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Tips For Writing SEO-Optimized Website Copy

September 7, 2017 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: Copywriting, SEO Leave a Comment

Close your eyes. Take a deep yoga-y breath. Let your mind relax. Another breath.

Imagine if you will, the perfect website:

The design is visually stunning with totally authentic, non-stock images that are a thing of envy. The copywriting is informative and clever (but not too!) and draws you in from the very first header. The site navigation is streamlined and intuitive, and the calls-to-action are clear and oh-so clickable. It’s adaptive. It’s responsive. It’s mobile-first!

You with me? Can you see it? Yes? Me, too!

Now imagine that very same website has one person a day land on it because it has zero SEO value.

This, friends, is a sad reality for many a website. There was budget for the design. There was budget for the development. And there was budget to hire some hungry freelance copywriter to parlay your brand story. But when it came to optimizing the site for search, there was zero dinero. A common mistake. Unfortunate.

But let’s back up a little.

What is SEO exactly? If you’re asking yourself this, a) I’m really really (really) happy you found this blog post, and b) have you been living off the grid for some time?

Okay, so what is SEO? Ever type something into the Google search bar? Of course, you have.

Writing SEO Optimized Website Copy Service

 

Simply put, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) powers the results that show up in searches (Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.). These search engines crawl and index your site (a little creepy) and rank them based on how effective the SEO is. Employing SEO in your website copy gives you a greater chance of showing up in searches when someone is looking for your product or services. The idea is to rank higher than your competitors. SEO…good SEO helps you do that by imbuing your website with greater search relevancy and authority.

Writing for SEO

Writing SEO-optimized copy for a website is easier than it sounds. Sure, you have to do some homework. Before you put fingers to keyboard, you’ll need to research who your audience is and what they are searching for and how they are searching (i.e. what words and phrases they are using in those searches). It’s those words and phrases that will ultimately inform your website writing. That doesn’t mean every other word is optimized. After all, who wants to read, “for the best copywriting in San Diego, call Genevieve Crain because Genevieve Crain is the best copywriter in San Diego”? Nobody, that’s who. There’s a difference between writing purely for SEO value, writing for information, and writing for enjoyment. A successful website does all three. When you write for SEO, it should be seamless: What you’re writing about (content) and how you’re writing (style) should be obvious; SEO, on the other hand, should be nearly invisible. In fact, a great way to increase your site’s traffic is to have content that is so interesting and so well written, that others want to link to it or share it on social platforms.

Want to DIY your SEO? While there’s plenty a small business owner or individual can do to improve their website’s SEO value, let’s be clear, if your website is your business’s most valuable marketing asset (and it probably is) and web traffic is key to winning business (ditto), it’s probably a good idea to hire an SEO professional. They have the tools and analytics capabilities that you simply won’t have access to. But if you truly want to take on writing for your website’s SEO salvation, here are some key SEO elements you should know about:

  • URL – This is a webpage’s address. It should include keywords and reflect what that page is all about. Bonus for readable URLs!
  • Title Tag ­­– Briefly describes what is on a webpage. Optimal length: 50-60 characters. And, yes, that includes spaces. And, yes, it should include keywords.
  • Meta Description – Longer than the title tag, this blurb (160-ish characters with spaces) summarizes a page’s content. Again, keywords are, well, key.
  • Headlines – Headlines immediately orient readers when they land on a webpage. When you wrap a webpage’s first headline in <H1> it can have a minor positive effect on SEO. So when in doubt…
  • Image Name – More specifically, image file names. Firstly, images on your website = really good idea. Should those image files be optimized? 100%. Make sure your image file names include keywords and phrases. You will get a lot of SEO bang for your buck. Bonus Tip! Separate words with underscores or hyphens. Example:

