Our directory lists copywriters who are members of ProCopywriters. Most work freelance. Some run small studios. Our members cover everything from packaging lines to annual reports, and they range from generalists who’ll turn their hand to most things to specialists who’ve spent a decade writing for a specific industry or medium.
That variety is a powerful asset, once you know what you’re looking for. Here’s how to move quickly from browsing to shortlisting in just a few minutes.
Filtering
By filtering the directory you can reduce a long scroll of hundreds of copywriters to a shorter list of more relevant professionals.
Two filters are especially effective:
What you need written. You can select from: website copy, SEO content, email and CRM, a case study, a tone of voice, interface copy.
While most copywriters are flexible and adaptable, you may find that some copywriters focus on specific formats or channels. For example, an email marketing specialist might not be interested in writing an annual report.
Your sector. This matters more in some fields than others. If you’re in financial services, healthcare or another regulated industry, a writer who already knows the rules may save you time (and reduce risk). If you’re a consumer brand, you may be less concerned with direct sector experience, and more interested in finding someone who brings a fresh perspective.
The location filter is best used only when you genuinely need someone in the room. Most copywriting is done remotely now, and filtering by location will reduce your pool of copywriters for a benefit you might not need.
Check availability
Members can indicate whether they’re available for new projects. Good copywriters are often booked several weeks ahead, and if you have an urgent project, it’s worth filtering out copywriters who can’t meet your deadline.
Reading a profile
Look for the specifics. A lot of copywriters will talk about their general capabilities, in addition to their specific experience and expertise. A profile that says something like “I’ve written email campaigns for four B2B software companies and I’m comfortable with complex subjects” tells you whether the person is right for your task.
Portfolio links, when available, are worth clicking. Read a piece of their published work in full rather than skimming the description of it. You’ll learn more from one page of their actual writing than from any amount of self-description.
Some members display a Copywriter Code badge. That means they’ve publicly signed our professional standards and appear in our register. It isn’t a quality assessment, and plenty of excellent copywriters haven’t signed it, but it does mean that person has made a public commitment to a published standard, and can be held to it.
Shortlist three copywriters
Three is the right number. One leaves you no comparison. But having too many copywriters in the mix means more conversations, more messages, more to consider, and more people to turn down.
You can add people to a shortlist as you browse and compare them side by side. The shortlist has its own link, so you can send it to a colleague before you commit to anything.
Send a single message
Rather than emailing three people separately, you can send one enquiry to everyone on your shortlist. Each of them receives it as a message addressed to them, and each replies to you directly. They won’t see who else you’ve contacted.
Provide enough information so the copywriters can respond meaningfully. If your initial enquiry is a broad request for copywriting support, your first replies will just be polite requests for more information. A few sentences about what the project is, roughly when you need it and what you’re trying to achieve gets you three considered replies, and you’ll be able to tell a lot from the difference between them.
If you’re not sure what to include, our briefing guide covers it, and there’s also a template you can fill in and attach.
What happens next
Expect replies within a couple of days. Most copywriters will want a short conversation before quoting, because the price depends on things they can’t know from a first message.
Some will tell you it isn’t the right fit for them.
If nobody replies, come back and shortlist three more. The lack of responses usually just means you’ve caught people mid-project, rather than anything relating to your enquiry.
If you’d rather not choose
Some organisations know they need writing help but not what kind. If that’s you, start with what to expect to pay and questions to ask, which between them will usually clarify what you’re actually commissioning.