Curious about hiring a copywriter, copy editor, or proofreader? My process explained

• Step 1: I can’t help you if you don’t ask—You’ve got to reach out
• Step 2: We’ll work together to determine if you need a copywriter, a copy editor, or a proofreader
• Step 3: How can you write my copy from scratch? You don’t know anything about my brand
• Step 4: So you write something, send it to me, and that’s it?
• Step 5: Once I have my final draft of copy, then what?
• That wasn’t so painful, was it?

You think you need to hire a copywriter, copy editor, or proofreader, but you’re not sure. You’re uncertain about what happens or how things work. You’re worried we’ll have trouble communicating. Stop worrying. This post will walk you through my process, giving you the confidence to contact me when you need my help.

Step 1: I can’t help you if you don’t ask—You’ve got to reach out

This is the most important step in the whole process. You have to contact me to request my services. As a teacher, I often told my students, “I want to help you. But if you don’t ask questions or ask for help, I can’t.” The same applies here. So get in touch. Contacting me with a question doesn’t commit you to anything. I won’t pester you or add you to a mailing list. I’ll answer whatever question you have for me—and that’s it! But the process only begins after you contact me.

How do you contact me? How don’t you contact me? Take your pick! 

• Add a comment to this post
• Click on pretty much any button on my website
• Go to my CONTACT page
• Send me an email at deancomeau@dccopypro.com
• Leave a comment or a message me on my Facebook page

Whichever method works for you, take the leap and contact me.

Step 2: We’ll work together to determine if you need a copywriter, a copy editor, or a proofreader

Once you reach out to me, I’ll get back to you. We’ll exchange messages. I’ll ask you to send me the material you’d like me to check. We can do this via an online chat, a video call, or through emails. We can even send messages back and forth using an automatic translation service like Papago. I provide my services to improve your brand’s image. But you don’t need to worry about using perfect English when we communicate. The goal is for me to understand you and your brand. We can communicate through any means necessary to understand each other. That’s what language is all about—communication. 

If you have something written and want me to check the grammar and punctuation, then I’ll recommend hiring me as a proofreader or copy editor. I discussed the differences between these different services in a previous blog post. Depending on the number of words, the type of content, and how quickly you’d like the work done, I’ll quote you a price. You can then accept or reject my offer.

If you haven’t got an English version of your copy yet, then I’ll recommend you hire me as a copywriter. I am not a translator. That is not part of my skillset. And often, a direct translation of your website may not be the most effective way to get your message across in English. Of course, we can follow a similar format to your existing Korean copy, but I’ll write your copy from scratch. We may even be able to use an automatic translation of your Korean copy as a starting point. I can use that to rewrite and polish your message in English.

Step 3: How can you write my copy from scratch? You don’t know anything about my brand

You’re right—but I’m going to find out as much as I can. In fact, I want to know about your brand, philosophy, vision, and customers. I can’t do my job as a copywriter without that information. So when you hire me as a copywriter, the first thing I’ll do is send you a questionnaire. How you answer those questions will help me understand you and your brand better. If necessary, I may ask you some follow-up questions. We may have a video chat or phone call. We’ll do whatever is necessary.

Once I get your answers, I’ll analyze them. I will likely conduct my own research on your brand, service, and customers. This will allow me to write copy that will resonate with your audience. It’ll help me write in your voice, which will be more authentic to your customers.

Step 4: So you write something, send it to me, and that’s it?

Well, you’re partially right. Whether you’ve hired me as a proofreader, copy editor, or copywriter, I will send you a first draft. I find it easiest to use Google Docs for this. That way, you can comment on what you like, and more importantly, what you don’t like about what I’ve written.

If I’m doing some proofreading for you, this first draft may be all that’s necessary. Or maybe you’d like me to make some formatting changes. Even if you like the first draft, I’ll go over it again. Delivering copy without any typos, grammar mistakes, or punctuation errors is very important to me. When we’re both satisfied with what I’ve written, I’ll send you the final draft.

If I’m doing some copywriting for you, the first draft will be a starting point. Again, I’ll need you to let me know what you like and what you don’t like. Based on your feedback, I’ll rewrite the first draft. It may only need minor changes, or I may need to try something completely different. I’ll submit a second draft, and we’ll repeat the process. We’ll repeat this process until you’re satisfied. As long as we’re communicating effectively, we should only need 2 or 3 drafts. When you’re happy with my most recent draft, again I’ll go over it again to check for mistakes. Thorough proofreading is always part of my copywriting process. You can be confident you’ll receive an error-free final draft. Proofreading is included in my quote for copywriting services.

Step 5: Once I have my final draft of copy, then what?

That’s for you to decide. Whatever I write or proofread for you belongs to you. It’s your choice to decide how to use it. You can copy and paste what I’ve written and use it as is. You can just use sections if you want. You can use parts of it, change it, edit it, or not use any of it. The choice is completely up to you.

For small jobs, you can pay me upon completion. For larger jobs, I may request a deposit at the beginning. We will always agree upon this before we begin. For payment, we can also agree on whichever form of online payment is the most convenient for you.

That wasn’t so painful, was it?

I’ve just walked you through the process. Every project I do will be a little different. I may be writing a webpage for you. I may be checking the English on your restaurant’s menu. I may be writing or editing the English instructions included with a product you sell. Regardless of what you need me to do, I will do my best to work with you to ensure you are completely satisfied with the English copy I provide.

But remember, none of this can happen until you take that first step and reach out to me. I’m here to help. I want to help. But you have to take the first step.

So start a conversation with me now by commenting on this post. You’ll be glad you did.

(Featured image – Student photo created by wayhomestudio – www.freepik.com)