Writing SEO Optimized Website Copy Service

  • Alt Tag – Just like Image Names only totally different. Alt tags (or Alt Text) describe what an image is and Google likes them. Like, really likes them. Enough said?
  • Keywords – Too many keywords, you get pinged by Google for stuffing (similar to spamming). Not enough keywords, you don’t rank. Seem like a lose-lose situation? Basically, it is. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include keywords in your content, or more importantly, build engaging content around your keywords. An SEO expert once told me that the sweet spot for keyword density is a ratio of 1-2% of on-page words. Meaning, if you have 1000 words on a page, shoot for 10-20 keywords/phrases to optimize the copy. And not all the same key terms on repeat. Incorporating adjacent terms makes the copy more readable while still supporting SEO efforts.

Above all else, remember you are writing for humans, people looking for something. Yes, they want to find that something, but they also want to emotionally connect with brands and be empowered to make informed choices. Drive them to your site with great SEO and keep them on your site with great content and copywriting.

Thinking of redesigning your website or building one from scratch? AMJ can help you with everything from creative concepting and design to copywriting, content, and SEO. Contact us!

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Well, hello, Content Marketing.

June 1, 2016 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: Branding, Content, Copywriting, Marketing Leave a Comment

Content-Marketing-Services-San-Diego

Content Marketing is the buzzword in my line of work. And while it will never fully eclipse traditional marketing, it actually lives up to the hype. It’s a key way for marketers to strategically reach their target audience without intrusive, uninspired advertising (sorry, advertising clients! Love you!!) or paid placement. Essentially, it’s providing the kind of relevant, worthwhile content that your audience will love — for free. It’s like giving something to someone they want so they like you. But not in a desperate, creepy way. What you get in exchange is exposure and visibility that will hopefully drive traffic, deepen engagement, and transform your general audience into customers and customers into repeat customers.

If you’re unsure of the kinds of content included in content marketing is, hold tight. It’s basically anything you can generate, publish, and share, including blogs, editorials, videos, white papers, webinars, microsites, social, podcasts, ebooks, conferences, tutorials, magalogs, newsletters… the list is nearly endless. Even this blog is technically content marketing. It’s less about the medium and more about the connection you’re creating with your audience and how the content adds another layer of value to your brand.

Sold! Sign me up! Where do I begin?

  • First, create a plan. Answer the following: Who is your audience? Where do they live, work, play, and spend time online? What are they interested in? What platforms are you on, not on, want to be on, really don’t want to be on. It’s as much about creating realistic goals as it is about creating meaningful content.
  • Have a firm grasp on your brand messaging and how you can communicate some form of that in every single piece of content you share. If you’re a florist, it’s brilliant to create a video on flower arranging, but make sure it reflects your brand. Do you only work with sustainable sources? Have a unique aesthetic? Focus on weddings? Make sure to message on that.
  • Once you have a content marketing plan in place, it’s time to execute it. You’ll want a publishing platform to keep you organized and on a regular schedule (shout out to Hootsuite) and a skilled copywriter (shout out to us). Explore different platforms, mediums, lengths, images, information, and voices. This diversity will keep your audience on their toes.
  • Go forth and create! Write your case study, blog post, tweet, upload videos, host an in-person class, whatever it is, do it with purpose and skill. Make it educational and entertaining. Give your audience something they will come to rely on or at least appreciate, and definitely want to share.

When it’s done right, content marketing is proven to genuinely help strengthen relationships with target audiences and that can only be good for business. Reach out if you want to explore how thoughtful, engaging content can easily integrate into your current marketing mix.

Your Website’s Homepage is No Game

May 11, 2016 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: Copywriting, Web Design Leave a Comment

Copywriting and Web Design Services

We craft messaging and copy for websites almost daily at April May June, and with few exceptions, homepages are the most scrutinized, belabored, and frustrating of pages to execute. You need to tell a big story fast, immediately engage visitors, and incite them to take action all while your visitors are faced with distractions galore (think: navigation bar, social call-to-action, email sign-up, twitter feeds, banners, sliders…). When considering developing or redesigning a website, be sure you don’t neglect this, the most critical of pages.

