Can an EFL teacher really be an effective copywriter?

• Now, back to our regularly scheduled program…
• Now I know what to do—you just made yourself obsolete
• You don’t need these services only because English isn’t your first language
• How can you do all the jobs usually done by specialized teams?
• A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one
• Will I deliver you an award-winning landing page? Possibly…but probably not

Well, I think so—otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing this. Being a teacher has definitely honed my proofreading skills. As I stated on the main page of this site, I can’t turn it off. I regularly spot incorrect English in public, online or in English subtitles.

Though not a lateral move, many skills involved in teaching writing transfer to being an effective copywriter. The more I study about being a copywriter, the more I say to myself, “This is very similar to what I taught.” I know this stuff. I’m learning to put a different spin on what I know and apply it in a different way.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program…

If you read my last post, you now know the different steps involved in the writing process. If you haven’t read my last post, what’s stopping you? Go do it. Now. Don’t worry—I’ll wait.

We all good? Great. As a quick refresher for those ‘bad students’ who didn’t go back and read my previous post:

Now I know what to do—you just made yourself obsolete

Did I? Maybe. What’s stopping you from learning all about copywriting? You’re smart. You can use a spell checker. Google will tell you everything you need to know about grammar. You’re all set. You can do all these things, but will you? More importantly, do you have the time to learn all these skills to become an effective copywriter?

If you’re like most small business owners, there aren’t enough hours in the day. You bounce from task to task, ticking off items on a never-ending to-do list. Brainstorming, writing, re-writing, re-writing some more, scrapping it all and starting over. Moving phrases around, finding the right heading. Consulting a thesaurus for the right, appropriate, optimal, perfect, ideal word. Checking, double-checking, triple-checking. Uncovering missing commas and extra spaces. That’s my job. And it takes time. More time than you’d think—if you want it done well.

You don’t need these services only because English isn’t your first language

Native English speakers need these services. Non-native English speakers wanting to appear competent and professional really need these services. Native English speakers are more familiar with the language than non-native English speakers. Yet native English speakers still employ copywriters and proofreaders.

Doesn’t it make sense that a non-native speaker would struggle to write as well as an effective copywriter? Or that they wouldn’t spot many of the errors a professional proofreader would? Is it possible a direct translation of one of your keywords isn’t the most natural way of saying it in English?

Using a copywriter or proofreader doesn’t mean your English is inadequate or inferior. It means you want to look professional and care enough to do things right.

How can you do all the jobs usually done by specialized teams?

At large firms, specialized teams fill these individual roles. As a small business owner, you likely can’t afford those agencies. I’m attempting to fill that gap between doing it on your own and breaking the bank to hire a professional agency.

Fees for these services vary a lot. Estimates range anywhere from $25–$25,000 per page. Yes, you read that correctly, $25,000 for one page. Of course, the upper end is rare. But it’s not uncommon for an agency to charge several thousand dollars for a landing page. My rates are at the lower end of the range.

I create unique quotes for every project after considering what you need. Steps at the beginning of the writing process are more expensive. The final steps in the process are cheaper. I also have to consider research time, length, and time frame. After assessing all these factors, I’ll offer you the most affordable proposal possible.

A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one

As a teacher of 25 years, I’ve been spotting and correcting errors in student writing for a quarter of a century. I’ve also been teaching students how to express themselves in writing. It’s been my job to help students find their own voices. As a copywriter or content writer, that’s what I bring to the table. My job is to represent your brand with your voice. My style may color the writing a bit, but if it doesn’t sound like you, it won’t convince your customers.

Along with all those years of teaching, I’ve also been proofreading subtitles for over 15 years. In that role, it’s my job to not only catch typos but also to ensure that the subtitles flow and feel natural. Though tricky to proofread your own writing, with practice, it is possible.

When I’m a successful copywriter and can afford it, I’ll definitely hire a proofreader. But for now, I’ll have to take the extra time and care needed to proofread my own work. My years as a proofreader have helped me hone techniques that I use on my own writing. Hell, I check my text messages for typos before pressing send.

Will I deliver you an award-winning landing page? Possibly…but probably not

Let’s face it—we’re both small business owners. You can’t compete with Amazon, and I can’t compete with multi-million dollar advertising agencies. But I can improve your website. Take a look at my portfolio to see for yourself.

If you think I could be of help to you, take the first step and get in touch. There’s no commitment, no consultation fee, and I promise I won’t bite. The worst that can happen is that you won’t like my offer. But what if you do? What if I significantly improve your site? What if that leads to an increase in sales?

As I used to say to my students, “It’s my job to help you, but you need to take the first step by asking for help.” Take that first step and contact me for a quote now.