your site for your customer - and reap the rewards of getting the right message across.

Make Facebook part of YOUR marketing strategy

Are you already using facebook for your business?  Don't get left behind.  Social media is where it's at right now - and you need to stay one step ahead of the competition.  87% of business owners plan to set up a Facebook page in 2010.  Whatever the size of your business, you should be setting up a Facebook Fan Page now.

Then viral marketing is the key. Chances are, you already have a personal Facebook account.  Start by using all those contacts to spread the word about your new Facebook page.   Although Google ranks Facebook pages high on its search results, you really need to ensure you actively get the word out yourself by telling all your contacts about the page - as visitors generally won't come across a Facebook business page unless they're told about it.  Link from your website, update your email templates - and think about adding the Facebook symbol/your url the next time you print business cards or letterheads.

The more information you post to your Facebook Fan Page, the better.  Make it interesting for your visitors by regularly adding news items, updates, video's, apps and even relevant links you come across. 

Using Facebook to promote yourself can bring the credibility usually associated with personal recommendations.

Make sure you use Facebook to spread the word about your business - it works!

I have been helping businesses get their message right for 15 years.  

Whether you need a website, brochure, press release, newsletter or promotional material, I can quickly and cost-effectively turn your project around.

Contact me at +1 905-582-8959.

Helen Wilks...from Corporate Marketing to Freelance Copywriting, Marketing and Business Writing

Based in Oakville, Ontario, in Canada, I have fifteen years experience as a marketing and writing professional.  First working in the corporate marketing world, then as a contract marketing consultant, and finally as a freelance marketing and writing specialist, I have written many pieces of marketing material across various different industries – DIY, e-commerce, publishing, software and IT, consulting services, recruitment, real estate, and special needs - to name but a few.  My secret for success lies in an innate ability to very quickly understand your business - and see through the eyes of your customers.  Through this carefully honed skill, I am able to come up with compelling messages that really mean something to your customers and prospects.

SMB and Corporate writing and editing

Throughout my career, I have written and edited countless web sites, promotional articles, press releases, newsletters, marketing brochures, flyers, presentations, marketing plans and proposals. Previously, I worked as a Marketing Programs Manager for Oracle Corporation; as an Editor for UK Directory; and as a Web Content Manager for B&Q. Now, I freelance for companies both large and small, creating communication tools that not only give my customers effective communications about their products and services, but help them stand out from the crowd.

How Can You Use Me?

You can employ me simply to write a specific piece of marketing for you, such as a website or a press release, or you can employ on a consultative basis, or to take a more involved role in a particular project.  I can provide program management - just as an internal marketing manager would - overseeing and managing a project, through resourcing and managing appropriate contractors in the design and development phases; gaining buy-in and approval from internal stakeholders; and seeing the project through to successful completion. Call or email me now and I’ll be happy to answer any of your questions about working with me, discussing your requirements and any experience I might have that could be relevant to your project.  +1 905 582 8959.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, using Copycat Marketing will speak volumes. 

Creative and succinct copy - underpinned by proven marketing techniques - makes reaching your customers so much easier.

Consider the wide range of services Copycat Marketing offers – from helping with a simple brochure or press release to marketing planning, corporate copywriting, professional editing, web content writing and program management.  Take a look at the Copycat Marketing Portfolio to see example brochures, marketing plans, newsletters, press releases, flyers, proposals, web content, case studies, presentations and annual reports.

Helen Wilks, a freelance writer and marketing specialist based in Toronto, Ontario, is behind Copycat Marketing.  Join the long list of clients who have all benefitted from Copycat's expertise:

“Helen contributed considerably to the success of a new business by interpreting and delivering the marketing vrief in a creative and professional manner.  Her experience assisted with brand development and she took over the planning and management of the web site design, taking it through to a successful launch.” Martin Prendergast, MD Concorde Solutions

“The quality and constructiveness of Helen’s input, especially at the outset, proved to be a great asset….she has certainly contributed to Lundy Healthcare’s immense growth during the past eighteen months.” Paul Hunter, MD Lundy Healthcare

“Helen’s consultancy has enabled us to get a head start with our start-up business, put us on the right track and we can’t wait to implement some of her suggestions” Huw Jones, CEO Aim Logistics

“Working with Helen, things get done, fast” Robert Harner, Independent Designer

“I knew what I wanted, and Helen understood my business straight away.  The simple marketing techniques have really worked” Jen Schlumberger, Founder Hollywood Birthdays