Elements of a successful homepage:

Think of your homepage as your website’s welcome mat. And while not all visitors will land on your site through your homepage, it should immediately give them a sense of what you offer and why you’re totally amazing. Whether you’re a consumer product, educational institute, medical practice, or creative agency, the goal is to educate visitors then have them take the desired action (purchase, download, call). Your homepage is a first impression that can either jumpstart a long-lasting relationship or quickly turn into Bounce City.

Think first.

Before you get started creating your homepage, consider what you want your visitor to do first. Where you want to lead them on your site. What action you want them to take. Great design, navigation, and copy balance what your user wants to do with what you want them to do.

Keep copy light and directional.

Nothing is worse than exhausting blocks of text to get through on any site. This introductory copy should be a handshake not a rib-crushing bear hug. Give your visitors just enough info to get them hooked by keeping it high level then with potent calls-to-action get them to sign up for your newsletter, draw them deeper into the site, or send them to your contact form.

Design with them in mind.

When it comes to the look of your homepage, make it easy on the eye. Don’t crowd it with competing imagery, calls-to-action, banners. Less is definitely more. In terms of copy layout, spread it around, let it breath. People will scroll. Parallax scrolling is a personal fave because it turns a mundane activity into an interactive experience.

For the love of fonts.

The visual aspect of your website makes a big impression. Fonts go a long way in keeping your site in line with current trends. So does imagery. A picture says a thousand words, but a bad stock photo says just one: CHEAP. Make the homepage hero image killer!

Ultimately, your homepage will set the tone for the rest of your website. Perfecting it will make it more likely you’ll successfully carry your messaging and voice consistently across the rest of your web pages and conquer the world.

Yes, Verbal Branding is a…

April 14, 2016 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: Branding, Copywriting, Naming Leave a Comment

Verbal Branding and Copywriting Services California

Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen a significant spike in branding projects. Increasingly clients are coming to me with an understanding of how critical it is to establish their verbal identities – and how language significantly impacts the ways in which their targeted audiences perceive and engage with them. Never before have brands been so cognizant of the impact words and voice have. And this makes sense. With communication as varied and accessible as it is today, creating an authentic, believable, and engaging expression of your brand is practical and essential.

It would seem that with something as critical as verbal branding all business stakeholders would have a firm grasp on what it is. Yet it appears to be an elusive topic with different labels, sometimes it’s referred to as verbal identity and in other instances brand language. A rose by any other name…

What IS verbal branding, anyway?

There are those who think of it as simply naming a business or product, pulling together a tagline, and using a selection of buzzwords, end of story. Yeah…not quite. At its core, verbal branding is about using thoughtful language and strategic messaging to communicate who you are and what you do. It shows off your style while relaying your character. It dictates how and what you say, and when and where you say it. When it comes to voice, the choices are endless. You can be creative, daring, warm, reserved, confident, edgy, playful, or matter-of-fact. It all depends on who your audience is, what reaction or emotion you want to elicit, and the communication medium or platform. As an example, the language, style, and tone used in a proposal or on a website is likely to be more buttoned-up than a social post or email (this is mostly true for consumer brands, but some B2B companies are having fun on social, too). A thing to note: verbal branding can and should evolve over time as a business grows and learns more about what works and doesn’t work with its audience/s.

What does verbal branding encompass?

Obviously the name of your company, product or service is the starting point (there’s a lot that goes into naming a business, but that’s a topic for another post…Stay tuned!). Then there’s your tagline. Done yet? Nope.

A key component is the messaging matrix, a set of interrelated corporate statements that convey a business’ culture, reason for being, market niche, benefits, proof points, etc. They are usually externally facing (to audience/market/consumer), but some are for internal use. While each is wholly unique and should work independently, it’s important that they also maintain a uniformity in language, style, and tone.

