When should I write my own website copy vs. hire it out?

Yes, a professional is (almost) always worth it. But this time, are you better off on your own?

TL;DR: You should probably write your own website copy if you’re new to business, if your website doesn’t drive sales, or if you just don’t have the budget for a full copywriting project. But there is support when that’s the case.

Copywriters don’t just move words around. 

We move words around for IMPORTANT REASONS.

Okay, that’s a joke, but it’s rooted in the truth. We start with your goals, create strategies based on what works, and then work on knocking your leads off their feet with the words we choose.

Okay, great.

But website copy from professionally written from the ground up costs time and money—think $2500+.

That could be a smart investment when you and your business are ready.

But how do you know when you’re ready?

And what can you do if you need help before then?

3 times you can, and probably should, write your own website copy

Reason One: Your business is new

Maybe you’ve been in business for less than a year.

Maybe you’ve been hustling here and there for a couple of years while working another job or busy with other life pursuits. (How do you do, fellow moms?) But you just don’t have that many sales or great customer outcomes on the books yet.

Once you get more data about your audience and what they truly want, you can invest in website copy that converts.

Why wait? 

Sales give you juicy data about your audience.

In order to write your website, a professional copywriter needs customer data.

Yes, there’s still a lot we can work with in early stages, but “voice of customer” data is our bread and butter. That’s what we use to craft our enticing offers and calls to action.

When you start with more data — more testimonials, more complaints, more reviews, more feedback of every kind from customers, leads, fans, and archenemies — you’ll get a better result.

Before that? You’re just guessing. And you can do that yourself.

“Many copy and conversion problems are actually product development problems in disguise.”

Abbey Woodcock

When your business is new, you’re figuring EVERYTHING out. As time goes on, you’ll probably hit a few bumps like:

• Your product-market fit is not as dialed in as you hoped
• Someone else is neatly serving the niche you were hoping to fill
• Your branding is ringing false, feeling like someone else, or just not as cute as it used to be
• You need to make a major pivot

Why spend a bunch of money on copy to sell an offer that you end up scrapping in six months?

Reason Two: Your website isn’t meant to drive sales

Kindly: What does your website do?

 

If your website nurtures leads and drives sales, invest in your website.

If your website purely informational, and your customers make decisions from other sources (like a restaurant, for example), invest in social media and PR.

Maybe your funnel is set up as a one-page site that drives everyone to your email list. Invest in email.

Maybe you’ve got all the business you can handle, thanks to word of mouth or your charismatic dimples. Invest in your community.

Reason Three: You don’t have budget to hire out

If you don’t have the budget, you don’t have the budget.

There are still options for you to get help writing or rewriting your small business website. Pinky promise.

Write it yourself with the help of a Website Copy Spark

We’re not doing the blank page thing. Not this time. We’re starting with a strategic plan, and getting follow-up help.

Website Copy Sparks give you a detailed and personalized plan for how to tackle your website copy. 

Optimize the copy you already have

Good news! You don’t have to toss out the entire thing every time you make a little vibe shift in your business!

You can fix up what you already have. Keep what works. Renovate the rest. Take a look at the strategy, and go from there.

And it doesn’t cost more than your mortgage payment. (Unless you have a 3-figure mortgage payment. In case case: lucky!)

Glow Up your copy ASAP, and have it locked in for the end of next week.