Are you a surf business owner who’s struggling to get responses to newsletters, social media posts comments or website enquiries?
Writing effective copy can be intimidating and time-consuming, so it’s essential for businesses to discern when they need assistance from an experienced professional.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your content needs or you have a nagging feeling like you’re wasting time writing copy that no one will read, it might be time to outsource your content.
Here are 7 other signs that it’s time to fork out some cash so you can focus more on growing your business.
Sign 1 / You feel like you never have the time to sit down and write
The number one sign that you’re in desperate need of a copywriter is that you constantly put off writing.
It’s understandable, for sure.
Not everyone loves sitting at a desk for hours on end and typing in front of a dimly lit screen. Copywriters are a weird bunch though. And while I love nothing more than being outside in the water and surfing good waves, it’s my job to make time for writing and proofreading and all that fun stuff.
If you always make up an excuse to write a blog article, start posting newsletters or finally re-do your email welcome sequence though, that’s when it becomes a problem.
Like an accountant, a social media manager or a web designer, a copywriter is just another person you can rely on to do the things you don’t want to do.
They know the difference between features and benefits. They know how to appeal to your target audience. And they don’t mind locking themselves in a dark room and punching away at a keyboard for what feels like an eternity.
In short, they’re exactly what you need when it comes to content production.
Sign 2 / You want to expand into new markets but don’t know how to communicate your message
Expanding into new markets can be an exciting opportunity to grow your business, but knowing how to effectively communicate your message can be a challenge.
It’s important to take the time to research and understand the unique cultural and linguistic nuances of your target audience in order to create messaging that resonates with them.
Utilising the expertise of a copywriting professional ensures that your message is accurately and appropriately conveyed to your new market. A copywriter will also ensure that your new content is written with the same tone of voice as your existing content, which creates a sense of brand consistency that is key to building trust with readers.
Sign 3 / Your website content needs updating, but you lack the resources or time to do it
As a busy surf business owner, it’s understandable that you may not have the resources or time to update your website content.
However, having outdated information on your website can negatively impact your business and even turn away potential customers. That’s why it’s important to find a solution that works for you. And one option is to outsource the task to a professional content writer who can bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to your website.
Let’s not forget either that the rewriting of a website is a monumental task. You might be surprised to know that most websites require 20+ pages of content with 10K, 15K or 20K words.
It’s not something to be taken lightly. And if you’re not being paid to do it or you get discouraged halfway, chances are you won’t give it your all (or even finish the job).
Sign 4 / Your emails or newsletters are no longer converting customers
If you’ve noticed that your promotional emails or newsletters aren’t gaining traction with customers, you’re not alone.
It’s a common challenge for surf businesses today.
With so many emails and newsletters sent to our inboxes daily, how the heck is your little mum and dad surf camp meant to stand out?
The answer, in case you haven’t guessed already, is hiring a copywriter.
A copywriter knows how to write emotive content that inspires readers and encourages them to act. They also know how to craft language that entices customers into making a purchase or booking, so you can see more conversions from your email campaigns.
Another technique in a copywriter’s quiver is that they know how to write in an authentic and conversational tone. This means no making bold claims. No bragging about what you do better than the competition.
Just honest, simple and down-to-earth copy that celebrates the positives of your brand while showing readers how you can improve their life.
Sign 5 / You’re running out of ideas for blog post topics
As a business owner, it’s completely normal to find yourself running out of ideas from time to time.
Don’t despair!
You’re busy running a brand or business. And if you’re like most of the owners who I work with, your days are filled with answering emails, handling orders, processing purchases and more – sitting down for a solid brainstorming session is the last thing on your mind.
Unfortunately, this can negatively impact your brand.
Not only will your SEO and SERP ranking suffer, but having intermittent blog posts (or none at all) looks unprofessional.
A copywriter guarantees a consistent stream of keyword-optimised content for you to post.
So instead of the odd blog post every 3.5 months, you’ll be able to post quality content every day, week, fortnight or month.
Learn how to brainstorm content ideas here.
Sign 6 / Your social media posts aren’t getting engagement
Like it or not, social media is a powerful player when it comes to customer engagement and retention. And a brand with no sign of life on social media is a sign of a brand with no life.
There’s a silver lining though.
Beautiful, eye-catching images are never in short supply for surf brands. So sourcing photos of your brand shouldn’t be an issue.
The problem arises when it comes to captions.
What do I write? Do I need to include a CTA? Which stage of customer awareness am I targeting?
A social media manager can help with all of these things, but even they’re not trained to create copy that gets results. Consider the fact that a copywriter knows how to speak directly to your audience. They also know how to elicit an emotional response that captures their attention and prompts them to act.
Imagine how much time you could save if you had a ready supply of captions to use in your social media posts?
A copywriter can provide the text for captions and drastically reduce the amount of time you spend typing, editing and retyping before posting.
Sign 7 / You find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of content you need to create
Content is like a shark – it needs to keep moving forward to be effective. But where do you begin when trying to get on top of it all?
Should you start by releasing blog articles? Or do you need a weekly newsletter? Does the Rule of 3 still work?
The truth is, there are countless ways to create content that will drive traffic and get your business in front of potential customers. The question is, how much time do you have to devote to this task? And even more importantly, what kind of content should you be creating?
That’s where a copywriter can help.
Their expertise lies in knowing exactly which type of content resonates with your audience and how to create it quickly and efficiently. Whether it’s blog posts, email newsletters or website copy – they understand the language and methods used to engage readers so you don’t have to worry about it.
By using the services of a copywriter, you can ensure that your content is up-to-date, relevant and engaging. All so you can focus on other tasks rather than stressing over the content creation process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a copywriter can offer your surf business the tools needed to reach new audiences, update your content, capture customer attention through promotional emails and social media posts, and create enticing blog topics.
With the help of a well-versed copywriter, you can relieve yourself from the burden of having to constantly think of fresh ideas for content.
Having a helping hand to manage your workload will also let you focus on growing the strategic aspects of your business while ensuring customers experience consistent messaging while interacting with your brand.
So when it comes to deciding when you should hire a copywriter, there is no single answer – it all depends on how much time you have available and whether or not investing in someone else’s work could be beneficial in helping propel your surf business forward.