Here is a sample of what you might find in a standard messaging matrix:

  • Tagline/Brand Promise – This is the essence of what your business is and does. It should be “sticky” and target 7-9 words. Less is definitely more.
  • Mission Statement ­­– Defines the company’s big-picture purpose and focus. Your reason for being. What gets your brand to hop out of bed in the morning!
  • Value Proposition – This is the feel-good message that tells your customers what benefit they get out of your product or service, while communicating why they can’t live without you.
  • Positioning Statement – In one to two sentences, it clearly communicates what you do, who you do it for, and all the ways you’re more awesome than the competition.
  • Core Values – These words or statements explain your brand’s character, how it behaves, acts, and works. They’re inspirational, humanizing, and can touch on topics like sustainability, people over profits, work environments, etc.

Verbal Branding: So what?

When you’re building a brand for your business, there are a myriad of elements that require your attention. Often though, it’s the visual that gets primary attention. Sigh…But verbal identity is imperative to establish early on so everyone in your company is reading from the same page, communicating with consistent language and voice, and exuding what your company stands for.

Most of the calls I receive from potential clients indicate they have a solid idea of what they want to communicate about their brand, but they are at a loss when it comes to the creative execution. And that is where a writer skilled in verbal branding comes in (ahem). If your business needs help with developing a distinct and relevant verbal identity, be in touch. Our team is experienced and kind of fun to work with.

Announcing new AMJ client, NZXT!

January 11, 2016 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: AMJ News, Branding, Copywriting Leave a Comment

Copywriting Services Los Angeles

Like everyone in the late 1970s/early 80s, I was pretty much obsessed with my Atari Playstation. I can almost feel the joystick in my hand and recall hours of navigating a blip of frog across seemingly endless lanes of hazardous traffic. Watch out for the truck/motorcycle/log! Needless to say, there is many a squashed amphibian in the bank of my childhood memories. In my 20s, Sony Playstation’s Doom was my addiction. I didn’t get much of a tan the summer of 1996.

As hot as console gaming was then (and continues to be), #PCgaming is totally on fire today. People from all gender, social, cultural groups build their own custom PCs–everything from installing motherboards to pimping out their rigs with cool accessories (and literally cooling accessories)–for a totally personalized online gaming experience…and some serious bragging rights. At the forefront of this industry is Los Angeles-based #NZXT, designer and manufacturer of stunning gaming cases and gaming peripheral must-haves. April May June is stoked to be working with them on a variety of branding initiatives and product launches, including naming, messaging design, and all manner of social and marketing communications. NZXT’s super cool team of leading-edge thinkers slash gamers and their in-house creative talent are a delight to work with! We look forward to future collaboration with this revolutionary brand as they continue to grow and thoroughly dominate the PC gaming world.

Check out other AMJ client work and be in touch if you think you could use our help. I’d be delighted to chat with you!

Genevieve

AMJ is now on the Left Coast!

June 26, 2015 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: AMJ News, Copywriting Leave a Comment

Top Copywriting Services San Diego California

As in California. With lots of palm trees, people!

Yes, AMJ decided to trade in snow for sand and is now operating in always sunny San Diego. Of course, we will continue to support our East Coast clients and all of the other businesses we serve in pretty much every time zone.

After a 5-day, cross-country journey (with a toddler, a cat, and two dogs in tow), it’s been a relief to settle in and explore this stunning part of the country. What’s been surprising is discovering SD’s vibrant creative community, including a slew of award-winning agencies.

As for our lately neglected blog, it will be back on track just as soon as we’re a bit more settled. So thanks for your patience and stay tuned!

Genevieve

Google is hot for mobile. Is your website ready?

