Getting started with freelance copywriting

Welcome to freelance copywriting 101.
Wondering whether freelance copywriting is a good option for your brand? Not sure how it all works? Unsure about how freelancers charge?
I get it. You’ve got questions.
It can get a little confusing working with a freelancer – especially if you haven’t used one before. Even if you have worked with a remote writer, you still need to have as much info as possible to get things going.
Here’s where you’ll find all you need to get started.
When you need content for your website, you have a few options. You can do it yourself, employ a full-time writer or work with a freelancer. Depending on your budget, requirements and preferences, each of these will give you the benefit of amazing content (assuming you find a good writer). Here’s how these options compare:
You could write your own copy without help from writers. This option is cheap, but unless you’ve got some skills, your content may not be written well. You may not want the hassle of doing it yourself, either.
You could go one step further and get ChatGPT or another AI tool to do your content. It may be cheap (and super fast), but it may also be bland, generic and bad for SEO. You may need to some fact-checking to ensure that all info is correct.
Another option is to go in-house. You could employ a full-time copywriter to handle all of your content. If you have the budget, this is a great option. If you don’t have the resources, it may not be viable.
Your other option is to work with a freelancer, outsourcing a writer to help only when needed. This option is flexible, giving you the benefit of professionally-written content to suit your specific requirements.
Freelance copywriting may help if you:
- Feel tired just thinking about writing
- Run a smaller company or agency
- Don't have or want full-time writers
- Want something that's more flexible
- Outsource all your marketing needs

Freelancers take care of things like:
Freelance copywriting FAQ
My rates are determined by the South African Freelancers Association. Estimates are also tailored to each client. To get my current rates, send me an email.
For ad hoc projects, deposits are usually required, with the balance paid on completion. Invoices for monthly blog or other content retainers are sent just before the end of the month.
I focus exclusively on on-site copy rather than social media and other types of content. My service areas include blog, website, AI and product copy.
Rather than offering a broader, generalised approach, I have used my extensive experience of over 17 years to do what I do best – online content specifically for websites. This means I have a deep understanding of SEO trends, customer journey mapping, content strategy and other insights.
This depends on the type of content, the number of pages you need, the length of each page, my current capacity and what sort of planning may be needed.
Yup. I work with development, design, marketing and SEO teams using various project management tools, from Slack to Asana, Trello and others.
I love working with small and medium businesses – especially fellow women-owned brands who share my passion for growth. Big corporates aren’t really my thing. Truly connecting to my clients is what I love the most about my work.
Unless you want to write your own content, you will need to hire a copywriter. Just as you need an electrician to install lights in your home, you need a copywriter to write quality content for your website pages.
Copywriter qualities to look for include experience, understanding of SEO best practices, service options and affordability. But you also want to work with someone you actually like. A writer who builds relationships is way better than one who may as well be a bot that churns out words with zero people skills.
I’m sure you may still have a few things to ask. If there’s anything you’d like to know that isn’t covered here, you can email me to chat. Email is usually easier as it allows me to explain things simply (being a writer and all). But I know calls are easier for some people and I’m always happy to chat that way. I do Zoom sometimes as well. Contact me and let me know how I can help.
Ready to learn more about freelance copywriting?
View my range of copywriting services to see what I offer. You can also hit the button below to contact me for my current rates or any other questions you have about hiring a freelancer writer.