April 30, 2015 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: Copywriting, Small Businesses, Web Design Leave a Comment

Google Mobile-Friendly Websites Boston

Recently, our dear friends at Google made pretty big changes to their search ranking algorithm so that mobile-friendly sites rank better in mobile searches than websites that aren’t optimized for mobile devices. Their reasoning is that roughly 60% of site traffic comes from mobile devices and #Google wants those visitors to have a good user experience. Makes total sense, but what do these changes mean for businesses? Well, if your business has a website and it’s not #MobileFriendly, this could have a noticeable impact on traffic volume to your site. In other words, you better get hot for mobile, too. And fast.

Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results.

Is this a shocker for those of us in the web design/development/copywriting field? Not so much. For one, in late 2014 Google launched its “mobile-friendly” label for use on search results pages. It basically lets users searching on mobile devices know whether or not a site is optimal for mobile-device viewing. Basically, it’s Google’s version of the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. According to Google, “users will find it easier to get relevant, high-quality search results that are optimized for their devices.” See an example of the mobile-friendly label in AMJ’s search results below. Yay, us!

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Freaking out? Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay.

Well, sort of.

While this isn’t the #Mobilegeddon some are claiming, businesses that don’t adapt their website to accommodate these changes will likely be shocked at diminishing site traffic. By all accounts, big consumer companies are scrambling to update their websites because even a small dip in traffic can have a huge impact on the bottom line (to the tune of millions of dollars).

But it isn’t just the biggies that should be rushing to make sure they’re loving up mobile users: millions of small businesses could be in trouble, too. Some of these operations don’t have a responsive website or perhaps they do, but have no clue what the hay is happening. This could translate into fewer phone calls, not as many customers walking through their front doors, and a significant drop in sales. If you are one such small business, it’s a good idea to spend a little time to investigate if your site is likely to be impacted.

And speaking of impact, Google’s latest update only applies to individual web pages, not entire websites, and will affect search rankings on mobile devices and search results in all languages globally.

Is your site mobile-friendly?

I mentioned the term responsive above. A responsive website is a site that adapts its experience to whatever device (laptops, iPhones, tablets, etc.) a site visitor is using to visit that site. Responsive design tries to ensure optimal readability, navigation, viewing of images, brand messaging, and more, regardless of a device’s screen size. If your site isn’t responsive and you have the budget to redesign your site, there’s no time like the present to get started.

If you do have a responsive site but aren’t sure how your site stacks up, Google created a helpful tool for webmasters and business owners. Simply visit this link, type (or copy and paste) in one of your website’s page urls, and click the Analyze button. Repeat for each web page on your site. In no time at all, you’ll know if any of your web pages need some mobile first aid. Again, this doesn’t analyze an entire site, just individual web pages on your site.

If you have Google’s Webmaster Tools installed on the back end of your site, you can examine your entire website to see if it is mobile-friendly. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out this tutorial.

In the words of Outkast in their pop hit, Hey Ya, nothing is forever. And indeed, these wise words are true even when it comes to site rankings. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly now, once it becomes mobile-friendly, Google will automatically crawl and index your pages like nobody’s business, so your site is bestowed with the mobile ranking it deserves.

Content and User Experience

You’ve probably heard the phrase “Content is king,” made famous by Bill Gates all the way back in the late 1990s. While content remains critical in engaging a business’s target audience, it, too, must adapt to the new Google algorithm. So even if content is informative, beautifully written, and fun to read, if it’s not mobile-friendly, you’ll have fewer people eyeballing it. Thanks, Google!

As users increasingly access websites through mobile devices, they will spend less time tucking into large blocks of copy and instead spend more time scanning and clicking. That means brands have smaller windows of opportunity to inform, engage, and ultimately convert site visitors into actual consumers. Whether it’s a long-format blog post or landing page copy, it needs to be streamlined with headlines, subheads, and section headers, while keeping things punchy and actionable.

Anyone wanting to learn more about Google’s hopes and dreams when it comes to mobile-readiness can read the official statement on their Webmaster Central Blog. And, of course, should you want to update your site’s design and/or copy to ensure it offers the best possible mobile device experience, be in touch and I’ll tell you how AMJ can help out.

Till then,

Genevieve Crain

Why hiring a freelance copywriter is a really good idea.

April 23, 2015 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: Copywriting 2 Comments

Freelance Copywriting Services Boston

In a perfect world, every company would have the budget and bandwidth to handle all its creative needs in-house. Since this isn’t a reality for many businesses, they rely on the services of freelance professionals to fill in the gaps or support internal staff when the heat is on. In terms of copy, it can be a real bottom-line benefit to hire a seasoned freelance copywriter or engage a small creative studio like AMJ. Why? Aside from offering a diverse set of skills, loads of experience, and fresh insight, they deliver work without the need of a permanent, long-term commitment. In other words, they’re there when you need them, not when you don’t.

As with any kind of freelancer, there are pros and cons to working with a writing consultant, but the positives far outweigh any perceived negatives. Here are a few things to consider:

  • You’ll probably spend less money. Hiring a senior-level freelance copywriter can be less expensive than hiring a permanent writer with less experience when you add together salary, health insurance, paid time off, holidays, and other benefits. Plus, when the project wraps, so do the payments.
  • We bring a fresh set of eyes and ideas. Whether we’re working solo or collaborating with an in-house creative staff, freelance copywriters offer an “outsider” perspective, new approaches to language, and a respectful nudging of boundaries when it comes to voice. If your brand wants to play it safe, we’re pretty good at sticking to established style rules, too.
  • Freelance writers speak many languages. I’m not talking about French, Spanish, and Japanese. In addition to collaborating with marketers and designers, many of us also work with technical teams throughout an organization, from product engineering and manufacturing to quality assurance and legal. We take complicated concepts and language then translate them into easy-to-get, fun-to-read copy that adheres to strict language compliance guidelines.
  • Freelance copywriters (usually) work offsite. Sure, it’s great to have someone working right alongside your team, feeding off the creative energy at kickoffs and thinkstorms, tossing ideas (and a few Nerf balls) over cube walls, then heading to the break room for a cupcake. But if you hire a freelancer, chances are they’re toiling away in their office or at home…no Nerf balls, no cupcakes. Sometimes they’re even in a different time zone. Many of AMJ’s clients are located on the opposite coast, but there’s never been an issue with hopping on calls or meeting deadlines. And if a client is local, we do our best to make it to their office for key in-person meetings. We make it work and so do most freelancers.
  • Getting up to speed can take a little while. That’s true for even seasoned writers when working with a new client. But that can happen with new permanent employees as well. The good news is that the real pros usually have a diversity of clients and can easily adapt to each brand’s verbal identity, so it takes them less time to ramp up.
  • Need copy EOD? Unless you put a writer on retainer, you’ll likely need to wait for them to deliver copy. You can sometimes pay a rush fee for an immediate turnaround–anything from 24 hours to two days is considered a rush. Freelance writers charge rush fees because it means shifting schedules, delaying projects currently in queue, and sometimes burning the midnight oil to meet your deadline. Rush fees aren’t standard for all writers and can sometimes be negotiated.

But my marketing team handles all the copywriting…”

Say what?! Actually, marketers can be really talented writers. That said, copy written by marketers can sound…marketing-y. Yes, it hits on the UVP, delivers on strategy, etc., but it can read stiff and miss out on the fun factor that should ideally exist in consumer-facing copy. And unlike copywriters, most marketers aren’t familiar with AP and Chicago styles or the latest grammar and punctuation rules as they relate to marketing and advertising copy (hint: what you learned about commas in high school English doesn’t necessarily apply on banner ads). Plus, copywriters love writing. That’s why we’re writers, not marketers. That passion for crafting messaging and finding the perfect word can only benefit our clients and often complements the work of marketers.

What does a professional freelance copywriter cost?

There are many factors that influence what a freelance copywriter will charge. Obviously, the less experienced the writer, the cheaper the rate, but then the longer it can take them to execute a project. Conversely, a seasoned professional copywriter will charge more for a project fee or hourly rate, but they are usually faster, bring more experience and insights, and have more tools in their toolbox. Ultimately you’re either paying for talent or paying for time.

5 things to keep in mind when hiring a freelance copywriter:

  1. Know what you need before picking up the phone. A brief is always a good idea, but if you’re just testing the waters, at a minimum you should have a general idea of the size of the project, the key deliverables, and a rough timeline. If you don’t, it will be challenging for a copywriter to know if they can accommodate your project in their schedule and how much to charge.
  2. Have a basic understanding of your budget. A reputable freelance copywriter will let you know if they can work within your budget parameter or should at least be able to tell you what parts of the project they can reasonably take on. I’ve even had to guide potential clients in developing realistic project budgets; because they aren’t in the creative trenches nor are they aware of the time and various aspects (research, ideation, writing, revisions, proofreading) involved with delivering copy for a project.
  3. What is the approval process? Knowing how many stakeholders will eyeball the copy will reflect how many potential revisions there could be. Revisions equal time and time equals money. If a writer is working on a project fee, they usually include one or two rounds of revisions in that fee. Anything beyond that generally costs extra.
  4. Look at portfolios…lots of portfolios. Most freelance copywriters will have their portfolio online, so it’s easy to check out many different writers with different levels of experience and varying areas of expertise. This will help you find the writer who will best meet the needs of your business. But keep in mind, portfolios are a sampling of work and don’t necessarily show every project a writer has ever worked on. So if you like a particular writer’s work, but they don’t seem to have samples for your industry, reach out to them anyway.
  5. Get your approvals and paperwork in order. If you don’t yet have approval to engage and pay a freelancer, be up front about it so an eager writer doesn’t get a jump on things only to find out the project is delayed or 86ed. It’s also a good idea to present freelancers with a Statement of Work (SOW), which outlines in detail all aspects of the project and associated deadlines for which the freelancer is responsible. This helps freelancers calculate their fee and sets expectations. Most freelancers will present their own terms of business to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to payment and ownership of work.

For those businesses considering working with a freelance copywriter, that relationship can be whatever you want it to be: long-term and ongoing, long-term with sporadic projects, or one-offs with a short-term commitment. And while collaborating with someone new can be an adjustment, you can–and should–expect the same level of service, professionalism, commitment, and discretion from a freelancer as you would from a permanent employee. Good luck!

Genevieve Crain

AMJ has a new website and blog!

April 1, 2015 by Genevieve Crain Filed Under: AMJ News, Copywriting, Web Design Leave a Comment

Freelance Copywriting Services Boston MA

When I first started April May June Communications seven years ago, it was a scary time in the U.S. economy. Striking out on my own seemed like a really bad idea. Really bad. But I was fueled by a passion for writing and brand development, along with the desire to work with prestigious brands and exciting start-ups on the kinds of projects that thrilled me. I’ve been very lucky to be able to build a thriving business doing what I love, while also working alongside super talented people.

The upside of being busy with work has been taking on a variety of cool projects and meeting folks from around the country (and the world). The downside has been not having enough time to tend to my website, social media, and blogging, which makes me feel like a big old hypocrite. But, as with any brand that wants to grow and experience long-term success, it was important for me to invest in these critical business-building tools.

The new April May June website features the freelance copywriting, graphic design, and event services we provide businesses, while featuring the work that’s made our clients so very happy. The blog aims to cover a mix of branding, writing, business, design, and wildcard topics that we hope will have you visiting from time to time.

I have enormous gratitude for the clients who’ve engaged me to work with them over the years and continue to do so, and the inspiring creatives with whom I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating. And a very special thanks to the generous people who helped me pull everything together and offered me their thoughtful insights. Sarah, Chris, Carmen, Jen, Laura, and Helen: Merci!

Genevieve Crain

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